Arka Nurdiansyah tilted his head upward and took a deep breath in the dark corridor of the "Serpih Cave" Dungeon. The air felt damp, heavy with the scent of wet earth and moss clinging to the stone walls. Faint echoes of miners' pickaxes rang from somewhere deep below, but in this tunnel, Arka felt as though he were in another world—one filled only with darkness, pain, and fear.
Since childhood, Arka had heard the myths about dungeons—underground caverns where savage monsters lurked, waiting for careless victims. He grew up in Kaena City, a small port town on the edge of the Eastern Sea, where dungeons were as much a part of daily life as the harbor. Behind the bustling marketplace and merchant ships stood the Main Gate, which connected the human realm to the subterranean domain. Whenever the Gate opened, monsters swarmed out, and Hunters—licensed monster slayers—stood guard.
Arka was just one of many trying to lift his family out of poverty. His father, once a Class D Hunter, had to retire early after a severe injury. His older brother, Rendi, took odd jobs at the docks to pay for their father's medical bills. As the youngest son, Arka could only watch with envy as his friends acquired proper combat gear. His thin frame was better suited for rescuing books than saving lives. Yet today, he had recklessly joined an amateur team to "conquer" a low‐rank dungeon—just to earn a few coins and supplies for his family.
His steps faltered as he gripped his half‐rotted wooden sword. He wore a thin leather tunic that offered almost no protection. His body trembled, not only from the cold dampness but also from sheer terror. The rest of the team was already far ahead—two burly men with sharp eyes and a red‐haired woman who held her breath every time their footsteps stirred up dust.
"Are you sure this is the place?" Arka asked, his voice quivering.
"Relax. It's only an F‐Rank dungeon. It won't kill you… probably," replied one of the burly men, Azlan, with a grin. "You might even get some coins. Maybe you'll get lucky and find rare loot."
Arka nodded faintly, trying to summon courage. But deep down, he knew how slim his chances were. He had never officially slain a single monster. His level? Hardly worthy of the name. He didn't even possess a government‐issued Hunter's license—without one, he was nothing more than a death‐seeking amateur.
His body tensed as a low growl echoed from the next corridor. Water dripped from the stone ceiling, the sound of droplets haunting the silence. Rika, the red‐haired woman, drew an arrow from her quiver and readied herself. Her gaze was razor‐sharp as she scanned the darkness. The two burly men beside her raised their spear and iron sword. Arka tightened his grip on his weapon, feeling the rough wood press into his palm.
Suddenly, a dim lantern hanging on the wall cast a flickering light on a large shape emerging from the shadows. A red‐horned goblin—small but agile, with glowing yellow eyes full of malice—skulked into view. Blood oozed between its jagged teeth. It snarled, baring its filthy fangs as if to invite the battle.
"Goblin!" Azlan shouted, lunging forward with his spear. His first strike struck the goblin's wooden shield, but the creature slipped away with surprising speed.
Arka held his breath. It was the first time he saw a monster so up close. Small stones scattered as Azlan's spear splintered into the cave wall. Undeterred, the goblin leapt forward toward Azlan, colliding spear against spear.
Rika immediately loosed her arrow—but the goblin deflected it with its small, sharp blade. The arrow snapped in midair, producing a thunderous crack that left Arka gaping in astonishment.
"Arka, move!" yelled Iqbal, the man wearing a torn iron helm. "Don't just stand there!"
Arka shook his head, cold sweat dripping down his forehead. He tried to step forward, but his knees trembled violently. His sword rose only to waist height—no more.
Iqbal turned, eyes sharp. "Quickly! You're not here to watch!"
A jolt of shame shot through Arka. He took a hesitant step, tapping the sword's tip against the wet ground. But as he approached, the goblin slipped free from Azlan's defense. With astonishing speed, it darted through the formation and struck Arka, sending him sprawling; his sword flew from his hand as searing pain surged in his arm.
"Arka!" Rika screamed, rushing in to cleave the goblin with her blade. Her weapon sliced through the air with a swift whistle and finally struck the goblin's body, splitting it in two. Its blood spurted out, staining the stone steps.
Gasping for breath, Arka tried to stanch the warm fluid flowing from his arm. He stared at the severed goblin, then lifted his eyes to Rika, who lowered her sword. In his heart, relief mingled with shame—he almost became a casualty if not for Rika's quick strike.
