Red Wolf Dungeon

In the morning, after leveling up and gaining more fluid control over Fireball, I confined the flames to my hands like a pair of gloves and assumed a combat stance toward Shin Yu-ra.

"Hm? Using Fireball like that... How intriguing."

Shin Yu-ra's eyes flashed with interest as I, whom she knew as a mage, struck a martial arts pose.

"In that case, I'll fight you hand-to-hand as well."

She set down her practice wooden sword and faced me bare-handed in a judo stance.

Divine Power poured from her entire body, wrapping her tightly in a protective aura.

Impressive. Even Shin Yu-ra from right now—not five years in the future—is no pushover.

The pressure emanating from her made the training hall's floor vibrate faintly, resonating like a drum.

Her methodical stance searched for openings with relentless focus, her quick feet inching forward—clear signs of years of dedicated training.

As she circled me like a predator, I deliberately left a slight gap. She lunged in like a bolt of lightning.

A fierce punch infused with Divine Power targeted my abdomen.

I deflected it sideways and struck the back of her hand with my right, dismantling the attack.

"...?!"

Meeting her shocked expression, I thrust my left hand toward her shoulder. Instinctively, she twisted away, dodging and countering.

Taking that counter head-on with my current imperfect body would deal serious damage.

I clasped my flame-wrapped hands together to block it.

A massive boom echoed as I skidded backward. The impact stirred a mad battle lust from past regressions—the kind that had never spared those who endlessly tried to kill me.

Killing intent crept into my strikes just then.

"Mu-hyuk!"

Yun-ji's near-scream snapped me back.

Whoops. Nearly erased a promising black mage's bright future there.

"What is this? Why are you sparring with one of our academy students?"

"Ah... Well, the machine malfunctioned, so we couldn't confirm his mana awakening..."

Yun-ji and the academy professor, having finally found me, protested. Team Leader Park stepped in to explain.

"That's enough. We've confirmed the mana awakening sufficiently."

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"...Yes, agreed."

"No wonder you took down those zombies and villains. Hiding this kind of skill."

Shin Yu-ra nodded to herself, convinced.

Separate from mana awakening, martial proficiency rose with dedicated training. Of course, at this point in my pre-regression life, my body was too wrecked even for kindling.

Whatever her misconception, it bought me time free from suspicion.

"I apologize, Kwon Mu-hyuk."

"Why should you, Team Leader Shin?"

"For suspecting you this morning. And for testing your skills like this."

Her sincere apology carried the uprightness of a holy knight.

"I'm fine. So, no more doubts about me?"

"None. Of course."

"I can say it clearly: I'm not a villain. I don't go around killing people or trying to end the world."

"..."

"For real."

"..."

I flashed a wide, toothy grin to sell it.

That evening, I headed to the dungeon management office in Hwagok-dong with the academy professor's recommendation letter for the F-rank dungeon.

"You really going in alone?"

The night-shift clerk eyed me up and down with a weary face.

Clearly seeing me as a green rookie insisting on soloing a dungeon—like I was insane.

F-rank dungeons typically required a standard four-man party.

An older clerk patted the younger one's shoulder and extended a hand to me.

"Solo? Got a referral letter?"

"Yes. Here's the professor's guarantee for dungeon entry."

"Ah, sure... Let me see."

The younger clerk's brows twitched as he read the letter with the older one.

"Rare mage class, and endorsed by Hunter Association's Shin Yu-ra too?"

"Yes."

As an apology gesture, I'd asked her to add a line; she did without hesitation, praising my dedication.

"Well... can't argue with that. We just follow orders from above."

Muttering he washed his hands of it, he stamped the entry permit and returned it with the letter.

"Do as you like, but take care. Seen too many young hunters dragged out dead."

"I'll be fine. No worries."

Tucking the papers away, I approached the gate. Behind me, their chatter drifted over.

"Even a mage—newly awakened kid soloing? Tsk tsk."

