The dungeon entrance floated silently above the cracked concrete ground of the Hunter Zone.
It looked like a tear in reality itself.
A circular portal of swirling black and purple energy hung in the air about two meters above the ground. The air around it distorted like heat rising from asphalt, but instead of warmth, the portal radiated a cold presence.
Arin stood several meters away from it.
Hunters gathered nearby in small groups.
Some leaned against cars while checking their equipment. Others spoke quietly while forming parties.
The atmosphere felt serious but calm. For most of the hunters here, E-rank dungeons were routine work.
But for Arin…
This would be his first dungeon ever.
He slowly exhaled and looked at the portal again.
Even though it floated silently, it gave off an invisible pressure that made his instincts uneasy.
He remembered the system window that appeared earlier.
[Current Level: 1]
[Weapon: Basic Handgun]
[Ammo: Infinite]
[Next Weapon Unlock: Level 10]
Arin stared at the words for a moment.
"Level 10…"
That meant this dungeon alone probably wouldn't be enough to unlock the next weapon.
But it was still the beginning.
Behind him, several hunters were whispering.
"That's him."
"The SSS-rank kid."
"Is he really entering alone?"
Arin ignored them.
Instead, he walked toward the portal.
Step by step.
The closer he moved, the colder the air became.
By the time he stood directly in front of it, the temperature felt several degrees lower than the surrounding area.
The surface of the portal rippled like liquid.
Arin raised his hand slowly.
For a moment he hesitated.
This was the point of no return.
Once he entered, monsters would be waiting.
Real monsters.
Creatures that could tear apart a normal human in seconds.
But he had already made his decision.
Without another thought—
He stepped forward.
The moment his body touched the portal, the world twisted.
His vision darkened.
A strange pulling sensation grabbed his body, as if space itself was dragging him through a narrow tunnel.
Then suddenly—
His feet touched solid ground again.
Inside the Dungeon
The first thing Arin noticed was the smell.
Damp stone.
Old earth.
And something faintly rotten.
The air inside the dungeon was colder than outside, and the temperature seemed unnaturally stable, like the inside of a deep cave.
He looked around slowly.
The environment resembled a natural cavern.
Rough stone walls stretched upward into darkness. Water droplets fell from the ceiling at random intervals, creating soft echoing sounds.
Small glowing crystals were embedded within the cave walls, casting faint blue light across the tunnels.
It was just enough illumination to see.
Arin carefully stepped forward.
His shoes scraped lightly against gravel.
Every sound echoed through the cave.
Too loud.
He realized something important immediately.
Inside a dungeon, sound traveled far.
Careless movement could attract monsters.
He slowed his breathing and walked more carefully.
The tunnel curved slightly to the left.
As he reached the bend—
A low growl echoed ahead.
Arin froze.
He could hear something moving.
Small footsteps.
Uneven.
Scratching against stone.
Then a creature stepped into view.
A goblin.
It stood about one meter tall with green skin stretched tightly over a thin body. Its arms were long and slightly crooked, and its fingers ended in dirty claws.
Sharp yellow teeth stuck out from its mouth.
In its hand was a crude dagger made from rusted metal.
The goblin sniffed the air.
Then its eyes locked onto Arin.
For a brief moment they simply stared at each other.
Then the goblin shrieked.
"SKREEE!"
It charged forward immediately.
Arin's heart jumped.
This is real.
There was no pause.
No warning.
The monster attacked without hesitation.
Arin instinctively raised his right hand.
And suddenly—
A handgun appeared in his grip.
It felt surprisingly natural in his hand, like something he had used many times before.
The Basic Handgun.
The goblin was only five meters away now.
It raised its dagger and leaped.
Arin pulled the trigger.
BANG
The gunshot exploded through the cave like thunder.
The recoil pushed slightly against his hand.
The bullet pierced straight through the goblin's forehead.
The creature collapsed mid-leap and slid across the stone floor.
Silence returned to the cave.
Arin stared at the body.
His chest rose and fell rapidly.
