Into the Hall of the Dead
Kang Taesan examined his status window once more.
"Cooldown?"
The word 'Cooldown' at the very bottom of the stat screen caught his eye. Kang Taesan thought, 'Cooldown? Could it be the cooldown time they talk about in games?'
He picked up the fruit knife again. This time, he set a timer and sliced his forearm. He checked the time it took for the wound to heal.
Laceration has been nullified.
He stopped the timer the moment the nullification message appeared. The recorded time was 8.2 seconds. He repeated the same action several times, but the delay was always around 8 seconds. Accounting for the margin of error when pressing the timer, the time it took for the nullification to trigger was roughly 8 seconds.
'It’s certain. The skill requires a cooldown of about 8 seconds to activate.'
Kang Taesan felt a surge of excitement. '8 seconds is a duration I can endure most pain. Does that mean if I just hold out for 8 seconds, all damage is nullified?'
But a new question arose immediately. 'Then what happens if I die before those 8 seconds are up?'
He recalled his fight against Kim Suhyang, who had wielded the Spirit Sword. 'If the Witch's blade had sliced my throat, I would have died long before 8 seconds passed. And that’s not the only thing that bothers me.'
He thought back to the messages that appeared every time an attack was nullified. 'Slicing attacks, firing attacks, freezing, electricity... every single one specifies the target of the nullification in detail. The fact that it specifies the target means there must be damage that cannot be nullified.'
Kang Taesan tried to click on the skill window to check for additional details on the nullification passive, but there was no further text.
"What an unfriendly interface. If they made a game like this, they’d have to shut down the servers before the open beta even ended."
He put his phone down and thought again. 'Let’s summarize. My nullification passive has an 8-second delay before it activates. Before 8 seconds, damage is taken in full, but after 8 seconds, the damage is nullified and the wound is completely healed. The problem is the situation where I die before 8 seconds, and what kind of damage cannot be nullified.'
"Haa..." A sigh escaped him. 'How am I supposed to know that? The interface doesn't explain it, and even the AI doesn't know...'
His mind was a mess, but he couldn't just sit around worrying forever. 'It feels like I got a rare item, but one with a defect. Is that why the class name is "Designer's Error"?'
There were still many unanswered questions, but Kang Taesan returned to his bed for tomorrow's expedition. He tried to get some sleep.
The next morning. As soon as he woke up, Kang Taesan headed to the Gate. The Gate was located at Nabi Park in Nowon-gu, Seoul. It was situated on a hill in the center of the park.
However, contrary to its name, the Gate was not a 'door'. It was a massive, black hole that looked as if someone had torn a hole in the sky.
"You're late, you newbie!"
As soon as Kang Taesan appeared, Go Yeongpyo, the Guide class hunter, snapped at him. The other members of the Jackal Guild had already arrived at the Gate and were waiting for him.
"I apologize."
"Looking at your bloodshot eyes, I assume you didn't sleep well last night?"
Yu Eunju turned her head and chuckled. It seemed she thought Kang Taesan had lost sleep because of their night together.
"It being my first outing, I had a lot on my mind..."
"That can happen. I was the same in the past."
Yu Eunju added in a half-teasing tone, "That's right, it's normal to lose sleep on your first mission."
Kang Taesan looked around and asked, "But why is it so quiet around the Gate? I don't see any soldiers, police, or even civilians."
"Didn't you know? It's because of the dimensional pressure."
"Dimensional pressure?"
"Around the Gate, there is a density difference between dimensions. If a non-awakened person approaches, they suffer from severe headaches. In extreme cases, they can even die from a brain hemorrhage."
"I see. I wasn't aware."
Beside the Gate, there were hundreds of sturdy storage lockers equipped with digital locks.
"What are those?"
This time, Yu Eunju answered kindly. "Those are storage lockers. Any awakened person can use them for free."
"But why are they here?"
Go Yeongpyo muttered as if he found Kang Taesan pathetic. "You don't even know that? Gates reject the conveniences of civilization."
"Conveniences?"
"Modern weapons like cell phones, cameras, laptops, and guns. These things disappear the moment you enter the Gate."
"What? Then what do hunters fight with?"
Park Hyeonggwang, the Guild Master, answered instead. "The weapons hunters use are items dropped in dungeons. The shield I gave you yesterday is one such item."
"I understand."
Park Hyeonggwang said as he placed his belongings into a locker, "Mr. Kang Taesan, you should store your belongings as well. If you pass through the Gate with them, they will be transported to another dimension."
"Understood."
Kang Taesan opened a locker and put in his cell phone and wallet containing his cards. After setting a password, he locked it. The locker's light changed from red to green. Looking at the lockers, he saw that dozens of them had green lights on. It meant there were dozens of hunters already inside the dungeon.
"Let's go."
Park Hyeonggwang passed through the Gate first, followed by the other guild members. Finally, Kang Taesan passed through.
As soon as he crossed the threshold, the dungeon appeared. It was a massive cave.
"Search."
Go Yeongpyo began exploring the surroundings as soon as they entered. After finishing his sweep, he said, "There are no monsters nearby. It's safe."
"Then let's check our equipment."
As soon as Park Hyeonggwang spoke, the Jackal Guild members pulled out their weapons and armor from their inventories. Park Hyeonggwang, true to his class as a crossbowman, drew his crossbow and donned light leather armor. Yu Eunju carried only her magic gun without any armor, while the mage Choi Giuk wore a robe and held a staff. Finally, the Guide class Go Yeongpyo wore leather armor and carried a dagger. Kang Taesan also pulled out the 'Seeker's Shield' that Park Hyeonggwang had given him.
Once they were equipped, the party gathered around Park Hyeonggwang.
