Dungeon & Commander (5)
“Even if it looks easy, everyone's actually on high alert. So the best policy is to avoid eye contact.”
Kang Jin-gu said.
“Yes, Section Chief.”
Kim Jun nodded.
Finally, the gate began to open.
As the massive door, shrouded in darkness, creaked open with a grinding screech, Kim Jun felt utterly overwhelmed. It was as if that enormous maw would swallow him whole.
Tatata. The roar of broadcast helicopters whirring overhead.
Kim Jun never imagined his face would be broadcast live. Even though it was just an E-Rank dungeon, anything could happen inside.
Anyone could die in there.
“Advance!”
Seo Seung-tae, leader of Jushin Guild's Hangang team, shouted.
The prepared tankers entered first, followed by the dealers and buffers, with carriers bringing up the rear.
Passing through the rippling, wave-like surface, the air quality shifted dramatically. Strangely, Earth's light weakened dramatically upon entering the gate, failing to illuminate the surroundings. Only the glowing orbs conjured by the buffers pushed back the darkness.
The door slowly closed behind them.
Bam!
That sound meant complete severance from the outside world.
“It's started.”
Kang Jin-gu whispered.
“Jushin's Hangang takes center, Cheonroehoe's Blue Lightning on the right, Uramata's Socrates on the left for now. We'll swap with Seongdonggyeokseo's Northern Drum or Hanmudan’s Dongbang depending on the situation.”
There was no trace of excitement in Seo Seung-tae, the Jushin tanker nicknamed Ta-aek.
He was a TD5 tanker—Death attribute, 5th Grade ability user.
The expedition delved into an unfamiliar forest.
The woods were dense with plants unlike any on Earth.
Some trees glowed with bioluminescence, while others slithered along on roots. The expedition attacked anything entering their range.
Having tasted raids before, the entire forest seemed to be retreating from them.
“Incoming.”
Jo Han-geun, buffer from Jushin's Hangang team, said.
The monsters that appeared were Gelusauruses—five meters tall, eight meters long. Dinosaur-like, but with silver bodies and blasts of freezing wind from their maws, far from ancient reptiles.
Hangang's buffers, Jo Han-geun and Chae Yeo-ok, cast Anti-Ice buffs over the entire expedition.
A warm orange mist enveloped everyone cozily before fading. Buffing the whole expedition, not just their team, was proof of Jushin's prowess.
Kim Jun, receiving his first buff, found the sensation novel and intriguing.
“Getting to raid with Jushin on your first go is lucky.”
Kang Jin-gu whispered.
Kim Jun could only nod, his throat tight with excitement, unable to speak.
Suddenly, a Gelusaurus charged into the light.
Seven of them barreled toward the expedition, spewing silver mist.
The airstream slammed into the frontline tankers.
The tankers staggered back a step but held firm. Each team's tanks had maxed ice resistance.
Then, the dealers from the rear unleashed a dazzling barrage.
Rainbow-like beams streaked like arrows or arced like howitzers, engulfing the Gelusauruses.
One Gelusaurus's neck was severed.
The silver dinosaur beside it had its legs shattered, fleeing before collapsing in screams. Others retreated beyond the light, groaning.
The dealers poured more magic into the fallen one to ensure it was dead.
“Separating!”
At Seo Seung-tae's command, the expedition naturally split into three groups. Jushin pressed center, Blue Lightning veered right, Socrates left.
Northern Drum followed Blue Lightning, Dongbang stuck close behind Socrates.
“Our turn now.”
Tension laced Kang Jin-gu's voice.
The tankers stepped over the Gelusauruses.
To double-check they were dead. Dealers skirted around. The team halted, scanning surroundings until carriers finished.
Kang Jin-gu jabbed the digger—standard carrier gear—into a Gelusaurus's flank, prying it open.
Securing the digger, he thrust his specially gloved hand inside. Skilled carriers pinpoint and extract cores in one go.
“Here it is.”
With a firm grip, Kang Jin-gu tore free an ostrich-egg-sized core clinging to the guts. He rolled it back; Kim Jun, storeback slung over his shoulder, dashed in, bagged it, and retreated.
