NOVPUBKang Hyunsoo’s gaze toward Gwak Dowon wasn’t just calm—it was almost pitying, as if silently chastising him for his earlier doubts.
Given Hyunsoo’s expression, it wouldn’t have been surprising if Gwak Dowon had lashed out.
But instead:
“......!!”
Gwak Dowonuldn’t say a word. He wasn’t simply stunned—he was unable to respond.
Behind Kang Hyunsoo stood a towering giant, larger than even the awakened ancient weapons they had just faced.
The figure was clad in resplendent armor that shimmered like sunlight, wielding a sword so massive it resembled a skyscraper.
The silence wasn’t limited to Gwak Dowon.
“Gasp!”
“Th-That’s...!!”
Shim Wonsik, Nam Seyoung, Jin Gijun, and the other hunters stared wide-eyed at the giant.
It was no ordinary sight, and their shock was justified.
The being standing behind Kang Hyunsoo was none other than the manifestation of his skill:
[Swordsmanship Skill: Gigant Slayer (SSS)]
[Summon the lingering soul of the ancient guardian titan to annihilate targets. Mana Cost: 5,000.]
An SSS-rank skill.
Though Hyunsoo had briefly explained it before entering the dungeon, seeing it in action was ampletely different matter.
Its sheer size and presence were overwhelming, but even more striking was its power. The guardian titan had annihilated monsters that had previously given the raid team significant trouble—with a single swing.
The attack’s sheer destruction felt surreal, like a dream, but the results were undeniably real.
[All monsters emerging from the dimensional rift have been eliminated.]
[The path through the dimensional gate has reopened.]
[You may now exit the dungeon.]
The additional dungeon quest wasmpleted.
With a flash of light, the titan vanished as its manifestation ended.
Moments later, a notification chimed, and Nam Seyoung cautiously approached the exit portal. She reached out a hand andnfirmed:
“The portal’s back to normal! We can leave now!”
The exit portal, previously impassable, was now functional again. The dungeon had been cleared.
Shim Wonsik, still catching his breath, broke the silence. 𝓃𝓸𝓿𝓹𝓾𝓫.𝓬ℴ𝓶
“Phew... Great work, everyone.”
He turned to Hyunsoo with a look of gratitude.
“Hunter Kang Hyunsoo, weuldn’t have done this without you.”
As the hunters began to relax, relief washed over them. However, the mood wasn’t entirely celebratory.
“It’s good that we cleared the dungeon, but... it looks like there were no survivors after all.”
Their earlier hopes had already been faint, but thenfirmation still stung.
“It can’t be helped,” Jin Gijun said with a resigned tone. “At least the monsters left us some spoils. Let’s leave them for the rvery team.”
“Agreed,” the others murmured.
With that, Shim Wonsik declared, “Let’s retreat. The SS-rank dungeon has been cleared.”
The raid team moved toward the exit portal, preparing to leave the dungeon.
But just as they were about to step through:
“Wait.”
Kang Hyunsoo’s voice stopped them.
He stood still, gazing toward the distant horizon of the plains.
“There’s another portal over there.”
“...What?”
The hunters froze in place, turning their eyes in the direction Hyunsoo indicated.
But no matter how hard they squinted, theyuldn’t see anything.
‘I don’t see anything...’
‘What portal is he talking about?’
Confused, they glanced at each other. No one else seemed to sense anything unusual.
“Let’s go check it out,” Shim Wonsik suggested.
Since the dungeon was already cleared, there was nothing to lose by investigating further.
Following Hyunsoo, the raid team traversed the plains. Before long:
“...!!”
“No way... There is a portal!”
A swirling portal stood in the distance. Unlike the standard blue portals, this one glowed ominously red.
[Rank: SS+]
“SS+...?”
“Is that even a thing?”
The hunters murmured in disbelief. They had never seen a rank with a “+” suffix before.
“What does this mean? Is it stronger than SS-rank but weaker than SSS-rank?”
“Wait a moment,” one of them interrupted.
The real issue wasn’t just the rank. Below it, additional information had appeared:
[Entry Capacity: 10/20]
“There are people inside,” Jin Gijun said, his eyes widening.
“Does this mean... the Arang Guild hunters might still be alive?”
The hunters’ voices grew excited at the possibility.
But Gwak Dowon raised his hand, injecting caution into the discussion.
“But... are we really going in? An SS+ dungeon is unprecedented. Even if the Arang Guild hunters are alive, they wouldn’t be much help. We’d essentially be attempting this with half the maximum team capacity.”
The weight of his words hung heavy in the air.
As much as the hunters wanted to act on their emotions, they knew better than anyone that raids required logic and pragmatism.
Swallow spoke quietly in Hyunsoo’s mind:
“It’s fortunate that we found the portal, but... Master, I rmmend proceeding with caution. We have no idea what’s inside.”
Hyunsoo agreed. While Swallow’s guidance had helped locate the portal, the situation was fraught with risk.
Even in his previous life, no one had successfully cleared an SS+ dungeon at this stage. The lack of precedent meant they were venturing into the unknown.
Still, there were twompelling reasons not to ignore it entirely:
First, the portal suggested the Arang Guild hunters might still be alive.
Snd:
[Emergency Quest]
[An unidentified entity has breached the dimensional rift.]
