---
The rain began just past midnight.
Thin and whispering, it danced across the city with no thunder, no lightning—just a steady rhythm that matched Jin-Soo's heart as he stood alone in the silent dorm hallway.
Most Hunters slept at this hour.
Even security relaxed.
But he did not sleep anymore.
Not with a dungeon of secrets breathing beneath his feet.
He stood before the elevator—hands in his pockets, hood low, steps calm.
A guard passed by and barely glanced at him.
To them, he was nothing.
A low-rank. A background piece.
> [System: All security sensors in current path disabled. You have 12 minutes before backup protocols reactivate.]
Jin-Soo stepped into the elevator.
Pressed no button.
Instead, he whispered:
"Lower level. Authorization code: silence."
The system hummed.
The button panel flickered once—then turned black.
The elevator descended.
---
Level -1
The first floor underground was labeled "Storage." Rows of empty crates. Abandoned furniture. Training dummies.
But the air was too cold.
Too... quiet.
Jin-Soo walked slowly through the dim light. Then he saw it—
A wall that shimmered slightly.
An illusion.
He reached out—and passed through it.
> [Hidden entrance discovered.]
Behind the shimmer was a black staircase, spiraling down like the neck of a beast.
He didn't hesitate.
---
Level -2
This level had no lights.
Only faint red runes on the walls, glowing softly like bruises.
Cells lined both sides—narrow cages filled with silence. Some empty.
Others… not.
One held a young woman, unconscious, her wrists glowing faintly with a magic-binding cuff.
Another cell held an older man, face slack, murmuring numbers to himself.
They were all in mage robes.
Some had Guild emblems.
Some didn't.
> "Why…?" Jin-Soo whispered. "Why are they down here?"
> [System Scan: Mana drained via siphon devices. Core absorption in progress. Energy stored in external containment.]
> [They are being harvested.]
The words made his stomach turn.
Hunters—not criminals, but experiments—chained like cattle beneath the Guild's golden face.
Then his eyes caught something carved into the stone:
> "Azure Blade shall pierce all kings."
He touched it.
Fresh.
---
Footsteps.
Jin-Soo immediately vanished into shadow, using [Silent Step].
Two men in coats walked by, talking casually.
"Three more subjects died this week. That makes twenty-seven."
"That's nothing. The essence prototype is working. One proper siphon stone is worth more than an A-rank's salary."
"What about the quiet one? Jin-Soo?"
"Him? He's nothing. The system says E-rank. If he dies, we lose a sandwich."
They laughed.
Jin-Soo waited until they passed—then slipped behind them into the next chamber.
---
Level -3: Essence Core Lab
This was it.
The heart of the corruption.
A wide, circular room lined with glowing tubes—each containing a floating Hunter, suspended in magic like twisted angels.
And in the center, a massive mana core, pulsing with color. Dozens of magic threads connected to it like wires from the living bodies.
> [System Analysis: This is a living battery. Each thread drains the subject's magic and core life energy to fuel Guild-level enchantments.]
> [Estimated Death Rate: 94% within 72 hours.]
Jin-Soo felt his teeth grind.
"Monsters," he whispered.
And then—a voice behind him:
"Indeed. But which kind of monster are you?"
---
He turned fast—
A man stood behind him.
Tall. Thin. White hair. Wearing the Azure Blade emblem woven into black silk.
His eyes shimmered with unnatural clarity.
"Lee Jin-Soo," the man said calmly. "System-user. You wear it like second skin."
Jin-Soo didn't reply.
> [Danger Level: S+]
[Threat: Do not engage. Escape recommended.]
The man smiled.
"Don't worry. I won't attack. Not yet. I'm curious. I've seen Hunters die begging for power. But you..."
He stepped closer.
"You've tasted death. Let it carve you. And yet you remain human."
"I remain human," Jin-Soo said flatly, "because my sister is still alive."
The man's eyes narrowed slightly.
"That's the only reason you haven't killed everyone in this tower, isn't it?"
Jin-Soo didn't answer.
He didn't need to.
The man chuckled.
"Well then. Let's play a game."
He pointed at one of the floating Hunters.
"This one's from a rival Guild. Illegal spy. If you kill him, I'll pretend this little sneak into our basement never happened."
Jin-Soo stared at the unconscious man.
Blood floated in the tube like ink.
"You think I'd kill another prisoner just to walk away?"
The man raised a brow.
"You're not a hero. You survived hell. You came back stronger. That changes people."
Jin-Soo's fists tightened.
> [System Triggered: Blood Echo – storing tension.]
[Hidden Trait Progress: 41% – Title Evolution in motion.]
He took one step back into the darkness.
"Your Guild will burn one day," he said.
"But it won't be today."
Then he vanished.
Gone.
Like a shadow fleeing sunrise.
---
Back in his room – Moments Later
He landed silently on his bed, his heart racing.
> [No trace left behind. Exit path complete.]
> [New Objective Logged: Expose Azure Blade – Reward path "Silent Storm" unlocked.]
> [Warning: Azure Blade Commander – now watching.]
He exhaled slowly.
His phone buzzed.
A message from Seo-Yeon:
> "You okay? There's something weird happening in the Guild network. The Association's getting suspicious too. Be careful."
Jin-Soo smiled faintly.
He typed back:
> "Stay close. But don't get involved."
> "This isn't just about survival anymore."
He put the phone down.
Sat up.
And began planning.
---