The dungeon gate loomed like a wound in the sky.
It hovered twenty meters above the ruined parking lot, a swirling vortex of dark violet light. The air around it shimmered as if reality itself had been torn open.
Kai Draven stared up at it silently.
"Move it, E-rank," someone behind him snapped.
Kai stepped aside without arguing.
Five hunters walked past him, their armor polished and their weapons gleaming under the morning sun. They carried themselves with confidence—the confidence of people who knew they were strong.
Kai lowered his gaze.
His own gear was old.
A worn leather jacket.
Cheap steel dagger.
Second-hand boots.
Nothing about him looked like a real hunter.
"Why do they even allow people like him in raids?" another hunter muttered.
"Because someone has to carry supplies."
Laughter followed.
Kai didn't respond.
He was used to it.
Ever since the world changed ten years ago—when the first Dungeon Gates appeared—humanity had divided into two kinds of people.
Those with power.
And those without.
Kai belonged firmly to the second group.
***
The Hunter System
When Gates first appeared, some humans awakened supernatural abilities. These people became Hunters, capable of fighting the monsters inside the dungeons.
Hunters were ranked from F to S.
F-Rank was the lowest.
The weakest.
The disposable ones.
Kai Draven was an E-Rank.
Barely above the bottom.
He worked low-level raids just to survive.
And today's raid was supposed to be simple.
An E-rank dungeon.
Low risk.
Easy money.
At least… that's what the guild said.
***
"Alright, listen up!"
A tall man with a greatsword stepped forward.
His name was Ronan Blake, the leader of the raid.
A C-Rank Hunter.
Strong enough to kill everyone here if he wanted.
"This dungeon was confirmed as E-rank," Ronan said. "We clear it fast, grab the crystals, and get paid."
The hunters nodded.
Ronan's eyes briefly glanced at Kai.
"And you."
Kai straightened.
"You carry the bags and stay behind us," Ronan said flatly. "If monsters appear, run."
More laughter.
Kai nodded quietly.
"Yes."
Because he needed the money.
His sister's hospital bills didn't care about pride.
***
Entering the Dungeon
The moment Kai stepped through the gate, the world changed.
Cold air brushed against his skin.
The sky vanished.
They were now inside a vast underground cavern illuminated by glowing blue crystals embedded in the walls.
The ground was damp and uneven.
Water dripped somewhere in the darkness.
Kai tightened his grip on his dagger.
Even weak monsters could kill him.
"Spread out," Ronan ordered.
The hunters advanced carefully.
Kai stayed at the back, carrying a supply pack filled with empty crystal containers.
Minutes passed.
Then—
A screech echoed through the cavern.
"Ghouls!" someone shouted.
Creatures crawled from the shadows.
Thin bodies.
Grey skin.
Long claws scraping against stone.
Dungeon ghouls.
Weak monsters.
But still deadly.
***
The Battle
The hunters moved immediately.
Steel clashed against claws.
Fire magic burst through the darkness.
Ronan swung his greatsword and split a ghoul in half.
Kai stayed back, watching carefully.
This was normal.
Hunters fought.
He stayed alive.
That was his role.
But something felt wrong.
The ghouls kept coming.
More.
And more.
"Why are there so many?!" a mage yelled.
"Doesn't matter," Ronan growled. "Kill them!"
But Kai noticed something.
The tunnel ahead…
It wasn't supposed to be this deep.
According to the raid map, the dungeon boss chamber should have been nearby.
Instead, the cavern stretched endlessly.
Kai felt a chill crawl down his spine.
Then—
The ground trembled.
Everyone froze.
A deep roar echoed through the cavern.
Not a ghoul.
Something much bigger.
Ronan's face changed.
"…Impossible."
Heavy footsteps shook the ground.
Then the creature emerged from the darkness.
A monster the size of a truck.
Massive claws.
Armored hide.
Glowing red eyes.
The hunters stared in horror.
"That's…" someone whispered.
"A Dungeon Boss…"
But that was impossible.
E-rank dungeons didn't have bosses like this.
This creature was B-rank at least.
Panic
"RETREAT!" Ronan shouted.
But it was too late.
The monster lunged.
One hunter disappeared beneath its claws.
Blood splattered across the stone.
Screams filled the cavern.
The raid collapsed instantly.
Hunters ran in every direction.
The boss monster roared again.
Another hunter died.
Kai's heart pounded.
This dungeon…
It wasn't E-rank.
It was a trap.
Betrayal
Ronan grabbed two hunters and ran toward the exit tunnel.
Kai followed instinctively.
But halfway through the corridor—
Ronan stopped.
He looked back.
Then his eyes landed on Kai.
"Slow it down."
Kai froze.
"What?"
Before he could react—
A hunter shoved him.
Hard.
Kai fell to the ground.
"What are you doing?!" Kai shouted.
Ronan's expression didn't change.
"Someone has to distract it."
The others avoided Kai's eyes.
"You're the weakest," Ronan said coldly.
"You won't survive anyway."
The tunnel gate began closing behind them.
Kai realized the truth.
They had planned this.
Sacrifice the weakest member.
Escape alive.
"Wait—!"
The stone gate slammed shut.
Kai was alone.
Behind him…
The boss monster approached.
***
The End
Kai slowly stood.
His dagger trembled in his hand.
The creature's red eyes locked onto him.
There was no escape.
No help.
Just death.
Kai laughed bitterly.
So this was how it ended.
All those years struggling…
All for this.
The monster raised its claws.
And struck.
Pain exploded through Kai's body as he crashed into the stone floor.
Blood filled his mouth.
His vision blurred.
The monster stepped closer.
Its shadow swallowed him whole.
Kai closed his eyes.
So this was death.
But then—
A voice echoed inside his mind.
Cold.
Mechanical.
Ancient.
[Host condition: Critical]
[Life signs collapsing]
[Hidden System detected]
Kai's eyes snapped open.
What…?
[Activating…]
[ABYSS DEVOURER SYSTEM INITIALIZED]
A black screen appeared before him.
Floating text burned into his vision.
Host: Kai Draven
Level: 1
Unique Skill Unlocked
[Abyss Devour]
Kai stared in shock.
The monster raised its claw again.
But another message appeared.
First Command Available
DEVOUR THE ENEMY
Kai's heart pounded.
The monster lunged—
And the system asked one final question.
"Do you wish to devour?"
Kai smiled through the blood.
And whispered:
"…Yes."
END OF CHAPTER 1