ORΛCLE

Seoul, South Korea

A vast, sprawling metropolis full of life and activities. In one of the busiest intersection, pedestrians passing through the streets to their destinations. As the lights turn green, cars' engines starts to roar and drive by. People stopped crossing, waiting for their time to cross.

[Introducing the new ORΛCLE® Nexus™ Note]

A digital signboard is displaying a brand new phone with it's list of specifications.

[IP69K Dust and Water Resistance]

[Hunter Grade Durability can withstand up to A Grade Magic Beast.]

The phone can be seen in-front of the magic beast scratching, trying to take a bite out of the phone. The beast was killed with a fireball, the camera then zoomed in to the phone with no signs of scratches and damage.

[3 Day Battery Life]

A Hunter can be seen using the phone browsing short videos while fighting an oversized wolf.

[Official Phone of the Korean Hunters Association]

The official seal of the Korean Hunters Association can be seen along with the device's price.

[₩ 1,755,000] ($ 1,344.54)

***

A bustling metropolis, filled with tall skyscrapers grazing the skylines. In the midst of the concrete jungle, a headquarters could be seen with a sign…

ORΛCLE Technologies

| To a brighter tomorrow. |

"Dr. Hwangmok, how's the progress on Project LEVELING?"

Two men are currently in a deep discussion. Expounding plans on expansion and experiments.

A handsome young man in his mid-twenties wearing tight fitting suit with blue highlights and a middle age man wearing a lab coat and glasses carrying stacks of folders filled to the brim with papers.

"There's still no progress. We haven't been seeing any results. All participants still doesn't show signs of increase in mana or power. No double awakening either." The middle age man replied while placing down the tower of folders with CONFIDENTIAL written all over it.

The young man sighed, sitting down on his chair facing the head of ORΛCLEˣ Research. Infront of him is a big executive desk full of confidential experimental technology and a display nameplate, reading [Sung Jin-hwan | Chairman, CTO & CEO, ORΛCLE Technologies].

"I knew this wouldn't go far... Still continue, this is being funded by the government after all. Send me the full project report later."

Dr. Hwangmok Shin-II nodded. He then filed the folders, specifically placing a report on top entitled 'Experiment Report: Losing Motivation' and gave it to Jin-hwan.

Jin-hwan noticed the action. He leaned forward and read the report with an interested gaze. After reaching at the end of the report with wide eyes, he had an epiphany.

"Let the Gaming Division join the project. I'll be personally overseeing this part." Jin-hwan said while typing on his computer an email to the head of ORΛCLE Signature's Gaming Division.

*click*

With a last satisfying keyboard press, he then continued the discussion.

"Then next on the agenda is... the factory expansion and mass production. Any updates?"

"Things have been going smoothly but there's two big problems. One, our major supplier on... plastics have suddenly stop production with the excuse of 'supply chain problems'."

Jin-hwan said in disbelief. "Ahh those tools again?…"

He had gone to the suppliers many times, reaching out to them and its seems like its all for nought.

'Do I need to drill it to their heads?' He muttered.

"Yes sir, they want another month extension."

"I had enough. We'll immediately change suppliers. We can't delay this anymore."

Jin-hwan ordered as he gave a folder titled 'Xross V.2'. The head of ORΛCLEˣ Research took it with a surprised look and nodded with excitement.

"So then… what's the last headache?" Jin-hwan returned his attention to Dr.Hwangmok.

"Another gate has appear on one of our ports, our cargo ships can't dock to unload the building materials."

'Huh?... there's more gates spawning… is something coming?… Needs more research...' Jin-hwan pondered as he recalled the number of times the gates has spawned within the month.

"Another one... Tell the association that I'll deal with it. Continue with Protocol 007."

"Yes sir. I have already alerted the OSG's (ORΛCLE Security Group) MTF (Mobile Task Force) in securing the area and started preliminary inspection of the damages."

"Good then next on the list is-" The young man's phone started sounding like an air raid siren and buzzing like crazy in his pocket.

Waahhh!

