Ji Won had rolled for a class in the training hall—in the time when his eyes were closed.
Sae Jaehyun thought Ji Won was meditating—but. Ji Won was just taking his chances and was successful.
But instead of taking the class—he took the perk.
The Elf tried to hack at Sae Jaehyun's neck but—it was hit by a blue flaming construct.
It stumbled back, holding its burned face as it breathed heavily—eyes wide and breathing heavy.
"W-What?! A Pyromancer?! Which one of you-"
He trailed off—seeing Ji Won standing there, eyes glowing a deep crimson. A black tattoo of flames going down from his shoulder to the tip of his fingers
"Boy.. Aren't you a tank? Your broadsword suggested so."
The Elf narrowed its eyes—turning its head to see Sae Jaehyun who was equally surprised.
Ji Won stood there in silence. A large ball of blue and black flames forming in his hands as the snow beneath him started to melt, but instead of becoming water. It melted into bright red blood.
Thankfully I was lucky this time... An uncommon class..
Ji Won thought to himself—his hands expertly working in order to shape the ball of flame, like a potter would do to a mound of clay. Stretching and shaping it into a masterpiece.
A system notification appeared in front of him, faint celebratory music coming from it.
[Congratulations! You've Completed Achievement 'Gambler's Unrest'. Being The First Human To Achieve Two Classes! +1 Point Allotted In Each Stat!]
Ji Won took in a deep breath—feeling a bit rejuvenated as he felt the enhancement from the extra stat point.
He calmed down his nerves—holding the flaming spear of flames inside of his hands—unaffected by the immense, foreign heat of the weapon in his hands.
The Elf was distracted—trying to wrap its head around the fact that someone just changed classes out of no where. But Sae Jaehyun didn't let it think for very long.
He slashed his daggers at The Elf who was cut around his torso, leaving trails of black in their wake.
The flaming spear came flying towards The Elf like a bullet—not allowing the boss to get any room to breath or to counter.
Its eyes momentarily went blank—like it was trying its best not to get knocked out or worse, get killed.
Ji Won lunged forward—headbutting The Elf, making it fall to the ground as they scrambled on the snow.
Ji Won managed to hold on, his arms locked around the elf's throat in an iron grip, the chains on its wrists rattling under the force of his hands. The elf's eyes widened, its mouth opening in shock—but Ji Won didn't stop.
His strength was crushing—the bones of the elf itself almost getting reduced to pieces. It didn't feel like it belonged to a low level, unexperienced boy.
The Elf tried its best to escape—even going as far as to bite down on Ji Won's forearms. Its jagged knife-like teeth digging into the skin but—Ji Won didn't let go, not even a wince or hiss was released.
This child.. WHY WON"T HE ACCEPT HE'S PREY?!
The Elf tried once more—ripping apart a piece of flesh from Ji Won's hand but once more, Ji Won remained quiet. Even tightening his grip around the Elf's neck.
Sae Jaehyung jumped in, stabbing The Elf in the heart as its body convulsed wildly for a few minutes before it suddenly went limp. Ji Won pushing it off of him as he slowly stood up.
Both of their breathing was ragged and coming in the form of short ragged gasps.
We.. Survived.
That was their only thought in the moment as they stared at the body of dungeon boss—lying dead and motionless on the ground.
Ji Won gulped—he was holding his forearm—the skin was torn off to reveal the muscles and bones underneath, an icy layer forming on top of them
He felt a stinging and needle like pain run across his whole body but it was bearable. Just barely.
Sae Jaehyung on the other hand was trying his best not to pass out—his skin was a bit more pale and his eyes were half open in exhaustion—not even having the energy to ask how Ji Won suddenly became a Pyromancer all of a sudden.
I'll need to inquire about his false classification later.. But right now, I just want to survive.
They both stumbled away from the clearing. Ji Won helping Sae Jaehyung walk as the latter leaned on him for support.
They retraced their back towards where they came from. But—the dungeon gate wasn't there.
The Boss Wasn't Defeated Yet.
Ji Won's eyes widened—but before he could think of anything-
He felt a harrowing pain from below his wrist...
His hand now no longer joined with his body.
He let out a scream of pain as Sae Jaehyung was punched in the face—getting sent flying like a cannonball towards the trees as they as well, fell. Conscious slipping from his hands like sand.
The Elf stood before them, body now much larger and beast-like. Bones protruding from its shoulders and jaw, its teeth now even more uneven and crooked. The neck longer and bones visible from underneath the skin.
