A Mystery

Park Hyeonwoo and the others disappeared into the portal. The female Healer hesitated as she approached, her fear evident to anyone looking at her, including Lee Seung.

Lee Seung shared her apprehension, knowing his strength would be useless against the monsters if the team got separated. But his fear wasn't as intense as the Healer's.

Pulling his bag closer to his back, he moved towards the portal. "The others will protect us. Let's go."

Stepping out of the internal portal that vanished immediately, they found themselves in a wide, cave-like dungeon, brightly lit by headlamps hung on the walls. The stench of decay mingled with the cold air.

"Argh, this icy chill again! I hope we finish quickly!" Jiwoo muttered, squeezing her handbag as if it were her enemy.

She had resigned as a Healer from a team after almost losing her life trying to regrow a teammate's leg. Nothing could change her mind until her boyfriend fell ill with a chronic disease that required a significant amount of money for surgery, leading her to join this present team.

Lee Seung's eyes darted around. 'Why is it so silent? Are the monsters hiding somewhere? Is this typical of a C-rank dungeon?'

As he scanned the room, the headlamps were the only things that stood out. How could a beast kingdom have such technology? And who was powering them?

"Come on, let's move!" Park Hyeonwoo's voice jolted him back to reality. He and Jiwoo caught up with the others and ventured deeper inside, moving towards the darkness.

Soon, they stumbled upon a narrow path that disappeared into darkness.

The metahumans continued down it until a chilling, eerie cry echoed ahead.

"Raarrgh!"

"The monsters are getting closer," Park Hyeonwoo said, stepping forward.

"Ehh..." Jiwoo whimpered, clutching Lee Seung's arm tightly like a scared child.

He gently removed her hand, but she didn't let go. "What...are you doing? They aren't here yet...so you should..."

Despite his discomfort, nothing changed. He let her be and looked ahead; nothing would happen just because she was holding his arm.

"Mister Park, those sound like zombies. Listen to them!" Yung said, seemingly unfazed.

Park moved to the front, slightly ahead of the others. "I think this is a multi-hunting type, but the boss should be weak. I'll clear them quickly so we can find the boss monster's chamber."

It had been almost a year since the team had started hunting together, though Jiwoo had joined just a week ago, a newcomer like Lee Seung. The other four members had already developed a rapport.

They knew Park Hyeonwoo's next move instinctively if he was unarmed and needed to wrap things up quickly.

Snarl, snarl!

Out of the darkness, zombies emerged, their slow, deliberate steps crunching on the debris-strewn floor. Lee Seung wrinkled his nose and quickly covered it with his sleeve as the pungent stench of decay permeated the air.

Park Hyeonwoo ignited his palms, unleashing a torrent of orange flames that engulfed the approaching zombies. Everyone shielded their faces from the intense heat.

Flame magic was Park's specialty.

Crrrrt...

The eerie sound of the zombies gradually faded as they were reduced to ashes by the flames. Once the fire subsided, Park said cautiously, "Minho, collect the ashes. They might be useful for alchemy."

"Understood, Mr. Park," said the tall, bespectacled young man as he carefully gathered the ashes into glass tubes. He, Seongjin, Minho, and the Healer were all in their late twenties.

Everyone could tell Lee Seung was still a teenager without needing to ask.

Lee Seung was impressed by the team's coordination. A team like this would have no issues with internal betrayal. It was all proof that they would secure the treasure he sought.

'I'm definitely going home with the Jar of Life today!'

After collecting the ashes, they stowed the tubes in the bag and pressed forward. Time passed, yet they encountered no monsters, not even weak C-ranks or lower. In a multi-tiered dungeon like this, there should have been pests or vermin at the very least.

It wasn't until Park Hyeonwoo checked his wristwatch that he realized they had spent nearly three hours in this place.

"Mr. Park, isn't this strange? A dungeon this large without any monsters... and not even many D-ranks," Yung lamented, breaking the silence and causing the others to stop.

Seongjin stroked his chin thoughtfully. "What if there really are none? What if other teams have already cleared this place?"

Lee Seung's muscles tensed, and he clenched his fists. His face darkened.

'What nonsense is he spouting, old-timer?'

Mr. Park responded to Seongjin, "That's impossible. HC in Seoul wouldn't have authorized our team for this location if it were already cleared."

"That's right," Yung agreed, nodding vigorously.

"Do you think the monsters are playing tricks on us?" Minho asked.

Park Hyeonwoo sighed, hands in his pockets. "Most likely."

It was the first time Park had encountered a dungeon where they were exhausted before even finding the boss monster. Usually, he only lost a bit of strength after his team defeated the dungeon boss.

Lee Seung sighed quietly. 'Come on, let's keep searching!'

He sensed movement next to him and glanced over to see Jiwoo approaching, her eyes wide with fear.

"Isn't that... a door?" Her voice trembled.

"The door to the boss chamber?" Lee Seung said loudly, drawing everyone's attention.

"What? Where?" Park Hyeonwoo asked quickly, and Jiwoo pointed to the left.

Lee Seung's shoulders slumped.

