Dungeon & Commander (135)
Exclamations erupted from the watching aspirants.
They had recognized the Hwamyeong Pavilion's signature technique, Ghost Ear Strike.
It was a secret move that worked against anyone. Unfortunately, Kang Hyeonseong had escaped the crisis with flashy footwork and now rubbed his jaw. If it had been just three centimeters closer... he would've collapsed to the floor with a shattered chin.
But instead of rage, Kang Hyeonseong made a rational decision and began hounding Jeon Su-kyeong even more relentlessly.
"That whip."
Kim Jun said.
Sa Yeonggyo understood his meaning and generated her Metal Whip, holding it out toward him.
Kim Jun examined it, stroking it like one might pet a cat.
It's spiraled together, almost like a DNA helix. And it's got this vortex shape. If I channel power right, it could sharpen into a fencing blade. Hmm, could I adapt my Mokhonbo like this?
After studying the Metal Whip thoroughly, Kim Jun spoke.
"Gonggak. It's from the contamination phenomenon."
"...Contamination?"
Sa Yeonggyo, who had just had her secret exposed, looked at Kim Jun with a 'this is bad' expression.
Contamination came with shadowy aftereffects. And the phenomenon itself could mutate unpredictably at any time.
She had gotten an answer to the question that had puzzled her since the written exam. But it wasn't particularly satisfying.
Contamination phenomenon, of all things.
She had witnessed it once in Africa.
There was a black guy named Eumboma—nice personality, smart kid. He went into a dungeon behind a waterfall a few times, got bitten by a monster, and was diagnosed with contamination. He languished for a while, then suddenly perked up.
That night, flames ignited from inside his standing body, engulfing and killing him.
Sa Yeonggyo still couldn't forget the fire spewing from his eyes, ears, and mouth.
Something similar would eventually happen to Kim Jun.
Was there any way to stop it? What had the experts diagnosed about Kim Jun's contamination? With so many varieties still under research, maybe digging around would turn up a treatment to weaken the symptoms.
What am I even thinking? He's a carrier, a carrier. Why should I care? He'll handle it himself.
Sa Yeonggyo glanced at the match.
Around the 9-minute-30-second mark, Kang Hyeonseong lunged in at a different speed, stabbing punches into Jeon Su-kyeong's solar plexus and abdomen in rapid succession.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
Jeon Su-kyeong couldn't withstand the impacts and crumpled.
The proctor declared Kang Hyeonseong's victory. Sa Yeonggyo shot Kim Jun a triumphant look.
See? I was right. Hope your eyes bulge out like saucers in shock.
Sa Yeonggyo wanted to see a face brimming with astonishment and respect.
Feeling her gaze, Kim Jun turned. His eyes were clear and steady, without a flicker of surprise.
What? Not even a little shocked. Did this guy think the same thing I did? Should I ask? Nah. Why bother? He might just pretend to know everything even if he doesn't.
In the end, curiosity won out over pride.
"You saw that coming too?"
"Roughly."
"How?"
Sa Yeonggyo was getting impatient.
"More importantly, you okay? Everyone's staring."
Kim Jun nodded toward the crowd. Only then did Sa Yeonggyo realize her voice had risen in excitement. The Association President's granddaughter chatting with a carrier had drawn all the aspirants' eyes.
"Ahem."
Sa Yeonggyo cleared her throat and put some distance between her and Kim Jun.
An hour passed.
Thirty-six matches had played out across the six arenas. Winners were decided in thirty; the rest ended in draws.
Kim Jun checked his legs. His firm thighs and calves with their defined bulges felt no different from usual.
Already mastered the essence of Tangui? Rest up fully and we'll see.
Kim Jun glared at Proctor Jang Man-ho.
What kind of guy is he really?
As he turned his head, Sa Yeonggyo entered his view.
That girl... she seemed decent enough. Despite being the Association President's granddaughter, she was straightforward and down-to-earth. She treated him as an equal, not dismissing him just for being a carrier.
Well, she backed off once the stares hit.
The match ended. Ten minutes of aimless back-and-forth.
Result: draw.
Kim Jun yawned lazily.
Then the proctor called his name.
"Kim Jun."
It felt like electricity crackling through his body. Kim Jun stood and walked to the center.
Piercing stares flew from all sides, stabbing into him.
Kim Jun ignored them. If he'd cared about people's glares even a little, he never would've made it this far.
He scanned the crowd with a smile instead.
Some bared naked hostility like rabid dogs. Experience told him the overtly reactive ones weren't scary. The truly strong stayed calm and composed even now.
Truth be told, he was confident against anyone.
He was the guy who'd beaten Yeonyuksu and Yeonosu barehanded. And this was just a gathering of rookies dipping their toes into being raiders. Dungeon veterans were rare here.
As he loosened up, a name rang out.
"Jo Nam-sik."
One man rose... towering at two meters tall.
Kim Jun recognized Jo Nam-sik. The guy who'd thrown an eraser during the written exam. The one who'd spotted a paper on the floor and yelled about cheating to the proctor.
Jo Nam-sik's dark skin gleamed as he strode over, looming down at Kim Jun. He ignored the proctor's warnings, eyes fixed solely on his opponent.
"Begin."
The proctor stepped back.
"Hey, carrier. Why not just forfeit?"
Jo Nam-sik said.
A gravelly voice. Not a teen. Mid-twenties from his face, maybe even thirties.
Kim Jun bounced lightly on his toes like a boxer's footwork. He brushed off the worthless question.
In that instant, the Tan step of Mokhonbo unfolded.
Thud.
Kim Jun shot forward at tremendous speed, halting in a Po step to hammer right and left fists into Jo Nam-sik's gut in quick succession. Then he retreated.
