The Sudden Real Battle
The trainees felt a wave of confusion wash over them after hearing the stories from the three instructors—Sin Ji-yeon, Jung Yu-jin, and Yoon Sang-woo.
They had not received any proper education yet, and the sudden mention of real combat training made complete sense to them.
But.
“Real combat training?”
“Is there a monster over there?”
“Like a dungeon?”
“Phew. Let’s give it a try.”
They might have looked terrified standing before the two sturdy iron doors forged from solid metal, but the 1st squad appeared strangely calm.
Thanks to Do-hyeon being there, they felt secure, and from everything they had seen so far, they knew the instructors never pushed the training too hard.
So they maintained just the right amount of tension and stayed obediently calm.
Yet the 2nd squad stood in stark contrast to that.
“W-what? Sudden real combat training? T-today’s our first day!”
“W-what the hell is this…….”
“A-are we even capable of this?”
“……W-what should we do?”
“…….”
Was it the mood that Park Dong-wook had shattered at lunch? Or maybe the wave of consecutive defeats had crushed their self-confidence? They couldn’t pinpoint the cause, but compared to the 1st squad, the 2nd squad clearly looked uncertain.
Of course, only Ji Yu-chan calmly grasped the situation and could see straight through the test’s true intent.
‘Is he trying to expose the Black Gate situation right from the start?’
It might have been excessive to jump into real combat on the very first day, but nothing else could match the effectiveness of real battle practice compared to the other training methods.
He knew that, yet Ji Yu-chan still felt tension creeping in.
The 2nd squad’s atmosphere was already ruined, and with only himself as a reliable option, he had no choice but to feel uneasy.
As he thought this, Ji Yu-chan glanced sideways at the 1st squad.
The 1st squad radiated warmth and unity, cheering each other on with Do-hyeon doing nothing yet still offering strength and support.
In contrast.
“X, what the hell, let’s do this……. Don’t even think about holding us back.”
“Alright.”
“We can’t lose again.”
“W-we’ll win.”
The 2nd squad’s mindset, focused solely on beating the 1st squad, was clearly overheating.
At the same time, tension filled every word and action, a situation on the verge of chaos that anyone could see would erupt into an accident.
Ji Yu-chan, who had trained in combat for a long time, felt right at home with this kind of pressure, so he stepped up himself.
“It seems more important to exit safely than to try winning.”
That was sound logic.
Ji Yu-chan’s words could be seen as the correct answer, but perhaps they didn’t reach the demoralized squad members.
The worst possible reply came back.
“No, Yu-chan, have you even listened to a single word?”
“…….”
“If we lose again, we lose 3-0. Don’t you think we need to win here just for the sake of our faces? Yu-chan, you thought you were so great, but you’re already losing to that loser Lee Do-hyeon, and this feels off.”
Park Dong-wook’s words left Ji Yu-chan utterly speechless.
Even after seeing Do-hyeon’s abilities together, how could they think like that?
Blinded by inferiority, Ji Yu-chan opened his mouth to reply when.
“Y-yes, that’s right. Even if we lose this time, it’s not our fault.”
“……Dong-wook oppa’s words may be rough, but they’re not entirely wrong.”
“Yeah.”
The rest of the squad joined in, pushing Park Dong-wook’s opinion forward.
Watching them, Ji Yu-chan gave up trying to speak. He had once felt the same fiery ambition at the start, so he couldn’t really blame them for not listening. More importantly, no one would listen to him in this situation anyway.
When Ji Yu-chan stayed quiet, Park Dong-wook puffed out his chest, mistaking the squad’s support for victory, and told him.
“So listen well to my words, Yu-chan.”
“……I understand.”
It wasn’t satisfying, but since everyone in the 2nd squad except Ji Yu-chan agreed with Park Dong-wook, there was nothing he could do.
He had no choice but to follow the majority.
Still.
‘At least it’s not real combat, so that’s good.’
Ji Yu-chan thought this with a sigh and quietly watched the 1st squad’s warm atmosphere.
‘I wish I had been in the 1st squad too.’
