The Sky Was Darker Than It Should Have Been
Across the world, dungeons had begun to appear without warning. Whole cities watched as the ground cracked open, revealing monstrous creatures, treasures of unimaginable power, and terrifying forces beyond mortal comprehension. At first, it was believed to be a natural disaster. But soon, the hunters arrived. They were the world's only hope, tasked with navigating the ever-growing labyrinths and protecting civilians from the monsters that came with them.
But little did the world know, the true terror wasn't the monsters. It was the gods who had opened the dungeons in the first place. They were playing a game—and the stakes were far higher than any human could comprehend.
The Gods' Manipulation
A thousand years ago, the gods had created the dungeons as a means of entertainment, watching the mortals fight for survival. These were not just random trials—they were designed. Monsters, challenges, and rewards were all part of a larger game. Some gods manipulated time to shape the outcome, while others set the rules. Mortals who survived were rewarded with power, but their lives were never their own.
At the core of this game was an ancient force—an entity far beyond the understanding of mortals. This was the benevolent god, who, over the millennia, had been quietly sowing the seeds of rebellion against the corrupt gods who controlled the dungeons.
But in this age, there was a mortal who had been chosen.
A New Player in the Game
Deep in the Hunter Association of Seoul, the Leader—a man known as Kim Tae-Hyun—watched the unfolding events with a mixture of concern and anticipation. He had seen this before: a new player emerging, one who could potentially disrupt the status quo.
Tae-Hyun had his suspicions. Ji Hyun—a young hunter, barely noticed by the world—was different. He had already survived countless dungeon trials and had shown potential that even the gods had failed to anticipate.
Kim Tae-Hyun knew that Ji Hyun's awakening would set off a chain of events that could either save or destroy the world. The time-reversal system that Ji Hyun unknowingly wielded had the potential to turn the tide of the gods' manipulation—but only if Ji Hyun could learn to control it before the gods took notice of his power.
The Time System
In the background, the benevolent god had planted the time-reversal system within Ji Hyun. This system was meant to counterbalance the corruption of the other gods. Every time Ji Hyun died, the world would reset, giving him a chance to grow stronger and learn from his past mistakes. But the system was dangerous. It would demand sacrifices, and if Ji Hyun wasn't careful, he would become something else entirely.
As Ji Hyun's journey began, the world would shift in response to his growing power. The gods would watch from their ethereal realms, using their games to keep mortals in check. But the time would come when Ji Hyun would have to choose: become a tool of the gods, or defy them.
The First Signs of Rebellion
In a distant corner of the world, at the center of the deepest dungeon, a relic pulsed with divine energy. It was the key—the key to breaking the cycle of the gods' control.
A hunter named Jin Hoon, once a mentor to Ji Hyun, knew of this relic's power. But he, too, was part of the gods' game—a pawn in a much larger scheme. Unbeknownst to Ji Hyun, his mentor's betrayal was inevitable.
But that betrayal was only the beginning. The first death would be Ji Hyun's, and from that death would come the awakening of a new power—a power that would threaten to unravel everything the gods had built.
End of Chapter 0