Chapter 58 - Turning Point (5)
Hunter Association.
This government-affiliated organization managed all registered hunters and guilds across the nation.
Under normal circumstances, the Association's role was primarily administrative.
Registering new hunters, conducting rank examinations, investigating and allocating dungeons, and so on.
But ever since the recent dungeon break incidents erupted, the Association's authority and influence had surged dramatically.
Of course, in the early days of the dungeon breaks, cities suffered massive damage, and public opinion toward the Association soured.
The Association had consistently warned about the increasing frequency of dungeon occurrences and unpredictable variables, but who paid attention to that in peacetime?
As the perfect scapegoat, the Association bore the brunt of widespread resentment.
However, the narrative shifted when they collaborated with the Magic Tower to develop anti-break technology first in the world and swiftly contained the damage.
The brief backlash over break-related losses was forgotten in an instant as nations around the globe clamored for Korea's aid, flipping public sentiment overnight.
Even powerhouses like nearby Japan and China, along with the United States, Russia, and the European Union, were thrown into disarray, begging for tech sharing. Korea had ascended to the pinnacle of magitech engineering.
In the midst of this, the guild masters of major guilds were summoned to the Association.
This time, only the leaders of Korea's top 10 guilds.
"Man, what now? Every time the Association calls, it's some massive crisis. I'm getting chills just showing up."
Lee Sung-hoon, master of the 9th-ranked Baekya Guild, grumbled jokingly.
Regular meetings aside, summoning just the top 10 guilds was a rare occurrence.
Even during the dungeon break crisis, they hadn't called every guild master in Seoul.
Yet here they were, singled out—which meant there was critical information that absolutely could not leak to the outside.
"Hyungnim Kang-seok. You know anything?"
"...The Association President will explain."
Mugung Guild's master, Han Kang-seok, replied flatly while staring at his phone screen.
As this involved Mugung directly, he'd received a prior briefing on the agenda.
With the meeting imminent, he had no desire to chatter idly.
Besides, engaging Lee Sung-hoon would unleash an endless barrage of questions.
Hmm.
Han Kang-seok's current attention was on Kim Sun-woo, training in the underground dojo.
It had been days since sending him down, and reports trickling in suggested he'd adapted remarkably well.
Particularly impressive was how he'd overwhelmingly crushed the initiation rite led by Chae Eun-seo.
Good synergy with black magic?
After soloing what was presumed to be a B-rank dungeon's boss vampire, something was clearly there.
"The Association President is arriving."
At the staffer's words, the guild masters rose in unison.
Association President Jang Seok-ho was a first-generation hunter thrust into the role, but he'd played a pivotal part in shaping the Association's current structure.
Though in his seventies with snow-white hair, his sturdy build and piercing eyes remained unchanged from his prime.
"......"
Several guild masters instinctively lowered their gazes.
They'd trained under him in their youth or fought alongside him.
Back then, he'd lived up to his name as a tiger, an impression etched deep in their bodies.
"Thank you all for gathering amid your busy schedules."
Jang Seok-ho greeted the assembled masters with a sweep of the room.
"I know you're all pressed for time, so let's get straight to it. Director, if you would."
Anti-Breaker Technology Efficacy and Overseas Sharing Status
Developed with aid from the Crimson Tower, Anti-Breaker has proven effective abroad. Though hastily developed, it works in over 97% of dungeons. But that's beside the point—the real issue is this.
Beep.
A video began playing.
It was footage from Kim Sun-woo's perspective, capturing his conversation with the vampire.
"The world repeats birth and death... No need to overthink it. Did you humans think you were there from the start? ...Until the world grows and reaches ecdysis, it's called the cradle of the forbidden realm, barring all intrusion. But the 'gates' opening means growth is over—it's entering maturity. Shouldn't we celebrate? ...Survival instinct is a fundamental drive of all life. ...Of course, not every being eyeing that forbidden land feels the same."
Sensitive details tying back to Kim Sun-woo personally had been censored.
Even so, it was enough to shock the room.
"Th-this......"
Lee Sung-hoon of Baekya Guild inhaled sharply and turned to the president.
Jang Seok-ho nodded gravely, then addressed Han Kang-seok seated center-left.
"This footage was shot by Mugung Guild's hunter Kim Sun-woo inside the dungeon called Death's Land during the break. We've verified it's unaltered. The issue is verifying the truth of that vampire's words."
Closing his eyes and exhaling deeply, Jang Seok-ho scanned the room.
