The "Iron Fist" Guild was not known for its diplomacy. They were known for two things: heavy gauntlets and taking whatever they wanted from people weaker than them.
We were sitting in a small, greasy barbecue joint just outside the dungeon entrance when the sun suddenly disappeared. It wasn't an eclipse; it was just the massive frame of Team Leader Kim blocking the doorway. Behind him stood four other hunters, their Rank-D and Rank-C badges gleaming under the neon lights.
"Han-Gul," Kim growled, his voice vibrating the half-empty bottles of soju on our table. "We searched the hidden floor. The Chimera is dead. Its mana-core is missing. And strangely enough, my porter is sitting here eating premium ribeye with a Rank-C Genius and an Association suit."
I looked up, a piece of lettuce hanging out of my mouth. "Oh, hey Boss! You're just in time! Want to join? If we fuse this kimchi with the garlic, it gets—"
SLAM.
Kim's gauntleted fist hit the table, cracking the wood right down the middle. My barbecue sizzled in protest.
"You stole Guild property, you little rat," Kim sneered, ignoring Jin-Woo's hand tightening on his spear bag. "That Chimera kill belongs to Iron Fist. The core, the leather, and whatever 'scroll' you used to survive. Hand it over, and maybe I won't report you for desertion."
Seo-Yoon didn't even look up from her tablet. "Actually, Team Leader Kim, according to Hunter Law Subsection 4-B, any loot obtained on a hidden floor by an unregistered party member in a life-threatening scenario belongs to the survivor as 'emergency compensation.' Furthermore, Iron Fist failed to provide adequate protection for its non-combatant staff. Technically, Han-Gul could sue you for the price of a new spine."
Kim's face turned a violent shade of purple. "I don't care about subsections, little girl! In this dungeon, I am the law!"
I felt a tug on my wrist—the black mouth tattoo was pulsing.
[Gluttonous Architect's Eye: Active] [Target: Team Leader Kim (Human)] [Current Skill: 'Iron Fist Strike' (Rank D)] [Current Skill: 'Intimidating Roar' (Rank E)]
[System Suggestion: 'Iron Fist' + 'Greasy BBQ Oil' = 'Slippery Justice'.] [System Suggestion: 'Intimidating Roar' + 'Broken Table' = 'Shattered Confidence'.]
I blinked. The System was getting sassy. I liked it.
"Boss," I said, standing up and wiping my hands on my pants. "I don't have the core. I... uh... I ate it."
Technically, the [Gluttonous Eye] had consumed the data, so it wasn't a lie. But to Kim, it sounded like the ultimate insult.
"You ate it?" Kim's mana flared, a dull orange glow surrounding his fists. "Then I'll just beat it out of your stomach!"
He lunged. A Rank-D [Iron Fist Strike] was slow, but it could shatter a brick wall. For the old Han-Gul, this would have been the end.
But for the current me? Everything felt like it was moving in slow motion.
"Jin-Woo, don't," I said, stopping my friend from drawing his spear. "I've been practicing a new recipe."
I didn't dodge. I stepped into the punch.
[Skill Activated: Kinetic Bulwark (Rank D)] [Sub-Skill Triggered: High-Frequency Molecular Cutter (Rank B)]
I didn't use the cutter to slice him. Instead, I channeled the vibration through the surface of my skin while the Bulwark absorbed his momentum.
CLANG-BZZZZT!
When Kim's fist hit my chest, it didn't feel like a punch. To Kim, it felt like hitting a vibrating jackhammer. The Kinetic Bulwark soaked up the force, and the High-Frequency vibration sent that force right back into his gauntlet.
The metal of his Rank-D equipment groaned and then disintegrated into fine metallic dust.
"My... my gauntlet?" Kim stumbled back, staring at his bare, trembling hand.
"You should really buy better gear, Boss," I said, tilting my head. "That one was a bit... crumbly."
"You... you brat!" Kim reached for his backup mace, but Seo-Yoon finally stood up.
"That's enough," she said, her voice dropping ten degrees. She held up a black ID card with the Hunter Association's gold seal. "Team Leader Kim, you are currently assaulting an Association-protected witness involved in a Rank-B anomaly investigation. If you move one more inch, I will freeze your Guild's assets before you can finish your next breath."
Kim froze. You could see the gears turning in his head—the greed fighting with the fear of the government. Fear won.
"This isn't over, Han-Gul," Kim spat, waving his men toward the exit. "You're fired. Don't think your 'Genius' friends can protect you forever."
As they scrambled out, I slumped back into my chair, letting out a long breath. "Whew. That was intense. Being a hero is exhausting. Can we order more meat?"
Jin-Woo was staring at me, his eyes wide. "Gul... you just shattered a Rank-D enchanted gauntlet with your chest. Without even using a weapon. Do you have any idea how insane that is?"
"It's not insane," Seo-Yoon said, her eyes gleaming behind her glasses. "It's efficient. He used the enemy's own kinetic energy to power the molecular vibration of his defense. It's a perfect loop."
She turned to me, her expression turning serious. "Han-Gul, Iron Fist is a small guild, but they're part of a larger alliance. Word will get out that the 'Trash Porter' has a hidden power. You can't stay an E-Rank anymore."
"I know," I said, looking at the black mark on my wrist. "The System gave me a quest while I was fighting him."
I swiped the air, showing them the screen.
[Quest: The Architect's First Blueprint] Objective: Create your own 'Guild Home' by fusing a 'Dungeon Core' with a 'Physical Building'. Reward: Class Evolution - [Junior Architect] -> [Senior Designer].
"A Guild Home?" Jin-Woo leaned in. "You want to build a base? Where are we going to get a Dungeon Core?"
"Actually," I said, a mischievous spark in my eyes. "I think I know a place where people leave 'trash' cores they think are broken."
Seo-Yoon sighed, but she was already packing her tablet. "The Junkyard of Mana. It's a 40% chance of death and a 60% chance of you doing something stupid that somehow works."
"I like those odds!" I cheered.
"Wait," Jin-Woo stopped us at the door. "If we're starting a Guild... what's the name?"
I thought about it for a second. I thought about the broken books, the discarded stones, and the "trash" that everyone overlooked.
"The Recyclers?" I suggested.
"No," Seo-Yoon and Jin-Woo said in unison.
"Okay, okay," I laughed. "How about... [Synthesis]?"
"Simple. Efficient," Seo-Yoon nodded.
"I can dig it," Jin-Woo grinned.
I looked up at the night sky. The S-Rank gate was still pulsing, a reminder of the world-ending threats looming above us. But for the first time in my life, I didn't feel like a backpack.
I felt like the one holding the pen.