Chapter 59
Chapter 59
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 059
Chapter Title: Dungeon Exploration (2)
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Once the security force members were in position at their assigned spots, the dungeon exploration training for Squad 1 began.
The students split into the eight pre-arranged teams, each choosing one of the branching paths leading to the deepest parts and proceeding with their exploration.
Team 8, which included Kang Haneul, was—as its number suggested—taking the rightmost path, Route 8. Her teammates were team leader Ryu Tae-hyun, the twins Ryu Jin and Ryu Seol, and Ko Sung-jun.
"Ugh, it's getting colder and colder. You guys okay?"
As they advanced through the tightly enclosed labyrinth of gray bricks, Ryu Seol hugged her arms, shivering.
"It's probably just your imagination. Even the standard-issue coats have solid cold protection. Isn't it just nerves?"
Ryu Seol shook her head at the teasing from her brother, Ryu Jin.
"No, my body really feels chilly. Or tingly? How do I even describe it? Haneul, you don't feel anything?"
"Me? Not really..."
"I don't feel cold either. Isn't it just tension?"
"Really? It feels really cold to me..."
Ryu Seol tilted her head at the responses from Kang Haneul and Ko Sung-jun. People chuckled at the sight of her puffing out her cheeks and mumbling, "It really is cold..."
-Thud. Thud. Thud.
The footsteps of the five echoed across the hard brick floor.
"Halt."
At that moment, Ryu Tae-hyun, who was leading, stopped the group.
"What's up?"
Ryu Tae-hyun glanced back intently at Ryu Jin's question. Beyond the labyrinth passage lined with torches at regular intervals, shrouded in hazy darkness, he spoke softly.
"I heard footsteps from behind. With metal clanging mixed in, it's probably Living Armors. They're approaching."
"I didn't hear anything."
"You think I'd make it up? Everyone, get ready."
Ryu Tae-hyun, who had been at the front, moved to the rear while clenching his fists. The other four gradually gathered around him.
"But how'd they show up from the way we came?"
"Probably hiding in side paths. Tae-hyun, can you tell how many?"
"Checking now."
With that, Ryu Tae-hyun closed his eyes and focused his hearing. At the same time, he activated his superpower.
His superpower, Physical Enhancement, boosted not just physical abilities but also his five senses. As Ryu Tae-hyun heightened his senses, a chaotic jumble of harsh metallic sounds flooded his ears.
"...Four. No, five. About two hundred meters away."
The students exchanged quick glances. Ryu Jin stepped forward and said,
"Seol and I will strike first. That okay?"
"Please do. Any that slip past your attacks, Sung-jun and I will handle. Haneul, cover the rear. Monsters could come from ahead too."
"Got it."
"Understood."
"Awesome! Real combat at last!"
-Clang. Clang. Clang.
The metallic sounds had closed in right up to them, and the students assumed their positions.
Immediately after, a group of rusted silver armors emerged from the darkness. They were Living Armors, D-rank monsters—moving suits of armor.
-Clank...
The Living Armors spotted the students, hesitated for a moment, then charged all at once.
-Boom. Boom. Boom boom boom boom boom boom-!
Incredible speed, unbelievable for their heavy armor. At the same time, the twins Ryu Jin and Ryu Seol stepped forward.
"Going first."
Ryu Jin, the brother, moved first. He braced against the ground and let out a shout, causing the earth to tremble momentarily as clear groundwater erupted from between the labyrinth's brick floor.
-Whoosh!
The groundwater surged from all directions, swirling in a helix to engulf the Living Armors. But the amount was too small to push back their massive, charging forms.
"Seol!"
"Got it!"
At that moment, a small ice orb formed in Ryu Seol's hand. Grinning triumphantly, she struck an exaggerated baseball pose and hurled it with all her might.
"Freeze!"
-Crack crack craaaack!
The orb hit a Living Armor, and in an instant, the swirling groundwater around them froze solid.
The twins' superpowers were [Water Flow Manipulation] and , respectively.
Ryu Jin's Water Flow Manipulation couldn't create water on its own and lacked decisive power against high-defense foes. Ryu Seol's Freezing also needed a medium like water to freeze effectively.
Individually, they were half-baked abilities with clear flaws.
But by combining their powers, the siblings brought out each other's maximum potential.
-Crack. Crack crack!
The Living Armors' joints froze, visibly slowing them. However, two that luckily escaped the disaster shoved past their frozen comrades and lunged forward.
