[EP5. Arena]
Right after eating, Jae-jun took a short nap and woke up with a sigh.
Lately, he'd been bouncing back and forth between dungeons and the arena so much that his sleep schedule had become completely erratic.
B-rank Magical Core: 1
D-rank Magical Core: 24
E-rank Magical Core: 26
Looking at the magical cores filling up his inventory slots brought a smile to his face.
'One B-rank, twenty-four D-rank, twenty-six E-rank.'
Even in terms of money, it was easily over a hundred million won.
'Maybe I should check out the Hunter Market?'
The Hunter Market was an exclusive marketplace for hunters only.
They sold monster byproducts and all sorts of items, but Jae-jun had never been there himself.
He had the hunter license, so he could go, but he didn't really know how it worked.
'Should I text Ji-hoon?'
As someone working at the Hunter Association, Bae Ji-hoon would know all about it.
Jae-jun could already picture the guy whining about being busy.
'Yeah. Later, when he's free.'
Right now, he needed to head to the arena and meet Lucifer again, then stop by the Association.
Better hurry.
You can immediately enter the Arena.
Would you like to participate in the Arena?
'Yeah.'
Jae-jun's vision went black as he was transported to the arena.
―
A chilling dampness and humid air hit his face unpleasantly.
Even without opening his eyes, he knew he was back in that prison-like room from last time.
"You've come? My great warrior."
When he opened his eyes, Lucifer was already waiting inside Jae-jun's cell.
His eyes gleamed as he stared at Jae-jun, as if he already knew about the cursed dungeon.
"...What's with the sudden change in tone?"
The first time, he'd been all high and mighty, promising to reveal secrets if Jae-jun survived. Now it was "my great warrior."
"What do you mean? I'm a fair man. I treat those who deserve it properly."
Treatment, huh. It's all performance-based.
Then let's give a performance report.
Jae-jun pushed himself up from the damp floor.
Second time here, but the cave's chill was still unwelcome.
"I absorbed the soul fragment from the cursed dungeon."
"Oh?"
Lucifer's eyes seemed to sparkle for a moment.
"I knew you could pull it off. Any difficulties?"
"Nah. Nothing really."
With that, Jae-jun gave a brief rundown of what happened in the cursed dungeon.
When he mentioned that Igrito, the final statue boss, had been killed by Jae-jun, Lucifer's face grew a touch somber.
"Igrito... Now just a memory."
"A comrade?"
"Comrade?"
Lucifer chuckled, glancing at Jae-jun.
"Just a guard dog for my Demon King's Castle. I liked how his whole body blazed with flame."
"..."
Guard dog?
"...Not a fighting dog?"
"Fighting dog? Igrito didn't know the first thing about combat. Best he could do was sit by my side and look imposing."
'Ah. Reality hits hard.'
The final boss he'd thought Igrito was turned out to be just Lucifer's pet.
He felt embarrassed for going all-out against a pet dog.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
Jae-jun shook his head.
"Anyway. Baal's subordinate was guarding the dungeon entrance."
"Yeah. A fly demon called Bairu."
"Fly demons are Baal's signature legion soldiers."
Lucifer stroked his chin thoughtfully.
Come to think of it, Jae-jun realized something while looking at Lucifer's face.
'He looks younger?'
Compared to last time, the deep wrinkles and pallid complexion had improved noticeably.
The fine lines were still there, but the deep creases were gone, and some color had returned to his face.
'Because of the soul fragment?'
"Looks like my theory was right."
"What theory?"
"The other Demon Kings probably haven't descended to the human world yet. If they had, they'd have smashed or sealed my soul fragment first thing."
Jae-jun's eyes widened.
Demon Kings manifesting in the human world?
"That possible?"
Jae-jun had demon memories too.
Demons could barely enter the human world via contracts or gate breaks—and even that came with restrictions.
"Not back then."
Lucifer's eyes flashed as he fixed on Jae-jun.
"But now it is. Because of you."
"Me?"
Lucifer nodded.
"Your body has infinite mana due to some glitch. A phenomenon unique—not just in the human world, but anywhere."
Lucifer's gaze swept over Jae-jun's body.
"Your mana is constantly leaking into the human world. That's spiking gate frequency and making it easier for other-dimensional beings to cross over. With a suitable human body, even a Demon King manifesting wouldn't be hard."