"Are you all right?" Rika asked, her voice gentle but firm. Her brown eyes reflected concern.
"Y-Yes… yes," Arka replied, wiping the blood dripping from his arm. "Sorry, I was a burden."
Iqbal glared at him coldly. "If you can't help, you'd better step back." A mocking chuckle escaped Azlan's lips. "Better to stay home reading books than be here."
Arka clenched the wooden hilt, refusing to retreat. He stared at the two men, then squared his shoulders with a trembling voice, "I… I will help."
Iqbal snorted, while Azlan muttered, "Forced labor." But Rika stepped forward, patting Arka's shoulder gently. "We'll continue, but stay in position." Her smile warmed Arka's heart, giving him a spark of determination.
They pressed deeper into the corridor. The further they went, the colder the air became, and Arka's anxious thoughts roared in his mind. He had failed to save himself a moment ago, but he was determined to prove he wasn't entirely useless. Each time his foot met the stone floor, his heart pounded like a war drum.
Suddenly, low laughter echoed through the tunnel. Two small goblins dashed out, each brandishing a flimsy wooden spear. Their eyes glowed with savage intent as they charged toward Arka's team.
"Goblin again…" Iqbal grimaced, swinging his long sword. Yet one of the goblins ducked under his blade with a quick leap—its movement so swift that Iqbal stumbled to the ground, his sword slipping from his grasp and landing several meters away.
Arka watched in horror as Iqbal lay on the floor, blood trickling from his forehead—panic surged within him. "Iqbal!" he cried, stepping forward, but Rika held him back, raising her sword between them. "Let me handle this."
Rika sprinted forward, blade poised high. She delivered a swift diagonal slash, separating the goblin's head from its body. Without breaking stride, she spun to face the second goblin, which shrieked and lunged at Arka's back with its fragile spear. In that instant, while Rika's sword and Arka's own foot moved in a blur, the spear jabbed into Arka's abdomen.
Pain shot through him—Arka froze, vision blurring. A primal panic screamed in his mind: he was about to die. Yet Rika's gaze locked onto him, refusing to let him perish.
In that darkness, an unseen signal rippled through the universe. Arka's near‐hopeless final moments transformed as though dawn had shattered the night.
"WARNING! Hunters System has awakened."
A cold, mechanical voice rang in his mind. Immediately, Arka went still—the sound felt like a shockwave that stilled every ounce of pain and fear. He stared at the cavern ceiling, which should have been dancing with lantern light, but now his vision seemed fixed on another realm—an empty space filled with numbers and foreign terms like Name, Class, Level, Health, Mana, Strength, Agility, and more.
Arka was speechless. All his awareness centered on a transparent screen—as though a blue sky had materialized inside his mind. On it, the following was written:
Name: Arka Nurdiansyah
Class: [Unassigned]
Level: 1
EXP: 0/100
Health: 50/50
Mana: 10/10
Strength: 5
Agility: 5
Intelligence: 4
Dexterity: 4
Those numbers sent his heart racing. How could he have a level? He hadn't even passed the official Hunter's license exam. He was just a powerless youth with no real combat skill.
"Level… 1?" he whispered, voice trembling. A strange sensation pulsed through his chest—like a spark of new hope igniting amidst the shards of pessimism that had always accompanied him. He closed his eyes, feeling warmth spread throughout his body. Slowly, he opened them and gazed at the screen again.
"What… what is this System?" he muttered, his fingers brushing the intangible interface. His touch immediately moved the cursor to the Quest menu. A simple quest was displayed:
> "Defeat 5 Goblins (0/5)"
> "Go to Dungeon: Serpih Cave, E‐Rank"
Arka was stunned: a quest? A quest reward? He darted a glance at his teammates, who were still fighting monsters—yet now, as though time itself had paused, the goblin that had just impaled him hung motionless in the air. His attention was entirely consumed by the dancing transparent screen before his eyes.
His voice was hoarse as he asked, "Wh-What's happening?"
Suddenly, the goblin that had stabbed him lunged forward again, driving its spear deeper. But Arka's body responded to a new, strange law, as the spear was about to pierce his flesh, he was hurled backward several steps by a force he did not understand. The wooden spear splintered against the stone wall, and the goblin was flung backward as though struck by an invisible blast.
