The morning sun cast long shadows over the barren landscape outside the designated B-Rank Gate. The air, usually thick with the scent of ozone and anticipation, felt oddly still.
Cha Hae-In, dressed in her pristine raiding gear, stood rigidly at the Gate's entrance.
Beside her were Ethan, Jean, and Anna. Ethan wore a simple black shirt and designer jeans, Jean in a soft, elegant sundress that flowed with every breeze, and Anna in a fitted maroon top paired with a stylish skirt that framed her curves perfectly. Each of them looking completely out of place among hunters.
Yet not a single hunter noticed them. The Camouflage Spell casted by Ethan cloaked all three in a high-tier invisibility veil, leaving them perfectly undetectable to eyes, senses, and mana alike.
"I still think dressing up was unnecessary, even if we're going to be specters," Anna muttered as she adjusted her collar. "I could've just worn some hunter gear."
Her eyes drifted to Hae-In's raiding outfit, sparkling a little. "I'd actually love to try something like that."
"Relax, darling," Ethan murmured, his voice a low playful whisper carried only to his wives and Hae-In through the camouflage spell.
"If we're going to observe the natives, we must do so in style. Besides, we're only here to watch, not participate. We can raid a dungeon later. For now…" he tapped the camera now hanging around his neck, "I need you two looking breathtaking for the photos I'm planning to take. It's our first dungeon raid in this world—something worth commemorating."
He grinned to himself at the thought. 'Real-time pictures of Jinwoo fighting the boss orc… damn, this is peak fanboy life.'
Jean chuckled, already resigned to Ethan's enthusiasm. Anna sighed, but a fond smile curved her lips before she leaned in and pressed a kiss to his cheek.
Hae-In watched the three with a soft laugh. "Only your group would treat a dungeon raid like a picnic. But… sure. We can try hunter equipment later and find something suitable for you, Anna-ssi."
Anna's eyes lit up instantly. "Really? Thanks, Ms. Cha!"
Hae-In smiled softly before turning her attention back to the Gate. "Alright, Mr. Carter, Mrs. Carters—please focus. We're going to maintain a critical distance so the Second Strike Team can settle into their rhythm. The goal is to let you witness a smooth, professional operation… not a panicked brawl."
Hae-In had already briefed them on the raid's lineup.
The Second Strike Team of the Hunters Guild consisted of: Son Kihoon — A-Rank Tank and team leader, Jung Jinho — B-Rank Mage, Han Jaehyuk — B-Rank Mage, Lee Seokgyu — B-Rank Melee, Park Heesung — B-Rank Melee, Hwang Donguk — B-Rank Tank
And accompanying them was Sung Jinwoo, filling in as a Porter because the original one had canceled at the last moment.
Ethan's lips curled faintly. 'Just like canon… good.'
He then addressed Hae-In. "I must say, Ms. Cha, your guild is quite efficient. We watched the preparatory procedures—the gear check, the potion distribution, the motivational speech that sounded suspiciously like a threat to withhold bonuses. Very professional."
Hae-In nodded curtly. "We pride ourselves on our professionalism. We will give them few minutes to familiarize themselves with the path before we enter the gate."
As the minutes ticked by after the last Hunter disappeared into the swirling blue vortex of the Gate, a heavy stillness settled over the clearing. Hae-In watched the shimmering surface carefully. Finally, after sometime she gave a subtle gesture with her hand.
"Now," she whispered before stepping closer to the Gate. "We enter, keep a safe, undetectable distance, and observe. Please, under no circumstances break the spell. Any fluctuation in your energy will cause panic among the strike team."
Jean and Anna nodded, their date-ready outfits shimmering faintly under the camouflage spell, perfectly hidden despite how eye-catching they would've been in the open.
Ethan adjusted his sleeves and his eyes narrowing at the Gate. 'Good. Everything is unfolding exactly as it should.'
He then stepped forward, but froze just before crossing the threshold. His smile vanished.
The invisible air around them shifted subtly. Ethan, relying on his Genesis Awareness, felt a distinct gaze. It was not the ambient, spiritual energy of the world, nor the rough mana signature of a Beast. It was a calculating, cold presence—someone was watching them.
