D-Class Catastrophe (1)
On the third day in the D-class zone.
Exactly one month since Do-hyun's awakening, he was receiving messages from his fellow adventurers that today's departure had been decided.
He couldn't help but let out a soft chuckle.
Thinking about it, the days had flown by surprisingly fast.
It dawned on him that he had been far too busy to notice.
He had awakened as a hunter and, within just one week, secured his departure from the training center before being immediately thrust into real combat.
Now here he was, already in D-class.
And he was sure that after this entry, he would climb another rank.
D-class seemed to move through faster than he had expected, too.
Do-hyun mulled this over and began calculating the time it would take.
Normally, even skilled adventurers spent months in D-class before moving on.
It was the starting point of what was called the Demon Zone.
But Do-hyun already knew the true nature of that starting point.
It was none other than.
The maximum stat values that could be reached with the F-class trait.
Only someone like Do-hyun with his Analysis ability could know this truth.
Assuming an F-class trait meant maximum stats of forty after all the hard work he had put in.
After reaching D-class, there was no further room to grow, so he had no choice but to take it slow.
Even the E-class required only sixty at most to reach its limit, meaning two ranks had to be skipped naturally, which is why D-class was inevitably called the Demon Zone.
It was natural for ranks to be skipped, but no one else knew that.
Despite the talk of the Demon Zone, Do-hyun's party was climbing far faster than expected, more than twice as quick as the record-breaking speed of Hwang Ha-na.
They would probably not even need six full days before another promotion.
He wanted to train as much as possible without holding up his subordinates, though.
A bell sounded, and Do-hyun glanced at his phone.
It was the party chat.
Ji Yu-chan: Preparing and heading out.
Hana Rin: I started too.
Seeing those messages, Do-hyun smiled and began twirling his car keys while typing back.
Me too, soon.
Now that he had his own car, he would arrive faster than anyone else.
Full of anticipation, Do-hyun set off.* * *__ LT__/p>
Do-hyun had arrived late, like a storm, and only then truly experienced Seoul's traffic jams.
Only after that did he realize how wonderful public transportation in the city actually was.
While the other two simply observed his gloomy expression with puzzled looks, he asked.
Is there something wrong?
Why are you so down?
Do-hyun shook his head.
No, sorry. The car... got stuck in traffic.
??? Traffic is usually heavy at this time of day, too.
Yeah. What, is that supposed to bother you?
Now that Do-hyun had bought a car but realized he didn't really need one in Seoul, the words hit him like a knife.
But he didn't dwell on it too much.
At least he could carry their luggage comfortably now, so maybe it was for the best.
With their bags packed, Do-hyun, Hana Rin, and Ji Yu-chan gathered in the briefing room for a quick strategy meeting.
This time's goal is promotion, right?
Hana Rin nodded.
But will we even be able to promote this time? When I checked before leaving last time, we were still D-class...
Same doubt here.
Ji Yu-chan agreed with a nod.
Do-hyun studied the stats of those two who always pushed hard, and his confident expression deepened.
He had climbed a bit slower from fifty, but his entire party was still insanely talented.
If they kept training, by day six they should at least complete the conditions for promotion.
Seeing Do-hyun so certain, Hana Rin and Ji Yu-chan believed him without question.
After all, whenever Do-hyun made a bold statement, it always turned out true in the end.
So if they aimed for promotion, what would the plan be?
Probably heading straight to the third basement floor.
Ji Yu-chan asked.
The second basement was surprisingly empty, though.
Hana Rin answered, and Do-hyun nodded in agreement.
They had fought Galakro on the second floor, but the monsters that came out of there posed no real threat to the party.
So they had to descend to the third floor next.
The third basement was said to be the hardest floor in D-class labyrinths, yet none of them showed any tension.
To be honest, they didn't expect anything major anyway.
And with their own confidence in handling it, it made perfect sense.
Do-hyun briefly outlined the strategy while the others listened.