"You tried to kill me.. Child.. But I gave my word that I'll make you my clothing..."
It's tone was polite. Yet its voice was heavy. Letting out small barks as it got closer.
Ji Won tried to pry its fingers off of his face but its grip was far too strong—it started to crush Ji Won's face.
But.
Ji Won didn't yell, nor did he even wince, instead. He just took it, not willing to give the satisfaction of superiority to the Elf.
Noticing this, The Elf threw Ji Won onto the ground—its face contorted in rage and confusion.
THIS CHILD IS MY PREY! WHY WONT HE SHOW SIGNS OF SUFFERING.
It clasped its hand together before slamming them onto Ji Won's body again, and again but when that didn't work it started doing anything it could—except killing Ji Won.
The snow on the ground absorbed the blood that splattered from Ji Won. But not a single sound was emitted, not a single beg for mercy...
This was Ji Won. As stubborn as a mule.
The Elf took in gasps of air rapidly—its heart beating like drums that echoed through the forest. Its expression was more and more angry as Ji Won refused to give it the pleasure it got from killing and causing pain.
I don't care if I lose or die right now.. As long as I cause this bastard to suffer, it'll be a win in my books..
Ji Won's life flashed through his eyes—it felt like he was getting taken away, to whatever afterlife there was. But despite a sense a peacefulness. He felt..
Unfulfilled. Like he could have done much better.
The system.. I failed it.. I could have become so much better. So much.. Stronger.
Ji Won felt every kick, punch or bite—if it wasn't for his skill he might have died a while ago—but just when the thread of life was about to be cut by the scissors of death—the Elf suddenly stopped
The Elf having taken a moment to rest. Its breaths were barely filling its lungs, it felt like it could collapse of exhaustion at any moment.
Before it could deal any further damage—it was suddenly lifted off of its feet as the whooshing of air started behind him. The dungeon gate opening once more as none other than Ji Hye was standing there behind it.
"Peek a boo~"
He said in a calm and measured tone before grabbing the rib of the Elf—through its skin.
The rib cracked as Ji Hye started throwing it onto the ground repeatedly—the impact making a small crater in the ground, the stone beneath the large layer of snow cracking—shattering into pieces.
The Elf gasped for air, the wind knocked out of its lungs—feeling like his chest had just caved in.
"God.. I think that we shouldn't have chosen a B-Rank Difficulty Dungeon Cube..."
Ji Hye muttered under his breath before kicking the Elf in the face—its jaw slacking open—broken.
It let out a shrilling yell of pain that echoed through the forest. Bouncing through the trees and reverberating back into its ears.
It scrambled to its feet, trying to run away into the forest—desperate enough to try.
Ji Hye sighed deeply—running a hand through his hair before he snapped his fingers, the forest suddenly dissipating away into a cube. The scenery and environment changing immediately.
The Elf's eyes were wide and the pupils were shaky, it watched as years of memories and enjoyment was just ripped away in an instant by a mere human.
"You see—the academy keeps Dungeon Cubes, artifacts that store cleared dungeons for later use. We used a rather rare one for the test. One that adapts to the people that enter it"
He paused—eyes glowing a misty grey as he held the Elf by the back of the throat, slowly tightening his grip around it—but this time the Elf didn't resist. Instead it just resigned to its fate.
"You were just a fake boss. Everything was fake—including you."
He didn't let the Elf display any emotion—instead. He popped its head off of its shoulders with ease. Like a child would do to its toy.
Ji Hye wiped the blood off of his hands with a handkerchief. Turning to face the unconscious duo—but. They were alive.
"I guess we're lucky.. These two are definitely low C-rank hunters now.. Maybe a little bit stronger."
Dae Youngjae suddenly appeared besides him—his presence like a ghost's. His voice was impressed but also a bit annoyed.
"Stop thinking about their strength. Get them to Nae Jin-ho."
Ji Hye nodded. Throwing away the handkerchief into the air as he walked away, Ji Won and Sae Jaehyun's unconscious bodies floating behind him.
Dae Jaeyoung looked back at the corpse of the Elf, head separated from the body—the same handkerchief that was soaked in its blood slowly floated down to cover its face.
"I suppose having an ex-criminal as a teacher has pros and cons as well.."
He mumbled—turning his head away from the dead Elf.
"But Ji Won's sister.. She might be a bit mad her brother nearly died.."
As if on cue—his phone inside his pocket started to ring. And when he took it out of his suit's pocket, the name displayed on it sent a small pang of nervousness through his body.