"Hold on," Ethan murmured, sweeping his awareness outward. He extended his senses, probing for any trace of dimensional or magical surveillance. Nothing. The presence he had felt was gone—vanishing as abruptly as it appeared.
"What is it, Ethan?" Jean asked. She and Anna immediately grew alert. Jean's psionic telepathy flared outward, searching for any malicious intent directed at them. Both women knew that whenever Ethan shifted from amusement to silent assessment, something serious had caught his attention.
"Nothing… maybe just a trick of the dimensional currents," Ethan lied smoothly, even as his internal warning sirens blared.
'That felt like a Ruler Fragment… or maybe a Monarch. But how did they bypass the camouflage spell I cast on us? I know the spell isn't unbreakable, but someone weak couldn't have slipped through it. Someone very strong is definitely watching the Gate… or perhaps Jinwoo himself… and maybe watching me.'
He kept his expression calm, his presence relaxed, but inside he was already charting possibilities. He would find the source after the raid—no matter who or what it was.
"Let's go. I'd hate to miss the opening credits," he said before stepping towards the Gate.
Just as the four of them were about to cross the final barrier, the Gate—a simple, stable vortex—shuddered violently.
A massive, overwhelming wave of Mana pulsed out of the entrance, hitting Hae-In like a physical force. It wasn't the signature of a normal B-Rank dungeon.
Hae-In staggered back, her eyes wide with shock and alarm. Her nose, usually hypersensitive to mana, was overwhelmed by the sheer, crushing density of the energy flooding out.
"T-This is impossible!" she gasped, "The rating is wrong! This isn't B-Rank! The mana concentration… it's A-Rank, possibly bordering on S-Rank!"
She immediately fumbled for the comms device Jinchul had given her—an emergency line meant to connect directly to him. Since she was guiding Ethan and his wives, Jinchul insisted she carry it in case anything unforeseen happened.
"Director Woo! We have a crisis! The B-Rank Gate in Gangnam is misrated! Mana levels are spiking—it's A-Rank or higher! The Second Team is already inside! We're going in to support them!"
Jinchul's voice crackled through the comms a second later, steady despite the urgency. "I understand. I'll be there as soon as I can."
She cut the call, knowing Jin-Chul would mobilize immediately, but the team inside wouldn't last five minutes against a high-tier Gate Boss. She turned, looking directly into the space where Ethan stood.
"Mr. Carter, I know the agreement was observation, but my Guild members are in immediate mortal danger! We need your assistance, immediately! Please, help me save them!"
Jean and Anna were instantly ready, "Well, that escalated nicely," Anna said, her voice dripping with excitement. "A surprise A-Rank Dungeon raid for the first day of our honeymoon. I knew this world wouldn't disappoint me."
"A sudden increase in power? That's highly irregular," Jean noted, "But alright. I believe We can certainly handle a misrated dungeon."
Ethan, however, smiled—a deep, knowing, slightly wicked smile.
"Of course, Ms. Cha," he agreed, gesturing toward the dungeon entrance. "Please, lead the way. We'll help you save your team."
With that, all four of them crossed the threshold and stepped into the dungeon
...
Inside the dungeon…
The four invisible figures plunged through the blue vortex of the Gate and found themselves in a vast, echoing cave system, the familiar humid air of a Magic Beast habitat hanging heavy around them.
"It's very… cave-like," Anna deadpanned, looking at the rough-hewn stone walls and dim magical lighting.
Ethan, however, was immediately focused. He extended his Genesis Awareness and confirmed his earlier suspicion. 'The time dilation here is subtle, but present,' he noted, 'Time is flowing perhaps twenty percent faster than outside. An interesting trait for a A-Rank. Is this because of the dungeon rank? Higher rank, faster flow? I should ask Ms. Cha about the rank-to-time-flow correlation later.'
Jean immediately spread her psychic senses, bypassing the slower, cave-crawling approach. "The Strike Team is being moved. They've been surrounded by a large contingent of Orc Warriors and are being herded into a specific location—it feels like a central chamber."
Anna sighed in relief. Hae-In's shoulders dropped slightly as she exhaled.
Hae-In after receiving the information, nodded grimly. "Good. Then we should move fast," she said. "We need to assist them and defeat the dungeon boss before anything worse happens."
