Chapter 3: The Dungeon Beckons

The Gathering Storm

The air was thick with anticipation as Ryosuke adjusted his notebook strap, standing just outside the designated E-Rank dungeon site on the outskirts of Seoul.

The dungeon's entrance shimmered ominously, a blue vortex pulsating with unstable energy. Unlike the massive, reinforced Hunter Association gates found in higher-ranked dungeons, this one was a crude, swirling tear in space, flickering like a glitch in reality.

A cold breeze swept through the ruined district, carrying the faint stench of damp earth and something… rotting.

🔹 [The Forsaken Shall Rise.]

The whisper from the previous night hadn't left him.

It lingered in the back of his mind, surfacing in quiet moments like this—when the world seemed too still, as if holding its breath.

He forced the thought aside. Now wasn't the time.

The Party – The Strong and the Dispensable

The hunting party of twelve stood in a loose formation, not so much preparing for battle as they were bickering over loot distribution.

Ryosuke stood at the very edge of the group, his notebook clutched in one hand, already invisible to them.

They weren't discussing battle formations or strategies. No, the first topic of discussion was who would get priority over spoils.

"Obviously, the best items go to those doing the real work," Jung Hwan declared, stretching his shoulders. The C-rank swordsman was the unofficial leader of the raid—not because he was the strongest, but because he was loud enough to make it seem that way.

"Agreed," said Minjae, a C-rank tank, cracking his knuckles. "The front-liners take the real risks. If we get good gear, the next run will be even easier."

Miyeon, the C+ ranked healer, sighed, checking her holo-watch. "We haven't even stepped inside, and you're already dividing the loot?"

"That's because it's a guaranteed win, sweetheart," Minjae smirked. "Unless someone here plans on holding us back."

He turned his predatory gaze to Ryosuke, and like a pack of hungry wolves scenting blood, the others followed.

"Right. Wouldn't want someone useless taking a share," scoffed one of the D-rank archers.

"Maybe he'll contribute by counting the bodies," another laughed.

"Hey, notebook boy, got a skill that lets you write down our kills faster?"

Laughter rippled through the party.

Ryosuke forced himself to stay silent.

He was used to this.

It was always the same—every dungeon, every raid. His rank was a permanent stain, and these people loved to remind him of it.

"You're all wasting time," Sungho, the C+ ranked spearman, interrupted. He had been standing slightly apart from the others, arms crossed. His usual confident stance was different today. Tense. Uncertain.

Ryosuke noticed the way his grip tightened around his spear, his eyes flickering toward the gate's unstable glow.

"What's wrong?" Ryosuke asked quietly.

Sungho exhaled. "The mana levels here… they're not stable. It's fluctuating too much for an E-rank gate. Could be nothing, but—"

"Aww, is the mighty spearman scared of some goblins?" Minjae sneered, stepping closer.

Sungho's expression darkened. "I'm saying we should be cautious."

Jung Hwan rolled his eyes. "The Association classified this as E-rank. It's a goblin nest. You think they suddenly missed a high-rank boss sitting in there?"

Sungho didn't answer, but Ryosuke saw his jaw tighten.

Miyeon sighed. "Whatever. Let's just get this over with."

"Exactly," Jung Hwan smirked. "See? Miyeon gets it."

Minjae chuckled, slamming his armored hand onto Ryosuke's back with unnecessary force, making him stumble.

"Even the notebook guy knows better than to question the Association. Isn't that right, Ryosuke?"

Ryosuke clenched his teeth but didn't respond. He wasn't going to give them the satisfaction.

Jung Hwan turned back to the group. "Let's move."

One by one, they stepped through the portal.

Ryosuke took a deep breath and followed.

Inside the Dungeon – A Hollow Silence

🔹 [Dungeon Entry Confirmed – Goblin Nest (E-Rank)]

A chilling wind greeted them as they materialized inside the dungeon.

The cave system stretched far deeper than a standard goblin nest. The air was thick with moisture, and the walls—rough-hewn stone—were damp to the touch. Faintly glowing fungi clung to the rocks, casting an eerie green hue across the floor, their pulsing light the only source of illumination.

The party's footsteps echoed unnaturally in the cavern.

It was too quiet.

Even in E-rank dungeons, goblins were never silent.

There should have been chittering noises, the scuffling of small feet, the distant sound of something moving in the dark.

But there was nothing.

Ryosuke's Enhanced Perception sharpened as he took in the cave's details. The air was heavier than expected, the damp smell tinged with something else—an undercurrent of decay.

His eyes scanned the walls, noting something strange: thin cracks lined the stone, but they weren't natural. The patterns were too jagged, too deliberate—almost like something had clawed at them.

"Something's off."

Sungho spoke up, his voice breaking the silence. "Where are the goblins?"

Jung Hwan shrugged. "Probably deeper inside. Relax."

Sungho wasn't convinced.

Neither was Ryosuke.

But the others weren't paying attention.

First Encounter – The Goblin Scouts

A low growl rumbled from the shadows.

The group whipped around as three small, hunched figures emerged from a tunnel up ahead.

🔹 [Identified: Goblin Scouts (E-Rank)]

They were smaller than average, their red eyes glowing faintly in the dim light.

Jung Hwan grinned. "Finally."

Without hesitation, he lunged forward, sword flashing.

The first goblin barely reacted before he cut it down instantly.

Sungho stepped in, spearing the second goblin through the chest.

The third one turned to run.

Ryosuke's instincts screamed.

If it escaped, it would—

The goblin let out a piercing shriek before Jung Hwan sliced it down.

A moment of silence followed.

Then, from deeper inside the cave—

A chorus of answering howls.

The walls trembled.

Ryosuke's grip tightened around his notebook. "You just alerted the entire nest."

Sungho cursed. "Idiot."

Jung Hwan rolled his eyes. "It was one goblin. We can handle a few more."

But Ryosuke wasn't so sure.

Something felt different.

And his instincts were never wrong.

Jung Hwan scoffed. "Relax. We'll take care of them."

But Ryosuke's instincts screamed otherwise.

Something felt wrong.

The Unease Grows

They moved deeper into the dungeon.

The green-glowing fungi faded, replaced by pulsing red veins along the walls.

Sungho stopped, staring. "This isn't normal."

Ryosuke scribbled in his notebook. "Dungeon anomalies—classified as unknown. Possibly connected to unstable gate formations."

Jung Hwan waved him off. "Unless it tries to kill us, I don't care."

They entered a wide chamber, the ceiling disappearing into darkness.

And then—

They saw it.

A goblin corpse.

No, not just one—dozens.

Their bodies were ripped apart, flesh torn as if by claws, yet there were no signs of battle.

Miyeon stepped back, disgusted. "What… happened here?"

Sungho bent down, examining the wounds. His face paled. "These weren't killed by weapons."

A sickening realization washed over them.

The goblins weren't the hunters here.

They were the prey.

A low hiss echoed from the far end of the chamber.

The group whirled around.

And then—the dungeon trembled.

A deafening roar erupted from the depths.

The First True Threat

The ground shook violently, sending dust and debris cascading from the ceiling.

🔹 [WARNING: MANA DISTURBANCE DETECTED]

From the darkness, something moved.

Not a goblin.

Something much, much bigger.

🔹 [Analyzing…]

The System refused to display its rank.

Sungho's hands trembled on his spear. "We need to leave."

Miyeon took a cautious step back. "This isn't an E-rank dungeon."

Jung Hwan refused to move. "Stand your ground."

But Ryosuke already knew—

Something was terribly wrong.

And for the first time, he realized—

They might not all leave this dungeon alive.