The cavern became a blur of motion and shattered stone. Tae-hyun, empowered by Kim Sang-shik's 'Brutal Strength,' tore through the remaining statues. Each blow was a calculated risk, a dance of dodges and strikes fueled by adrenaline and a healthy dose of spite. He moved with a surprising agility, his lanky frame twisting and turning to avoid the statues' clumsy attacks.
Kim Sang-shik, still reeling from his near-death experience, watched in stunned silence. He couldn't reconcile the timid, sarcastic E-Rank Hunter he knew with the whirlwind of destruction before him. "Tae-hyun! What are you doing? How are you doing that?" he yelled, dodging a stray shard of stone.
Tae-hyun didn't respond. He was too focused on the fight, his mind racing to anticipate the statues' movements. He smashed another statue's head, sending fragments of stone flying. The strength he'd copied was potent, but it wasn't limitless. He could feel it draining his energy with each strike. He needed to end this quickly.
He spotted a weak point in the statue's construction -- a hairline crack running along its chest. He focused his power, channeling it into a single, devastating blow. The statue shattered, collapsing into a pile of rubble.
With the last statue defeated, Tae-hyun stood panting, his muscles screaming in protest. The 'Brutal Strength' was already fading, leaving him feeling weaker than before. He stumbled, catching himself on a remaining piece of the ruined statue.
Kim Sang-shik rushed over, his face a mixture of awe and suspicion. "Tae-hyun, explain yourself. What was that? Some kind of Awakening skill?"
Tae-hyun straightened up, ignoring the throbbing pain in his arm. "Let's just say I had a sudden... surge of inspiration." He wasn't about to reveal the existence of his system, especially not to someone as untrustworthy as Kim Sang-shik.
"Inspiration? You went from being barely able to lift a sword to single-handedly destroying those things because of inspiration?" Kim Sang-shik scoffed. "Don't give me that crap. There's something you're not telling me."
Tae-hyun sighed inwardly. He knew he couldn't avoid the truth forever. But he could delay it. "Look, can we talk about this later? Right now, I need to... uh...hydrate."
He knew he was stalling, but he needed time to think. Time to come up with a plausible explanation, or at least a convincing lie. And, of course, time to figure out how to discreetly acquire Kim Sang-shik's sweat.
He rummaged through his backpack, pulling out a half-empty water bottle. He took a long swig, trying to ignore Kim Sang-shik's piercing gaze.
"Hydrate, huh?" Kim Sang-shik crossed his arms, his eyes narrowed. "Funny, I don't see you sweating."
Tae-hyun choked on his water, sputtering and coughing. "Of course I'm sweating! It's hot in here! All that...statue smashing..."
He glanced at Kim Sang-shik, who was indeed glistening with perspiration after the frantic battle. Tae-hyun's stomach churned. This was going to be disgusting. But he had to do it. He needed that ability. He needed to understand his system.
An idea, as repulsive as it was, started to form.
"Listen, Kim," Tae-hyun said, trying to sound casual. "I owe you one. You almost got killed back there, and I... well, I appreciate you not dying on my account." He inwardly cringed at the awkwardness of his own words.
Kim Sang-shik looked surprised, a flicker of genuine emotion crossing his face. "Yeah, well... someone had to keep you alive, right?" He chuckled, but there was a hint of sincerity in his voice.
"Exactly," Tae-hyun said, seizing the opportunity. "So, how about this? I'll... uh... help you clean up the dungeon. You know, haul the monster corpses, collect the mana stones... all the fun stuff. And in return... you let me... uh... borrow your towel?"
Kim Sang-shik's eyebrows shot up. "My towel? What for?"
Tae-hyun mentally cursed his inability to form coherent sentences. "Just... I'm really sweaty. And I don't want to get my gear all gross. Please?" He finished with a tone that was almost pleading, a far cry from his usual sardonic demeanor.
Kim Sang-shik stared at him for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Tae-hyun could feel his anxiety rising. He was about to be exposed, about to be ridiculed.
Then, to his surprise, Kim Sang-shik shrugged. "Fine. Whatever. Just don't get any weird ideas." He tossed Tae-hyun a damp, crumpled towel.
Tae-hyun caught it with trembling hands. He turned away, hiding his face behind the towel as he surreptitiously wrung out a small amount of sweat into his water bottle. The whole act felt incredibly awkward and demeaning. He felt like a creep.
He discreetly capped the bottle and took a small swig of the...concoction. It tasted awful, a mix of salt, monster grime, and profound regret.
Almost immediately, his system pinged again.
'Brutal Strength' Ability Copied!
'Brutal Strength'
Rank: D
Description: Enhances physical strength and durability.
Current Mastery: 1%
Tae-hyun felt a surge of satisfaction, quickly followed by a wave of nausea. He resisted the urge to vomit. He had done it. He had copied an ability. Now he just had to master it.
"Alright, let's get this place cleaned up," he said, his voice sounding slightly strained. He handed the damp towel back to Kim Sang-shik, avoiding eye contact.
As they began to collect the mana stones, a low rumble shook the cavern. The ground trembled beneath their feet.
"What was that?" Kim Sang-shik asked, his voice filled with apprehension.
Suddenly, a section of the wall crumbled away, revealing a new passage. A dark, foreboding tunnel that radiated an oppressive aura.
"Uh... I don't think that was supposed to happen," Tae-hyun said, his eyes wide.
The system chimed again, this time with a jarring urgency:
Warning! Hidden Dungeon Detected!
Danger Level: Unknown!
Immediate Evacuation Recommended!
Tae-hyun felt a chill run down his spine. This was bad. Very bad. Hidden dungeons were notoriously dangerous, often housing monsters far beyond the capabilities of even high-ranked Hunters.
"We need to get out of here," he said, his voice urgent. "Now!"
Kim Sang-shik hesitated. "But... the mana stones... the Guild..."
"Screw the mana stones!" Tae-hyun snapped. "This is a hidden dungeon! We're outmatched! We need to leave!"
Before Kim Sang-shik could argue, a monstrous roar echoed from the newly opened passage. A roar that shook the very foundations of the dungeon.
They didn't need any more convincing. They turned and ran, their hearts pounding in their chests.
As they fled, Tae-hyun couldn't shake the feeling that this was just the beginning. He had copied an ability, unlocked a new level of power. But he had also stumbled upon something far more dangerous than he could have ever imagined. And he had a feeling that this hidden dungeon was about to change his life forever.
The system flashed once more:
Quest Initiated: Survive the Hidden Dungeon!
Reward: Unknown
Failure: Death