The sun hung lazily over Gangnam Park as Jinwoo jogged along the paved trail, the breeze brushing past his hair.
[Run (11/10 km)]
He slowed to a stop.
"…Huh."
He stared at the notification for a moment.
"I got carried away and ran a bit more…" he muttered.
Then his eyes narrowed.
"Wait… why can I go beyond the limit?"
For a heartbeat he stood still—then a slow, dangerous grin spread across his face.
"…If that's allowed… then let's see what the real limit is."
He dug his foot into the ground and kicked off.
He shot forward like a bullet, the wind howling in his ears, the park blurring around him. People turned in confusion as a black streak tore past them, the ground cracking ever so slightly under each step.
A minute later—
[Goals:
Push-ups (200/100)
Sit-ups (200 /100)
Squats (200/100)
Run (20/10 km)]
Jinwoo finally stopped, exhaling lightly. Not even a drop of sweat.
"Seems like I can't go beyond this," he said, looking at the new enforced cap. "A hidden limit inside the system… interesting."
He rolled his shoulders and stretched his neck.
Seconds later—
[Daily Quest Completed!]
[The quest has become a Hidden Quest!]
[Rewards: Random Blessed Box / Random Cursed Box]
"The rewards are different…" Jinwoo muttered. "Well, the grade changed, so it makes sense."
He eyed the options thoughtfully. "Are those boxes just variants of the normal Random Box?"
"Random Blessed Box."
A sphere of crimson-gold energy spun into existence above his palm, condensing, shrinking—
Chiik—
—and hardened into a key, deep red like crystallized blood.
[Key to the Demon's Castle]
[Rank: S]
[Type: Key]
[This key allows entry into the dungeon: Gates of Hell. This item can be used at Daesun Tower in Songpa District.]
"Gates of Hell…?"
His lips curled upward.
"Sounds interesting."
He closed his fist around the key, eyes turning sharp.
"I need to get stronger. I don't know when that goddess will return… but until then, I'll take every chance I get."
He opened his hand, staring at the red glow reflecting in his eyes.
…
A short commute later—
Jinwoo stood before Daesun Tower in Songpa District, commuters flowing around him, completely unaware of the storm standing in their midst.
He lifted the key.
"Let's see how difficult an S-rank dungeon really is."
He pressed it into the air.
—FWOOOOM—
A massive red portal tore open, molten-hot mana spilling into the street. Heat washed over the pavement.
Jinwoo stepped forward without hesitation.
The flames parted for him like obedient servants.
He entered the portal.
And the world swallowed him whole.
...
Jinwoo stepped into another world.
It was Seoul—yet not.
The skyline was still there, twisted and broken, skyscrapers reduced to blackened skeletons. The streets were drowned in roaring crimson flames, heat rippling through the air like a living thing. Ash drifted down from the burning sky. No screams. No people.
Just hell.
"I never thought I'd see one in real life," Jinwoo chuckled softly, his eyes lifting.
[The Gatekeeper of Hell — Cerberus]
The ground trembled.
From the inferno emerged a massive beast—three heads, each crowned with roaring hellfire. Its molten eyes locked onto Jinwoo as it snarled, the sound shaking the ruins around them.
The Cerberus lunged.
"He's kind of cute," Jinwoo said with an amused smile.
He raised a hand.
"Thread Magic."
Invisible mana threads snapped into existence.
The Cerberus charged—
and crossed the line.
—SHING.
The threads flashed.
Three heads fell to the ground in perfect synchronization, severed so cleanly that the flames atop them burned for a heartbeat longer before vanishing. The massive body collapsed forward, crashing into the scorched asphalt.
[Level Up!]
[Level Up!]
[Level Up!]
[Level Up!]
Jinwoo exhaled slowly.
"…I was expecting more from an S-rank dungeon."
He glanced at his fingers, thin strands of mana weaving effortlessly between them, responding like extensions of his will.
"Still," he murmured, "Thread Magic is ridiculous."
He hadn't even tried.
A faint glow rose from the Cerberus' remains.
Drops.
[Warden's Necklace]
[Rank: A]
[Type: Necklace (Equipment)]
[Dexterity and Sense +20]
"Great stats…" Jinwoo muttered, lifting it. "But I'm not wearing something this spiky."
He equipped it anyway.
"Oh?"
He touched his neck—nothing there. No weight. No presence.
"…Just like a game," he smiled. "Stats without the fashion disaster."
More items appeared.
[Cerberus' Fang]
[Rank: A]
[Type: Material]
[A fang obtained from defeating Cerberus.]
Jinwoo turned it in his hand thoughtfully.
"Could make a dagger out of this," he said. "Kasaka's Fang is fine, but the others keeps breaking, dual wielding is becoming quite expensive. I'll need a proper blacksmith."
Then—
[Key to the Castle]
[Rank: A]
[Type: Key]
[Allows access to the Demon's Castle.]
[Obtained by defeating the Gatekeeper.]
Jinwoo looked toward the towering structure in the distance—an obsidian fortress looming over the burning city.
"Demon's Castle, huh?" he said, smiling. "Let's see how strong the demons are then—"
Bzzzt.
His phone rang.
Jinwoo froze.
"…Seriously?"
He answered.
Jinho.
Jinwoo listened in silence. Then he sighed, ended the call, and opened his inventory. The key vanished before he could use it.
"I guess that's for another time," he said, glancing once more at the castle.
The flames flickered.
And Jinwoo stepped out of the dimension.
To be continued...
***
***
How was this chapter? Liked it?
Also, do you guys know any blacksmith girl? Strictly anime. I was thinking of Monica Bolst but I am not sure.