30 years ago, the gates of hell swung open, unleashing monsters upon humanity. Glass shatters against the asphalt. Someone curses the heavens as another dimensional rift tears open. He kicks the steel railing in frustration. Let the hunters and the gates all burn to ash. This rot-filled world meant nothing to him now. His face was a mask of bruises, tears streaming down. A storm of rage and sorrow crashed over him. What sin did I commit to deserve this agony? But a guard's voice cut through the wind. Step back. It is too dangerous. But the broken man only screamed into the void. Why should I listen to you? Do I not even have the freedom to end my own life? The rescuers tried desperately to talk him down. It was feudal. Leave me be. You could never comprehend the hell I have walked through. Flashback 3 hours prior. The towering headquarters of the prestigious Bison Guild. Am I truly being discarded? The young man pleaded desperate to prove his loyalty. I gave everything to this guild. The guild leader sat like a king on his throne. Tell me what value have you actually brought us. You were a glorified porter hired seven years ago only for your work ethic, nothing more. Yet you remain a stagnant rank D loser. And now you are a crippled burden. As our protagonist tried to protest, the leader silenced him coldly. Stop struggling. Accept your severance and vanish. Wait, I can fix this leg. I can still carry the load. Please. A hulking figure shadowed the doorway. Blonde hair tattoos and a cruel sneer. Are you deaf trash? The boss said, "You are finished." It was the rising star Lee Yong Jin. How dare you speak to your senior that way. But Yong Jin only laughed at the hierarchy. Why are you acting so high and mighty? Stop playing the elder. It is pathetic. Take your pity money and buy some treats. That is all a ranky piece of trash deserves. Lee Tan. Fury exploded in Leitan's chest. He sees the arrogant junior's collar. My leg is ruined because of times your times. Mistake, you reckless bastard. You caused that accident. Yong Jin scoffed, slapping the hand away. Did I ask for your help? You were just luggage. You should have stayed in the back. How does a loser like you hold an S-rank title anyway? Explosive growth. What a joke. He mocked the useless skill with a twisted grin. Your growth potential must be frozen solid. Snapping Lee Tan swung his fist in blind rage, but the strike met an invisible wall. A mana barrier flickered effortlessly around Yong Jyn<unk>s hand. Know your place trash. A heavy blow buried itself in Lean's gut. He collapsed, wretching bile on the floor. Young Jyn hauled him up like a ragd doll. I am sick of your seniority complex. Just because you started a few years early means nothing. Let's see how tough you really are. Fists rained down like hammers. The guild leader listed his sins calmly in the background. A rank D attacking a rank S insubordination. But your greatest crime simply being Lee Tan. They tossed him aside like garbage. An envelope hit the floor. Thanks for being my chauffeur all these years. Now disappear. Tears of humiliation soaked the carpet. The scene fades to the cold dark night. Back in the present, he stumbled out of a convenience store. Liquor in hand. The alcohol burned pleasantly on the way down. He gripped the severance envelope with trembling hands. Seven long years of my life. Sold for this pathetic stack of paper. The world had nothing left for him. He climbed the railing one last time. Suddenly, a blue holographic light, warning life in danger. Step back. Lean let out a bitter hollow laugh. Oh, now you care. Where was this concern for the last 7 years, you damn system? He punched the hologram. You curse status window. You useless piece of junk. Zero stat boosts, zero help. The system responded with a shocking message. System is going on strike. Leitan cackled maniacally. A strike perfect. Go ahead and quit, you trash. You're worthless anyway. Get out of my sight. He hurled the bottle through the blue light. Memories flooded back, drowning him. If you had just explained the skill, I wouldn't be in this living hell. He screamed at the heavens. God, do you hear me? Why did my life have to be such a nightmare? The system interface fractured, glitching violently before a message flashed before Téjun's eyes. Complaint received. Back in reality, Téjun stood on the precipice, ignoring the desperate pleas of the authorities. You know nothing of my hell," he screamed. But gravity claimed him, and the world tilted as he slipped into the abyss. As the wind roared in his ears, a strange piece washed over him. Was this truly the end? Perhaps it was mercy to leave this cruel world behind. But Destiny refused to let him go, and the blue window materialized once more. System administrator alert complaint accepted, initiating transport to the administrator's private server. Téjun gasped as a blinding column of pure energy swallowed him whole. The world dissolved into light. System notifications cascaded like rain. Then the blue screen shattered, replaced by a radiant legendary gold. System update complete. Tjun's eyes snapped open to the mocking cheerfulness of birds and morning sun. His head throbbed like a drum. "Uh, what kind of drunken mess did I get myself into last night?" he groaned. "If I ever touch alcohol again, I'm literally a dog," he swore to the empty room. Suddenly, a shard of memory pierced his hangover. The fall, the wind. Had that actually happened? He vaguely recalled a golden system window, but shook his head. Just a hallucination, he scoffed. My imagination is broken, too. Hallucination or not, reality was bleak. He was jobless, hopeless, and running out of time. Back to construction work, he sighed. No guild would ever look twice at a failed hunter like him. But his pity party was cut short. Light coalesed into a hologram, revealing a blonde girl with pointed ears hovering in midair. Are you satisfied with the premium update? She chirped. Téjun yelped, scrambling backward in sheer terror. Who the hell are you? She tossed her hair completely unfazed. I am Merie from the system management department. Téjun's breath hitched. So last night, the fall. It wasn't a drunken nightmare. Real as rain, Mary beamed. We reviewed your ticket regarding the lack of explosive growth and found a critical error. It turns out your status window was running on version 1.0. It was completely obsolete, blocking your growth for years. Téjun froze. Her casual giggle echoed in the silence, shattering his world. How? He whispered. Security protocol? She winked. That's classified information user. But don't worry, we patched the bug. Your potential is unlocked and you can finally evolve. Relief didn't come. Only a cold burning fury. You think that fixes this? He roared. 7 years. Every drop of sweat, every broken bone wasted because of a software glitch. Mary flinched as he lunged, seizing her shoulders with trembling hands. "Do you have a death wish?" His eyes burned with murder. "How do you pay for a stolen life? How will you bring back my seven lost years? Please calm down," she squeaked, terrified. "I I've restored all your missing stats retroactively, and I fixed your leg." Téjun released her, looking down at his crippled limb. He rotated his ankle. The chronic pain was gone. It felt lighter than air. Impossible. Compensation complete. Mary dusted herself off. But to activate the explosive growth trait, you need a trigger event. System event initiated. High above the city, the sky tore open, bleeding green energy and writhing tentacles. A nightmare beast descended, spewing acid that melted concrete like butter. Screams erupted. Where are the hunters? Call the containment squad. A multifaced beholder crashed onto the pavement, looming over the fleeing civilians. Tjun watched the broadcast pale as a sheet. You want me to fight that? Are you trying to kill me for real this time? I have total faith in you, Mary grinned. Go get him, Tiger. Worst case scenario, you just die. She gave a thumbs up. On screen, the beholder bloomed like a corpse flower, releasing a fog of venom. That was a B minus rank calamity. Even a veteran raid party would hesitate to engage. Téjun clenched his fists. If I kill it, the explosive growth is mine. Guaranteed. Mary nodded solemnly. The war within his mind raged. Could he trust this floating pixel? It was madness. Absolute suicide. But his life had been one long tragedy anyway. Running away had never saved him before. Screw it. I have nothing left to lose. He sprinted past the barricades, ignoring the soldiers, screaming for him to stop. Get back, civilian. Téjun ignored them, dodging the acid spray that sizzled against his skin and launched a desperate kick at the beast's eye. With a deafening boom, he obliterates the creature's limb in an instant. A blue system window flashes into existence. The hidden objective is complete. The skill fearless experience activates, triggering the passive ability. Explosive growth. Taijun stares in shock. How could a single strike devastatingly crush a monster of this caliber, but the system isn't done yet. Ding. Another notification chimes. His attributes are skyrocketing. Yet, looking at the glowing status window, his classification remains a humble rank D. Behind him, Mary smirks. So, how does the first taste of explosive growth feel? Tajun can only mutter. This is absurdly broken. But Mary cuts his celebration short. Don't get arrogant, kid. That skill is just waking up. You want the real power? Slaughter every monster here. Before she finishes, Tajun is already moving. He tears through a spore monster instantly. Ding! Explosive growth triggers again. Energy floods his veins. Each kill is a massive injection of strength. The adrenaline is intoxicating. He craves more. He needs more. He ruthlessly exterminates the remaining five spores. Power overflows from his very being. Finally, he locks onto the venomous spore. At this pace, I'll hit B rank in a week. No, I'll surpass A rank. With a feral grin, he dives straight into the monster's m. A thunderous punch lands. The scene shifts. The dust settles on the cityscape as soldiers clean up the monster corpses. The crowd buzzes with rumors. Is the containment team here? Among the onlookers, Yungun clicks his tongue, annoyed he missed the show. Hey, look over there. His lackey points out Tajun, who is scavenging through the beast's guts. What's that loser doing? Did he eat something rotten? They mock his strange satisfied expression. Smirking Yungun struts over with his posi. Hey, Tajjun, Mary. Yun<unk>s voice drips with venom. Did your tiny brain miss our warning earlier? You are pathetic. You'll never be anything but trash in this world. Tajun doesn't flinch. Are these guys here to steal my kills? Suddenly, a blue window pops up. A new quest. A wicked knowing smile spreads across Tajjun's face. Oh, my bad, he says, his sarcasm thick enough to cut. My leg hurts, so I was slow. Thanks for waiting, kind sir. Before Yungun can explode, a soldier interrupts. Excuse me, Hunter. She rushes to Tajun, eyes wide with gratitude. We would have been wiped out without you. Tajun<unk>s smile twists into something darker, almost manic. The pieces are falling into place perfectly. Carpey DM, he thinks. Out loud, he bows his head humbly. It was nothing, just my duty. Yungun and his goons stand their jaws on the floor. Duty that trash. Their confusion turns to irritation. The soldier continues gushing. I've never seen anyone handle so many spores simultaneously. Yun snaps. Hold on. He barks. Are you saying this loser soloed the entire nest? The soldier nods. Is there a problem? Yungun's brain shortcircuits. Before he can protest, Tajun steps in. Don't bother the official guys. He grabs Yungun and his crew with a grip like iron. Come with me. I'll explain everything privately. The scene cuts to a secluded construction site. Shadows stretch long and ominous. The blonde lackey sneers. Start talking trash. You really killed that thing alone. He pokes Tjun's chest, mocking him. You're just a D-rank. Do you think we're stupid enough to believe that? He demands an answer. Tajun stays silent, lost in a memory. The system window from earlier had been very specific. Emergency quest. Teach the root adventurers a lesson. Reward one A rank skill. An A rank skill for beating up bullies. That was why he grinned like a psychopath earlier. It wasn't arrogance. It was pure joy. Killing two birds with one stone doesn't even begin to cover it. Suddenly, Tajun drops to the floor. He kneels head bowed. Mary looks at him like he's lost his mind. I am so sorry, Tajun cries out dramatically. Would you guys mind if I beat the living hell out of you? The gang stares completely baffled. Tajun looks up his eyes dead serious. I know it sounds weird, but I'm new to this, so I'll stop sugar coating it. I'm asking for permission. Can I teach you a lesson now? Rage explodes from Yun's group. A massive bald thug steps forward, veins popping. Has the heat cooked your brain? Is this a joke? Shut your mouth, trash. He looms over Tajjun. In this world, crimes require punishment. He shoves Tajun<unk>'s head down hard. Know your place. Tajun<unk>s voice drops to a chilling whisper. Are you serious? You really believe that criminals deserve punishment? He stands up slowly. Well then, since you agree, you won't mind taking what you deserve. The bald guy opens his mouth to curse. Bam. A fist connects with the force of a wrecking ball. The impact literally reboots the man's operating system. He crumbles to the ground, eyes rolled back. The rest of the group freezes in terror. Did he just one-shot him? The bald goon collapsed instantly. While the rest stood there, paralyzed by shock. Téjun taunted them. Come at me one by one, he dared. If they had the guts to threaten a superior, they should test his finger strength first. The gang scoffed, thinking he was insane. Fall to a simple forehead flick. Who did this guy think he was? They questioned his sanity, mocking his previous beatings. But as they closed in, Téjun charged up his finger. Asterisk snap asterisk. The impact was like a cannonball. The bald guy's face caved in blood, spraying like a busted ketchup packet. Téjun became a blur of destruction. One flick, one kill. Shields shattered and weapons crumpled like paper. Within seconds, bodies littered the floor. Only Young Jay remained trembling in confusion and rage. "Is this a joke?" he stammered. But Tjun's voice cut through the air like a blade. Does this look like a game? His eyes glowed with a terrifying crimson light. Still find it funny, Young Jay. The bully's confidence began to crack. Téjun's grin turned predatory. He might spare the lackis, but the ring leader. Oh, he wasn't going anywhere. A simple flick was too merciful for trash like him. Brace yourself, Téjun warned, his aura flaring. Cornered and desperate, Young J snapped. I'll kill you. He summoned jagged ice spikes, mocking Téjun's physical stats. Don't get cocky over one trick, he spat. But Téjun stood there utterly unimpressed by the frozen display. So that's the ice missile skill, he asked casually. Asterisk. Ding. The system window flashed before his eyes. Skill acquired. Tjun grinned like a demon. Great timing system. He raised a hand to the heavens. Mana gathered in a swirling vortex. A massive sphere of flame materialized, radiating the heat of a miniature sun. Tjun smirked at his trembling opponent. I got a new toy, too. This wasn't just fire. It was an A-rank calamity, a spell capable of negating healing magic. How's the view? Tjun asked. The heat was already warping the air. The blonde bully stared, mouth a gape. His ice spikes evaporated instantly into steam. Is that real? Just learned it. Tjun shrugged, figning innocence. Might be hard to control. He warned the fool to dodge. Fire. He unleashed the inferno. Young Jay watched in horror as the flaming death descended upon him. The heat was unbearable. His mind went blank as the roaring flames swallowed his entire world. asterisk boom asterisk. An explosion shook the very foundations of the building. A crater formed where the bully once stood. Young Jay lay sprawled on the scorched earth. Hair fried clothes burnt to rags looking like overcooked barbecue. Barely conscious, he wondered how he was still breathing. Look at you, Téjun scoffed. Peeing your pants. Pathetic, our hero sneered. Don't collapse yet. Stand up. Tjun loomed over him like a grim reaper. Stop bullying the guild members, he commanded. Be a good boy from now on. The bully wept totally broken. I understand. I'm sorry, senior. He cowtowed, promising to change. But Tjun wasn't done yet. You forgot one thing, he smirked. I still owe you that flick. He raised his finger, aiming right between the eyes. Suddenly, the scene shifted. Mary was shaking him awake. Get up, Lazy Bones. It's dungeon time. She scolded him for passing out. You drained your mana and slept for three whole days. The price of reckless power. She turned to the camera, breaking the fourth wall. Will he survive this crisis? Tjun just told her to zip it. Groaning in pain, he clutched his head. Quiet down. I have a fever. The after effects were brutal. He realized he had pushed his mana circuits to the breaking point. Too excited about his new strength. He got careless. But this was a wake-up call. Physical stats were great, but without Mana, he was a sports car with no gas. Mary tilted her head. Do you really need more? Considering his monstrous growth, wasn't he strong enough? That's exactly why Téjun argued. His stats were skyrocketing, but his mana pool was a stagnant puddle. If he kept hunting like this, he'd be passing out every 5 minutes, unacceptable for a solo player. Plus, that A- rank fireball gulped down mana like water. He needed an upgrade, and he needed it now. Mary nodded, understanding the dilemma. Is there a way? Téjun smiled. I know just the place. Asterisk ding asterisk ns. The system showed 8 hours and 30 minutes until full recovery. Fast forward to the next morning. A colossal structure pierced the clouds. The training tower. It stood like a monument to ancient power. Mary gazed up in awe. What is this thing? The fast track to infinite manatejun explained. It was technically a beginner's dungeon. Mary looked around the deserted entrance. If it's so good, where is everyone? Trends change, Téjun muttered. It used to be a hot spot, but now it was a ghost town. Suddenly, an old man appeared. The old man approaches, eyes wide, crying out to his grandmother as if she has returned from the grave. Our protagonist is completely baffled, trying to ignore the confusion. Téjun steps up. He demands to start the tower's training mission, but the elers's mind is elsewhere. The old man mutters nonsense about avoiding fast food. Still talking to a ghost. Téjun loses patience, clarifying he wants power, not a burger. Finally, the elder focuses. You seek the tower, he asks. He beckons them forward, offering to guide them into the abyss. Mary shivers, whispering how creepy this atmosphere feels, but Tjun smirks, radiating confidence. I'm ready for anything. The old man starts a boring lecture, but our hero cuts him off. He knows the rules. The tower has 10 stages. Clear them all, and the mission is complete. Téjun explains that the first stage involves defeating a simple pack of goblins. The elder nods in confirmation. Mary looks at Téjun with awe, impressed by his deep knowledge of this mysterious place. No one knows this tower better than me. Tjun boasts. Since he couldn't fight before, he became a master of theory. He studied every raid on YouTube, memorizing every strategy. He is a keyboard warrior turned legitimate challenger. This beginner dungeon, he scoffs. It will be a piece of cake. Mary cheers for him, but the narrator notes he is only a genius on paper. The old man asks what he mumbled, but Téjun brushes it off, pretending he was just psyching himself up. Moments later, they warp inside. The test begins. The old man strikes the earth with his staff, summoning the trials. 