First Dungeon Hunt
Sirius leaned against the cool stone wall outside the Hunter's Association building, the weight of his newly acquired C-rank Hunter's License resting in his pocket. A slight grin spread across his face as he considered the possibilities that lay ahead. The rank was nothing extraordinary, but it was a solid start. He had fought hard to get to this point, and now that he was officially a Hunter, the real journey could begin.
He glanced at the sky, which was streaked with shades of orange and pink as the sun dipped below the horizon. His plan had been to head to the Academy after registering, but seeing the time, Sirius thought better of it. Classes would have ended by now, and the instructors likely wouldn't appreciate an unscheduled visit. He pulled out his smartphone, flicking through the various apps until he landed on HunterWorld—a site accessible only to certified Hunters, where they could share information, find allies, and accept missions. This was the heart of the Hunter network, where the real action happened.
Logging in, Sirius's screen immediately flooded with messages, posts, and notifications from Hunters across the globe. The chatter was a mix of dungeon reports, monster-slaying strategies, and offers for team-ups. But Sirius wasn't interested in talk right now. He navigated to the mission board and filtered the available gates by rank and proximity.
E-rank Dungeon Gate located nearby. Registration open.
A spark of excitement lit up his eyes. E-rank wasn't too dangerous, but it was a good place to warm up and test his abilities. With a few quick taps, Sirius registered for the dungeon, locked in his spot, and hailed a taxi to take him to the gate's location.
The cab ride was short, and soon Sirius stood in front of the E-rank dungeon gate. It loomed in the middle of an abandoned plaza, a swirling vortex of dark energy that distorted the air around it. Flanking the portal were four heavily armed guards, standing stoic and alert. As Sirius approached, one of the guards stepped forward, scanning his license with a device.
"You're clear," the guard said, his voice flat and professional. "Please wait for a few moments. There are three more participants who have registered to enter this dungeon with you."
Sirius nodded in understanding and moved to sit on a nearby bench, his mind already racing through battle strategies. This would be his first real dungeon as a Hunter, and he was eager to test the limits of his abilities. To pass the time, he retrieved the Arcane Star Art from his Void Storage, the ancient tome his mother had given him the night before.
Opening it, he studied the second painting: a vivid depiction of the sun and moon in perfect harmony, their energy radiating across the sky. As Sirius focused on the image, a flood of information poured into his mind, filling every corner of his consciousness with new knowledge. This was the Sun Moon Divine Art, a powerful technique that revolved around circulating energy within the body to nourish both body and soul. The technique granted two incredible gifts: the Divine Sun Body and the Divine Moon Soul.
The Divine Sun Body would give Sirius explosive strength, immeasurable stamina, and Vajra Bones—bones so tough that they were nearly indestructible. Meanwhile, the Divine Moon Soul would grant him calm, focused clarity in any situation, sharpening his mind and boosting his spiritual power. There was more to the technique, but Sirius felt his mind stretching to its limits, unable to absorb it all in one sitting. He snapped the book shut, breathing deeply as the powerful knowledge settled within him.
"Focus," he whispered to himself, letting the energy of the Star Origin Breathing Technique flow through him. In the past, he had only practiced one technique at a time. Now, for the first time, he combined the Star Origin Breathing with the Sun Moon Divine Art, feeling the two techniques harmonize. His body felt lighter and stronger, and his mind grew sharper, as though his senses had been fine-tuned.
After a good fifteen minutes of meditation, Sirius was pulled from his trance by the sound of the guard's voice.
"The other participants have arrived."
Sirius opened his eyes and stood up, his heightened senses instantly kicking in. Three figures approached: two men and a woman, each carrying distinct weapons and radiating the aura of experienced hunters. Sirius discreetly activated Orion's Eye to scan their abilities.
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Human
Age: 26
Sex: Female
Talents:
Eagle's Eye (D)
Marksmanship (C)
Hunter's Instinct (D)
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Human
Age: 37
Sex: Male
Talents:
Shadow Step (D)
Stealth (D)
Blade Mastery (C)
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Human
Age: 42
Sex: Male
Talents:
Enhanced Strength (D)
Beast Taming (D)
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Armored Rhino
Strength: 20
Speed: 10
Defense: 17
Talent:
Geokinesis(C)
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Sirius's eyes widened slightly at the sight of the last participant's beast—a hulking Armored Rhino. It was rare to see a Beast Tamer in action, especially one with such a formidable partner. Geokinesis allowed the rhino to manipulate the earth around it, turning the very ground into a weapon. With such a beast by his side, the older man was undoubtedly a force to be reckoned with.
Sirius approached the group and extended a hand, introducing himself. They exchanged brief pleasantries before the guards motioned them toward the gate. It was time.
The moment Sirius stepped through the swirling portal, he felt the world shift around him. A cold wind whipped at his face as the landscape twisted and morphed, and when the disorientation cleared, he found himself standing in a dense, eerie forest. The trees stretched high into the sky, their twisted branches blocking out most of the light, casting long, creeping shadows on the forest floor.
Sirius's Heightened Senses kicked in immediately, making him hyper-aware of his surroundings. His eyes scanned the area, taking in every detail. He had studied the dungeon's description before entering. This forest was home to two main types of monsters: Goblins and Kobolds.
