Previously onHumanity's Strongest Hunter
Ten years humanity clashed with otherworldly threats, Seoul has transformed into a city of striking contrasts, seamlessly blending cutting-edge technology with its rich cultural heritage. Towering skyscrapers shimmer with the fading energy of once-menacing Gates, while ancient temples and palaces stand as timeless reminders of the past. The city now thrives as a global hub for Hunters, with landmarks like the repurposed Dongdaemun Design Plaza and the newly built Hunter's Association headquarters symbolizing its evolution.
In the heart of this bustling metropolis, 24-year-old Izuku Midoriya struggles to find his place. An E-Rank Hunter, he carries the heavy burden of his shortcomings, haunted by past failures and the relentless pressure of supporting his family. Despite his weak reputation, Izuku perseveres out of necessity, not ambition. His latest mission leads him to a construction site, where a glowing Gate promises yet another perilous raid.
At the site, seasoned Hunters and workers prepare for the challenge ahead. Izuku encounters familiar faces like Sangshik Kim and Park Beom-Shik, who mockingly call him the "World's Weakest Hunter." Yet, their teasing carries an undercurrent of camaraderie, as his presence signals a relatively low-risk dungeon. He also reconnects with Lee Joohee, a concerned friend who scolds him for his injuries but ultimately offers her support.
As the raid leader, Song Chi-Yul, rallies the team, Izuku steals himself for the task ahead. Mocked but undeterred, he is determined to prove his worth. With a deep breath, he steps through the shimmering portal into the unknown. The chapter closes with a glimmer of hope that this mission might be the turning point in Izuku's tumultuous journey as a Hunter.
Intro
In a world where the fabric of reality had unraveled, humanity was staring into the abyss of the impossible. Interdimensional portals, shimmering and alive with otherworldly energy, began to puncture the skies and landscapes of our planet. We called them "Gates," luminous thresholds that pulsed like the heartbeat of some alien force, tearing through the seams of existence. Beyond these portals lay realms we named "Dungeons," nightmarish domains crawling with monstrous entities that defied logic and haunted the deepest recesses of our minds.
As the world reeled from this cosmic upheaval, a new kind of savior emerged amidst the chaos. They were the "Hunters," who had "Awakened" to extraordinary powers, their abilities as varied and unpredictable as the dungeons. These brave souls ventured into the Gates, risking their lives to shield humanity from the horrors lurking within those shadowed realms.
A man named Izuku Midoriya, and he's one of these Hunters. But unlike the legendary figures whose exploits dominated the news and inspired awe, my story is not one of triumph or greatness. He, by all accounts,afailure. Born quirkless in a world where supernatural abilities are as ubiquitous as the air we breathe, he was immediately branded an outcast. His lack of power relegated me to the lowest rung of the Hunter hierarchy—an E-Rank, the weakest of the weak, barely surviving the most basic of dungeon expeditions.
The scars of his childhood followed me into adulthood, etched deeper by the cruel nickname "Deku," a taunt that clung to me like a parasite. In Korea, where my work as a Hunter took him, the people bestowed upon me an even harsher title: "The Weakest Hunter of All Mankind." It was a moniker that felt like a brand, a constant reminder of his failures, inadequacies, and the yawning chasm between Izuku and the heroes he once idolized.
Life as the weakest Hunter is a relentless struggle. Each step into a dungeon feels like a tightrope over a pit of snarling beasts. Every encounter with a monster is a gamble, the odds stacked against me in a cruel game of survival. The weight of his insignificance crushes me, yet he presses on, driven by a fragile hope that one day, against all odds, he might prove myself worthy of the title "Hunter."
Then came the day that shattered the fragile equilibrium of my existence. What should have been a routine mission—a straightforward clear of a D-Rank dungeon—descended into a waking nightmare. The air grew dense and oppressive as Izuku ventured deeper, each breath thick and syrupy, as if the dungeon sought to suffocate me.
A primal dread coiled in his gut as the truth dawned on him: Izuku had stumbled into a Double Dungeon, a deadly anomaly where two dungeons merged into a single, lethal labyrinth. Even seasoned Hunters feared such places. For someone like him, it was a death sentence.
The monsters came in waves, their glowing eyes brimming with a hunger that chilled me to the bone. Their claws gleamed like razors under the dim, otherworldly light, and their guttural snarls promised a swift and merciless end. Izuku fought with everything he had, my body a blur of desperate motion, his cheap sword a pitiful weapon against their armored hides. My muscles burned, and my lungs screamed for air, but it was futile. Overwhelmed and outmatched, he fell.