10 goblins, easy. Téjun thinks. Three small ones appear, but looming in the shadows behind them. A legion of hulking monstrosities emerges. Téjun pales. Is it bulking season for goblins? He demands answers, asking why the goblins look like ogres, but the elder just babbles about kimchi soup. Frustrated, Téjun curses the scenile fool. But there is no time to argue. The massive horde charges. Mary screams in panic. Téjun grits his teeth, channeling his mana. I'll crush you all, he roars. A blazing fireball erupts from his hand, engulfing the front line in flames. He celebrates the destruction, but Mary yells, "A warning. Behind you, an enemy has flanked him while he was gloating. It is too late to dodge. A heavy blow strikes him, but fortunately his reflexes kick in just in time. He blocks the impact. Using his staff as a pivot, he launches himself into the air, defying gravity. With a roar, he lands a devastating kick directly to the ogre's face. Show me what you've got. One hit, one kill. The beast collapses. A blue window chimes. Stage one clear. Thanks to the skill explosive growth. His experience points skyrocket in an instant. The old man cackles. Too easy. E. Téjun forces a smile, a vein popping in his forehead. Easy. That was a death match. The elder ignores the mood, signaling the next round. Téjun holds back the urge to strangle the guide. But as they progress, a terrifying realization hits him. This dungeon is nothing like the videos. The difficulty is broken. The monsters possess overwhelming power and absurd levels. He finally understands why this tower is abandoned. It isn't hard. It is impossible. It is hell itself. He fights through stage after grueling stage, screaming for mercy until they reach the finale. He kneels exhausted. Before him looms the final boss, a massive three-headed beast with golden chains. It is the guardian of the underworld, a level 90 rank s hellhound. Téjun remembers regular forest dogs. This creature is a god compared to them. The pressure is suffocating. Forget the reward, he whispers trembling. I can't kill this thing even if I had nine lives. His mana reserves are dry. Hope is gone. But suddenly, ding, a hidden mission appears. Heal the scenile NPC. The system reveals the truth. The guide is the glitch. It hits him. This whole dimension is built from the old man's mana. His sility is warping reality. Because the elder cannot control his mind. The monsters are running rampant with chaotic energy. Fix the man. Fix the dungeon. If he can restore the elder sanity, the nightmare will end. Mary asks if he has a plan. Maybe he grunts. He sprints toward the old man, banking on a theory. He recalls a lesson. When a grand mage loses control, their mind shatters from the mana overload. He has to stabilize the energy flow before the hell hound tears them apart. Téjun reaches out desperation in his eyes. This is his only chance to survive this broken game. He channels the last of his strength, preparing to shock the old man back to his senses. His mind is in chaos. The elers's consciousness is a massive tangle of erratic mana threads. Our protagonist rushes in. Marie screams in confusion, but there is no time to explain. He grabs the old man's head, bracing himself for the surge. His fingers move like lightning, massaging the pressure points to force the elder into a state of forced enlightenment. To an amateur, it looks like a simple massage, but in reality, he is surgically redirecting the monoflow into its divine pattern. I have to fix this, he tells himself. I must restore the circulation before his mind shatters. But suddenly, Marie cries out a warning. A catastrophic pink fireball is hurling straight toward them. Desperate, he screams for the elder to wake up. He accelerates his technique to the breaking point. The fireball makes impact times. Boom! times an explosion engulfs the tower. Smoke and debris are everywhere, but miraculously, our hero stands unharmed. A deep ancient voice cuts through the dust. It seems my old bones caused quite a scene. The voice chuckles radiating immense pressure. You did well, young one. The smoke clears, revealing a shock. The frail elder has transformed into a titan of muscle. His staff now a massive pillar of power. Who are you? Our hero stammers. The elder smiles, claiming his mind hasn't been this clear in centuries. But the enemy persists. The massive hellhound lunges for the kill. But with a single casual swing, the elder obliterates the beast instantly. The attack was so powerful it blew the roof off the tower. The elder turns, bowing with gratitude. You are my benefactor. Name your desire. The arch mage declares. Anything you wish. Ding times. The system window flashes. Hidden mission completed. Rewards granted. We cut to the aftermath. The elder is casually doing squats with a massive pillar on his back. 100. He smashes the staff into the ground, shattering the stone floor. True magic requires a body of steel. He begins flexing, striking bodybuilding poses. Intense mana usage requires intense physical conditioning. This is the legendary arch mage alloy. He asks our hero to touch his muscles, asking if he can feel the mana radiating from his biceps. I'll pass on. Touching our hero declines awkwardly. I did too, Marie whispers traumatized. But the sage persists. You underestimate the power of physical cultivation. The arch mage laughs. Now speak your wish. Anything is valid. Our hero checks his status. My mana is pathetic. My limit is 200. Can you increase my capacity? Child's play alloy grins. Behold the body mana accumulation technique. He winds up his fist and slams a devastating punch directly into our hero's gut times. Wham! Times agony explodes through his body. Light bursts from his eyes and mouth as pure energy floods his core times. Ding times. System alert. Mana increased by 300 points. Total mana 500. He collapses, coughing violently. I I almost died. He wheezes. Nonsense. The old man scoffs. The problem isn't your capacity. It's your fireball. You waste mana like a leaking bucket. That skill is basic. Yet you use it like a localized nuke. Inefficient. But the arch mage offers a solution. I will help you reconstruct the spell. We jump forward in time, leaving the tower for the bustling city streets. Inside a sleek building, a voice calls out. Téjun, it's Leia, the crimson-haired A-rank huntress of the myth guild. Marie is floored. You actually know her, the ice queen. She looks at our hero with new suspicion. Wait, you have friends? A female friend, Marie's roasting is relentless. Our hero twitches in annoyance. Do I really look that lonely to you people? He snaps. Leah approaches her presence, commanding the room. Why the sudden call? She asks. He explains he needs to test the ultimate fireball technique he learned from the arch mage. The myth guild has the best training center in the nation. He says I need a bunker that can handle accidents. My old spell could level a building. This new one, it's cataclysmic. I need a contained environment. Leah raises an eyebrow. You have more connections than I thought. She steps closer, invading his personal space. What was that? She asks. Nothing. He laughs nervously, trying to dodge the interrogation. We cut to the training facility. "How have you been?" Leah asks. "It's been ages." He shrugs, humble as always, "Just surviving. Doing my duty as a hunter." Suddenly, she leans in her face, inches from his. "Is there something on my face?" he panics. "No," she whispers. "I just wanted to see how much you've grown." "You used to be the one crying for help," she muses. "But now your aura is different. The moment is interrupted. Someone else booked the room," she notes, opening the door. You might be surprised to see who it is. Our hero freezes. Standing there is Cho Jing Yu, the A-rank ace of the bison guild. Their eyes lock, sparks fly. Our hero is shocked, but Choy looks ready to kill. The air turns heavy with hostility. Leah stands between the two tigers. Why the deadly tension? She asks. You two haven't met in a year, right? She explained that this domain was a virtual construct woven directly from the user's own mana reserves. The strength of the summoned monster mirrored the energy sacrificed. She chneled her aura, manifesting a small, grotesque creature. A wretched thing even a devil would pity. Yet she cooed at it, calling it adorable, completely oblivious. Our protagonist stared in disbelief. Was times that time supposed to be cute? Sen excused herself to grab refreshments, leaving the tension to simmer. With her gone, the air grew heavy. The protagonist extended his hand. In this realm, his will was law. He could birth any nightmare. A massive ogre materialized from his mana. But the moment it formed, asterisk flash asterisk. A single strike cleaved the beast in two. He scoffed, stretching his limbs. Disappointing. That wasn't even a warm-up. A cold voice cut through the silence. Don't play innocent. Gino stepped forward. Was it you, the one who decimated the guild's rookies? You fool. Gino spat. I refuse to believe the rumors, but watching you slaughter that ogre. I can't deny it. Did you awaken a hidden talent? Is that it? And now you use that strength to crush your own kin. Attacking family who ate from the same table. The protagonist's gaze hardened. He remembered the past. Gino was once a brother in arms at the academy. A reliable comrade. But the moment he joined the bigot guild. Ambition corrupted him. He climbed the ranks and discarded his old self. That bond was long dead. A look of pure arrogance twisted the protagonist's face. Yeah, I did it. So what? What are you going to do about it, Gino? I crushed those insects because they dared to cross me. He stepped closer, eyes burning. And where were you? You just watched while they beat me to a bloody pulp. His words were venom piercing Gino's pride. You should have stepped in. You should have fought times with times me, Gino snapped. Rage exploded as he seized the protagonist's collar. You've got some nerve. Gino roared. But the protagonist cut him off, his voice dripping with sarcasm. Ah, you're choking me. I can't breathe since my life is threatened. I guess I can claim self-defense now, right? Just then, Sen returned with drinks. I'm back. She froze, dropping the bag. What on earth are you two doing? Ignoring her, Gino launched a spear thrust. Break time is over, but the protagonist didn't flinch. No rest for the wicked times. Bam times. A lightning fast kick caught Gino offguard. Gino barely blocked, sliding back. He gritted his teeth. You really have gotten stronger, Tajun. Fine. I won't hold back anymore. The protagonist sneered. You should have been serious from the start trash. Gino's patience shattered. You arrogant little. He spun his spear mana crackling around the shaft. Bigot spear arts. First form spear of thunder. Yellow lightning enveloped the weapon crackling with deadly intensity. Sen screamed terror in her eyes. Gino, have you lost your mind? You can't use the thunder spear indoors. I knew you'd use that. The protagonist muttered. Beside him, the summon mirror trembled in fear. If you want to play rough, let's go. The air screamed as the protagonist gathered an impossible amount of mana. A blinding blue inferno erupted. The S-rank arch mage skill blue flame cannon. This wasn't just fire. It carried a curse of anti-healing. Gino froze his eyes widening in horror. Is that pure energy? The pressure was crushing. Gino realized too late he couldn't block this. He was going to die. Slash times. A blur of motion severed the space between them. A sword cut through the spell, dissipating the apocalypse like mist. Silence fell. Who is that? The protagonist asked. Sen gasped. That's the vice master of the myth guild, Sha Suan. An S-rank hunter swan sheathed his blade. That was no ordinary fireball. Using a skill of that magnitude on a teammate. You could have vaporized the entire building. The protagonist shrugged, figning exhaustion. Sorry, first time using it. Got carried away. Gino stood trembling. It was a disaster, but the protagonist grinned internally. Perfect. I was in a bind, but this turned out even better. Suan turned his aura, shifting from terrifying to welcoming. He approached with a professional smile. You have potential. He extended a hand. Tell me, how would you like to join the Myth Guild? Gino's jaw dropped. The vice master of myth, one of the country's legendary S-rankers, was scouting Tajun. Swan continued. I've never seen a basic fireball refined to such destructive perfection. A hunter who masters the fundamentals to that level. Is exactly what we need. He pressed again. Will you join us? The protagonist hit a smirk. A scout offer from an S-ranker. Looks like my power has finally been recognized. Myth. One of the four great guilds of Korea alongside Hongik Longan and Shang Yin. Joining them meant wealth, power, and status. Tajun looked the vice master in the eye and spoke. A hunter's path is one of endless discipline. They must shatter their limits to ascend. However, Suen questions this grueling regimen, prompting our hero to declare his resolve. He vowed to duel Jin Wuk to test the very peaks of his strength. Jin Wuk denies this imaginary promise bewildered, but he is swiftly cut off. Our protagonist speaks with solemn gravity. During his training with Master Jing Yu, he realized something profound. Jin Wuk is a towering mountain he has yet to conquer. Because of this gap in power, he cannot join the guild yet. There are too many peaks left to climb before he is worthy. Jyn Wuk snaps, calling him insane and trying to warn him off. But the vice president just bursts into hearty laughter. He declares that nothing matters more than a hunter's drive to evolve. He admires that fiery spirit and finally asks the question, "What is his name and what is his rank?" Our hero stands tall. He is Leein, a mere rank D hunter. Suanne shakes his head. Such monstrous talent wasted on a D-rank badge. It is a travesty. He vows to pull some strings immediately. Time flows forward. Our protagonist explains the situation. He has received a golden ticket from Suon. A recommendation for the rank B evaluation in just one month. Hesitation flickered at first, but the logic of this world is simple. Higher rank means higher level dungeons. To gain power, he must ascend. He accepts the challenge to become rank B. One month later at the Hunter test center, the air here is heavy with mana, and our hero is struck by the intense atmosphere. Beside him, Meera whispers, "Suen must favor him greatly to grant such a rare recommendation so swiftly." He scoffs with a smirk. Real talent recognizes its own kind. In this world, no one compares to him. Meera then asks the burning question on everyone's mind. Why refuse the Myth Guild when they offered the world on a silver platter? His answer is cold and logical. It is about the money. Guild dogs must share their spoils, giving a cut of every raid to their masters. The rewards are mediocre and the schedule is a prison. Why work yourself to the bone for scraps? You work like a loyal hound, only to be kicked aside when you break. He wants only fortune. His smile widens, unsettling, and sharp. It is the grin of a predator. Suddenly, a voice cuts through the air and he turns with a devilish glint in his eye. A silver-haired beauty stands there wearing a pure headband. She asks if he is here to test his fate. This is Ya Rin, an elite member of the Chianan Guild. She offers a hand and he accepts. Does she know of his reputation? She nods. The rumors have traveled far on the wind. Suanne is obsessed with recruiting him, and word spreads fast. A mischievous smile plays on her lips. She heard that a talent capable of charming the vice president of myth had appeared. Indeed, the great guild had been watching him like a hawk. He confirms it, though he wonders if he is saying too much. Their conversation is shattered by a boisterous newcomer. He claims he came to see the commotion but found only disappointment. He sneers at our protagonist, calling him mediocre. It seems the hype was nothing but hot air. This is Ham Gan, a ranked sea hunter from the Horing Guild. He introduces himself with a smile that doesn't reach his eyes. He proclaims that he is the one destined to rule this era. Our hero stares blankly, thinking the man is absolutely delusional. Suddenly, a voice booms through the hall. The announcer welcomes the hunters to the 32nd rank B evaluation. Tension spikes. Every hunter turns their gaze to the stage. The woman continues her voice, silencing the crowd. She introduces the overseer, the mentor who will judge their worth. It is the rank A hunter Choy Jin Wuk from the Beacon Guild. Even our protagonist is impressed by this presence. Jyn Wuk takes the mic, his gaze sweeping over the fresh meat. He cuts the pleasantries short. It is time for the briefing. The test will not be a simulation. It will take place inside a real dungeon. Eight participants, four pairs. They must face the darkness together or fail alone. There are four entrances, A, B, C, and D. It is a race. The first team to reach the end will face the boss and him. Medics are on standby for the inevitable injuries. However, he warns them of the ruthless scoring system. Every move is judged. Every mistake is counted. With the rules set, the test begins now. When your name is called, step forward. Equip your streaming gear and face the portal. Team A is called first. Yay Renin and Kang Jan take the lead. Team B follows Yong Dong Jun and Hungaram. Team C steps up Cho Yay and Bonjun Hung. And finally, team D. Lee Shin and Kim Jun Hinn. As they head to their stations, our protagonist turns to his partner. He recognizes the hulking figure beside him. It is a surprise to see him here. Kim Janon, a rank C veteran from the Beacon Guild. He bows to his senior and together they step into the swirling portal. Jinwuk watches them vanish his eyes cold. He mentally warns the boy using him as a stepping stone will come with a price. This will not be an easy path. Inside the dungeon, the scent of death is thick. A colossal serpent lies impaled on spikes. A skull rests upon a dark throne watching them. But then, memory pulls us back. A flashback to the beacon guild. A shadowy voice pierced the silence, demanding Jun Han's absolute focus. The warning was clear. His only task was to enter the rank B evaluation. His target was Téjun. Route D was engineered to be a death trap the highest difficulty. And if Jun Han sabotaged Té Jun, their failure was guaranteed. The manipulator twisted the knife, asking if the poor man's mother wasn't on death's door. He urged him to seize this chance to secure the blood money. It was the only way to fund her life-saving surgery. A massive reward was promised by the guild, demanding he simply trust the plan and proceed. Snapping back to reality, Junhan trembled, wondering how fate had dragged him into the hellish route D alongside Téjun. Suddenly, our protagonist pointed toward the shadows. White-scaled monsters hissed, but with a single casual punch, three massive snakes were obliterated. Their heads exploded on impact. Téjun tilted his head, genuinely confused why these beasts were as fragile as glass and yielded so little experience points. Jun Han stared in horror at the protagonist's monstrous strength. His special ability, explosive growth, was active. Yet, the experience gain was pitifully low. His mind raced. How had Téjun achieved such god-like power? Only a few weeks ago, the gap between them had been non-existent. Back then, they were both bottom feeders, stuck at the lowest ranks. Yet, even in that abyss of despair, Téjun never once abandoned hope. A memory surfaced Téjun, admiring Jun Han's tanking ability, praising his endurance and declaring with a bright smile that a skill like that would one day shine. He had insisted that as long as they refused to give up, their time would come. Jun Han recalled how Téjun, a true senior, had sparked light in his darkest hour. And now his mission was to drag that very savior down into the mud. The guilt clawed at his throat. Only absolute trash would bite the hand that fed them. But the image of his dying mother flashed in his mind. He had no choice. For his family survival, he had to become a villain. Trembling, he approached the protagonist. He held out a small vial, his voice shaking as he claimed the road ahead would be arduous. He lied through his teeth, explaining it was a high-grade buff potion he saved for expeditions, insisting it would help Téjun maintain his stamina. Téjun accepted it with a grateful nod and downed the liquid in one gulp. Jun Han watched, thinking the protagonist had just sealed his fate with paralysis poison. Téjun would soon be rendered immobile. But the moment Jun Han relaxed, the protagonist doubled over, not from paralysis, but from something else. A demonic rumbling echoed from his stomach. Téjun groaned in agony, frantically asking where the nearest restroom was located in this dungeon. Jun Han stammered that there were no bathrooms here. Pale-faced Téjun realized his only option was to speedrun the dungeon before disaster struck. A system window chimed. Resistance to all poisons had neutralized the toxin. Meanwhile, the chubby traitor wondered if Téjun had some hidden immunity skill. Deeper into the abyss, the protagonist halted before a massive chasm. The path was severed, a dead end, plunging into infinite darkness. Tjun suggested turning back, noting the dungeon design felt like an endless loop intended to confuse intruders. Junhan stared at the protagonists exposed back. This was it. A fall from this height wouldn't kill a hunter, but it would ruin the evaluation. It was his final opportunity to sabotage the test. Destiny had placed the perfect trap right in front of him. With a scream of apology, Junhan charged forward to shove him, but his coordination failed, and he whiffed completely, stumbling past his target. Gravity took hold. As Jun Han plummeted, the protagonist's hand shot out, catching his leg in a vice grip, demanding to know if he had a death wish, dangling over the void, Jun Han broke down. He called himself garbage, a wretched traitor, and begged Téjun to just let go and let him die. Confused, Téjun asked for an explanation. Through tears, Jun Han confessed his mission was to ensure Téjun failed the exam by leading him into danger. He sobbed, pleading for Téjun to drop a backstabber like him into the abyss. But Téjun simply told him to save the drama for later. In his mind, the protagonist was fighting a different battle. The stomach pain was reaching critical levels. He desperately scanned for a private spot. Perhaps he could relieve himself over the edge, but a quick glance revealed 10 spectators watching his live stream. He couldn't ruin his image now. Gritting his teeth, he tried to hoist Jun Han up, but the unstable ground beneath them crumbled. The cliff edge shattered. They screamed as they plunged together into the deep darkness. Upon landing, groans of pain echoed until a chilling hiss sliced through the air. Hundreds of glowing eyes opened in the gloom. An army of serpents slithered toward them, hungry for fresh meat. Meanwhile, elsewhere in the dungeon, team B was facing total collapse. Both members were gasping for air, their spirits broken. The observer noted their limits had been reached. Hong Ariam shrieked for her mother, slamming the resignation button to escape. Team B was eliminated, leaving poor young Danjun abandoned and crying for help. Team C was fairing no better, their teamwork dissolving into infighting that brought them to the brink of disqualification. Only team A remained as the top contenders. The observer watched keenly as Yiorong addressed the camera with the confidence of a queen. She announced their victory over the thousand-year-old white snakes was imminent. But just as she prepared her grand entrance, she whipped around to see Kang Han charging ahead. He unleashed a barrage of punches, shouting aura, aura, aura like a relentless anime character. He