The corpse of the Stone Rat lay motionless at Han Jiwon's feet, its rocky hide already beginning to crumble into gray dust.
Jiwon remained still for several seconds, his chest rising and falling heavily as he forced himself to calm down. The adrenaline surging through his veins made his hands tremble, and his grip on the dagger tightened unconsciously.
He was alive.
Not only alive—but stronger.
That single realization sent a strange warmth through his chest, far deeper than the faint physical enhancement he had just received. For years, every dungeon run had ended the same way: exhaustion, humiliation, and the crushing reminder that no amount of effort could bridge the gap between him and those blessed with talent.
But now—
Now the system had answered him.
Jiwon exhaled slowly and focused his gaze.
A faint pressure emanated from his body, subtle but undeniable. It was as if the dungeon itself had become more aware of his presence.
"So this is… authority."
He tested it instinctively, straightening his posture and stepping forward. The oppressive silence of the tunnel seemed to retreat ever so slightly, the shadows pulling back as if acknowledging him.
The sensation was strange. He didn't feel like a king.
He felt like someone who had been recognized.
Another translucent window appeared, expanding his awareness.
[Current Status]
Name: Han Jiwon
Rank: E (Unregistered)
Strength: Slightly Increased]
Agility: Slightly Increased]
Endurance: Slightly Increased]
Mana Capacity: Low]
[Monarch Authority Lv.1 – Active]
The changes were minor.
Painfully minor.
But unlike the static status he had stared at for years, this one had changed.
It could change again.
Jiwon clenched his fist, feeling the faint improvement in muscle density. His movements felt just a bit more controlled, his balance steadier. In a life-or-death situation, even a five percent improvement could be the difference between survival and death.
He looked ahead, into the dark tunnel stretching deeper into the dungeon.
If killing one monster had done this much…
"How far can I go?"
The thought was dangerous.
Exciting.
He tightened his grip on the dagger and moved forward.
The deeper he went, the thicker the mana became.
The dungeon corridors widened slightly, branching off into multiple paths. Strange scratch marks covered the stone walls—signs of territorial disputes between monsters. The faint smell of blood lingered in the air.
Jiwon slowed his pace.
He remembered this place.
Three years ago, this dungeon had nearly killed him. Back then, he had followed a party, staying at the very back, barely participating. When monsters appeared in groups, he had panicked, his movements clumsy and slow.
Now, he was alone.
A low, guttural snarl echoed from the left passage.
Then another.
Jiwon's heart skipped.
Two presences.
No—three.
From the darkness emerged a pack of Stone Rats, larger than the one he had killed earlier. Their cracked bodies glowed faintly with mana as they circled the open space, eyes gleaming with hunger.
Jiwon took a step back instinctively.
Three against one was suicide for an E-rank hunter.
No.
That was the old thinking.
He steadied his breathing and observed carefully.
They were stronger, yes—but still low-grade monsters. Their movements were predictable. Their coordination sloppy.
And more importantly…
They were watching him warily.
A realization struck him.
"They feel it."
The Monarch Authority.
It wasn't strong enough to dominate them, but it was enough to unsettle them—to mark him as something dangerous.
Jiwon raised his dagger and took a deliberate step forward.
The rats hesitated.
That hesitation was all he needed.
He lunged.
The first Stone Rat charged to intercept him, jaws snapping wide. Jiwon sidestepped at the last moment, slashing across its exposed neck. The blade bit deep, and the creature let out a shrill screech.
Before he could retreat, the second rat attacked from behind.
Jiwon felt it before he saw it—a surge of instinct screaming in his mind. He spun, barely blocking the claws with his forearm, the impact sending a jolt of pain through his bones.
He gritted his teeth and stabbed downward.
The third rat leapt.
Jiwon rolled forward, the creature soaring past him, smashing into the wall with a crack of stone.
Dust filled the air.
His lungs burned. His vision blurred.
Focus.
He rose to his feet and kicked off the wall, closing the distance with the injured rat. One clean thrust ended its life.
[Monster Defeated: Stone Rat]
[Stat absorption in progress…]
Warmth surged again, stronger this time.
The remaining two rats shrieked.
One fled.
The other, driven by rage or fear, charged recklessly.
Jiwon met it head-on.
The dagger pierced its skull.
The creature collapsed, lifeless.
[Monster Defeated: Stone Rat]
[Monster Defeated: Stone Rat]
[Multiple Absorptions Completed]
Jiwon dropped to one knee, panting.
Sweat soaked his clothes. His arms trembled violently.
But his body—
His body felt different.
Stronger.
More responsive.
[Monarch Authority Lv.1 – Growth Detected]
[Strength +1]
[Agility +1]
[Endurance +1]
He stared at the floating window, eyes wide.
Actual numbers.
Not vague descriptions.
Not illusions.
Real growth.
A shaky laugh escaped his lips.
"So this is how it works…"
Kill.
Absorb.
Grow.
Simple. Brutal. Effective.
Jiwon slowly stood, feeling the newfound power settle into his bones. It wasn't overwhelming—but it was undeniable.
He was no longer stagnant.
For the first time, the gap between him and the so-called geniuses felt… bridgeable.
Then the dungeon trembled.
A deep vibration rolled through the tunnels, far heavier than anything he had felt so far.
Jiwon's smile faded.
"That's not normal."
A pressure descended from deeper within the dungeon—ancient, oppressive, and hungry.
A presence far stronger than Stone Rats.
The system window flickered.
[Warning]
[An abnormal entity has detected Monarch Authority.]
Jiwon swallowed hard, his heartbeat pounding in his ears.
Danger.
Real danger.
He should retreat.
He knew that.
And yet—
His fingers tightened around the dagger.
If he turned back now, he would survive.
But if he went forward…
He took a single step toward the darkness.
"…I need to know."
The weakest had taken his first steps.
Now, something in the dungeon had noticed him.
And it was coming.