Chapter 53 – The Hunt Begins

9:58 AM – The Gear

Before moving, Kyung-min reached into his dimensional ring.

The first thing he pulled out—his father's gift.

🔹 [E-Rank Dimensional Ring]

(A ring imbued with spatial magic. Allows the wearer to store and retrieve items instantly.)

Effect: 10 Inventory Slots (Holds weapons, potions, and equipment.)

His expression softened—just slightly.

Without Shadow Space, he had no way of storing loot before. But his father had already accounted for that.

Thoughtful, as always.

He moved onto the gear itself.

🔹 [E-Rank Light Combat Suit]

(A lightweight armor set designed for beginner hunters. Offers minimal protection but does not restrict movement.)

Defense: +5, +10% HP

Durability: 100/100

Effect: Slightly reduces incoming blunt force damage.

🔹 [C-Rank Obscured Phantom Mask]

(A specially designed mask that distorts facial features when viewed through electronic or mana-tracing devices. Ensures anonymity.)

+10 Agility, +5 Perception

Effect: Conceals identity from non-SSS-grade detection abilities.

Additional Effect: Slight mana concealment.

🔹 [E-Rank Agility Boots]

(Simple, lightweight boots enchanted for minor speed enhancement.)

Effect: +10 Agility

Additional Effect: Increases movement speed slightly.

🔹 [E-Rank Manaforged Gloves]

(Designed for magic users. Enhances undead summons and mana flow.)

+10 Strength

Effect: +5% Summon Strength

Additional Effect: +10 MP

🔹 [Return Rune]

(A disposable teleportation item used to safely exit a dungeon.)

Effect: Activates upon being crushed.

I've never actually worn armor before.

Not even when he had fought through the abyss.

Everything back then had been a brutal struggle of instinct and survival—no armor, no weapons beyond what he scavenged or stole from enemies.

Now?

It felt like a game.

A memory flickered in his mind.

Sitting with his two best friends—Seok and Min-jun—hunched over their old gaming consoles, laughing as they struggled through a dungeon raid.

"Dude, put your armor on! You're gonna die in one hit!"

"Shut up, Min-jun, I like the speed boost!"

"You're literally a glass cannon!"

A small chuckle escaped him.

These weren't luxury items.

They were essentials.

A combat suit for protection.

A mask to keep him anonymous.

Boots for movement.

Gloves for damage output.

A dimensional ring to carry what he needed.

A return rune to ensure he made it back alive.

His father and butler had thought this through.

He exhaled slowly.

"You were more prepared for this than I was."

It was a quiet acknowledgment.

He wasn't someone who expressed gratitude easily. But in this moment, he did.

A small nod of thanks—meant for the two men who had made sure he walked into this Gate with a way out.

Now, let's see what I can do with it.

Kyung-min pulled on the gloves, adjusted the boots, and placed the rune in his pocket.

The moment he caught his reflection in a broken slab of stone nearby—

His features blurred.

He no longer looked like Han Kyung-min.

This was the face the world would come to know.

K4Yos.

10:00 AM – The First Steps Forward

Kyung-min exhaled, flexing his fingers.

It was time.

Each held risks.

Each hid threats.

He clicked his tongue.

Scouting first.

🔹 [Summon Skeletons – Lv.2]

Seven bone-white warriors materialized before him, hollow eyes flickering with ghostly blue light.

With a silent order, he sent them forward.

The second their feet touched the battlefield—

The ground erupted.

10:02 AM – The First Engagement

🔹 [Undead Thrall – Lv.3]

🔹 HP: 150

🔹 Abilities: Endless stamina, relentless attacks.

🔹 Weakness: Fire, head trauma.

Rotted corpses crawled out of the ground, dragging shattered limbs forward. Their soulless eyes locked onto the nearest living thing.

His summons.

The first Undead Thrall lunged, its jagged nails swiping wildly.

His skeletons intercepted.

Bone met decayed flesh.

The thrall's skull caved inward.

🔹 [EXP Gained: 10%]

Kyung-min's breath hitched.

10%? For a single kill?

Then—this was possible.

If the system wanted to make him weak, then he'd break through its limits.

His eyes sharpened.

"Push forward."

The battle began.

10:05 AM – The Field of Corpses

More undead emerged—clawing, moaning, driven only by instinct.

But Kyung-min was ready.

🔹 [Summon Zombies – Lv.1]

The fallen undead twitched.

And then—

They rose again.

But this time, they fought for him.

Skeletons held the front line, blocking incoming attacks.

Zombies rushed forward, tearing into their former kin.

And Kyung-min?

He moved through the chaos like a phantom.

🔹 [Abyss Step – Activated]

He vanished— reappearing behind the nearest thrall.

A single strike.

The creature crumpled, its skull shattered.

🔹 [EXP Gained: 10%]

Another kill.

Another step forward.

🔹 [Level Up! You Are Now Level 2.]

A sharp surge of power flooded his body.

And he wasn't done yet.

10:15 AM – The Horde Approaches

The thralls kept coming.

More than sixty had risen.

And yet—Kyung-min wasn't overwhelmed.

He was controlling the fight.

His summons? They weren't just mindless creatures.

They were a coordinated army.

And slowly—they were winning.

🔹 [Level Up! You Are Now Level 3.]

🔹 [Level Up! You Are Now Level 4.]

He could feel it.

The raw increase in power.

His strikes were faster. His mana was denser.

And his summons—

They felt stronger.

His smirk widened.

This was just the beginning.

10:30 AM – The Rewards of the Dead

Kyung-min surveyed the battlefield.

The ground was littered with corpses.

And from those corpses—loot.

🔹 Gold Collected: 425 Gold

🔹 Mana Crystals (Lesser): 6

🔹 Undead Essence (Low-Grade): 4

🔹 Bone Fragments: 17

🔹 Rusty Sword (E-Rank) x2

🔹 Cursed Ring (Minor Mana Regen) x1

His dimensional ring made looting easy.

Efficient. Clean.

His gaze flicked toward the final path.

The graveyard had been cleared.

Now—

Only the final battle remained.

His smirk returned.

If the system wanted to hold him down—

He'd prove it wrong.

Again. And again.

Until it had no choice but to acknowledge him.

🔹 [Final Battle – Approaching the Boss Room.]