was soloing the entire wave of Kang Han roared. that this evaluation was his stage to impress the boss, refusing to share the glory. Seoryong gritted, her teeth annoyed that he was hogging the spotlight. She raised her hand, unwilling to remain a background character. Absolute zero energy gathered at her fingertips. Her freezing wind skill blasted forward, turning the snakes into ice sculptures. In an instant, she declared that she was the true main protagonist of this test. Team A surged forward, their overwhelming power meeting every expectation. The elite forces of the four great guilds stood before the gates of hell, the first to breach the boss room. Jinwuk played the benevolent leader, praising their survival, but his eyes held a cold calculation. He dismissed team D as dead weight. No live stream signal meant they had likely perished in the shadows. Yet Sin held on to hope, trusting in the director's instincts and the hidden potential of the rookies. Jyn Wuk gestured for them to follow, masking a treacherous smirk as they stepped into the abyss. He worried about his reputation with Suan, but those petty thoughts vanished the moment they looked up. A nightmare manifest. A colossal serpent impaled on spikes, bowing before a skeleton king on a throne. The pressure was suffocating. Meanwhile, Team D was defying the laws of physics with their own power. Jun Hiun<unk>s ability was a glutton for mana absorbing enemy strikes and reflecting them with double the force, but even he had limits. That is until the arch li's fireball pushed him past his breaking point, ignition. The energy coalesed into a cannon of blue flame, launching them upward like a meteor, riding the shoulders of his teammate, our protagonist, grinned. The hell train was leaving the station. Back in the chamber, Jinwuk's blood ran cold. This wasn't the raid he had prepared for. The dungeon boss had changed. The Amugi was dead, and a lich lord now ruled this domain. Sabotage. Someone had rigged the dungeon. Seorin screamed as the reality of their doom set in. The undead serpent began to rise, a tower of rotting scales. Jin Wuk roared for the formation to hold, but the beast was too fast. It snatched the leader from the ground, leaving the squad paralyzed with fear. They hesitated, and the Lich punished them. A casual flick of a bony finger unleashed a blizzard of death. Ice stakes rained down like judgment. Jinwuk realized he had to cut off the head of the snake to survive. He charged the throne, but the serpent's tail crushed him into the floor, pinned like an insect. Death loomed over him. Regret filled his mind. He would never see Cena's smile one last time. But suddenly, the ceiling shattered. The clumsy duo crashed down, smashing the serpent's skull with blue fire. The impact left Jyn Wuk stunned his brain, failing to process the miracle that just saved his life. Té Jun and Jun Hian cheered like idiots, unaware of the gravity of the situation, while Jyn Wuk gasped for air. He screamed at the rookies to focus. The Amugi was down, but the true terror still sat upon the throne. Our hero smirked, dusting himself off. A lich and an amugi. Seems a bit overkill for a rank B exam. Jinwuk grit his teeth. It was a setup. Someone high up wanted a body count today. A puppet master pulling the strings of the guilds from the shadows. But talk could wait. The protagonist pointed his weapon at the monsters. The plan was simple. Kill them all. Jinwuk sighed, accepting the temporary alliance. Together, they charged into the jaws of death. Battle stations. Jinwuk's spear danced, slicing through the lethal rain of bone spikes with precision. Téjun unleashed his mana, blasting a tunnel of fire through the serpent's defenses. Jinwuk sees the opening divine spear art second form phantom thrust. He struck from every angle. Teamwork ignited. Seior infused Kang's gauntlets with absolute zero energy, freezing the air itself. Kang became a living battering ram, smashing into the lich with earthshattering force. The protagonist followed up, shoving a mouthful of flames down the enemy's throat. Hell train impact. Dust settled and they cheered for their victory. But the lich, it merely stood there, frozen in time. Time reversed. The monster returned to its original state, chanting a curse in the tongue of the dead. The ground erupted. A forest of bone spikes pierced them all before they could even react. Blood sprayed across the chamber. Téjun fell to his knees. How can you kill what doesn't die? His knowledge of dark magic was useless here. They were checkmated by an immortal monster. The protagonist's vision blurred with pain until a familiar digital voice chimed in his ear. It was Mary. She had cracked the code. The system interface flickered to life with a new directive. She hadn't just hacked the app. She had hacked the dungeon itself. New weapon unlocked the map. A holographic window burst open. Dungeon mapping 100% loaded. The game has changed. As the map reconstruction reached 100% completion. A mental hologram materialized before his eyes flashing a system notification. Parsley navigation had been activated. When Ton asked Mary what this function was, she explained that it was the ultimate cheat code. With this, he could unlock every secret within the dungeon, from enemy stats and hidden abilities to secret roots and legendary rewards. It was a treasure trove of data that would grant him total mastery over the dungeon alongside combat applications he could trigger instantly. The protagonist's eyes widened. This wasn't just a simple hack. It was a complete tactical support system designed to make him a god of war. He confirmed the original boss should have been the B-class Uji, but staring at the monstrosity before him, he wondered where this hellish lich came from. locking eyes with the undead mage, it began emitting guttural noises, but thanks to the system, the words translated perfectly in his mind. The creature Aridus claimed to be happy. Our protagonist realized with a shudder that he had an app translating the language of monsters. While he thought about how creepy this newfound understanding was, he asked Mary for a status report and she flagged it as a system bug. But suddenly, Eridus spoke again, expressing gratitude to his contractor for offering up such fresh and powerful sacrifices. The protagonist narrowed his eyes. this wasn't a bug. The mention of a contractor meant someone had forcefully summoned this nightmare into the dungeon. He turned to Jin Yuk, asking if he could still fight. When the tank confirmed he had avoided a fatal blow, the protagonist grinned. He announced that he had already identified the lich's fatal weakness. There was no time to explain the mechanics. They just had to trust him. A heavy silence hung in the air until Jin Yuk asked for orders. The protagonist's reply was simple. They needed to annoy the hell out of it. Instantly, the protagonist began hopping around like a maniac, calling the lich a bag of bones and taunting its lack of aggression. He mocked the undead mage, asking if its brain was frozen, making ridiculous faces to skyrocket his aggro levels. The provocation worked too well. The skeleton's rage boiled over, banging his staff against the earth and vowing to drag them all to hell. But the protagonist's vision was filled with red alerts, highlighting exactly where the deadly bone spikes would erupt from the floor. He barked orders for everyone to gather on his position, and they barely escaped. the lethal skewers. Tajun smiled. The system was absolute. Just as the manager predicted, the attack trajectories were visible. Now he could execute the perfect counter strategy. He began ruthlessly mocking the boss for missing every shot, sarcastically praising its legendary aim, which only stoked the monster's fury. Enraged, the skeleton launched a barrage of flaming skulls. But Tajun saw the future. He became the conductor of the battlefield. He shouted coordinates, ordering Gian three steps to the side and Jun Han five steps back, orchestrating a symphony of evasion. Both allies dodged death by a hair's breath. As Ginyuk praised their leader, Eridus roared, dark energy flooding the chamber. The lich screamed that he was done playing games and prepared to unleash a spell that no amount of dodging could save them from. The protagonist watched in horror as warning signs flooded the entire room. The kill zone was everywhere. Evasion was impossible. The party panicked, asking how to dodge, but Tajun realized the attack area was absolute. There was only one blind spot. Aridus unleashed his ultimate, the Reququum of Death. A wave of mass destruction exploded outward, annihilating everything in the vicinity. As the dust settled, the Lich scoffed, calling the humans fools for thinking they could dance around a spell meant to erase existence. However, shock froze the monster's face when the protagonist shouted the signal, "Jiny Yuk." Tajun and Saurin burst from the smoke unharmed. The protagonist screamed that the lich's skills were on cooldown. The undead mage shrieked in confusion, unable to comprehend their survival. The system had revealed the truth. The reququum of death was a vast area of effect spell where damage increased with distance. By rushing toward the center of the storm, the damage scaling dropped to zero. The safest place was right in the monster's face. Armed with this crucial intel from Parsley Navigation, Tajun had ordered everyone to hug the boss to negate the damage completely. Now was their chance. The protagonist ordered Sarin to cast her spell, and she unleashed a freezing wind that engulfed the lich. The ice encased the monster, immobilizing him instantly. Aridus laughed it off, warning that their pitiful magic couldn't kill him. But the protagonist already knew that. He shouted for them to keep the lich crowdcontrolled while he sprinted toward the back of the room. The skeleton watched him, confused at first, but as Tajun approached, his destination panic began to flicker in the monster's eyes. Tajun knew the lore leeches summoned by contract were immortal only as long as their sacrificial offering remained intact. He charged toward a box covered in mystical seals. If he destroyed the anchor, the summoning ritual would be forcibly canceled. Realizing his secret was out, the lich exploded with rage, shattering the freezing spell with a roar of pure hatred. Screaming in a forgotten tongue, the monster charged, desperate to strike Tajun down before he could reach the artifact. But just as the lich's claws were about to tear into him, the team attacked Jinyuk and the others struck from the rear, Jun Han threw his entire body weight onto the monster, and Crosssp spears pinned the undead mage to the cold stone floor. They screamed that they had him secured. Tajun didn't hesitate. Winding up a punch filled with determination, he prepared to end this nightmare. A deafening boom echoed as the protagonist's fist pulverized the stone wall. Through the dust, a small, ornate chest revealed itself. Instantly, his eyes flashed with manic greed, and he dashed toward the treasure like a man possessed. The lich struggled violently against his magical bonds, desperate to reach his staff. Gina watched in stunned silence, his mind racing. Did the protagonist truly perceive the monster's fatal weakness? Or was it blind luck? The undead mage failed to notice the trap until it was too late. Panic set in as he activated his dark mana, straining against the invisible chains that bound him. Impossible, the lich thought, his soul, fire flickering with fear. Only I and my contractor know the secret of the offering. Gina gritted his teeth, pouring every ounce of strength into holding the beast down. But the difference in power was too great. With a roar, the lich shattered the restraints and loomed over the protagonist death radiating from his skeletal form. But our hero remained calm, holding the cursed box high. The protagonist's expression shifted. "Take one more step," he warned, his voice dripping with malice, and I'll crush this little trinket into dust. A devilish grin spread across his face, stopping the monster in its tracks. The lich stood frozen, trembling with rage. You, the creature hissed. Do you comprehend the ancient tongue of the dead? Ignoring the question with a scoff, Téjun locked eyes with the monster. Listen closely, bag of bones. Your eternal life hangs by a thread. The lich, Aratus hesitated. Aratus let out a bitter, hollow laugh. Foolish human. I am a contracted being. I cannot obey any command unless it comes from my master's lips. The protagonist shrugged as if ordering lunch. Is that so? Then just cancel the contract and be done with it. Simple. Absurd. The lich stammered. Such a feat would require an ancient arch mage. A mere mortal. Like you could never sever the soul bond. Téjun leaned in, his aura flaring with an intimidating pressure. Look me in the eyes, he challenged. Do I look like an ordinary human to you? Aratus felt a chill run down his spine. The human had not only deciphered his complex magic, but had instantly located the soul vessel. Doubt crept into Aratus' empty sockets. Could this man actually possess the power to free him? Defeated by the logic, the lich fell to his knees in submission. Very well. I shall trust you for now. He looked up desperate. What is your desire? I will grant your wish. A sharp pang of agony shot through Téjun<unk>s stomach. The poison was still working, but he maintained his poker face. First, he commanded. Call off your dogs outside. Those skeletons are annoying, he added nonchalantly. Aratus froze, completely shocked. How? How did you know about my minions outside the chamber? The protagonist simply glanced at his system interface. His personal navigation skill never lied. Meanwhile, outside the boss room, the raid party was fighting for their lives. The group was barely holding back the tide of bone warriors. Back inside, Tjun's eyes narrowed dangerously. Lie to me and your skull is dust. The threat was absolute. Terrified, the lich snapped his fingers, dispelling the summons instantly. It is done, Aratus whimpered. Do you have any other wishes? Oh, powerful one. The psychotic grin returned to the protagonist's face, wider and greedier than before. Oh, just one small thing. Give me everything. Every single thing you have. The skeleton recoiled in confusion. Everything. What do you mean? Tjun rolled his eyes. Are you deaf? I'm talking about loot. Items, artifacts. Cough it up. Do you think I'm running a charity here? He pressed. Arata stammered, shaking his head. But I possess nothing of value. I am but a summoned servant. Don't play dumb with me. Téjun wasn't buying it. He pointed a finger directly at the lich's glowing weapon. That staff. It looks mighty interesting. The poor skeleton clutched his staff protectively, trying to hide it behind his back. No, not my staff. It is impossible, but his resolve crumbled as Téjun's hand tightened on the box. "Oops, my hand is slipping," the protagonist taunted. "Take it! Just take it!" the lich screamed. Téjun snatched the legendary staff. his eyes sparkling with victory. Now Aratus begged, "Break the contract. You promised if you free me, I would have done anything for you." The protagonist stared at him with a blank innocent expression. "Break the contract, bro. I don't even know how to read ancient runes." The lich stood there, stunned into silence. "I can't use summoning magic," Téjun admitted with a shrug. "I barely know how to use a sword. You really should have more sense before trusting a stranger. You dare, Aratus," roared, his aura exploding with apocalyptic fury. You deceived me, you treacherous worm. The monster lunged, claws extended to kill. I warned you about personal space. Tju inside. Come any closer and the deal is off. Without a shred of hesitation, the protagonist raised the chest high and slammed it into the stone floor. Crash. The felactory shattered into a thousand pieces. Immediately, the lich's body began to flake away into ash. No, I was so close, he wailed, his form disintegrating into the void. So close to returning, Téjun and Mary watched the spectacle. Well, Mary muttered, "You have to admit, even in death, he had style." The room fell silent as the dust settled. Téjun knelt, sifting through the debris until he found a grotesque rotting finger. "This was the offering," he mused. "Disgusting, but effective. It must have been a high tier catalyst to summon such a powerful entity," he noted. Mary frowned, looking around. "But who could have summoned a lich in a place like this? Who cares?" Tjun tossed the finger aside. "I got a legendary item out of it." "Wait," Mary interrupted, pointing to the ground. He dropped something else. A small dark ocahedron lay amidst the ashes. Téjun picked it up, his eyes scanning the item description, but it was all question marks. "Can't identify it?" he muttered, weighing it in his hand. But since it fell from a boss, it must be expensive. Just then, heavy footsteps echoed from the hallway. The rest of the party burst into the room. "Are you okay?" they shouted. Tjun quickly shoved the staff into his inventory window before Gu could see it. "Did you? Did you defeat the lich alone?" Gu gasped, looking at the piles of ash. The protagonist, nodded calmly. He just disappeared. No trace left behind. Gu, usually so critical, couldn't hide his awe. I hate to admit it, he whispered to his teammate. But that guy, he's a monster, a true hunter. As the group celebrated their survival, Gino separated from the pack. He walked toward the protagonist, his head hanging low with shame. Téjun, Januk<unk>'s voice trembled. about the poison and pushing you into the pit. I need to apologize. He clenched his fists. Junho gave the order. I was just a pawn. He forced me to do it. It was a pathetic excuse, but the fear in his eyes was real. I didn't want to. Janak confessed, tears welling up. I still don't understand why he hates you so much or how we lost our way, but I am sorry. Admitted that their friendship fractured because of jealousy, specifically over one painful truth. He couldn't stand watching our protagonist grind endlessly with zero talent stuck in the mud while others soared. He bowed his head in a sincere apology, but instead of comfort, our protagonist hit him with a cold smirk. He mocked him, saying next time he should hide his killing intent better, as he had seen through every pathetic trap. He laughed at the audacity, asking if Jinwuk really thought a veteran would fall for such basic schemes. Before the friend could even stammer a defense, Té Jun cut him off, telling him to bury the past. Let's focus on your ascension to class B. I'm starving. The friend agreed, asking what the menu was. Obviously, our main character demanded nothing less than premium Korean beef to restore his stamina. But then the mood shifted. The friend whispered a dangerous question. Do you have a crush on Liola? The look of absolute repulsion on the protagonist's face was instant meme material. He pointed and cackled, making the red-faced friend scream at him to shut his mouth. Their bickering was cut short by Jun Hanon. The dungeon gate was finally open, signaling their freedom. They stepped through the emerald portal only to be greeted by a suffocating pressure. Two high rankers stood guard, confirming their safety, but eyeing the new class B promote with intensity. It was Suanne, the blue-haired enchantress from Clear Sky Guild, and Mang, a red-haired beast from Horin Guild. To put it simply, these two were absolute monsters in human skin. Suen wasted no time sensing the anomaly in the test, and she was definitely striking a Jojo pose. With her aura flaring, she declared that an undead army and a lich boss were impossible for a standard exam. The eccentric woman claimed a puppet master was pulling the strings, playing both guilds like fiddles. Then, wearing a sadistic smile that promised pain, she stopped right in front of our protagonist. It was you. While Té Jun froze in confusion, his party members leaped to his defense. Equally baffled by the accusation. They argued that he fought alongside them, bleeding on the front line so he couldn't be the mastermind. But Suon slammed her cards on the table. According to the broadcast, he did everything alone. Not only did our protagonist guide the team to dodge every fatal strike, but he also sensed the invisible. He located the hidden chamber without a map, marching toward a weakness they didn't even know existed. It was too perfect. For a lowly D rank hunter to possess such divine insight was beyond suspicious. As she laid out the facts, the crowds murmurs turned into doubt. Was he really a traitor? Suen leaned in, her voice dripping with venom, asking once more if he knew the lich would descend. It wasn't just a question. It was a threat. Meanwhile, our protagonist was internally screaming. His face was frozen in a mask of shock, his mind racing because he truly had zero clue this would happen. Before he could stammer a lie, Mang loomed over him like a mountain, demanding an answer. The giant declared that if he hesitated for one more second, he would crush him into dust right there. Fear spiked, but he knew panic meant death. He had to stay calm and spin a narrative to survive. He quickly processed the clues, the lich, the ritual sacrifice, and the concept of a contractor. A light bulb went off. He raised a hand, asking the terrifying highrankers to hear him out. Activating his Oscar worthy acting skills, he confessed, "My dream was always to be a necromancer." The two guild members stood stunned as he continued his legendary performance. He claimed that since childhood, he had obsessively studied every ability and weakness of the undead. He pointed a dramatic finger at the investigators, declaring that his knowledge was purely academic. I deduced the weakness because I know these monsters inside out. But Suen wasn't buying it yet. She scoffed at his poor excuse. If she didn't believe his words, she would have to believe