Chapter 9 - Cradle of the Broken Pilgrim (1)
The hunters arrived at the dungeon Cradle of the Broken Pilgrim and halted in front of the portal.
"Hold position for a moment."
"Yes, sir!"
As Kim Jin-cheol stepped away to contact the management office for dungeon entry clearance, the hunters began their final equipment checks.
Kim Sun-woo inspected his gear and assessed his physical condition.
I'm in peak form.
After receiving the call from Team Leader Park Gwan-sik, he'd climbed back up the mountainside to fully replenish his dantian.
Mana potions seemed to restore a small amount of internal energy, but since mana and internal energy were energies of different natures, the efficiency wasn't great.
So it made sense to prepare as thoroughly as possible.
It's been about half a year since I was last here.
Kim Sun-woo turned from the chattering hunters—who seemed on friendly terms—to gaze at the portal.
The Cradle of the Broken Pilgrim was a full-fledged C-rank dungeon.
To raid it properly, you'd need to assemble dozens of hunters, just like last week.
But targeting the annex temples rather than the central shrine changed things.
The other temples scattered around were only E- or F-rank at best.
Even a C-rank hunter like Kim Jin-cheol could crush them single-handedly.
Perfect spot for training green rookie hunters.
Half a year ago, when Kim Sun-woo had come here, it had been for the same purpose: educating newbies.
Of course, that didn't mean he let his guard down.
Dungeons were unpredictable—anything could happen deeper inside.
Better to be meticulously prepared, even if it was a bit tedious, than to get caught off guard.
"...Um, Senior."
As he finished his checks and waited quietly for Team Leader Kim Jin-cheol to return, one of the rookies spoke up.
Turning, he saw a light brown-haired female hunter approaching with a cautious expression.
Han Su-ah.
At 23, she was the oldest among the rookies.
An E-rank healer and buffer—utility hunters like her were incredibly rare.
Once her training period ended, the guild would likely put her under special management.
"Yes, Hunter Han Su-ah."
"I just wanted to say please take good care of us. In the meeting room, you left with the team leader, so I didn't get a proper chance to greet you."
"Ah."
He noticed the others peeking over shyly.
Since they'd be raiding as a team, they were probably just exchanging formal greetings.
Kim Sun-woo offered a faint smile and nodded lightly.
"I'm Kim Sun-woo. We'll be seeing each other around the guild, so let's get along."
"Yes, Senior!"
"Please take care of us!"
As they greeted him energetically, Kim Sun-woo let out a wry chuckle.
They were starting from a different line altogether.
Once they got used to hunter life, they'd shoot up the ranks in no time.
Maybe someday he'd even end up on a team led by one of them.
I need to work hard too.
If he diligently trained his martial arts, he could at least keep pace with them.
After all, he had ten years of experience they lacked.
"Everyone ready? I've reported to HQ. If nothing else comes up, let's head out."
"Yes."
Led by the returning Kim Jin-cheol, the raid team entered the portal.
D-rank physical enhancer Park Yong-hu took second line, mage Cha Ye-ji and archer Park Yong-woo third.
Han Su-ah the healer and Kim Sun-woo brought up the rear.
The party composition was exceptionally well-balanced.
If they were all seasoned hunters, they could've tackled a higher-rank dungeon with this lineup.
Sssrp.
Passing through the portal revealed a narrow cave.
Beyond the forward passage lay a vast open space big enough for several soccer fields.
This raid's target: one of the outer annex temples.
Kim Sun-woo was familiar with the dungeon from prior visits.
"......"
The other hunters, though, seemed tense under the dungeon's oppressive aura, the mood subdued.
"No need to worry that much. Just follow your training, and you'll be fine."
"Yes."
Kim Jin-cheol nodded at their curt replies and pressed forward.
Exiting the cave passage opened into the wide interior.
Several temples dotted the area ahead, their layouts and numbers varying each visit.
They rose in a striking pyramid formation.
Someday I'll check out that one too.
The central structure was the dungeon's main shrine.
An F-rank hunter wouldn't last ten minutes inside before dying.
"That one."
Kim Jin-cheol pointed to the third temple.
Standing at the entrance steps, he addressed the hunters behind him.
"No extra briefing. We'll blitz through to the central stone chamber's first gate. Make your own judgments."
Thud.
Suddenly, he kicked off the ground and charged.
The hunters gritted their teeth and followed.
Spartan training style.
Kim Sun-woo clicked his tongue inwardly.
Experiential training was meant to familiarize rookies with raid atmosphere, procedures, and combat styles.
The standard approach was cautious, step-by-step progression—but Kim Jin-cheol prioritized results.
Though this might be better for gaining experience.
Chaotic battles would sear lessons into blood and flesh.
Not every raid followed neat procedures.
"Monsters dead ahead!"
The Cradle of the Broken Pilgrim teemed mainly with undead monsters: ghouls, zombies, skeletons.
Dozens of ghouls and zombies swarmed to greet the intruding hunters.
Thud!
Kim Jin-cheol held the front line steadfastly as Park Yong-hu, the physical enhancer, leaped forward with a mighty swing of his greatsword.
Splat!