"That… actually worked."
Then the system appeared.
[Goblin Defeated]
[+20 EXP]
Arin looked at the handgun.
He checked the magazine instinctively.
It was still full.
No bullet had disappeared.
Infinite ammo.
A small smile appeared on his face.
But that smile vanished when he heard something else.
Footsteps.
Multiple footsteps.
The gunshot had echoed through the cave.
And monsters had heard it.
Three goblins appeared from deeper in the tunnel.
They rushed forward with chaotic shrieks.
Arin steadied his breathing.
He raised the handgun again.
This time he didn't hesitate.
BANG
The first goblin fell.
BANG
The second dropped instantly.
The third continued charging wildly.
Arin adjusted his aim and fired again.
BANG
The last goblin collapsed only a meter away from him.
Arin exhaled slowly.
Three system messages appeared.
[+20 EXP]
[+20 EXP]
[+20 EXP]
Then another message appeared.
[Level Up]
[Current Level: 2]
Arin blinked.
"So leveling really works…"
He crouched near one of the goblin bodies and examined it briefly.
Its skin looked rough and dirty.
Its dagger was dull and poorly balanced.
These monsters were weak.
But they were still dangerous.
If even one of them landed a hit, the rusty blade could easily cause serious injury.
Arin stood again.
The dungeon stretched deeper ahead.
More monsters waited.
And more experience.
He gripped the handgun firmly and continued forward.
As Arin moved deeper into the first layer, the cave tunnels began branching in different directions.
Some passages were narrow.
Others opened into small chambers filled with broken rocks and glowing crystals.
Every few minutes he encountered monsters.
Goblins hiding behind stones.
Small dungeon wolves prowling the tunnels.
Flying cave bats that attacked from the darkness above.
Each fight improved his reaction speed.
At first his hands shook slightly when firing.
But after several encounters, his movements became steadier.
By the time he defeated his tenth monster, he had already reached Level 3.
Hours passed.
Arin continued exploring the first layer carefully.
He learned how monsters behaved.
Goblins often traveled in small groups.
Dungeon wolves attacked in sudden bursts from hidden corners.
The bats relied on surprise from above.
Each encounter became a small lesson.
At one point, a dungeon wolf lunged from a dark tunnel only two meters away.
Arin barely reacted in time.
He fired twice rapidly.
BANG BANG
The wolf collapsed mid-jump.
Adrenaline surged through his body.
"That was close."
He realized something important then.
Even weak monsters could kill him if he became careless.
This wasn't a game.
It was real survival.
Near the far end of the first layer, Arin entered a wider cavern chamber.
The ceiling here was much higher.
Several large rocks formed natural cover throughout the area.
Then he heard them.
Multiple voices.
Goblin voices.
Six of them emerged from behind the rocks.
They spotted Arin immediately and screamed.
The group charged together.
This was the largest group he had faced so far.
Arin raised his handgun.
His breathing slowed automatically.
One target at a time.
He fired.
BANG
First goblin dropped.
BANG
Second fell.
The remaining four spread out slightly as they approached.
Arin adjusted his aim.
BANG
Third goblin collapsed.
One goblin jumped toward him with its dagger raised.
Arin stepped backward and fired.
BANG
The monster dropped at his feet.
The final two goblins rushed him together.
Arin fired twice more.
BANG BANG
Both bodies hit the ground.
Silence returned to the cavern.
Then the system window appeared.
[Level Up]
[Current Level: 5]
Arin lowered the handgun slowly.
He was breathing heavily now.
Not from fear.
From exhaustion.
Fighting continuously for hours had drained his energy.
But the system window gave him a strange sense of progress.
Level 5.
Halfway to unlocking the next weapon.
He looked toward the tunnel leading deeper into the dungeon.
The next layer waited beyond.
More monsters.
More danger.
More experience.
Arin tightened his grip on the handgun.
"This is only the beginning."
The darkness ahead seemed to stretch endlessly.
And somewhere in that darkness…
His future power was waiting.