his evidence. He pulled out his trump card, the severed finger he had snatched from the sarcophagus. This finger proves a contract exists. The lich wasn't a test monster. It was summoned by an outsider. He dropped a logic bomb someone had planted the monster to rig the exam from the shadows. Since a summoned lich cannot disobey its master, neither he nor his teammates could be the culprit. Coden stepped forward, his logic cutting through the tension. If the protagonist truly manipulated the exam, there would be no a logical reason for him to risk his life protecting his teammates. The red-haired warrior narrowed his eyes, demanding to know the true enemy, if not our hero. Could it be the work of the vile dark magic guild, but Ton sensed a disturbing presence? He knew the traitor was still lurking within their very circle. His voice thundered, ordering everyone to reveal their hands immediately. As the inspection began, panic seized a figure in the crowd. A man bolted desperation etched on his face as he tried to break through the encirclement. His guilt was written all over him. The owner of the severed finger had been found. Meanwhile, the protagonist smirked at Mary, boasting that this was a classic capture scene. Just like in Detective Comics, Mary gave him a dead pan stare, but the red-haired warrior wasted no time. He charged alongside a mage who sealed the escape route with a barrier. Matt unleashed his ultimate technique, divine art of the dominant dragon dragon strike. For a split second, his aura exploded like a legendary martial artist opening the eighth gate. But before the devastating blow could connect, the target collapsed. The life had already faded from his eyes. Furious that the coward chose suicide over capture, Matt ordered his subordinates to transport the corpse and uncover his origins. Sudon grit her teeth, who possessed the madness to use dark arts against both the whoring and clear sky guilds. She vowed to hunt down the mastermind. Then, flipping her mood like a switch, she turned to our protagonist with a dazzlingly sweet smile. She apologized profusely for the accusation, promising on her honor to repay him for resolving this crisis. However, the adrenaline had run dry. Suffering from severe mana exhaustion, his vision blurred. He could only hear distant voices, screaming his name as darkness swallowed him. When the protagonist finally opened his eyes, he found himself in an unfamiliar room. You're finally back. Le Cena and Troy Jinyu were by his side. When he asked why they were keeping Vigil, Cena smiled warmly. She said they couldn't leave a fainted friend alone. Jinu, of course, joked that he was just poking him to see if he had actually died. The red-haired girl chimed in, asking how reckless he had been. The healers had struggled to stabilize his chaotic energy flow, but the risk yielded a massive reward during the class B ranking test. She shoved her phone in his face, showing the breaking news. The entire internet was praising him. He had single-handedly carried the team on his back like a true hero. Janick even had the audacity to claim that without his help, Ton wouldn't have achieved anything. But the red-haired girl shut him down instantly. Stop lying. The raid footage clearly shows him doing all the work. As they bickered, a rare smile touched the protagonist's lips. It had been so long since he could enjoy such casual banter with friends. Suddenly, a knock interrupted them. Is Ton awake? The door opened to reveal Suan Ha, the Clear Sky Guilds representative. Her presence shocked the trio. She revealed that this luxury hospital was under her direct management. They had transferred him here immediately after his collapse. She told him to rest easy as she owed him a life debt, a debt incurred because he had saved userin, a member more precious to the guild than gold. Her voice trembled slightly, her usual composure cracking. She admitted she had feared she would never see Sirin alive again. The mere thought of that tragedy made the air heavy with shared sorrow. But then the atmosphere shifted. She leaned over the bed, her face inches from his. "Tell me what you desire," she purred. "I will grant you anything." "Was this a seduction attempt?" Yet, our protagonist, calm as a still lake, simply pondered what practical reward to request. He couldn't think of a single thing. Meanwhile, witnessing this steamy scene, Jingo turned beat red, unlike our stoic Sigma male. Seeing his hesitation, Suan Ha pulled back. "Take your time," she said. "I'll be waiting in the top floor office whenever you decide." The moment the door clicked shut, Cena threw her arms around him. She congratulated him on his explosive growth while Jenga shook his head, calling him the luckiest bastard alive. The redhead smiled nostalgically. It feels like just yesterday you were a rookie getting lost in dungeons struggling against trash mobs. And now look at you. She broke the hug and asked, "So, did you decide what to ask for?" Just like before, his mind was blank. He truly had no material desires at the moment. Shai jumped in with advice. She's a vice guild leader. You could ask for high tier magic tomes or artifacts. For her, that's pocket change, but her expression softened. But right now, your recovery is the priority. She handed him a recovery potion with a bright smile. Drink this and get your strength back. Okay. He thanked them as they gathered their things. Cena and Jinhawk had guild duties to attend to, leaving him to rest. Once they were gone, Mary floated out. You lucky dog. A beauty like that offering times. Anything times. Even my heart is racing. While she swooned over the vice leader, the protagonist simply stared ahead, having the her question hung in the air, forcing him to pause and truly calculate the value of this moment. Cash was tempting, but a terrible investment compared to the favor of an S-rank hunter. He needed something priceless, something that money could never buy. But first, a sudden realization struck him. He turned to Mary, demanding the location of the loot he had purchased earlier. She explained it was likely auto stored in the parsley market, leaving Téjun utterly bewildered by the strange terminology. Mary's eyes lit up like stars. She had been dying for the protagonist to finally ask about this feature. It was essentially an interdimensional auction house where 100 million users traded simultaneously. A marketplace connecting countless dimensions. If Téjun registered now, the newbie bonuses were insane. Zero transaction fees, secure trading, and 7% rewards. He could not shake the feeling this was just a pop-up ad. Speaking of shameless promotion, have you smashed that like button yet? But then a gear started turning in his mind. The realization hit him like a truck. He was likely the only human on Earth with access to this system, a complete monopoly. He could buy unique items here and resell them back home without a single competitor. He could control the entire global economy from the shadows. A villainous grin stretched across his face. Mary recoiled in shock, terrified by the sudden capitalist energy radiating from her host. Without hesitation, the protagonist clicked to enter the parsley market, verifying his credentials instantly. Space warped around him, transporting his entire body to a bustling medieval metropolis. He scanned the crowd, watching players offer items for strange currencies like 1.8 Ethereum. It looked exactly like an RPG town square, but since they were here, Mary urged him to check the wares. He approached the first vendor, a horned man with a monle and a beard that screamed shady merchant. The item on display, the dragon cinnamon shield, a class B artifact forged from dragon scales. The price tag read 18,000 parsley coins, prompting him to ask Mary for the conversion rate. The truth was a punch to the gut. That was 240,000 magic stones or millions in cash. And that was just the base price. The economy of this dimension was absolutely brutal. Realizing he was too broke to buy anything, he remembered the loot sitting in his own inventory. Playing the humble newbie card, he pulled out a staff and asked the bald merchant for an appraisal. The verdict was harsh. The staff was cursed garbage, unsellable to anyone but a high tier arch mage. It was essentially useless. Undeterred, the protagonist pulled out a strange stone next. Since it dropped from the same monster, surely it had value. He presented it with hopeful eyes. The merchant scoffed. It was worth 10 coins maximum. It was practically trash loot. The protagonist dreams of a monopolized empire shattered into a million pieces right there. As the merchant waved them off, Mary tried to comfort him, preaching patience and slow growth. Suddenly, a new challenger approached. A stranger wanted a closer look at that worthless crystal. It was a pint-sized demon lord, though our protagonist insisted the item was just random junk. The demon insisted his eyes gleaming as he held the stone, confirming his suspicions. With the right enchantment, this trash could become a treasure, and he was willing to cover the upgrade cost. But before our hero could celebrate this generosity, the demon revealed the devilish catch. If the upgrade failed, the protagonist would owe him the full cost. If it succeeded, it was free. Téjun was confused, but the predatory grin on that demon's face screamed danger. Mary panicked, whispering frantically that this was a classic scam used on rookies. They lured beginners with high-cost enchantments, trapping them in debt. It was the oldest trick in the book. The protagonist calmly asked if he could stop the process at any time, and the demon agreed, eyes glinting. The scammer knew the newbie would fail eventually. Téjun, playing the fool, accepted the deal. Mary practically screamed, trying to drag him away from this financial suicide mission. But our boy wasn't walking in blind. He had a strategy and told her to sit back and watch the show. He was about to redefine luck. His cheat skill, explosive growth, triggered, boosting his success rates instantly. The rules of this shadow game were deceptively simple. Té Jun could evolve his gear endlessly, and the problem scree demon would foot the bill for every attempt. However, there was a catch. One single failure meant instantaneous debt. High- risk legendary reward. The demon transferred the assets slightly, suggesting they move to a lucky spot. But our protagonist merely scoffed at such superstition. He didn't need a sanctuary for what came next. Without a flicker of hesitation, he tapped the screen. The obsidian crystal flashed instantly, evolving into a plus one artifact. The demon offered false praise, whispering that Téjun was 80% of the way there. Then came the taunt. Stopping already. Is that the extent of your courage? Téjun's grin turned manic. Watch me. I am taking this all the way to plus 9. The demon was baffled. Was this human delusional? He questioned if Té Jun truly understood the gravity of his words. Internally, he mocked the rookie. The success rate for a plus 9 enchantment was 0.01%, 1 in 10,000. With a wicked smirk, he handed over the materials certain of the protagonist's impending ruin. As soon as the items hit his inventory, Téjun grinned and unleashed hell on the interface like a madman. Mary screamed in terror, begging him to stop while the demon cackled, anticipating the crash. Prepare to go bankrupt, the demon jered. But our favorite trickster simply smirked, flashing the result. Success plus 9. All stats boosted by 10 with an additional 20% mana recovery per hour. The demon froze, his laughter dying in his throat. Not out of joy, but sheer disbelief. How was this possible? A perfect streak with such abysmal odds, he struggled to keep his poker face. Panic set in. Téjun hadn't failed once. Was this guy a system administrator in disguise? But the demon couldn't fold now. A loss here would be catastrophic for his reputation. Swallowing his fear, he clapped. Impressive. But surely you won't stop right before the peak. One last step to perfection. The little red demon bit his nails, his facade crumbling before Téjun's eyes. Téjun noticed the twitch. But truth be told, even he felt the pressure now. His explosive growth skill guaranteed success up to plus 9. But the final tier, even with the buff, it was a 10% gamble. A massive drop from certainty yet better than one in a million. One slip and total bankruptcy awaited. He would lose absolutely everything. He was strong enough as is. Yet the allure of a maxle item whispered to his gamer soul. Curiosity won. Fine, he declared. But take me to that lucky spot you mentioned earlier. They teleported to the peak of Perion, the gamblers's graveyard. Naked players stood everywhere. Destitute and desperate, they begged the skies for just one more roll. Addicted to the little tiger. Having gambled away their very lives, Téjun felt a heavy wave of pity for the fallen souls. "Does this place truly boost luck?" Mary whispered. "No, Téjun replied cold-heartedly." "Nothing changes here. Heart pounding," he explained his philosophy. "Luck isn't math. It is a current like the ocean. 10% 1%. Eventually, success must strike. The true skill is reading the flow. Timing is everything." He turned to Mary. Can't you hear it? The weeping of shattered items. I can feel the pulse. the precise millisecond when the universe aligns. The despair of the failures around him fueled the flow. And right now, the tide was rising with him. Without flinching, he initiated the final enchantment. The demon scoffed at the sheer stupidity of it. Everyone held their breath. The tension was palpable. Even the background characters froze. Wait, was that Bison and Ryu from Street Fighter in the crowd? The cameo appearance only added to the surreal chaos. Then a miracle. Through what could only be described as divine fortune, the item evolved. Soo té Jun roared, channeling a world famous striker. The obsidian crystal was now plus 10. It radiated the mythical twilight glow. The crowd went wild, witnessing a maxle artifact for the first time. A weapon forged from the essence of national power. The red demon fell to his knees, shattered. "You cheater! You scammer!" he shrieked, face purple with rage. But the house had finally lost. While the demon screamed about hacks and illegal programs, the protagonist simply looked down and asked, "The table had turned, revealing who the true predator was in this game of deception." The demon raged, vowing to ban Tay Jun from the dark web forever. But our hero didn't care. With a cold smirk, he blocked the user and logged off, leaving the scammer screaming into the void. Back in the safety of his hospital room, Téjun celebrated acquiring a legendary item for zero cost. Mary, the guide, was furious, scolding him for gambling his life when he couldn't afford the penalty. But the actor simply shrugged, claiming he would have fled like a coward if things went south. Then his expression shifted to psychopath mode 2.0, mocking the obsidian crystal in his hand. He called the demon naive and foolish, delighting in the intel he had extracted from the market. Gripping the staff, he mused that this weapon might finally be usable for his grand plan. The scene shifts to the penthouse of the Clear Sky Guild, where Téjun walked in like he owned the place. Vice Leader Yan asked about his recovery, her presence, demanding respect even in a casual setting. He admitted he wasn't fully healed, but his determination to move forward was absolute. She studied him, convinced that his intuition and growth rate would soon make him Korea's top hunter. Suddenly, our unhinged protagonist stepped into her personal space and grabbed her hand. With intense eyes, he declared that he wanted her sending the atmosphere into a romantic spiral. But, of course, he clarified he only wanted her ability, obliterating the mood instantly. She stood frozen in confusion, while Téjun looked at her like she was the weird one. He wondered if he had misspoken while Mary floated in the background, stunned by his lack of social skills. Flustered but professional, the vice leader led him to the massive training center to test his request. She confirmed that he simply needed a curse, lifted, surprised he hadn't asked for something greater. When he handed over the corrupted staff, she recognized it as the item he retrieved as a D-class. Regardless of the history, she began her incantation, her hands glowing with emerald mana. As an S-class specialist in purification, she promised this complex ritual would be over in seconds. Her power manifested as a giant celestial key descending from the heavens to unlock the seal. Both Téjun and Mary watched in awe as the S-class magic filled the room with divine light. She explained that dispel spell analyzes and unravels magic, ensuring no curse can survive its touch. It was the ultimate counter, but Téjun was already moving into position behind her back. With a predatory glint in his eyes, he held out the obsidian crystal, preparing to strike. The crystal's mimic ability activated, ready to scan and steal the target's divine skill. This was his true objective all along. Breaking the curse was just a bonus to stealing her power. But just as he was about to secure the ability space tore open directly above the vice leader, a dark entity slammed into her, striking her solar plexus and draining her mana instantly. Panic flared in Téjun's eyes as he screamed her name, launching himself at the attacker. He delivered a devastating flying kick, but his foot passed through the creature as if it were smoke. Realizing physical attacks were feudal, he unleashed a blue fireball at 20% output. The azure flame blasted the creature across the room, giving him a moment to reach Yan. She gasped for air, assuring him the wound wasn't fatal, though her guard had been completely shattered. Téjun demanded to know what that monstrosity was. Sensing an aura unlike any dungeon monster. She revealed the terrifying truth. It wasn't a monster, but the curse itself manifesting a physical form. The malice within the staff was so concentrated, it had become a living, cursed spirit. Yan explained, "The corruption ran deeper than expected, and only her dispel could save the item. But the spirit's surprise attack had inflicted a silence debuff, sealing her magic usage. Without her purification skill, she had no choice but to channel raw mana into an offensive bombardment. She summoned multiple magic circles, preparing to annihilate the spirit and the staff together. Téjun watched in horror, realizing his precious loot was about to be vaporized before his eyes. He begged for the skill power infusion, asking her to lend him the dispel spell. Even though his plan wasn't terrible, she warned him that this cursed spirit wasn't some trash mob he could defeat just by borrowing mana. It was a highlevel curse with a spell structure so complex that even she needed time to unravel it. He accepted her logic, but looked her in the eye, asking if she could trust him just this once. Swayed by his overwhelming charisma, she deactivated her defenses and told him to listen closely because without her direct guidance, this would be impossible. She placed a hand on his back and he began to drain her energy. She warned him the connection wouldn't last long, so he needed to be fast. With the power infusion buff active, he was finally allowed to cast the dispel spell. He knew that if she couldn't handle it, he had to be the one to succeed. