Jin Haru took his first steps through the cave.
Each step was heavy.
Each step echoed like thunder.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
He was slow, but strong.
The dungeon around him was dark, but not completely.
Some walls glowed with soft blue light. Strange crystals grew from the ground. They lit the path like little stars.
Jin walked slowly, looking at everything.
The walls were not natural.
They were smooth. Carved.
There were symbols on the stone—circles, lines, and shapes that glowed when he came near.
"Magic?" he whispered.
His voice was deep. It rumbled like the earth.
He touched one of the symbols.
Suddenly, a light flashed. The symbol moved, spinning slowly in the air.
Then, words appeared in front of him:
> [Dungeon Core Layer: Level 1 – Safe Zone]
Jin stepped back.
The message disappeared.
His glowing eyes widened.
"This place… it really is a dungeon."
Just like in games or stories. A place full of secrets, monsters, and magic.
He moved deeper.
He found old bones on the ground. Broken swords. Rusted armor.
Fallen adventurers?
He wasn't sure.
But he felt something strange in the air—something watching him.
The magic symbols on the walls were like eyes. Always glowing. Always watching.
Then, he reached a large room.
In the center was a tall stone pillar.
It had the same glowing symbols.
But this one was special.
It pulsed, like a heart.
"Is this… the dungeon core?"
He stepped closer.
The system voice returned.
> [Dungeon Core Guardian Detected – Welcome, Protector.]
The pillar lit up. Warm light spread across the floor. The ground shook softly.
Jin stared at it.
It felt alive.
He didn't know how…
…but he felt it call to him.
Like it needed him.
Like it was… lonely too.
Jin stood in front of the glowing stone pillar—the Dungeon Core.
It pulsed with soft light.
Suddenly, his body felt warm.
Not heat like fire, but a strange power… flowing through his rocky chest, arms, and legs.
Then, he heard the system voice again:
> [Core Connection Established.]
[Abilities Unlocked:]
– Titan Strength
– Mana Absorption
– Dungeon Control: Basic Level
Jin blinked.
"Abilities?"
He looked at his large hands.
He clenched one fist—and the ground cracked under him.
A small shockwave blasted out.
"Woah…" he whispered. "I'm strong. Really strong."
He walked over to a large stone wall nearby.
It looked thick and unbreakable.
With one punch—
BOOM!
The wall exploded into pieces.
Rocks flew everywhere.
Jin took a step back, surprised at his own power.
"Titan Strength," he said. "I like that."
Then he looked at a glowing crystal on the ground.
Blue light danced inside it.
He reached out.
When he touched it, the light faded—and he felt energy flow into him.
The system spoke again:
> [Mana Absorbed: +20 Units]
He smiled.
"So I can absorb magic, too?"
He picked up another crystal, then another.
Each time, he felt stronger.
Then he looked around.
The dungeon walls… the floors… the rooms…
He closed his eyes.
Suddenly, he could feel the whole dungeon.
Every hallway. Every room. Every crack in the stone.
It was like the dungeon was now part of him.
And he could shape it.
He raised his hand—and imagined a door in the wall.
Rumble.
A door formed, made of glowing stone.
Jin's eyes lit up.
"Dungeon Control…"
He laughed a little.
It was a deep, powerful laugh.
"I was just a tired man before… Now I'm something else."
A golem.
A guardian.
A master of stone and magic.
And maybe, just maybe…
A king in the making.
The halls of the dungeon were wide and strong.
Magic lights glowed softly on the walls.
The air was cool and still.
Jin walked alone.
His heavy steps echoed around him.
Thud… thud… thud…
He had power now.
Strong fists.
Magic control.
A connection to the dungeon.
But still…
Something felt missing.
He stopped walking and looked around.
The dungeon was large, but it was empty.
No voices.
No friends.
No laughter.
Only stone… and silence.
Jin sat down near the core room.
He rested his back against the wall.
He looked at his hands—big, rocky, strong.
He remembered his old life.
Late nights at work.
His small, quiet apartment.
No one waiting for him.
No one to talk to.
And now…
Even with this power…
He was still alone.
"Is this what I wanted?" he whispered.
He thought being a stone would bring peace.
No pain. No work. No worries.
But this silence… it was too much.
He missed the little things.
The sound of rain outside the window.
The smell of fresh food.
Even small talk with people he didn't like.
He was a monster now.
A golem.
A guardian of stone.
But his heart still felt human.
Still felt… lonely.
He leaned his head back and closed his eyes.
"Maybe one day… I'll find someone," he said quietly.
"Someone who sees more than just a monster."
His voice faded into the air.
And the dungeon stayed quiet.
Watching.
Waiting.
Listening.
Jin sat quietly in the dungeon.
The air was still.
The lights from the walls flickered gently.
Then—
He felt something.
A strange pull.
A small tremble in the air.
It came from far away…
From outside.
He stood up.
His glowing red eyes looked toward the entrance.
He had never stepped outside since waking up here.
"What's out there?" he asked.
The system voice did not answer.
The feeling grew stronger.
It was like something—or someone—was moving nearby.
Not inside the dungeon.
But just beyond it.
Jin's large body turned.
Stone cracked under his feet as he walked toward the entrance.
Each step was heavy.
Each breath silent.
When he reached the edge of the dungeon, a soft wind touched him.
Cool air brushed his rocky skin.
He stopped at the exit.
For the first time, he saw light—real sunlight.
It was bright, golden, and warm.
He raised one hand to cover his eyes.
Outside, he saw trees—tall and green.
Birds flew across the sky.
Far in the distance, he heard voices.
Not human… something else.
He leaned forward, trying to listen.
Hiss!
A strange cry echoed from the forest.
Jin's eyes narrowed.
His instincts warned him—something was wrong.
"I should go," he said.
He looked back once at the dungeon.
It had become his home.
But now, something outside needed him.
Maybe fate was calling again.
Maybe this was the reason he was reborn.
With slow, careful steps, Jin walked into the forest.
His journey had only just begun.