From the Web Novel: The System Hunter – Volume 1
Word spreads like wildfire in hunter society.
And when someone clears a dungeon solo without a class, a guild, or even an awakening type — that word becomes a storm.
Dong-suu sat quietly in the corner of the Guild Evaluation Center in Gangtok, wearing the same hoodie he always wore — slightly too big, sleeves pulled halfway over his hands. He didn’t look like a hunter. He barely looked like a college student.
But today… everyone whispered about him.
“That’s him, right? The no-class freak who beat the stone golem?”
“He didn’t even have a guild. Is that even legal?”
Their stares made him uneasy. But he was used to discomfort.
He wasn’t used to attention.
That changed when a man in a sharp brown jacket strolled up to him like they were old friends.
“Dong-suu, my man!” the stranger grinned. “That was a hell of a show yesterday.”
His voice was smooth — practiced — like a salesman who never left the stage.
“Jiten Tamang,” read the system box over his head. “Vice Leader, Red Blades Guild (C-Tier).”
“Thanks,” Dong-suu replied flatly, “I guess.”
Jiten dropped a thick red folder on the table with a casual slap. Inside was a contract — glossy, thick, and already filled in with Dong-suu’s name.
“We’re recruiting hard. New blood like you? We’d give you gear, gate access, raid credits — hell, even a training bonus.”
Dong-suu didn’t touch the folder. He didn’t even look at it. But he knew the name.
Red Blades.
Low clear rates. High casualty numbers. A reputation for throwing fresh recruits into low-tier raids and praying they didn’t die.
He didn’t need that kind of “support.”
“I’m not interested,” he said, his tone flat but unwavering.
Jiten blinked — just for a second. Then his grin turned sharp, almost predatory.
“You think you’re too good, huh?” he leaned in. “Don’t be stupid, kid. No guild means no license. No license means no raids. No money. No future.”
Dong-suu stood slowly. The lounge went quiet. Eyes followed him like spotlights.
“I’ll find my own way,” he said simply — voice low, but steady.
He walked out without looking back.
Outside, the air was crisper. Fewer voices. Only the sound of shoes crunching gravel.
“You really turned him down?” came a familiar voice.
He turned to find Anika Rai, walking beside him. She wore a white jacket and jeans — simple, quiet elegance. But her presence was like calm sunlight. She didn’t have to try to shine.
“You said no to a guild?” she repeated. “Most would kill for that kind of offer.”
“I don’t want to be part of someone else’s raid party,” Dong-suu muttered. “Not if it means being used.”
Anika studied him for a moment. Then, surprisingly, she smiled — not out of humor, but respect.
“You really are different,” she said softly.
He didn’t respond. But in his mind, one thought echoed louder than all the whispers in that guild hall:
“…That’s what I’m afraid of.”
That night, his system activated again.
🧿 New Quest Unlocked:
[Prove Yourself – Solo Dungeon Clear]
Clear a D-Rank Dungeon Alone
Reward: Skill Upgrade + Hidden Stat +1
A solo clear? Most hunters didn’t attempt that until they had backup, advanced gear, or at least support magic. But Dong-suu didn’t hesitate.
He trained.
Day after day.
Push-ups. Blade drills. Focus training. Meditation. All while completing daily system quests.
“+2 Strength. +10 XP.”
“+1 Agility.”
He didn’t rise with a bang. He rose with quiet effort.
One evening, just as he wiped sweat from his brow, his phone buzzed. A system notification flashed:
“Unregistered D-Rank Dungeon Detected – Coordinates Locked.”
Entry Authorized: Solo Attempt
He studied the map. It was outside Gangtok — deep in the misty rural outskirts. No roads. No registered activity.
It was perfect.
The next morning, he stood at the edge of the forest. Mist rolled between trees like breath from a sleeping god. The dungeon gate wasn’t visible to the human eye — but his system glowed faintly blue, guiding him toward it.
He wore the same hoodie, now soaked from light rain. His blade was simple. Cheap.
But his eyes had changed.
“They laughed when I refused their offers…”
“They’ll kneel when I surpass their leaders.”
He stepped forward.
The gate pulsed open like a wound in reality. Cold air wrapped around his ankles. His heart pounded, but his feet didn’t stop.
[Solo Dungeon Attempt – Begin]
🔚 Chapter 3 Ends With This Message:
“The road to becoming No.1… starts alone.”
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