Now that he mentioned it, Jae-jun recalled hearing about a surge in gate outbreaks.
And it's my fault?
"Suitable body meaning?"
"A body that can withstand a Demon King's immense power. Your S-rank or higher should suffice."
Jae-jun's head spun more with every word.
He couldn't hunt down every S-rank to stop Demon Kings.
Lucifer seemed to read his turmoil and cut straight to it.
"...Gather the soul fragments as fast as possible and grow stronger. That's the only way to prepare for the Demon Kings to come."
Lucifer's eyes sparkled again.
'Gather the soul fragments as fast as possible.'
The only way?
Jae-jun felt himself sinking into Lucifer's words.
The voice echoed in his ears, buzzing in his mind, repeating.
His body felt floaty, like drifting into a dream. Something felt off.
Clank!
The cell door swung open, jolting Jae-jun alert.
What the—
He'd been listening to Lucifer just moments ago, but his mind had blanked out. No memory after.
"Hurry out. Match starts soon."
"..."
A foggy haze filled Jae-jun's head.
He vaguely recalled Lucifer saying something, but the details escaped him.
Suspicion crept into Jae-jun's eyes as he watched Lucifer's back.
"Hey! Newbie's back!
"Stay sharp this time—don't die!"
Voices echoed from another cell in the passage.
But unlike last time, one voice was missing.
"Just two of us?"
Lucifer glanced at Jae-jun with surprise.
"One died in their duel."
Got it.
Jae-jun stood before the familiar door.
Cheers erupted from beyond it.
"Won't be as easy as last time."
"Whatever. I'll wrap it up quick."
Lucifer smirked, lips curling.
Clank.
Only his second time, but entering the arena felt routine now.
Ear-splitting cheers poured from the stands.
Waaaaah!
Jae-jun casually scanned the audience.
Masked figures in bizarre outfits ogled him.
Last time he hadn't noticed, but now it was clear.
'Those aren't human.'
Skins of every color, sizes varying wildly.
Then the announcer's voice boomed across the arena.
A few in the stands guffawed, mocking Jae-jun.
His expression twisted.
'Did the same crap last time. Still trash-talking.'
He wanted to punch that announcer more than the crowd.
Grrrrowl!
The opposite gate opened, and the opponent emerged.
This orc was at least 1.5 times bigger than the wanderer orcs from the dungeon.
massive tusks protruded from its tightly shut mouth.
A jagged scar ran from its left eye down to the jaw, making it look even fiercer.
Its power was evident in every step and its sheer bulk.
The orc slowly advanced, staring daggers at Jae-jun.
"Chit. A human."
Contempt flashed in its eyes.
"Easy win this round."
Hoo.
Here, humans were treated like playthings.
He was sick of that attitude.
Already tired, and now too lazy to deal with it.
"Doesn't matter who. Just start already."
"Chit! I'll chew you up, human!"
The orc menacingly swung its axe-spear.
Win in the Arena!
📍 Your second arena match.
🎁 Opponent: Warrior Orc blessed by an orc god.
Defeat your foe and seize victory!
Reward:Disaster's Vampiric Sword
Failure:Death
'Hm?'
A weapon reward after so long.
The moment the announcer finished, the orc charged at Jae-jun.
Chit!
Its powerful swing made the axe-spear gleam with mana.
"Die!"
The orc closed in instantly, swinging for Jae-jun's neck.
A red afterimage trailed the blade.
'Haa.'
Ferocious and reckless, yet Jae-jun felt no tension.
The orc wasn't weak, but...
Am I just too strong now?
'Blink!'
Just as the axe-spear grazed him, Jae-jun blinked to the opposite side of the arena.
'Could probably take its head in one swing.'
Jae-jun's eyes gleamed coldly at the orc.
But...
That'd be no fun.
'Time to test some skills.'
'Legion Summon!'
Legion Summon cast.
Select monster for legion designation.
First summon consumes equivalent-rank Magical Core.
Soldier Ant
Worker Ant
Gargoyle
Stone Golem
...
Gremlin
Ogre
Jae-jun scanned the list and selected one.
'These should do.'
Monster selected.
How many to summon?
He checked his inventory: 24 D-rank, 26 E-rank.
'Fifty!'
Magical Cores consumed.
Legion summoned!
―Author's Note―
Thank you.