First B-Rank Dungeon Entry, and the Straggler
The first to approach was Oh Hyun-seok, the overall commander of this operation and leader of Hyunmu Guild's Team 2. His voice was low and composed, his expression unwavering.
"You're from Investigation Team 3 of the Uijeongbu Northern Branch, correct?"
Team Leader Yoo Mira turned toward him. "Yes. Yoo Mira, Team Leader of Investigation Team 3, Uijeongbu Northern Branch."
"A pleasure. I'm Oh Hyun-seok, Team Leader of Hyunmu Team 2."
"For this B-05 dungeon, my Team 2 will take the lead and enter first, while Hyunmu Team 3 covers the rear. The investigation team is requested to move along the right flank, focusing on mana sensor readings and documentation. The supply team will follow at the very back."
At that moment, a familiar voice came from behind. "Ah, Investigation Team 3. It's been a while."
"Team Leader Jang Tae-wook, hello."
"This time, Team Leader Oh Hyun-seok of Hyunmu Team 2 will lead, and my Team 3 will provide support from behind. The scale is larger than last time, but with more personnel, the investigation team likely won't need to engage in combat. Just follow along as usual and you'll be fine."
"Understood. We'll be counting on the Hyunmu Guild. Also, the staff you gave us last time is being put to good use by Investigator Baek Sorin. It matches her attribute perfectly, and she's quite pleased with its performance."
"I'm glad to hear it's being used well. I just had a feeling it would suit your team."
"Thank you, Team Leader."
"Don't mention it. We fought together last time, so sharing the spoils was only natural."
"Still, the distribution was clean and precise. We'll be counting on you again in the future."
"Haha, likewise. Thanks to Investigation Team 3, we made it out safely last time. Let's work well together again."
"Yes. This time, we'll set up the mana sensors at the entrance and check the environment from the rear as we move."
"Understood. Still, don't stray too far. This dungeon is vast, with a variety of monsters. We might not be able to cover everything."
"Of course. I've experienced that a few times myself."
"That's reassuring. Well then, I'll head back to my team. Let's hope for a smooth dungeon this time as well."
"Yes. I hope you stay safe too, Team Leader Jang Tae-wook."
Team Leader Jang Tae-wook gave a slight bow and returned to his team. Just then, Jeongho, who had been checking equipment with Hyunmu Team 3, spotted me and walked over.
"Jihoon, it's been a while. How've you been?"
"Just getting by, one way or another."
Jeongho looked me up and down. "Whoa, you got new gear? It's so new that anyone would think you're already C-rank."
"How'd you know? I am C-rank now."
"What? Seriously C-rank? Weren't you F-rank back in high school? Last time I saw you, you were D-rank or something. How'd you rank up so fast?"
"Just kept pushing myself here and there. Bought some elixirs too... I didn't expect to climb this quickly either."
"Maybe you were misjudged in high school? Or maybe you're the type who absorbs mana well but it manifested late. At this pace, you'll hit SS-rank in no time, won't you?"
"Hey, don't say stuff like that. I'd be happy just reaching S-rank."
"Anyway! This is your first B-rank dungeon, right? It's on a whole different level from C-rank, so be careful. Once we're done with the survey, let's grab a drink!"
"Got it. You be careful too. Let's grab that drink later."
After our greetings, Jeongho turned and jogged back to Hyunmu Team 3. We finished our own equipment checks and prepared for entry. As we wrapped up, Team Leader Yoo Mira glanced over at us, confirming the mana sensor setup.
"We'll install the mana sensors before entering the gate, check the readings, and then proceed. Doyun, Jaehun—each of you set up one sensor. The rest of you, help position them. We'll place two at the entrance first."
"Understood. Installing the sensors now."
We quickly set up two sensors at the entrance and checked the readings on the terminal.
"Readings stabilized... Yes, all normal!"
"Good. Team Leader Oh Hyun-seok, the stabilization readings are normal. You may proceed."
"Understood, Team Leader! Hyunmu Teams 2 and 3, board the vehicles and move out. Supply team, follow carefully and don't fall behind!"
"Move out!"
The Hyunmu Guild passed through the gate first in their Azure Dragon SUVs, and we followed right behind. As soon as we crossed, we installed two more sensors thirty meters inside the entrance. After finishing the setup, we advanced along the tracks left by Hyunmu Team 3.
After about an hour, the vehicles of Hyunmu Teams 2 and 3 ahead simultaneously slowed and stopped. A radio transmission came through immediately.
– "Halt. Orc pack detected ahead."
– "Forty orcs, twenty orc riders. Preparing for combat."
Doors opened and team members quickly disembarked to form ranks. The sound of armor shifting and weapons being readied echoed briefly. The air ahead grew tense as we watched from inside the SUV, steadying our breathing.
