The dungeon no longer gave them space to breathe. It pressed in from every direction, tight, suffocating and relentless. The ground beneath their feet was no longer stable, roots twisting and shifting as if trying to trap them in place, while the air itself felt heavier with every passing second. The mist had turned darker, thicker, carrying a strange metallic scent that clung to their senses and dulled their awareness.
Lee Hyun and Min Seoah stood back-to-back, their breathing uneven but controlled, their bodies already carrying the signs of prolonged battle. Cuts, scratches, exhaustion, none of it was fatal, but all of it was adding up.
And the enemies in front of them… were no longer just strong. They were dangerous. The goblins had changed again. No longer the chaotic swarm from before, nor the tactical hunters that followed, they had evolved into something far more organized. Their movements were sharper, cleaner, and most importantly… synchronized.
Dozens of them. All elites. Their bodies were larger, darker, veins pulsing with corrupted energy, crude armor covering their vital points, and weapons that looked less broken and more… intentional. Forged, or perhaps… grown.
Lee Hyun's eyes moved across them quickly as Player Insight activated. Levels flickered one after another.
28.
29.
30.
Some even,
31.
A quiet breath escaped him.
"…They're not stopping."
Min Seoah's frost spread lightly across the ground, her blade raised, her posture steady despite the fatigue creeping into her limbs.
"They're closing the gap."
They weren't wrong. The circle around them tightened step by step. No rush or wasted movement. The goblins were still watching, waiting and calculating.
Lee Hyun shifted his stance slightly, his grip on the Demon's Sword tightening as his muscles tensed.
"…They're trying to corner us."
"They already did."
Her voice was calm. But her eyes was sharp and focused. Because there was no escape path anymore. Behind them was blocked. Ahead was sealed. And sides was filled. They were completely surrounded.
The first move came suddenly. A goblin lunged forward, followed instantly by five more from different angles, their attacks layered, timed to overwhelm.
Lee Hyun moved first. Phantom Step activated, his body vanishing and reappearing just outside the attack range, his sword cutting through one attacker instantly, but the rest didn't stop. They adjusted in mid-attack. Another wave followed.
Min Seoah responded with frost, freezing the ground and slowing their advance, her blade moving cleanly as she cut down those who got too close.
But it wasn't enough. This time, more came. Also the stronger ones and faster ones. They began rotating their attacks, one group engaging while another retreated, conserving strength, forcing Lee Hyun and Seoah to keep moving, keep reacting, never allowing a moment of rest.
As time stretched, the pressure increased. Their breathing grew heavier. Lee Hyun blocked another strike, the impact sending a sharp vibration through his arm as he pushed the attacker back and cut it down, only for two more to replace it instantly.
"…This isn't going to end."
Min Seoah didn't respond. Because she knew. This wasn't a battle they could win by fighting normally.
Another attack came. Then another. Then more. Their movements slowed slightly, not from lack of skill, but from the weight of continuous fighting.
Their fatigue was unavoidable. Lee Hyun exhaled slowly. His eyes shifted, thinking, calculating. Then, he spoke.
"Hold them."
Min Seoah glanced at him briefly, her blade still moving as she deflected an incoming strike.
"…What?"
"Give me some time."
Her expression tightened slightly.
"How much?"
Lee Hyun's eyes sharpened.
"…Just a few moments."
There was something in his gaze, confidence and it was certain. Min Seoah paused for a fraction of a second. Then nodded.
"…Fine."
She stepped forward, alone. Her frost again surged. Expanding wider than before, pushing back the incoming enemies as she took the front line, her blade moving faster, sharper, every strike meant to kill instantly.
She didn't ask more. She didn't hesitate. Because she trusted him, not fully, but enough.
Behind her, Lee Hyun closed his eyes for a brief moment. Then opened them again. This time it was calm and more focused. His mind shifted inward. And the system appeared. A soft blue glow flickered in front of him as he navigated through it quickly.
"…Daily login."
He hadn't checked it until now. His finger moved, he claim. A notification appeared.
[Daily Login Reward Obtained]
[Rare Lottery Ticket Acquired]
His eyes sharpened slightly.
"…Rare."
Higher than special. Better, without hesitation, he used it. The interface shifted. A spinning wheel appeared before him, glowing faintly as it began to rotate.
Time slowed. Or maybe, It just felt that way. The wheel spun. First faster, then slower. Then, stopped. In a flash of light, a notification appeared.
[Congratulations!]
[SS Rank Skill Acquired: Void Domain]
For a moment, everything felt still. Lee Hyun's eyes scanned the description instantly.
[Void Domain – SS Rank]
A high-level domain skill that allows the user to create a controlled space infused with void energy.