“Not bad.”
Han So-young, Socrates' dealer, remarked, watching Kang Jin-gu and Kim Jun. She'd been annoyed about the carrier switch but impressed by the veteran's skill.
Anyone could be a carrier, but not everyone could excel. Faster core extractions meant higher survival odds.
“Carriers done!”
Kang Jin-gu yelled after extracting a Geludium core from the second Gelusaurus. The team advanced.
Exclamations erupted from Dongbang behind. Just five minutes for two cores.
Gwon Jun-sang of Socrates called out.
“Hey, Yong-geun. Time to step up.”
“Think so?”
O Yong-geun ordered, and Dongbang's raiders moved right of Socrates.
The two carriers hurried after.
Then, Socrates' buffer Park Hong-sik shouted.
“Pyrosauruses!”
He swiftly cast Anti-Fire buff.
Park Hong-sik could only cover Socrates.
Dongbang reacted late to the charging Pyrosauruses. Their inexperienced buffer—only his third raid—panicked at the crimson dinosaurs and botched the buff.
Two tankers blocked the flames, but couldn't stop a Pyrosaurus from flanking and devouring dealer Song Hee-cheol.
Song Hee-cheol's upper body vanished; his twitching, blood-spraying lower half remained.
A rookie carrier fainted on the spot, leg crushed under a Pyrosaurus.
“Turn and support Dongbang! Left turn! Formation reverse triangle! Tanks forward!”
Gwon Jun-sang bellowed.
Lee Gyu-tae and Gwon Jun-sang roared forward; one startled Pyrosaurus recoiled. Han So-young exploited the gap, unleashing dozens of mana arrows to drop one. But with only one dealer, attacks faltered.
The cunning monsters prowled the perimeter.
Kim Jun, tailing Kang Jin-gu frantically, tripped over Song Hee-cheol's convulsing lower half. Teeth chattering at the severed torso, shredded guts.
“Pull yourself together.”
It was Kang Jin-gu.
Kim Jun whipped his head away, nodded, and followed.
The four tanks formed a square, dealers and carriers inside.
This let Park Hong-sik buff everyone inside.
Pyrosauruses charged with flames but couldn't breach the tanks' defenses.
The monsters swarmed the abandoned carrier outside, still screaming for help.
O Yong-geun despaired, helpless as his team died. His shouts ignored, monsters feasted from the shadows.
The screams cut off abruptly. Silence fell.
“Send the signal.”
At Gwon Jun-sang's word, Han So-young fired a magic signal flare skyward. They could only wait for other teams.
“Whew.”
Kang Jin-gu slumped.
He knew from experience: at least an hour or two.
Worst case, they'd never leave.
“Damn it!”
O Yong-geun spat.
Pyrosauruses and Gelusauruses in an E-Rank dungeon, in such numbers. Nothing but bad luck to say.
Kim Jun sat cautiously beside Kang Jin-gu, panting.
He'd heard countless dungeon tales, watched countless raid videos.
But experiencing it... exceeded imagination.
Dungeon ranks were purely human perspective.
Dungeons were enigmatic voids, unpredictable. Grades could shift suddenly—maybe they'd entered during one such change.
Kang Jin-gu pulled a chocolate bar from his pocket and handed it to Kim Jun.
The sight hit Kim Jun with ravenous hunger.
He devoured it instantly, but his stomach screamed for more.
“Breathe slow. Don't tax your body.”
“...Yes, Section Chief.”
“Scratch what I said earlier. Hitting this mess on your first dungeon? You're cursed with bad luck—so the rest of your life's golden. Consider today's payback done.”
Kang Jin-gu joked even now, seasoned by years.
“I think so too.”
Whispers carried in the huddle. O Yong-geun turned to Kim Jun.
“First time today?”
“Yes.”
Kim Jun nodded at the bandit-like O Yong-geun.
“Your footwork was solid. Could've strayed in panic, but you stuck close.”
“...Just chased Section Chief with everything I had.”
“Still, impressive for a newbie.”