Rika, who witnessed it all, gaped in astonishment, her sword halfway raised before she resumed the attack. The goblin's head fell, rolling on the cave floor in a dim lantern glow. All eyes turned to Arka. The two burly men who had once mocked him now fell silent, their lips sealed by awe and fear.
Arka felt a pulse in his abdomen—the spear wound was gone. Pain vanished as an odd warmth replaced it. He looked at the Status screen, which now read:
Health: 50/50 (Regenerating)
With each passing second, the Health value ticked upward: 50… 51… 52… until it reached the maximum. The spear that had impaled him disappeared, leaving only a faint scar that seemed to be healing.
"Legend…" Arka whispered, his voice quavering. He gripped his wooden sword gently, feeling the trembling energy coursing through it. His vision blurred as gratitude and fear collided within him. He could hardly believe what had just transpired.
Iqbal, wounded by the goblin's strike, sat up and stared at Arka, eyes wide as he tried to comprehend what had happened. Azlan frowned but dared not taunt him— instead, he held his breath, as though waiting for the next moment.
Arka rose to his feet, leaning slightly on Rika's support. He drew a deep breath, looking up at the lantern‐lit ceiling and seeing the light dance more softly than before. Silence filled the dungeon corridor.
"Wh-What just happened?" Rika asked, her voice soft but filled with awe.
Arka shook his head, touching his chest as it pounded. "I… I don't know. It's like… a new power." He looked at the Status screen floating before him, then glanced at his companions. "Can't you see it?"
Iqbal shook his head, but Azlan stared intently. "I saw something. You… you survived that goblin's strike. The spear that impaled you just vanished." His tone was serious, free of the usual ridicule.
Arka managed a stiff smile. "I can't believe it either. But… I heard a voice, and suddenly this screen appeared. The System… it called itself the 'Hunters System.'" He pointed to the screen only he could see. The team stared blankly, confused, then slowly backed away, forming a circle around Arka.
Rika placed her hand on Arka's chest, feeling a steady pulse. "You're alive, Arka. That's what matters." Her sincere smile offered a warmth that stirred emotion within him.
Meanwhile, a distant rumble echoed deeper in the corridor—the heavy footfalls of a higher‐tier monster approaching. Arka glanced again at his Status, his fingers sensing the strange energy flowing beneath his wooden sword. Level 1. He had just become a Hunter—sans license, without guidance—relying solely on this mysterious system.
"We should get out of here now," Iqbal said, his voice subdued by the gravity of the situation. "This dungeon seems to have stronger monsters."
Arka nodded, straightening his posture. At least this time, he wouldn't fall so easily. He looked at Rika, who returned her sword to its sheath. Lantern light flickered along the corridor, casting long shadows across her face, giving her the look of a steadfast guardian rather than a fragile girl.
They backed away slowly, moving away from the site of the battle. Arka's eyes flicked to the Inventory menu—empty, except for one item: "Wooden Sword (Good Condition)." He realized how fragile his equipment was. Yet, deep inside, a voice cried out that this was only the beginning.
Before they reached the tunnel's crossroads, a deep, guttural roar reverberated: "Grrraaah!" A massive silhouette emerged from the right side of the cave, larger than any goblin. An orc with green eyes and ashen skin snarled, its rusty iron spear gripped in its left hand. Nearly twice the height of an average human, its body was hulking and ferocious. It exhaled a long breath as though challenging them.
Arka swallowed hard. He glanced at his teammates, who initially hesitated but then raised their weapons swiftly. The two burly men formed a defensive line—Iqbal in front with his long sword ready, Azlan beside him with his spear poised to strike. Rika notched an arrow, prepared to shoot. Arka? He gripped his wooden sword tightly, though his hands and body still trembled.
The orc's gaze locked onto Arka. In that instant, Arka felt a surge of foreign energy responding to his system. His Status screen flashed a warning: this orc was D‐Rank—far more powerful than any goblin. But Arka had one strategy: he might not win by conventional means, but he had the System on his side.
Suddenly, a cold mechanical voice sounded in his mind: "New Skill Unlocked: [Radiant Gust of Shadows]." Arka stared in disbelief at the screen. A new skill? He pressed the button that appeared next to the "Skills" menu, and a brief description popped up:
[Radiant Gust of Shadows]
Description: Gather shadow energy and release a blinding burst of light
Category: Area Skill
Mana Cost: 5
Cooldown: 60 seconds
Arka was stunned. He had never considered skills, mana, or cooldowns. Yet now, a new power flowed through his shoulders, whispering hope that he might survive.