'Did I really shout that loud? Am I that impatient?'

Some team members switched on their torches, illuminating a distant door. It was small and made of black marble, with no visible lock.

"Why does it smell like ointment?" Park frowned, examining the door. The lack of a lock piqued everyone's curiosity.

Something didn't feel right about this dungeon. First, the entrance was lit by headlamps, and instead of a large number of beasts, they only encountered a few weak ones.

Passing through that marble door without a solid plan was suicidal. Park turned to Jiwoo.

"Jiwoo, can you get the gadget from the bag?"

A gadget?

Lee Seung frowned, trying to understand what was happening.

Park retrieved the device and powered it on, placing it on the door. It resembled a common drone, but without legs. The screen began processing the command Park had given.

[Reading mana content...]

[Error: Zero mana detected. Please try again later.]

Minho gasped. "Wow... this dungeon is really strange. What do we do now, Mr. Park?"

"The gadget might say that, but my gut tells me there's something inside," Park said thoughtfully. "What do you guys think? I'm okay with going in..."

"Me too!" Minho, Seongjin, and Yung chimed in.

Park turned to the Healer and the E-rank Hunter.

"What about you two? If you decide to leave, it's no problem. We can leave the bag here and make sure to protect ourselves from harm."

It was a chance for the timid to turn back.

"Jiwoo, regardless of your decision, your share of the earnings will still be wired to your account. And young man, we'll collect the treasure for you as well. Just make your choice."

Lee Seung caught Jiwoo's gaze. Her eyes pleaded with him not to follow the others' choice.

To leave would mean depending on the Hunters for the Jar of Life. But he wasn't the type to rely on others. The worst-case scenario would be losing the chance to revive his sister if something happened to the team members. It could be years before he got another opportunity.

He knew such impulsive action could be disastrous.

"I agree, let's move forward," Seung said.

Jiwoo dropped her gaze to the ground, trembling.

Lee Seung gently touched her shoulder. "You can still leave if-"

"You've got to be kidding me! Can someone who's afraid of encountering monsters even in the safety of the team walk out of this scary cavern alone?!" Jiwoo glared at Seung, her expression a mix of fear and anger.

Lee Seung looked away, fiddling with the straps of his bag.

'Whoa, she's really lost it.'

Park's mouth hung open slightly. Jiwoo's outburst had cut in just as he was about to settle things down.

"Um...?" He glanced from one to the other, unsure what to say.

Then Jiwoo spoke again, her voice soft and calm. "It's too risky for a team without a Healer. If you all get seriously injured after leaving here, it'll be my fault, and I won't accept any payment. I think we should go inside before it's too late."

Minho, the strongest among them, pushed open the marble door, which swung inward after a moment. As the others moved inside, Seung had to shove the bag through first, since the opening was small, before following.

* * *

The Hunters passed through the door, leading to a vast, cavernous space. The air inside was cold and damp, carrying a faint metallic scent that set their nerves on edge.

"What the heck is this place?" Yung cursed, gazing up at the ceilings.

However, it seemed as if the room had no ceiling. The high, vaulted space disappeared into darkness, with occasional flickers of light from unseen sources illuminating the area sporadically.

"Seriously, there's not even a boss here?" Jiwoo whispered, her voice barely above a murmur.

Lee Seung was left dumbfounded by the interior. It resembled an old temple, but the resemblance was fleeting.

The scariest part was the massive stone pillars rising from the ground at the center of the dungeon, their surfaces covered in strange, glowing glyphs that pulsed with an eerie, rhythmic light.

'That... looks so sacred and scary!'

"I think that center... It looks like some kind of sealing formation," Minho observed, his brow furrowed in thought.

When Lee Seung took a step forward, he heard something crumble under his feet. Startled, he looked down and saw a small statue, now reduced to clay fragments.

"Mr. Park, please check-" he paused in a surprised manner. He was startled by what was on the floor.

"Mm?" Park shifted his gaze at him.

Scattered across the cracked, moss-covered tiles were fragments of shattered statues and relics. Lee Seung bent down and picked up one of the statues, his brows furrowing in wonder.

He looked up. "Mr. Park, can you take a look at this?"

Mr. Park knelt beside him, taking the statue from Seung's hand and examining it closely. His eyes widened with recognition; this was a Mythendra, a statue he had read about when he was around ten years old.

"Mythendras serve a single purpose as a magical supplement," Park explained, his voice tinged with awe.

Seung tilted his head, curiosity evident. "Like sealing an evil spirit?"

"Yes," Park confirmed, nodding. "Exactly."

Decades ago, magic existed long before the monster invasion. Monks and priests wielded this power through ancient artifacts like Mythendras. However, when the government discovered this secret, they ordered the military to destroy all temples and sacred places, forcing monks and priests to cease their practices.

Park stood up, brushing dust off his knees. "I can feel an eerie sensation here. This place has a dark history. We are undoubtedly in an ancient temple, and these shattered relics hint at a bloody past."