She prepared to run, but Jean's warning stopped her. "Wait. The psychic signature of the boss is immense, far exceeding the Ogre Ethan dispatched yesterday. It feels... Very strong. And there are hundreds of thousands of Orcs present."
Ethan didn't hesitate. "Time is precious, especially for a honeymoon." He extended his right hand, making a fluid, circular motion in the air.
A ripple of energy tore a hole in the cave wall, opening a shimmering blue portal. The other side showed a colossal throne room, already filled with Orcs.
"Let's use, Shortcut," Ethan announced before stepping through followed by Jean and Anna.
Hae-In, now completely desensitized to impossible feats, followed without question.
.
.
.
They materialized silently on the periphery of the vast chamber. It was indeed a throne room, dominated by hundreds of Orc Warriors and Elite Orcs, all guarding the main event.
Seated on a crudely carved stone throne, surrounded by four towering Orc Generals, was the master of the Dungeon: Kargalgan, the High Orc Shaman.
The sight of the Strike Team—Son Kihoon and his party—surrounded and huddled together with Sung Jin-woo, played out exactly as Ethan remembered. Kargalgan, full of theatrical menace, began his arrogant monologue, demanding a fight for his entertainment.
Son Kihoon, wounded but resolute, attempted to fight, only to be effortlessly tossed aside by the Shaman's crude magic.
Just as Hae-In tensed, ready to save him, Jin-woo moved.
With blinding speed, the supposedly weak Potter intercepted Kihoon, saving him from a fatal impact. Jin-woo then stood tall, meeting Kargalgan's gaze, a confident, cold smile on his face.
Hae-In froze, her eyes—which just moments ago had been tracking movements at S-Rank speed—now locked onto the E-Rank miner.
'He's fast. Too fast. And that scent… I knew it. He's hiding his true strength.'
Her mind pieced things together quickly. This man—like the Carters—had that same strangely pleasant scent, a trait she had only observed with Carters. But unlike the Carters, Jinwoo actually have mana.
The more she observed him, the more her curiosity sharpened.
Ethan, watching her reaction from the side, couldn't help the small smile tugging at his lips. 'It seems Jinwoo is going to get his spring moment soon.'
And privately, he was grateful that Hae-In's growing curiosity wasn't pointed at him.
Ethan, Jean, and Anna watched as Jin-woo took center stage. He exchanged silent challenges with Kargalgan.
Jinwoo then slowly turned his gaze toward Kargalgan, a faint smile curving his lips as his eyes began to glow a deep, icy blue.
"I've never felt this overwhelming mana before," he murmured, "But this… this is a terrible matchup. For you, of course."
He raised his hand slightly, shadows rippling at his feet like living smoke. "Come forth… my shadows."
Shing!
The shadowy figures erupted from the ground. Igris, Iron, Tank, and the hundreds of newly acquired Shadow Soldiers flooded the chamber, instantly flipping the tactical advantage.
Ethan grinned, his eyes gleaming with fanboy pride. 'He's doing it. It's always so cool in person.'
Kargalgan snarled, his voice echoing through the cavern. "Trying to challenge my thousands of warriors with such meager numbers… how foolish of you, human."
Jinwoo only smiled.
The Monarch's Domain unfurled around him like a tidal wave, shadows deepening as he stood at the front of his army—calm, unshaken and absolute.
"If you keep underestimating my soldiers," he said softly, "it will be disastrous… for you."
And then he unleashed the carnage.
Now, Ethan decided the show needed some audience participation. So, He dropped the spell.
A wave of astonishment swept through the Hunters and even the Orcs, their eyes widening at the sight before them. But Jinwoo didn't react—standing there as if he had known this outcome all along.
Hae-In, suddenly visible, strode purposefully toward the bewildered Strike Team, followed by the two impossibly beautiful women and the charismatic man.
"Vice Guild Master Cha?" Son Kihoon gasped, blood staining his shirt.
Hae-In, ignoring the battlefield for a moment, addressed her team. "These are guests of the Chairman. Mr. Carter, please attend to Kihoon."
Ethan casually approached the wounded A-Rank. He placed a hand on Kihoon's chest. A soft, gentle green light pulsed from his palm, and the severe burns and broken ribs instantly knit and healed.