The cold stone floor of the dungeon embraced me as my strength gave out. Izuku's vision blurred, the world around me fading into a haze of shadows and snarls. Izuku braced myself for the inevitable, for the cold embrace of death. But as the darkness closed in, an eerie silence descended, replacing the cacophony of monsters with an almost serene stillness. Fate, however, had other plans.
When he awoke, the sterile scent of disinfectant filled my nostrils, and the rhythmic beeping of medical equipment greeted his ears. The stark white ceiling above him told me he was in a hospital. Somehow, inexplicably, Izuku had survived. His mind swirled with confusion and disbelief, but the surprises didn't end there. As his vision cleared, something impossible hovered before me—a translucent screen, glowing faintly in the air, visible only to Izuku.
It was like a scene ripped straight from an RPG, complete with stats, quests, and a leveling system. The soft blue light bathed the room in an ethereal glow, and his heart raced with a mix of fear and wonder.
This newfound ability, this mesmerizing game-like interface, held the promise to rewrite his destiny. It wasn't just a tool—it was a doorway to transformation. Each quest presented the thrilling prospect of hunting fearsome monsters, growing stronger with every hard-fought victory, and leveling up in ways he had only dared to dream of. For the first time since he had taken up the mantle of a Hunter, a spark of exhilaration ignited within Izuku. It was more than hope—it was a glimmering possibility that Izuku could transcend the humiliating title of "The Weakest Hunter of All Mankind."
As he lay on the cold floor, staring up at the glowing screen, his thoughts spiraled with endless possibilities. The road ahead would undoubtedly be grueling, riddled with peril at every turn, but for the first time in Izuku's life, Izuku felt a genuine sense of purpose. This was the beginning of his real story. Not as a helpless, overlooked E-Rank Hunter, but as someone who could evolve, adapt, and rise beyond their limitations. The potential to grow stronger coursed through his veins, and it filled Izuku with a determination he had never known.
With trembling fingers, Izuku reached out toward the radiant, floating screen, its soft, otherworldly glow casting shadows on my face. The interface responded instantly to my touch, emitting a melodic chime that resonated deep in his chest. A new quest materialized before me, its words brimming with challenge and promise.
Izuku's heart pounded as he took a deep breath, steeling myself for what lay ahead. He was ready to confront the trials no matter how daunting they were. The weakest hunter was about to embark on a journey to defy all odds, to claim a destiny that no one believed possible. His path to becoming the strongest was about to begin.
Outside the gate
The sun was setting, casting long shadows across the construction site. Three workers stood near the shimmering portal, their faces etched with relief and concern. They had just finished their final checks on the gate, eager to call it a day.
"Alright, that's the last of them. Let's get out of here!" the first worker called out, wiping sweat from his brow.
"Yeah, alright," his colleague nodded, already gathering his tools.
The third worker, however, seemed lost in thought. His gaze was fixed on the spot where Hunter Midoriya had disappeared into the gate. His companions noticed his hesitation.
"What are you thinking about?" the second worker asked, curiosity coloring his voice.
The third worker, who they recognized as the attendant from the nearby food truck, sighed heavily. "It's just that I feel bad for sending Hunter Midoriya in there like that. I mean, I couldn't even offer him a cup of coffee before he went in."
The first worker scoffed, "It's only the weakest of all E-Ranks, what's the big deal? What's the dungeon rank this time anyway?"
"This time it's around D-Rank," the attendant replied, his voice tinged with worry. "It's just... I've never seen Hunter Izuku Midoriya come out of a job for the Hunter's Association without getting hurt. Even for a D-Rank Dungeon, I can't help but worry."
The second worker placed a reassuring hand on the attendant's shoulder. "Hey, if it's a D-Rank Dungeon, he should be fine, right? The guy's been doing this for a while now. Maybe this time will be different."
The attendant nodded, though the concern didn't leave his eyes. He cast one last glance at the shimmering gate before turning away. "Yeah, maybe you're right. Let's go..."
As they walked away from the site, the attendant couldn't shake the image of Midoriya's determined yet towards from his mind. He silently hoped that this mission would indeed be different, that perhaps this time, the young hunter would emerge unscathed and victorious.
Inside the dungeon, the air was thick with the scent of damp earth and something more sinister. Izuku winced as Joohee held a softly glowing yellowish-green orb over his latest injury, its healing energy seeping into his battered body.
"Why do you insist on staying in this hunter business, Izuku?" Joohee's voice was laced with concern, her blue eyes fixed on him. "You'll get yourself into serious danger if you keep this up!" Izuku opened his mouth to apologize, but Joohee cut him off, "I'm not asking for your apology! I'm just worried for you, that's all."
