Incheon was unusually quiet that morning. In the heart of the square, a glowing gate of deep blue light stood tall, surrounded by a tight security cordon of soldiers and metal barricades. Behind a temporary Association desk, officers were coordinating the entry of teams, while Jin sat on a metal bench facing the gate. His back was straight, his left hand gripped the scabbard of his sword, and his eyes observed the scene with a cold, indifferent gaze.
A team of hunters arrived at the square: a massive swordsman with bulging muscles carrying a greatsword on his back, a slender mage in heavy armor, and a healer calmly holding his staff. They were missing a fifth member to complete the team, so the swordsman shouted in a booming voice: "We need a fifth member, at least C-rank!"
Jin simply raised his hand: "I'll join you."
The team stopped and appraised him with looks ranging from mockery to astonishment. The mage laughed, saying: "A kid?" while the massive leader asked sharply: "What's your rank?" Jin replied calmly: "(B)."
The swordsman burst out laughing: "Stop messing around, kid. Dungeons aren't a picnic to test your bravery. Go find a porter team." The mage added in a warning tone: "The Tower devours the reckless."
Jin smiled a cold, mysterious smile and turned to leave: "As you wish." As he walked away, a hidden, wicked glint appeared on his face… he knew the fun had just begun.
[Inside the Dungeon]
Inside the giant cavern, the air was suffocating and the humidity grew heavy. Hours passed, and the ground was covered with the corpses of kobolds and hobgoblins. The team was exhausted; the mage's mana was nearly depleted, and the leader's wounds began to bleed. As for Jin, he was watching them from afar while leaning against the wall, his sword yet to leave its scabbard. He analyzed their mistakes coldly: "Poor positioning… overconfidence… a foolish leader."
Suddenly, his sensory perception spread through the area, and his eyes widened with a smile: "Finally…"
A scream of terror echoed from the side tunnels, and a wounded hunter came running, shouting: "Run!! What is that?!" Behind him, a pack of Werewolves appeared. They didn't resemble kobolds; they had towering bodies, tightly coiled muscles, and sharp fangs dripping with savagery.
The cavern turned into a hell of blood and claws ripping through armor. The arrogant leader charged forward, shouting: "Follow me!" but an elite werewolf leapt at him with lightning speed, its fangs on the verge of snapping shut on his neck.
In that moment… it looked like the end!
Slash—!
The werewolf's head split from its body before it could touch the leader. Jin stood behind him, looking at him with undisguised contempt: "If your death right now wouldn't cause the party to collapse… I would've let it chew your head off, you bastard." He then stepped forward coldly: "Stop posturing… fight properly or get out of my way."
Jin charged like a hurricane. His movements weren't blind but calculated with stunning precision. He faced thirty elite werewolves alone—each equaling a C-rank hunter—but Jin made it look simple!
The team watched the scene in awe mixed with fear… this wasn't the level of a normal hunter. Jin looked at the leader and commanded him sternly: "To the boss room… you bastard."
There, a giant werewolf six meters tall awaited them, with an aura approaching A-rank. Everyone retreated in terror, and the mage tried to step in for support, but Jin raised his hand, stopping them. Despite feeling the pressure of the aura and the tension, his smile was widening: "It's fine… the harder it is, the greater the reward."
The boss attacked, its claws clashing with Jin's sword with a force that shattered the rocks beneath his feet. Jin was sent flying into the air and slammed into the wall, blood trickling from his mouth, but his laugh was terrifying: "No one interferes!! This is my fight alone!"
Blows were exchanged, and wounds piled up on his body. At the moment the beast leapt to end it, Jin gathered all his focus. He took a thrusting stance he had practiced thousands of times in his solitude. Silence… then a surge!
A torrent of mana shot forward twelve meters, piercing the giant beast's body and tearing up the ground behind it. The monster collapsed dead, and silence fell over the place. It wasn't just brute force; it was pure talent manifested in a moment of peril.
> [Tower System]
> A new thrust skill has been acquired.
> Rank: (C) | Growth Potential: Yes
> Skill Name?
> Jin: "Hmm, (Momentum Thrust)."
The leader stood stunned, watching the boy who released mana from his sword with a mastery that only comes from years of training. He smiled bitterly and whispered: "I really was arrogant..."
Jin sat down amidst the looks of reverence and silent respect from the team, until they all exited through the gate.