"The System says I have a skill?!" he murmured, realizing his heart raced faster and adrenaline surged—even though the pain from earlier still lingered, he chose to focus on this newfound strength.
Iqbal advanced, swinging his long sword. He struck at the orc, but the creature lifted its massive spear and deflected the blow with ease. It countered with a powerful swing at Iqbal's body. The fighter leapt backward, his sword flying from his grip, landing at the corridor's end. Though bleeding, he tried to hold his ground.
Azlan seized an opening and stabbed at the orc's abdomen, but the orc only grunted, enraged, then lifted its spear high and smashed Azlan aside in a brutal swing. Azlan's body was flung against the wall, the impact echoing as dust rained down.
Rika attempted to fire an arrow, but the orc's proximity made it impossible. Her arrow clanged against the stone. Without deep knowledge of skills, Arka realized the world had shifted—if he did not act quickly, the entire team would be annihilated.
With ragged breath, Arka tapped the "Skill" button on his screen. Three violet orbs of light formed around him, swirling rapidly. He felt a gust of shadow energy coalesce with the light. In an instant, a deafening blast erupted, sending a brilliant white flash through the corridor. The light pierced the darkness, blinding the orc for a moment and forcing it to close its eyes.
"Ahhh!" the orc roared in distress, stumbling backward as it missed its follow‐up attack. The brilliance of the skill dissipated, leaving only dim lantern light on the walls. The orc tried to ready its spear, but its body still shook from the skill's impact.
Arka saw the system prompt: "Cast time: 2 seconds… Mana: 5/10." He felt drained, but his determination flared. He leaped forward with his wooden sword—though his strength was meager, the orc was staggered—while his teammates rose to fight once more, eyes brimming with hope.
With his wooden sword in hand, Arka aimed a straight slash at the orc's thigh. The blade struck with a loud crack—"kretek!"—leaving a painful bruise. The orc's roar became muted. It attempted to kick Arka, but its momentum slipped, and it crashed to the ground in a thunderous thud that sent dust billowing.
When the orc turned, it saw Arka standing with sword raised overhead, face pale, heart pounding. Behind Arka, Rika lunged, her iron blade aimed at the orc's abdomen. Iqbal and Azlan, though wounded, rose and refused to surrender. The orc's gaze locked onto Arka as if recognizing that a new leader had emerged.
Before the orc could recover, Arka drew a deep breath and channeled his remaining mana into his wooden sword. With one sweeping arc, the wooden blade struck the orc's neck. In a swift motion, the orc's head separated and tumbled across the cave floor, glinting in the lantern light. Thick, dark blood sprayed across the ground, but Arka stood firm, the wooden sword poised in his hand.
In the sudden stillness, only echoed footsteps in the distance, the whisper of humid air, dripping water, and the glimmering System screen remained:
> Quest "Save Allies: Defeat Orc (0/1)" – COMPLETED
EXP +50
New Quest: "Exit the Serpih Cave Dungeon"
Arka closed his eyes, exhaling a long breath. Sweat mingled with blood on his face, but he didn't care. He glanced at his Status screen one more time:
Level: 1
EXP: 50/100
Health: 50/50
Mana: 5/10
He had earned EXP but still hadn't reached Level 2. Yet in his heart, he felt reborn. The trembling fear that had always engulfed him was gone, replaced by a burning resolve: he had to survive. He had to prove that in a world where the strong grew ever stronger, he, too, could rise.
Rika approached and patted Arka's shoulder gently. "You were incredible, Arka." Her voice sounded sincere. The two burly men—Iqbal and Azlan—exchanged looks of admiration before lowering their heads, acknowledging Arka's courage.
Arka glanced at the cave walls, which now seemed friendlier than before. Lantern light danced across the stone, casting guiding shadows. He gripped his wooden sword, feeling it heavier than before, yet pulsing with newfound power—the "Hunter System" had awakened a weak youth into a gallant hunter.
"All right," Arka whispered, his voice resolute. "It's time to get out of here."
Step by step, they made their way toward the dungeon's exit. Every breath Arka took was filled with hope, determination, and a touch of awkwardness—his new world was still a mystery. But one thing was clear: Arka Nurdiansyah would never be the same again. On that dark night in the Serpih Cave Dungeon, he found his destiny—to rise, conquer the darkness, and walk the path of a true Hunter.