Team Leader Oh Hyun-seok raised his hand and pointed forward. Teams 2 and 3 advanced together. A rough collision rang out. The orcs were pushed back, losing balance, while the tanks from both teams pressed from the front. Melee hunters slipped between the orcs, striking in rapid succession, while ranged hunters maintained distance and fired. Watching from the rear, I spoke quietly.
"Team Leader of Hyunmu Team 2... he's much stronger than I expected. That doesn't look like A-rank movement."
Team Leader Yoo Mira answered without turning her head. "Team Leader 2 is an S-rank hunter."
"Ah... one of the few S-rank hunters in the country? As expected, Hyunmu is on another level. It's my first time seeing an S-rank hunter in action. I can barely follow his movements with my eyes."
Team Leader Oh Hyun-seok's movements weren't just fast—the sequence of his actions itself seemed different. The flow of closing in, slashing, grabbing, throwing, breaking, and advancing again was seamless, without a single opening.
"But... compared to when we went to C-rank dungeons together, Hyunmu Team 3 seems to be struggling against these orcs. Same green orcs, but their skin looks tougher and they're stronger too."
"Even the same monster type absorbs more mana in a B-rank dungeon. Their bodies become harder, stronger, and faster to react. That's why C-rank dungeons yield C-rank mana stones, while B-rank dungeons yield B-rank ones. The difference isn't in the monster itself, but in the amount of mana accumulated in the dungeon environment."
The wind-attribute users cleared the dust, revealing the outlines of Team 3 pressing forward. Though the orcs and riders were pushing back in a mix, the combined efforts of Teams 2 and 3 were gradually advancing the front line. I opened the terminal and checked the mana sensor readings again. The airflow fluctuated briefly and the mana line reactions trembled slightly, but they didn't reach dangerous levels.
First combat in a B-rank dungeon. We watched the battle from the rear, preparing our next moves. Once Hyunmu Teams 2 and 3 finished the fight, the area was quickly cleared. The supply team collected the corpses while we briefly examined the surrounding soil and vegetation. The soil particle distribution, humidity, and surface conditions showed nothing unusual. We also checked the herbs and plants as we circled the area. Starting from B-rank dungeons, the terrain was vast, with resources concentrated in specific zones, so this grassland section had almost nothing of note.
The Hyunmu teams reformed their ranks and resumed their slow advance, and we followed them deeper into the grassland terrain. After crossing a gentle hill, the entrance to a canyon gradually came into view in the distance. Upon reaching the canyon's mouth, the lead SUV slowed and stopped. Two scouts quickly moved ahead, checked the canyon interior from above, and returned.
"Nothing unusual. This should work as a base camp."
Team Leader Oh Hyun-seok gave a short nod. "Good. We'll camp here for the night. Park the vehicles in the clearing and begin setting up equipment from the flat areas."
The Hyunmu and supply teams moved immediately. Tents, cooking equipment, and portable generators were unloaded in order. We checked the surrounding terrain once more, installed relay devices, pitched our tents, and finished preparing the campsite. Our first night's lodging was complete.
Darkness began to fall, and starlight slowly appeared above the canyon. Where the light came from didn't matter much. We each finished our assigned tasks and organized the schedule. Looking around, I moved to a spot with no one nearby and called out to Arin and Elly.
"Arin, Elly."
"Yeah! Jihoon! Where is this...? It's not home."
"I told you yesterday. We were entering a B-rank dungeon today. And stop complaining about home. You're really going to get a belly at this rate."
"What did you say? A belly?!"
Whoosh!
"Aah! Wait—!"
Smack!
"Ow! Aah— it's hot!"
"Hold on! Why are you both suddenly— Elly, you too?"
"Just... felt annoyed all of a sudden. Hehe, sorry?"
"Do you have any idea how dangerous it is to talk about a lady's belly? Byun Jihoon, you're in big trouble."
"Hey, sorry! It was just a joke... You two are always just lazing around at home..."
"Byun Jihoon! Consider this a warning. If you ever bring that up again, next time it'll be a double slap with flames!"
"That's right! Be careful, Jihoon! I'm preparing an ice water shower for you!"
"Alright, alright! Calm down and listen. This is the canyon area of a B-rank dungeon. I called you to check if there are any spirit stones or anything similar around here."
"Really? Then we'll go take a look! You rest here!"
"Yeah. I'll rest here. If anything happens, tell me right away."
"Okay! We'll look around a bit and come back!"
The two spirits spun once in the air before whoosh— flying off toward the darkness of the canyon. Not long after, Arin and Elly came flying back in a hurry, each carrying an armful of rocks, and plopped down in front of me.
