Chapter Three - I Need To Get Stronger (1)

A month had passed since the searing grief of his sister's death. Kim Jin-Hyuk stood alone within the desolate confines of the Portal, a digital chasm echoing with the silence of his sorrow. The air hung heavy, thick with the unspoken weight of his loss. Yet, a steely resolve hardened his gaze. "I am going to become stronger," he declared, his voice a low, unwavering murmur. The No Emotion skill, a chillingly effective technique, masked the turmoil within, though not entirely. A flicker of thought, a brief hesitation, preceded his descent into the dungeon's depths.

His journey began with a series of skirmishes against steel wolves, their metallic howls swallowed by the dungeon's oppressive silence. He dispatched them with swift, brutal efficiency, his movements honed to a lethal precision born of relentless training. Each fallen wolf was a small victory, a tiny step on the long road to his self-imposed penance. He moved through the twisting corridors, unscathed, his progress marked only by the rhythmic clang of his blade against steel.

Then, the earth trembled. A surge of mana, raw and potent, pulsed through the dungeon, a palpable wave of energy that washed over him, leaving him breathless. "What is this?" he muttered, his hand instinctively reaching for his Shadow Sword, its obsidian surface gleaming faintly in the dim light.

The source of the mana revealed itself in a terrifying flash. A figure materialized behind him, a blur of motion that ended with a near-fatal strike. The woman's blade, a whisper of death, grazed his neck, leaving a burning scar as a stark reminder of his near demise.

He spun around, his Shadow Sword held high, ready to meet his attacker. Before him stood a vision of striking beauty and lethal grace: a woman with hair like spun gold, eyes that held the cold fire of a winter storm, clad in a black long-sleeved top and slightly baggy pants. Her presence radiated power, an aura of chilling authority that spoke of honed skill and ruthless efficiency.

"Who are you?" he demanded, his voice tight with barely controlled fury.

"This Portal is owned by the Reapers Guild," she replied her voice a silken whisper that belied the deadly intent in her eyes. She began to circle him, a predator sizing up its prey, her movements fluid and graceful, yet laced with a palpable threat. "And you," she continued, her gaze unwavering, "are trespassing."

"It doesn't matter," Jin-Hyuk responded, his grip tightening on his dagger. "I am clearing this dungeon by myself."

A low chuckle escaped the woman's lips. "You are funny," she said, the amusement laced with contempt. "Clear a dungeon by yourself? Have you gone mad? That is not possible." Her eyes narrowed, assessing him with a chilling precision. "And are you thinking of fighting back? I am Yoo Yeonhee, the 8th Grade-S Hunter of the Republic of Korea. Judging by your mana signature, you're probably a Grade-C Hunter. I can defeat you in mere seconds."

The revelation hit him like a physical blow. Yoo Yeonhee. The name was synonymous with a legend in the Hunter community. A master swordsman, blessed with exceptional abilities, and the Guild Master of the Reapers Guild herself. This was no ordinary encounter; this was a clash with a force of nature.

"Do not underestimate me," Jin-Hyuk retorted, his voice betraying none of the fear that gnawed at him. He launched himself at her, his dagger a blur of motion.

She moved with a speed that defied belief, effortlessly avoiding his attack. A swift, brutal punch landed squarely in his stomach, doubling him over in agony. "Keuk—!" he gasped, the air knocked from his lungs.

Yoo Yeonhee chuckled, her eyes gleaming with cruel amusement. "Do not underestimate me either, young man," she taunted. "I may look fragile, but that doesn't mean I am not strong."

As she moved to deliver another blow, a surge of adrenaline coursed through Jin-Hyuk's veins. He reacted instinctively, blocking her punch, but the force of the impact sent him sprawling to the ground. In that moment of vulnerability, he focused his will, his mind a whirlwind of calculation. "Allocate the remaining points to… Endurance!" he gritted out, his voice strained.

[All the remaining points have been transferred to Endurance. It is now 8]

He pushed himself up, his body aching, but his spirit unbroken. His endurance, now significantly boosted, allowed him to withstand the punishment. He launched another attack, his movements less precise, but fueled by a desperate determination. He managed to cut her right arm, momentarily disabling her swordsmanship. She retaliated with a flurry of punches, one connecting squarely with his face, sending a wave of dizziness washing over him. But he held on, his enhanced endurance preventing him from being knocked unconscious. He retaliated, slashing her left leg and right shoulder.

"Your mana might be strong," Jin-Hyuk panted, his voice dripping with sarcasm, "but your body isn't." He pressed his advantage, his attacks relentless, his fury a driving force. With a final, desperate lunge, he plunged his dagger into her face, ending the fight.

[Level points couldn't be obtained, since the entity you killed is not a living being.]

The message hung in the air, a chilling revelation. "Huh? What does it mean by 'not a living being'—" His question was cut short by a voice, cold and resonant, echoing through the dungeon.

"I will haunt you for the rest of your life, Kim Jin-Hyuk."

The voice faded, leaving Jin-Hyuk alone in the echoing silence. He looked around, the dungeon walls unchanged, the only evidence of the battle the faint scent of blood and the lingering tremor in his hands.

"Could it be… it was just a clone?" he whispered, a shiver running down his spine. The chilling implication hung in the air, heavier than the silence of the dungeon itself. His victory felt hollow, a pyrrhic triumph over a phantom. The road to becoming stronger, he realized, was far longer and far more treacherous than he had ever imagined.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***