Her fingers tightened around the healing orb, its light pulsing in time with her agitation. Around them, the sounds of battle echoed through the cavernous space. Their fellow hunters were engaged in fierce combat with various magical beasts, their shouts and the creatures' roars creating a cacophony of noise.
Izuku's gaze darted between Joohee and the ongoing fight, his body tense with the desire to help despite his injuries. "At least this raid is almost over now..." Joohee sighed, her shoulders relaxing slightly as she observed the tide of battle turning in their favor. Izuku nodded, his eyes scanning the battlefield.
He watched as Song Chi-Yul, the raid leader, delivered a finishing blow to a particularly nasty beast, its massive form crumpling to the ground with a resounding thud. Sangshik Kim and Park Beom-Shik were working in tandem, their movements fluid and practiced as they dispatched the remaining creatures.
As the last beast fell, a triumphant cheer erupted from the group. The hunters clapped each other on the back, their faces a blend of exhaustion and exhilaration. The cavern, once filled with the sounds of battle, now echoed with relieved laughter and excited chatter.
Joohee turned to Izuku, her blue eyes searching his face. "Izuku," she hesitated, her voice soft but tinged with worry, "is there a reason why you can't quit this hunter job?"
Izuku's lips curved into a grin, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. "I'm just doing this for fun," he lied, his tone light. "I'd probably die of boredom if I quit."
Joohee frowned, clearly not buying his excuse. She leaned closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. "I'm embarrassed to ask, but... why are you really doing this?" She paused, then added with a smirk, trying to lighten the mood, "At this rate, it looks like you'll die one way or another."
"PFFT... AAH!" Izuku burst into laughter, the sound echoing off the cavern walls.
"Don't laugh!" Joohee scolded, crossing her arms. "You'll reopen your wounds!"
"Sorry," Izuku said, still chuckling as he tried to stifle his amusement. His hand unconsciously moved to his side, where the healing orb had done its work.
As their laughter subsided, Song's voice cut through the cavern. He was addressing the group, his tone authoritative yet excited. "Alright, everyone, gather round. Let's talk about our spoils."
The hunters huddled closer, their eyes gleaming with anticipation. Song held up a small, white diamond-like object between his thumb and forefinger.
"These," he said, "Are Essence Stones. They're what we can collect by defeating monsters in the dungeon." He paused, letting the information sink in. "Now, the value of these stones depends on two things: the quality and the ranking of the monster – or the hunter who killed it."
A murmur of interest rippled through the group. Song continued, "High-ranked stones? They're worth millions of dollars."
Izuku looked down at the stone in his hand. It was small, barely the size of his pinky nail, and seemed to pulse with a faint, underwhelming light. He sighed internally."All I get for getting my ass kicked like this is an E-rank monster stone?" he thought, turning the pitiful reward over in his palm. "It's such a meager reward."
Just as the group began to disperse, a shout rang out, echoing through the cavern. "HEY LOOK, EVERYONE! THERE'S ANOTHER ENTRANCE HERE!"
All heads turned toward the source of the voice. Near the far wall of the cavern, partially hidden behind a jutting rock formation, was a dark opening. It seemed to beckon to them, promising more challenges – and potentially greater rewards.
Song approached the cave, his eyes narrowing as he studied the dark opening. "A Double Dungeon," he muttered, a mix of excitement and caution in his voice. "I've heard rumors, but I never thought I'd actually encounter one." With a practiced flick of his wrist, a fireball materialized in his right hand, its warm glow casting dancing shadows across his face. He hurled it forward, the flaming orb illuminating the depths of the cave as it arced through the air.
The flickering light revealed a world of jagged walls and looming shadows. Stalactites hung from the ceiling like nature's chandeliers, their crystalline surfaces glinting in the firelight. The air grew noticeably cooler as it wafted from the cave's entrance, carrying with it the faint scent of damp earth and something... otherworldly.
"Everyone, gather around," Song called out, his voice echoing off the cavern walls. The group huddled closer, their faces a mix of curiosity and apprehension. Song's expression was serious as he began to explain, "The gate's still open, which means we haven't faced the boss yet. It's likely waiting for us beyond this new entrance." He paused, letting the information sink in. "We've got two options here: we can play it safe and wait for reinforcements, or we can push ahead, take the risk, and try to defeat the boss ourselves."
