The world inside the E-class gate revealed itself to be a hunting ground far crueler than the F-class forest Lee Seong-jun had explored before. Unlike the beginner-friendly areas that saw frequent hunter activity, this land showed no trace of people. The reason was simple—safety.
A swampy forest stretched endlessly, its canopy so thick that even daylight could barely break through. The air felt heavy, damp, and unsettling. The terrain swallowed feet with each step, and twisted trees became the perfect platforms for ambush predators. Among these predators lived one of the worst monsters suited for this terrain: the Super Monkey.
Towering at nearly two meters, with limbs far too long for its bulky body, the Super Monkey was built for dominance in this environment. Its strength came not only from raw muscle but also from its unnatural ability to leap between swamp trees with terrifying agility. For ordinary hunters, this place was little more than a death sentence.
But Lee Seong-jun was not ordinary.
The first encounter came swiftly. A projectile cut through the air, heavy and fast, aimed to kill. Yet Seong-jun had already sensed it before it came. With a sharp twist, he guided his examiner, Choi Gyu-jin, to safety. The swamp trembled as the monster revealed itself, launching into frenzied leaps. Where most hunters would struggle to keep their footing, Seong-jun moved lightly, his feet brushing across branches as though walking on air.
This was Gwiyeongbo, a ghostly footwork technique, beyond the reach of common martial artists. Though he could not yet unleash its perfect form, even the imitation was enough to defy the swamp's restrictions. Within moments, he was in front of the beast.
The Super Monkey roared, brandishing its crude wooden club. But Seong-jun blurred forward, his body cloaked in killing intent. He invoked the Bloody Fist: Iron Strike, a martial art born from the Blood Cult's forbidden training. His fist, hardened by condensed blood energy, struck with force equal to breaking iron.
Bone cracked, the beast's waist bent violently, and pain tore through its body. Still, in its desperation, the monster swung again. But Seong-jun had already moved—his figure dissolving into afterimages. Another iron strike landed, this time shattering its spine. The Super Monkey collapsed lifeless into the mud.
For Choi Gyu-jin, the battle was beyond comprehension. The returnee fought with brutal efficiency, no wasted movement, no hesitation. One after another, the swamp's monsters fell, while Seong-jun only seemed to grow sharper. This was no arrogance born from past glories—this was a warrior moving as if the gate itself was built for him.
Yet, as the last Super Monkey fell, the true threat finally revealed itself.
The swamp shook with a deafening roar. A towering figure emerged from the shadows: the Super Gorilla, the boss of this gate. It dwarfed the monkeys, its body swollen with muscle. But what chilled the air was the armor. From head to toe, thick plate steel encased the beast, turning its already monstrous defense into a fortress.
Choi Gyu-jin's face turned pale. With that level of protection, the gorilla's defense easily reached C-rank. For an F-rank returnee, this was impossible to break. He prepared to call off the trial, ready to drag Seong-jun out before death could strike.
But Seong-jun was already moving forward. His eyes carried no hesitation, only certainty. For him, this was no gamble—it was prey waiting to be claimed.
He whispered a command within his mind.
The system responded.
[Strength Boost applied. Strength +5 for 10 minutes.]
[Agility Boost applied.]
[Stamina Boost applied.]
Green holographic messages flickered as raw power surged through his body. His muscles hardened, reflexes sharpened, and stamina burned like fire in his veins. To an ordinary hunter, these boosts meant a small increase. To Seong-jun, who carried the knowledge of a demon god and the skill to wield every ounce of strength, the effect was far beyond simple numbers.
His fighting power had more than doubled.
The armored beast roared, shaking the swamp. But Seong-jun only stepped closer, confidence radiating from his every move. The clash between man and monster was about to begin—an impossible battle for any hunter, yet one that Seong-jun welcomed as his true test.