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted the crystal lying on the floor and initiated the copy ability while using dispel as a shield, preventing the beast from was getting anywhere near the crystal, he finished mimicking Yanho's S-class ability and saw that the skill had two empty slots for storing new abilities, meaning there was still room for one more. Apparently, our protagonist was blessed by the heavens because having the referring calculator ability meant it fused with the dispel spell instantly thanks to explosive growth instead of manually doing the math like Yanho. The ability solved the equations for him automatically. It was basically like hacking reality having finished copying the ple. Vice leader began to instruct him on the formula to use the ability properly, but he cut her off saying he didn't need her. LP had already cracked the code. She was baffled since this wasn't a skill one could learn through raw instinct. Yet he he told her to just have faith. The green energy flared into blue. The color of his own aura forming a massive energy gauntlet he delivered. A devastating punch roaring at the creature that he needed that staff, so it better let go with a single strike. He practically turned the monster into Toji from Jiujutsu Kaizen. The beast began trying to flee, missing half its body. Yanho was understandably shook that he could master an ability she struggled to use, wondering just what kind of monster our the protagonist truly was. While she was paralyzed by shock, he kept hammering the curse, tearing away the remaining chunks of its body until only the head remained, but it no longer had the strength to hold its form and was completely erased by the nut. Dispel spell, the ancient curse on the Aratas staff was finally broken. Naturally, he played it cool, praising Yan Ho, saying she was incredible and that he could feel the massive gap in their skill levels just by how she handled the mana sheen. Turn was thinking that he was far more terrifying than she expected. If he joined Clear Sky, he wouldn't just be a rookie. He might be considered a burden because he was too good, like a true professional. She asked if he would be interested in joining the Horing Guild since its leader, Maang, had a gift for him that could be legendary. Cutting directly to the fa horing guild headquarters on Gick Mountain, Master Ma was already asking if our protagonist really just came to witness the ascending dragon fist, the guild leader puffed out his chest, saying he made the right choice, as it was the ultimate martial art. As he spoke, he demonstrated with a ghost step and delivered a world-shaking blow, tearing apart a massive everchem centipede monster. Our protagonist could only smile, clutching the crystal he had perfectly analyzed Ma's secret technique at the losh myth guild headquarters inside the training room. The protagonist unleashed the ascending dragon strike on a three-headed hellhound that instantly became a two-headed corpse. Taye states that tier one items are truly built different and thanks the leader of the whing guild for handing over the martial art for free. However, the system warns that due to the protagonist's pathetic strength statistic, the power of all ascending dragon fist abilities would to be capped at 50% of their maximum potential. Naturally, the protagonist raged, complaining that there is really no such thing as a free lunch in this world. If he had known it would be like this, he would have listened to the advice of that old muscular man and trained regularly. And he is right. Go train, folks. I want all of you looking huge by 2025. Speaking of getting huge, have you left your like yet, my friend? I hope so. Compared to Tayun's 7 years of suffering, enduring a little more grinding so that he actually evolves. Won't be much since he needs to do it. He decides to max out his strength stats. Simply summoned a horde of creatures and charged forward into brutal hand-to-hand combat. We skip to when So aha appears with some food for our protagonist asking him to eat, but she remained frozen. Admiring the view of our shirtless protagonist steam rising from his ripped body while wondering how he transformed like this. She noticed he had been acting strangely for a while. Not long ago, he he was considered a mediocre bottom feeder. But nowadays, he is seen as one of the most promising hunters, having even passed the class B test with flying colors. Additionally, he is now a person of interest for both Suan, leader of the Clear Sky Guild and the leader of the Horing Guild. This growth is anything but natural. It resembles a butterfly, tearing its way out of a cocoon. Although she is happy he is being recognized, it is clear to her that he is drifting further away. While her gaze lingered on the protagonist's training, Suan materialized from the shadows, noting her troubled expression. Startled by his ghost-like arrival, she froze as he mentioned the vision sword technique echoing from the dojo. Panic seized her heart. She had secretly lent the training hall to our hero, a severe violation of guild protocol. She braced for punishment, but instead a gentle hand patted her head. He trusted her judgment implicitly. He spoke of a strange fluctuation in the air, a piercing aura that shouldn't exist here. Yet upon closer inspection, he realized it was merely the protagonist executing martial arts with terrifying precision. Suan approached, acknowledging the rumors. This young man had indeed crushed the B-rank classification test. Impressed by the display, the guild masteraster wasted no time asking if the hunter was still operating as a lone wolf. Since our protagonist had yet to pledge loyalty to any faction, the door was wide open for a proposal. Seeing the spark of interest in the hunter's eyes, Swan revealed a scheduled raid commencing in just a few days. Cha would be leading the vanguard, but a twist of fate had left them one member short due to a critical injury. However, the crimson-haired beauty interjected, arguing that this expedition was far too perilous for a rookie like Tajun. It was a grade two dungeon, an uncharted abyss where lack of intel could lead to a swift and brutal death. Her cheeks flushed with genuine concern. She was adorable in her worry, a sight that warmed the air. Yet, the protagonist's density rivaled a black hole. He interpreted her fear as an insult to his strength. Suan stepped in to settle the dust, assuring them that the boy's prowess was more than sufficient for the purge. He emphasized that this was a request for aid, not a mandatory conscription order. He turned to our hero once more. After all, slaughtering real beasts yields far more experience than hitting wooden dummies. The protagonist calculated the odds. The growth he would achieve in actual combat would be 10fold. He accepted the challenge, but with a condition as a mercenary, he demanded sole rights to every magic stone he harvested. The deal was struck. We cut to the day of destiny where a demand for punctuality flashed on his screen, specifically 11:30. He scoffed at the rigid timing, finding the bureaucracy tiresome. Mary voiced her doubts, questioning the wisdom of entering a dungeon while the exam manipulator still lurked in the shadows. But he dismissed her fears, confident in the strength and reputation of the myth guild members accompanying him. He reasoned that the 20-year blood bond between the guild leaders made betrayal statistically impossible. There was zero chance such a prestigious guild would stain its honor with underhanded tactics, and even if they dared to stab him in the back, his overwhelming power would crush their treachery instantly. His arrogance soared to the heavens, practically inviting a disaster to occur. Mary simply warned him to stay alert. Ignoring the ominous foreshadowing, he marched to the gate where Cha awaited to assemble the squad. We are introduced to the party, the spear wielding Choy Shik, the support healer, Yuna, and finally the rookie sharpshooter Noy, a balanced formation from group three. With introductions complete, the protagonist signaled to move out, but Cha raised a hand. The team was incomplete. A member had fallen during last night's training, forcing them to call in a wildcard replacement. Before he could ask for a name, the screech of tires and an obnoxious horn shattered the piece. A voice roared from the vehicle, demanding they clear the path like common servants. Outstepped a hulking brute draped in gold chains and tattoos, asking if the protagonist was deaf or just stupid. Despite the man's thug-like aura, our hero attempted to maintain professional courtesy and asked for his name. The man's response was a cold stare and a wad of spit on the ground, a blatant display of disrespect. Without a word of greeting, he marched past them, barking orders to stop wasting his precious time. Rage pulsed in the protagonist's temple. He was seconds away from snapping the insulent man's neck. Cha intervened just in time, explaining that despite his trashy personality, his strength was undeniable. This was Kim Jun, an infamous A-rank freelancer known as human garbage in the hunter community. His skills were top tier, but his greed was legendary. He was a parasite who devoured all the loot. He was notorious for hoarding magic stones, leaving his teammates with nothing, not even funds for their hospital bills. She clearly loathed the idea of working with him, but desperation had forced her hand for this raid. Téjun analyzed the arrogant fool standing before him. He had seen this type of ego a thousand times. Since Kimji was just a freelance A-rank hunter without a guild backing him, Téjun decided exactly how to handle this trash. He would dispose of him like any other obstacle. Inside the gate, the sky was a bleeding crimson. Sienna roared orders to hold the line. A horde of beasts charged like a tsunami of claws and teeth. But suddenly, Kim burst forward like a berserker. He crushed the low-level mobs with his luxury gear, screaming that they were a waste of his precious time. He shoved past Sienna, and she exploded in anger, furious that he was acting solo and hogging all the combat experience. She warned him that they were a team. His reckless grandstanding would lead them all to an early grave. But Kim just sneered, dismissing her valid concerns and calling her a delirious lunatic for being afraid. He mocked her leadership skills, claiming her cowardice was the real problem. Sienna trembled with pure rage. But Kim just kept jabbing a finger in her face, blaming her completely for their slow clearing speed. He preached that in this world, strength equals money and fame before laughing at her pathetic rank. In the shadows, Téjun watched his eyes burning with a killing intent unlike anything he had shown before. Even the support members looked ready to snap at this arrogant pig. The scene shifted to a dark castle where Duke DZ appeared. He was the NPC lord of this cursed domain. Sienna tried to be diplomatic, but Kim interrupted, calling the Duke a useless old man. He demanded the quest details immediately. The Duke explained that an ancient catastrophic evil was sealed beneath this land. The soil was cursed, unfit for life. Only a divine artifact had kept the corruption at bay for centuries. Téjun cut in sharply, deducing that the artifact was missing. The Duke confirmed his suspicion. If they could recover the lost relic, the curse would lift and life could finally bloom in this hellscape once more. The invaders had shattered the holy relic and scattered the fragments to the winds. The team whispered among themselves, "This fetch quest seemed suspiciously easy for a grade 2 dungeon. It was a simple search mission, and the guardian monsters were barely a threat." Sienna began to strategize. She deduced the pieces were likely in the cardinal directions, but before she could finish her command, Kim scoffed. He mocked her caution, demanding they split up to clear it faster. He proposed dividing the party to hunt the fragments. Sienna argued for safety and numbers, but then a shock to everyone. Tjun stepped forward and agreed with the bully. He silenced Sienna's protest, volunteering to partner with the A-ranker himself. The raid party divided into three duos with orders to regroup in the south for the final boss battle. Téjun activated his Oscar-worthy acting skills. He bowed, telling Kim he was honored to work with such a legend. He called him sir and claimed he was deeply inspired by the man's philosophy on power and wealth. Stroking the fool's ego worked perfectly. Kim smirked, promising to carry the rookie if he stayed close. They soon reached a desolate graveyard, and Téjun innocently asked why they stopped in such a grim place. Kim arrogantly noted the high monster density, confident he could crush them all without breaking a sweat. Still playing the weakling, Téjun asked if he could just guard a small safe corner so he wouldn't be a burden. Kim graciously allowed it and marched to the center. But as minutes ticked by, the battlefield remained silent. Kim roared in frustration, demanding the cowards come out. While in the shadows, Téjun was silently slaughtering everything. He was harvesting high-grade magic stones like a farmer at harvest time. Kim's irritation boiled over as he realized the mobs were only spawning near the rookie. Suspicion flickered in his eyes, but he dismissed the thought. A no-name hunter couldn't possibly be that clever. Losing his patience, Kim made a fatal mistake. He unleashed his areawide taunt skill, screaming for the beasts to face him, Téjun's innocent mask fell away. A demonic psychotic grin spread across his face as he saw the skill activate. He remembered the briefing. Sienna had explained that while Kim was a mediocre warrior, his aggro pulling taunt was a rare skill. Téjun had noted that detail with deadly interest. When asked why he had simply played dumb back in reality, the radar turned red. An overwhelming tsunami of monsters was converging on Kim's location. This was the perfect trap. Surrounded by a nightmare horde, Kim's arrogance shattered into panic. He screamed for backup, but Téjun coldly refused, citing his orders to stay in his designated area. As the A-ranker drowned in enemies, Téjun made his move. Azure energy exploded around him as he activated Phantom Step, ascending dragon strike. In a single earthshattering blow, he annihilated every undead abomination in the vicinity. Ken stood frozen, questioning if Téjun was truly just a B-rank hunter. As the dust of battle settled, Téjun casually thanked Kim for his useful taunt, ability, remarking that nobody could have predicted the sheer density of monsters lurking nearby. With a smirk, he unveiled a literal mountain of highquality magic stones he had harvested. just to rub salt in the wound. Kim, trembling visibly suggested they retreat immediately since the artifact was secured. However, Téjun refused, declaring that they must assist the others by gathering even more loot. With a predatory smile, Téjun politely asked Kim to activate his taunt skill again. Meanwhile, across the zone, Sona's party regrouped with the other duo, forming a defensive formation of four. Both teams managed to harvest crystals, but it was thanks to Té Jun that they secured every single artifact. Because of his actions, he triggered the impressive growth achievement, a reward exclusively for him. The hidden mission required him to perfect the skills he had copied from M. He had now fully mastered the ascending dragon fist, allowing him to unleash its power at 100% output. The sharpshooter was aruck by the sheer volume of crystals our protagonist amassed, as they wouldn't even fit into a single inventory. to maintain his saintly persona. He generously offered to share the loot, leaving Kim stunned and marry even more so. Yet, everyone declined, refusing to take advantage of the protagonist's apparent kindness since he had earned every stone himself. However, he insisted, claiming they had all worked hard and that he already possessed plenty of stones. After all, Kim had shared with him earlier, so he was merely returning the favor. To drive home his point, he subtly threatened Kim, asking if he agreed. Terrified, Kim nodded instantly. The group thanked both the protagonist and the big guy as they began collecting the magical stones. Cena, however, was lost in thought pondering the situation. She didn't know exactly what the protagonist had done, but his overwhelming success was undeniable. While all this unfolded, Mary asked if the protagonist was truly okay with giving away such wealth. He simply brushed it off. It was all about image. The guy was practically the reincarnation of Lloyd, the legendary scammer, and nothing could convince me otherwise. Back at the Duke's castle, the noble greeted the hunters, thanking them graciously for gathering the sacred artifacts. Thanks to them, this cursed land could finally bloom with life. Cena asked where they should present the artifacts. The Duke replied that they should hand them to him directly as the lord he would perform the offering himself. But this made the redhead pause. She asked a piercing question when he first assigned them the mission. He claimed he couldn't protect the artifacts from the barbarians and as a result the sealed evil was released, slaughtering everyone in the castle. He confirmed this, but she pressed on with the crucial question. How did times you times survive? The atmosphere instantly turned suffocating. The lord began to chuckle, noting she was indeed clever. Most would never notice the discrepancy. However, it was already too late. He had been regaining his knot power from the moment they brought the artifacts inside. As he spoke, he discarded his heavy cloak, revealing his true monstrous form. He unveiled himself as the secret boss high-ranking vampire, Duke Durus, also known as the great evil with a calamityclass danger level. Cena explained how she pieced it together in such a massive dungeon. The absence of a final boss was incredibly suspicious. Additionally, the artifacts didn't seem designed to clear the dungeon. This was a classic duplicated mission. If the artifacts were gathered by the lord, a new, darker scenario would begin. The protagonist could only marvel at how fascinating this was. He had finally discovered what a duplicated mission truly meant. It was intriguing to realize that from the very start, that fragile old man had been the final boss. The vampire extended a pale hand, commanding them to step forward and offer the artifacts so they might witness his glorious resurrection. Suddenly, the redhead began marching toward him like a puppet carrying the artifacts. This left Téjun bewildered. He shouted, asking what she was doing. If they handed over the artifacts, the old monster would become unstoppable. However, before he could finish his warning, he was ambushed from all sides by his own teammates. He managed to evade their strikes quickly, realizing they were under the evil eye charm effect. Our protagonist, however, remained unaffected, protected by the obsidian in his inventory, which nullified the mental status effect. This shocked the Duke, who demanded to know if the the protagonist was truly resistant to his supreme power. In response, Téjun simply flipped him the bird, quipping that he wasn't attracted to ancient vampires. He suggested the Duke try using his charms on Grandma's at a senior center instead. The vampire was, of course, absolutely enraged. Yet, he scoffed that it didn't matter. Since he had gathered all the artifacts today, he would regain his immortal power. He ordered the charmed hunters to tear Téjun into bloody pieces. Téjun found the whole situation incredibly troublesome with the the vampire sneered convinced that raw power meant nothing in this cruel game. He believed Tajun would be forced to slaughter his own comrades, ending in a blood soaked tragedy at their hands. However, shattering the Duke's delusion, Tajjun simply channeled mana into his middle finger and unleashed a flick of doom on his teammate's foreheads. It was an instant knockout, precise and merciful, specifically with Kim, who received a follow-up punch so devastating the laws of physics lagged. There was a literal delay before Kim's body registered the impact and hit the floor. Strolling towards the Duke with casual arrogance, the protagonist scoffed. "Are you underestimating me?" he asked, claiming this was easier than eating pie and boasting he hadn't suffered a single scratch. It turns out physical stats combined with magic create a truly broken build. This mockery left the vampire trembling with humiliated fury. He barked in order for Cena to protect him while he recovered his mana, and she obeyed instantly, launching a feral assault on the protagonist. Her agility was off the charts, managing to slice Tajun's skin before he could even register the dodge. She was the only one he couldn't neutralize with a simple finger flick. If he used the ascending dragon fist, he would win instantly. But the sheer destructive force would be fatal to her. Weighing his options, he barely danced around her lethal strikes. Meanwhile, the vampire in the back had a twisted epiphany, claiming he finally understood the situation. It is clear you two share a forbidden love, he declared, thinking this explained Tajjun<unk>s hesitation, believing it would be a Shakespearean tragedy if they died by each other's hands. Tajun<unk>s expression, however, screamed. Have you lost your absolute mind, brother? But as he stared at the vampires nonsense, Mary shouted a warning, telling him to look at Cena, who had suddenly frozen in place. The protagonist realized the vampires charm skill had glitched for a second. Even the Duke looked baffled, screaming at her to move and kill Tajun. At this point, the vampire was delusional, absolutely convinced of their romance. The protagonist, however, analyzed the combat data. She had reacted to his voice. strong emotional shocks could override the enchantment. It was a temporary break in the spell, but it was an opening. Even without full certainty, it was a gamble worth taking. Suddenly, Tajjun began his improvised acting performance. "I do not know how this sounds," he said, but I have harbored a secret for a long time. He asked if she remembered last Christmas when she gifted him a wallet, saying, "A man with a good wallet attracts wealth." The atmosphere grew strangely tender, a moment of pure romance. But of course, our resident madman shattered the mood instantly. I sold that wallet at the flea market, he confessed. He wasn't supposed to sell it, but poverty shows no mercy, and he was financially desperate. Cena's eyes widened in visible disappointment and betrayal staring right at him. Taja knew her righteous anger would keep the system frozen for a moment. He immediately turned his rage on the vampire roaring. How dare you? He made it clear that manipulating his friends was a death sentence. To ensure the vampire never used that skill again, he cast the Tajjun style nullification strike, which was just him jabbing both fingers directly into the vampires eyes with dispel magic. The little vampire screamed in agony, desperate, he commanded the protagonist to remove his fingers this instant, but our madman simply refused, saying he would hold this pose until death. He was ruthless. The structure of the vampires ability was being calculated amidst the screams, and once the analysis hit 100%, the skill was nullified. The charm shattered completely. The Duke managed to break free, but his eyes were utterly ruined. Confused and blind, he couldn't comprehend what the protagonist had done. He realized too late that this brutal attack was a dispelling technique. The unconscious teammates began to wake up as the spell faded. But the Duke's mind couldn't process it. No one had ever broken his control. It should only be possible if his mana had completely run dry. Furious and bewildered, he demanded to know how the protagonist did it. But our madman is clever and cold. Why do you care? He asked. You are going to die anyway. He didn't need to know the mechanics. Then Tajun mocked him further, saying if he was really curious, he could just look it up on the wiki later. Though it is hard to browse the internet when you are dead. The Duke's rage spiked, wondering how this human dared to joke in the face of death. He wanted to wipe that smirk off Tajun<unk>s face permanently. Declaring that the only one dying today would be the protagonist. He