Jun stood hunched over, his chest heaving. His clothes were shredded, his arms marked with shallow cuts, and crimson trickled down his side. Around him lay the corpses of three wild dogs, their bodies twitching once before falling completely still. The stench of blood filled the glowing corridor.
His black sword, slick with gore, trembled in his grip.
"Hah… hah… damn it…" Jun muttered, forcing air into his burning lungs. His body screamed in pain, his vision swam from exhaustion.
Then, one after another, glowing blue screens began to pop up before his eyes.
[YOU HAVE SUCCESSFULLY KILLED A WILD DOG.]
[YOU HAVE SUCCESSFULLY KILLED A WILD DOG.]
[YOU HAVE SUCCESSFULLY KILLED A WILD DOG.]
[EXP +999.][EXP +765.][EXP +600.]
[LEVEL UP.]
[BLACK SWORD LEVELED UP.]
[FIRST FLOOR CLEAR REWARDS.]
[FULL RECOVERY.]
Jun's eyes widened as a warm, soothing light wrapped around him. Shhhhhh. The blood on his skin dissolved, his wounds sealed shut, and the unbearable pain faded in an instant. His strength returned as though the battle had never happened.
"What the—?" He flexed his fingers, staring at his flawless skin.
Clang. His weapon pulsed. The black sword elongated, growing slightly in size—an inch, maybe two—its obsidian sheen more defined, its presence heavier in his grip.
And then more windows appeared.
[SKILLS ACQUIRED.]
[POISON RESISTANCE (?)]
[PAIN RESISTANCE (?)]
[STATUS WINDOW.]
[NAME: LUKAS JUN]
[LEVEL: 4]
[MAIN WEAPON: BLACK SWORD (LEVEL: 3)]
[STRENGTH: 17]
[AGILITY: 16]
[STAMINA: 15]
[MANA: 10]
[STAT POINTS AVAILABLE: 30]
"So many rewards," Jun whispered, half in awe. His lips curled into a tired grin. "I guess… it was worth it after all."
But then his eyes fell on the last line.
"Stat points? What's that supposed to mean?"
As though in answer, another crisp notification rang out.
[PLAYER CAN INCREASE HIS STATS BY USING STAT POINTS.]
"Huh? Really?" Jun muttered. His exhaustion vanished, replaced by a spark of curiosity. He stared at the glowing panel, then clenched his jaw.
"Alright then… add 10 points to Agility."
The system responded instantly.
[AGILITY HAS BEEN INCREASED BY 10.]
Jun felt it immediately. His body grew lighter, his muscles sharper, his reflexes heightened. It was as though invisible chains had been cut from his limbs. He clenched his fists, testing his movements, and smirked.
"This… this is amazing."
Then, another panel appeared.
[DO YOU WANT TO CONTINUE TO THE SECOND FLOOR OF THE TRAINING TOWER?]
[Y/N]
"…It's already late," he muttered, pressing No.
In an instant, the corridor shimmered. His body dissolved into light. Shhhhhh—
And when he blinked again, he was back. The same spot where he had been before entering the tower.
THE NEXT DAY
The morning sun spilled across Handol Village as Jun made his way toward the Hunter's Guild. The imposing stone building stood taller than the surrounding homes, its banners swaying with the guild's insignia. Even after all that had happened in the double dungeon, Jun couldn't help but feel a familiar nervousness knotting in his chest.
Inside, the guild bustled with hunters chatting, negotiating, and collecting quests. The atmosphere was the same as always—but today, every step Jun took carried weight.
"Hunter Lucian Jun?" A calm voice called.
Jun turned. Standing by the staircase was a man dressed neatly in the guild's uniform. His sharp features and disciplined posture radiated authority despite his young age.
"Aldric Veynor," the man introduced himself briefly. "I'm the assistant to Vice Guild Master Armand Velrow. Please, follow me."
Jun nodded quietly and trailed after him.
They climbed to the upper floor and stopped before a heavy oak door. Aldric pushed it open and gestured. "Go on."
Inside, the room smelled faintly of parchment and ink. At the far end sat a broad-shouldered man with streaks of silver in his hair, his presence sharp enough to make Jun's steps falter. This was Armand Velrow, the vice guild master of the Handol Branch—and a B-rank hunter.
"Welcome, Hunter Lucian Jun." Armand's voice was steady, commanding. He studied Jun with narrowed eyes before continuing. "We've called you here because… we believe you may have awakened a second time."
Jun blinked. "A… second awakening?"
Armand didn't answer immediately. Instead, he gestured toward the glowing crystal orb resting on a pedestal at the side of the chamber. "Place your hand on it. Let's confirm."
Jun hesitated for a moment, then stepped forward. He pressed his palm against the cold surface of the orb.
Fwoooosh! The crystal flared with radiant light, swirling violently.
Aldric's eyes widened as he read the readings. "Confirmed. Rank… D."
Jun exhaled slowly. D rank. Just one step higher.
Armand leaned back in his chair, expression unreadable. "So it's just one rank higher," he said calmly, though there was the faintest hint of disappointment in his tone. "Still, a second awakening is rare."
He waved his hand toward Aldric. "Issue him a new Hunter ID."
"Yes, Vice Guild Master."
Aldric guided Jun back downstairs, toward the guild's main counter. With precise efficiency, he prepared the identification card—etched with Jun's name and new rank. He slid it across the polished desk.
"Here you are. From this day forward, you're officially registered as a D-rank hunter," Aldric said.
Jun picked up the card, staring at the engraved lettering. His grip tightened slightly as he slipped it into his pocket.
The wooden door creaked open as Jun stepped into the small house. He let out a long breath, shoulders easing.
"I'm home," he called out.
From the kitchen, his sister's voice chimed warmly. "Welcome back, brother. Lunch is ready. I already ate, so eat before it gets cold."
Jun nodded, sat at the table, and quietly finished his meal alone. The simple warmth of the food filled his stomach, but his mind was elsewhere.
The moment he put his chopsticks down, the familiar glowing panel flickered before his eyes.
[REMAINING TIME TO ENTER THE SECOND FLOOR OF THE TRAINING TOWER: 5:10:39]
[PLAYER CAN ENTER ANY TIME.]
[BUT AFTER THE TIME ENDS, PLAYER WILL BE FORCEFULLY TRANSPORTED.]
[DO YOU WANT TO ENTER THE SECOND FLOOR NOW? YES/NO]
Jun leaned back in his chair, staring at the floating words. "So I can't avoid it forever, huh… Well, I don't have anything to do now anyway. Better I enter now."
He pressed Yes.
Fwoooom!
The floor beneath his feet glowed with the same mysterious light as before, enveloping his body. In an instant, he vanished into thin air.
Moments later, Jina walked into the room with a gentle smile. "Brother—" She froze. Her eyes swept the empty space. "…Huh? He's not at home?"
She let out a small, helpless sigh, her lips curling into a half-smile. "Now he's even leaving without telling me…"
---
At the edge of Handol Village, under the fading afternoon sky, a cloaked figure stepped past the worn wooden gates. His footsteps were steady, his presence heavy, as though darkness itself clung to him. He carried no banner, no introduction. His face was hidden beneath the hood, but his arrival was not by chance.
He had come for a purpose.
To find the last trace of the Lukas family.