Oogah-oogah

Both the men with alerted eyes had an alarmed look on their face. As this could only mean one thing, the CEO's brother is in danger.

"Jin-woo..." Jin-hwan muttered

"We'll cut this meeting short, move it early morning."

The young CEO hurriedly went out of his office, madly dashing out to his car.

'Oh... Jin-woo… Please be safe.'

***

SLAM!!

Everyone was jolted back to their senses at the sudden explosion of noise.

"What, what was that?!"

"Where did that sudden noise come from?!"

The first person to notice the change in the situation was none other than Jin-woo. Because his senses were running at full tilt already, he could tell where the noise was coming from right away.

"The door!! The door is closed!!"

As soon as Jin-woo shouted out, everyone shifted gazes towards the doorway. The door they left open was not firmly shut close.

"God damn it! I can't stand this!"

The hunter who first voted "no" to enter the Double Dungeon swore and headed towards the door.

"I'm going home, so you all can have fun with a boss or treasures or whatever."

The Hunter glared at Song with all of his dissatisfaction before the man turned and grabbed the door's handles.

It happened, then.

Song's eyes grew extra large.

"No!!"

Swish!

A sickening sound of 'something' striking 'something' rang throughout the temple.

The area above the man's neck suddenly vanished. The headless body powerlessly collapsed to the ground.

"K, kkkkyaaachk?!"

"Uwaa?! Uwaak!!"

Hunters began screaming their heads off.

***

While waiting for the traffic to move Jin-hwan was in a call with the Korean Hunters Association.

"Yeah, yeah. I'll deal with it later."

"Yes. I know. We'll continue later."

"Later."

"Now… What dungeon is Jin-woo currently in?"

"D Rank? Supervised by the Association?…"

'Well clearly something has gone wrong.'

Glancing at his phone, showing no updates or status on Jin-woo. Not even a ping from the device.

"Fuck." He cursed loudly.

"I'm coming, prepare a medical team. There's an emergency, Project APOLLO, CODE 1." Jin-hwan ended the call. He focused his attention on the road to see a jammed pack of cars.

"God dammit, traffic again?!"

Jin-hwan was tapping on the dashboard rapidly which sounded like a horse running. He then exhaled and focused on the road hoping for the best. But then suddenly thought of the worst…

"Oh God, I hope it's not a double dungeon."

He slowly slump on the steering wheel in worry.

HONK!!

***

Turning around, Jin-woo saw Mr. Song and Joohee safely make it through the open doors.

'Thank God… I'm the only one that'll die now.'

griiiiiind~

sliiiiiide~

*Stop*

They were here.

The first one to arrive took a step towards the altar. Jin-Woo glared at it and lifted the sword up.

"Come."

Unfortunately, the expected attack didn't come from the front, but his back.

*Stab*

The spear that pierced his back now protruded out of his chest.

"Keok!"

Jin-woo spat out a large amount of blood. The pain assaulted his senses like hell.

"If the place you were stabbed in was just a bit higher, it would've pierced your heart!"

Joohee's words from earlier flashed across his mind.

"Wu-wuaaaaak!"

The stone statue lifted up the spear. Jin-Woo was lifted up along into the air, still pierced through by that spear. He only got to struggle for a brief moment, though - because the statue slammed him down the altar.

"Keok!"

He heard the sound of bones breaking throughout his entire body. There was nowhere he did not feel pain.

One by one, the statues gathered around the convulsing Jin-Woo, who glared up at them.

'I don't… I don't want to die like this.'

As death crept closer and closer, tears formed in his eyes.

He recalled the faces of his family. He even recalled the face of Joohee, her face full of anxiety and worry for his safety…

'I don't want to die…'

He didn't want to end his short twenty-four years of his life in this place.

Step~

The stone statue wielding a sword took a step closer without a hint of emotion. Then, it raised its sword up high.

Even though he was shaking hard. Jin-Woo did not avert his gaze away from this bastard.

Finally, the statue's sword slashed down.

Swiiiishhh….