His gaze swept over the assembled hunters, reading their reactions. Some looked eager for the challenge, while others shifted uncomfortably. "I know it's a big decision," Song continued, "so let's put it to a vote. Who's in favor of pressing on?"
After a moment of tense silence, hands began to rise. Park and Kim were among the first, their expressions determined. About half the group followed suit, their raised hands a testament to their courage – or perhaps their desperation for greater rewards.
The other half, however, remained still. Their faces were etched with uncertainty, eyes darting between the ominous cave entrance and their more daring companions.
Joohee, her blue eyes clouded with worry, spoke up softly. "I'm sorry, but... I'd rather not." Her voice carried a tremor of unease. "We've already been through so much. Pushing our luck feels... dangerous."
Kim glanced around, taking stock of the divided group. He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Well, looks like we've got ourselves a tie – half for yes, half for no." His eyes landed on Izuku, who had yet to cast his vote. "How about you, Midoriya? Looks like you're our tie-breaker."
All eyes turned to Izuku. He felt the weight of their gazes, the pressure of the decision resting squarely on his shoulders. His hand clenched around the small essence stone in his pocket, its meager presence a stark reminder of his desperate situation.
Thoughts raced through Izuku's mind, a whirlwind of responsibilities and needs. "I don't have enough money saved up," he reminded himself, the constant worry gnawing at him. "My sister's college tuition is due soon, and Mom... Mom's still in the hospital." The image of his mother, lying pale and weak in her hospital bed, flashed before his eyes. Her smile, was still warm despite her pain, urging him to take care of himself.
Izuku's heart raced, torn between self-preservation and the crushing weight of his family's needs. He looked at the worried face of Joohee, then at the expectant expressions of Park and Kim. Finally, his gaze settled on the dark maw of the cave, both threatening and promising.
Taking a deep breath, Izuku steeled himself. His voice, stronger than he felt, rang out in the cavern. "Yes, I'll go with you!"
The words hung in the air, sealing their fate. Some of his companions nodded approvingly, while others exchanged concerned glances. As the group began to prepare for their descent into the unknown, Izuku couldn't shake the feeling that this decision would change everything. For better or worse, he was about to find out. After all, it's all or nothing!
40 Minutes Later.
They had been walking for what felt like an eternity, their footsteps echoing in the eerie silence of the cavern. The air was thick with tension, heavy and oppressive, as if the very walls were closing in on them. Izuku could feel the weight of his decision pressing down on him with each step, his chest tight with anxiety. He glanced at Joohee, her vibrant orange hair a stark contrast against the dim, shadowy surroundings, like a flame flickering in the darkness.
"Umm... I'm sorry," Izuku finally broke the silence, his voice barely above a whisper. He scratched the back of his head nervously, reminiscent of a child caught in the act of mischief. His dark blue eyes darted around, unable to meet Joohee's gaze directly.
Joohee, maintaining a facade of calm, raised an eyebrow and responded with a deceptively even tone, "What for?" Izuku's eyes continued to dance around, avoiding direct contact with Joohee's piercing gaze. "Because my vote forced you to come here against your will..." he admitted, his words heavy with regret. The guilt gnawed at him, a constant reminder of the potential danger he had put his companions in.
Joohee's face remained impassive, a mask of indifference that could rival the best poker players. She stared straight ahead, her expression as unreadable as a locked diary with no key. "I'm fine, so there's no need for you to worry," she stated flatly, her voice echoing off the damp cavern walls. "Are you sure?" Izuku pressed, his voice quivering slightly.
As soon as the words left his mouth, he realized his mistake. The atmosphere shifted palpably, like the calm before a storm. Joohee's orange hair seemed to cast a more menacing shadow across her face, and a tick mark appeared on her forehead, pulsing with barely contained irritation. Slowly, as if time itself had slowed down, she turned her head towards him. A red aura, almost visible in its intensity, flared behind her.
Her eyes, once warm and friendly, went blank, outlined with an electric-red glow that spoke volumes of the fury brewing within. "'Am I sure?'" she repeated, her voice dropping to a low, ominous tone that sent chills down Izuku's spine. It was the kind of voice that precedes catastrophic events, the calm before a volcano erupts.
Izuku, feeling the suffocating pressure of her aura, paled instantly. His survival instincts kicked in, and he took a cautious step back, his eyes wide with growing alarm. The cavern suddenly felt much smaller, as if the very rocks were closing in around him. "A-Are you crazy?!" Joohee exploded, her calm facade shattering like glass.