"Heh, bet he'll taste bitter and bolt in ten minutes. Or come out dead. Wanna wager?"

"Hey! Don't bet on lives! Get back to work."

At least the older one had some humanity.

Snorting at their talk, I stepped through the gate. Dungeon info popped up.

The cleared Red Wolf Dungeon was kept open by the Hunter Association for newbie awakeners.

Compared to guild dungeons, it offered only EXP for leveling—nothing else. Most moved to other F-ranks after a quick grind, as sustaining a living on low EXP and zero rewards was tough.

But for me, it was perfect. In this lowest-rank dungeon late at night with no visitors, I could unleash dark energy freely.

Especially since I wasn't a hunter—no quests or rewards to worry about.

As if waiting, red wolves growled and approached.

A meter tall, they hunted in packs, their glaring red eyes exuding intimidation.

Level 5 F-rank monsters, but fast, strong, with tough fangs and jaws—newbies always partied up.

"Death Terraforming."

I granted myself instant death ability, extended my hand toward the wolves, and activated the skill.

Without a target, Death Terraforming applied instant death to lifeforms within 500m to 10km based on level. Victims could resurrect nearby corpses as zombies.

At my level 999, it reached 1.5km. Even in 998 regressions, I never hit its limit—tested 10km at 1200. Dark energy had no cap, nor did this skill.

The world always ended first...

Baring fangs, the wolves charged—only to be engulfed in massive dark mist, breaths cut short.

'Kyeng-'

'Kyeng-'

'Crunch... munch.'

Dark energy swelled them larger, stronger; their manes blazed fiery red.

"Keeeng, keeeng."

The flashy dungeon message appeared. Dark energy absorption had upgraded the wolves.

A quest?!

Recognizing the final boss—me—as a hunter?!

The master of all monsters and dungeons got a 'quest' like some daytime hunter. Unheard of in past loops—I'd given them, never received.

Back when mental corruption led me down the dark path, this would've been an insult. Now? Different.

Whoever sent it, quests meant rewards!

Hunters got items and skills from quests. Now I could too—without contamination worries—learning magic and combat skills freely.

Level for luck, learn dark skills, and hunter skills? Pheasant and egg—a bright future!

Let's farm EXP with these first.

My wolves marked me as ally; original reds saw them as foes. Tension crackled between packs.

"Grrrr..."

"Grng, grrr..."

The hulking Red Mane Fire Wolves intimidated the originals, who hesitated. My pack awaited orders.

"Attack."

Dozens charged the reds.

The clash was brutal and one-sided. Fire Wolves' jaws tore red throats mercilessly; the area became a blood-soaked hell of corpses.

Needing to level Fireball too, I chipped in with finishers—indiscriminate on friend or foe.

Blasts reaped wolves alike, funneling EXP to me.

Morning zombies got me to 7; this jumped me 8 levels to 15.

The rush of mass level-ups brought euphoria. I grinned, feeling light as air.

Y, obviously. A Fire Wolf skillbook!

Perfect for my empty combat skills.

"Hm? This skill..."

Sword-Dark Flame Tornado—Jeong Hyeon-seop's ace move, Shin Yu-ra's boss. A devastating strike wrapped in jet-black flames; he even became Association Chairman in some loops.

From Fire Wolves? Who knew.

998 loops of dark energy experience left me blind to hunter perspectives.

To me, they were just facets of the curse tormenting me.

Now this skill was mine; Jeong Hyeon-seop would get something else. Hunters' skills were unique, like fingerprints.

Confirmed: I got dungeon rewards too.

Now reason to grind beyond luck levels—for rewards.

"Death Terraforming."

Respawning reds approached; cooldown done, I cast again.

"Alright, my mutts—time to farm properly?"

EXP needs rose with levels; to stockpile luck buffer at 20, more grinding.

Enormous Fireballs—bigger than morning—floated in my palms as I whistled through the night-filled dungeon.