"I will explain the quest. Our guild has received a specific request to retrieve the 'Death Mask' from the 'Hall of the Dead'. The reward is 100 million won."
Kang Taesan was startled by the mention of 100 million won. "100 million? Then how is it distributed...?"
"After deducting the 30% guild commission, the rest is split equally."
Kang Taesan thought, 'That means it’s over 10 million won each.' But he felt both joy and suspicion. He asked, "But what is this Death Mask that they're paying so much for?"
"We don't know. And you shouldn't try to find out. That is the rule of the quest."
"But there must be a client."
"The client is also a secret."
"Then how do we receive the quest?"
"The quest was brokered at a club called 'Mother Earth's Milk'."
"Mother Earth's Milk?"
"It's a club in Itaewon, and it's a hideout for information brokers. That's where quests are traded."
Go Yeongpyo snapped, "Why do you have so many questions, you newbie? We're falling behind schedule because of you!"
At Go Yeongpyo's outburst, Kang Taesan shut his mouth.
"Now, I will explain the strategy." Park Hyeonggwang spread out a paper map. Pointing at it, he began his explanation. "We will take the shortest route to the Hall of the Dead. Fortunately, there are no dangerous monsters on this route. We just need to be careful of Werewolves or Skeletons."
Everyone nodded at Park Hyeonggwang's explanation.
"When combat starts, Mr. Kang Taesan, please step to the front. You will take the tanking role."
"Understood."
"Yu Eunju, support Mr. Kang Taesan from behind."
"Got it."
"Choi Giuk, the mage, will deal damage from the rear, and Go Yeongpyo will scout the monsters' status and positions. And tell us immediately when a monster is low on health. We need to land the finishing blow."
"Okay."
"Mr. Kang Taesan, please be careful not to land the finishing blow instead of me. If someone else lands the final hit, it’s a waste of effort."
"Understood."
"Then, we move to the Hall of the Dead."
With Park Hyeonggwang's final word, the Jackal Guild members began to move. The cave was dark, but it was not pitch black. This was thanks to the glowing stones embedded in the cave walls.
"Two Werewolves approaching from the front!"
As soon as Go Yeongpyo announced the monsters' approach, the Jackal Guild members took up combat positions in unison.
"Werewolves approaching! They'll make contact in 10 seconds."
"Yu Eunju, defense buff!"
"Got it!"
Yu Eunju fired her magic gun into the air, and as the magic bullets burst, a blue barrier unfolded. At the same time, the party members' physical defense stats increased by 20%. However, Kang Taesan's status window still only displayed '???' marks.
"They're coming!"
"Grrr!"
As soon as Go Yeongpyo's shout ended, four red eyes appeared in the darkness. They were two Werewolves.
"Awoooo!"
As soon as they revealed themselves, the Werewolves lunged at the party. Kang Taesan blocked one with his shield, but the other leaped over him.
"Fire Arrow!"
The pyromancer Choi Giuk fired a flame spell at the lunging Werewolf.
"Yelp, yelp!" The Werewolf was immediately engulfed in flames.
"Search!" Go Yeongpyo used his Search skill to check the Werewolf's stats.
"The Werewolf's health is down by more than half!"
"Okay! Piercing!"
Hearing Go Yeongpyo, Park Hyeonggwang fired an arrow imbued with piercing magic. The arrow flew and pierced the Werewolf's forehead.
"Yelp, yelp!" The Werewolf died with a scream, and its corpse began to turn into smoke and vanish.
One of the two Werewolves had been defeated, but the other was still struggling against Kang Taesan.
"Grrr, argh!" The Werewolf finally bit Kang Taesan's arm.
"Ugh."
Blood flowed from Kang Taesan's forearm, but he did not back down. A moment later, as the wound healed, a message appeared.
Bite wound has been nullified.
"Choi Giuk, what are you doing! Deal some damage!"
"I want to, but the newbie is stuck too close to the monster."
Yu Eunju stepped in. "Move aside, I'll do it."
Yu Eunju aimed her magic gun at the Werewolf.
"It's a bit of a waste, but I have no choice. Bang!"
Simultaneous with the shot, a magic bullet flew from the muzzle. "Yelp!" As the bullet struck the Werewolf directly, it suddenly slumped to the ground. Then, as if crushed by immense weight, the Werewolf's body was pinned flat against the floor. It began to scream in agony.
"Yelp, yelp!"
As the Werewolf suffered, Yu Eunju shouted triumphantly, "How do you like the taste of a Gravity Bullet!"
Go Yeongpyo shouted, "The monster's health is dropping like crazy because of the Gravity Bullet! Deal the finishing blow, Boss!"
"Got it! Piercing!"
As the crossbow bolt pierced the Werewolf's forehead, its corpse vanished into smoke once again. A magic crystal dropped.
Yu Eunju picked up the dropped magic crystals and examined them. "Neither of these have any glow. This won't make any money."
Yu Eunju discarded the crystals with a complaint. Kang Taesan asked, "Are magic crystals without a glow useless?"
"Yeah, a crystal that doesn't glow means it has no magic power. Things like these are just lumps of rock."
"I see."
"By the way, is your arm okay? I think you were bitten by the Werewolf."
Kang Taesan checked his arm. The wound had already vanished. Seeing that there was no wound on his arm, Yu Eunju was surprised. "There's no wound at all? Is your tanking that good, or is my defensive barrier that amazing?"
Choi Giuk chimed in, "I was told Ms. Kim would earn her keep, so I guess she's not entirely useless."
"What are you stating the obvious for? If you fall to a mere Werewolf, what use is that kind of tanking?"
"Moving on."
At Park Hyeonggwang's words, the party resumed their movement.