Chapter 4: Echoes Beyond the Ice

The group stood still, staring at the motionless figure trapped inside the wall of ice. He looked human—eyes closed, body looking lifeless, completely still as if frozen in time. His presence felt strange, yet somehow powerful. Probably a fallen fighter from another world. No one spoke for a long moment.

"Is he... alive?" one of the younger members finally asked.

The squad leader stepped forward, eyes sharp. "Looks like so, but he is a FALLEN, we can take him to the guild to do some experiments. So when ever the raid ends we'll be taking him. The guild will want him, whatever he is."

"...But first let get him out of this ice wall."

Without hesitation, the team moved into action. Swords, hammers, and magic struck the ice wall again and again. The room echoed with sounds of iron hitting on ice, explosion magic and many more spells and skills—but not a single crack appeared on the surface.

It was like the ice wasn't normal. It didn't react to the force, but instead it was absorbing the mana from all th attacks. It didn't melt. It didn't break. Just seemed to get stronger with each attack.

One of the mages stepped back, frowning. "This isn't natural... it's like the ice is more of a seal than a wall."

"...how I wish the guild master was here now, breaking this ice would have been as easy as taking a candy from a blind, deaf baby"

As all hopes was starting to fade away, luck finally struck as a phenomenal began.

The ground started to shake.

At first, it was barely noticeable, like a distant thunder. But it grew stronger, shaking the walls, causing loose ice crystals to fall from above. The air itself grew heavy, pulsing with mana.

"Earthquake?" someone shouted.

"No. Not possible. This… this is something else," the leader said, stepping back.

All eyes turned to the frozen figure.

A faint light began to glow around him, and the ice around his body started to melt—on its own. The frost hissed and turned to mist, vanishing into the air as if it had never been there.

Everyone took a step back.

In just seconds, the wall of ice was gone. The man inside collapsed gently to the ground, steam rising from his skin. He was like a caveman… motionless, and lifeless.

Before anyone could speak, a sudden shift in energy pulsed through the dungeon.

The portal behind them flickered—and changed color. The calm blue hue that always signaled a completed dungeon turned blood red.

"It's open!" someone shouted. "The gate's active again!"

"Move! Get everyone out!"

Wounded or not, no one hesitated. The team carried the injured and rushed toward the exit. A few glanced back at the unconscious man lying in the frozen ground—but no one had time to speak.

He was picked up and carried quietly, hidden beneath a cloak, as they stepped through the portal and back into the outside world.

Bright lights and noise welcomed them as they returned.

Dozens of ambulances were parked outside the gate. Reporters stood behind barricades, cameras flashing. Hunters from other guilds, medical staff, and even senior members of Red Ace were already on the scene.

Paramedics rushed forward, taking care of the wounded immediately. The team leader barely managed to explain before collapsing from fatigue.

"The gate… it turned red. Double dungeon. We almost didn't make it."

No one noticed the cloaked figure slipping out through the side.

The body they had found—still motionless—was quietly taken away, unseen by the press and even the multitude present there except their own guild members.

Later that night, the news spread fast, quickly becoming a headlines, thanks to the propagation of the press and individual social media accounts.

****

"Today, an unexpected event occurred at the West Incheon Gate. Originally rated as a C-class dungeon was later upgraded to a B-class. With the change of color of the portal from the normal blue to red, also indicated that it was a double dungeon. The Red Ace guild's raid—signaling a rare and dangerous double dungeon. Several hunters were injured, but thanks to quick action, most were safely evacuated. We are still waiting for more details from the Red Ace guild about what exactly happened inside."

Somewhere in a quiet office, a man turned off the TV.

"Well… looks like Red Ace took a real hit this time," he said with a low laugh.

He was tall and broad, dressed in a black suit, with a short beard and sharp eyes. Despite looking like he was in his 50s, his body was strong and firm, like a soldier still in service. This was Kim Seok-Jin, President of the Korean Hunter Association.

Behind him, another man stretched out on a couch, sipping tea. He looked much older—white hair, wrinkled face—but still very much alert. Despite his age, there was a quiet strength in his presence.

"Good," the old man said with a scoff. "Red Ace is a stain on our system. Maybe this will bring them down a few ranks."

Seok-Jin smiled. "You never did like them, huh?"

"They're ruthless. Greedy. Always playing politics. If you ask me, it's would have been better if they didn't survived."

"Well, like it or not, they're still one of the top guilds in Korea," Seok-Jin replied. "Eleven S-class hunters, and their guild master's SS-class. That counts for something."

The old man snorted. "If you say so. I still think it would've been better if the dungeon swallowed them whole."

Seok-Jin let out a laugh. "You're as cold as ever, Mongo."

Then he leaned forward, changing the subject.

"How's the academy going? Any promising new talents?"

Mongo raised an eyebrow. "Four students worth watching this year. Three are B-rank potential. One of them is AA."

Seok-Jin whistled. "AA already? That's rare."

"We'll see if can manage to pass the exams. Talent means nothing if they crumble under pressure."

He stood, walking to the window, staring out at the city lights.

"The Hunter Exams are coming soon. We'll see who becomes the next super rookie."

Behind him, the television screen silently replayed the footage of the dungeon gate—its red light still glowing in the night.

And far away, in a hidden laboratory, the mysterious man from the ice remained unconscious...

To be continued...