First day: operate on the third basement floor.
Second day: train in the lodging, alternating between hunting one day and training the next.
Turn the training gains into real combat and use battlefield experience to refine the skills.
Efficient, Hana Rin commented.
Ji Yu-chan agreed.
I always look for the best method, Do-hyun boasted.
Ji Yu-chan couldn't respond, but Hana Rin nodded softly.
So far, everything Do-hyun had suggested had been right, so he had no complaints.
Luck or not, it had worked out.
After the rough plan was set, everyone sat in the Black Gate registration area, and the Hunter Association staff read their fabricated information aloud.
Is it Lee Min-woo and Kim Yun-chan?
Yes, that's us.
And Lee Ye-rin?
Yes, correct.
After the staff confirmed their details, the party nodded and entered the labyrinth zone while maintaining their disguises.
Returning after just three days felt oddly familiar, almost comforting.
For the first time, they felt this sense of home because other ranks like F and E never came back after their first entry and immediately promoted.
Do-hyun's party simply walked to the lodging without much thought, already at ease with the system.
Walking through the bustling streets, they spotted many beastmen moving about unusually quickly and restlessly.
Do-hyun tilted his head, feeling something was off.
Is something happening?
The outside seems noisy, too...
I thought beastmen always acted like this, so nothing unusual, but...
Do-hyun noticed other parties rushing over to them in panic.
There's no time!
What's going on?
You don't know?
We just entered and don't know yet.
Can you tell us what happened?
The hunter glanced around frantically before whispering to them.
A zone boss has appeared!
Hana Rin and Ji Yu-chan tensed up, but the news was even worse than expected.
A zone boss!
After five years, that thing is finally here, and it's chaos.
An attack party was formed to exterminate it, but they got wiped out and the 51st Shaft safety zone collapsed!!!
The news of the safety zone's destruction left Do-hyun, Hana Rin, and Ji Yu-chan's faces grave.
Monsters that spawn in dungeons were common enough, but a zone boss was on an entirely different scale.
It was like a world boss that the entire server had to fight, not a normal raid boss.
The hunter hurried away to pack his own bags, but Do-hyun's party was nowhere to be seen.
He wondered if they had already evacuated.
While Do-hyun and his companions prepared their own luggage, the party was sprinting off in some direction.
Ji Yu-chan and Hana Rin asked with worried expressions.
Are you sure this is okay?
Do-hyun grinned.
Not planning to raid the zone boss? The reward will be amazing, right?
Hana Rin sighed helplessly.
Ji Yu-chan followed suit.
He knew the leader was a combat maniac when it came to rewards.
Since they understood the quick growth it brought, they simply ran after Do-hyun without protest.* * *__ LT__/p>
Even the normally crowded 52nd Shaft safety zone had felt quiet and serene before, but now countless beastmen stood around staring at the distant, semi-transparent pillar shattering into pieces.
It's... over...
My house...
Our lodging...
Everyone stood in stunned silence as the 52nd Shaft collapsed in despair.
From the center of the ruined safety zone, a massive pillar rose up.
Thick and sturdy like the pillars supporting the labyrinth, but it twitched and twisted unlike any normal column.
Many hunters turned their heads toward the collapsing zone, and sharp teeth lined the head of that huge pillar.
It wasn't a pillar at all.
A gigantic, elongated cylindrical form.
The D-class zone boss, Death Worm, opened its massive maw and charged straight at the hunters.
Swallowing everything in its path.
The ground trembled with its roar as the massive creature dashed forward, and the hunters panicked, fleeing without a second thought to fight.
Run!
Save me!
No one in the 52nd Shaft was brave enough to face the disaster head-on.
The beast that had devastated the deserted safety zone turned its head and let out a roar.
Kiiiiiiiiii——!!
Kugugugugu——
Digging up the earth of the great labyrinth, the Death Worm headed straight for the next safety zone, the 53rd Shaft.