The Path of Beginnings
You have defeated Kurama.
34,000 EXP acquired.
"Whoa, check out that EXP."
Once he hit stage 8, the incoming EXP was noticeably higher. The number of monsters he had to take down had multiplied several times compared to the start. It was only natural that his levels were flying up.
"Already at 95. At this rate, I'm seriously gonna hit 100."
Taejeong hadn't done much since entering this place. He'd just been walking. And yet, he'd leveled up a whopping twelve times. Twelve levels in just over two hours. Was there any sweeter deal than this?
"But seriously, where the hell does this tunnel even end?"
No matter how much he walked, the path stretched on endlessly. The tension had even faded now—he just wished something would show up. Were there even monsters in this place?
The boring march continued. But only for a moment.
Suddenly, a brilliant glow erupted from his body.
Congratulations on reaching level 100.
Path of Beginnings quest has opened.
Command quest opened.
1st-Gen Hyper AI Gerard activated.
"Hah, I finally hit 100. Guess I get a quest now too."
Quest. A kind of mission that appeared upon reaching certain levels. For hunters, it was an inescapable fate. These days, with all the guides and gear available, they didn't mean much anymore. But back in the day, dungeon levels were gauged by these quests. They held major weight in a hunter's life.
"Let's see it. Quest open."
As Taejeong uttered the activation phrase, a translucent window popped up in front of him.
Path of Beginnings 1-1
Raise the proficiency of your acquired skills.
Experience is the product of effort and a valuable asset.
📍 Active Proficiency:0/5000
🎁 Reward:Exoskeleton Type 2 Booster
"5,000 proficiency... So they want me to use 'em a lot, huh."
It didn't look like a tough quest. Just a simple grind that anyone with time could clear. And the reward seemed pretty solid in comparison.
"Probably something like this, right?"
Taejeong thought of the exoskeleton legs he relied on heavily. For a solo player like him, it was a lifeline. Seeing "Type 2" there meant it was definitely an upgrade.
"More importantly, that bit about the AI earlier. Gerard, was it?"
As Taejeong muttered while opening his skill window, an unfamiliar mechanical voice echoed from somewhere.
Yes, Master.
"Huh?"
Taejeong whipped his head around in surprise at the sudden voice.
Do you have any commands, Master?
"What the—? You're the AI?"
Yes, Master. Feel free to call me Gerard.
"Holy shit."
Taejeong couldn't hide his amazement at the voice responding directly to him.
"Where the hell are you even talking from?"
I have no physical form. But I am always at your closest side, Master.
"Right... Well, nice to meet you anyway."
It is an honor to serve at your side, Master.
"Honor, my ass. So, what can you do?"
Gerard responded to Taejeong's question.
I provide comprehensive data on planet Earth and combat support.
"Info and combat support, huh. Like what?"
I quantify dungeon info, monster habits, traits, combat power, and calculate target positions for precise coordinates.
"How? Can you show me here?"
Coordinates and values only apply to targets within range.
"Gotcha. So, you know where we are?"
This is a growth-type dungeon. Official name: Recall. Sector: No.69R 11y-7.
Current difficulty: Grade 2 (recommended average level: 100). However, based on your locked class combat power, actual rating is Grade 3 (recommended average level: 150).
"Whoa."
Taejeong felt like he'd struck gold with Gerard's detailed rundown. This thing was basically a walking computer.
He marveled, sticking out his tongue in awe—but then a question popped up.
"Hold up. Locked? What's locked on me?"
Your class is not public below a certain level.
"Why?"
That is beyond my authority to answer.
"Beyond your authority, huh."
Taejeong paused at Gerard's refusal, then fired off more questions.
"Who gives you that authority anyway? Wait, do you know about Sirius? What the hell is that guy? Is he an AI like you? Who made the Awakeners?"
He tossed out questions hoping to snag something. But the reply was short and curt.
Those questions are beyond my authority.
"All of 'em?"
Yes, Master.
"Hmm. All top secret, eh? Alright... Wait a sec."
As Taejeong racked his brain for the next question, something clicked—he'd forgotten something. He paused and spoke up again.
"Gerard."
Yes, Master.
"You said this place is normally Grade 2, but my combat power bumps it to Grade 3."
Correct.
"So, would Grade 2 hunters have a tough time hunting here?"
