Prolog : Kang Seongje, Captain of the S Rank Dungeon Raid

The aura that emerged from the dungeon really made the atmosphere tense. The S rank dungeon which was more than a skyscraper with the shape of a black hole, was confronted by more than two hundred A rank hunters and below and eleven S rank hunters, including Kang Seongje. With sparkling equipment, after having his identity checked by the South Korean Hunter Association Board, Kang Seongje as an S rank hunter was allowed to advance against an S rank dungeon that appeared on Nodeul Island.

"Are you worried, huh?" Someone without equipment approached him. Kang Seongje grinned, "Worry my ass. Stop your fucking jokes, Jihyuk. You better evacuate because there are no ordinary people here anymore."

"Hey, I'm the first person to bury you when you die on the front lines, Captain."

"You want me to throw you into the dungeon, Woo Jihyuk?"

Woo Jihyuk, best friend of Kang Seongje, chuckled. He was quite sure that his best friend would succeed in completing this raid. Not once or twice has his friend managed to conquer an S rank dungeon.

"Happy 38th birthday, huh? Pffft, looks like you're going to party with the monsters." Woo Jihyuk teased him again.

During 20 years of friendship, not a single day did he miss congratulating his best friend's birthday. Even after Kang Seongje became an S rank hunter 15 years ago, Woo Jihyuk kept saying it even during raid missions.

"Come back safely. Smash that damn boss monster's head." Woo Jihyuk said very softly. Kang Seongje just smirked in amusement at Woo Jihyuk's words.

"Have you forgotten who I am? Kang Seongje, number one in South Korean internet searches. The top order wants to be a son-in-law. The main character in your own otome game. An S rank hunter who managed to close a total of 4 S rank dungeons that appeared in the world—hold on, your face is disgusting when I flatter myself." Kang Seongje watched Woo Jihyuk who rolled his eyes.

Someone approached them in special army clothes. "Captain Kang, please line up. We will take Mr. Woo to the nearest shelter now."

"Okay, I'm leaving, buddy. Just remember to return safely after finishing off the boss monster." Woo Jihyuk took his leave after seeing Kang Seongje, both of them acted as if it wasn't their farewell.

Kang Seongje turned to the line of other S rank hunters who had been waiting. All the hunters he met today were wearing full equipment according to their attribute requirements. As the leader of the raid, he managed to line up some of the new hunters there.

"Did you bring the boss gem I got from the heart of a boss rank S dungeon monster in China last month? I'll pluck out your eyes if you leave behind. It is a useful item."

S rank hunters approached him, they had strange onyx stones clutched. Someone with an orb hovering over his shoulder asked, "Is it true that this stone can bring up a status window, Captain?"

"Do you think this great 'Kang Seongje' is lying? Just split that strange stone, there will be smoke that will appear and be absorbed into your body." Kang Seongje frowned after hearing that a mage-type hunter didn't believe him.

They split the stone easily. The smoke that appeared when the stone was split, seeped into the bodies of the S rank hunters. Kang Seongje saw that the stone he was holding was actually shattered and the smoke entered easily into his body. They didn't feel anything strange going on in his body.

A hunter wearing warrior equipment asked, "How do we open the status window like you did, Captain?"

"Just like what you see in games, cartoons or comics. Could any of you be of any use, you guys are asking too many questions. It's useless to get an S rank if your brain is not used to think."

The S rankers there were quite offended because of Kang Seongje's very harsh words. They just let it go, there was an S rank dungeon in front of them. It was inappropriate for them to fight each other in the presence of the enemy.

There was a hunter with a white robe that covered his entire body, slightly approaching them. She then said in a fairly loud voice.

"State Window!"

--

[Character Information]

Name : Lee Hanni

Age : 23 years

Job : Healer

HP : 900/900

MP : 998/1000

Str : 120, Int : 250, Vit : 150

Aug : 100, Mon : 200

--

When the status window appeared, wind appeared around the hunter. The white cloak covering his head fell. The pretty face of a girl could be seen from her. She seemed to be happy.

"Woah, I can do it, Captain!" The girl shouted happily.

Seeing what happened, the other hunters started to act the same. They uttered the 'Status Window' just like that hunter named Lee Hanni did.

Many status windows were before them, as expected. However, there are messages that appear simultaneously.

--

[Party Invitation]

'Captain Kang Seongje' invites you to join his party. Will you join?

Yes/No

--

They looked at the captain. Kang Seongje said, "Accept the invitation. I'll get notifications whether you're still alive or have been eaten by monsters.  You can also communicate with me if you accept it. Call me if your life is in danger."

Despite being a jerk, Kang Seongje was indeed worthy of being a leader. In addition to conquering 4 S rank dungeons that appeared in Russia, India, Philippines and recently China, he prioritizes the safety of others first.

S rank dungeons appear once every 6-13 months on all continents, and it has been ten years since the world became like that. Kang Seongje, who had indeed risen to become an S rank hunter, always joined the high rank dungeon raid.

"This will be my fifth time joining the S rank dungeon raid, but that doesn't mean I can guarantee our victory. Let's try to bring the head of the leader of those bastards to our homeland. If successful, your stats will increase due to the effects of the boss gem. That strange stone is really useful." Kang Seongje looked at the hunters.

He grinned. "Come on in!"

***

'Damn, this isn't what I was used to!'

"Captain, how is this? There are already over seventy A rank hunters and below dead. Even our S rank hunters only have four left!"

Kang Seongje cursed, "I know, damn it. I can see it in my status window. Help the other hunters evacuate and report to the Hunter Association Board the situation here."

The healer named Lee Hanni had teary eyes. "W-what do you mean we're going to give up—"

"Hurry up, you fool. I'll restrain these monsters first!"

The healer ran away leaving Kang Seongje fighting the dragon. With his fists, he managed to tear off the legs of several dragons earlier. The deeper into the dungeon, the bigger the dragons got. Kang Seongje didn't care and kept beating the dragons that wanted to leave the dungeon.

His special gloves were tattered. Even his body was full of blood from the monsters he faced. Kang Seongje was still trying to find the boss of the dungeon to avoid a dungeon break.

Brugh!

A dragon that was bigger than the previous dragons stopped in front of him. Kang Seongje laughed in disbelief when he saw the two heads on the dragon's body. He took a position to attack it. His legs were ready to run.

Stab!

A huge dragon fang-shaped sword pierced his heart. Kang Seongje coughed and bled from the mouth. There was no one holding the sword. However, Kang Seongje could feel the mana coming out of the sword.

Brugh!

Kang Seongje fell in front of the two-headed dragon. His eyes were already blurry. He could not focus as the sword pierced right through his heart. It was only a matter of moments before his death. Kang Seongje looked at the hill behind the two-headed dragon. Either he was looking at it wrong or there really was someone with blond hair there.

Before closing his eyes, Kang Seongje saw something in front of his eyes.

--

[Invitation to 'Worlds of Level Up']

An invitation to become one of the living beings in a fantasy world. Will you accept it?

Yes/No

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