[Defeat the boss monster and obtain the Fragment of Sin (0/1).]
[Location: Wonju SS-rank Dungeon]
The quest had yet to bempleted, despite the defeat of the ancient weapons.
‘The boss monster must be inside this portal.’
Hyunsoo weighed his options carefully before making a decision.
“...I’ll go in. Even if I have to go alone. If anyone’s willing to join me, I’d appreciate the help.”
“......!”
“I’ll go alone if I have to.”
Hyunsoo’s declaration sent ripples through the raid team.
Especially Gwak Dowon, whose agitation was evident. His immediate response was a sneeringmment:
“Playing the hero, are you?”
Hyunsoo didn’t even flinch. Instead, he replied with a calm yet cutting tone:
“Hero? I have no such illusions. But if risking your life to save others isn’t heroic, what is? If you’re too scared, stay behind. I’m not forcing you.”
“Urgh...!”
Gwak’s face twisted in frustration, but he didn’t respond further.
Hyunsoo’s decision wasn’t made lightly. He knew full well that if heuldn’t handle this, he wouldn’t be able to face the even greater crises looming in the future.
Besides, there was also the quest reward tonsider. With so much at stake, there was no reason to back down.
Others saw his resolve as something far more noble.
Even as Gwak Dowon ground his teeth in resentment, other members of the team began stepping forward.
“What an inspiring mindset. Truly, it’s rare to see someone like you these days. I’m in,” said Shim Wonsik with a glint in his eye.
“I’ll go too!” Nam Seyoung added without hesitation.
“I owe you a debt already. I can’t let you handle this alone,” Jin Gijun declared, stepping up.
But not everyone was swayed.
The remaining five hunters, after a moment of hesitation, backed away.
“I’ll head out andnfirm if the dungeon break timer is properly reset,” one said.
“Good luck to you all,” another added before turning away.
This left only four hunters for the SS+ dungeon: Hyunsoo, Shim Wonsik, Nam Seyoung, and Jin Gijun.
Assembling a larger team would have been safer, but time wasn’t on their side.
If they delayed too long, the {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} Arang Guild hunters might not survive, and the opportunity tomplete the quest would vanish.
“We’ll proceed immediately. The rest of you, please exit the dungeon and spread word of the situation,” Hyunsoo instructed.
The four-man team moved swiftly toward the red portal.
Whoosh—!
The world blurred as they passed through the portal.
Inside the SS+ Dungeon
Hyunsoo immediately surveyed the new terrain. The vast chamber was centered around an ominous altar, atop which lay ten hunters, trapped inside a crimson barrier.
“Huff... Huff...”
“Ugh... Urgh...”
The trapped hunters groaned weakly, their bodies slumped within the glowing red shield.
Below the altar, a hooded figure stood, gripping a staff with both hands, chanting in a language that echoed ominously through the cavern.
“From the abyss, I summon thee who slumber in the depths. Take this offering and grant me the power tonquer the world beneath thy feet...”
Hyunsoo’s eyes narrowed. Though the figure’s face was obscured, he immediately rgnized them.
‘Frontier...!’
He had seen this person in the memories of Ji Wonhoon after defeating him—a figure who had once delivered a fragment of Beauty.
The rgnition went both ways.
“You...! How are you here?!” the hooded figure gasped, halting their chant.
There was no need for a reply. Hyunsoo’s response came as action.
He leapt forward, drawing both swords in a fluid motion.
【Activated】
[Black Hole Explosion (SS)]
[Thunderstorm Strike (SS)]
Boom! Crackle—!!
A devastating explosion and a flurry of lightning engulfed the altar, aimed directly at the hooded figure.
However:
Clang—!!
Hyunsoo’s attack was blocked. A red barrier materialized, absorbing the full brunt of his dual strikes.
“What the...?”
Even skills from mythic-grade itemsuldn’t penetrate it.
Shim Wonsik and the others quickly caught up, their weapons at the ready.
“Is that the mastermind behind all this?!”
“Let’s take him down together!”
The team unleashed their own abilities. Blades and magic surged toward the altar, but:
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Every attack was repelled by the crimson barrier.
“Fools,” the hooded figure sneered, retrieving a mask and donning it.
“Your efforts are admirable... but too late!”
Gripping the staff tightly, they resumed their chant.
Crackle—! Sizzle—!!
A black portal erupted into existence at the base of the altar, from which a terrifying roar resounded.
“Graaahhh—!!”
A monstrous figure began emerging from the portal. Its sheer size was staggering—so immense that its limbsuldn’t pass through all at once.
[Lv ??? ■@#●&%]
The name and level were garbled, as if the system itselfuldn’t process the creature.
“What is that?!” Jin Gijun shouted, his eyes wide with fear.
Shim Wonsik immediately barked orders.
“Destroy the barrier! Stop the chant! We can’t let that thingme through!”
“Damn it!”
The team attacked relentlessly, their weapons and skills pounding against the shield, but it refused to break.
Meanwhile, the portal grew wider, and the monstrous figure began to step through, revealing more of its grotesque form.
It was then that Hyunsoo made his move.
【Activated】
[Divine Beast’s Descent (SSS)]
A snd portal tore open beside him, flooding the chamber with blinding light.