It had only been a day, yet Ji Yu-chan envied the 1st squad and those who shared a team with Do-hyeon with all his heart.
* * *
Real combat training right after the first afternoon? In a normal setting, that would be pure exploitation of trainees. But this was the Hunter Training Center.
Without this kind of training, survival inside the Black Gate would be nearly impossible, so it was actually the right intensity for becoming a hunter. It was only natural.
Still, the training here was designed around simulated real combat, so it was far safer than actual combat. That was the only saving grace.
Normally tension would have built up, but for Do-hyeon, there was no exception.
Unaware of the 2nd squad’s ruined mood, Do-hyeon looked at the three instructors and analyzed their status windows to see what benefits had been gained.
『Sin Ji-yeon』
『Trait: Navigator[C]』
『Skills』 ▶「Shield Technique[D]」 ▶「Detection[D]」 ▶「Tracking[E]」 ▶「Mana Manipulation[E]」
『Stats』 ▶「Strength: 39」 ▶「Agility: 53」 ▶「Endurance: 46」 ▶「Magic: 32」
[Successful Analysis using the effect of 『Sword King’s Intuition[A]』.]
[150AP obtained.]
『Jung Yu-jin』
『Trait: Tracker[C]』
『Skills』 ▶「Tracking[D]」 ▶「Thrust Technique[D]」 ▶「Wayfinding[E]」 ▶「Mana Manipulation[E]」
『Stats』 ▶「Strength: 45」 ▶「Agility: 59」 ▶「Endurance: 42」 ▶「Magic: 29」
[Successful Analysis using the effect of 『Sword King’s Intuition[A]』.]
[150AP obtained.]
『Yoon Sang-woo』
『Trait: Guide[C]』
『Skills』 ▶「Swordsmanship[D]」 ▶「Wayfinding[D]」 ▶「Detection[E]」 ▶「Mana Manipulation[E]」
『Stats』 ▶「Strength: 52」 ▶「Agility: 55」 ▶「Endurance: 51」 ▶「Magic: 22」
[Successful Analysis using the effect of 『Sword King’s Intuition[A]』.]
[150AP obtained.]
One after another, the status windows of Sin Ji-yeon, Jung Yu-jin, and Yoon Sang-woo all belonged to capable hunters. But what mattered more were the messages that appeared afterward.
[Successful Analysis of higher and lower grade versions of the same skill.]
[Skill acquired without consuming AP.]
[Acquired 『Sin Ji-yeon』’s 『Tracking[E]』, 『Jung Yu-jin』’s 『Detection[E]』, and 『Yoon Sang-woo』’s 『Wayfinding[E]』 simultaneously.]
[Upper skill analyzed and proficiency increased by 1.]
[『Mana Manipulation[F]』 proficiency maxed out.]
[Ranks upgraded.]
[「Mana Manipulation[F]」▶「Mana Manipulation[E]」]
[Magic permanently increased by +2 due to the upgraded skill.]
[Exceeded three E-grade skills obtained today.]
[Current stats at limit.]
[Stats do not increase from skill analysis.]
[No more skills can be learned today.]
Three skills acquired completely for free.
Unfortunately, the messages also showed that no further skills could be learned today and that stats from analysis would not rise.
But Do-hyeon didn’t feel any loss.
‘Three free acquisitions and proficiency up too? Total win.’
Thanks to that, he gained 450 AP, bringing his total to 800.
If he saw this as a loss, it was early signs of madness, not true madness at all.
Then, as if he thought the unchanged stats were a loss, Do-hyeon scratched his head.
‘Tsk, am I going crazy?’
No matter how you looked at it, the gains were gains.
Moreover, he had acquired the top-tier skills of tracking, detection, and wayfinding in this maze form, making him a specialist in wayfinding.
The three instructors only had two each at most, yet Do-hyeon had all three.
When Do-hyeon finished preparing as expected, the instructor trio gave a briefing on the maze they would enter next, then distributed the requested weapons and armor to each squad member. Do-hyeon equipped his dagger and armor along with them.
Swaaah——
A small vibration echoed from the razor-sharp dagger.
