Chapter 19
Chapter 19
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 019
Chapter Title: Two Fortuitous Encounters (1)
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To claim the first fortuitous encounter, I headed to a dungeon nestled at the foot of Seoraksan Mountain.
There are three types of dungeons: closed-type, erosion-type, and otherworld-type.
The closed-type dungeon is the most common variety. Beyond the gate lies a sealed space, like a cave.
Just like in other hunter stories, defeating the "boss monster" at the deepest part causes the dungeon to vanish. If left alone for too long, the monsters inside spill out in what's called a "crisis."
The erosion-type dungeon, meanwhile, corrupts a fixed radius around the gate, transforming the area into a dungeon itself. There's still a boss monster beyond the central gate, and beating it reverses the erosion, restoring the surroundings to normal.
Finally, the otherworld-type. This connects to an entirely different world beyond the gate, and it's the rarest kind. Only two exist in the country, with no way to close the gate. As a result, soldiers and hunters are always stationed around them, hunting the monsters that leak out.
The dungeon I was targeting today was a closed-type. But it wasn't your average one.
Dungeon Identification Code: GW-CL-1785-C
This C-Rank closed-type dungeon, nicknamed the Seorak Dungeon, hadn't disappeared even two years after its boss monster was slain.
At first, it caused a huge stir as a new type of dungeon. But that was the only unusual thing about it.
Monsters still spawned naturally inside, though far less frequently since the boss was dead. Experiments confirmed it wouldn't trigger a crisis, either.
Interest in the Seorak Dungeon naturally faded after that. Nowadays, it was practically abandoned, checked only once a month by an association employee at best.
Occasionally, nearby academies used it for class materials, but working hunters ignored it completely. That was the Seorak Dungeon's current state.
'We're here.'
An artificially cleared clearing midway up the mountain.
I checked the gear Min Chae-ryeong had loaned me while staring at the eerie, rippling blue gate in the center.
An exoskeletal suit that enhanced mobility and boosted strength overall.
A D-Type Defensive Coat with reinforced protection elements compressed and coated over the standard model.
A dagger made from the claw of the A-Rank monster Antares, and a Gauss Rifle loaded with anti-kaiju armor-piercing rounds.
Each piece cost anywhere from hundreds of thousands to hundreds of millions, and I couldn't help but marvel again at Min Chae-ryeong's resourcefulness.
'She said it'll come out of my paycheck if even one gets damaged, so I have to be careful.'
The high-end gear felt burdensome draped over my body, but without it, an E-Rank like me couldn't even enter a C-Rank dungeon.
-Whirrrrr.
After finishing my gear check, I stepped through the gate. The scenery around me changed in an instant.
The dungeon took the form of a vast cave. No sunlight filtered in, but the blue crystals embedded throughout emitted a bright glow, keeping visibility clear.
"Whoa."
It was a mystical sight, like it was screaming, "This is what a fantasy world's cave looks like!"
Reminded once more that the world I was in was a fantasy far removed from the original, I slowly advanced deeper into the cave.
"Kerruk?"
How far had I gone? Rounding a corner, I locked eyes with a small green monster.
'A goblin.'
About the size of a child, its emaciated frame was covered in corded muscle. It clutched a crudely made club in its hand.
"Kiaak!"
The goblin let out a screech and charged. I pulled the trigger without hesitation.
-Thud-thud-thud!
Muffled gunshots rang out as three 7mm armor-piercing rounds slammed into its body. It collapsed, spraying crimson blood, and let out a final gurgle before dying.
In typical hunter world settings, modern weapons were useless, but not in Era of Superhumans. E-Rank monsters like goblins were fodder, shredded effortlessly by the story's sci-fi arsenal.
But that only applied to weak E- or D-Rank monsters.
Anything C-Rank or higher could shrug off infantry-grade armor-piercing rounds with ease. That's why superhuman hunters were indispensable in this world.
-Keeek?
Take this "armored lizard" in front of me, for example.
The armored lizard was a C-Rank monster the size of a large dog, its entire body encased in thick metallic armor. As the name suggested, its shell was so tough that ordinary bullets couldn't even scratch it.
Dealing with beasts like that was the domain of superhuman hunters with enhanced bodies and superpowers.
-Rustle-rustle-rustle!
The armored lizard lowered its stance and lunged. Despite its bulky appearance, its movements were incredibly swift.
Guns were useless against it. I immediately drew the dagger from my waist.
Fighting a C-Rank monster in close quarters as an E-Rank superhuman was impossible.
But with the pay-to-win gear Min Chae-ryeong had wrapped me in, it was worth a shot.
-Dash!
The armored lizard charged, baring its razor-sharp fangs.
-Crunch!
The next instant, its gaping maw clamped onto my left arm.
"Grrgh!"
Pain like my arm was twisting apart. But its teeth couldn't pierce the 250-million-won D-Type Defensive Coat.
"Pay-to-win for the win, you bastard!"
I roared in fury and jammed the dagger into its eye.
-Kiiiiiiik!!!
"Grraaaah!!"
The beast shrieked in agony and bit down harder. I twisted the dagger inside its skull, turning its brains to mush. The sickening sound of shredding flesh echoed through the cave.
-Kiiik...