-Crunch.
Ryu Tae-hyun blocked their path, cracking his knuckles. The talisman on his finger emitted a faint glow.
"Hup!!!"
-Boom!!
His fist connected, and the Living Armor's waist exploded like a watermelon. Shattered armor fragments scattered everywhere. Before they could even touch him, he had already moved to the second Living Armor and delivered a kick.
-Boooom!
A sound like an explosion rang out, obliterating the second armor in one hit.
-Whoosh!
He didn't hesitate, turning to the rest. Strong blows rained down on the slowed, frozen ones.
-Boom!! Boom!! Boooom!!!
Three clean impacts. Precise strikes with restrained motions shattered their chests or waists, leaving the Living Armors trembling before shutting down.
"Whoa..."
Ko Sung-jun, who had missed his chance to join in, lowered his raised spear with a gasp of admiration. The twins were equally stunned.
Ryu Tae-hyun's movements weren't flashy, but they were solid. No waste in his motions—simple yet somehow beautiful. They were reminded anew that the guy before them was the provisional No. 1 in the first-year rankings.
Meanwhile, Kang Haneul, watching from the rear, shook her head and released her superpower. The flames that had flickered in her hand faded into the air.
'As expected, no turn for me.'
She had anticipated this when the team formed. D-rank dungeon monsters were no match for Ryu Tae-hyun.
"Whoa, brutal. Totally smashed them. Gonna be a pain to recover materials later, huh, bro?"
"Who cares? We're just training; the dungeon byproducts still belong to the managing guild."
"True. Should we smash 'em more to make it harder for them?"
"Kekeke. You've got a twisted streak."
Ryu Jin and Ko Sung-jun shook their heads at Ryu Seol's joke, while Ryu Tae-hyun stood deep in thought amid the fallen armors.
"Tae-hyun. What's wrong?"
Ryu Tae-hyun looked at Ryu Jin.
"Something feels off."
"Off? How?"
"Too many monsters. This dungeon's already been cleared by another guild. Professor said max two at a time, but five at once? Weird, right?"
"Like you said, probably from side paths. Guilds don't fully clear for training purposes."
"Maybe..."
Ryu Tae-hyun let out a groan, his face unconvinced. He wondered if he was overreacting, as Ryu Jin suggested.
At that instant.
-Thump!
His senses sharpened abruptly, and Ryu Tae-hyun snapped his head up.
"Guys. Something feels wrong to me."
Just then, Ryu Seol hugged her arms with an anxious look.
"Feels wrong?"
"I've felt chilly and tingly since earlier. It's getting worse. Not cold, but stinging? Like needles pricking my skin."
Ryu Tae-hyun eyed her tensely. More precisely, the intangible flow of mana around her. The hazy mana flow visible to him roughly coiled around Ryu Seol's body—that was the source of her stinging sensation.
It was surprising she could sense mana even vaguely, but that wasn't the point now.
Ryu Tae-hyun's gaze slowly shifted sideways. The source of the raging mana was far off in the darkness. A rough current emanating from deep in the dungeon swept sharply over their bodies.
-Thump!
Natural ambient mana just pools in space; it doesn't flow or swirl unidirectionally. His honed senses rang alarm bells at the unnatural mana flux.
-Rumble rumble rumbllle...
The next moment, a deep roar echoed, and the entire labyrinth began to shake.
"Huh?"
"What is this? Earthquake?"
The faint vibrations gradually intensified. As they grew stronger, unease mounted on Ryu Tae-hyun's face.
"Guys."
The students turned to his call. He hesitated, then cautiously said,
"I know it sounds weird, but we should get out of the dungeon now."
"What? What're you—"
-Rummmble!
The complaint cut off. The quake surged in strength, cracking the labyrinth walls and floor.
"Everyone, run for the exit!!"
-Rumble! Rummmble rumble!
At Ryu Tae-hyun's shout, the students bolted for the exit without hesitation. No one objected. Behind them, bricks from the ceiling began crumbling one by one.
"What the hell! Why's the dungeon collapsing?! Is it vanishing already?!"
"No way! It was supposed to last another week!"
"Then why's a stable dungeon collapsing?!"
"How should I know!!"
The students' shouts buried under the collapse din. Dust and debris filled the air everywhere.
"Everyone still with me?!"
