"Keep the minions occupied! Don't let them don't stand in the way of our main attackers!"

A sharp command rang across the battlefield, cutting through the roar of combat. The Hunters of Azure Sky Guild moved with practiced coordination, their formation shifting to adapt to the ongoing skirmish. Shield-bearing tanks braced themselves, using their heavy shields to block and push back the blue-skinned trolls. Behind them, mages and support Hunters focused on channeling their spells, keeping a safe distance while reinforcing their allies. Meanwhile, the main attackers had only one target; the boss of this dungeon.

A towering giant with stone-like skin loomed over the battlefield, standing nearly ten meters tall. Its massive fists could crush a Hunter with a single swing, and every stomp sent tremors across the ground.

"Take this!"

A streak of flame and speed shot through the air.

A young woman in a yellow combat dress with short poofy sleeves, a short skirt, and gray leggings zipped toward the stone giant with incredible speed. Seong Hana, the A-Rank Dragoon of Azure Sky Guild, had entered the fight.

The flaming wheels attached to her feet, Nachal Taeja, spun with intense heat, propelling her forward. With her flaming spear gripped tightly, she shot straight toward the giant's face.

A direct hit.

Her spear pierced through the thick stone-like skin, and flames erupted from the point of impact, causing cracks to spread across the giant's hardened flesh. As soon as she landed the strike, she twisted in midair, swiftly dodging the giant's sluggish counterattack before darting back for another hit.

She flew around the monster's head gracefully and precisely, her ponytail bouncing as she maneuvered like a seasoned aerial fighter. She found an opening and thrust her spear again, aiming for its exposed temple. Another burst of flame exploded from the tip of her weapon.

"I'm not done yet! Eat this!"

With a quick flick of her foot, one of her flaming wheels detached and spun through the air like a burning discus. It slammed into the giant's head, exploding on impact. The monster let out a deafening roar as it staggered backward, disoriented from the sudden burst of flames.

"She's all yours, Noona!" Hana shouted.

Down on the ground, a young woman dressed in a black shirt and skirt, with a flowing purple cape fastened with a star-shaped brooch, calmly stepped forward. Her shoulder-length dark purple hair swayed as mana swirled around her fingertips, gathering in intense waves.

Park Eun-ha, the deputy leader of Azure Sky Guild.

She lifted a hand.

Immediately, the ground beneath the stone giant froze in an instant. A thick layer of ice spread rapidly, crawling up the monster's legs like living vines.

And then, three massive ice spikes erupted from the ground.

CRACK!

All three spikes impaled the giant from different angles through its torso, shoulder, and lower back. The ice spread even further, and before the monster could react, its entire body was encased in an unbreakable frozen prison.

It stopped moving.

"Finish off the rest!"

The command came from a man wielding a sword and shield, one of the raid leaders.

With the boss immobilized, the rest of the Hunters focused on wiping out the remaining troll minions. Renewed by their advantage, they pushed forward, swiftly cutting down the last of the creatures.

It didn't take long before the battlefield fell silent.

The boss remained frozen, and every last minion lay dead.

A moment of silence lingered before cheers erupted.

"We did it!"

"Another successful raid!"

"That was way smoother than I expected!"

The Hunters of Azure Sky Guild celebrated their hard-earned victory, some exchanging high-fives while others caught their breath. B-Rank dungeons were notorious for being challenging to conquer, even for experienced Hunters. However, as one of Korea's Six Great Guilds, Azure Sky had a reputation to uphold. And today, they had proven themselves yet again.

Now standing on solid ground, Hana picked up her detached wheel, which had ceased burning after her last attack.

"Good job, Eun-ha-noona!" she grinned, flashing a thumbs-up at the ice mage.

Eun-ha merely nodded, her expression calm and composed, adjusting her cape as she surveyed the aftermath of the battle. Aside from minor injuries, their team suffered no casualties, which could always be considered a victory.

"You did well in keeping the giant distracted," she acknowledged, watching as Hana dusted off her skirt.

Hana smirked, giving her flaming wheels an appreciative pat.

"It's all thanks to these babies," she said, showing off the flaming wheels. Her voice held a hint of pride.

The Wind Fire Wheels, or Nachal Taeja, named after Nezha, the mythical figure from Chinese and Korean folklore, had been custom-made for her. And today, they performed beautifully.

Eun-ha glanced at the now-fully encased boss, the ice spikes still protruding from its frozen body.

Another successful dungeon subjugation.

