Late at night, under the watchful eyes of the top guild leaders, the entrance to the S-Class dungeon sealed shut without warning. No one had seen anyone enter, yet the dungeon's activation was unmistakable. The guild leaders—Baek Ryeo-woon of Oblivion and others, stood in stunned silence.
Something entered the dungeon?
--
Inside the Dungeon
Kim Byeol-ha exhaled deeply as he stepped into the dungeon. The oppressive weight of Earth's restrictions lifted, allowing him to breathe freely.
"Finally, some breathing room," he thought, feeling the familiar surge of his powers returning.
His body levitated effortlessly, granting him a panoramic view of Phase 1 of the dungeon. Below, a pack of silver wolves prowled, their eyes glinting with predatory intent. These A-class monsters were formidable foes for most, but to Byeol-ha, they were mere nuisances.
"Silver wolves? More like silver puppies," he mused, a smirk playing on his lips.
Harnessing his Death Aura—a manifestation of his unique ability—Byeol-ha descended. The aura enveloped him, a shimmering gray field that pulsed with lethal energy. As he approached, the wolves snarled, sensing the danger.
With a mere gesture, the Death Aura expanded, its tendrils reaching out to the wolves. One by one, they collapsed, their life forces extinguished instantly. In moments, all 25 silver wolves lay motionless.
"Efficient as always," he noted, collecting their cores with practiced ease.
Advancing deeper into the dungeon, Byeol-ha encountered a massive octopus-like creature, its tentacles writhing menacingly. This beast, a high-tier A-class monster, had been the bane of many adventurers.
"Ah, calamari on steroids," he quipped, preparing for battle.
The creature lunged, tentacles aiming to ensnare him. Byeol-ha dodged effortlessly, his movements a blur. Channeling his Death Aura, he launched a concentrated blast at the beast's core. The impact was immediate; the monster shrieked, its form convulsing before collapsing into a heap.
He extracted its core, noting its size and quality. "This will fetch a good price,"* he mused, storing it securely.
--
The dungeon's air was thick with tension, the kind that made even the bravest adventurers second-guess their life choices. A Phase 3 dungeon wasn't child's play; it was the kind of place where seasoned hunters met their end. But for Kim Byeol-ha, it was just another Tuesday.
As he stepped into the boss chamber, the atmosphere shifted. The walls pulsed with a malevolent energy, and the ground trembled beneath his feet. At the center stood the dungeon boss—a grotesque amalgamation of steel and sinew, its eyes glowing with an otherworldly light.
"Well," Byeol-ha mused, cracking his knuckles, "this should be fun."
--
Most hunters approached such battles with caution, strategy, and a healthy dose of fear. Byeol-ha? He preferred a more direct approach.
With a grin, he charged forward, his movements a blur. The boss roared, swinging a massive arm in a wide arc. Byeol-ha ducked effortlessly, retaliating with a punch that sent shockwaves through the chamber.
"Is that all you've got?" he taunted, dodging another attack. "I've had tougher opponents in my dreams."
The boss, enraged, unleashed a flurry of attacks, each more desperate than the last. But Byeol-ha danced around them, his agility unmatched.
With a final leap, he soared into the air, delivering a devastating kick that shattered the boss's core. The creature let out a final, pitiful wail before collapsing into a heap of rubble.
Standing amidst the debris, Byeol-ha couldn't help but reflect on the absurdity of it all.
Because he was simply exercising and this thing made the others cry river. They are too weak and he has to clean their mess.
The other leaders outside: We didn't cry, thank you.
He sighed, brushing dust off his clothes.
"But hey, someone's got to do it. And if that someone has to be me, so be it."
--
Kim Byeol-ha stood at the edge of the now-cleared S-Class dungeon, brushing dust off his sleeves with an air of nonchalance. The once-treacherous dungeon, notorious for its lethal traps and formidable monsters, now resembled a freshly cleaned living room—if that living room had been host to a monster party the night before.
As he stepped out, the sunlight hit his face, and he squinted, adjusting to the brightness. The scene outside was less welcoming.
Baek Ryeo-woon was the first to find his voice. "You cleared it... alone?"
"Yep," Byeol-ha replied, stretching his arms as if he'd just finished a light workout. "Cleaned it up nicely. You could eat off the floors now."
Ryu Shi-woon of Heaven's Edge clapped his hands. "Impressive! I didn't think anyone could handle that dungeon solo. What's your guild?"
"Nexus," Byeol-ha said, adjusting his collar. "And as of now, this S-Class dungeon falls under our jurisdiction. You can all vacate District 8."
Han Yoo-Seok of Ironblood Vanguard raised an eyebrow. "Bold claim. But I respect strength. Just don't get cocky, kid."
Lee Min-ah of Silverfang Dominion smirked. "I like him. He's got guts."
