The deeper they went into the dungeon, the heavier the air became.
Broken weapons lay scattered across the floor. Old bones—human ones—were mixed in with monster remains. The walls were scratched with claw marks, some shallow, some deep.
"This place has been cleared before," Yura whispered. "But not properly."
Taesung tightened his grip on his sword. "E-rank my ass."
Jiwon stayed behind them, breathing slowly.
The strange feeling inside his chest hadn't gone away. If anything, it had grown stronger. Every step deeper felt like walking closer to something that recognized him.
Something that waited.
"Support," the healer called quietly. "You okay?"
Jiwon nodded. "Yes."
It wasn't a lie. Physically, he was fine.
Mentally… he wasn't so sure.
They reached a wide chamber.
The ceiling had collapsed in places, letting faint light seep in from cracks above. In the center stood a broken altar, black stains covering its surface.
Yura crouched, touching the ground. "Tracks."
Taesung frowned. "Skeletons don't leave tracks."
A low sound echoed through the room.
Clack.
Clack.
Clack.
From behind the altar, figures emerged.
Not one. Not two.
Six.
But they were different.
Their bones were darker, thicker. Rusted armor clung to their frames. One held a chipped spear, another dragged a heavy blade across the floor.
The pressure in the room changed instantly.
"Back," Taesung ordered. "These aren't normal."
The tank stepped forward, shield raised. The healer began chanting quietly.
Jiwon swallowed.
*These… are stronger.*
The spear-wielding skeleton moved first.
It didn't rush.
It walked.
And each step made the ground tremble slightly.
"Move!" Taesung shouted.
Steel clashed against bone.
The impact rang out loudly—and Taesung slid back several steps, boots scraping against stone.
"…Damn."
Yura's daggers struck the skeleton's joints, but it barely slowed.
"This is not E-rank," she said sharply.
The tank blocked an overhead strike, knees buckling from the force. Cracks spread across his shield.
"Support!" the healer shouted. "Anything you can do?"
Jiwon's heart pounded.
*If I act… they'll know.*
Another skeleton broke through, swinging wildly. The tank was knocked aside.
Yura cursed. "Taesung!"
Taesung turned—but he was already locked with another enemy.
Jiwon saw it clearly.
If this continued, someone would die.
The pull inside him snapped.
Without raising his voice, without lifting his hand, Jiwon focused.
*Stop.*
The skeleton mid-swing froze.
Its head turned.
Not toward Taesung.
Not toward Yura.
Toward Jiwon.
Its empty eye sockets flickered with a dull blue glow.
Everyone noticed.
"What…?" the healer whispered.
The skeleton lowered its weapon.
Slowly.
It stepped back.
The others hesitated.
For the first time since entering the gate, the monsters showed confusion.
Taesung stared at Jiwon. "You did that again."
Jiwon forced his breathing to stay uneven, his voice shaky. "I—I just told it to stop."
"That's not how support skills work," Yura said quietly.
The skeleton suddenly collapsed, bones scattering lifelessly.
The remaining enemies roared and charged.
The team fought desperately, but something had changed.
Their movements were slower.
Less coordinated.
As if something unseen was pressing down on them.
Minutes later, the last skeleton fell.
Silence.
Heavy, exhausted breathing filled the chamber.
The healer dropped to one knee. "That was too close."
Taesung wiped blood from his lip and turned to Jiwon.
"Support," he said slowly, "what exactly is your class?"
Jiwon looked at the shattered altar.
At the dust where the skeleton had knelt.
"I don't know yet," he answered honestly.
Yura studied him carefully. "Then you'd better find out. Fast."
Taesung sheathed his sword. "We're reporting this gate as abnormal."
He met Jiwon's eyes. "And you're coming with us."
Jiwon nodded.
Inside his chest, something stirred again.
Not excitement.
Not fear.
Expectation.
Because deep within the dungeon…
Something else had felt his presence.
And unlike the others—
It was waiting to be claimed.