Into the Unstable Dungeon.
Five days had passed since Vanitas accepted the invitation to the C-rank Dungeon. He had been busy preparing himself, completing every daily task thrown at him. Each push-up, pull-up, and punch had brought him closer to his goal.
"Inventory!" he commanded, the familiar system menu materializing before him.
---
[Inventory]
[Weapons]
Shadow Dagger
[Artifacts]
[Materials]
Recovery Potion x8
Shadow Essence x2
Shadow Box x1
---
After completing three days of grueling tasks, Vanitas had been rewarded generously: one additional Shadow Essence, five Recovery Potions, and 15 Attribute Points.
Physically, he looked like a different person. His lean frame had filled out, muscles now visible under his clothes. Even his hairstyle was new—a sharp two-block cut he had seen trending among Korean men. It was a subtle change, but one that made him feel refreshed and confident.
"Two Shadow Essences now. Not bad. But what's inside this Shadow Box?" he muttered, staring at the mysterious item. With a small prayer for luck, he tapped it.
---
[You have received a Shadow Essence!]
---
Vanitas groaned. "Again? Seriously?" He stared at the dark item in his hand before shaking his head and placing it back in his inventory. "I guess that's all I get—nothing special."
He sighed and then called up another screen.
"Stats!"
---
[Stats]
Strength: 19
Agility: 10
Stamina: 10
Intelligence: 7
Luck: 3
---
'This should be enough to handle whatever's waiting in that dungeon,' he thought, his gaze lingering on the numbers. He still felt uneasy, though. The encounter with the monstrous creature a few days ago haunted him, and he couldn't shake the feeling that this dungeon would bring him face-to-face with something equally terrifying.
A notification from his phone pulled him from his thoughts.
Ding!
---
"Hey, Vanitas! Want to earn some money? Come to the construction site near you."
"All you need to do is carry some stuff, and we'll pay you in shards. Interested?"
Vanitas quickly replied:
"Yeah, sure. On my way."
Kai reacted to your message with a thumbs-up.
---
Vanitas stepped outside, the bustling city immediately overwhelming his senses. Cars honked, people chatted loudly, and the faint aroma of street food wafted through the air. It was an ordinary day for most, but for him, it felt like the calm before a storm.
As he made his way to the construction site, he accidentally bumped into someone.
"Watch it!" came a sharp, deep voice.
Vanitas looked up and found himself face-to-face with Min-su, one of the most notorious S-Rank Hunters in the city. The man's towering frame and sharp eyes radiated an aura of power, and his two bodyguards flanked him like loyal hounds.
"Well, well. What do we have here?" one of the bodyguards sneered. "A scrawny guy like you has the guts to bump into an S-Rank Hunter?"
Vanitas met their glares with an unwavering expression. "Sorry," he said firmly before stepping aside to leave.
"How rude..." one of the bodyguards muttered.
"Wait!" Min-su's voice stopped Vanitas in his tracks. "What's your name?"
For a moment, Vanitas considered answering, but instead, he simply resumed walking.
Min-su's bodyguards were stunned. No one had ever ignored their boss like that.
"Tch. I'll let you go this time," Min-su muttered under his breath, though a bead of sweat trickled down his temple. 'Why am I sweating? Who is that guy?'
---
When Vanitas arrived at the construction site, the atmosphere was far from welcoming. Many of the hunters there mocked him openly, their laughter grating on his nerves. Only Alexis and Kai offered him some semblance of kindness.
"You ready for this?" Kai asked, clapping him on the shoulder.
Vanitas simply nodded. He had no intention of making small talk.
The group entered the dungeon together. It was dark and oppressive, the air thick with the metallic scent of blood and the faint stench of decay. Creatures lurked in the shadows, their growls echoing off the stone walls.
Vanitas kept to the back, observing the others as they fought. While they clashed with the monsters, he stayed hidden behind a large boulder. 'Not worth the effort,' he thought, letting them do the hard work.
Minutes dragged by, feeling like hours. Finally, the battle ended, and the group began to relax—until they realized something was wrong.
"Where's the exit portal?" someone asked, their voice tinged with panic.
The group looked around frantically, their earlier relief quickly replaced by fear.
Vanitas, however, remained calm, leaning casually against the boulder. He had anticipated this.
"Let's head back to the main entrance," Geon, the leader, said, trying to maintain control. The group moved cautiously, their unease growing with every step.
Alexis sidled up to Vanitas, her wand clutched tightly. "Hey, Vanitas... You've been acting strange lately. Are you okay?"
Kai chimed in, his eyes narrowing. "Yeah, seriously. You didn't even flinch during the fight. What's going on with you?"
Before Vanitas could respond, someone shouted, "What?! An Unstable Dungeon?!"
The words sent shockwaves through the group. Hunters began to panic, their confidence crumbling.
Vanitas watched them with an almost amused expression. 'Here we go...'
Amid the chaos, one of the D-rank hunters called out, "Boss! I think we missed something!"
The group turned to see him pointing at a dark, narrow tunnel they hadn't noticed before. It stretched ominously into the depths of the dungeon, its end shrouded in shadows.
Geon hesitated before giving the order. "Let's check it out."
They moved as one, their earlier bravado replaced with cautious steps. The tunnel seemed to go on forever, the walls closing in around them. Every sound was amplified—the shuffle of boots, the nervous breaths, the faint dripping of water.
Finally, they reached the end. Before them stood a massive chamber door, its surface etched with ancient runes that pulsed faintly with dark energy. The air was heavy, almost suffocating, and an unnatural chill seeped into their bones.
Vanitas stared at the door, his heart pounding. 'It's time,' he thought, steeling himself for what lay ahead.
Geon hesitated but then pushed the door open. It creaked ominously, the sound echoing throughout the narrow hallway. Beyond it was a vast chamber, ancient and foreboding. The air inside was thick, heavy with the scent of ash and decay. A flickering fire lit the center of the room, its eerie glow casting long, dancing shadows on the crumbling stone walls. The heat from the flames seemed almost alive, pulsing like a heartbeat.
At the far end of the chamber sat a figure on a throne carved from bones. It was no ordinary being—its body was pitch-black, like a living shadow, absorbing the faint light rather than reflecting it. A single, massive devilish horn jutted out from its head, giving it an aura of raw power and menace. Its blood-red eyes glowed like twin crimson moons, radiating malice that seemed to pierce the very soul.
Vanitas froze for a moment, his breath hitching. This was the creature—the one who had killed him before, the reason he was given another chance to live by the mysterious voice. The memories flooded back, filling him with a mix of rage and determination.
"This time," Vanitas muttered under his breath, clenching his fists so tightly that his knuckles turned white, "I won't fail."
The creature's gaze seemed to lock onto him as if sensing the resolve in his heart. A low growl echoed through the chamber, signaling the start of a battle that would define his destiny.
---
End of Chapter