Raden's footsteps echoed through the damp stone corridor. The light from the small crystals hanging on the walls grew dimmer, as if the dungeon itself disliked being ventured into too deeply. The air was thick with the stench of blood and sulfur.
It had been more than four hours since he entered the deepest part of the dungeon. His current level was 50, but the pressure from the roaming creatures made him feel far too weak.
From the darkness, a low growl emerged. Raden stopped, his left hand ready near the sheath of the Ebon Dagger, while his right held a glowing magic stone.
Three pairs of red eyes appeared from the shadows. They were Fangbeasts—large bear-sized monsters with skin as tough as steel.
"Come on... one at a time," Raden muttered.
The first Fangbeast lunged at him. Raden quickly dodged to the side, sliding across the wet floor, and plunged his dagger into its gut. Black blood splattered everywhere, but the monster's claws flung Raden into the wall.
"ARGH!" Raden coughed up blood. His HP dropped by a third.
The second monster was already charging at him.
"Void Step," Raden said.
His body vanished for a moment, reappearing behind the monster. He thrust his dagger into the back of the Fangbeast's neck. This time, it was a critical hit.
+110 EXP
"Damn… my stamina's running low."
The third monster soon moved in. It was different—bigger, with horns. It roared loudly, causing an ear-piercing echo before charging.
Raden braced himself, activating a Crystal Barrier—a shimmering shield from a previous item drop that could block one attack. As the Fangbeast Alpha slammed into him, the barrier shattered. Raden retreated quickly, then used Void Step followed by a Void Slash across the monster's side.
+160 EXP
LEVEL UP! Level: 51 – EXP: 20/270
It was over. For now.
---
Hours passed. Raden's body was drenched in monster blood. His breathing ragged, his combat clothes torn, but his eyes remained sharp.
He lit a small campfire among the collapsed stones. The crackling of burning meat blended with the distant dripping of water. As he chewed quickly, Raden opened his status screen.
Name: Raden Dharma
Level: 61
HP: 560/880
Stamina: 210/460
Class: Voidblade
Skills: Void Step, Void Slash, Shadow Split (new)
"Shadow Split…" he muttered. The new skill created a shadow clone that could block one attack for three seconds.
Suddenly, a high-pitched screech echoed from above. A Lurker, a giant bat-like monster with venomous fangs, dived toward him. Raden rolled and slashed his dagger, but the Lurker vanished into the darkness.
"Don't play hide and seek…" Raden whispered.
Active Skill: Shadow Split.
His shadow clone appeared. The Lurker struck it and was thrown back. Raden didn't waste the opportunity. He leapt forward and slashed its wings.
+150 EXP
Just as the Lurker fell, faint footsteps approached. Four goblins wearing robes and holding bone staffs appeared. Goblin Shamans.
"Goblin Shamans? Looks interesting," Raden said with a smirk.
One hurled a fireball. Raden deflected it with his dagger, but the flames scorched his shoulder.
"Tsk."
He activated Void Slash, unleashing a crescent-shaped black blade at the shamans. Two were killed instantly.
+160 EXP
+160 EXP
The rest tried to escape, but Raden jumped high and drove his dagger down from above.
LEVEL UP! Level: 65 – EXP: 40/750
---
Time had lost meaning. Raden didn't know whether it was night or day outside. In this dungeon, time was irrelevant. The only thing that mattered was leveling up.
Raden now moved faster, hunting monsters one by one. Fangbeasts, Goblin Shamans, even a Cave Serpent that wrapped around his body and nearly crushed his bones. But he survived.
LEVEL UP! Level: 71 – EXP: 10/330
His breath was heavy. In a corner of the dungeon, he leaned against a wall. His hands trembled, his blood mixed with that of the monsters.
"I can't keep this up. One mistake… and I'm dead."
But he knew—every level brought him closer to power rivaling S-rank hunters.
He stood up again. This time, only one enemy appeared—not a group, but a large one. A boar-like creature with steel-thick skin and a glowing purple crystal embedded in its forehead.
"A boss… or a mini-boss?"
Void Step. Shadow Split. Void Slash.
One skill after another. But the monster was too powerful. A single strike cut Raden's HP in half. He drank a potion, but its recovery was too slow.
Finally, with a precise slash to the forehead crystal, the monster fell.
+700 EXP
LEVEL UP! Level: 75
---
More hours passed. Raden's body could barely move quickly anymore. But he forced himself to keep fighting. Three Goblin Shamans, one Lurker, and two Fangbeasts became his final victims before he collapsed to one knee.
LEVEL UP! Level: 80
A voice echoed in his mind.
[Daily Quest Completed. Rewards: +2 Random Stat Points, +1 Skill Point.]
[New Quest Available.]
[Special Quest Unlocked: "Complete the First Layer of Darkness."]
Raden lifted his head. At the end of the corridor was a staircase—not leading out, but descending further.
"There's more… deeper down?"
The world didn't know who Raden was yet.
But this dungeon—this place of shadows and silent death—was beginning to remember his name.