Descent into the Level 50 Dungeon
Sung Min-woo's level had finally reached 50.
"Oh yeah!"
Mu-hyuk cracked a smile at his friend's exuberant cheer.
"Now we hit the dungeon, right?"
"Yeah, but keep it down."
"Oh, right."
He frantically scanned their surroundings.
Fortunately, no other players were paying them any mind.
Sung Min-woo let out a relieved sigh, patting his chest.
Mu-hyuk chuckled and headed out of Black Ghost Wood Forest alongside him.
They hopped on a warp gate and teleported to Carben Kingdom, a hub teeming with mages.
"This the place?"
"Yeah, follow me."
They made their way to a nearby inn.
After ordering some food, Mu-hyuk struck up a conversation with the innkeeper.
"This is actually my first time here."
"Ah, I see."
"Any simple jobs I could pick up?"
"Jobs?"
"Yeah, gotta eat to survive, right?"
The innkeeper gave Mu-hyuk a pitying look.
He'd pegged him as some broke traveler, but that was fine—it was exactly what Mu-hyuk had aimed for.
"Hmm, try the blacksmith."
"The blacksmith?"
"Yeah, old man there is a friend of mine. He's short on ore lately. Think you could lend him a hand?"
Help the Blacksmith
Will you accept?
Mu-hyuk nodded with a grin.
"Of course."
They left the inn and headed straight for the blacksmith.
Since they were partied up, the quest had auto-shared with Sung Min-woo trailing behind.
"How'd you snag this quest?"
"Just picked up some info."
"Info?"
"Yeah, stick close and you'll see."
"Sheesh."
They soon arrived at the forge.
An old man was shooing away flies in front of a stall barren of wares, no customers in sight.
"Excuse me."
The old man's eyes lit up at the sight of Mu-hyuk and Sung Min-woo.
"Oh, customers! Nice weapons you've got—take your time browsing."
"Not here for weapons."
The old man's brow furrowed.
"Ahem, then what brings you?"
"The innkeeper asked us to help out."
"Lena did?"
"Yeah, said you're low on ore. No weapons to sell..."
Mu-hyuk's gaze shifted to the stall.
It was obvious at a glance.
Every piece there was subpar junk.
"Ahem, low? We've got plenty, but business is booming, you see. We could use more ore, sure. Fine, since Lena sent you, I've got work: head to the northern mine and dig up some iron ore."
Mine Iron Ore
📍 Location: Northern Mine (Carben Kingdom)
🎁 Reward: Small amount of EXP, Small amount of gold
Penalty on Failure: Favor decreases
Mine 10 Iron Ores for the struggling blacksmith in Carben Kingdom.
Will you accept?
Success or failure, it didn't matter much.
But they needed the quest.
To access the northern mine.
"Got it."
The quest accepted with his reply, and the old man handed over a wooden ID plaque from his pocket.
"You'll need this for the mine. Take it."
"Thanks."
He stowed the ID in his inventory and headed for the northern gate.
"The mine?"
"Yeah, dungeon's there. But you need the ID to get in."
"Ah, so that's why the quest..."
Sung Min-woo nodded.
"Man, where do you even find this stuff?"
Mu-hyuk brushed it off vaguely.
"Just digging through boards everywhere. Top 3 in the tower gets cash from Illusion now, so good info's popping up."
"Yeah? I browse too, but..."
"It's about piecing it together."
"Hmm, makes sense."
Sung Min-woo nodded like he'd had an epiphany.
Tsk, sorry, buddy.
He'd probably scour every forum corner from now on.
Never finding the real gems, oblivious as ever.
Couldn't exactly say he was from the future.
Sung Min-woo's determined nod lingered in view.
Mu-hyuk ignored it and strode out the northern gate.
A short trek up a small path, and they ran into patrolling guards.
"Hm?"
The guards eyed them curiously.
"Who're you? This ain't for just anyone."
Guards were level 200.
Don't pick a fight.
One thrust from those spears would end you.
Rusty and fragile-looking, sure—but wielder mattered.
And there were two.
No running either.
Politeness was key.
"Errand from the blacksmith."
"Errand?"
"Yes."
He flashed the ID.
"Ah, that cranky old coot."
"Yeah, needs iron ore."
"Mm, fine. Go on up."
"Thanks."
Relief washed over him as they passed.
The mine soon came into view, with workers and two more guards.
They approached too—ID got them through again.
Inside, miners toiled.
They didn't welcome the strangers, eyes narrowing with annoyance.
"Don't get in the way—move it!"
A miner smashing the wall barked.
Fight here, and reaching the goal gets dicey.