The members of Azure Sky Guild basked in their accomplishment, knowing they had once again solidified their reputation as one of Korea's elite guilds.

"Good work as always, Deputy Guildmaster."

A rugged-looking Hunter, clad in battered armor and wielding a sword and shield, approached the two women. His voice was familiar, as though this wasn't the first time he had relied on her leadership. Ryu Hyun-Il, an A-Rank Warrior, was the one issuing commands earlier during the raid.

He removed his helmet, revealing short brown hair, a weathered face, and a small tuft of a goatee resting on his chin. Despite the gruffness of his features, there was a boyish charm in the way he grinned at Eun-ha, his helmet now tucked securely under his arm.

"You're as reliable as always," he continued, flashing a grin.

Eun-ha, ever composed, turned to face him.

"Do not make it a habit," she replied coolly, brushing a strand of dark hair behind her ear before lightly touching the star-shaped brooch pinned to her cape. Her voice carried no warmth, just a statement of fact. "I am not meant to be a crutch."

With that, she turned on her heel, already prepared to take her leave.

"I will leave the clean-up process to you and the rest." She briefly glanced at Hana and Hyun-Il before stepping away, her purple cape billowing slightly as she walked.

The two Hunters watched as their Deputy Guildmaster left, her presence calm and commanding until the very end.

Now cleared of threats, the dungeon would soon be filled by the mining crew, who would begin harvesting and excavating resources, a standard procedure after every successful dungeon raid.

Hyun-Il sighed as he crossed his arms over his chest while watching Eun-ha's retreating back.

"Sometimes, I really can't understand what she's thinking," he muttered, shaking his head. "Is this an S-Rank thing?"

Standing beside him with her spear resting against her shoulder, Hana gave a casual shrug.

"I think it's just Noona, honestly," she mused, stretching her arms above her head. "We all know she doesn't indulge in small talk or anything irrelevant. If she's not buried under paperwork helping Min-soo Oppa, she's in the training room pushing herself to the brink. I don't even know if she eats."

Hyun-Il laughed, though there was a hint of truth to their words.

"Well, as long as she's making raiding easier for us, I don't have any complaints," he admitted.

He then glanced at the surrounding dungeon walls, with their jagged surfaces already being examined by the first wave of miners arriving with their equipment.

"I guess we're lucky to have two powerhouses in our guild." Hyun-Il gave a slight nod of appreciation before adding, "As long as we're not stepping into the Abyss, I'll gladly follow the two of them."

Hana smirked, tilting her head at him.

"Whoa, since when did you become so earnest, Hyun-Il?" Hana teased, nudging him lightly with her elbow. "I thought you were the devil-may-care type who doesn't give a damn about what people think."

Before she could react, Hyun-Il flicked his knuckles against the top of her head.

"Ow!" Hana yelped, clutching her head with an exaggerated pout.

"Shut it," Hyun-Il grumbled. "A cool vagabond like me is allowed a moment of sentimentality, you know?"

Hana snorted, rubbing the sore spot on her head.

"You? A cool vagabond? Pfft! You sound ridiculous!"

"You're ridiculous!" Hyun-Il shot back.

The two bickered like squabbling siblings, their banter echoing through the boss' room.

Around them, the mining crew had begun their work, chipping away at the dungeon's rocky interior and harvesting rare materials. The other Hunters, well accustomed to the chaos of post-raid procedures, barely paid them any attention, used to their antics by now.

And so, amidst the hum of drills and the clatter of tools, the two continued their playful argument, their voices a stark contrast to the cold efficiency of the workers surrounding them.

----------------------------------------

Eun-ha returned to the headquarters of Azure Sky Guild, stepping through the entrance with little fanfare. The moment she entered, she wordlessly removed her purple cape, hanging it on the coat rack before making her way toward her office. Her movements were methodical and precise, as though she were following an unspoken routine she had repeated countless times before.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

No distractions. No delays.

There was work to be done.

The dungeon raid had taken several hours, but it had only been a temporary reprieve from the ever-mounting pile of responsibilities that awaited her back at headquarters.

So many documents to review.

So much paperwork to sign.

The job of a Deputy Guildmaster was never easy.

As soon as she sat at her immaculately arranged desk, Eun-ha began flipping through the waiting documents, her eyes scanning the fine print with practiced efficiency. She inspected every detail, ensuring that nothing was overlooked.

She barely blinked as she worked, showing no signs of slowing down.

----------------------------------------

"Sometimes, I'm worried about you."

The voice at the entryway made Eun-ha look up.