Effects:
— Creates a domain with a radius of approximately 15 meters centered around the user
— Within the domain, time is temporarily halted for all entities except the user
— Grants full control over void energy inside the domain
— Void attacks ignore conventional defense and directly damage core existence
— Increases user's attack power, perception, and movement speed within the domain
Limitations:
— High physical and mental strain
— Duration is extremely short
— Cannot be used repeatedly in quick succession
A slow smile appeared on Lee Hyun's face, not wide or loud one, but cold and sharp.
"…Perfect."
"Seoah."
She didn't turn. Still was fighting.
"What?"
"Step back."
A brief pause. Then,
"…Now."
There was something in his voice. Min Seoah didn't question it. She pushed back the enemies in front of her with a burst of frost, then retreated fast.
Lee Hyun stepped forward alone. The monsters charged. All at once and from every direction. Claws, Blades, Teeth. Everything aimed at him. And then, he activated it.
The world, stopped. Like the time was frozen, sound vanished and movement ceased. The air froze. Every single goblin was in mid-motion. Claws inches away.
Weapons suspended. Eyes wide and still. Like statues.
Lee Hyun stood there. Breathing alone in a silent world.
"…This…"
His eyes widened slightly.
"…This is…"
He lifted his hand. Void energy gathered instantly. It was dark, dense and absolute.
Then, he moved. Not fast or rushed, but precise. Step by step, through the frozen battlefield, his hand moved and heads fell.
It was too clean, effortless and there was no resistance or struggle.
One. Two. Ten. Twenty. Every enemy within the domain, was executed. Their bodies didn't fall yet. Time hadn't resumed. It was like painting death, across a frozen world. Black blood hovered in the air where blades had passed. A silent massacre and also a perfect one.
The domain ended and time returned. And everything collapsed. Bodies dropped. Heads separated. Black blood splashed across the ground. A wave of death, instant, absolute.
Min Seoah stood there frozen. Her eyes were wide, her expression was gone.
"…What…"
Her voice barely came out. Because what she saw, didn't make sense. Didn't follow logic or didn't follow rules. It was, overwhelming.
Lee Hyun exhaled slowly. His body trembled slightly.
"…Heavy…"
The strain hit him. But then, notifications flooded in.
[Level Up!]
[Level Up!]
[Level Up!]
Six times, back to back he leveled up. His body surged with energy and the fatigue was gone. He recovered instantly.
Min Seoah felt it too. Her breathing steadied. Her body refreshed.
"…We…"
She looked at him.
"…Just leveled up again…"
Then, her eyes narrowed.
"What did you do?"
Lee Hyun glanced at her.
"…A skill."
"That wasn't just a skill."
He smirked slightly.
"…It's a secret."
Her expression tightened.
"…Then why didn't you use it earlier?"
A pause, then..,
"…It's not free."
His voice was calm.
"…It takes a toll."
"…If I used it too early, I might not last till the end."
She looked at him for a moment. Then, turned away.
"…Tch."
But she didn't push further. They stood there for a while. Catching their breath. Letting the silence settle. Then they moved again forward. Because they had no choice.
After some time, they felt it. The pressure, it was different, heavier and darker. Both of them stopped at the same time.
"…Boss."
The mist ahead parted slowly. And something, stepped out. Somthing massive. And towering. A creature far larger than anything they had faced before.
Its body was covered in thick, dark armor, jagged spikes growing out from its shoulders and back. Its face was twisted, almost humanoid, but monstrous, its eyes burning with a deep crimson glow. A massive weapon rested in its hand. It wasn't crude or broken, but refined and deadly.
Lee Hyun's eyes narrowed as Player Insight activated.
[Boss: Abyssal Goblin King – Dread Sovereign]
Level: 35
Attributes:
Strength: Extremely High
Physique: Extremely High
Agility: High
Stamina: Very High
Vitality: Extreme
Mana: High
Abilities:
— Sovereign Command: Controls surrounding monsters and boosts their strength
— Abyssal Rage: Enters berserk state when damaged
— Ruin Smash: Area destruction attack
— Dark Regeneration
Trait:
— King-Class Entity
— High resistance to all elements
— Weakness: Core hidden within chest
The Goblin King stepped forward. The ground cracked beneath its weight. Its gaze locked onto them. Dominant and overwhelming.
Lee Hyun exhaled slowly.
"…Level 35."
Min Seoah tightened her grip.
"…We can't run."
A pause followed, then he smiled slightly.
"…Good."
They stepped forward, side by side. Their weapons was ready. Because this time, there was no holding back.
---
To be continued..