Park Seul-bi of Celestial Dawn nodded in agreement. "It's refreshing to see new talent rising. Perhaps you'd consider attending the upcoming Guildeon Festival? It's a great opportunity for healthy competition."
Byeol-ha tilted his head. "Guildeon Festival? Sounds like a fancy fair."
Ryu Shi-woon chuckled. "It's more than that. It's where guilds showcase their strength, strategy, and unity. Think of it as the Olympics for adventurers."
Han Yoo-Seok added, "And it's the perfect place to see if your Nexus can stand toe-to-toe with the best."
Lee Min-ah leaned in, her eyes gleaming. "Consider this your official invitation—and challenge."
Byeol-ha grinned. "Challenge accepted."
As the guild leaders departed, each with their own thoughts about the newcomer, Byeol-ha stood alone, contemplating the path ahead.
--
Kim Byeol-ha stood under the weak flicker of a streetlight, staring blankly at a branching alleyway. His arms were crossed, and his brows furrowed so hard it looked like his forehead was about to sue for stress damages.
Left? Right? Wait, did I already take the left earlier… or was that a different left? Who made this city anyway, an architect or a troll?
That's when he heard hurried footsteps and turned to see his little sister, Kim Bitna, trotting over in a huff. Her relief was visible—shoulders dropping, hands on her hips, and that one classic eyebrow raise she reserved exclusively for her brother when he did something stupid.
"There you are! I thought you vanished into thin air again!"
Kim Byeol-ha blinked. "I didn't vanish. I just took a strategic... standing break."
"In the middle of a three-way alley?"
"I was assessing the urban design flaw."
Bitna rolled her eyes but hooked her arm around his. "Come on, direction-blind general. Let's get you home before you claim the postbox is a dungeon boss."
As they walked, the night air had a sharp edge to it—somewhere between fried oil and garbage. Classic District 8. Byeol-ha sniffed.
"Smells like home. You know, in a tragic way."
Bitna snorted. "You've been gone for ten years—or a thousand if you count your weird math—and this is the nostalgic commentary you're offering?"
He shrugged. "Can't help it. Earth's got a flavor. Even the air tastes like debt and disappointment."
She elbowed him lightly. "So? How was it? You cleared that S-Class dungeon like a breeze, huh?"
Byeol-ha puffed out a breath. "Yeah, but Earth's laws are like that one clingy ex. Keeps slapping my magic every time I try to use it fully. I'm being rejected harder than a guy holding a 'Free Hugs' sign in a horror movie."
Bitna chuckled. "But you still managed to handle it. That's impressive."
"True, true. Though I was half-expecting a god to fall out of the sky halfway through and scream 'surprise boss fight!'" he muttered.
They turned a corner, passed a noodle stall, and waved at an elderly woman slumped in a lawn chair guarding bags of mysterious beans. Life in District 8. Unapologetically weird.
Bitna glanced at him sideways. "Do you remember anything about the city? I mean, anything useful?"
"Absolutely not. My memory's a Swiss cheese sandwich. And half of it's interdimensional."
"You... don't even remember how to get to our house?"
"Bitna, I forgot where I left my sandals last night. In the neighbor's microwave. Do you really think I remember urban layouts?"
She snorted so loudly a passing cat yelped and bolted into a trash can.
"But you're going to lead a guild?" she said after a moment. "A bit worrying, don't you think?"
"Hey," Byeol-ha said with mock offense, "every great leader needs to be lost in life to truly find their path. I just happen to take that a bit... literally."
Bitna nodded with mock solemnity. "Very inspiring. I'll make sure to put that on a T-shirt."
They reached the narrower residential lane—potholes the size of bathtubs and laundry lines sagging like they carried the weight of lost dreams. Byeol-ha looked up at the dimly lit houses and let out a soft sigh.
It's strange. I thought returning would be emotional in a dramatic, tear-filled kind of way. But instead, it's... peaceful. Bitna's beside me. The world's a mess, sure. But it's my mess again.
"You okay?" Bitna asked.
"Yeah. Just thinking about how Earth feels smaller than I remember. Or maybe I got too big."
She gave his side a small pat. "Don't worry. We'll make Earth grow with you."
"Wow. That was... kinda motivational. Who are you and what did you do to my sister?"
Bitna stuck her tongue out. "I've grown, too. You know, while you were busy gallivanting through dimensions, some of us stayed back and lived a humble dystopian life."
"I'm proud of you," he said, suddenly sincere.
Bitna blinked, and the smile faded into something softer. "...You mean that?"
"Of course," he said. "You took care of the kids. You kept the house standing. You didn't let this broken world eat you alive. That's strength I never learned in any divine war."
She nodded and didn't speak again until they arrived at their crooked, overpopulated home. Bitna stopped at the door and turned to him.
"You really gonna form this Nexus Guild of yours?"
"Yeah. We need a system that cares more about people than profit. And a name cool enough that kids would wear it on hoodies."
She shook her head with a grin. "You're still an idiot."
"And proud."