Mu-hyuk bowed apologetically.
"Sorry, we'll move fast."
They hurried on.
Sung Min-woo sidled up, whispering.
"Dude, what was that?"
"Ignore 'em, follow."
"Jeez, rude."
"Whatever. Let's hustle."
The path narrowed deeper in.
Apologies piled up.
"Sorry."
About 30 minutes in, it suddenly widened.
"Whew."
The stifling pressure eased.
Sung Min-woo emerged behind, gaping at the open space.
"Whoa, what's this?"
"No idea."
He only knew they were close.
"Three paths?"
"This way."
Central one.
Miners thinned out.
Soon, dead end.
No one around.
"Blocked? And empty."
Mu-hyuk felt along the wall.
"There's a mechanism."
"Mechanism?"
"Yeah, not sure exactly. Help look."
"Okay."
They scanned the walls. Nothing.
Wait.
Mu-hyuk froze.
Can't be the wall.
Miners chip away for ore.
Would've found it.
Floor or ceiling.
"Spirits find it?"
"Dunno..."
"Try. Floor and ceiling only."
"Yeah. Summon."
Four elemental spirits appeared.
"Earth, sweep the floor. Rest, ceiling. Signal any weird devices."
Spirits scattered.
He berated himself—why not sooner?
Shhrrk.
Fire spirit Fire approached.
"Found it?"
Fire hovered at a ceiling spot, paused.
Mu-hyuk jumped, groping.
Again and again.
"Got it!"
"There?"
"Yeah!"
Final leap—he gripped it.
A small metal protrusion, cold. Looked fragile, but it triggered.
Checking status.
Checking party members.
Qualification confirmed.
Light burst from the device, flooding the space.
Flash.
Eyes open—dungeon interior.
Entering Level 50 Special Dungeon.
EXP acquisition rate increased (50%).
Sung Min-woo let out an awed gasp.
"Whoa! Jackpot!"
Mu-hyuk just found his reaction amusing.
"EXP up 50%!"
"This ain't even the best part."
Wait till the clear reward.
That'd blow his mind.
Mood lifted.
Alright, time to clear it.
"Let's go."
He stepped forward slowly.
Sung Min-woo trailed, still marveling.
"Whoa, dungeons look like this? Kinda wide, huh?"
"Varies by dungeon."
"Ah, this one..."
Mu-hyuk raised a hand.
"Shh."
Silence fell.
Shhrrk.
Something slithering through.
Monster, for sure.
"Summon."
Mu-hyuk called skeleton warriors, archers, and mages.
Two Enhanced Bones, twelve Bone Swords, seven Archers, four Mages.
Total 25 summons clacking into forward position.
They'd outgrown squads—now a full company.
Sung Min-woo freaked at the sudden horde.
"Wh-what?!"
"Hm?"
"How'd you get so many?!"
"Trained some skills."
"Training does that?"
"Hit up your job change quest guy after clearing."
"Job change? Why?"
"No quest pop?"
"It did, but..."
"Clear those, your spirits power up big time."
"Ooh, for real? Thanks—!"
Something lunged mid-sentence.
Not small, too sudden—no proper reaction.
Slash.
Blade grazed Sung Min-woo's chest.
"Hup!"
He recoiled in shock, but legs already kicked high.
Strong Kick skill.
Right before impact—monster vanished like a lie.
Leg sliced empty air.
He landed, eyes locked forward.
Tense silence.
Gulp.
Mu-hyuk's brow furrowed too.
Monsters with Single-Edged Blade, a stealth skill.
Invisible till attack—hard to spot without sharp senses.
They decloak right before striking; catch that moment.
Otherwise, a nightmare.
But...
Mu-hyuk had summons.
Sung Min-woo had spirits.
"C'mere."
"Uh, yeah."
They took center.
Mu-hyuk ordered Bone Swords, Bone Bows, Mages around them.
First ring: two Enhanced Bones and two Bone Swords at up/down/left/right. Mu-hyuk's guard.
Defense mode.
Four skeletons raised shields.
Bone Bows move.
Second ring: four Bone Swords and four Bone Bows at cardinal and diagonals.
Third ring: remaining three Bone Bows and one Bone Sword at cardinals, Mages on diagonals.
Fourth: rest of Bone Swords.
Now they were secure. Just block overhead strikes.
"Spirits overhead."
"Got it."
Four spirits hovered above.
"Attack on my signal."
Moment passed.
Mu-hyuk raised three fingers.
Folded one.
Two left.
Folded another.
Last finger down—
Bang! Roar!
Skeleton archer arrows, mage spells, spirit attacks exploded everywhere.
No escape.