The training grounds mimicked the damp, oppressive atmosphere of a dungeon, heavy with the scent of oxidized metal and a stinging mana that burned the throat. Park Jae Hyun felt the mana coursing through his veins more intensely than ever before. Standing across from him was Kim Do-Yun, known as one of the guild's strongest, staring back with an expressionless face Jae Hyun lunged forward, pouring every ounce of strength into his legs. Each step left spiderweb cracks on the floor. "Still slow," Do-Yun's voice rang out, but it sounded mechanical, echoing as if from a hollow room.
Fueled by a mixture of rage and adrenaline, Jae Hyun roared:
"Fine! Now it's time to end this!"
As the young raised his right hand, a glowing orange ember ignited at his fingertips. Within seconds, his arm was encased in a violent layer of flame up to the elbow. Jae Hyun coiled his body like a spring and unleashed a right hook followed by a left, tearing through the air. The flaming punches carved two massive corridors of fire through the atmosphere. The impact sent Kim Do-Yun hurtling back dozens of meters, his back slamming into the reinforced concrete wall.
But Jae Hyun didn't stop. A wild smile spread across his face. Reversing his grip on his dagger, he blurred forward. Before Do-Yun could even attempt to stand, Jae Hyun brought the blade down in a vertical arc. A flash of light filled the room, and Kim Do-Yun's body was sliced clean in half.
Yet, there was no blood, nor was there a scream... Do-Yun's body dissolved into a cloud of purple smoke and scattered into the air.
"Alright, that's enough. Let's take a break."
Jae Hyun turned toward the voice, panting and drenched in sweat, to see Hwan-Hee checking his stopwatch. Hwan-Hee was the team's strategist and the voice of reason. "How many sessions has that been now, Seo-ah?" he asked the girl beside him.
Seo-ah brushed her hair back while checking data on her tablet. "I don't know, I think we've passed 50 already, right Kang-Woo?"
From a dark corner of the room, Kang-Woo stood up, holding a dagger identical to Jae Hyun's. His clothes were covered in (illusionary) spatters of blood, and a smug smirk played on his lips.
Kang-Woo: "Hey, this kid's actually got something. Thanks to Hwan, he finally figured out how to coat his hand in 'Flame Form.' But he's still raw... He can only use the 6th Form, while the real Kim Do-Yun shakes the world with the 1st Form."
The mysterious figure known only as X, who had been standing silently among the group, cast a cold glance at Kang-Woo. "By the way, Kang-Woo, you need to make your illusions a bit more realistic. His movements were too predictable."
Kang-Woo shrugged. "What's the problem? I copied his appearance perfectly. Copying his actual power is beyond my rank; this is the best I can do."
Jae Hyun extinguished the flames on his hand and straightened up. The fire of battle still flickered in his eyes. "I think I'm ready to take on the real Kim Do-Yun," he said with newfound confidence. Then he paused, turning to Kang-Woo. "By the way, I've been meaning to ask... Remember that thing that terrified me when we met in the dungeon? Who were you imitating? That inhuman, demonic entity—what was it?"
A heavy silence suddenly fell over the room. Hwan-Hee stepped in, his voice more serious than usual.
Hwan-Hee: "That entity... It's a primordial being mentioned in ancient tablets, believed to be the source of the 'Sovereigns' power. We don't exactly know what it is ourselves. Kang simply copied the form found in those archaic records. What you faced was a physical manifestation of pure terror."
Jae Hyun shuddered. "Then," he asked, "does your illusion have a weakness? Can it be detected?"
Kang-Woo tossed his dagger into the air and caught it. "Ordinary hunters wouldn't notice a thing. Only those with exceptionally high mana capacity can detect the slight ripple in reality."
Seo-ah suddenly cut in, breaking the tension. "Alright boys, cut the chatter! We're being summoned. I think something big is going down. Follow me."
The group marched through the guild's massive, sterile corridors. They passed portraits of high-ranking hunters before arriving at the boardroom door. Inside was a vast meeting hall that overlooked the city skyline.
Five men in suits sat at the conference table, as motionless as statues. Among them, Eun-Woo (the Vice Guild Leader) stood up. His blonde hair was perfectly combed, and gold rings glittered on his fingers as he radiated an air of authority. His footsteps echoed as he walked over to shake hands with each of them before activating the table's hologram.
Eun-Woo: "Time is short, mages. Two 'S-Rank' dungeons have opened simultaneously in the Incheon and Sejong regions. The clearing rights for these dungeons have been purchased by our guild. The operation will proceed as follows: Hwan-Hee and Kang-Woo, you will lead the raid in Incheon. A support team of 4th and 5th-rank hunters will accompany you."
