Chapter Title: Starting Dungeon Conquest
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At that moment, a Big Rat lunged in, tearing at Danzel's face.
"Screech!"
At the same time, Jeon Yeol swung his fist straight at the Big Rat.
Bam!
"...!"
His pot-lid-sized fist slammed squarely into the Big Rat's face.
A deafening crack echoed as the creature's skull shattered.
The Big Rat spewed blood from its mouth and sprawled across the floor.
Thud.
Jeon Yeol stared at his fist in astonishment.
A faint white aura clung to his tightly clenched hand.
"Aura."
It was aura.
Aura took on different colors depending on its intensity.
White was the hue of the weakest aura, progressing to yellow, green, blue, and purple as it grew stronger.
In other words, the aura Jeon Yeol wielded was at the first stage—pure beginner level.
Yet even that was enough to kill a Big Rat whose body was as tough as steel in a single blow.
"Incredible."
He had nearly been done in by the Big Rat just moments ago.
But after hearing Danzel's interview and giving it a try, the aura in his dantian truly flowed into his fist.
Extending it forward, he had slain the Big Rat.
"That aside... this place is called the Starting Dungeon, right?"
The Starting Dungeon was a space for those who received the Master Call to practice and familiarize themselves with the system.
But the Big Rat Jeon Yeol had faced was far too tough for any ordinary Earthling to handle.
Lemonia's words made perfect sense now—no Earthling had ever qualified for the Master Call.
"So, what now?"
Jeon Yeol muttered to himself.
Right then.
The dead rat's corpse dissolved into light and vanished, leaving a single ring-shaped gem in its place.
Faye's voice followed.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Defeating monsters grants you 'Rings.' Rings are automatically bound to the adventurer's soul upon monster defeat—no need to pick them up. To check your Ring count, look at the back of your right hand.
Jeon Yeol glanced at the back of his right hand.
A black "1" had appeared there.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Rings are the currency of this world. Completing objectives in dungeons or fields grants bonus Rings. Upon clearing an objective, you will be automatically transported to the Store. All items there can be purchased with Rings.
He had no idea what the Store sold, but money was money—better stock up as much as possible.
Jeon Yeol decided to kill every Big Rat that appeared.
The dungeon's clear objective was their extermination anyway.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ That covers all the basics. Opening the dungeon entrance now.
Rumble...
The right wall of the stone chamber where Jeon Yeol stood groaned heavily as it slid upward.
A chilly entrance to the dungeon depths appeared.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ The Starting Dungeon is a straight path. Press forward and exterminate all Big Rats.
With that, Faye's voice fell silent.
"Alright."
Jeon Yeol took a deep breath and stepped into the dungeon.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Squeak.
About five minutes into the dungeon, the sound of Big Rats reached his ears.
He spotted one ahead, its back turned to him.
Jeon Yeol moved as quietly as possible, creeping forward.
Once it was in range, he wrapped his fist in aura and charged.
He smashed down at the Big Rat's back.
"Hah!"
But.
Squeak!
The Big Rat glanced back and nimbly dodged with its legs.
Boom!
Jeon Yeol's fist hit only the floor.
But it didn't hurt.
The aura had protected it.
The Big Rat that evaded the ambush charged at Jeon Yeol with glowing red eyes.
It closed the distance in an instant, leaping high to bite his nose.
Jeon Yeol reflexively leaned back. At the same time, he unleashed his aura-clad fist—Aura Fist.
Bam!
It connected perfectly.
Splatter!
The Big Rat's head burst like a watermelon, spraying blood and brains.
It died without a scream, dissolving into light. A Ring appeared and was absorbed into Jeon Yeol's body.
The "1" on the back of his right hand changed to "2."
"Nice. Not hard at all."
Now that he could wield aura, fighting Big Rats was a piece of cake.
Jeon Yeol pressed on.
This time, there were two Big Rats.
They no longer seemed threatening. He approached without hiding his presence.
The two, distracted, whipped around at the sound of his footsteps.
They tensed, claws raised in alert.
These beasts that had charged fearlessly when he hesitated now warily eyed him.
They instinctively sensed he no longer feared them.
One of the two up front lunged first.
'It'll get close and then jump.'
Jeon Yeol had their pattern down.
Sure enough, as it neared, the Big Rat coiled its hind legs to leap.
"Too slow."
He kicked it squarely.
Wham!
Squeak!
As one was struck, the other darted in to bite his leg.
He kicked that one too.
Wham!
Squeak!
Jeon Yeol's Aura Fist hammered down like a mallet on the heads of the two sprawled on the ground.
Crack! Crack!
They dissolved into light, just like before, granting him two more Rings.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"How far does this go?"
Jeon Yeol grumbled as he trudged through the dungeon.
Two hours had already passed on this single straight path.
The number "90" was etched on the back of his right hand.
"Let's wrap this up already."
He was starting to tire of the Starting Dungeon.
The endless straight path and occasional Big Rats were nothing special.
As he kept walking, the end finally came into view.
A massive door signaling the dungeon's exit loomed ahead.
But two Big Rats blocked the way.
Two was no problem at all.
Yet Jeon Yeol paused—they were three times larger than any he'd faced before.
"Boss monsters, huh?"
Aura gathered in both his fists.
At that instant, the giant Big Rats kicked off and leaped forward.
Screech!
In one bound, they closed in and swung their front paws simultaneously.
Jeon Yeol countered with a one-two jab, striking their paws dead-on.
Splat!
Crack!
Screeech!
The Aura Fists snapped the giant Big Rats' front paws clean off.
They screamed and recoiled.
But Jeon Yeol gave them no respite.
He dashed after them.
His lightning-fast fists sliced through the air once more.
Whoosh! Thud!
Aura Fist plunged into the gut of the one on the right.
Scree...
The giant Big Rat gasped, collapsing backward as its belly caved in.
Its organs ruptured, blood pouring from its mouth and nose.
As its companion fell, the other giant Big Rat charged with eyes ablaze.
Screech!
It gaped its jaws wide to rip into Jeon Yeol's shoulder.
A futile attack.
He twisted away with quick footwork.
Click!
Its teeth snapped at empty air.
"Hah!"
With a sharp kiai, Jeon Yeol smashed its head.
Thud! Splatter!
The giant Big Rat's skull exploded like a watermelon.
Red blood and white brains splattered everywhere.
Headless, it convulsed on the ground before dying.
The other, still barely alive, staggered to its feet.
But that was it.
Its insides were mush—it couldn't fight anymore.
"You too."
Jeon Yeol, now right in front of it, bashed its head with Aura Fist.
Splatter!
Thus, the two giant Big Rats met their end pathetically.
The number on the back of Jeon Yeol's hand changed to 100.
"Boss-level ones give 5 Rings each, huh?"
Then Faye's voice rang out.
🎉 CONGRATULATIONS! 🎉 You have exterminated all Big Rats and conquered the Starting Dungeon. Reward: 100 Rings.
The number on the back of Jeon Yeol's hand jumped to 200.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ The door to the Store is opening. Farewell.
As Faye's voice ended, the massive iron door ground open to both sides with a thunderous rumble.
Blinding light poured from beyond.
No telling what lay outside.
"Anyway, stepping through here takes me to the Store, right?"
To exit the Starting Dungeon, he had to go that way.
Without hesitation, Jeon Yeol walked into the light.
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