shouted that he would put an end to Tajjun's smile. Charging forward with a sword manifested from pure blood. But before he could close the distance, the red head flashed into existence. With a single precision strike, she severed the hand holding the blood sword. She quickly seized the momentum, telling the protagonist, "You did well. Leave the rest to us." She shouted to the raid party that this was their golden opportunity. The boss could no longer use mental crowd control. They needed to unite their DPS and take down the vampire together. Everyone began charging their ultimate abilities. Cena stood as the vanguard blocking the vampires path completely. The vampire screamed, his fury peeking, "Do you insects really think you can defeat me?" During the chaos, our protagonist simply watched from the sidelines. He noted calmly that the Duke would be defeated by the very pathetic creatures he mocked. The gunslinger emerged from the shadows. He fired two precise shots, claiming he had waited for the perfect opening to prove he was no dead weight. His bullet struck true, injuring the beast. Meanwhile, the tank held the front line, blocking the vampires dark arts, while the healer wo mists of recovery. But the redhead was the true storm. She poured mana into her blade, chanting the ancient Arya. Gale that shears the wind, thunder that cleaves the heavens. She unleashed her ultimate art. The vampire was instantly bicted, leaving only his legs standing. The gunslinger sighed in relief, but our hero appeared, warning him the battle wasn't finished. He charged his own ultimate attack. A 100% Mona cannon. Blue Inferno swallowed the vampires remains, obliterating the corpse and the surrounding terrain. "I leave nothing to chance," he declared. The threat was finally neutralized. The redhead realized the monster lord had been using mind domination magic. The gunslinger shook his head, recalling the gruesome sight of the hero ripping out the duke's eyes earlier. When asked why he checked the corpse so brutally, the hero played innocent, desperate to hide his edgy dialogue from the girl. With the dungeon gate finally open, the party cheered. It was time to return to the surface for a victory feast. The redheads scanned the area for their rival, Kim. He lay face down in the dirt like trash. She asked if he needed help, but the hero scoffed. He lives, so he is fine. A minor injury was no excuse. The healer invited the hero to the barbecue, but he declined. He had unfinished business. The redhead sensed a scheme, but he lied smoothly. I must study this dungeon's unique mana ecology. He claimed he needed to analyze the anomaly for his training. A perfect excuse to grind alone. The party gazed at him with total admiration, always so dedicated, the redhead murmured. Her eyes softened with affection as she touched his cheek. Do not push yourself too hard, she whispered, stepping back to leave him. As soon as the portal closed, Mary dropped the act. "Cut the nonsense," she grinned. "You are not here to study, are you?" The hero smirked. "You know me too well." He admitted that while he used to struggle just to survive, today was different. He was hunting a hidden piece. He pointed to a mysterious question mark on his system map located in the castle. With a greedy expression, he commanded, "Let us go loot this place." They arrived at the grand library. Mary saw nothing but dust. Yet, she felt a presence. Relying on his knowledge of cliche tropes, the hero scanned the bookshelves, a hidden switch behind a book. Classic. He fiddled with the mechanism until click. A secret passage groaned open. Blinded by the promise of treasure, he rushed in, triggering a deadly trap. Spears shot from the walls, nearly turning him into a skewer. Mary screamed a warning, but he barely dodged. "This area is a minefield," she cried. "The traps were cloaked by magic, invisible even to his senses." The hero sighed. "I wanted to save this trump card, but I have no choice." He opened his inventory and withdrew the staff of the lich. Purple aura pulsed ominously. "Heed my call, Iris," he commanded. Mary watched in shock as the ground cracked and a massive skeleton rose. I am the herald of death. The summon bellowed, looking majestic. Except for the ridiculous battle skirt he was wearing. It was clear this undead minion was going to be a total headache to manage. As the realization dawned on the undead mage, our cheeky protagonist welcomed him with a devilish smirk. Long time no see, old friend. He asked how the skeleton was doing, but Aratus tried to ignore the casual greeting, demanding answers instead. How was this possible? Had a mere human truly used his staff to summon him? Was he being summoned just to be mocked? To tease him further, the protagonist confirmed the nightmare with a smug grin, asking if Aratus enjoyed the ride. To Aratus, this was clearly a lie. That staff was overflowing with malicious souls, a cursed artifact impossible for a human to wield. Those vengeful spirits should have devoured anyone foolish enough to touch it. Yet Tjun stood there mocking him. "I already slaughtered the spirit inside," Téjun declared nonchalantly. Aratus refused to believe it, insisting such a feat was impossible. Téjun simply shrugged, complaining that the spirit was a hassle, but ultimately insignificant. Then his gaze turned cold. How dared a servant speak to his master in such a tone. Times thwack times. He slammed the staff onto Aratus' skull. It didn't matter how he was summoned. If Aratus spoke like that again, he would end up as bone broth. The poor skeleton had no choice but to bow and promised not to repeat the mistake. Téjun sighed. The lich always had an attitude. Obey my command, Tjun ordered, pointing down the hall. Follow that clearly safe path ahead. Aratus knew it was a trap. Going forward unarmed and blind, it was suicide. But Tjun's aura carried a heavy threat. Do not disappoint me, commander. Trembling with fear, the skeleton rushed forward as fast as his bony legs could carry him. He barely made it six steps. A massive stone wall slammed down, smashing him into scattered fragments instantly. He was obliterated. A blue system window popped up. Aratus has been despawned. Mary watched in sheer horror. Téjun nonchalantly checked the map. Excellent. One trap identified countless more to go. He marked the spot with a red X. Casual as ever, he raised the staff. Summon Eritus returned from the void, awkwardly piecing himself back together. Still confused by his own death, the skeleton looked up, but Téjun barked the next order, advanced without stopping. This time, Aratus triggered a flame trap. After just a few steps, he was engulfed in an inferno and turned to ash. The system chimed again. Aratus has turned to ashes and been despawned. Tjun celebrated marking another danger zone on his map. Mary couldn't stay silent. "Do you really plan to keep doing this until every trap is cleared?" "Is there a problem with my method?" Téjun asked coldly. "My name is Lee Tjun. I show no mercy to those who try to kill me." It was a chilling declaration. Mary wisely stayed quiet in her corner, terrified she might be the next mind detector. Téjun summoned Aratus, yet again, scolding him. "Stop slacking off. Move. There are still plenty of traps to uncover. Time passed in a blur of agony. The sound of Aratus' screams echoed through the dungeon. Finally, half a body lay twitching on the ground. Tjun stood before the remains, clapping his hands. Magnificent work. You are truly the best trap detector I could ask for. Still alive. Aratus groaned. Why? Why haven't I despawned yet? The system provided a surprising explanation. After enduring death so many times, Aratus' durability had increased significantly. His bones were evolving through the pain. Téjun mused to himself. The skeleton wasn't shattering as easily anymore. Summoned creatures didn't usually evolve like this. This must be the effect of the explosive growth mechanism. Téjun marveled aloud at how impressive Aratus had become. Hearing the praise, the naive skeleton actually felt a spark of happiness. But Téjun was already done with him. I'll examine that growth skill later. Let's go. He turned his back, leaving the battered undead in the dust. Aratus felt a surge of irritation. Just a simple good job. After being used as a meat shield, this was pure disrespect. Even immortals have rights. This was outrageous. But Téjun simply dismissed the complaint, withdrawing the summon. Into the inventory you go. We need to focus on treasure hunting now. The staff vanished and silence returned to the hall. Mary watched the scene unfold, realizing just how truly heartless Téjun was. She pointed out that the path seemed to end here. It was likely the dungeon's end. As Mary asked if he sensed anything, Téjun's eyes locked onto a massive structure. That tombstone. It looked suspicious. Grave markers are never this enormous, and he was right. It was ridiculously large. Téjun smirked. There is no reason to build something that big, unless a secret is hidden inside. The moment he touched it, pink squares with arcane symbols ignited across the surface. The air hummed with energy. The massive tombstone split in half. Inside stood a gigantic headless suit of armor holding a small box. Within the box lay a bracelet. Téjun's eyes narrowed. He recognized the design from the relics of their previous mission. However, this wasn't a quest item. He evaluated its worth with a greedy gleam in his eye. It was likely priceless. He started praying to any deity listening. Please let this item be high class. He needed a legendary jackpot. While in the middle of her prayers, Mary suddenly pauses to ask why he hasn't utilized the systems item analyzer yet. Ton freezes completely dumbfounded and demands to know exactly what she is talking about. With a sigh, Mary explains that the analyzer is a fundamental feature, a tool so basic that players from other dimensions consider it absolutely essential for survival. She innocently asks if he likes it, but Ton explodes in annoyance, yelling at her for keeping this a secret. Mary snaps back, her voice thundering with indignation. She claims she already installed multiple functions for him and it is not her fault that he never pays attention to her tutorials. Realizing his mistake, Ton sheepishly scratches his head, admitting he might have tuned her out and decides to finally test this legendary feature. The moment he activates it, the system unveils a terrifying treasure, the relic of Malice. This item is now soulbound to Ton, granting him plus one to all stats and unlocking two fearsome abilities. The first is vampire aesthetics and the second is vampire charm. Tune is ecstatic. This is a unique ranked item bestowed with two rank A skills. Vampire aesthetics is a miracle of flesh. It prevents any scars or wounds from marring his body for long. It serves as an advanced passive healing factor that consumes zero mana, though it cannot mend severed limbs or shattered bones. Then there is vampire charm, a rank A mental attack. By consuming 50, manaton can enslave a target's mind, provided their mental defense is lower than rank B, or they have been sufficiently weakened. As Ton grins over his newfound immortality, Mary marvels at the sinister potential of enchanting humans, noting how valuable such puppets could be. Ton wearing his trademark psychopathic smile agrees wholeheartedly. After all, humans are everywhere and they make for such versatile tools. Mary feels a chill run down her spine as Ton casually weighs the morality of mind controlling people. But he simply scoffs, telling her she is naive. In his experience, humans are far more treacherous and terrifying than any beast lurking in a dungeon. Meanwhile, hidden eyes are watching from the shadows. Communicating via radio, a scout confirms that the prey has been located. The voice on the other end notes that the target is merely a fresh rank B hunter. Hardly a threat to someone possessing the ultimate stealth technique. This assassin wields the rank S skill known as silent shadow. However, our protagonist's instincts are screaming a warning. The assassin activates his art standing boldly right in front of Ton. He mocks Ton's history, noting he was once a broken rank D piece of trash, but has somehow climbed his way to become a promising rank B talent. Just as the assassin raises his blade to end Ton's life, without a sound, a brutal kick slams into his face. Ton looks confused, wondering if his navigation system is not glitching out. The impact forces the assassin out of stealth, confirming he was standing there the whole time, even though Ton couldn't visually see him. Panic sets in as the killer realizes this isn't some lucky rookie. Ton sensed him. Ton on the braide. Other hand muses aloud about the man's invisibility and coldly orders the rat to stop hiding and show himself for a little chat. To ensure cooperation, Ton threatens to continue the beatdown until the man stops breathing if he refuses to to reveal his true form. Just as our protagonist predicted, the assassin had two choices: show up or get beaten. He chose the hard way, and the result was a kick to the spine that made him feel like a soccer ball being launched into orbit. Following the kick came a symphony of violence. A barrage of punches rain down like a storm. A flurry of attacks that would make a certain stand user proud. Broken and bloodied, the assassin began begging for his life, apologizing profusely to the demon standing over him and pleading for mercy. But our sarcastic anti-hero simply shrugged, remarking that he hadn't even started his warm-up yet, lamenting that kids these days have no backbone. Now that the rat was visible, the interrogation began. Ton demanded his name and origin. The poor wretch sporting two massive bumps on his head that looked like comically swollen mouse ears introduced himself as H. John Chaw of the Red Dogs Guild. The name rang a bell. Ton remembered them clearly. The Red Dogs were a gang of criminal scum who extorted money and murdered fellow hunters for profit. Gripping the pathetic man by the collar, Ton demanded to know what brought a notorious cockroach to a desolate place like this. Terrified out of his mind, the man screamed that he was only following orders, begging to be spared. But Ton's eyes went cold. He replied that following orders does not absolve one of sin. Mocking the guild's name, calling them hot dogs, Ton declared he had a few questions. Dark energy began to gather in his palm as he prepared to test out vampire charm. He warned the man to answer carefully, staring into his soul with a gaze of pure madness. While the screams echoed from inside the room, the scene shifted to the gloomy cemetery outside. The rest of the kill squad was waiting. The team leader, a man named Ham Jong Pill, tapped his foot impatiently, wondering why his invisible ace hadn't returned. It should not take this long to dispose of a simple rank B newbie. He muttered that next time he would handle the slaughter personally. But a strange elf-like member vibing to a playlist suggested cutting the new guy some slack. He argued that the rookie lacked field experience and taking a little extra time to kill someone is perfectly normal. After all, nobody is perfect. The first target was Hamjango, a man affectionately nicknamed Paraguay by his partner L. L had insisted the rookie showed promise, but suddenly our protagonist emerged from the shadows, dragging the invisible man's limp body. He dumped the unconscious load and addressed the three brothers by name, ridiculing them as awakened hunters who had stooped to doing dirty work. He didn't hesitate to strike a deep nerve, sneering that if their late parents could see them now, they would cry tears of blood at their pathetic state. Rage twisted the face of Jong Pill, the scar-faced brother, who gripped his bat and demanded to know how this stranger possessed such intimate knowledge. Had he interrogated the youngest brother, the protagonist calmly confirmed that he had come personally to extract the truth from the elders. He implied that since the youngest one had been less than cooperative, he needed to break the others. Paraguay tried to snap back and insult the protagonist, but the scar-faced Jungp silenced him instantly. He insisted that the invisible man was a veteran professional who wouldn't spill his secret so easily. He concluded that the protagonist must be using some form of forbidden mindcontaminating magic to get inside their heads. Tajjun sarcastically applauded the brothers unwavering trust in each other, calling it touching and offered them a praise sticker before raising his middle finger. Unsurprisingly, the brothers exploded with fury, accusing him of being an absolute lunatic. The leader stepped forward, admitting he had underestimated this little psychopath and should have crushed him from the start. He warned the protagonist not to think he would walk away alive, but Tajun, unimpressed, simply dared him to try. The man then unveiled his ultimate skill, a special assassination technique honed over years of blood and sweat. the Shadow Strike. Unfortunately for him, the audience never saw the move in action because Tajun silenced him with a single devastating punch that knocked him out cold. Téjun complained that he didn't have time for long-winded villain speeches and turned his attention to Paraguay and L, who were now trembling in fear. Running low on Maana, Tajun told him to spill everything immediately unless he wanted to share the broken fate of his brothers. The scene shifted to the Hunter Alliance headquarters where news broke that the Red Dog's villains had been taken into custody. The Alliance HQ had uncovered their plot. The villains had disguised themselves as dungeon regulars to ambush Tajjun. When he didn't die in the dungeon as expected, they had breached the perimeter to carry out the assassination themselves. The Alliance's vice leader now stood before Tajjun and Ma, admitting they had been careless in their security. They knew Tajun would be targeted after the rank B evaluation scandal and provisions had been made, but they never imagined this level of boldness. She never thought villains would infiltrate a myth guild dungeon. Taking full responsibility, she apologized, but Tajun waved it off. There was no need for apologies as he had anticipated this outcome. It had simply arrived sooner than calculated. Mata, however, could not contain his volcanic anger. He was livid that these scum had targeted not only Kangan and Yurin, but Tajun as well. To him, this was utterly unacceptable. He vowed to storm the Red Dog's headquarters and beat them until they confessed their employer's name. But Tajjun calmly intervened, stating there was no need for violence since he already knew exactly who had ordered the hit. Yarn, the vice leader, asked in shock if Tajjun had really uncovered the truth on his own. Ma questioned if the villains had been that quick to talk to, which Tajjun casually replied that they were far more chatty than expected. With an intimidating glare, Yarn demanded to know the name of the bastard who dared to attack her people. Her aura flared so intensely that even Mary was left speechless by the pressure. Tajun then revealed the culprit was Sanild's leader, Bai Hanu. The two guild representatives were stunned. They hadn't expected it to be Hanu. Meanwhile, the hot-headed Ma began shouting that it was obvious Hanu was behind it as his villainous face practically screamed guilt. Yerion, however, analyzed the situation. Song guild was a national power that had jumped from 30th to 7th in the rankings. Over the past 2 years, they had become notorious for doing whatever it took to rise, no matter how cruel or inhumane the method. With confirmation from Tajjun, Yarin declared there was no doubt left in her mind. She announced she would gather her guilds elite members and ensure Siang paid for targeting the prodigy hunters. As she and Ma prepared to march to war, Tajjun asked to join them. He wanted to look the man who tried to kill him in the eye. The scene shifted to Sangilds headquarters where chaos had erupted. Ma burst through the walls like a wrecking ball, shouting for Hanu. Guild members demanded to know what he was doing, but Yarin entered from another direction, ordering them to bring their leader immediately. Behind her stood an army, all exuding a suffocating green aura as she warned that if they didn't produce their leader, the building would burn. When the guild members tried to talk instead of acting, Yurin lost her patience. She ordered her elites to attack, and they unleashed a volley of fireballs, creating a massive explosion that shook the foundation. Once the young member ran to Hanu's office to warn him that the Blue Sky and Whitewing representatives were at the door, but Han Su, stuffing his bags with elicit fortune, he screamed for silence. He cursed his own stupidity for trusting such useless underlings. Where did the threads of fate tangle? Was it the rank B evaluation? The red dogs mercenaries? No, it was all because of Tajjun. Without that interference, he would be sipping wine in paradise. He was certain this vault was impenetrable even to the mightiest guild masters. But reality shattered with a deafening boom. Through a fissure in the steel, a nightmare peered in. It was Tajun. His eyes gleamed with predatory amusement. So this is your rat hole. Did you truly believe you could escape my sight? Terror seized Kim Hanu<unk>s heart. He stammered, barely able to speak. Is Is that really you? The young hunter merely smiled. Rank B hunter at your service. Tajjun announced his aura flaring. Consider this. Breach my respectful greeting. Hanu demanded to know how the impossible was achieved. But Tajjun shrugged, offering a casual excuse. I just walked in. I have a knack for finding lost things. Meanwhile, Parsley, the genius navigator below, flashed a thumbs up to the feed. Back in the vault, Han Su<unk>s voice trembled with suspicion. What