Chapter 5
I don't own solo leveling or Jujutsu Kaisen
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"We have much to discuss."
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"I'm sorry if this meeting surprised you, Hunter Kim, but I needed to talk to you about the recent practice raid," Hee-Chan explained to Kim, getting right down to business.
"Your probation status is something that needs to be discussed. I received Park Ji Sung's raid report status from the practice. I want to say that it's unfortunate that things took such a turn facing High Orcs in a practice dungeon shouldn't have happened, but with that thrown your way I was told you showed great adaptability and resourcefulness to save four of your teammates. That's exactly the kind of talent we're looking for in the Hunter's guild," Hee-Chan told Kim very glowingly about the report he received.
"Just what are you trying to say? I'm in?" he asked getting excited at the possibility of officially being part of such a prominent guild. "Not quite yet. There's something I want to test out myself," Hee-Chan said vaguely as he pulled out a purple crystal on top of a portable pedestal connected by various wires to his high-tech computer.
"A magic detector?" Kim questioned noticing the strange device his Division Captain pulled out.
"Yes. It's a good thing you know what this is...saves me time explaining," the man with a very bushy mustache told Kim as he placed the magic detector in front of him.
"Explaining what?"
"Being hunter is dangerous work, Hunter Kim, although we as hunters are in constant danger everytime we enter the gates, it's rare to see a massacre like yours to occur. When the Park Ji Sung called for reinforcements we were lucky to have vice guild master Cha Hae In willing to answer the call, but you were the only one we found only alive, but just barely. There was no sight of these high orcs that Mr. Park spoke of, but we couldn't ignore the claims of our most trusted trainer," Hee-Chan recounted the events Kim was comatose for and then continued to explain how vice master searched the dungeon for any survivors, but only found the broken, but alive body of Bora.
"Get to the point already!" he snapped at the experienced B-rank hunter. Kim was getting annoyed at dancing around that Hee-Chan was doing at the moment. It probably wasn't the best idea to yell at a commanding but he was really testing his patience.
"Okay. So, you see I believe you may have received the 'Double-awakening'," the robust man explained his theory to Kim, who widened his eyes astronomically at the possible explanation for all the weird stuff he had seen since waking up.
'If it's a 'Double-awakening' then it might mean the system is a result of that or the process required for a 'double-awakening', Kim theorized in his head as stared at Hee-Chan.
"As you know a hunter's power levels are set when they receive the 'awakening'. However, some hunters get awakened again after the first time. There have been cases of C-ranks plowing directly to A-rank or a B-rank shooting straight to S-rank," he explained, "This magic detector will be used to measure your magical energy. All you have to do is put your hand on the mana crystal," he continued and motioned for him to put his hand on the purple crystal.
Bora did so without much impromptu. The dial on on Hee-Chan's screen began running through various numbers and eventually settled on a set figure.
'Huh? What's this? His magical energy is equivalent to that of an E-rank hunter. How did he get weaker instead of getting stronger?...I guess it doesn't matter. I had high hopes for him, but it seems trash will remain trash. But that still leaves the question of how he survived a beat down from an high A-rank monster?' the middle aged hunter wondered to himself as he put the device away.
"What's the result?" Bora asked his superior, evidently wondering if what his rank was now, probably E-rank since he feels significantly weaker than before.
"Thanks for all your time, Hunter Kim. I hope to see you soon, but if you need some time off that is also understandable," Hee-Chan said quickly as he stood up from his seat making his way over to the door and held it open for Bora to exit his office.
"Uh? Okay...glad to be of service," he said awkwardly as he left the office with a visibly confused expression on his face.
'What's up with him?' he thought as the door immediately shut behind him.
'He's an E-rank hunter now. How strange? But I can't ignore that report, it seems he will be on probation a bit longer unfortunately," Hee-Chan thought as he stared at the number 100 his computer screen to signify Kim Bora' s magical energy, E-rank.
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"Oh hey, Kim Bora is that you?" Kim heard the his name being called out from behind his back. Turning around he spotted the Hunters guild official trainer for low rank hunters, Park Jin Sung.
"Yeah that's me," he answered the out of breath man. He can't say he didn't expect to run into him after all this was his workplace. "Just wanted to say thank you on behalf of the hunters that survived that incident and myself for saving our asses. When I heard that you were alive I had to make sure to express my gratitude, you did something I wasn't able to do and saved people when didn't make a plan," Mr. Park bowed down low to show his sincerity.
"Uh... No problem man, I was just doing what I was trained to. I wasn't able to save everyone, but I'm glad that there are hunters like yourself still kicking thanks to me. Don't be to hard on yourself," He grinned to show that he genuinely appreciated his gratitude.
"I'll definitely put in a good word for you with Mr. Hee Chan so keep up the good work, kid Anyways I'm going to be late for an appointment, but I'm confident I'll be seeing you around," Park said walking off with haste to the appointment he was running late for.
'Huh, I think I've started to grow on him,' the white haired youth thought with a small laugh walking off to his errand for the day.
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A tall, lean figure was standing in front of station tunnel leading to the bus terminals underneath, with a backpack hanging from his right shoulder. He was wearing a black zip-up jacket with a high collar that was fairly wide. He also had slim-fit black pants and dark blue sneakers. His silver-white hair flowed freely as the fringes covered his black eyes, partially.
"Double-awakening, huh? I guess it's time to find out," Kim spoke his thoughts out loud as he pulled out the blue key.
His right arm began shaking as held the key. He noticed this and immediately clamped down on the arm with his left hand and bowed his head as he let out a deep breath.
'What's going on with me. This is just a D-ranked gate...you've cleared plenty of those, but...solo? Can I really do this by myself?' he began doubting himself as he backed away from 1st exit of Seoul Express Bus Terminal.
"Hey man! Watch where you're going!" an irritated individual yelled out at Bora, because he dropped his bag thanks to the white haired male bumping into him.
He suddenly remembered the promise he made to himself on his death bed. He would prove not only her, but everyone wrong, no matter what. He shook his head and then turned his head to apologize to the angry man with a 90 degree bow. "Sorry... I wasn't sure where I was at that moment, but now...I'm certain of where I'm headed," he apologized to the man, but it sounded more like an apology to himself.
'I swear to myself I won't back down! It's time to show the world, Kim Bora!' he turned back to the exit and clenched his right hand around the dungeon key.
"What a weirdo," the man muttered as he left the scene with his bag.
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Kim Bora stuck out the key and turned as if there was a door in front of him. That seemed to do the trick as the very air in front of him shattered like glass while an electric black flash sparked out revealing a glowing blue portal that stabilized enough for him to enter.
He did so without hesitation and watched as a notification from the system told him he had entered the instant dungeon.
He walked forward a few paces before he noticed the entrance behind him was being sealed up.
"What!? The entrance is being sealed!" he shouted out as he pounded his fists on the portal to try to get it to open up, however it was futile. "Huh?" he couldn't help but comment out loud as a person to the left of him walked right past the entrance.
'It's not like a normal gate. Maybe it exists in a parallel dimension that's overlapping our dimension. The key must be the 'key' to open that parallel dimension,' he theorized as put his hands to the side looking up at the quest instructions from the system.
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[Quest Instructions:
Player may not leave the dungeon. Kill the boss or use Curse Marking to return.]
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"Haha...well I wasn't really planning on running anyway, but this makes this less complicated," the white haired male chuckled as he turned his head to face the dark abyss waiting for him.
"I'm confident in my ability to handle D-rank monsters, but without a raid team to back me up..." he said with a nervous gulp as he walked down the stairs.