The goblins came in two varieties—Lesser Goblins, who were small, agile creatures, quick on their feet and experts with daggers, blow darts, and small explosives. Then there were the Higher Goblins, who were larger and came in two classes: warriors wielding swords and archers armed with bows, both of which laced their weapons with poison. Goblins were cunning and greedy, always on the lookout for shiny objects to hoard.
The Kobolds, on the other hand, were more sinister. A strange cross between monkey and cat, they were masters of dark magic, often attacking from the shadows with spells that could drain life or corrupt the mind.
Sirius and his new teammates moved cautiously through the undergrowth, their senses sharp and weapons at the ready. The forest was eerily silent, save for the occasional rustle of leaves and distant growls that echoed from deeper within the dungeon. Sirius kept his Orion's Eye active, scanning for any sign of danger.
It didn't take long for the first threat to appear.
Lesser Goblin
Strength: 12
Agility: 21
Talents:
Sneaky Hand (E)
Silent Steps (D)
Dagger Mastery (E)
Sirius's senses flared as the goblin darted through the trees, its green skin blending in with the foliage as it crept closer, its dagger gleaming in the dim light. But Sirius was faster. Before the goblin could launch its attack, Sirius dashed forward, his Obsidian Dagger materializing in his hand. With one swift, fluid motion, he slashed the creature's throat, the blade slicing cleanly through its neck.
The goblin crumpled to the ground, its body disintegrating into a mist of energy, leaving behind a small F-grade monster crystal and a pair of daggers. A familiar surge of power ran through Sirius's body as his Predation talent activated.
Acquired Talent: Silent Steps (D)
"You've got good reflexes, kid," the katana-wielding man said, giving Sirius an approving nod. "Swift and clean kill."
Sirius returned the nod but said nothing, his focus still on the surrounding trees. The group pressed on, encountering several more goblins along the way. Most were dispatched quickly—Sirius's newfound talents allowing him to take down enemies with silent efficiency. Along the way, he acquired Sneaky Hand (E) and Dagger Mastery (E), adding to his growing list of skills.
But the deeper they ventured, the thicker the goblin hordes became. Eventually, they stumbled upon a larger group—nearly a dozen goblins clustered together in a small clearing. Some were armed with crude swords, while others held bows, their arrows glistening with poison.
The man with the giant hammer, the Beast Tamer, stepped forward and patted the back of his Armored Rhino. The beast let out a low rumble, its thick hide shimmering with earthy energy. With a sudden burst of power, the rhino charged forward, stomping its massive feet into the ground. The earth beneath the goblins' feet erupted, sharp spikes of stone shooting up from the ground and impaling several of the creatures instantly.
Sirius wasn't about to be outdone. He extended his hand, summoning several fireballs, which he hurled toward the remaining goblins. The flames exploded on impact, engulfing the creatures in a blaze of heat and light. When the smoke cleared, only a handful of goblins remained, their weapons trembling in their hands as they realized they were outmatched.
The katana-wielding man and the woman with the bow finished off the stragglers with precise, lethal strikes. The battle was over in seconds, the forest once again falling into an eerie silence.
"Not bad," the woman said, pulling an arrow from her quiver and nocking it in her bow, ready for the next fight. "But we're not done yet."
As they moved deeper into the forest, the air grew heavier, and a sense of foreboding settled over the group. They were entering the heart of the dungeon now, and that meant stronger enemies.
Soon, their path led them to a large clearing, where a group of Higher Goblins stood guard, their hulking forms casting long shadows over the forest floor. These goblins were much larger than the ones they had faced before, standing almost waist-high to an average human. Two of them were warriors, each wielding rusted swords, while the third was an archer, already drawing back its bow, poison-tipped arrows aimed at the group.
Higher Goblin Warrior
Strength: 18
Agility: 15
Endurance: 20
Talent: Sword Mastery (D)
Higher Goblin Archer
Strength: 17
Agility: 21
Endurance: 12
Talent: Marksmanship (C)
The moment Sirius spotted them, his instincts kicked in. The goblin warriors let out guttural roars and charged, their swords gleaming with a sickly green hue—poison. Sirius readied his Obsidian Dagger and focused, the image of the Sun Moon Divine Art flashing in his mind. His body felt lighter, his reflexes sharper as he activated Lightning Dash, his form blurring as he shot toward the first warrior.
The goblin's sword came down in a heavy arc, but Sirius was already gone. He sidestepped the attack with ease, his dagger slicing across the goblin's midsection in a flash of black steel. The creature let out a choked cry, stumbling back as blood poured from the wound and stopped moving- dead. Its body also disintegrated as Sirius acquired another talent- Sword Mastery(D)
Behind him, the Beast Tamer's Armored Rhino let out a mighty bellow and charged the second goblin warrior, its Geokinesis summoning a wave of stone spikes that erupted from the ground. The goblin tried to dodge, but the spikes skewered it before it could react, pinning its body to the ground.
At the same time, the katana-wielding man engaged the archer, his blade flashing through the air as he deflected the goblin's arrows with ease. In one swift motion, he closed the distance and sliced through the goblin's bowstring before driving his katana through its chest. The creature let out a final screech before collapsing in a heap.
The clearing fell silent once again, the bodies of the slain goblins dissolving into mist and leaving behind a handful of monster crystals and a few weapons.
Sirius wiped the sweat from his brow, his breath steady despite the intensity of the battle. His talents had served him well, but he knew this was just the beginning. Deeper in the dungeon, stronger enemies awaited—enemies that would push him to his limits.
But Sirius wasn't afraid. He welcomed the challenge.