Do-hyeon smiled faintly at it, and the instructor trio shouted.
“Everyone to the entrance!”
“All ready!”
“Start!”
And so the real combat training began.
* * *
Passing through the sturdy iron doors changed the air’s texture immediately, felt vividly on the skin.
Would the inside of the Black Gate be the same? The air felt sticky and heavy, like entering a high-humidity place. But unlike high humidity, an unnatural chill lingered in this maze, carrying a strange tension.
The 1st squad members all looked at Do-hyeon, much like baby birds waiting for food.
The only difference was that.
“According to the briefing, there are traps besides goblins, so we should be careful.”
“I haven’t learned how to disarm traps yet.”
“Then shall we divide roles and guard?”
“That would be best. How should we assign roles, Do-hyeon oppa?”
They were not blindly trusting Do-hyeon; they first assessed the situation, organized the information, and only handed the final decision over to him. Everyone already understood the situation.
Determined expressions followed Do-hyeon’s orders with the right tension.
But Do-hyeon.
“……?”
Looked confused, as if asking why he was being asked.
No, it was odd that they had prepared everything well and left the final call to him, but Do-hyeon’s analysis quickly summarized the situation without reading his thoughts.
“Hmm…… I’ll take point and guard the traps, Ye-seul will follow right behind me with the shield, Min-woo will detect goblin presence behind me, and the rest will wait until the fight breaks out.”
“Got it!”
“Cr, clean orders as always!”
“You’re really Do-hyeon oppa.”
“Understood!”
Everyone nodded in satisfaction with Do-hyeon’s orders.
It was natural for him to take point since no one else could detect traps, but they followed so obediently that it felt strange.
How far had they gone?
Do-hyeon felt something.
Footprints on the floor and a sound of movement reaching his ears triggered Analysis.
[Traces of 『Goblin』 analyzed.]
According to Analysis, they were about to encounter a goblin. If they turned the corner, a goblin would surely be there. Do-hyeon glanced at Jeong Min-woo’s eyes, seeing the hesitant look on Jeong Min-woo’s face.
Soon Jeong Min-woo spoke.
“……I sense something.”
That statement made Do-hyeon genuinely surprised.
He had assigned a role via Analysis, but he had never expected Jeong Min-woo to actually detect it. With wide eyes, Do-hyeon nodded at Jeong Min-woo.
“Good. If we turn, a goblin will come out. Three of us.”
“……Wow.”
With Jeong Min-woo praised and the accurate briefing delivered, the squad members exclaimed in admiration.
“……I only sensed something was there and didn’t know the number, but you’re really amazing, Do-hyeon oppa. Impressive.”
“So that’s it.”
“Everyone, focus.”
“Right.”
Passing the corner with short exclamations, Do-hyeon said quietly.
“I’ll rush in and take one, Ye-seul will handle one with the shield, Min-woo will take another. Then Yong-chan will help Ye-seul finish the goblin she took, and Min-a will handle the goblin Min-woo is holding.”
No one objected to Do-hyeon taking one, and they all nodded.
Once the plan was set, everyone prepared for battle.
In that spot thick with pulled tension, Do-hyeon moved first.
And the goblins, who had already heard their voices and prepared to ambush, suddenly burst out from the corner of the twisted path the moment they heard Do-hyeon’s movement.
“Kyerk!”
“Kehehe!”
“Keruk!”
The goblins emerged suddenly, but they were slower than Do-hyeon.
Even without using a surprise attack, their reaction was too late to the extremely fast movement. Do-hyeon rushed straight at the goblins and drew his dagger.
Though short, the heavy dagger made the sharp Sword King’s Intuition activate.
He understood how to swing it and moved quickly, brushing past the goblins while extending the dagger naturally.
It grazed the neck of the rearmost goblin, slicing cleanly through as he slipped by.
Swaaah——
Fwaaah——
Sharp sounds accompanied spurting blood, and one goblin crumbled to the ground without a last word.
The remaining two goblins could not recover from the sight of their fallen comrade. What the hell had just happened?
