The soft hum of the morning breeze drifted through the window blinds, rustling the curtains ever so slightly. Sung Daeho opened his eyes before the alarm clock could beep. For the first time in years, he wasn't dreading the start of a new day.
Today wasn't about surviving.
Today was the day he would live as an awakened hunter.
He rose, stretched, and went into the bathroom. The hot shower washed away all remnants of sleep. For twenty minutes, he stood beneath the stream, letting the water hit his face as he gathered his thoughts.
I'm not a porter anymore… I'm a hunter now.
After drying off, he opened his closet. Folded neatly at the back was the hunter uniform issued to him two years ago when he first awakened. Dark gray with red accents, lightly armored, and designed for flexibility. Until now, he'd never worn it. It had felt like a cruel joke back then.
But today, as he slipped it on, it fit perfectly.
He stood before the mirror, adjusting the gloves, and finally nodded to himself. "This is the real me now."
---
Sitting down at his desk, Daeho pulled up the Dungeon Association Booking Portal on his tablet. A list of dungeon raids scrolled down the screen—each showing party composition, time, location, and minimum rank required.
Most D-rank dungeons only accepted D-rank hunters or above.
But after 15 minutes of careful searching, he spotted one listing:
> [D-Rank Dungeon | Boss-Type | Accepting E-Rank Support | Entry Time: 10:00 AM | Location: Southern Yeongdeungpo Outpost]
There was no mention of porters—just hunters.
Perfect.
He clicked [Join] and received a confirmation instantly.
---
By 8:30 AM, Daeho stepped outside. The streets were still quiet, with only a few early risers moving about. He looked over at Kali, who stood at full size, stretching.
"Let's move."
He climbed onto the wolf's back and whispered, "Super Speed."
Kali's legs tensed, and in a blink, the world around them blurred into a rush of wind and flashing scenery. Trees, signs, and buildings passed in a heartbeat as they soared through the morning city.
In just 15 minutes, they reached the Yeongdeungpo Outpost, a secure hunter base near a dormant gate. Kali slowed down just outside, and Daeho dismounted, landing smoothly.
He looked at the group already gathered near the entrance checkpoint.
About twelve hunters were standing there, chatting and checking their equipment. He scanned the crowd—most wore basic reinforced gear and carried standard D-rank weapons.
And then his eyes landed on a familiar figure.
Madhav Sharma.
The only person Daeho ever truly trusted.
An Indian hunter with wheatish skin, messy black hair, and an ever-present smile. His gear was slightly better than the others, hinting at his D-rank status.
"Madhav?" Daeho called out.
The man turned, blinked in surprise—and then broke into a huge grin.
"Daeho! Bhai! What the hell—where've you been?!"
They walked toward each other and pulled into a quick friendly hug.
Daeho laughed. "Long story. But I'm finally going in as a hunter."
"No way. You? That's… wow, man, I'm actually happy to hear that. You always had the heart for it."
Daeho grinned. "Well, I've got the ability now too."
Madhav glanced at Kali, who had shrunk to his smaller form and sat beside Daeho like a well-trained guard dog.
"You tamed that?"
"Sort of. I'll explain inside."
Before they could talk more, a loud, commanding voice cut through the air.
"Everyone gathered? Good."
The C-rank leader stepped forward. Tall and muscular with scars across his arms, he wore high-grade armor and carried a massive greatsword.
"I'm Park Jaehyun, your field commander. This is a D-rank boss-type dungeon. Expect traps, a thick mana zone, and a final chamber with an unknown boss. Our objective is full subjugation and core recovery. Understood?"
Everyone nodded.
Jaehyun's eyes swept the team. "Support-types stay middle. Tanks and brawlers in front. Ranged and tamers behind. Don't break formation unless ordered."
His eyes lingered for a moment on Daeho, perhaps judging his E-rank mark and the beast by his side—but said nothing.
"Move to the gate. Entry begins at 10:00 sharp."
---
At the base of the outpost, a dimensional rift pulsed like a living scar in the air. Blue energy spiraled outward, casting a faint glow on the concrete beneath.
The group formed a formation around the gate.
At exactly 10:00 AM, a bell chimed—and the field commander stepped through first, vanishing into the light.
One by one, the hunters followed.
Daeho took a deep breath, looked down at Kali, and smiled.
"No turning back."
He stepped forward—and disappeared into the dungeon.
---