A blonde-haired woman stood at the doorframe, arms crossed, a subtle smirk on her lips. Dressed in stylish clothes that exposed her toned midriff, paired with tight, ripped jeans, the woman carried herself with an effortless, almost lazy confidence.

Despite her exotic features, there was something distinctly Korean about her demeanor, a fusion of Western boldness and Eastern sensibility.

Yoon Eva.

An A-Rank Hunter. An executive of Azure Sky Guild. And, perhaps, the only person in the entire guild dared to chastise Eun-ha without hesitation.

Eva sighed, shaking her head before stepping into the office, her hips swaying slightly as she approached the desk.

"Maybe you should consider taking a break occasionally, you know?"

Her voice was smooth, almost teasing, but there was an undercurrent of genuine concern beneath her words.

Eun-ha flipped another page without pausing her work. Her tone was as flat as ever.

"I am managing just fine, Eva. You do not need to mother me."

Eva let out another exaggerated sigh, placing her hands on her hips.

"When was the last time you slept?"

Eun-ha hesitated, only for a split second, before answering.

"…Two days ago."

The words barely left her lips when Eva made a small gesture with her fingers.

And suddenly, glittering light enveloped Eun-ha's body.

"Wha-?!"

Her chair scraped against the floor as Eun-ha suddenly levitated off her seat, her body rising several inches above the ground.

"P-put me down!"

Her usual calm, measured tone cracked, replaced by rare alarm as she instinctively flailed her arms, trying to reach for something to steady herself.

Eva merely smirked as she watched the composed and unflappable Deputy Guildmaster flounder in midair.

"Seriously, you should take better care of yourself, Eun-ha," Eva said, resting a hand on her hip. "I get that you're an S-Rank and all, but you're still human. You'll break down eventually if you keep pushing yourself like this."

"I'm fine! Put me down!" Eun-ha shrieked, completely abandoning her usual stoicism as she continued flailing.

Eva chuckled softly. "You say that, but I can literally sense that your body is crying out for a well-deserved rest." She lifted a brow. "Why do you do this to yourself, huh? Even Min-soo doesn't intentionally hurt himself like this."

Eun-ha stilled. For a brief moment, the flicker of frustration in her eyes disappeared, replaced by something more difficult to read.

And then, in a voice barely above a whisper, she spoke, "I… I want to conquer the Abyss."

Eva's expression shifted instantly.

"Is that so?" she mused, lowering her hand. Eun-ha gently floated down, settling back into her chair. "There has to be something more than that, isn't it?"

She turned away, walking toward the large window overlooking the city skyline, bathed in the glow of neon lights. Her reflection in the glass was calm, unreadable, but her tone betrayed a quiet knowing.

"I know what you have in mind, Eun-ha. You can't fool me."

At that, Eun-ha looked down, her hands clenched into tight fists.

She was silent for a long moment.

And then, a whisper escaped her lips.

"It hurts."

Her voice was so soft and raw that even Eva flinched slightly.

"It hurts to be this weak."

Eva gave a small, tired smile.

"We're all weak, Eun-ha." She exhaled softly. "If we weren't, we would've already conquered the Abyss by now."

Eun-ha's fingers dug into the fabric of her skirt, knuckles turning pale.

Eva's gaze flickered over her shoulder.

"You're planning to go into the Abyss alone, right?"

Eun-ha looked away, unwilling to answer.

A weighted silence filled the office.

Then, Eva turned around, striding toward her.

Without another word, she leaned down and wrapped her arms around Eun-ha, pulling her into a firm but gentle embrace.

"You silly girl," Eva murmured, pressing her chin against the top of Eun-ha's head. "You know there are better ways to die, don't you?"

Eun-ha didn't move. She didn't even resist.

Instead, she slowly buried her face against Eva's ample chest, her fingers lightly grasping the fabric of her blouse.

Her voice was barely audible, a whisper carried by the weight of her memories.

"If I don't do it… then my life has no meaning."

Eva's arms tightened slightly.

"Eun-ha…"

Eun-ha swallowed hard, her shoulders trembling ever so slightly.

"The life that my mother saved in exchange for her own…" She let out a shaky breath. "It has no meaning if I can't bring the fight to the Abyss."

Memories resurfaced.

That day.

The day the Abyssal Gate first appeared in Seoul.

She could still see it.

The massive eldritch portal, swirling with violet hues, its mere presence warping reality itself.

She could still hear it.

The chaos. The screams. The terror.

And she could still feel it.

The moment she should have died…

Only for her mother to take her place instead.