Three ghouls shattered and flew back in one blow.
Kim Sun-woo inwardly marveled at the gruesome debris.
D-rank, as expected.
His raw power and speed outclassed even E-rank Team Leader Park Gwan-sik.
And since he was still rough around the edges, experience would propel him higher.
Thwack! Thwack!
Arrows whistled from behind, pulverizing zombie heads.
The precision piercing zombie brows mid-stagger was no amateur work.
Then crimson flames roared overhead.
Fwoosh!
A massive fireball erupted, incinerating the clustered monsters in an instant.
Frankly, Kim Sun-woo couldn't stop admiring them.
They'd seemed awkward and tense before the fight, but once engaged, their demeanor shifted sharply.
It showed they'd trained hard beyond relying on talent.
Slash.
From the rear, guarding Han Su-ah, Kim Sun-woo lightly swung his sword, severing a zombie's neck.
Against low-tier fodder like ghouls and zombies, no need to overexert.
Target the weak points, and normal strikes sufficed.
Shimmer.
Suddenly, a subtle crimson aura rose from Han Su-ah beside him.
Feeling lighter, it was clearly her buff ability.
"Hunter Han Su-ah."
"...Yes?"
Focused on her ability, she looked up a beat late.
"Could you exclude me from the buff range?"
"Why?"
"Many hunters rely on their senses. Faster speed and greater strength are great, but in real combat, if it throws off your ingrained senses, it can be dangerous."
"...Ah."
She nodded in understanding.
"Thanks for the tip. I'll keep it in mind."
"No problem."
She'd learn soon enough in the thick of it.
Buffs amplified power beyond one's limits but could disrupt senses, becoming a hindrance at times.
Parties with buffers usually synced up beforehand or trained to adapt.
Of course, F-ranks always benefited from buffs—but Kim Sun-woo's case was different.
Can't let my hard-earned White Flow Step senses get messed up.
He'd valued his senses even before learning martial arts.
He'd have asked to be excluded regardless.
Thud.
The fierce battle ended.
With the last zombie falling, all monsters were cleared.
"41 ghouls, 28 zombies. Not a small number. Good work, everyone. Anyone hurt?"
"None here."
"I'm good."
"Alright. Rest in the rear space. Take turns on watch—one at a time. Who'll go first?"
"I'll do it."
Han Su-ah raised her hand.
Unlike the frontline fighters, she'd stayed back healing and buffing, so her stamina was ample.
"Good."
Kim Jin-cheol nodded, and the break began.
The others snacked lightly, drank water, and chatted about the recent fight.
Kim Sun-woo, sipping water beside Kim Jin-cheol, exhaled briefly and spoke cautiously.
"...Team Leader, don't you think there were a lot of monsters?"
"You've been here before, right?"
"Yes. It was also a rookie raid then, but we only faced about half this many."
"Monster spawns are random, aren't they? Bad luck, I guess. Or good luck?"
"For experience, yeah."
From what he'd seen, they weren't at risk of falling to zombies or ghouls.
With a C-rank like Kim Jin-cheol, no major issues.
"...Team Leader?"
Han Su-ah, on watch ahead, called out.
Leaning against the wall, Kim Jin-cheol grabbed his sword and stood instantly.
Kim Sun-woo rose too, of course.
"What is it?"
"Could you come here a sec? I found something weird."
Kim Jin-cheol and Kim Sun-woo headed to Han Su-ah.
She pointed to the floor, shattered by Cha Ye-ji's earlier spell.
Something peeked through the cracks below.
They hadn't noticed before—the light spell's reflection now illuminated it.
"......"
Kim Jin-cheol's face hardened at the unexpected element.
There was an old adage: Be wary of anything red inside a dungeon.
Red symbolized ill omens.
Especially this unknown thing below the floor—absent from intel—prompting a grim tone as he addressed Han Su-ah.
"Han Su-ah. Back away slowly right now."
"Pardon? ...Oh."
Standing right at the crack, peering curiously, she grasped the situation from his low voice.
Curiosity is the worst trap inside a dungeon.
Kim Sun-woo tsked and crouched slightly.
Tensing his legs for instant movement if needed.
"......"
Han Su-ah's lips quivered faintly, but she stepped back slowly.
Kim Jin-cheol and Kim Sun-woo held back, avoiding provoking the unknown.
Secure her first, then retreat and assess.
It might be harmless decoration—but if not...
Flaaash!
Suddenly, crimson light surged from the cracked floor.
As if sensing Han Su-ah's escape.
"Run!!!"
Kim Jin-cheol drew his sword and bellowed.
Han Su-ah gritted her teeth and kicked off—but the erupting light swiftly engulfed her.
Damn.
Kim Sun-woo's eyes widened.
A split-second hesitation, but his legs were already moving.
Illusion Flow Step should...!
Whoosh!
His body shot forward like a beam of light.
Startling even nearby Kim Jin-cheol and the watching rear hunters.
Unleashing full-power Illusion Flow Step, Kim Sun-woo reached toward Han Su-ah, shrouded in red glow.
Aim: snatch her and bolt.
But...
Flaaash!
Relentlessly, the light from the crack swallowed them both.