Even the bravest Hunters swallowed hard. Tension hung thick in the air, and Park's heart pounded in his chest. Despite the complexity of their situation, none of them was willing to leave empty-handed. Park needed money to complete his vanguard store, a dream left unfinished for years. Each team member had their reasons for staying, and leaving was not an option.

The team spread out, searching for clues to find the boss. Soon, Jiwoo called everyone over to a wall.

"What's this?"

"It looks like a riddle."

"Who can decipher it?"

On a wall made of smooth, almost black stone, a rectangular metallic plate was embedded. Lee Seung leaned closer, studying the riddle etched into the metal:

To roam this room, a daunting task, where paths converge, and questions ask. Fifteen steps forth, heed shadows' song, the heart awaits, where shadows throng. Beware the center, where darkness creeps, return to the plate, where silence speaks.

"Fifteen steps forth... what does that mean?" Seung muttered, his brows knitting together in confusion. He felt he understood parts of it, the most important parts, but the complete meaning still eluded him.

"Return to the plate... fifteen steps. Is that it?" Seung murmured.

Without hesitation, he borrowed Yung's dagger and hurled it into the air. Just as he expected, the dagger returned to his hand after slicing through the room.

"Eii... how did you do that? Did you turn my dagger into a boomerang?" Yung exclaimed, amazement in his voice.

Seung, eyes fixed on the pillars at the center of the room, said, "Could you please recite the riddle slowly, hyungnim?"

'Why's he acting bossy just because he can decipher it?' Yung thought, but he complied.

"Now, it's fifteen steps forward," Seung muttered, moving his legs forward.

"...12, 13, 14, 15."

He arrived at the pillars, a shiver running down his spine as he glimpsed the erect structures. The pillars encircled a raised platform with an altar made of dark stone, inlaid with gemstones that had lost their luster.

"Have you discovered something?" Park Hyeonwhoo asked, joining Seung. The others gathered around the pillars as well.

Seung pointed to the altar. "I think the person who wrote the riddle was warning us about this center. With the bloodstain on the altar and the shattered artifacts, it seems some people got seriously injured to seal a monster inside. They likely lost their lives doing so."

Jiwoo's chubby cheeks lit up with a grin. "Since he said that, I think we should leave—"

"No way!" Minho interrupted.

"Pardon?"

"Everyone needs the profit from this operation. Even if you back down now, I'll continue on my own," Minho declared.

Jiwoo's nerves were on edge. "Eii... don't tell me you're going to release the monster! Didn't you hear what he said? People lost their lives to seal it!"

"But we're Hunters," Park said, his voice steady. Jiwoo's worried eyes turned to him. "And a real Hunter doesn't turn back when monsters are right before him."

Jiwoo shook her head in disappointment. "Ahjussi, were you always like this?"

With his hands folded in front of him, Seongjin said, "Don't blame him, Jiwoo. Everyone is just taking care of their own responsibility."

Lee Seung nodded, understanding the truth of those words. After all, it was the principle he followed every day.

Park Hyeonwhoo reactivated his flame magic, directing it at the brick pillars. The orange-red flames burned through them quickly, and soon the altar was set on fire.

Cackle...

Time passed, yet nothing changed. The room was silent except for the crackling of flames.

Lee Seung whispered to himself, "Are we just going to keep on w—"

Suddenly, a deafening roar erupted from the depths of the dungeon, followed by a violent tremor.

Whoosh!!

"It seems the monster is awakening!" Yung shouted, urgency in his voice.

"Stay alert, everyone!" Park commanded.

A wave of raw, dark energy rippled out from the altar, tearing through the ground like a shockwave. The force was immense, lifting the Hunters off their feet and hurling them through the air.

Hiss!

Lee Seung and Jiwoo crashed into the wall, while the other Hunters skillfully balanced themselves without falling.

"Argh!" Seung grimaced, rising to his feet.

Suddenly, the wave stopped. The ominous stillness suggested something worse was coming.

A tall, imposing shadow emerged, and Lee Seung's gaze followed its rise. His mouth fell open, his hands trembling. He could hear his heart pounding, vibrations surging through his body. It wasn't just him; everyone was terrified by the figure.

Park felt a chill run down his spine. 'What kind of monster have we released?! It feels like I'm staring at death itself!' he thought, his teeth clenching.

Jiwoo's face was pale with fear, tears streaming down her cheeks. "I said it! I did! They shouldn't have done this!"

The creature towered over ten feet tall, with a gaunt, skeletal frame and elongated limbs ending in razor-sharp claws. Its ashen gray skin, stretched taut over its bones, appeared both smooth and leathery, with semi-translucent patches revealing dark, pulsing veins.

Its serpent-like head featured hollow, sunken eyes glowing with malevolence and a grotesque maw filled with rows of razor-sharp teeth. Instead of a nose, it had two slits that flared and contracted, sensing the life force of its prey. Its piercing gaze seemed to reach into one's very soul, paralyzing with sheer terror.

Yung exploded, his voice a mix of tension and anger. "God damnit, I can't stand this any longer!"

"Yung! Don't move!" Park shouted, trying to grab him, but Yung had already turned invisible.