Grade 2 can handle up to stage 7 against enhanced monsters without issue. Beyond that, monster levels differ entirely, making it difficult. Stage 8 results in 100% party wipe.
"What? So the people here right now..."
* * *
"Huff... huff... Everyone, potion status?"
Jo Yong-seok's question came amid clear exhaustion. His clustered teammates reported in.
"About six left."
"Three for me."
"This is my last one."
His face hardened at their words.
At this rate, we're all dead.
About twenty minutes ago, the moment stage 8 began, Jo Yong-seok and the party had to doubt their own eyes. Monsters that shouldn't appear at this grade had swarmed out in droves.
They were Kurama—Blue Gate monsters with a minimum recommended level of 130. Way above their pay grade.
They'd held even at first. Even leveled monsters were manageable one-on-one, and Seo Ju-ah's superior gear kept them from collapsing outright.
The problem was the numbers. Skill cooldowns and delays meant more kept pouring in than they could kill. Now they were overwhelmed, lives on the line.
"What do we do? Anyone got a plan!?"
Lee Seong-ho shouted, sweat pouring as he swung his sword.
No one had an answer. They were all peers in strength.
With no reply, curses spilled from his lips.
"Fuck. We should've bailed earlier. This was a mismatch from the start."
Seo Ju-ah, holding the right flank, blasted skills forward and responded.
"Too late for regrets. And even if we'd run... they'd have caught us."
"Who doesn't know that!? I'm saying we should've grabbed one more body to bolster us."
He meant the one person still missing.
Shin Ji-su fired a Flare spell and shot back.
"Think before you speak. What good's a Grade 0 gonna— Ah!"
A Kurama's scythe-like claw lunged at Shin Ji-su mid-sentence.
Just as it seemed she'd be crushed, Seo Ju-ah's sword cleaved its head clean off.
Slash!
Thud.
"Focus, Shin Ji-su."
"S-Sorry."
Seo Ju-ah shoved the recomposed Shin Ji-su behind her and glanced at the small window in the upper right.
This is it.
No solution, even after thinking it over a hundred times. They'd scraped by on potions so far, but no more.
A flicker of sorrow crossed her resolute eyes. She pictured the one person who'd grieve her death.
I couldn't even say sorry.
As she readied for the end, swinging her sword, the others harbored similar thoughts. Shin Ji-su wept endlessly for her parents. Lee Seong-ho spewed curses in madness. Leader Jo Yong-seok wore a face of resignation, baffled at where it all went wrong.
They fell back, cornered. The four now huddled in tight formation.
"Ji-su, fall back."
Jo Yong-seok wanted the DPS Shin Ji-su protected in the rear. But she shook her head, lining up with them.
"No way. You want me to die last?"
"No one's dying..."
He trailed off. Pointless hope when doom was clear—it was pathetic even to him.
He looked at her with pity, then turned to Seo Ju-ah.
"Ju-ah, sorry. You didn't have to get dragged into this. My fault for suggesting the hunt."
Her expression unchanged, she replied.
"My choice. Don't say that."
Lee Seong-ho, overhearing, snapped in disbelief.
"Fuck. What're you doing? We're not dead yet! Hurry up and kill 'em!"
But they didn't move at his frantic yell. With mana depleted, attacks would do nothing—and they knew it.
Still, Lee Seong-ho fumed.
"To die in a shithole like this after all I've..."
Staring blankly at his sword's fading energy, he neatly bisected two incoming Kurama. Now his mana was gone too.
Facing the regrouping horde with resignation, he turned to his trembling comrades. With resolved eyes, he called out.
"Ji-su."
She wiped tears, startled.
"Yeah?"
"Just once... let me hold you."
"..."
Stunned by the sudden request, she wordlessly stepped into his arms.
"I... I like you, Ji-su."
"Shut up. Just... shut up."
The mana-less group was swarmed by Kurama. In seconds, they'd be torn apart.
Everyone squeezed their eyes shut.
Let's meet in heaven, everyone.
Boom!
Suddenly, the stone chamber shook with a massive roar. So loud it knocked the hand-clasped Jo Yong-seok and others flat.
"Wh-What!?"
"E-Earthquake!?"
"Get down!"
"What!?"
Before they could grasp it, shadows fell over the floor. Something landed lightly before them.
A man with bizarre objects perched on both shoulders.
It was Yoo Taejeong.