do you want? He hissed. You didn't break in here just for a chat without expecting a payout. Is it gold credits? He shoved a briefcase overflowing with cash forward. Take it, just leave me be. There is a mountain more where this came from, he pleaded. Through the comms, Mary's voice cut in sharp as a blade. Tajun, do not listen to this serpent's lies. Back in the cold reality of the vault, Tajun smirked. Attempting pile of trash, he admitted. But I have no use for dirty money. His gaze hardened. I want answers about the promotion exam tampering. Was there a puppet master pulling your strings? I already know the story, Tajun lied smoothly. Save yourself the pain and confess. Hanu<unk>s face twisted in irritation. You dare test me, he spat. I am the architect. This entire grand design was mine alone. Who else could conceive such brilliance? Tajun sighed, realizing the bait failed. He had played a bluff to catch a bigger fish, but the rat didn't bite. Fine, Tajjun cracked his knuckles. If words fail, pain usually works. I'll just beat the truth out of you before handing you over to headquarters. But the master of the Sha Guild was not entirely toothless. He straightened up, his ego flaring. Do you know who you are dealing with, boy? Your arrogance knows no bounds. You think you are a predator. I do not fear a mere upstart like you. The only ones I fear are those monsters, Mata and Yon Hua. As he screamed, dark energy began to coalesce in his palms. Dark matter. The void materialized, twisting the air. Even Tajun raised an eyebrow momentarily impressed by the visual spectacle. Seeing the hesitation, Hanu sneered. Ready to negotiate now? You should have taken the money when you had the chance to live. Oh, did I make a mistake? Tajjun asked sarcastically. But beneath the banter, his eye of truth was dissecting the enemy's power. Scanning. Dark matter. A rank S ability. It devours all energy, nullifies ranged attacks, and drains the very life force of those near it. A perfect defense that starves the opponent of mana and stamina. In theory, an invincible shield that no warrior can approach, move, or perish in the void, Hanu roared. Any sane hunter would retreat before such legendary power. But Tajun stood his ground, a smirk playing on his lips. "You liar," he laughed. "That is nothing but a cheap parlor trick." Hanu blinked, thinking the boy had lost his mind. "You intend to challenge dark matter with a basic fireball. Watch me," Tajjun challenged. He wasn't arrogant. He was informed. The system window had revealed the pathetic truth. Through his analysis skill, the secret was laid bare. This wasn't the true S-rank ability. It was skill projection, a mimicking spell that copied the visual of a random skill, but held only 10% of the original power. As the flame erupted from Tajjun's hand, the facade crumbled. Hanu shrieked, throwing his hands up. Wait, I surrender. Mercy came too late. The fireball struck true. The guild leader rolled on the floor, screaming for a fire extinguisher like a child. Pathetic Tajjun muttered. He had held back, yet the man was crumbling. How did such a fragile glass cannon lead a guild? Quit your wailing. He won't die from a sing. Tajjun ordered. Now since you refused to talk earlier, he gripped Hanu<unk>s head, his eyes glowing ominous red. Skill activated vampire charm. It was time to rip the truth directly from his soul. As his fingers dug in, the scene shifts. The once proud Sha Guild building stood in ruins, a testament to the battle that raged outside. Haha, magnificent Mata bellowed, slapping Tajjun's back. You captured the rat. You are 100 times more useful than those suits at headquarters. Tajjun bowed his head slightly. I only played my part. This victory belongs to the guild leaders. Without your overwhelming pressure, he would have slipped away, Tajjun added. Mata grinned, accepting the praise. True, true. If we hadn't held back, this entire city block would be dust, Mata boasted. Tajun nodded, acknowledging the monster's strength. But where is Guildmaster Yona? Tajjun asked. She is securing the final nail in the coffin, Mata replied. Suddenly, reality ripped open. A swirling vortex of energy manifested in the air, a spatial gate opening right before them. Yan Hua stepped through the void files in hand. I have it, she declared. Proof of the exam tampering. The corruption runs deep. The corrupt officials scattered like rats fleeing a sinking ship. Suspecting the rot ran deep. The protagonist demanded evidence. Was there proof implicating other hunters or major guilds? Suang confirmed the bitter truth. This conspiracy was Han Su<unk>s solo act. Ma's fury boiled over at the sheer greed on display. To sell one's honor for dirty money, it was unforgivable corruption. He seized Hyan Su by the ear like a disobedient child. Ma swore to drag him to headquarters and break his spirit personally. Hyanu shrieked for mercy, but his pleas fell on deaf ears. Meanwhile, Yan approached Téjun, the air heavy with unspoken questions. Did he really hunt down Hyansu in the shadows? She admitted with a heavy heart that they owed him a debt of blood. But the protagonist scoffed at the notion of heroism. He claimed his actions were purely self-s serving, a hunt for the truth. His words twisted in the air, confusing Yan. He explained that a mere puppet like Hyunu couldn't command such dark arts. Elite dark mages, cold-blooded assassins. A massive shadow organization was pulling the strings from behind. He swore a blood oath to crush not just Hyan Su, but the entire rotten empire supporting him. He delivered a speech dripping with righteous fury. Merie rolled her eyes at his theatrical performance, but Yan was captivated. She probed further, asking if he knew the true mastermind. He denied it, but his gaze held a dangerous secret. Scene shift. A gloomy office suffocating in shadow. A man trembled before the glowing screen of his laptop. The news of Hyans<unk>s arrest struck him like a physical blow. He had confessed to tampering with the promotion test only 2 days later. The man cursed Hyanu<unk>s name with venomous spite. Why did that fool hire assassins and ruin everything? This panicked soul was go young men, the guild master of the infamous werewolf guild known as the skull. Cold sweat poured down his back as he feared the worst. But he reassured himself. The soulbinding contract should keep their secrets buried. A sharp knock shattered his internal monologue. It was Cho Yong T, the skull guild's vice master. He reported an urgent visitor demanding a personal audience. Go's heart hammered. Was it the sky guild or the warang? Yung shook his head. The guest was masked, but he had whispered a code word, the flying fly. Recognition flashed in Go<unk>'s eyes, replaced instantly by terror. Had Hyunu broken the silence impossible. With trembling hands, he ordered the guest to be admitted. The masked figure stroed in aura, radiating danger. The mask fell away, revealing a face they knew all too well. It was the protagonist Lee Tjun, the madman himself. Memories of the rank B test flooded back. This was the rookie who had single-handedly crushed their plans. Why would a rising star walk into the lion's den? The guild master gestured for him to sit, hiding his anxiety, but then shattering all logic and dignity. Téjun burst into a fit of maniacal laughter. He dropped into a handstand, spinning like a possessed top. Spittle flew as he defied gravity and sanity alike. The guildmaster froze his brain, unable to process the sight. He ordered Yong Tay to stop this bizarre circus act. But the protagonist had fully embraced the madness. He began sprinting around the room, running on his hands. Yes, you heard that right, a human wheel of chaos. Even Merie watched in horror, questioning her master's sanity. While he mocked them with his lunacy, the vice master's patience snapped like a twig. Mana surged into his fist, glowing with lethal intent. He roared, demanding an explanation for this disrespect. Yong T launched a devastating strike, but with a fluid motion of his legs, Tay Jun intercepted the punch. The blow didn't even scratch him. To add insult to injury, he praised the attack casually. Just what I expected from the Skull Guild's number one. Even the Vice Master couldn't hide his shock. Téjun had neutralized a full power strike with raw muscle. A technique that humiliated his opponent completely. Suddenly, the madness vanished. "The test is over," the protagonist declared calmly. He untangled his limbs and adopted a formal posture. Though his entry had been anything but normal, he introduced himself Lee Té Jun. The rookie hunter and freelancer extraordinaire, the guild master's confusion deepened into a headache. What was this lunacy? A test? A joke? But our sly protagonist doubled down with a grin. I had to verify the strength of the guild I intend to join. He claimed he was assessing their reaction to the unexpected. Go young men finally realized this man was completely unhinged. The bald vice master was trembling with rage. He had seen crazy hunters, but this was a new breed of insanity. He jammed a finger into Téjun's chest. "This isn't a playground for your delusions, kid. You don't just waltz into a guild base and spew nonsense. And to make matters worse, Téjun lacked even basic manners." Téjun scoffed at their archaic fixation. He mocked their obsession with the dark arts, noting that this tunnel vision was the exact reason the Skull Guild was rotting from the inside. The bald vice leader's aura flared with uncontrollable rage. But Téjun didn't flinch. He invoked the name of a ghost, the legendary hunter Gojunho, the master of blood magic. That man had turned necromancy into a symbol of national pride. Because of him, the guild once stood as a titan among Korea's top five. But legends fade. Since the original guildm's retirement, the organization had been crumbling into ruin. Every word Téjun spoke was a dagger of truth. The vice leader wanted to crush him. Yet he could not deny the reality of their downfall. Desperation breeds compromise. As the saying goes, "Within every crisis lies a golden opportunity." Tjun hopped onto the guild leader's desk, looking down at them with arrogant confidence. This was their chance to defy fate. If they accepted him, he swore to drag the skull guild out of the abyss and back to glory. Guild leader Gaio hesitated, sensing the danger. But then Téjun played his trump card. He slid a single document across the mahogany desk. The atmosphere instantly froze. Gio<unk>'s eyes widened in sheer terror. He tried to laugh it off, but his trembling hands betrayed him. Tjun knew everything. The rigged B- rank exam, the illicit artifact tampering. Every dirty secret was in that file. He even knew about the shadowy deals between Gio and Hanu. Realizing he was completely checkmated, Jio slumped in defeat. With a heavy sigh, he signed the contract. Tjun was officially a member of the Skull Guild. The game had begun. Later, in the shadows of the office, the vice leader exploded with fury. Admitting a non-necromancer was blasphemy against their tradition, but Jio remained cold. He sensed a terrifying utility in Téjun. This boy was a weapon they could wield. The vice leader spat on the floor. Useful don't make me laugh. He was convinced Téjun was a parasite here to bleed them dry. He left with a dark ultimatum. Téjun had better master necromancy or he would face the brutal special admission test. Meanwhile, back at his sanctuary, Téjun finally exhaled. The aroma of fresh coffee filled the air as he savored the silence. It was a simple luxury, but to a hunter, it tasted like heaven. Merie floated nearby, her spirit form glowing with cheer. She marveled at his new life, a far cry from the days of dodging assassins in the shadows. Yet, she warned him not to let his guard down. Téjun smirked, his eyes gleaming with calculation. He was never idle. Every move on this chessboard was planned in advance. Mirie raised an eyebrow, sensing a bluff. In response, Téjun held up a gleaming ring he had looted from the Red Dog's gang. This was the key, an artifact of deception. It was the reason they had executed so many missions like ghosts in the night. Once equipped, it wo an illusion over his features. Only highlevel detection skills could pierce the veil. To the masses, he was a stranger. Freedom was the ultimate power. Téjun told me to relax and drink in the peace while it lasted. But Merie's curiosity burned. Why the Skull Guild? Why join a sinking ship when titans like Myth Pouring or Sky would beg for him? Tjun's expression turned cynical. The big three. To join them was to shackle oneself in golden chains, endless international raids, suffocating political gallas, being a puppet for the government. He wanted none of that spotlight. The Skull Guild, ranked 22nd, was the perfect cover. Low profile, zero expectations. It was the perfect hunting ground to farm mana stones without prying eyes. And the best part, he tapped the contract. He could renegotiate anytime, and he had secured 100% of the Monae commission. Pure profit. Merie looked at him with awe. A true genius of greed. But now that the deal was struck, what was the next move? Téjun stood up, stretching his limbs. It was time for some retail therapy. Merie gasped. The penny pincher was actually going to spend money. Moments later, they stood before a colossus of glass and steel. Téjun gazed up, mesmerized. Money truly was the strongest magic of all. Mirie, a stranger to this era, tilted her head. This didn't look like a normal market. The mana density here was suffocating. Téjun grinned, spreading his arms wide. Welcome to the hunter's playground. This was W Jun, the beating heart of Korea's hunter economy. A fortress of commerce built for the awakened. It wasn't just a mall. It was a sanctuary. VIP lounges, cultural centers, and armories that rivaled military bases. Entire floors were dedicated to legendary gear. Grand halls hosted parties for the elite. It was a city within a building. Every week, artifacts of unimaginable power were auctioned here. Items that Merie couldn't even dream of were on display. Tjun pitched it like a seasoned salesman earning a round of applause from his spirit companion. But as he fantasized about the loot, a sleek black sedan screeched to a halt. A voice called out, slicing through the noise. Someone had seen through his disguise. A woman stepped out, radiating an overwhelming aura. Cha hi, the guild master of myth. She had tracked him down. Téjun's eyes narrowed. What business did a queen of the hunter world have with a rookie like him? Place like this, she drops a massive bombshell. She owns the entire mega market empire and personally inspects it weekly, too. Check the new stock. Tajun is absolutely thunderruck. He had no clue the myth guild held such financial power. if he had known he would have signed their contract in a heartbeat. After he stammers an apology for not recognizing her, Jarun waves it off with a smile. It's fine. She keeps a low profile away from the media so her face remains a mystery to the masses. Shifting gears, she asks if Tajun has a moment to spare, wishing to express her gratitude properly. Her brother had told her everything about Tajun's heroic feats in the cursed territory expedition. The reports were clear. Without him, the dungeon clear would have failed and the entire third team, perhaps even the future of Myth Guild itself, would have faced catastrophe. While Tajun appreciates the praise, he politely plays the humble card, declining a reward and claiming he didn't act for the sake of fame. Jiren admires his humility, but insists on one final offer. She invites him to claim any treasure he desires from the VIP vault, flashing a dazzling golden card. Our protagonist is left speechless. Realizing this is a one ina- million chance to skyrocket his power. However, seeing his hesitation, she begins to tuck the card away, sighing that she can't force a reward on a saint. Panic instantly sets in. His inner greed screams that a free artifact is too good to pass up. Abandoning all pretense, he slams his hand on her shoulder just as she turns to leave, begging her to wait a second, suddenly very eager to inspect the goods. Inside the elevator, as they ascend, she observes that he is far more ordinary than she imagined. Based on the rumors, she expected a dark, brooding figure with a unique vibe, especially considering the terrifying aura he reportedly unleashed during battle. Rubbing the back of his head, the protagonist awkwardly confesses he might have accidentally set the bar too high, she laughs softly, reassuring him that it isn't a disappointment. Honestly, she prefers someone down to earth. though she teasingly adds that manager Shamana probably wouldn't share that sentiment. As the conversation fades, the elevator doors slide open and she explains that this sanctuary is reserved strictly for their top tier VIP clients. But today is a special exception. He has free reign to browse and take his sweet time selecting a prize. The hall is breathtaking, a palace of white decor, exquisite art, and endless corridors of power. The seventh protagonist is wideeyed, gawking at necklaces and armor sets worth billions of one. He marvels at the realization that she owns all of this, seeing her now as the literal goddess of fortune. He practically starts drooling, prompting Jarun to ask if anything has caught his attention. Of course, it has. The problem is choosing just one gem from this sea of treasure. But then his gaze locks onto something. Pointing toward a secluded section, he asks for details on the display. Impressed by his sharp eye, she reveals that every artifact in that zone was once wielded by legendary guild masters like Quinn and Shonen Titans of Korea, who are now retired legends. She explains that these items are museum pieces preserved as tributes to their glorious history and regrettably are not for sale. She gently suggests he browse the other racks since there are far superior functional items available. Suddenly, their moment is cut short by an aid informing Jiren that the director of the Ahyen Guild has arrived. Jiren checks her watch, shocked by how much time flew by, and mentions she has an urgent meeting. She suggests they reconvene later in her office to finalize his reward. The the protagonist bids her a polite farewell, telling her not to worry. But Mary teases him from the side, warning he'll break his back, bowing that low. The protagonist shoots back that this is simply the art of professionalism. Mary, however, remains baffled as to why Tajun is fixated on a pile of junk like those gauntlets when god tier gear is sitting right there on the shelves. She squints through the glass trying to spot the hidden value, but they just look like ancient rusty relics well past their prime. Using his appraisal skill, the system identifies the item, the broken steel dragon gauntlet. Durability has hit zero. It was once the weapon of a forgotten martial artist, but now with its structure compromised, the gauntlet is effectively trash. Mary isn't wrong on the surface, but Tajun's eyes see what others cannot. It has a hidden tag indicating a perfect synergy with his ascendant dragon skills. Furthermore, there is a tempting hidden mission attached explosive growth. He knows the rules of this world. The system never hands out an impossible quest. At the very least, every challenge is a stepping stone tailored to his current level. This specific mission involves securing an item that resonates with his core abilities, which will unlock a brand new tab in his status window. Therefore, there simply must be a method to restore this artifact, but without a way to claim it now. He begins to whine, declaring he would do anything to fix it. He'd even bark like a dog if she asked just to get his hands on those gauntlets. To everyone's shock, he actually drops to all fours, imitating a dog, and then sprawls on the floor, plotting desperate schemes to win her favor and secure the loot. Suddenly, his ears twitch. He overhears a hushed conversation in the adjacent room. Someone is asking about a crisis. They the payment issue should have been settled, yet the argument raged on. Téjun recognized the voice immediately. It was he sensed a golden opportunity. If she was in trouble, saving her now would skyrocket his favorability with her. He sprinted toward the chaos like a hero on a mission. Inside the VIP room, the atmosphere was suffocating. Yarn bit her lip. Frustration boiling over. They had already agreed on the terms. She demanded to know why they were suddenly changing the rules. The guild leader, Kangyong, smiled like a venomous snake. He praised her boldness, but dismissed her complaints. He claimed their exorbitant fees simply reflected their elite standards. He practically dared her to disagree. Yurin couldn't believe the sheer audacity of this extortion, but suddenly the doors crashed open. Téjun burst onto the scene. Kang<unk>s face twisted in anger as he demanded this intruder leave immediately. Kang didn't even care who he was. Even Yurin tried to warn Tay Jun that this was a dangerous moment. But Téjun, he didn't care about their hierarchy. An executive negotiation. He laughed. I love a good highstakes deal. He sat down with the confidence of a king, grinning at the furious guild leader. Kang demanded his identity. Yerin was speechless, but Té Jun had already analyzed the battlefield. He knew exactly how the Hayam Guild operated. They monopolized the item appraisal market in Korea. They were the only game in town, and they knew it. Even if they acted like tyrants or broke contracts, smaller guilds like Myth had to bow their heads. Before Yarin could stutter an excuse, Téjun cut in smoothly. I am the legal adviser for this guild. A bold-faced lie. Yurin looked confused, but Kang swallowed the bait hook, lying and sinker. Kang began to justify his greed. Yurin wants us to appraise a mountain of items in one day. He sneered. For that volume, we need a week. Rushing requires more manpower, and that means double the price. Double the money. Yarn turned pale. But Téjun's eyes narrowed. He smelled a rat. A specialized appraisal guild needing a week for such a small batch. It didn't add up. It was incompetence or a scam. Téjun let out a cold, sarcastic laugh. You call yourselves experts with that kind of efficiency? He mocked them mercilessly. If I were the guild master, I would have fired you clowns long ago. Kang slammed the table. How dare you? He challenged them to find another guild knowing none existed. Go ahead. But remember, amateur appraisers will damage your precious artifacts. They'll become worthless trash. Kang leaned back, gloating. He knew he had them cornered. Téjun went silent, his expression unreadable. Yarn placed a trembling hand on Téjun's shoulder. "That's enough," she whispered, terrified of making enemies. Téjun stood up, bowing his head in mock defeat. I may have overstepped. My apologies for the trouble. He turned to leave. Kang laughed triumphantly. Finally, the dog knows its place. Sign the contract, Yarin. But just as Téjun reached the door, he stopped. A devilish smirk spread across his face. He spun around. Actually, I'm Yarin's new chief appraiser, and I can't wait to show you my skills. Yarin stared at him like he had lost his mind. He pulled out a bizarre monle and strapped it to his head. He looked like a lunatic, but his voice was calm. Don't worry, boss. This won't take more than an hour. 1 hour, Yurin was stunned. Téjun waved a hand. Everyone else, get out. Trade secrets, you understand. Kang was furious. This is a farce. I don't care if you're a lawyer or a clown. Interfere with my business again, and I will destroy you. Kang roared his patience at its limit. He mocked Tjun's bluff. Evaluate all this in an hour. Even a god couldn't do that. His subordinates laughed along. But our protagonist simply picked up a necklace. His eyes flashed behind the lens. Done, he said casually. I already appraised this one outside. It took less than 10 seconds. He held it up, challenging them. At this speed, I'd say, "I'm more than qualified, wouldn't you?" Kang signaled a minion to verify it. But Téjun grabbed the man's wrist with a vicel-like grip. Careful, Téjun warned, his aura turning dark. Only bet if you are absolutely certain. Didn't your mother teach you that? He stared directly into Kang's soul. If you want to test me, put something of value on the line. Kang chuckled, finding the arrogance amusing. Oh, you really want to gamble with me, boy? The trap was set. Fine, Kang declared. If you fail to finish in 1 hour, you lose. But if you succeed, I pay 1. 