A probing strike. He didn't expect it to drop the guy. He'd felt the solid muscles inside the abs.
Jo Nam-sik clutched his stomach, face twisting—then broke into a wide grin.
"Not bad. Guess I should play along."
Jo Nam-sik extended both hands forward, lowering his center of gravity slightly. His hands, arms—even his face—turned a deep gray. Light from the ceiling fixtures reflected off his gray skin.
"Geumgangbulgoe!"
"Diamond Indestructible Body!"
"Metal Body!"
The aspirants burst into exclamations.
Kim Jun knew what Geumgangbulgoe was too.
One of the Five Elements Arts, Geumgangbulgoe hardened the body—especially the skin—to block external impacts. It was among the strongest defensive martial arts.
Tricky to master, most used it on specific areas like arms or legs. But Jo Nam-sik had coated his entire two-meter frame.
No ordinary aspirant!
Even seasoned raiders struggled with Geumgangbulgoe.
"Come on, hit me all you want, you little rat."
Jo Nam-sik crossed his arms.
Kim Jun didn't panic. Geumgangbulgoe boasted immense defense but weighed the body down, making fast moves impossible.
As expected, Jo Nam-sik just stood there.
Kim Jun circled behind and targeted the Achilles tendon. He swept a kick like sliding on ice—but it just hurt his foot. Like kicking rebar hard.
From the side, he stabbed his toes into the back of the knee. Even Geumgangbulgoe should weaken at joints, he'd figured.
Ugh!
A little harder and his toes might've broken.
Kim Jun kept trying.
Gut, solar plexus—even groin. All rock-solid.
Retreating, Kim Jun checked the wall clock. Already 5 minutes 30 seconds in. Four minutes thirty left. Fail to drop the Diamond Indestructible Body in that time, and it'd be a draw.
In that moment, Kim Jun realized something.
This guy's... not trying to win. A draw's fine by him. Otherwise, he wouldn't just stand there tanking my hits.
First time for this. Every other aspirant had fought tooth and nail to win. A draw equaled defeat. Three draws meant three losses.
Not trying to win meant no need to pass the awakening test.
Why take it with that skill?
To show off Geumgangbulgoe? To green dungeon newbies?
Kim Jun shifted his perspective.
Opponent wasn't an aspirant. Different goals entirely. A draw was an acceptable option for him. So why was Jo Nam-sik here?
Sa Yeonggyo frowned.
That guy's Jonathan. How'd I not recognize him?
As far as Sa Yeonggyo knew, Jonathan had emigrated to Africa as a kid. Awakened there.
Unlike Korea's structured training, he'd adapted to Africa's brutal wilds. By 17, he raided nearby dungeons, taking down Ulpensaurus and such.
Never officially tested, but known as Level 6 or higher.
Sa Yeonggyo usually soloed but once joined a 30-man team out of curiosity for a C-rank dungeon interior. That's where she met Jonathan.
He'd held off an army of monsters led by the intelligent upper-class Spirit Druru in a narrow canyon pass—for a full hour. Without his Geumgangbulgoe buying time there, Sa Yeonggyo would've died too.
Why's he here? An aspirant? Ridiculous.
Sa Yeonggyo informed the assistant proctor.
"Are you certain?"
"Yes."
"But we can't halt the match until we verify."
The assistant proctor pulled out his phone and reported to the exam management committee.
Committee Chairman Lee Won-jong had a headache.
Jo Nam-sik's identity exposed already. He dialed a number deliberately. After a long ring, it connected.
—What is it?
The voice of Kim Se-wi—Ju Shin Guild's intelligence chief and Medici Team leader—sounded as clear and refined as ever. Fitting his nickname, 'Dungeon Gentleman.'
"Uh, problem arose."
—Tell me.
"Sa Yeonggyo figured out Jo Nam-sik is Jonathan."
—Oh?
The cheerful tone seemed to say, 'And you're panicking over that?'
"What do we do?"
Lee Won-jong asked—to shift blame if things went south.
—Jo Nam-sik's Kim Jun's first opponent, right?
"Yes."
—Do this. Make Kim Jun fight the next one too, and the one after. Three in a row. Suspicious? Random draw, happens all the time. Second opponent's Siuba, I hear. Who's the last?
"Not decided yet."
—Make it Sa Yeonggyo. She hates losing—perfect matchup. Kim Jun'll learn the raider world ain't easy.
"And Jo Nam-sik's identity...?"
—Stall, say we're checking. It'll fizzle out after practicals anyway.
"Got it."
Lee Won-jong hung up and passed the orders verbatim. He didn't know—or care—why Ju Shin wanted Kim Jun failed.
Just snag the fat reward and that intel chief connection.
Seven minutes gone.
Three left.
He'd targeted everywhere below the shoulders, but Jo Nam-sik stood firm like a massive statue.
Kim Jun tamped down his impatience.
No need to panic. Weakness above the neck means everything in the next three minutes.
He regretted going solo.
If Pink Team were here, Yoo Min-jeong's Fireball would've melted that boasted Geumgangbulgoe body. Skyla's ice could've frozen and cracked its defenses, indestructible or not.
This was why teams fought.
Diverse styles to exploit weaknesses.
Of course, a match meant no team.
"Tired already?"
Jo Nam-sik laughed.
Kim Jun unleashed Tan and Po steps of Mokhonbo, darting behind him swiftly.
Jo Nam-sik twisted his head to track with his eyes.
In that instant, Kim Jun leaped straight up, kicking his jaw with his foot.
Jo Nam-sik staggered forward a step.
Kim Jun's eyes widened.
First time for that reaction!
Jaw works. Shakes the brain.
Change in the guy who'd stood arms-crossed till now. Long arms now guarded his jaw. No follow-ups possible.
Kim Jun ramped up his speed.