"Prior to this meeting, I held informal talks with associations worldwide, sharing the vampire dialogue and discussing the situation. But they have no information either."
"So it's still just suspicion, right?"
"Exactly. It could be the vampire fabricating lies to deceive Kim Sun-woo."
From B-rank dungeons up, boss-class monsters possessed egos.
They gained human-level intelligence, enabling fluid communication—as seen here.
Of course, they'd always exchanged barbs before spilling blood in combat.
No one's ever tried actually talking to monsters before.
The more verbal a monster, the smarter and trickier it was.
Wasting time chatting one-on-one would rack up casualties on their side.
Hence, they went all-out to kill on sight.
"If that were all, I wouldn't have summoned you. The real problem stems from reports by returners."
Returners.
Unlike typical awakeners on Earth, some had ventured to other worlds and returned.
Dubbed returners, they'd come from diverse realms—not just one.
Some from murim-like Zhongyuan, others from fantasy worlds like Artemia, or magitech civilizations blending science and magic.
"Among recent returners to Earth, anomalous information has surfaced—unlike before. All report their worlds under attack by some unidentified force."
Zhongyuan, Artemia, magitech cities—without exception.
They'd assumed it was mere wartime turmoil, but linking it to current events raised suspicions.
"Beyond that, disparate omens are cropping up worldwide. The spike in dungeon breaks is one. That's why I've gathered you."
Gripping the podium, Association President Jang Seok-ho fixed the guild masters with a solemn gaze.
"We must prepare. I don't know what it is, but something ominous is heading our way."
"Huff... huff......"
Ragged breaths echoed through the training hall.
Three participants were involved.
Kim Sun-woo, Gu Jin-uk, and Kim Han-young.
No sword swings or exercises—just standing stock-still, rooted in place.
"...If it's too much, why not surrender already? The newbie's watching."
"Who said it's too much? I'd quit if the newbie was struggling."
Immense gravity was crushing their bodies.
As cultivation advanced, strength and speed inevitably grew.
Enduring gravitational stress was par for the course.
Hunters unaccustomed to it often erred.
Decent guilds like this had gravity control systems for such training.
"...Nngh."
This level would make even seasoned fighter pilots scream and flee.
Yet the trio eyed each other warily, refusing to yield.
"......"
Kim Sun-woo gritted his teeth, holding firm against the ground.
He hadn't anticipated gravity training being so grueling at first.
Just brute-force endure the downward press, right?
But doubled, quadrupled—it became another beast.
Eventually, he'd crawled pathetically.
Days later, he'd adapted enough to rival veterans.
Started with raw power, but...
Later, he'd mastered deflecting the force.
Arguably the biggest gain since starting.
Felt more vital than his bout with Chae Eun-seo.
"...Nngh."
"Nngh."
"Nngh... nngh..."
"Nngh... nngh... nngh..."
Gu Jin-uk and Kim Han-young groaned at each other.
Some pride contest in training.
Hanging out revealed their fierce competitiveness.
The issue: it was rubbing off on Kim Sun-woo.
Previously, they'd stop when he tapped out.
Now, flustered by his limit-breaking endurance, they pressed on.
"Sun-woo, you good?"
"No problem."
Twisting to deflect the pressure, Kim Sun-woo nodded curtly.
This setup even let him train White Flow Step's fourth step—deflecting force.
"Gahhhh!"
"Arghhhh!"
Finally, both hit their limits, collapsing and rolling out of the field.
Drenched in sweat, gasping—they'd pushed past on sheer spite.
"Damn, caught up in days."
"First to last the full session, right Sun-woo?"
"Yeah. Most bail, whining it's insane."
"...It is insane."
Chae Eun-seo, watching from the lounge, chimed in between them.
She'd tried gravity training too.
As a mage with weak physique, pure physicals failed quick—but curiosity drove her to join with magic.
Even barriers strained hard.
Yet Kim Sun-woo endured barehanded, face serene as if resting.
What is he?
Sliced her black magic like paper, breezed through gravity that broke these muscleheads.
Vmmm.
Then Kim Sun-woo deactivated the system and stepped out.
Gu Jin-uk, sprawled, grinned up at him.
"That's your limit? Admit it, tough guy."
"Huh? No. Lunchtime. Meeting a friend at the cafeteria."
It was nearing noon.
He'd promised Han Su-ah lunch—time to wash up.
Bowing to the others, he turned to leave.
Chae Eun-seo blocked him.
"Me too."
"Huh?"
"Can I join?"