"Jihoon, this is bad! Monsters are swarming from the end of the canyon! They're the ones we call orcs in our world! And there are... hundreds of them! Really, a lot! What do we do? We need to get out of here fast!"
I shot to my feet in shock. Then I hesitated for a moment. How would I explain how I knew this? I haven't even told them about the spirits yet... But there was no time to think.
Whatever... I'll just say I went up the canyon to use the bathroom and happened to see them. I noticed suspicious movement, went closer to check, and found hundreds of green orcs... That should work.
I immediately ran toward the tents. "Everyone, wake up! Get up!"
"Team Leader Oh Hyun-seok! Emergency situation!"
Team Leader Jang Tae-wook rushed out. "What is it, this late..."
"A horde of monsters is coming from the end of the canyon. Looks like several hundred!"
"What? Are you joking right now..."
"It's true. You can see for yourself."
Team Leader Oh Hyun-seok immediately called for a scout-specialized hunter. The hunter condensed wind and whoosh— shot into the air, flying all the way to the end of the canyon. In less than a minute, he came flying back in a panic and shouted.
"Confirmed! Hundreds of green orcs! Entering the canyon now!"
Baek Sorin also used her newly learned updraft to lift herself into the air and looked into the distance. "It's true. The orc horde is coming! We need to retreat right now!"
The area instantly shifted into retreat preparations. Everyone abandoned their gear except personal equipment and ran for the vehicles. However, because of the canyon's structure, the vehicles had to exit two at a time, causing the retreat to stall. The Hyunmu Guild vehicles jostled chaotically, trying to get out first. Meanwhile, the orc horde had already reached within two hundred meters. The vibrations from the swarm traveled through the ground and up to our feet.
If we don't stop them now, it's over.
I opened my backpack in one motion and swept mana stone bombs into my arms. Grabbing six of them, I turned and spread my arms wide toward both sides of the canyon.
"Block it!"
The moment I gathered my strength and threw, the bombs shot like lightning toward the rock walls.
Boom! KABOOM! Rumble—!
Successive explosions shook the entire canyon. The blast tore through the air and pushed forward. Both cliff walls trembled violently, spitting out massive cracks. Dust pillars shot upward, and layers of rock split apart before collapsing with a crash. Boulders weighing dozens of tons rolled down toward the path, swallowing the front of the orc line whole. The advancing orc horde was thrown into chaos by the impact, and the rock piles falling from both sides of the canyon completely blocked the way. Through the dust, the orcs at the blocked entrance could only roar, unable to advance any further.
"Now! Get out quickly!"
I backed toward the vehicles while using telekinesis to lift rocks from the canyon floor one by one. The floating rocks settled into place with heavy thuds, quickly sealing the gaps in our escape route. As we boarded the vehicles and neared the canyon entrance, I glanced back one last time. My breath caught.
Orcs were forcing their bodies through the collapsed gaps, climbing over the rubble. Over a hundred of them poured out like a wave, chasing after us. Dust twisted and surged upward, and the orcs' roars echoed off the rocks like metal scraping. The vehicles were just about to exit the canyon.
At this rate... they'll catch us.
I made my decision. Pulling my backpack from my back to the front, I opened it. The heavy sensation of the remaining mana stone bombs pressed against my palms. Gripping them tightly, I shouted at the top of my lungs toward Team Leader Yoo Mira and Jaehun inside the vehicle.
"I'll block the canyon entrance! Everyone, get out!"
"Jihoon, what are you saying? We're almost out!"
"Team Leader, no! At this speed, they'll catch up soon! I can use telekinesis to climb up and avoid them. I'll stay behind and block the path!"
"No! You're still only C-rank! How are you going to deal with B-rank monsters?"
I tapped the backpack full of mana stone bombs and cut her off. "Team Leader, I have the bombs! If I just collapse the entrance, they won't be able to see ahead. I can hide in the gap! Don't worry!"
"Then I'll stay instead! I'm an A-rank ability user! It's much better if I stay!"
"No, Team Leader! You need to get out of here alive and take command! If things go wrong, I can just fly up to the top of the canyon! Get out quickly, request support, and... come back to save me!"
"Jihoon! It's too dangerous! Let's just escape together! We can shake them off!"
"Jaehun hyung! We're the very last ones! The road is a mess and we're not going fast! Don't worry about me—just keep going without stopping! I don't plan on dying either! I'll just block the path and hide until it's over! So... please, just get out of here!"
Before I even finished speaking, I leapt from the moving vehicle. "Jihoon!!!"
"Jihoon, have you lost your mind!? What are you doing!?"
The desperate cries of my teammates scattered behind me as the vehicle pulled away. I stood up from where I'd rolled and gripped the bombs again. The orc horde pouring out from inside the canyon rushed toward me like a black wave.
This was a fight I had to stop.