He shifted his gaze to X and Seo-ah. "You two are responsible for the portal in Sejong."
Hwan-Hee smiled thinly. "S-Rank? Sounds like it'll be fun."
Seo-ah added excitedly, "Absolutely!"
However, X gestured toward Jae Hyun, who was waiting silently in the corner, and asked the crucial question: "And what about Jae Hyun? Where do you place him in this operation?"
Eun-Woo looked at the youth with cold eyes, as if only noticing his presence for the first time. "Is this the kid you were talking about? What rank is he?"
Hwan: "He's a new Awakened. High potential, but..."
Eun-Woo cut him off. "A new Awakened has no business on an S-Rank field. Entering would be suicide for you, kid. Wait outside the portal and provide logistical support only if something goes wrong."
-
Jack rubbed his eyes and looked around. The streetlights and police sirens that had been behind him just moments ago were gone. In their place stood a colossal stone corridor where eternal darkness reigned and the sound of dripping water echoed. Turning around, he saw the flickering blue light of the "gate" he had come through vanish into thin air.
Jack Lee: "No way... Dammit! Why me, man? This isn't fair!"
With hands trembling from fear, Jack began to move forward, clinging to the walls. The atmosphere of the dungeon was hot and suffocating, as if he were inside the stomach of a living creature. After a while, he reached a massive bronze door engraved with ancient runes. Peering through the keyhole, he saw a room resembling an ancient temple, filled with gargantuan stone statues He slowly pushed the door open and stepped inside. But as he took his very first step, time seemed to stand still A silhouette, moving faster than the speed of light, blocked Jack's vision. Before Jack could realize what was happening, his back slammed against a hard pillar and he felt the icy bite of metal against his throat. A razor-sharp dagger was pressed directly against his carotid artery Facing him was a man who looked like a predator in a cream-colored trench coat, with wild, yellow eyes. Jack recognized him as Sebastian Vane, the man he had seen arguing with the "Blue-Robed Mages" unit behind the police barricades outside the portal.
Sebastian Vane: "Hey, scum... What are you doing here? How does a mortal manage to slip into an S-Rank dungeon?"
Jack Lee: (Stammering) "I-It was an accident! I fell in by mistake, I swear!"
Without pulling the dagger away, Vane looked at Jack's face with pure disgust. "Hmph, I don't care. Everyone who enters here is already considered dead anyway."
Jack Lee: "Uh... How do we get out of here? And what's your name?"
Vane twirled his dagger once, sheathed it at his waist, and turned his back, walking into the darkness. His voice echoed with a graveyard chill:
"Sebastian Vane. And there is no way out."
Jack: "What? How? HOW?!"
Just as Jack was on the verge of a panic attack, the massive statues at the other end of the room began to crack. From beneath the stone, thousands of Elf soldiers and distorted, monstrous creatures burst forth with ear-piercing screams. Jack dove for cover behind a large stone block, fearing for his life Instead of fleeing, Sebastian Vane smiled. It was the grin of a madman or a monster that loved war more than anything else.
Vane: "Looks like this might be fun... So, this is all? Fine, let's begin!"
Vane whipped off his heavy trench coat in one swift motion. Underneath, he wore a black tactical vest that revealed muscular arms covered in tattoos. As he opened his hands to his sides, flames erupted from his palms, shaping into two long swords.
Vane: "Dragon's Breath: 4th Form!"
Vane lunged forward with the force of an explosion. He moved so fast that he left nothing but a trail of fire behind him. He cleaved through the first group of Elves with a single horizontal arc. Before the severed limbs could even hit the ground, Vane had already dived into the center of the next pack.
At that moment, a spear-wielding, monstrous creature crept up behind the stone where Jack was hiding. When Jack heard the creature's low growl, he felt paralyzed.
Jack: "Dammit! I don't want to die! No, no, no!"
Jack threw a desperate, uncontrolled punch, but the creature parried the weak move with ease. With brutal intent, it thrust its bloody spear deep into Jack's chest. Jack's eyes widened as he felt the warmth of blood filling his lungs. As the spear was ripped out, Jack was tossed into a corner. His vision began to blur; Sebastian Vane's fiery dance in the distance felt like a fading dream Vane, meanwhile, was in a world of his own. He pulverized twenty Elves who swarmed him with a massive punch to the ground, creating a shockwave that tore them apart. He was burning and destroying everything in his path, savoring every limb he severed.
