As the last rays of sunlight disappeared behind the horizon, the streets of Handong began to quiet. The crowds dispersed, shops closed their doors, and a gentle breeze carried the scent of nighttime dew.
Jun Lion stood silently in the shadows near the invisible gate.
[Remaining Time to Enter the Dungeon: 02:32:21]
"Hmph… Looks like the area's finally empty. No prying eyes." He took a deep breath and stepped forward, his hand reaching toward the flickering distortion only he could see.
A ripple in the air responded to the key he held.
The gate opened with a whisper, a thin sheet of darkness parting like a veil, and Jun Lion entered the hidden dungeon.
The moment his foot crossed the threshold, the world changed.
Jun gasped. "What the…?"
Gone was the bustling city, gone was the cold night air.
Instead, he found himself inside what looked like the remnants of a modern underground facility. The walls were made of gray cement, flickering lights hung loosely from the ceiling, and steel doors lined both sides of a wide hallway. It looked like something pulled straight from an old ruin or a lost laboratory—nothing like the stone caves or natural terrain typical of dungeons.
"This… This doesn't even feel like a dungeon. More like some post-apocalyptic bunker…"
[1 out of 4000 Rooms of the Hidden Dungeon Has Been Opened]
"What?!" Jun shouted. "Four thousand rooms?! You've gotta be joking… I have to clear all of that?"
He glanced around, sweat forming on his brow. "Okay… okay. Don't panic. If the monsters are all low-level, I can handle it. Let's just hope it's not some insane difficulty spike."
Just then, three creatures emerged from the shadows of the first room.
[Enemy Identified: Wild Dogs – Level 1]
The names floated in red above their heads.
"Huh? Wild dogs? At level one?" Jun's eyes narrowed. "And their names are in red. That's… odd."
He tightened his grip on his dagger. "Whatever. They're just dogs. Three of them. Let's get this over with."
Jun lunged at the first wild dog with confident speed, aiming to cut it down in one swift motion. But just before his blade could connect, the other two dogs sprang from his blind spots—fangs bared, claws extended.
"Shit—!"
He twisted his body and leapt back, narrowly avoiding a fatal strike. One of the dogs nicked his arm, drawing a thin line of blood.
"Hah… hah… That was close," Jun muttered, panting slightly. "They're fast. Smarter than I expected."
The dogs regrouped without hesitation, forming a triangle formation around him. Their eyes glowed with an unnatural red hue.
"They're not ordinary beasts… Not at all."
Jun gritted his teeth. "I wanted to save this, but fine. I'll use my technique."
He raised his dagger high.
"Black Sword Technique: First Form—Darkness of the Heart!"
Dark shadows burst from his blade and surged toward the dogs, aiming to crush their willpower. For a moment, the beasts froze—their bodies trembling.
"It's working…"
[Skill Interrupted: Black Sword Technique – First Form]
[Monsters Have Resisted the Effect]
[Enemies Freed]
"What?! No—no way!" Jun's heart skipped a beat. "They resisted it? That form crushes the hearts of even higher-level beasts!"
His voice trembled as he stepped back again, eyes wide. "They're only level one. How could they shake it off like that?!"
The dogs barked violently and charged again, faster than before.
"I won't go down this easy… Black Sword Technique: Second Form—Darkness Life!"
A dark mist surged from Jun's feet, blanketing the room in thick, choking blackness. The beasts slowed, their limbs stiffening, bodies trembling. They howled in fear and pain, paralyzed mid-motion.
Jun let out a breath of relief. "Finally. That worked—"
[Skill Interrupted: Black Sword Technique – Second Form]
[Monsters Have Resisted the Effect]
[Enemies Freed]
"No… No…!" Jun stumbled back, his heart thudding in terror. "That's impossible! Two forms?! Both resisted?!"
The dogs growled in unison, surrounding him once more. There was no mockery in their eyes—just hunger. Cold, methodical hunger.
"They're not normal," Jun whispered. "This… this dungeon… it's not what I thought it was…"
The wild dogs leapt.
---
Lion Family Estate – Shan Lion's Office
Late into the night, Shan Lion sat behind his desk, stacks of documents laid out before him. He sipped from a cup of bitter tea when a knock came at the door.
"Come in."
The door opened gently, and Ruhiko entered, arms crossed.
"Ah, honey—you're here!" Shan said, trying to keep his voice casual.
"Why? Can't I visit my husband?"
(Oh no. She's here for Jun, isn't she…?)
"N-not at all! I was just surprised. That's all."
"You don't need to act so surprised," Ruhiko said coolly. "Now, let's talk."
Shan's smile faded. "Why did you come, honey?"
She tilted her head, her tone sharp. "What do you think I came for?"
(Here it comes… Can't she just say it instead of dancing around the question?) "Is it… about Jun Lion?"
"Correct. What a smart husband I have," she said with an icy smile. "Now tell me—why did you let him go? Alone?"
Shan sighed internally. (Why does this always happen to me? One side is Jun, who wants to disappear and do whatever he pleases. The other side is Ruhiko, who hides everything from Jun but wants full control. Am I a bridge or a punching bag?)
"He asked to go on a trip alone. He came to me directly—for the first time. I… couldn't say no."
Ruhiko's eyes narrowed. "I never said he shouldn't go. I'm asking why you let him go alone."
"I told him to take someone, but he refused. He was determined. Said he didn't need help."
"And you just… agreed?" she said, her voice rising slightly. "Amazing. What a responsible father."
"Honey, it's not like that—"
"Oh, you must be so proud. Tell me, at least—you know where he went?"
Shan slowly lowered his gaze.
"(Today… I'm really finished…)" he muttered to himself.
---
To Be Continued…