The Next Day's Hunt

The next day, Taemin stepped out to the open lot outside the building for the hunt that doubled as a test. Most of the group, including Yoo Hyuk, were already there, but Kim Dae-san and Im Chi-bin hadn't shown up yet.

"Hello."

"Ah, Taemin, you're here."

"Those guys still aren't here? Time's almost up..."

"Yeah. Normally, the leader or team head should be out early. But we've still got about 10 minutes, so let's wait a bit. Did you have breakfast?"

"No, not really hungry."

At Taemin's response that he hadn't eaten, Yoo Hyuk pulled something from his pocket and offered it to him.

"Want one of these? It's a popular energy bar these days. Great when you're too busy to eat properly—my go-to."

"No, I'm good."

"You never know when you'll eat once we're inside. I brought extras just in case. Looks meh, but tastes fine."

Unable to refuse his persistence, Taemin finally took the energy bar.

"Thanks, I'll have it."

He tore it open right there and took a big bite. It tasted better than expected.

"This is pretty good."

"Right? It's a hot supplement item lately. One bar fills you up like a full meal."

As they chatted, Kim Dae-san and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Im Chi-bin emerged from the entrance.

"Sorry we're a bit late. So much to handle... Is everyone here?"

A moment later, people began crossing through the multi-portal Im Chi-bin had created one by one. They handed their IDs to the guarding hunters and entered the dungeon.

Inside, countless graves and unidentified tombstones lay scattered haphazardly.

"Whose graves are these?" one hunter asked Kim Dae-san.

"No idea. They've been here from the start. I don't really... Anyway, that's not important now. Let's do a headcount first. Everyone gather here. You there, come over."

At Kim Dae-san's command, the group huddled together, and the count was quickly done.

"I'll take the lead, so just follow me. Check on the people next to you now and then. Let's go."

He led the way, and the rest of the hunters followed in a cluster.

The dungeon interior was a dim night, but moonlight pouring through gray clouds provided enough light to make out surroundings.

This place is creepier than I thought.

Taemin rubbed his arms unconsciously as he pushed through the eerie fog. A graveyard straight out of a horror movie—countless graves and stones, an unnaturally silent atmosphere. It'd be weirder not to feel chills.

After advancing some distance, signals came from the front: monsters spotted.

Bipedal monsters emerged from the darkness one by one. Ghouls, resembling humans closely. Pale, rotting skin, lifeless eyes, shambling with axe-like weapons—like zombies from a movie.

Ghouls were common in Death Land, the weakest type here.

The hunters halted at the front's signal, drawing weapons with tense eyes. First hunt in a new dungeon—excitement bubbled beneath the nerves. How much stronger than the last dungeon?

As they readied for battle, Taemin scanned their attributes.

The stats were underwhelming.

What? Is this right?

Ghoul stats were only slightly better than Highland Smilodons.

"No need to call attributes at this level."

Yoo Hyuk, hearing his mutter, asked, "Talking to yourself?"

"Checked their stats—Smilodon level. Attributes probably not needed."

"You mean those from Crystal Highlands...? They're only that strong?"

"Yeah. Scanned the rest too—same or a bit over."

At Taemin's words, Yoo Hyuk and nearby hunters gained confidence. Smilodons were weak enough to hunt blindfolded, give ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠or take. Even with attribute resistance, levels allowed one-on-one handling.

Soon, Kim Dae-san's attack order came.

"Charge!"

Hunters surged forward, scattering for strict one-on-ones based on Taemin's info.

Slash! Swish! Kugh!

Skin tearing and ghoul screams echoed. As Taemin said, their combat power was pitiful. Human-sized, they fell to a few sword swings.

Taemin handled his share without skills. Passive boosts made normal attacks strong—no need for potions or spamming on weaklings.

Am I too strong, or are they too weak?

Butchering ghouls, Taemin glanced at Kim Dae-san. He too dispatched them with plain swings, no skills.

High-level is high-level. Level 90s, after all...

In under ten minutes, they cleared over a hundred ghouls.

"What? That's it?"

"No problem at this rate."

"We got spooked for nothing."

Excited chatter rose, but Kim Dae-san's curt voice cut in.

"Don't stand around—gather materials and move."

They pressed on. As clouds hid the moon, darkening everything, Kim Dae-san raised a hand.

"Halt. Monsters ahead. These are the real deal—stay sharp."

Hunters stopped, peering forward. Something massive lurked vaguely in the dark.

Clouds parted, revealing them fully.

"Whoa, it's huge!"

"That a hammer?"

"Built like a tank."

The monster dwarfed ghouls—5 meters ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠tall, muscular under tough hide, massive iron hammer that could instant-kill on hit. Size alone screamed power, but judging solely by bulk was foolish; even Desert Zone had big ones. This was an upper dungeon, and Kim Dae-san's warning meant stronger than ghouls.

"Taemin, can you check their stats?"

At Yoo Hyuk's request, Taemin activated his skill.

"Dae-san was right—they're strong. Defense higher than Stone Golems, much faster. Like late-game relic site mobs."

Spot on. Satyros were Death Land's strongest field monsters. Early encounter, but no big deal—not even a warm-up for him.

As they shared info, Kim Dae-san's orders came.

"Healers, buffs up. Mages, support from back. Dealers, groups of two—no, three per. I can solo mine, no need to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠assist."

Kim Dae-san charged confidently, battle erupting.

"Gang-woo group: Fire, Water, Water, Earth, Fire, Water. Yoo Hyuk, that one's Earth ahead."

Taemin scanned quickly pre-clash, calling attributes, then dashed to an empty flank.

Im Chi-bin, prepping spells, yelled, "Hey! Don't go alone!"

Taemin ignored it. If he couldn't solo these, no point coming.

En route, he met a Satyros, activating Hydeger and unleashing fury.

Shyak!

Light-infused sword shattered into it from all sides.

Papap!

Critical hits sprayed blood from limbs. A few more strikes, and it crumpled.

In under 10 seconds, one ragdolled, he rushed the next.