The light of the collapsing dungeon faded behind them as Lee Hyun and Min Seoah stepped back into the real world. The transition felt heavier this time. Not because of exhaustion, but because of what they had just overcome together.
A Nightmare-level dungeon. They cleared together. Without words, they walked back toward their residence. Their pace wasn't hurried, yet there was no unnecessary delay either. Both of them understood the value of recovery… and preparation.
When they finally reached the small house, the silence that greeted them felt different from before. This time less tense and less distant.
Min Seoah entered first, placing her weapon aside before sitting on the edge of the bed. For a moment, she simply stayed still, her gaze lowered as if processing everything that had happened.
Lee Hyun leaned against the wall, exhaling slowly.
"…That boss wasn't normal."
She nodded slightly.
"…Nightmare difficulty isn't meant for our level."
A brief pause followed. Then she looked up. Directly at him.
"…Why did you save me?"
The question came calmly. But it carried weight. Lee Hyun didn't answer immediately.
"…Because it was the right move."
She frowned slightly.
"…That's not an answer."
He shrugged.
"…It is for me though."
Again a small silence followed. But this time, It wasn't awkward anymore. It was thoughtful.
Min Seoah studied him carefully, as if trying to find something out behind his words, something hidden, something dishonest. But she didn't find it. Because there wasn't any.
"…You're strange."
She said quietly.
Lee Hyun smirked slightly.
"…I've heard that before."
Another pause. Then, her voice lowered slightly.
"…Earlier… what you said."
His eyes shifted toward her.
"…About my sealed power."
A faint tension returned. But this time it was not hostility, but curiosity.
"…How do you know?"
Lee Hyun remained silent for a moment. Then he said.
"…Skill."
He answered simply.
She narrowed her eyes.
"…That's it?"
"…A high-level perception skill."
He added.
"…It lets me see things others can't."
A pause.
"…Including you."
Min Seoah's gaze sharpened.
"…Then what did you see?"
Lee Hyun crossed his arms slightly.
"…A sealed core."
"…Something powerful."
"…And dangerous."
Silence filled the room. This time it was quite heavy. Min Seoah's fingers tightened slightly.
"…I was told… not to use it."
Her voice was quieter now. Less cold, but more… restrained.
"…Why?"
"…Because it's unstable."
A brief pause.
"…And if it awakens incorrectly…"
She didn't finish. But she didn't need to. Lee Hyun understood.
"…Then we'll make sure it doesn't. Or we'll find another way for it to be awaken."
She looked at him again.
"…We?"
He met her gaze. Calm and steady.
"…Of course. You're not alone here."
A long silence followed. But something changed, slightly and subtly. The distance between them somewhat decreased.
After a short rest, they didn't waste time. Both of them stood up almost simultaneously.
"…Again?"
Lee Hyun asked. Min Seoah nodded.
"…We don't have time to slow down. The tournament is in next month. We have to get stronger quickly."
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"…Good."
They returned to the dungeon zone once more. This time, they came without hesitation.
And again selected another D Rank Dungeo, with highest hard mode. But, something felt different. The moment Lee Hyun stood before the gate, a faint unease crept into his senses.
"…Strange…"
Min Seoah glanced at him.
"…What is it?"
He frowned slightly.
"…I don't know…"
A pause.
"…But this dungeon…"
His eyes narrowed.
"…Feels wrong."
She didn't respond. But she didn't ignore it either. She also felt that bone freezing chill. Still, they entered.
The moment they stepped inside, the system reacted.
[Quest Triggered]
Objective: Escape or Clear the Dungeon
Warning: Extreme Threat Level Detected
Lee Hyun's eyes sharpened instantly.
"…Escape? Even this systemof mine givingme a hint. May be this is really life threatening. It is also almost time for the villain to make his presence, if we follow the story of those novels. Its better to be safe then sorry."
He thought, that word, didn't belong here. Dungeons were meant to be cleared. Not escaped.
"…Seoah—"
Before he could finish, they both turned. The gate behind them was closed. No. More specific, it was sealed. The exit flickered, then vanished completely.
Silence took place there. Heavy and felt ppressive.
"…We can't go back."
Min Seoah said quietly.
Lee Hyun's expression hardened.
"…This is bad."
Then suddenly another notification appeared. This time it was different and distorted. Unstable.
[ANOMALY DETECTED]
Dungeon Difficulty Adjusted
New Classification: Cataclysm Tier – "Abyssal Ruin"
The moment those words appeared, the entire dungeon changed.bThe ground trembled violently. The sky above, if it could even be called that, cracked like shattered glass, revealing a deeper layer of darkness beneath.
The air grew heavier and colder and more hostile. Something had gone very wrong. Lee Hyun slowly exhaled.
"…This isn't a D Rank dungeon anymore. And what the hell is that rank of the dungeon. A Cataclysm Tier – "Abyssal Ruin".. what hell does it mean? Is it new hard level?.. what does this anomaly means? "
Min Seoah's aura began to rise unconsciously.
"…No."
Her voice was calm. But tense.
"…No… this is something else entirely. This isn't just an anomaly. Anomalies don't simply appear out of nowhere, they form when a dungeon remains uncleared for over a month. During that time, the monsters inside begin to evolve, growing stronger… smarter.
And if the dungeon is left unchecked for two more months, the accumulated energy within starts to destabilize. It builds, festers… until it can no longer be contained. That's when it happens, a dungeon break."
Lee Hyun nodded in agreement and understanding. Suddenly a distant roar echoed. Not from one direction. But from everywhere. Lee Hyun's grip tightened around his sword.
"…Stay close. They are coming."
Min Seoah stepped beside him. There was No hesitation. No argument.
"…Don't die."
He smirked slightly.
"…You first."
But neither of them smiled. Because they both understood, that this time, It wasn't training. It wasn't growth. It was survival. And the dungeon, was no longer a place. It had become a trap.
---
To be continued..