1 billion1. That was the wager. Tjun stared him down, waiting for the counter offer. Impressed by the sheer audacity, he smirked. Kang, however, misread the situation entirely. He thought his intimidation tactics were working. Are you scared? It's not too late to kneel and admit your mistake. just apologize and I might let you go. But Téjun's eyes gleamed with cold amusement. Deal. But let's raise the stakes to 10 billion1. It was the grin of a man holding a royal flush. Heron watched from the sidelines, stunned. Who was this guy betting 10 billion one with the confidence of a king? The task was impossible. Evaluate a mountain of artifacts in under an hour. If you lose, how will you possibly pay? She whispered. But Téjun ignored the doubt. Director checked this first. He tossed a simple cloth toward her. Verify the evaluation. Tell me if I'm wrong. She activated her skills, expecting a failure. Instead, her eyes widened. It's complete. An impenetrable cloak that nullifies one lethal blow every 48 hours, and it gives a plus one bonus to all stats. Haron gasped, her composure cracking. How is this possible? Seeing her shock, Téjun knew he had won. His gamble had paid off. The administrator systems item analyzer was flawless. It didn't just read the item. It stripped its secrets bare without needing to disassemble a thing. He hadn't been sure if the data could be shared with others. But now the proof was right there. Every hidden detail his system analyzed could be transferred to a client. This changed everything. He wasn't just a hunter. He was a walking gold mine. Did you really do this? Haron stammered, trembling. Who else could it be? Tjun replied calmly. And by the way, I've already finished the rest. He gestured to the table loaded with artifacts. If you don't believe me, check them yourself." She rushed forward, placing her trembling hands over the pile. Mana flowed, and the information flooded her mind. It wasn't just names. Grades, hidden stats, latent abilities, everything was exposed. Even the country's legendary appraisers would need hours for this level of detail. Yet, this man had done it in the blink of an eye. It was a miracle. She looked at Téjun as if seeing a monster. "How? How did you manage this?" Kang stood frozen, his face draining of color. He realized the terrifying truth. The evaluation was perfect. No, that can't be right. Téjun turned to him, a mocking smile playing on his lips. What's wrong, Kang? You look a little pale. He stepped closer. I warned you. Never bet unless you're sure. Next time, try to be a bit more careful. The humiliation was too much. You rat. Rage exploded in Kang<unk>s eyes as he lunged, grabbing Téjun's collar. You cheater. What kind of trick is this? He turned wildly to the director. You're in on it, aren't you? You conspired with him to scam me. Enough. Heron stepped in, her aura flaring. The facts are undeniable. The items are evaluated perfectly. Whether you like it or not, you owe him 10 billion1. The weight of the contract crushed down on Kang. Téjun checked his nails nonchalantly. Just transfer the money. I prefer a clean transaction. Kang staggered back his mind shattering. 10 billion1 gone. Just like that. It was an amount that could destroy a guild. This wasn't just a loss. It was a massacre. His legs gave out and his subordinates had to drag him away. It's a nightmare. "Wake up," he mumbled, broken. Silence returned to the room. Téjun and Heron stood alone amidst the glittering artifacts. "Well," Téjun grinned. "That was a profitable afternoon. Heron looked at him with a mix of awe and fear. "Thank you for your help," she said slowly. "But we need to talk. We can't just ignore what happened here. She took a step closer. With that level of precision and speed, do you realize what you represent? You could single-handedly overturn the global appraisal industry. You could monopolize the market. Her eyes narrowed. If you wanted to, you could destroy guilds like Hyan that rely on this trade. It sounded impossible. Yet, the proof was standing right in front of her. She felt cornered by his mere existence. Tell me, how did you do it? Tjun shrugged, dismissing her intensity. trade secret. I can't reveal my methods. He definitely changed the subject, sensing an opening. By the way, do you remember those relic gauntlets? He pointed to the corner. They weren't for sale earlier. But I have a proposal. Give me the gauntlets and I'll give you a hint. A hint about my evaluation method. Haron paused. The information was worth more than gold. You really want those rusty things? She sighed defeated. Fine. This is a special exception. I'll get them for you immediately, but you have to tell me the secret. A deal was struck. A short while later, Téjun walked out of the building, a satisfied hum on his lips. Pleasure doing business, director. I'll be back soon. He waved cheerfully, carrying a pile of shiny loot. Heron watched him go, her expression complex. As his silhouette faded, her bodyguard stepped forward. "Director, what did you find out? Did he reveal the secret technique?" Haron rubbed her temples. "He told me." She hesitated. He said he listens to the voice of the items. That I need to look with the eyes of the heart. The bodyguard scoffed. That's absurd. He's clearly mocking us. I know, Haron replied, her gaze hardening. He never intended to tell the truth. Or maybe it's an ability he simply can't explain. But one thing was certain. He was too dangerous to be left roaming free. I won't let this slide, she vowed, clenching her fist. One way or another, that hunter will belong to my guild. The hunt had just begun. Meanwhile, back at his humble apartment, the cool, collected hunter was gone. In his place was a lunatic, cackling with joy. "Yes, finally," he held the rusted gauntlet like a newborn baby. "Do you have any idea how hard it was to get you?" He caressed the metal. "I'll never let you go." A small voice interrupted his celebration. "It was Merie." "Master, are you okay?" She poked the item. "It was legendary once, sure, but now it's just broken junk. Look at it. It's falling apart." She looked at him skeptically. Is there even a way to repair something this damaged? Téjun stopped laughing. Honestly, I have no clue. He stared at the rusty metal. I don't know if it can be fixed, but it's in my hands now. A spark of determination lit up his eyes and with my system. I'll find a way to make it shine again. Mary sighed. Maybe we should post on the forums. Parsley Market. A chaotic bazaar teeming with entities from every dimension. Surely a master craftsman existed there, but the mere thought made him shudder, recalling the glitchy nightmare of that mass-produced game. Do I really have to log back into that hellscape? But Mary, his loyal aid, offered a better solution. Just use the status window master. Following her counsel, he posted a high priority quest, seeking a repair method for his artifact with a reward that would make any hunter drool. Yet, that wasn't the main event. His eyes shifted to his inventory, gleaming with the spoils of a 10 billion1 shopping spree. Thanks to Kang Yong Six's involuntary donation, he was completely decked out. The Cavar Guild initiation. It'll be a walk in the park. But Mary hesitated. Every single item he equipped radiated brilliant holy energy. Master, we are infiltrating a dark magic guild. Why are you dressed like a paladin? He only smirked. You're missing the bigger picture, Mary. He predicted the initiation would be a classic necromancy duel. To crush a summoned monster, nothing beats the searing purification of holy attributes. It was a perfect counterbuild, Mary countered. But surely bringing holy gear to a necromancer fight violates the spirit of the duel. Relax, he soothed eyes, glinting with mischief. Just sit back and enjoy the show. The scene cut to the Kavar Guild HQ. The guild leader greeted him with a practiced smile. We've been waiting. You're fashionably late. He waved off the apology. The stage was already set. The test, a trial by combat, just in time for the main event, the leader noted. The protagonist raised a brow. Is this a VIP welcome? Indeed. You'll be facing our vice leader, Joe Yong T. Prove your necromancy is up to par. The air crackled with tension. The entire guild had gathered, thirsting for blood. But as he stepped into the arena, something felt off. The vice leader stood center stage, but the surrounding crowd drew the protagonist's eye. They were all hairless. A sea of polished domes reflecting the arena lights. Even Mary shielded her eyes. My eyes. The glare is blinding. The protagonist instantly grasped the situation. This was a setup. They saw him as a lowly B minus rank. Trash to be discarded. They assumed his necromancy was weak. This was a public execution designed to humiliate him. He scoffed, annoyed he hadn't predicted such petty tactics. These guys are worse than third rate villains. Mary tugged his sleeve. Master, why is everyone bald? Occupational hazard. He dead panned. The blackmamba attribute demands a heavy price. Specifically, your hairline. Mary gasped in horror. Will you go bald, too? He chose to ignore that terrifying question. Vice Leader Joe stepped forward. Listen well, Téjun. The rules are absolute. His voice dripped with arrogance. This is a battle of necromancy alone. Téjun nodded, accepting the restriction. Necromancy only. Got it. The stakes were then laid bare. Victory meant admission, but defeat. He would sign a slave contract bound to the guild until his dying breath. The protagonist didn't flinch. He knew exactly who he was dealing with. Joe Yong T, the cancer rotting this guild from the inside out, hoarding wealth while the organization crumbled. A parasitic leader dragging a legacy guild into the mud. Tjuns eyes narrowed. Fine, but I have conditions, too. He raised his voice, silencing the crowd. If I win, I take your seat. I become the vice leader, and you will repay every cent you've embezzled. A smirk played on his lips. High stakes make for better entertainment, don't they? Are you game Joe Yong's face twisted in rage? You insolent brat. He denied the corruption furiously. Everything I do is for Cavar's survival. Desperate to crush this insect, he slammed his staff down. Dark energy erupted. An A-rank death knight rose from the abyss. Behold true power. Show me what you have. Unimpressed, Téjun snapped his fingers. Come forth, Eritus. From the shadows, a skeleton warrior emerged. But this was no ordinary summon. It was clad in shining holy armor. The crowd erupted into laughter. A skeleton against a death knight. And is that shiny armor? Joe Yong Tackled. Is this a joke? Ignoring the mockery, Tjun gave a single command. Strike. Aritus moved like a flash of light. Asteris cracked times. With one blow, the death knight's armor shattered. Joe's jaw dropped. The power was overwhelming. Téjun grinned, basking in the stunned silence. So, Aritus, how's the new fit? The skeleton bowed. It is magnificent, my lege, though using holy gear feels sinful for an undead. Details, details. As long as it destroys them, the crowd gasped, the realization hitting them like a truck. Wait, that's holy attribute. Spectators questioned if such a feat was even possible. While Téjun internally analyzed the absolute laws of monadnamics, he reviewed the elemental cycle. How fire, earth, wind, and water countered one another in perfect sequence, while light and darkness stood as eternal opposites. Aratus, originally a creature of pure darkness, had transcended his limits, evolving through magical elixirs and endless battles alongside Té Jun. He had become a singularity, the only skeleton in existence capable of wielding a divine attribute. The duel reached its climax as Téjun issued the command for the final strike. Aratus hesitated looking to his master. Asking if he should unleash times that times power. Receiving a silent nod, Aratus began a sacred chant. In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty. Darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the spirit of God hovered over the waters. The opponent sneered at the skeleton's absurd monologue, but Téjun calmly primed a light grenade just as the chant reached its peak. Aratus roared and God said, "Let there be light." The grenade launched flying toward the death knight amidst a blinding flash of white brilliance. A white explosion swallowed the arena. Everyone shielded their eyes, terrified by a light so pure it seemed to cleanse their very souls. They watched in awe and horror, wondering if the skeleton was self-destructing by wielding such terrifying holy power. As the radiance faded, the protagonist declared the battle over. The death knight had been utterly disintegrated. Yet, their stalwart skeleton remained standing tall in the arena, a testament to his impossible evolution. The protagonist noted that Aratus wasn't fully immune to the divine recoil, but the damage was negligible compared to the devastation he had caused. The bald man raged that his scheme had failed, while the protagonist coldly demanded the price of the bet. Relinquish your position as vice leader and repay everything you stole from the ancient guild. The crowd whispered in confusion, but the victory was undeniable. They began to see the protagonist as a ruthless new dictator. But the bald man began to weep, lamenting that if he had only possessed a little more time, his grand plan would have been perfect. The truth finally came out. He had orchestrated the entire crisis from the shadows. He had manipulated Bansu regarding the lich's relic, instructing him to deceive the guild leader while feigning ignorance. He had recorded every moment, planning to blackmail the leadership and seize total control of the guild for himself. But thanks to the protagonist, his ambitions lay in ruins. Furious, the bald man roared, "I won't go down alone." He produced a pulsating black heart, challenging the protagonist with a look of absolute madness. The guild members froze in recognition. It was the heart, a completely forbidden cursed artifact. The guild leader screamed, demanding to know what Yong T was doing. But he simply crushed the heart in his grip, declaring that they would all die together in the abyss. The protagonist's inspection revealed a terrifying truth. This was a suicide weapon created by an ancient forbidden evil. It drained the user's mana and life force entirely to summon a calamitous monster from another dimension. Yong T spat his final curse. Do not think you can steal my opportunity and walk away unscathed. If I lose everything, I will take you all with me. As he stepped into the opening portal, a creature began to claw its way into reality. The bride of the black death had arrived. Terror seized the crowd at its grotesque appearance. Screaming for everyone to flee for their lives. The creature shrieked, unleashing a horrifying aura. Thankfully, the protagonist's systemal fortification barely withtood the ancestors whale. The monster wasted no time, unleashing a barrage of high-rank attacks. Its sheer power defied all logic. Suddenly, a figure appeared behind the protagonist, radiating an aura so intense he looked like he stepped out of a bizarre action manga. It was the Bone King Lord Guusan. The legendary former leader of the Kavar Guild had entered the fry. The protagonist asked when he arrived, but Guson chuckled, revealing he had been watching from the shadows the entire time. "I couldn't miss an initiation ceremony honoring my name," he grinned. "Besides, I quite enjoyed the show." He praised Aratus, noting the skeleton possessed an intelligence far beyond the norm, resembling a high tier lich. Cold sweat ran down the protagonist's back, fearing the old legend had deduced his necromancy secrets. But Guson assured him they would talk later. "For now," the old man said, eyes narrowing, "we must dispose of this trash before it gets out of hand." Guson launched blades of crystallized blood, binding the creature and piercing its body in a display of masterclass magic. Despite the onslaught, the monster screamed and resisted. Guuson scoffed. Such defiance is expected from a demon summoned at the cost of life. To test its true limits, he raised a single hand and detonated the blood from within the creature's own veins. The protagonist watched in awe, witnessing the catastrophic destructive power of Guusan's legendary blood arts. This was Guusan, the necromancer who ruled the world for nearly 20 years after the great cataclysm. A true master of mysterious blood magic. His team had once been renowned across the lands, and his leadership had elevated the guild to third place in the national rankings, proving that legends never truly retire. Though history had washed away his name, his legacy remained terrifying. Yet, the sanguin arts demanded a terrible price, the caster's very life essence served as the catalyst. The fatal flaw revealed itself as Guuson wretched, spewing crimson vitality upon the earth. Against an abomination that spread corruption with a mere graze, this was a death sentence. A single touch meant infection, making close quarters suicidal. To make matters worse, his monor was completely dry following the last exchange. After unleashing his ultimate move, the rising dragon technique was no longer an option. Sensing weakness, the cursed beast seized the initiative. It lunged with terrifying speed, launching a dual-ooted stomp. The impact was catastrophic, shattering the bedrock beneath them with explosive force. Just as the monster's shadow swallowed the protagonist, a figure flashed in between. It was Arthus, the loyal knight, shielding his lege with unwavering resolve. In the name of the holy light and the divine spirit, thy sins shall not be forgiven, he roared. The protagonist, bewildered, demanded answers immediately. "Where have you been while I was knocking on death's door," he yelled. The knight explained that the previous holy explosion had briefly severed his consciousness. But now his spirit had returned, and he swore to be the absolute shield for his master. However, both the main character and Mary sensed something strange. The knight's aura had fundamentally shifted. "Why does he feel like a completely different person?" Mary whispered, trembling. The protagonist remained silent, unable to explain the transformation. Arthus charged, screaming, "Be purified by the sacred light." But the abyss stared back. The beast caught the knight's skull, effortlessly, engulfing him in corrupt purple flames. The protagonist watched in horror. Not even holy divinity could singe this monster. Despair began to take root. "How do you kill something that defies the gods?" But then a spoke, his voice heavy with finality. My lege. This is where my path ends, he declared, asking only for his master's survival in exchange. What are you doing? Ton shouted, panic rising. The skeleton ignored him, his resolve harder than steel, and unshathed a peculiar blade. The protagonist screamed for him to halt, realizing the catastrophe about to unfold. That wasn't just a weapon. It was a one-time consumption artifact worth a staggering 8 billion1. He could not afford to lose that investment, nor his loyal knight. Hey everyone, did you enjoy this epic chapter? I loved narrating it. If you you want to see how this cliffhanger ends, smash that subscribe button and drop a like. Catch you in the next legendary update, guys.