As soon as Joon-seok stepped inside the B-rank dungeon… he froze on the spot.
"…What is this?"
Pitch-black darkness everywhere.
No path. No shapes. Just cold, damp air… and a strange smell, like rotten earth.
"Damn… it's so dark… I can't see anything… what am I supposed to do here?"
Shit… how am I supposed to fight without vision?
He took a slow breath.
"Fine… whatever. If I keep moving forward, I'll find something eventually."
He started walking slowly, carefully placing each step.
This shouldn't take long… it's just a B-rank gate…
A faint smirk appeared on his lips.
I cleared an A-rank alone… this is nothing.
He kept moving forward.
After a while… the darkness started to fade slightly, as if his eyes were adjusting.
The outline of a cave began to appear.
Joon-seok suddenly stopped.
"Hmm… this gate…"
He looked around.
"It's like a cave… no side paths… just one straight route?"
Strange… usually there are branches… here there's only one direction.
"Whatever… let's just go where it leads."
He started walking again.
Then—
krrr… krrr…
A sound echoed.
Joon-seok stopped instantly.
"Hmm… something's coming?"
His eyes sharpened.
"Who could it be… a unique monster?"
A hint of excitement appeared on his face.
"This should be fun…"
The sound grew louder.
krrr… krrr… krrr…
"Not one… there are multiple…"
The next second—
Six figures emerged from the darkness.
Goblins.
Joon-seok's face dropped slightly.
"Seriously…?"
I thought I'd get something unique… and it's goblins again…
But then he noticed the details.
"Wait…"
These weren't normal goblins.
4.5 to 5 feet tall… grey-green skin… wrinkled and rough.
Yellow glowing eyes… sharp teeth… long pointed ears.
Rusty swords and daggers in their hands.
Worn-out leather and rusty metal plates on their bodies.
"What kind of goblins are these…?"
A system window popped up—
[Monster Identified]
Name: Cave Goblin
Rank: D-rank
Description: Small, agile cave dwellers. Weak individually but dangerous in groups. Uses rusty swords and sneaky tactics.
Joon-seok let out a small laugh.
"D-rank… huh."
"Strong for goblins… but not for me."
Then he frowned slightly.
"Wait… since when does the system identify normal monsters…?"
Earlier it only did that for bosses…
"Whatever… works for me."
Maybe the system upgraded after leveling up…
Meanwhile, the six Cave Goblins were staring at him.
Drool dripping from their mouths… eyes narrowed.
Like they wanted to devour him.
Joon-seok said sarcastically,
"What? Planning to eat me?"
"Let's see."
One goblin suddenly dashed toward him.
Its speed was insane.
Whoa… pretty fast…
"But not faster than me."
Joon-seok instantly summoned his sword.
Clang!
He deflected the attack… and followed up with a solid kick.
THUD!
The goblin slammed into the wall… and dropped dead.
The remaining five goblins clenched their teeth.
They growled in anger.
Joon-seok shrugged.
"Look… you started it, not me."
"So now deal with it."
He casually spun his sword.
This sword is smooth… sharp too…
Should I name it?
"Forget it… let's clear the gate first."
The remaining goblins rushed him together.
One suddenly appeared behind him.
Fast.
Joon-seok's eye twitched slightly.
"Oh… attacking from behind?"
"Nice try."
Next second—
He was behind that goblin.
Slash!
The goblin split into two.
Joon-seok flicked his sword.
"I can't believe it… it cut so easily…"
"This thing is really sharp."
The remaining goblins attacked together.
Joon-seok stood still.
Before their attacks could land—
He vanished.
And appeared behind them.
Casually looking at his sword.
Next second—
thak… thak… thak…
All their heads dropped.
Blood sprayed into the air.
The cave turned red.
Joon-seok immediately covered his nose.
"Ugh… their blood smells awful…"
"Let's move."
He walked forward again.
Now, light started appearing in the cave.
The darkness was left behind.
"Looks like the darkness was only at the entrance…"
"Now I can see clearly… good."
"I can fight properly now."
He kept moving.
Then—
rumble… rumble…
The ground started shaking.
Joon-seok lost his balance slightly.
"What… what's happening…?"
"An earthquake…?"
An earthquake inside a dungeon? Never heard of that…
"Or… something is coming?"
Then—
The ground cracked open.
And from within… monsters started emerging one by one.
Joon-seok's eyes widened slightly.
"Wait… these are—"
"Orcs?"
But he paused.
"Hmm… something's different…"
6.5 to 7 feet tall… massive bodies.
Grey, stone-like skin… solid and heavy.
Large tusks… glowing orange eyes.
Huge stone clubs and broken axes in their hands.
"I've never seen orcs like this…"
System pop-up—
[Monster Identified]
Name: Stone Orc
Rank: C-rank
Description: Large, muscular cave dwellers with thick stone-like skin. Extremely strong and durable, but slow. Uses heavy stone weapons.
"So they are orcs… but Stone Orcs…"
"First time seeing them."
This gate really is unique… every monster is an upgraded version…
"Fine…"
"Let's take them down."
One Stone Orc roared and charged.
Swinging its heavy club.
Joon-seok watched calmly.
"Knew it… they're not fast at all."
The club came down—
Joon-seok stepped aside.
BOOM!
The ground cracked.
"Slow… but definitely strong."
Next second—
Joon-seok vanished.
Appeared in front of the orc.
The orc froze in shock.
Slash!
Head gone.
The remaining orcs roared in rage.
Joon-seok looked slightly irritated.
"Sigh… are they endless or what…"
"Who wants to fight this many…"
He raised his hand slightly.
Aura pressure—released.
BOOOOOOM!
All the orcs were forced into the ground.
They struggled.
Joon-seok observed.
"Hmm… not enough."
"Need more pressure to kill them."
He closed his eyes.
Full power.
BOOOOOOOOOOM!
The pressure multiplied.
All the orcs were crushed into the ground… dead.
Silence.
Joon-seok exhaled.
"Finally…"
"Looks like those were the last ones…"
"Now only the boss remains."
He walked forward slowly.
At the end of the cave—
A large gate.
"Hmm… this is it…"
"The boss must be inside."
"Let's finish this quickly."
He stepped toward the gate—
But suddenly stopped.
His body froze.
"…What?"
"What's happening…?"
"Why can't I move…?"
"My body… why won't it move…?"
He tried to force himself… but couldn't.
Then—
A strange feeling.
Above… something is there…
Joon-seok slowly looked up.
On the ceiling… something was stuck.
Like a shadow.
"Who's there…?"
He couldn't see clearly.
Next second—
That thing dropped down.
THUD!
Joon-seok's eyes widened.
In front of him—
A large spider.
Dog-sized… around 3–4 feet.
A transparent green crystal-like body… with blue glowing veins inside.
Eight sharp legs… clinging to walls and ceiling.
Small glowing blue eyes.
Green venom dripping from its mouth.
System pop-up—
[Monster Identified]
Name: Crystal Crawler
Rank: B-rank (Minion)
Description: Large spider-like creature with a crystal body. Moves quickly on walls and ceilings. Uses sticky webs and venomous bites.
Joon-seok's lips slowly curved.
"Oh…"
"Boss minions…"
"Now the real fun begins."
To be continued…