Her mother had been one of the first casualties of the Abyssal Gate. Unlike other portals, which simply vomited out nightmarish creatures, the Abyssal Gate itself did nothing, and yet, the terror it instilled was unlike anything else.

Even now, the memory clawed at her insides.

That day, she should have died instead of her mother.

Eva's voice broke through the silence.

"Eun-ha."

Her hand stroked Eun-ha's hair, her touch gentle and warm.

"You don't have to always pretend to be strong."

She leaned her cheek against Eun-ha's head.

"Even the hardest steel will break if you apply enough pressure."

She pulled her a little closer.

"Please. Take a rest, will you?"

Eun-ha murmured a quiet reply, her voice almost lost against the warmth of Eva's embrace.

"Mmhm."

She stayed there, letting the moment linger just a little longer.

She allowed herself to breathe for the first time in a very long time.

----------------------------------------

Cha Min-soo sat at his desk, his fingers lightly pressing against his temple as he stared at the glowing screen of his laptop. The bluish light reflected off his glasses, casting a faint glare across his silver-streaked hair. His expression was tight with conflicted thoughts, his sharp eyes scanning the document before him.

It was already late at night, yet the Guildmaster of Azure Sky was still awake, burdened with the responsibilities that came with his position. The clock on the wall ticked quietly, the only sound filling the otherwise silent room.

A long sigh left his lips. So much paperwork. So many reports. The words remained the same no matter how often he went through them. The weight of leadership never lightened, only shifted.

And there was also the news that he just received.

Then, the door to his office swung open, breaking the silence.

Min-soo looked up, straightening in his seat.

Eva stood at the entrance, her blonde hair slightly tousled, her usual smirk absent. And on her back, there was a sleeping Eun-ha.

Min-soo's brow lifted in mild surprise, his gaze flicking from Eva to the unconscious woman slumped against her. Even in her sleep, Eun-ha's expression was tense, her breathing deep yet uneven, as though she were still battling something even in her dreams.

Min-soo exhaled slowly, already knowing the answer before he even asked.

"She overworked herself again?" he murmured, pushing himself up from his chair.

Eva sighed, exasperated, adjusting her grip on Eun-ha's limp form.

"Yeah," she confirmed, shifting the sleeping woman slightly. "Boss, could you lend your bed for a bit? This girl has no bed in her office, and her place is too far from here."

Min-soo glanced at the small bed in the corner of his office, necessary for the rare moments when he allowed himself a few hours of rest. He barely used it. Most of the time, he would just go home after work.

He gave a slight nod as he glanced at Eun-ha. "Sure. Put her down."

Eva carefully carried Eun-ha over, gently lowering her onto the bed. She pulled the blanket over her, then brushed a few strands of purple hair from her forehead, her touch light and careful.

Min-soo stood beside the bed, watching silently.

"Poor girl…" Eva muttered, sitting at the edge of the bed. Her gaze softened as she studied Eun-ha's sleeping face. The usual sternness melted into something much more vulnerable in her unconscious state. "She feels guilty for surviving, and now, she keeps pushing herself to the brink to punish herself."

Eva reached out, gently caressing Eun-ha's cheek, her fingers brushing against skin that had grown colder from exhaustion.

"At this rate," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper, "I'm worried about her future."

Min-soo's arms remained crossed, his eyes locked on Eun-ha's face, but his expression darkened.

"…The Abyss has been nothing but a specter haunting us," he said at last, his voice quiet yet heavy. "The monsters remain trapped within, and yet, it has stolen far too many lives just by existing."

His fingers tightened against his forearm.

"Not just Hunters." His voice dropped lower. "But innocent civilians. Those who just happened to be in the wrong place when the Abyssal Gate appeared."

His eyes shut briefly as if dredging up old memories he would rather leave buried. He had entered the Abyss once and emerged a changed man.

And Eun-ha…

She was walking the same path.

"As long as the Abyssal Gate still exists, Eun-ha will keep hurting herself," Eva said, pulling Min-soo out of his thoughts.

She lowered her gaze, fingers lightly touching Eun-ha's hand, as if hoping that by holding on, she could anchor the younger woman away from her self-destruction.

"Convincing her that she's not responsible for her mother's death is useless," Eva continued. "She wants to enter the Abyss and face whatever is inside."

Min-soo watched the way Eva's hand lingered against Eun-ha's, the quiet frustration in her movements.

Eva let out a slow, measured sigh, shaking her head.

