When a dungeon portal appeared, it was the duty of Hunters to enter, clear the dungeon, and extract everything of value, like magic crystals, monster cores, and rare materials that could be used for crafting weapons or enhancing artifacts. However, there was always a time limit imposed on dungeon clearance.
Each dungeon had to be cleared within seven days. If it wasn't, the portal would collapse, leading to a catastrophic event where monsters would spill into the real world.
This phenomenon was known as Dungeon Breakdown, and its impact was devastating.
There had been multiple incidents where Dungeon Breakdowns occurred, each causing widespread destruction and civilian casualties. Governments worldwide had scrambled to develop containment measures, but even the most efficient nations had struggled to prevent disaster.
Nowhere had the consequences been more severe than in North Korea.
The entire regime collapsed just two years after the emergence of dungeon portals and Hunters. The North Korean government, already strained under economic sanctions and internal instability, had been woefully unprepared to contain the Dungeon Breakdowns. Inefficiency, corruption, and a complete lack of coordination led to catastrophe.
Cities fell overnight. Entire provinces were overrun by monsters before anyone could mount a proper response. The military was ill-equipped to handle such supernatural threats, and their reliance on outdated conventional weapons and unwillingness to rely on their own Hunters only delayed the inevitable. The chain of command fractured, and soon, North Korea ceased to function as a state.
In a desperate bid for survival, North Korean civilians began fleeing south, attempting to cross the heavily fortified DMZ as hordes of monsters swept through their homeland. The mighty Korean People's Army, once feared for its size, was torn apart by behemoths and swarms of dungeon creatures.
The crisis nearly destabilized the region, forcing South Korea and China to intervene. While both nations had no desire to officially intervene, they recognized that if the monsters weren't contained, they would eventually spill over into their territories. A fragile, unspoken agreement was reached. A joint containment effort was made to prevent the Dungeon Breakdown from spreading beyond North Korea's borders.
These days, the monster population was mostly contained within North Korea's ruins, but at great cost. South Korea and China worked together to maintain defensive perimeters, using elite Hunter task forces and automated magitech weapon systems to exterminate anything that tried to escape.
However, North Korea itself remained a lawless wasteland, an uninhabitable, monster-infested hellscape. The land once controlled by a totalitarian regime had become a forbidden zone, a grim reminder of what could happen if the portals were left unchecked.
Though officially abandoned, not all humans had left North Korea. A few seasoned Hunters had chosen to remain in the ruins, operating independently as monster slayers, scavengers, and mercenaries. They lived among the wreckage, taking on high-risk contracts to cull the monster population and salvage any rare dungeon materials left behind.
At this point, North Korea, as a sovereign nation, no longer existed. What remained was a wasteland, a constant reminder to the rest of the world of the dangers the dungeon portals posed.
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Tae-woo stretched his arms over the back of the couch before letting out a quiet sigh as he flicked through the channels on the television. After spending the past few days immersed in dungeon raids and unexpected encounters, he decided to take a break, giving himself time to unwind. The past week had been eventful, and a little downtime wouldn't hurt.
The television flickered between programs, news broadcasts, variety shows, and a drama with actors Tae-woo didn't recognize. Nothing exciting. Eventually, he settled on the news channel, watching with mild disinterest as a reporter spoke somberly.
A few days ago, the Abyssal Gate had appeared in Russia, and as always, its sudden manifestation had plunged the region into chaos. Three civilians had been caught in the event, their bodies seemingly disintegrated the moment they were pulled in.
Tae-woo frowned as he watched the news report.
This was always how it happened.
The Abyssal Gate never gave any warning before appearing. It didn't emit signals beforehand and didn't cause disturbances in the environment that could be measured or predicted. It materialized out of thin air, an eldritch phenomenon beyond human understanding. And despite never unleashing monsters upon the world, its existence was enough to drive fear into people's hearts.
Within hours of the Gate's appearance, Russian S-Rank Hunters had entered the Abyss, hoping to find something that might shed light on its mysteries. They all returned alive and unscathed, which was already a rarity. And yet, when they emerged, their faces bore the same haunted expression that those who had exited the Abyss before.
Even without injuries, the Abyss left its mark on those who entered.