"If that monster had stabbed you any higher, you wouldn't just have a hole in your chest—you'd have a skylight! And don't even get me started on your limbs!" She flailed her arms wildly, her movements exaggerated by her frustration. The sound of her voice bounced off the cavern walls, amplifying her anger. "Do you know how much energy I had to use to patch you up?!"
But Joohee was far from finished. Her eyes, still blank with rage, remained locked on Izuku. Her teeth seemed to sharpen comically into fangs, adding to her fearsome appearance. The red aura behind her intensified, morphing into what looked like actual flames. "HOW COULD YOU!" she roared, her voice echoing off the cavern walls, loud enough to potentially alert any nearby monsters. Izuku gulped audibly, sweat pouring down his face in rivulets.
"I voted to continue this dungeon," he mumbled under his breath, more to himself than to Joohee. "I-I didn't know I signed up for a horror movie..." His eyes darted around, searching for an escape route, though he knew outrunning Joohee in this enclosed space was impossible. The shadows seemed to dance mockingly around him, offering no sanctuary.
"What's gotten into you? Did you hurt your head too? Huh?!" Joohee continued her tirade, her words sharp with worry disguised as anger. Her voice reverberated through the cavern, each word hitting Izuku like a physical blow.
As Joohee's lecture washed over him, Izuku found himself staring into space, his mind wandering. The dim light of the cavern seemed to fade away as he lost himself in thought. "I guess the only reason I'm standing here is because Joohee is a B-Rank healer," he realized, a wave of gratitude washing over him. "I owe her so much."
The realization hit him like a ton of bricks, snapping him back to the present. He turned to face Joohee, who was still mid-rant, her face flushed with emotion. "Joohee," he interrupted softly, his voice filled with sincerity. "Thank you. I mean it. Without you, I wouldn't be here. I'm sorry for worrying you, and I promise to be more careful."
Joohee's anger seemed to deflate at his words, and her fiery aura dimmed. She sighed deeply, her shoulders sagging, the fight leaving her body. "Just... don't do it again, okay?" she muttered, her voice now tinged with exhaustion rather than anger. Izuku nodded in response, relief washing over him.
The tension in the air began to dissipate, like a storm cloud finally breaking. "Well, to make it up to me, how about you buy me dinner?" Joohee suggested, a hint of playfulness returning to her voice. The sudden shift in her demeanor caught Izuku off guard. Izuku blushed, his cheeks turning a shade of red that rivaled Joohee's earlier aura.
"I don't have much money," he thought to himself, panic rising in his chest. The weight of his financial troubles seemed to press down on him once more. Noticing Izuku's silence, Joohee's expression changed. She pouted, her lower lip jutting out slightly.
"What, you're not interested in buying me dinner?" she asked her tone a mix of disappointment and teasing. Izuku's eyes widened as he realized how his silence might be interpreted. "No. Of course, I do," he replied hastily, waving his hands in front of him.
"I'd love to... I mean, I'd be happy to buy you dinner. It's the least I can do after everything you've done for me." A small smile tugged at the corners of Joohee's lips, softening her features. "Good," she said, nodding in satisfaction.
"WE FOUND THE BOSS LAIR!" a voice echoed through the cavern, startling Izuku and Joohee from their conversation. The entire group rushed forward, converging at a set of massive double doors that loomed before them.
The doors were unlike anything they had ever seen in a dungeon before. Towering at least fifteen feet high, they were made of a dark, polished material that seemed to absorb the light around them. Intricate carvings covered the surface, depicting scenes of battle and conquest that seemed to shift and move when viewed from different angles.
Park stepped forward, his hand hovering just above the door's surface. "I've never seen a lair with doors like this before," he muttered, his brow furrowed in concentration. "This is all new... but something doesn't seem right."
The air around the doors felt heavy, charged with an energy that made the hairs on the back of Izuku's neck stand on end. He could sense a power emanating from beyond, something ancient and formidable.
Kim moved closer, his eyes scanning the intricate designs. "Are you sure this isn't dangerous?" he asked, his voice tinged with apprehension. "These symbols... I can't make them out, but they give me a bad feeling."
Park withdrew his hand, a troubled expression crossing his face. "I'm far from sure," he admitted, his usual confidence wavering. "This is beyond anything we've encountered before. The energy signature is off the charts."
Song straightened his back, his weathered face set with determination. His eyes, sharp despite his age, scanned the faces of his companions. "Why go back empty-handed now?" he asked, his voice carrying the weight of experience. "We might be the first ones to discover this dungeon. It could be our chance at something extraordinary." He paused, letting his words sink in. "But if you'd rather turn back, suit yourselves. I'm pressing on, even if I have to go alone."
