Chapter 47: Encounter (4)
Chapter 47: Encounter (4)
The largest clan in Korea was the Yuseong Clan, led by Lee Jeong-jin.
The fact that the man officially recognized by the public as the strongest Awakener served as its leader was a massive advantage. Ambition drew those who wanted to be the best to its ranks, and because the clan was backed by the Yuseong Group, it had offered top-tier treatment since its inception. Consequently, it had always been the number one choice for Korean Awakeners.
As a result, many members of the Yuseong Clan carried a deep sense of pride—and the Awakeners currently on standby under Lee Jeong-jin’s orders were no exception.
“Man... this is such a waste of time...”
Along with that pride came a tendency to overconfidence. Many were frustrated with their current situation, forced to wait around for mere E-rank dungeons to manifest before they could enter.
While other clans had only deployed about three parties for this task, the Yuseong Clan had mobilized six. This was a reflection of Lee Jeong-jin’s firm resolve.
They were being paid their usual rates regardless, but the Awakeners assigned to this mission were veterans who primarily handled C-rank dungeons. To them, this task felt tedious and mind-numbing.
“What can you do? It’s an order. Just think of it as a break.”
“Sigh... I guess I have to...”
“But are we even sure there’s actually a person doing this?”
“Right? There’s no trace of anyone. Maybe these are just portals that naturally dissipate?”
Rumors about the nature of this assignment had already spread within the clan, and they had been briefed with the relevant data when they received their orders. The doubt raised by the Awakener just now was a common sentiment among the ranks.
No matter how much better an Awakener was compared to a civilian, or how many strange artifacts existed in the world, the fact that this individual had never once been caught on CCTV or by a witness lent weight to their skepticism.
To them, the idea that someone could enter F-rank and E-rank dungeons the moment they formed and clear them before anyone else could arrive seemed far-fetched.
“Exactly. I mean, honestly, does it make sense for someone with the ability to clear dungeons that fast to be wasting their time on E-ranks?”
“And looking at how quickly the dungeons are cleared, it’s obvious they don’t even care about the artifacts.”
The Awakeners vented their frustrations inside the large limousine prepared by the Yuseong Clan, which allowed them to move out the moment they received word. Every member of the party shared similar thoughts.
“If such a guy exists, he’s a lunatic. Why use that kind of ability just to clear dungeons quickly? And specifically targeting newly formed ones at that...”
“True... and looking at the records, the travel distances for some of these dungeons don't even add up...”
“Right! That’s exactly what I’m talking about.”
The biggest reason these party members felt they were wasting their time was the data on the vanished dungeons. Even for an Awakener, there was no one on Earth capable of traveling vast distances instantaneously.
Yet, the records showed instances where portals located 50 kilometers apart were cleared one after another. This led many to question if this "dungeon thief" was even real.
“Hey... get ready. A portal just opened nearby.”
But an order was an order.
The Awakeners, who had been grumbling and complaining just moments ago, immediately corrected their posture the second the notification hit their smartphones. They checked their gear and prepared to enter the portal.
This portal had appeared in the middle of a park, making it easily accessible by vehicle. They reached it in an instant.
Since it was only an E-rank portal, it posed no threat to them. They threw themselves into the glowing blue light without hesitation. Though they were confident, they remained alert, knowing monsters could ambush them the moment they crossed over.
However, as soon as they stepped into the dungeon, they noticed something strange.
Typically, dungeons were devoid of light, shrouded in a thick darkness that required illumination equipment. While Awakeners had superior physical capabilities and could see better in the dark than ordinary people, the presence or absence of light still made a significant difference.
Furthermore, light was essential for scouting artifacts and gathering anything of value. Therefore, Awakeners always carried lighting equipment. The most common tool was the Light Stick—it required no electricity and was easy to carry.
But even before they could crack open a Light Stick, they realized there was already light inside the dungeon.
It was about 500 meters away. There was definitely a light source.
“What? They’re actually here?!”
The Yuseong Clan Awakeners’ eyes widened in shock at the unexpected sight. The dungeon was a vast, open field, and the lack of obstructions allowed them to see the light the moment they entered. This worked to their advantage.
“Move!”
Until now, they had been performing their duty with bored expressions, unable to focus because they thought the mission was pointless.
But the situation had changed. Just as Lee Jeong-jin had said, there really were thieves stealing dungeons.
The terrain consisted of nothing but waist-high grass, offering a clear line of sight and no obstacles to slow them down. As veterans of C-rank dungeons, they lacked nothing in terms of physical prowess.
The Yuseong Clan members charged toward their target at high speed. As they ran, they saw Raptor corpses scattered everywhere.
‘I guess Raptors are the monsters here.’
‘Nothing but slash wounds? Some of these bastards were cut clean in half...’
“Doesn’t look like there’s a Mage.”
Being experienced hunters, they quickly scanned the area to deduce their opponents' capabilities. As the distance closed, the blurry silhouettes became clearer.
“Wait, only two of them?!”
One man shouted in disbelief, echoing the sentiment of the entire group. The fact that there were only two was shocking enough...
But it also made them more tense. To have cleanly slaughtered a pack of Raptors with only two people meant they were highly skilled.
Combat between Awakeners—it was a dark reality of their world. Especially in the chaotic early days, many used their power for greed and personal gain, and some still lived that way openly.
In established, stable nations, such incidents had mostly been pushed out of the public eye. Korea was one such nation. However, that didn't mean it never happened in the shadows.
Furthermore, large clans often engaged in subtle power struggles. While they rarely fought to the death, they weren't above injuring one another.
These men were no different. Their clan’s primary income came from stripping B-rank and C-rank dungeons to the bone, and the Awakeners who worked those ranks were like soldiers on the front lines.
They were battle-hardened and had worked together for a long time. Even as they charged, they maintained a tactical distance to ensure they could respond quickly to a counterattack.
But then... with a brilliant flash of light, the figures ahead vanished without a trace.
They were still about 200 meters away. The party members gritted their teeth and reached the spot moments later, but...
Naturally, the only things left were Raptor corpses.
Whether they had been in the middle of fighting a second pack or had just finished, it was clear that someone had been there.
“Damn it!”
“How did they disappear? Was it an artifact?!”
“Must be. There’s no magic that allows for teleportation like that.”
“Phew... shit...”
“Let’s head back to the entrance. They might have moved to a different spot and could be trying to slip out. I’ll go out and report this. The rest of you, stay here and keep watch. Don't engage recklessly, just observe.”
The Awakeners nodded at their leader’s command, their faces tight with frustration. Their priority now was blocking any potential exit and reporting the encounter immediately.
“From their silhouettes, it looked like one man and one woman.”
“I think they were using a spear and a sword...”
They pooled their observations of the blurry figures they had seen before the disappearance. The problem was that this information was largely useless.
Awakeners who used swords or spears were a dime a dozen.