Tae-woo leaned back against the couch, gazing toward the ceiling in thought.
He planned to return to the Abyss soon.
[Once you are ready, you can create a portal. The next trial will start the moment you step into the Abyss.]
Alice's voice echoed in his mind, calm and unwavering.
Tae-woo sighed. Physically, he was prepared. His body had undergone drastic changes since the Abyss first touched him, and his strength far surpassed what it had been when he was still an F-Rank Hunter. His senses were sharper, his reflexes faster, his endurance far beyond what it should be.
But mentally? That was a different question.
While Tae-woo didn't have to worry about Abyssal Corruption thanks to his immunity, the monsters lurking within were another story. He wasn't naive enough to think every encounter would be like his battle with Lycaon.
Tae-woo remembered that fight vividly, recalling how the silver-furred werewolf had moved, each attack flowing seamlessly into the next, his movements precise and lethal. Unlike the mindless monsters that roamed most dungeons, Lycaon fought with skill, employing a martial art that bore an uncanny resemblance to the techniques of a certain legendary fighter-turned-actor.
That battle had been a close one. If Tae-woo hadn't thought quickly or hesitated even a moment longer, he might have died.
But in the end, he had won.
And after consuming a piece of Lycaon's flesh, he inherited two abilities from the werewolf.
The first, Beast King, heightened his senses and enhanced his strength against beast-type monsters. He had already put it to good use, and he could tell it was one of the more powerful abilities he had gained so far.
The second, Flowing Fang, granted him the same martial art Lycaon had used, a combat style that prioritized adaptability and fluid movement, making it exceptionally effective in close-quarters combat. Tae-woo hadn't fully mastered it yet, but he could already feel how naturally it fit with his instincts.
Now, he wondered what other abilities he could gain from the Abyss.
Tae-woo ran a hand through his hair.
The monsters in that place were unlike anything found in normal dungeons. And if Lycaon was any indication, even more terrifying beings could lurk deeper within.
And then, there was another question.
He had Devoured Lycaon. He had Devoured the Abyss-corrupted Jae-sik.
And that meant he could Devour humans as well.
Tae-woo frowned.
Jae-sik had barely been human anymore by the time he consumed him. His body had twisted into something monstrous, his mind completely lost to corruption. Consuming him hadn't felt any different from eating a monster.
But now, the knowledge lingered in the back of his mind.
Could he do the same to a normal human?
The answer was obvious.
Yes.
But that didn't mean he would.
The thought of Devouring someone who hadn't been twisted by corruption made his stomach turn. Even if it granted him more power and gave him abilities beyond what he could imagine, he wasn't sure he could cross that line.
Tae-woo shook his head, pushing aside the intrusive thoughts that had crept into his mind. There was no point in dwelling on them right now. He yawned and turned his attention back to the television, absently flipping through the channels until he landed on another news broadcast.
The screen showed a large protest in the streets of Seoul, where a sizable crowd had gathered, waving banners and chanting slogans. The camera zoomed in on one huge banner high above the crowd. Bold, black Hangul letters spelled out:
"Claim the North."
Tae-woo sighed, his expression tightening as he rubbed his forehead. He had seen these protests before. They had been happening sporadically for the past year, always led by the same group of Korean nationalists who demanded the government and the Hunter Association take action to reclaim the northern half of the peninsula.
Ever since North Korea had collapsed following the string of Dungeon Breakdowns, the question of reunification had loomed over South Korea like a shadow. To the nationalists, this was an opportunity, an unprecedented chance to unite the peninsula under one flag, which had been out of reach for decades.
Their argument was simple: the previous North Korean regime was gone, overrun by the monstrous hordes that spilled out of dungeons across the country. The government had crumbled, Pyongyang had fallen, and the land that once belonged to the North was now nothing more than a lawless, monster-infested wasteland.
To them, there was no longer any reason for division.
And yet, despite their impassioned pleas, the Korean Hunter Association and the major guilds had made no real effort to reclaim the North. Not because they couldn't. After all, the S-Rank Hunters of Korea were among the most powerful in the world, walking weapons of mass destruction capable of leveling entire cities if they so desired.
The issue wasn't one of strength.
It was one of politics.
