Episode 31: Scaled Frogs and Forgotten Clones
Back at the gym, the air smelled faintly of metal and sweat and the quiet strain of people pushing their bodies too far. In one forgotten corner, a lone clone sat curled up, arms wrapped around his knees. Number Two wore a quiet smile that used to be patient but had since faded into something numb. His back rested against a rack of foam rollers no one ever used. His eyes barely moved, staring at nothing, blinking slow and mechanical. No one paid him any mind. People walked past him like he wasn't even there. Even the janitor just mopped around his shoes without a glance.
He still wore the gym clothes Do-hyun had handed him that morning. The shirt clung to his back, more from the humidity than any movement.
The side door slammed open, and Kim Do-hyun came jogging in, his breath ragged from the run. His hoodie was stuck to him from the heat outside. He stopped short when he saw the clone.
"I knew I was forgetting something," he said under his breath.
Number Two turned his head. Their eyes met. There was no complaint. No emotion. Just the same quiet expression.
"You stayed?" Do-hyun asked as he rubbed the back of his neck.
Number Two nodded once, like it was the most natural thing in the world.
Outside, a sleek dark-gray car honked twice. Han Jin-woo leaned out the driver's side window.
"Let's move. The dungeon won't wait."
Do-hyun gave a small wave, then reached down and helped Number Two to his feet.
"You could've called," he murmured, though he knew better. Clones didn't call. They waited.
In the car, the cool air hit their faces. Number Two buckled in quietly. Han caught a glance in the rearview mirror.
"You always treat your clones like luggage?" he asked with a smirk.
"Not usually," Do-hyun replied. "Today got messy."
"Every day's messy once you're Awakened," Han muttered as the engine pulled them away from the curb. "But this dungeon is solid. Real enemies. Real loot. Worth the time."
Do-hyun turned to Number Two, who still stared blankly out the window. It was hard to tell if he was looking at anything or just pretending to. That same smile never changed. Not sad. Not happy. Just there.
"Are we going in like this?" Do-hyun asked. "No weapons. No prep."
Han didn't take his eyes off the road.
"You're thinking too hard. Every major field's got outfitter shops built into the perimeter. You don't need to pack gear anymore. Just credits."
Do-hyun blinked.
"Wait. What?"
"Yeah. Private vendors set up booths right near the gates. They rent stalls, sell gear, food, drones, whatever. Like a flea market for Hunters. You show up, grab what you need, and go."
"And if I don't have the credits?"
Han shrugged.
"I'll cover you for now. Just don't waste my money."
The city fell away as they drove. Skyscrapers gave way to cracked buildings and abandoned factories. Outposts began appearing more frequently, manned by guards in full urban camo. Do-hyun noticed how their gear looked more military than civilian.
They stopped at a checkpoint where guards scanned IDs and inspected the vehicle. Once cleared, they continued through a long access road.
The world changed.
Beyond the last gate was a stretch of land that didn't belong to any city anymore. Barbed wire. Steel fences. Detection towers that tracked their movements. In the distance, the hills were covered in black vines and broken rooftops. The dirt looked scorched. Even the air shimmered in strange patterns.
"What is this place?" Do-hyun asked, voice low.
"Used to be normal," Han said. "Then came the breach. One of the rare full ones. Rift stayed open. Monsters poured out and didn't stop. We lost over a thousand. Wiped out two districts. It took drones and bunker-buster bombs just to slow them down."
Do-hyun felt a chill in his spine.
"And now it's a dungeon?"
"Now it's farmable. The big threats are gone. What's left are scraps. Frogs with scales and bad breath. Good enough for rookies."
They parked at a plaza inside the outer perimeter. All around them, other cars pulled in. Hunters stepped out. Some wore battle gear. Others looked like they were dressed for a hike. A few looked like they just got off work. Do-hyun saw a girl in a school uniform checking her gloves like it was part of her daily routine.
"It's still active?" he asked.
"Sure. That's the point. Weak monsters. Steady spawn. Easy money. No one's proud to be here, but everyone leaves with something."
Bright lights flashed over a row of booths. A glowing sign read HUNTER'S HUT in blocky Korean and English lettering. Do-hyun stepped inside and found shelves stacked with all kinds of gear. It looked like a military supply store collided with a sci-fi movie.
He wandered between rows of rifles and armor. A half-bored clerk with bleached hair tossed him a bin.
"Fill it. Pay after."
Do-hyun paused at a rack of pistols. Some had glowing runes. Others looked basic but reliable. He picked out a standard field pistol, grabbed two spare mags, a light vest, a pair of goggles, and some energy bars.
Number Two followed behind. Never touched a thing.
The clerk rang them up. Seven hundred thousand won.
Do-hyun blinked.
"This might be a bit much."
Han stepped up and dropped a black card on the counter.
"If you kill even one frog, the loot should pay for all of it. Consider it an investment."
Do-hyun nodded and pocketed the receipt.
They passed one more checkpoint where armored guards stood behind barricades. The emblem on their armor marked them as Hae-seong Guild. That meant the zone was under tight watch.
Then they stepped through.
The land inside the dungeon shimmered with mana. Every rock had faint blue veins. The plants looked half-dead and half-magical. Fog hugged the ground and left a bitter taste in the back of the throat.
But the monsters weren't the first thing they noticed.
It was the people.
Hunters crouched behind sandbags, rifles mounted and ready. Some wore goggles with targeting links to drones floating above. Others chewed protein bars while watching the fog through scopes. It felt less like a hunt and more like some strange mix between a firing range and a war movie.
Do-hyun saw a guy in a pineapple shirt sipping iced coffee as he lined up a shot.
"This is the dungeon?" he asked.
Han grinned.
"Welcome to the frog field. Enjoy."
Do-hyun tightened his goggles and handed Number Two a spare pistol. They walked into the haze together.
Somewhere in the mist, a low croak echoed.
And that was their cue.