For the first time, Lee Seong-jun stepped into a C-rank gate.
But instead of awe or fear, he felt… almost nothing. At most, the air was heavier, the atmosphere thicker. The dense forest stretched endlessly, resembling the lowly F-rank gates of the past.
He understood immediately—this was the Association's hand at work. They had made even higher-level gates survivable for him, a mark of the trust and care they'd been showing. And in return, Seong-jun resolved not only to grow but to surpass even their expectations.
Clash with the Blue Tiger
Through the brush emerged his first true foe: a Blue Tiger.
Massive, three meters long, with sapphire fur that shimmered under the forest light. Its claws could tear through stone, its roar rattled the trees. A true C-rank predator.
The beast lunged with killing intent. Any ordinary hunter would have been shredded.
But Seong-jun did not move.
He was waiting.
Ding!
Buffs stacked upon buffs—Strength, Agility, Stamina. Then Blessing of the Earth, Protection of the Wind, all amplified by 50%. His body thrummed with radiant energy, the ground lending him endurance, the wind lifting his frame.
The Blue Tiger's claws raked against him—only to leave shallow scratches. His durability had surpassed human limits.
"Good," Seong-jun muttered. "Then it's my turn."
The Birth of an External Technique
His muscles tensed like steel cables, bones solidified like iron rods. For the first time in this life, he activated the Diamond Steel Outer Qigong—the forbidden external technique of Cheolmujin, the Geumgang Demon himself.
Form One: Iron Mountain Tiger Fight.
With the momentum of a living weapon, Seong-jun rammed his shoulder into the Blue Tiger.
Kwaaang!
The impact was thunderous. The beast was sent flying, crashing into a tree that snapped like brittle wood. The monster slumped to the ground, eyes dull, body broken.
Ding!
[C-rank monster, Blue Tiger, defeated.]
It was an overwhelming victory in a single strike. Yet Seong-jun frowned. The force had scattered instead of concentrating—pure brute strength rather than refined mastery. Compared to Cheolmujin's legendary precision, it was crude.
But it didn't matter. It was only the beginning. With practice, the form would sharpen. And most importantly, external energy filled the void where his internal energy fell short. For too long he had worried about his shallow reserves of qi; now, he finally had a counterbalance.
Blood and Growth
For hours, the hunt continued. Every Blue Tiger fell before him, their roars cut short by the force of Vajra Steel. His movements grew more fluid, his strikes more brutal.
After five relentless hours—
Ding!
[Congratulations! You have reached level 41.]
His growth had doubled, perhaps tripled compared to yesterday. A speed no ordinary hunter could dream of.
But instead of celebration, Seong-jun froze.
Something powerful was approaching. At first, he thought it might be the dungeon's boss… but no. The aura was human. A hunter. And not just any hunter—it carried a weight that set his instincts on edge.
Unbidden, a name flashed in his mind: Hwanseong.
His lips tightened into a thin smile.
"…I'll have to see for myself."
With steady steps, Lee Seong-jun advanced toward the presence.