The former North Korean regime may have been annihilated, but its sympathizers still existed among the refugees who had fled south during the Fall of Pyongyang. Scattered throughout various regions, some had integrated into South Korean society, while others still clung to the ideals of the old regime, refusing to accept its demise.
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For the politicians, this was a powder keg waiting to explode.
If South Korea officially launched a campaign to reclaim the North, it could spark conflicts both within its own borders and with neighboring nations. China and Russia, who had vested interests in the region, might not take kindly to South Korea absorbing the North's land and resources. The world had changed drastically since the emergence of dungeon portals, but international politics remained as complex as ever.
Tae-woo exhaled slowly.
It was a complicated mess, and he had no personal stake in it, but even he could see that the nationalists were fighting a losing battle. The government wouldn't commit to large-scale reclamation efforts if the risks outweighed the rewards.
North Korea would remain what it had become: a lawless, uninhabitable wasteland teeming with monsters, a brutal reminder of what happened to those who failed to contain the threat of Dungeon Breakdowns.
"Sheesh," Tae-woo muttered to himself, shaking his head. "If the Abyssal Gate never existed, this would probably be the biggest problem this country would have to deal with."
But with the Abyss looming over everything, it was just another unresolved issue, one that, for now, no one seemed willing to touch.
Then, just as Tae-woo settled back into his seat, the front door swung open, followed by footsteps and a familiar voice calling out.
"Oppa? You're not working today?"
Ha-rin stepped into the apartment, still in her school uniform, a bag slung over her shoulder. She seemed relaxed, though Tae-woo immediately noticed something different.
She wasn't alone.
"You brought a friend home?" Tae-woo asked, raising an eyebrow as his eyes shifted toward the figure standing just behind her.
Ha-rin nodded, jerking a thumb toward the girl trailing behind. "Yeah. This is my classmate."
The girl in question stepped forward and bowed politely. "Hello. I am Choe Song-hwa, Ha-rin's classmate. Pleased to meet you, Oppa."
Tae-woo studied the girl with mild curiosity. She had chin-length dark brown hair, cut neatly, with a small beauty mark under her left eye. She was dressed in her school uniform, but she wore a blue hoodie underneath her blazer instead of the usual dress shirt. Her expression was unreadable, calm, almost too composed for a high schooler as if nothing fazed her.
She was cute in a girl-next-door way, though Tae-woo quickly shoved that thought aside. She was still in high school, and he was an adult. He wasn't about to start being a creep.
"Song-hwa will be staying for the afternoon," Ha-rin informed him as she slipped off her shoes. "Don't worry about her, though. We'll just be hanging out in my room."
Tae-woo simply shrugged. "Sure, sure. Just don't make a mess."
Without wasting another second, Ha-rin and Song-hwa disappeared into her room, leaving Tae-woo alone in the living room. He exhaled and returned to the television, where the news still covered the ongoing political landscape surrounding the protests.
The footage on-screen showed a large crowd of demonstrators waving flags and holding banners with bold statements demanding action. From how the broadcast was framed, it seemed to discuss the ongoing division in public opinion regarding North Korea rather than actively covering a live protest. Likely, the footage had been recorded yesterday.
But then, something caught his eye.
Among the sea of protesters, a familiar figure stood out. A young woman, positioned toward the crowd's middle, raised her fist alongside the others.
No. Not a young woman.
A high school girl.
Tae-woo frowned, sitting up straighter as he narrowed his eyes at the screen.
That hairstyle. That blue hoodie.
His lips pressed into a thin line.
He had seen those just a few minutes ago.
With a long sigh, Tae-woo glanced toward his little sister's room, his brow furrowing.
"Seriously…" he muttered under his breath.
The news broadcast quickly moved on, shifting to another topic, but Tae-woo had already seen what he needed to see. The girl in the footage wasn't just anyone.
It was Choe Song-hwa.
His little sister's classmate. The same girl who had just walked into their home as if nothing had happened.
Tae-woo leaned back against the couch, rubbing his temples. He didn't know exactly what her involvement in the protest was, nor did he particularly care about politics, but he did know one thing.
Things like this had a way of leading to trouble.
And the last thing he wanted was trouble showing up at his doorstep.