Their panicked expressions showed they had fully expected to ambush first, yet they had been ambushed instead.
Only two goblins remained, and Park Ye-seul charged at one of them with a battle cry.
“Hyaaap!”
Ye-seul, stronger than yesterday, gripped her round shield firmly and rushed the goblin. The goblin, thrown into chaos by Do-hyeon, crashed into her helplessly and tumbled backward.
As the remaining goblin tried to recover and help its fallen comrade, Jeong Min-woo appeared and swung his dagger.
Swaaah!
It was fast, but the force was lacking; the goblin’s wrist was only half-cut and dangled uselessly.
“Tsk.”
Although skilled with the dagger and accurate, the power still felt incomplete because speed or strength was lacking. Jeong Min-woo clicked his tongue in frustration.
Especially.
‘Do-hyeon oppa sliced the neck in one go.’
It was so disappointing that Jeong Min-woo wanted to follow him.
But the goblin, whose wrist was half-severed and ragged, was overwhelmed by pain and panic.
“Keheik!?”
Meanwhile, Do-hyeon shouted the moment he sensed the goblin’s pain.
“Now.”
Kim Yong-chan and Gu Min-a quickly closed the distance following Do-hyeon’s order.
Kim Yong-chan rushed forward and stabbed his sword straight at the goblin’s heart without giving it time to stand, while Gu Min-a charged with a small shield, her one-handed sword aimed at the same heart.
“Kehehe!”
“Uaaat?!”
The goblin resisted and dodged the attacks; Gu Min-a’s sword barely grazed its shoulder.
Gu Min-a tried to pull the sword back quickly, but it got stuck on something—bone or unexpected resistance—and she couldn’t draw it free.
The goblin seized the opening and swung its crude dagger at Gu Min-a when Do-hyeon shouted once more.
“Min-woo!”
“Got it!”
Puwuuk!
Jeong Min-woo moved swiftly in response and stabbed the goblin in the back.
The dagger pierced the heart exactly, and the goblin fell without being able to strike Gu Min-a.
It wasn’t perfect, but for the first squad rotation training, it was an excellent battle.
“Everyone okay!?”
“Min-woo, thanks.”
“We could move fast because of Do-hyeon oppa.”
“You guys are the best teammates!”
Everyone celebrated the victory with one another.
While Do-hyeon nodded in satisfaction, thinking it had gone well and they had grown a little, he realized something.
‘Everyone’s stats rose a bit from that battle?’
He had checked stats in real time to issue orders, and he saw each one increase after the battle.
Do-hyeon didn’t know, but thanks to Analysis giving accurate coaching, their growth accelerated.
Unfortunately, Do-hyeon’s own stats did not rise. It was perhaps natural since his stats were already high enough to grow from just one goblin.
But when he saw the squad members grow, messages floated before his eyes.
[『Goblin』 defeated.]
[10P obtained.]
[10AP obtained.]
[Successful Analysis of others’ stat growth.]
[Strength, Agility, and Endurance permanently increased by +1 each.]
‘Even this works?’
He had been disappointed that stats wouldn’t rise from skill analysis, yet seeing growth still raised them.
At first he thought giving orders or coaching was annoying, but if this also raised stats, the situation changed.
‘Maybe I should give more coaching from now on……?’
While Do-hyeon thought he should give more coaching, Sin Ji-yeon’s voice echoed from the instructor trio.
-Urgent! The mana circuits placed in the current maze have become unstable, causing mana circulation to be blocked. The instructors cannot enter at the moment. Goblin mutations are expected as a result. Each squad must find the exit and escape as quickly as possible!
The urgency in Sin Ji-yeon’s voice made the other squad members tense, thinking an accident had occurred.
What was this sudden situation?
Everyone looked bewildered, and Do-hyeon was about to feel the same when.
[Analysis of instructors’ lies completed.]
“……?”
Analysis kindly told him.
--- **FINAL REMINDER — CSS ART:** Every system message, notifications, comments, letters, status windows, and special in-universe content MUST use styled blocks with inline CSS from the templates. Never output them as plain
text.