With that, Song strode purposefully towards the imposing double doors. His gait was steady, betraying none of the fatigue that must have been weighing on him after their long journey.
A murmur rippled through the group. One of the younger hunters, his face etched with a mix of awe and uncertainty, whispered to his companion, "I can see why Song Chiyui has made a name for himself. He's one of the most decorated C-Rankers for offensive magic."
His friend nodded, eyes fixed on Song's retreating figure. "True," he replied in a hushed tone. "If he weren't pushing well over 60, he'd be working with a major guild somewhere. We've been following him for a while now – maybe we should trust his judgment."
The group watched with bated breath as Song reached the doors. He placed his hands on the worn surface, his fingers tracing the intricate patterns carved into the ancient wood. With a deep breath, he pushed.
To everyone's surprise, the massive doors swung open with a meaningful creak, far more easily than their size would suggest. Song's eyebrows rose slightly. "It's opening more easily than I expected," he mused aloud, his voice echoing in the cavernous space. "Let's see what's inside."
FWOOSH!FWOOSH!
As if responding to their presence, two torches suddenly flared to life on either side of the doorway. Twin jets of blue flame erupted from the shadows, casting an eerie, flickering light across the chamber beyond. The dancing flames revealed a sight that made even the seasoned Song pause in wonder.
Before they stood a temple, its architecture reminiscent of a Catholic church, towering stone columns stretched towards a vaulted ceiling, their surfaces adorned with intricate carvings. Rows of weathered pews lined the central aisle, leading to an ornate altar at the far end of the chamber. Stained glass windows, somehow intact despite their subterranean location, filtered the torchlight into a kaleidoscope of muted colors.
Song's lips curved into a small smile of appreciation. "Oh, the torches lit up automatically. Nice touch," he remarked, his tone casual despite the awe-inspiring sight before them. He took a tentative step forward, his boots echoing on the stone floor. "I've never seen a dungeon like this before. Come on," he called back to the group, his voice tinged with excitement. "Spread out and check it out."
As the group ventured deeper into the chamber, their eyes were drawn to the array of statues lining the walls. Knights, frozen mid-battle, stood with stone swords raised high. Nuns, caught in eternal performance, had their hands poised over silent instruments. The flickering torchlight danced across their faces, casting eerie shadows that seemed to breathe life into the cold stone.
Izuku's attention was captured by a grand statue at the far end of the chamber. It depicted a high priest or perhaps the father of the church, seated on an ornate chair. The statue loomed over everything else, its presence both commanding and unsettling.
"This one's huge," Izuku remarked, his voice barely above a whisper. He tilted his head back, taking in the full height of the statue. The intricate details carved into the stone robes were impressive, and the stern expression on the priest's face made Izuku shiver slightly.
Nearby, Song crouched by an unusual altar. It was a circular stone platform, its surface covered in strange symbols and lines forming a complex pattern. He leaned in closer, his weathered face scrunched in concentration.
"What is this... some kind of divination circle?" Song muttered, tracing one of the lines with a calloused finger. The stone felt unnaturally cool, and he sensed a faint, pulsing energy beneath his touch.
Before Song could investigate further, a shout from one of the younger hunters pierced the silence. "Hey Song! There's writing over here! You need to see this!"
The group quickly gathered around a statue of a hooded angel. In its stone hands, it held a tablet covered in unfamiliar markings. Song squinted at the writing, his years of experience helping him decipher the ancient script.
"Are these runes?" he whispered, leaning in closer, his breath fogging the cold air. His eyes widened as recognition dawned. "Let me see... It says,'The Commandments of theCartenonTemple.'"
The group fell into an uneasy silence as Song began to read aloud. His voice, steady yet heavy, reverberated through the chamber, amplifying the temple's oppressive atmosphere.
"Thou shall worship the god," he intoned, his words bouncing off the ancient stone walls like a chant from another time.
"Thou shall praise the god," Song continued, his tone deepening, each syllable laced with an unsettling gravity.
As he read, Izuku felt a faint tug on his sleeve. Turning, he found Joohee standing behind him, her face ghostly pale, her trembling finger pointing toward the towering statue of the high priest.
"I-Izuku..." she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper. "That statue... its eye... it moved. It's looking at us. It's staring."
Izuku forced a shaky laugh, trying to dismiss her fear even as unease prickled at the back of his neck. "Come on, Joohee. It's probably just a trick of the light," he said, attempting to muster a reassuring smile. But the words felt hollow, even to him. The air had turned icy, the faint warmth of the torches now swallowed by an unnatural chill.