O Yong-geun eyed the forward darkness again.
Kim Jun marveled at O Yong-geun's composure. Two teammates dead, no dealer—critical loss.
Yet unshaken. It felt miraculous.
“I'm Section Chief Han So-young. No idea who named it, but I'm the dealer for this weird team, Socrates.”
The striking beauty extended a hand.
Stunned, Kim Jun glanced at Kang Jin-gu, who nodded approvingly. Kim Jun clasped the pale hand, bowing.
“...Kim Jun.”
“I'm Assistant Manager Lee Gyu-tae. This is Section Chief Gwon Jun-sang, the genius who named us Socrates and our leader.”
Lee Gyu-tae said.
“Kim Jun.”
Odd, exchanging names with death looming. Yet he'd never forget them.
Breaths, expressions, atmosphere—indelible while alive.
Kang Jin-gu whispered.
“Took me seven raids for recognition. You get names on your first? Lightning fast. Sharing names here means entrusting your life.”
“Ah!”
Kim Jun couldn't suppress the surge of emotion.
“Save the emotion for after we escape this hellhole.”
Gwon Jun-sang said.
Silence returned.
The light orbs illuminated a 10-meter radius around the expedition. Buffers would detect monsters within 30.
“Water.”
Han So-young said.
At Kang Jin-gu's gesture, Kim Jun fetched a water bottle from his pack's bottom. He passed it to her, then the two tanks and buffer.
He felt stares—from Dongbang's raiders.
Their carrier's death left them without water.
Kim Jun eyed Kang Jin-gu, who shook his head.
Beyond a carrier's call.
“Share it.”
Gwon Jun-sang approved. Kim Jun distributed bottles to them too.
Kang Jin-gu asked.
“How many left?”
“Three, including the one on my belt.”
Storebacks held twelve bottles.
With each person's belt bottle, three per person total.
“Haven't touched yours?”
“Huh? No... yes. Actually, I didn't even notice my thirst.”
“Drink up. You'll crash.”
Kang Jin-gu said no more, but Kim Jun got it.
“Right.”
Kim Jun gulped from his belt bottle.
Thirst persisted despite drinking. Body craved it; mind had overlooked amid chaos.
“Newbie, how old?”
Lee Gyu-tae asked. Silence in the dark was unbearable.
“Nineteen.”
“High schooler?”
“Yes, third year. Graduate next year.”
“Huh, didn't know Uramata had another high school senior.”
The other was Choi Muhyun.
“Joined yesterday.”
Kang Jin-gu interjected.
“Yesterday as in initiated?”
Han So-young asked.
“Yes.”
Silence thickened. Air grew awkward. Everyone knew no sane guild threw a day-old newbie into a dungeon.
“Uramata's gonna be scary from now on. A one-day carrier outshining our six-monther.”
O Yong-geun said.
Tension eased.
Questions flew at Kim Jun: No piss? Hands shaking? He answered, realizing later—they just needed talk.
Hostility with death near meant wipeout.
O Yong-geun praised Uramata, Kim Jun—to foster unity, highlight carrier value.
Isolation demands endurance. Lost carrier dooms all.
Silence resumed.
Breaths irregular.
“Looks like they're trying to starve us out.”
Gwon Jun-sang muttered.
“Same thought.”
O Yong-geun agreed.
Raids evolved monsters' tactics too.
Like prey fleeing hunters, monsters adapted—sometimes lurking afar.
Overwhelming force shrugged it off. But isolated like now? Trained expeditions relied on tanks blocking, dealers killing.
No approach? Helpless.
“Need to draw aggro.”
Gwon Jun-sang eyed O Yong-geun.
O Yong-geun nodded.
But who? Tough call.
Tanks impossible—heavy, slow. Can't evade or lure; breaks defense.
Only dealer? No.
Buffers then—both bulky. Low odds returning. Supports skip fitness training.
High death risk—who volunteers?
Tricky bind.
Kim Jun pondered, briefed by Kang Jin-gu.
Escape or die. Water soon gone, stamina crashes. Worst: no chance to try.
“Section Chief, can I go?”