Soon, its body went limp. I yanked out the dagger and checked my left arm.
"What the hell."
Even with the double protection of the Defensive Coat and exosuit, a dark bruise had formed along the bite marks. If I'd been unarmored, my arm would've been ripped clean off without a chance.
'Tougher than I thought.'
At least it was just one. Two or more, and it wouldn't have ended with bruises.
I could wipe out a horde with the Talisman, but I wanted to avoid using it if possible. It was a high-backlash ultimate move. With no idea how many monsters lurked ahead, I couldn't spam it recklessly.
'Still, bagging a C-Rank with this body ain't bad.'
An E-Rank scrub like me had taken down a C-Rank. Good was good—I decided to stay positive. After rechecking my gear, I pressed deeper into the cave.
After that, I encountered two more goblins, two giant rats, and another armored lizard. Luckily, no packs of armored lizards. Thanks to that, I reached my destination without serious injury.
A vast cavern midway through the cave.
Peering into one corner revealed a half-collapsed stone altar.
A hidden passage to a secret room lay beyond this altar.
In any hunter story, secret rooms in cave dungeons traditionally held fortuitous encounters. This was a law proven by countless hunter webnovels.
A witch's lair that controlled souls, a shape-shifting weapon, a mysterious heart secretly developed by a dark mage, a job-change scroll for commanding shadow legions...
Dozens of examples sprang to mind, and Era of Superhumans was no exception.
The Seorak Dungeon was the setting for an early dungeon training episode in the original.
During a monster fight, the protagonist accidentally collapsed a cave wall near the altar. He entered the revealed side path alone and found an artifact bracelet in the hidden room.
That alone sounded like a standard fortune find, but would Blissful Heavenly Demon stick to clichés?
As soon as the protagonist emerged with the bracelet, a disagreeable side character named Jin-cheol blocked him, citing dungeon training rules.
Jin-cheol promptly stole the bracelet and turned it over to the professor, claiming he and the protagonist found it during the exercise.
'The comments section exploded back then.'
Who the hell is this trolling bastard Jin-cheol?
He's making me want to drop this. Kill him now.
Kill him brutally and horribly.
Readers raged at the sudden troll character who lane-swapped without warning, but Jin-cheol kept popping up at inopportune moments, steadily stacking hate.
His arc culminated during the winter break Dawn Corps raid, where he defected to survive.
It fit his self-serving character perfectly.
The silver lining? Defecting to the villains let the protagonist kill him without hesitation later.
'He's still alive in this world. Should I take him out early?'
As a student, he'd only been a jerk without major incidents, but post-defection, he constantly hounded the protagonist. If I could kill him, why not?
Still, thanks to him, I could claim this fortune guilt-free. If it were the protagonist's, it'd leave a bad taste.
'I already swiped the Talisman. Can't take his other fortunes too.'
I'd deal with Jin-cheol later. For now, I stepped back about twenty paces from the altar and took position.
-Shoooo...
I removed the glove from my right hand and activated the Talisman. A burning sensation raced up my arm to my heart.
In the original, the protagonist's Talisman strike collapsed the cave wall. Conveniently, that Talisman was mine now, so I just needed to replicate it.
"Ngh!"
Gritting my teeth against the gut-wrenching pain, I compressed my mana to its limit in my right fist and punched.
⚙ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚙ Black Smoke (D-Rank) Talisman-enhanced strike collapses targeted structure.
-KABOOOOOM!!!
The next instant, a deafening roar erupted as black smoke slammed into the cave wall.
-Rumble-rumble!
The whole area shook. Dust billowed, and stalactites crashed from the ceiling. I crouched, shielding my head with both arms, then released the ability to clear the smoke filling my vision.
The close-range blast had shattered the wall to pieces. The explosion was so powerful that a massive crack ran from the floor to the ceiling.
And in the center of that crack was a side path just wide enough for two people.
'Bingo.'
That had to be the path from the original. I entered without hesitation.
"Kh-hm."
I swallowed dryly at the metallic tang of blood rising in my throat.
The backlash hit again, but milder than before. The explosion's power had been weaker too, so I'd unconsciously dialed it back.
Dragging my trembling legs, I advanced through the path. A smile crept onto my lips at the thought of the fortune waiting ahead.
The bracelet beyond this path was a Grade 1 artifact later called the "Breath of the Morning Star." It boosted basic strength and agility, plus it could accelerate the user's movements to double speed three times a day for a short burst.
The base effects were solid, but the activation was so potent it shone even in the late game. The author himself said the story would've changed in several places if the protagonist had kept it.
'I don't care about anything else. The Breath of the Morning Star is mine. No question.'
How long had I walked? The path ended at a small chamber blanketed in massive crystals.
Light poured from the crystals everywhere. Squinting in the sudden brightness, I scanned the interior.
In the center, atop a crystal altar, a beautiful angel with drooping white wings...
"Huh?"
I blinked, wondering if I'd seen wrong.
But the angel on the altar was still there. No illusion or trick of the eye.
Our eyes met. The flustered angel swiftly hid the object in its hand behind its back.
A silver bracelet embedded with a red gem.
The moment I saw it, the smile vanished from my face.
"What the hell."
By the time I snapped out of it, my lips were already moving on their own.
"What are you?"