"Thou shall prove thy faith," Song's voice rang out, oblivious to the rising tension behind him.
Joohee gripped Izuku's arm tighter, her voice a terrified whisper. "No... I swear it moved again. Its eyes are following us."
Izuku swallowed hard, his gaze darting to the statue. The flickering torchlight played tricks on its stone face, but for a fleeting moment, he could have sworn the hollow eyes shifted, locking onto him. A shiver raced down his spine. "It's just... the shadows," he muttered, though his voice wavered.
The chamber grew eerily quiet, the kind of silence that presses against your ears, thick and suffocating. Even the faint crackle of the torches seemed muted. Izuku's breath hitched. "Why does it feel so...wrong in here?" he murmured, his eyes scanning the room. The shadows seemed alive, stretching unnaturally long, their edges writhing as if they had minds of their own.
"Those who fail to obey these commandments..." Song's voice faltered slightly, the weight of the words sinking in. He took a deep breath and finished, "...shall not be spared."
The final sentence hung in the air like a death knell. And then, the ground trembled. A deep, guttural rumble surged up from beneath them, vibrating through their bones like the growl of a slumbering beast. The torches flared violently, their flames twisting into grotesque shapes that clawed at the chamber walls. Shadows writhed and contorted, forming monstrous figures that seemed ready to step out of the darkness.
Izuku instinctively moved closer to Joohee, his heart pounding as his gaze darted from one statue to the next. The once-lifeless carvings now appeared disturbingly lifelike, their hollow eyes gleaming with malevolence. He could feel their stares, cold and unrelenting, boring into his very soul.
And then—silence.Heavy, oppressive, and absolute.
BAM!
The deafening crash shattered the stillness, echoing like a thunderclap. Dust rained down from the ceiling as the statues seemed to shudder, their features twisting ever so slightly in the flickering light. Everyone spun around, eyes wide with panic. The double doors, their only exit, had slammed shut.
"What the hell?!" Park shouted, his voice tinged with alarm. "The door just slammed shut!"
"We're trapped!" a blue-haired woman cried, her voice trembling with panic. She clutched at her chest, her breathing ragged. "What are we going to do?!"
Before anyone could answer, a burly man in a worn tracksuit shoved past her, his black hair disheveled and his brown eyes blazing with frustration. "I've had enough of this crap!" he bellowed. "No more of this hocus-pocus nonsense! I told you we shouldn't have come here! This place is cursed!"
"Wait, don't—" Izuku started, but the man cut him off.
"I'm done!" he snapped, his voice echoing angrily. "You all can stay here and play with whatever freak show this is. Good luck. Or don't. I don't care." As he stormed toward the double doors, his heavy footsteps echoing in the eerie silence, Song's eyes widened in horror. Something was wrong—terribly wrong. "WAIT! DON'T TOUCH THE DOOR!" Song screamed, his voice cracking with urgency.
But it was too late.
KRRRK!
A metallic screech tore through the air as the man froze mid-step. His gaze darted to his right, and his face twisted in shock. Emerging from the shadows, a rusted lance shot forward, its sharpened tip gleaming in the dim light.
SHOOSH! SPLAT!
The lance tore through his neck with a sickening crunch, severing his head in one brutal, fluid motion. Blood erupted in a violent spray, painting the door in a grotesque crimson arc. Thick rivulets dripped down like morbid rain, streaking the wooden surface as his lifeless body slumped against it. The corpse slid downward, leaving a smeared trail of red before collapsing into a twisted, unnatural heap on the cold stone floor.
Beside the door, the once-immobile stone knight shifted with eerie precision, its lance still slick with fresh blood. For a moment, it seemed to savor the carnage, its hollow, unseeing eyes locked forward. Then, as if satisfied, it returned to its rigid stance, the weapon poised as though nothing had transpired. The room fell into a suffocating silence, broken only by the faint, rhythmic drip of blood pooling beneath the fallen body.
The air was thick, and oppressive, as though the room itself was alive and watching. The unmoving stone knights lining the chamber loomed with an unsettling presence, their stillness somehow more menacing than movement. Shadows writhed in the flickering torchlight, stretching and twisting into grotesque shapes that seemed to mock the living. Every corner felt like a predator's lair, every shadow a lurking threat.
The severed head rolled across the grimy floor, its dull thuds echoing in the silence. It stopped at the feet of the blue-haired woman, its lifeless eyes locked onto hers, frozen wide in an expression of unspeakable terror. Its slackened jaw hung open, caught mid-scream. For a heartbeat, she stood paralyzed, her breath caught in her throat. Then her scream tore through the air, raw and piercing, as she stumbled backward, her hands trembling violently.