"There you go, Mr. Kihoon," Ethan said, giving a slight smile. "You should be good to go. Try not to get smacked around by the Orc Shaman quite so easily next time, though. It detracts from the spectacle."
He then turned to Anna. "My love, I think your date with the Orc Army has arrived."
Anna smiled, a fierce, delighted grin. She snapped her fingers and her casual wear was instantly replaced by her classic, intimidating yellow and green Rogue costume.
"Finally," Anna purred before launching herself like a blur of motion toward the nearest cluster of Orc Warriors, dealing instant, devastating physical and energy blows.
Thanks to absorbing the memories and powers of Anissa the Viltrumite warrior, Logan, and Lobo, Anna had developed a fierce battle-hungry streak—an instinctive urge to fight, to challenge, to push her limits against anything that looked remotely strong.
Fortunately, Ethan could rein her in whenever necessary, whether during training… or in far more private moments in bed.
The Strike Team, already shell-shocked by Shadow Soldiers, now witnessed a gorgeous woman in a comic book like costume moving at impossible speeds and dispatching Elite Orcs like paper dolls.
Even Jin-woo, mid-fight, paused for a split second, glancing at the newcomers with narrowed eyes.
Kargalgan, witnessing the sudden, terrifying shift in the odds and furious at the distraction, raised his staff, channeling dark energy for a powerful curse—aimed squarely at the nearest visible threat: the smiling, powerful woman in the green suit, Anna.
"You will perish, weak hu—" the Shaman began to chant.
That was the last straw for Ethan.
A cosmic surge of Genesis Power—raw, untamed Authority—erupted from Ethan, slamming into the atmosphere.
The very air pressure dropped, and the Mana in the room became liquid obedience. Every Orc, every Shadow Soldier, and every Hunter—except Jean and Anna—froze, paralyzed by the sheer, crushing weight of his presence.
Ethan's face was no longer amused or smug; it was a mask of cold, terrifying fury. His eyes glowed with a faint, incandescent blue light.
He took a slow, deliberate step toward Kargalgan.
"I didn't mind you providing entertainment for my favorite protagonist," Ethan's voice resonated through the chamber, not as sound, but as an inescapable thought. "I didn't mind your arrogance. But you had the nerve to try and curse my wife."
Ethan vanished. The Orc Shaman, panicking, instinctively raised his reinforced mana shield spell.
Ethan materialized directly in front of Kargalgan. With a casual, almost bored flick of his fist, he punched the shield.
The barrier shattered like cheap glass, and the force of the blow—fueled by almost Limitless Strength—sent the massive Orc Shaman hurtling across the throne room, smashing through the stone back wall and landing in a broken heap in the next chamber, his mask cracking upon impact.
Ethan stood over the remaining four Orc Generals, who were shivering, unable to move.
"Don't you dare interfere," he commanded, his voice glacial. The four Generals instantly burst into blue Eternal Phoenix Flames, their bodies dissolving into ash in a microsecond, a clean, silent annihilation. "That warning is for every beast in this room."
Jean and Anna immediately walked up to him, a mixture of exasperation and deep affection on their faces.
"Ethan, my love, I appreciate the enthusiasm," Jean said gently, placing a hand on his cheek. "I truly love the protective fury, but please, save some of the fun for us."
"Yeah, sweetie, I was looking forward to melting those Generals myself," Anna complained, though her eyes were warm.
Ethan sighed, the Genesis light receding. "I'm sorry. But the thought of that little parasite touching you with a curse, even one I knew wouldn't work thanks to the protection spells on your clothes, irritated me. I wanted him to understand his place immediately."
He looked down at the hole in the wall. "Thanks to my wives, you get to live a few more moments as an Orc, Shaman. Consider it your luck."
He then turned to the astonished Sung Jin-woo, who was staring at him. "You can take it up from here, Mr. Sung," Ethan said, giving a polite nod. "My wives will handle this trash pig army. The boss is all yours."
.....
Author's Note:
I'm back, guys! Don't worry—I'm not dropping this fic.
Sorry for the lack of updates. This entire month has been rough for me. First, I got taken out by a viral fever, and then a bunch of issues popped up in my project at work.
Sigh. Anyway, here's hoping nothing major happens again.
Also, please drop some reviews and suggestions. I'd really appreciate the feedback!