Vane: (Wiping blood from his forehead) "Nice... Was that it? Boring."
Using telekinesis, he seized the last remaining Elf by the throat from a distance, lifted it into the air, and crushed its head like a watermelon by clenching his fist. He then began walking through the lake of blood toward the "Final Gate," where the true nightmare of the dungeon awaited. He didn't know it yet, but the real war was only just beginning.
Sebastian Vane approached the "Final Gate," a structure resembling a massive pile of bleached bones, indifferent to the pools of blood beneath his boots. As the gate swung open like the ribcage of a living giant, a dense Green Aura struck Vane's face like a whip.
In the center of the chamber stood a gargantuan Dungeon Lord (Boss) with flaming horns, turning the surrounding air into toxic steam with every breath. The sword in the monster's hand quivered, as if it contained the agonizing screams of a thousand souls.
Vane: "Beautiful... You must be the Boss. Let's wrap this up—"
Before Vane could even finish his sentence, the monster closed the distance with a move faster than the speed of light. The hilt of the colossal sword slammed into Vane's ribcage. The sound of snapping bones echoed through the room as Vane smashed through the wall, coughing up a spray of blood. Yet, as he hit the ground, he didn't grimace in pain; he smiled with manic delight. He began tracing intricate runes in the air with his fingers.
Vane: "Alright... Time to get serious. Hydra Form: Serpent's Wrath!"
Suddenly, Vane's body began to expand uncontrollably. His clothes shredded, unable to withstand the pressure of his bulging muscles. Within seconds, his skin was covered in hard, black-and-green iridescent scales. His pupils narrowed into vertical slits, and the air around him transformed into a lethal acid cloud that dissolved everything it touched In this new, monstrous form, Vane descended upon the Boss like a bolt of lightning. When his fist collided with the Boss's chest, the entire dungeon shook. Vane did not stop; like a predator driven to frenzy, he slammed the Boss's head from wall to wall, tossed him into the air, and caught him to shatter his bones. With one final blow, he tore through the Boss's chest, leaving the monster to collapse as a lifeless heap of flesh.
Vane: "Was that it? You couldn't even keep me entertained, you piece of filth!"
Drunk on victory, Vane turned his back and took a boastful step toward the exit. But at that exact moment, an explosion rocked the very foundations of the dungeon The Boss was not dead; instead, it had evolved into its final form. Its horns stretched toward the ceiling, and its teeth were now coated in Blue Flames. With a single roar, a terrifying army of 5,000 a horrific fusion of Elves and monsters appeared behind it For the first time, Vane felt true fear. A blue-flamed claw seized Vane's head and dragged him across the floor. A magic attack to his solar plexus scorched his internal organs. Collapsing in a pool of blood, Vane realized he had no choice but to play his final card.
Vane: (Whispering with great difficulty) "Hydra Form: APOCALYPSE!"
Hell broke loose. Vane completely lost his human form; his skin began to glow like a blood-red ember. With every punch, dozens of Elves were pulverized, turning the dungeon into a meat grinder. However, the monster had the advantage of numbers. It tore Vane's left arm from its socket and hurled him against the wall. With half his body charred, Vane waited for death.
Vane: "So, it's over... Finish it."
Just as the monster's flaming claw was about to crush Vane's skull, a hand caught the strike mid-air. Vane forced his bloodshot eyes open and gasped in shock. Standing before him was Jack Lee, the man whose chest should have been hollowed out by a spear. But this was not Jack His body was built with incredible muscle mass, his arms covered in ancient seals and tattoos. His hair stood upright like a blood-red flame, and his hands were wreathed in a never-before-seen Purple Fire. The gaze of Jack (or whoever occupied his body) turned the room into a freezer.
Vane: "H-hey... Who the hell are you?"
Valerius Grimm: "You damn Director... Is this the body you deemed worthy of me? After all these years, I have returned, yet I'm inside this loser."
Grimm looked at Vane's face with pure loathing. "You're pathetic, weakling."
With a single motion, Grimm crushed Vane's head, ending his life and inhaling his soul like a cloud of smoke. At that moment, a massive explosion tore through the dungeon. With a wild laugh, Grimm annihilated the 5,000-strong army with a single gesture. The dungeon, unable to contain this immense power, began to collapse in on itself Seconds later, an explosion occurred in front of the portal in London. Grimm emerged through the smoke, looking at the surrounding police and mages. He tore the head off a mage, held it high, and let the blood splash across his face
Grimm: "So, there is a Blood Symphony after all... My favorite!"