"IT MOVED! IT ACTUALLY MOVED!" someone from the group shrieked, their voice cracking under the weight of sheer panic. The shout ricocheted off the cold stone walls, amplifying the terror that clung to them like a suffocating fog.
"What do we do?!" another voice cried, trembling and desperate. "How do we fight something like that? How?!"
The chamber seemed to close in on them, the flickering torchlight casting frantic, erratic shadows. The dark shapes on the walls twisted and writhed, taking on monstrous forms that seemed alive, mocking their helplessness. The air grew colder, heavier, as though the dungeon itself was feeding on their fear.
Joohee clung to Izuku's arm with a ferocity born of desperation, her nails digging into his skin like claws. Her face was pallid, her wide, tear-filled eyes radiating unspoken horror. Then, as if the weight of the moment became too much, she let out a bloodcurdling scream—a sound so raw and primal it seemed to pierce the very fabric of the room. Izuku winced, both from the pain of her grip and the icy dread curling tighter around his chest.
"The guy who just died... he was D-Rank," Izuku thought, his mind spiraling in frantic disbelief. "Stronger than me... and I'm just E-Rank. If he couldn't survive this, what chance do I have?"
His thoughts churned, a storm of panic and confusion. "This can't be real. This can't be happening. A D-Ranked Dungeon? How? How could something like this exist here? There shouldn't be anything this strong... anything this monstrous."
His eyes darted frantically around the chamber, the towering statues seeming to press down on him with an oppressive weight. Once lifeless, their massive forms now exuded a sinister presence, their stone faces warped and grotesque in the unsteady glow of the torchlight. Shadows danced and twisted across the walls, playing cruel tricks on his mind, making the statues appear alive—breathing, watching, waiting.
"Wait..." Song's voice, low and grim, cut through the oppressive silence, commanding everyone's attention. "If these statues are moving, that means..." He stopped abruptly, his unfinished sentence hanging in the air like a storm about to break. His gaze shifted to the stone-carved priest seated in the chair. "Ah, hell no..." he muttered, his voice tinged with disbelief. "That thing can move too?!"
Izuku felt a chill crawl up his spine, his blood freezing as Song fell silent. A memory surged to the forefront of his mind—Joohee's earlier warning. Her voice, trembling with fear, echoed in his ears as vividly as if she stood beside him again.
"That statue... its eye... it moved. It's looking at us. It's staring."
Izuku's stomach churned violently, a cold dread coiling tighter around his insides. Slowly, as if compelled by an unseen, malevolent force, his gaze drifted toward the towering figure of the high priest. His breath caught in his throat. Once an inert monolith of stone, the statue now radiated a sinister vitality. Its hollow, lifeless eyes had transformed into glowing, sickly yellow orbs that pulsed with an unnatural light. Worse still, they moved—sweeping across the room with chilling, mechanical precision, like a predator methodically hunting its prey.
And then, those dreadful eyes locked onto him.
Izuku froze in terror, rooting him in place as his heart pounded furiously, each beat like the tolling of a death knell. The statue's gaze was suffocating, relentless, as if it were peeling back the layers of his being, exposing his deepest fears and vulnerabilities. He felt stripped bare, his soul dissected under the weight of that unholy stare. His breaths came in shallow, panicked gasps, his chest tightening as the crushing reality of their situation consumed him. Song's ominous warning reverberated in his mind, each word laced with grim finality:"Those who fail to obey these commandments... shall not be spared."
Clammy sweat slicked Izuku's skin as the walls seemed to close in around him, their once-innocuous carvings now writhing as though alive. The air grew heavier, oppressive, and thick with a suffocating tension that made every second feel like an eternity. They were trapped—ensnared in a chamber where stone abominations stirred with purpose and where the largest, most malevolent of them had chosen him as its quarry.
The glowing eyes flared brighter, their sickly hue casting grotesque shadows that danced across the walls. A deep, guttural rumble shook the chamber, the sound of stone grinding against stone reverberating like the growl of an ancient beast awakening from an eternal slumber. The statue began to move, its massive form shifting with a deliberate, menacing purpose. The air seemed to hum with building energy, and Izuku's chest constricted as he realized what was coming. It was preparing to attack, to unleash a devastating beam that would obliterate everything in its path.
The weight of impending doom pressed down on him like a vice. His lips trembled, parting as if to scream, but all he could manage was a faint, breathless whisper.
"Oh shi—"
To be Continued