Linked Quest: The Nameless God's Trace

"We're almost to the 5th floor. Let's all fight on together!"

"Fighting!"

It had already been five days since they'd entered the 4th floor. Namgung Seojun checked the remaining distance on his map as he led the party onward. Two hours after leaving the village, they'd encountered a minor skirmish, but nothing major—the group was progressing smoothly.

Huh?

For the first time in a while, Seojun's Super Sense stirred. It was giving him a strong feeling that something was there.

"Hold up."

At his command, the party halted. He scanned the surroundings carefully.

Nothing out of the ordinary.

It was a vast plain. A few small hills dotted the landscape, but it was just typical 4th-floor terrain.

Can't spot it with my eyes.

Fortunately, he had another card to play. He activated the Sylph skill, summoning the spirit, and asked, "Let me know if you spot anything unusual nearby."

The sylph obeyed, scouting the area. Moments later, it began circling above a specific spot.

Namgung Seojun led the party to the location. A plain... just like any other. It looked utterly ordinary—no adventurer passing by would give it a second glance. Seojun approached alone.

Then, a message appeared.

Not just Seojun—the entire party received the linked quest proposal simultaneously.

An unexpected linked quest. Though the full reward wasn't listed, everyone instinctively knew this was an opportunity.

As the quest activated, a meeting naturally began.

"We've found a linked quest. Everyone see it?"

The party members nodded.

Seojun spoke firmly. "We're doing it, no question. This is our chance. If it gets too dangerous, I'll call it off."

"Got it, Seojun."

"Sounds good, leader."

"We trust you, hyungnim."

The party agreed. Even Yuki now had no choice but to trust his unique instinct—the god-tier Super Sense that led to those inexplicable, razor-sharp judgments.

The group accepted the quest.

A portal materialized in the empty plain.

"Alright, let's head in carefully. I'll go first. Follow in order."

With Namgung Seojun in the lead, the party entered the portal.

Seojun emerged cautiously, surveying the area. It was a narrow, dark cave—thankfully, his Super Sense detected no immediate danger. The party filed in one by one, crouching quietly beside him. Once everyone was inside, he gave the next orders.

"Narrow, dark cave dungeon. Single-file formation. I'll lead. Yuki and Kim Hoon behind me—Kim Hoon, you hold the lantern. Then Jo Jaehun, Lee Guho, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and Gisohee at the rear. No night vision."

The party formed up instantly. Kim Hoon lit the lantern and held it.

"Higher."

Kim Hoon flinched and raised it obediently. In combat, Namgung Seojun turned strict.

They advanced slowly. Relying solely on the lantern felt uneasy, so despite the mana drain, Seojun summoned Sylph again.

"Warn me if enemies appear."

With the sylph's help bolstering his Super Sense, he minimized risks and pressed on.

"Trap!"

It detected traps instantly, letting them detour.

"Watch your step!"

For uneven ground that could trip them.

"Slime!"

Warning of acidic slimes on walls or floors, avoiding contact.

Proceeding cautiously, they reached a small chamber.

"Careful."

A statue stood in the chamber. Seojun recognized it immediately.

"Gargoyle. Magic ready."

Lee Guho began casting. On Seojun's signal, he unleashed Fireball.

Boom!

The gargoyle's eyes snapped open, awakening from stone. It wasn't weak enough to drop in one hit.

"Guards, protect your partners! Guho, next spell!"

Seojun coated his sword in poison—gargoyles resisted physical damage, so poison dealt minor harm.

Kyaaak!

The gargoyle rose with a shriek, swinging a claw. Seojun's Domain Insight activated, dodging effortlessly. He slashed its wing.

Thwack! Kyak!

Enraged, it lunged wildly. "Fireball!"

Perfect timing—Lee Guho's spell struck, creating an opening. Trusting Super Sense, Seojun stabbed its weak point: the throat.

Kyaa...

It froze. The three guards charged.

"Bash it with ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠shields!"

Swords did no damage; shields stunned it.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Prevented from recovering, it ate Lee Guho's third Fireball.

Boom!

The gargoyle collapsed. The party marveled.

"Whoa, a gargoyle here?"

Lee Guho was thrilled to see a monster from the training camp bestiary in person.

"Physical immunity, right? Warriors couldn't touch it. Holy buffs would work, though?"

Yuki felt her holy power skills were essential.

"A gargoyle here feels unbalanced..."

Even Jo Jaehun chimed in. Seojun agreed. Their low-level party had a rare mage, and the gargoyle was underleveled—barely a win.

The corpse powdered away, leaving Seojun's sword and a fist-sized gem. Lee Guho carefully picked it up with cloth.

"Gargoyle gems are risky but valuable. Good haul."

He stowed it. Seojun retrieved his sword—no cleanup needed, no injuries.

"Let's move out."

They resumed. The dark, cramped cave had sparse monsters—one per chamber.

"Blood Golem this time. Weak for a golem, but physical immune."

"Specter! Physical immune again! Guho, you're up!"

Back-to-back ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠physical immunes—Lee Guho's heroics barely cleared them.

After the specter, they took a major break. Seojun downed a potion; three tough fights had drained his stamina, mana depleted enough to dismiss Sylph. Everyone needed recovery.

Lee Guho, Jo Jaehun, and Kim Hoon lay resting. Yuki sat, tending sore feet. Gisohee, with little to do, checked the specter's spot—disappointed. No drops; blood golem left only a puddle. No loot amplified their fatigue.

Stamina partially restored, they gathered for simple rations and chat.

"This dungeon for lowbies? Mages or clerics needed..."

"Lucky we have Guho. Not for this floor's levels."

Seojun nodded. He'd trusted Super Sense, but it was a razor-thin clear.

Kim Hoon prodded unintentionally. "Leader, lantern oil's low. Gotta move."

"Up we go. Hang in there—this'll pay off. My senses say so."

Trusting him fully, they rose with anticipation.

Five minutes later, another chamber—with a massive chest in the center.

"Oh! Reward?"

Lee Guho grinned, lowering guard. Seojun barked,

"Lee Guho, hold position!"

He froze. Seojun hurled a dagger.

The chest opened, tongue snatching it.

"Mimic?"

Another rare one. Mimics lured noobs to deadly ambushes—but exposed, less threatening.

Boom!

Volley plus Lee Guho's final Fireball dropped it.

"Wait!"

Seojun threw another dagger; the "dead" mimic dodged.

"Knew it!"

They finished it. Acid oozed, so Kim Hoon extracted the corpse carefully. Inside: a black stone.

"What's this?"

Seojun didn't know—but Super Sense screamed valuable.

"Feels good. Stash it, check later."

Kim Hoon pocketed it. Onward to the next chamber—another chest.

"Real reward this time?"

Gisohee asked. Super Sense clear, but Seojun threw a dagger anyway.

Clang!

It bounced harmlessly.

"No reaction. Approach carefully."

He opened it. "Random Rare Skillbook?"

The dungeon reward: a skillbook granting a random Rare skill.

Party lit up.

"Sell this alone, big money."

"Worth the grind."

"Gargoyle gem plus this? Solid."

Satisfied, Seojun handed it to Kim Hoon. "Distribute in town. Clear the dungeon first."

He pointed to the dungeon heart.

"All set?"

Confirmed. To Kim Hoon by the heart: "Smash it."

Kim Hoon struck. It shattered, ejecting them to the plain—as messages appeared.

"Great job, everyone."

"Next one's rewards are huge."

"Worth it."

"Let's nail the next linked quest!"

The party cheered at the updated quest.