"The girl will break herself before the Abyss even gets the chance to," she added, her voice laced with exhaustion that had nothing to do with the late hour.

Min-soo said nothing, his eyes flickering toward Eun-ha's resting face, her normally sharp features softened in sleep.

A moment of quiet. A temporary peace.

And yet…

The Abyss was still waiting for her.

"Speaking of the Abyssal Gate, I just received some news from my associates in Russia," Min-soo said, adjusting his glasses as he returned to his desk, his gaze flickering back to his laptop screen as he leaned forward slightly. His fingers hovered over the keyboard as he spoke, drawing Eva's attention back to him.

Eva's brows lifted slightly. She knew that was always the case. Ever since the Abyss first manifested, it had never stayed dormant for long after it disappeared. It would always reappear in different parts of the world.

Min-soo continued, his eyes scanning the information displayed on his screen.

"Seven hours ago, the Abyssal Gate manifested in Saint Petersburg. Amidst the chaos, three civilians accidentally fell into the Abyss."

He paused, his expression darkening slightly.

"All three perished instantly. It happened before the Russian Hunter Association could properly set up a perimeter around the portal."

Eva leaned against the desk, crossing her arms.

"Isn't that typical?" she remarked, her voice carrying a hint of tired cynicism. "What's the actual news?"

Adjusting his glasses again, Min-soo exhaled through his nose before answering.

"The Russian Hunters took this opportunity to send some of their S-Rank Hunters into the Abyss. Despite the danger, they still wished to venture inside, hoping to learn something new about it. And they did find something new."

Eva's casual expression shifted into a frown.

"Something new?" she echoed.

Min-soo nodded.

"The Abyss has changed slightly," he said, tapping his fingers against the desk. "Normally, when Hunters enter, they end up in the outermost layer of the Abyss, which is the dark region filled with those strange purple crystals."

Eva nodded. The eerie violet glow of the Abyss was something that every Hunter knew of, even if they had never stepped foot inside.

"But this time, when the Russian Hunters entered," Min-soo continued, "they found that the area had become brighter. The crystals had changed color from purple to blue. And…"

He glanced at Eva as if gauging her reaction before finishing his sentence.

"The monsters were nowhere to be found."

Eva's frown deepened. She tapped a finger against her arm, mulling over the implications.

"Does this mean…" she started.

Min-soo nodded slightly as if confirming her unspoken thought.

"Yes. It shows signs that this area has already been subjugated."

Eva straightened, arms unfolding.

"That's… not possible," she muttered, but even she knew that was a weak statement. "Right? It's the Abyss. No one conquers the Abyss."

Min-soo let out a slow exhale.

"Apparently, someone has."

He steepled his fingers, watching Eva carefully as he continued.

"The Russian Hunters didn't experience the usual hallucinations or whispers when they were there," he said. "But when they tried to move deeper… something stopped them. Some kind of invisible force. They couldn't go any further and had to retreat before the portal disappeared."

Eva ran a hand through her blonde hair, frustration flickering across her face.

"So, what does this mean?" she asked. "Someone went into the Abyss before them and cleared the starting area?"

Min-soo leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable.

"I'm not sure," he admitted. "But that's what it feels like."

He glanced at his screen again.

"The Russian Hunters didn't have time to bring much with them when they exited, but they did manage to take a shard of the blue crystal from the outermost layer. For now, their researchers are studying it."

Eva let out a low hum, tapping her fingers against the desk.

"What if someone entered the Abyssal Gate before it showed up in Russia?" she asked, tilting her head slightly.

Min-soo shook his head.

"If that were the case, we would already know about it," he said. "The appearances of the Abyssal Gate are closely monitored by the International Hunter Association. There's no way someone could enter the Abyssal Gate unnoticed."

Eva said nothing, her lips pressing into a thin line.

A heavy silence settled between them.

After a moment, Eva finally spoke.

"Boss, I don't know if I like this," she admitted. "The fact that someone out there managed to conquer even a small part of the Abyss should be good news, yet…"

She trailed off, unable to fully articulate the unease in her chest.

Min-soo leaned back further, letting out a quiet sigh.

"For now, there's nothing we can do," he said, his voice calm but with underlying tension. "There's no telling what will happen next."

He lifted a hand, rubbing his temples.

"And as long as the Abyssal Gate doesn't reappear in Korea… we can't do anything about it."

Eva exhaled slowly, nodding slightly.

"So, we wait?" she asked.

Min-soo nodded.

"Yes."

A wry smile tugged at the corner of his lips, though little humor was in it.

"We wait."