Ryu Tae-hyun, leading, glanced back while shouting. Ryu Jin and Ryu Seol followed closely. Ko Sung-jun trailed diligently, dragging his long spear low.
But Kang Haneul was nowhere in sight.
"Kang Haneul!!"
Ryu Tae-hyun stopped and searched for her. Soon, he spotted her running toward them from far back.
"Huff! Huff! Heave!"
Kang Haneul was way behind them. Having guarded the rear during the fight, her starting point was farther back, making it inevitable. She had Acceleration Avatar active to close the gap fast, but the ongoing quakes kept tripping her up.
"Haneul!"
"Hey, idiot! Where're you going?!"
Ryu Tae-hyun belatedly ran toward her, but it was too late.
-Rummmble!
A massive roar, and the ceiling between Ryu Tae-hyun and Kang Haneul collapsed.
"Kyaa, kyaaaaa!!"
Kang Haneul's scream muffled under rubble. Ryu Tae-hyun rushed to the brick pile blocking the passage.
"Kang Haneul!! Answer me!! You okay?!"
He shouted while digging through the bricks. But the ceiling and walls collapsed faster than he could clear them. The labyrinth chained into further ruin around him. Fallen rocks piled up.
"Kang Haneul!! Answer!!"
"Ryu Tae-hyun, you moron! Trying to die?!"
Ryu Jin, who had chased after him, grabbed his shoulder desperately.
"Haneul's trapped in there! We have to get her out now!!"
"It's completely blocked! How?! Save yourself first!"
"But—"
"No buts! Stay and you'll get buried too?!"
Ryu Tae-hyun groaned in conflict at Ryu Jin's words. Ryu Jin gripped his lingering shoulder again.
"...Okay. Let's go."
After a moment's hesitation, Ryu Tae-hyun replied unwillingly. Ryu Jin's face was equally grim. Complicated emotions clouded their features.
The two dashed down the passage again. Falling rocks everywhere. Cracking floor. Amid the scene, their conflicted expressions turned to urgency.
-Rumble. Rummmble...
By the time they reached the dungeon entrance plaza, the quake finally stopped. Catching their breath on their knees, urgent voices soon echoed from all sides.
"Med kits here! Hurry!"
"Team 3's Han Gyeol! Anyone seen Team 3's Han Gyeol?!"
"Bravo One here. Bravo One here. Bravo Two, Three, Seven, report in sequence. Repeat. Bravo Two, Three, Seven, report... Damn it!"
"Have team leaders radio their students first!"
Students who escaped like them clustered in the plaza. Security force members dashed about amid them.
"You okay?!"
A security member spotted and ran to the pair.
"Team 8's Ryu Tae-hyun and Ryu Jin, right? Any injuries?!"
"Yes, we're fine. But..."
Ryu Jin bit his lip, eyeing the passage they'd fled from. Ryu Tae-hyun stomped the ground in frustration.
Their trembling shoulders told the tale; the security member asked carefully,
"Team member Kang Haneul...?"
"...She's trapped inside."
Ryu Tae-hyun answered heavily, staring at the half-blocked passage entrance.
His face twisted with complicated emotions.
***
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At that moment, at the Gangwon Branch of the Hunter Association's Gate Management Office.
Harsh alarms blared in the situation room lined with dozens of monitors.
"Strong gate pulse from Inje-gun! Type: Erosion! Estimated scale A-rank or higher!"
"Damn it! Another A-rank?! How many this month alone?!"
The branch chief rushed to the monitor operator's shout. Staring at the red dot in the map's center, he yelled,
"Pin exact coordinates now and alert nearby guilds! Evacuate civilians! Contact the military unit there for precise dungeon scale!"
"Yes, sir... Uh, Chief?"
"What now?!"
"Pinned the pulse origin—it's the site of that dungeon scheduled to vanish in a week."
"So what? Gates popping up nearby isn't rare!"
"No, it's not nearby!"
The operator shouted desperately at the dismissive chief.
"It's the exact same location! Coordinates match perfectly!"
"...What?"
The chief, half-turned, whipped back to the monitor. Unease crept over his face.
"Matches to six decimal places! This... this means a new dungeon inside the existing one!"
The commotion drew stares from around the room. Gate Management staff gaped at the unprecedented event—a dungeon within a dungeon.
Even the chief at the center.
"...Holy shit."
His nearly 30 years in Gate Management screamed alarms.
"Report to HQ. Right now."