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"Sorry if the room's a bit cramped, but we're used to not being able to afford a better apartment," Ha-rin said apologetically as she set up a small folding table. The space wasn't large, with barely enough room for a bed, a desk, and a closet, but it was tidy and comfortable. "Well, ever since Oppa became a B-Rank Hunter, we're doing much better now, but we don't feel like moving out of this place just yet."
Song-hwa looked around the room with an appraising gaze before shrugging. "This place is miles better than mine," she remarked. "Back when Pyongyang fell, and my parents and I crossed the border, we used to live in a hovel. It was just a leaky roof over our heads and a dirt floor beneath our feet."
Ha-rin winced. "Oh… I'm sorry to hear that," she said, rubbing the back of her neck awkwardly.
"Nah, it's fine. We're doing better now, too. Mom and Dad got decent jobs, so we can afford an actual apartment at least," Song-hwa said with a dismissive wave of her hand, as if those past hardships were little more than an inconvenience.
As both girls settled onto the floor around the small table, Ha-rin gave her classmate a serious look.
"So, now that we're here, can you explain it to me now?" she asked, leaning forward. "You said you went through the examination, right?"
Hearing the question, Song-hwa nodded and reached into her backpack, pulling out a few neatly folded sheets of paper. She placed them in front of Ha-rin.
"This is the result," she said simply.
Ha-rin frowned as she took the papers from Song-hwa and unfolded them. The moment her eyes scanned the contents, she froze. Her expression shifted from confusion to shock as she processed the words before her.
"Holy shit," Ha-rin muttered under her breath. She looked up at Song-hwa, wide-eyed. "I-is this… real?"
Song-hwa nodded, her expression unreadable.
"Yes. I'm Awakened," Song-hwa confirmed. "I went through the tests multiple times just to be sure, but…" She trailed off momentarily, her fingers tightening slightly around the table's edge. "For now, they're tentatively placing me at A-Rank to keep things quiet, but there's a strong possibility that I might be an S-Rank Hunter."
Ha-rin's grip on the papers tightened. She should have been excited for her friend, but she felt a gnawing sense of unease creeping into her stomach. She exhaled slowly before speaking again.
"Are you sure?" Ha-rin asked, her voice quieter this time. She didn't doubt Song-hwa's abilities, but the implications of her Awakening were serious. Hunters were valuable, powerful, and often used as tools for things far beyond their control.
Song-hwa met Ha-rin's gaze, her expression resolute.
"If it's to reclaim the Fatherland," she said with unwavering certainty, "then I am willing to take the role of a Hunter."
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"Choe Song-hwa, age 17. She underwent the Hunter examination a few days ago. Due to her being underage, the Hunter Association has tentatively placed her as an A-Rank to keep things quiet. However, all test results indicate that she is, without a doubt, an S-Rank."
Park Eun-ha read the report aloud, her tone even as she relayed the information to Cha Min-soo, the Guildmaster of Azure Sky.
Min-soo sat behind his desk, fingers steepled as he listened. His silver-streaked hair caught the dim lighting of his office as he let out a thoughtful hum.
"I see…" he mused, tapping his index fingers together. "That was a wise move. While minors are technically allowed to become Hunters, the last thing she needs is the media swarming her or every major guild scrambling to sign her before she finishes high school." He leaned back slightly in his chair. "What's her Class?"
Eun-ha flipped through the documents in her hands before finding the relevant section.
"According to the report… her Class is Seraph."
Min-soo's reaction was immediate. His posture straightened, and for a moment, he looked as if he might rise from his seat. His eyes sharpened behind his glasses.
"Seraph? Like Catherine Howlett?" he asked, voice carrying a rare edge of disbelief.
Eun-ha nodded as she continued, her tone composed, "The very same. Catherine Howlett of Empyreal Lords in the United States is said to be worth ten S-Rank Hunters combined. If the reports are accurate, Choe Song-hwa may reach that same level one day." She lowered the documents slightly, her gaze serious. "And considering her young age, she may even have the potential to surpass her."
Min-soo exhaled slowly as he removed his glasses, rubbing the bridge of his nose.
"A Seraph…" he murmured. He set his glasses on the desk and briefly closed his eyes as if weighing the implications. "Our own SSS-Rank Hunter. If we have her, this could change everything."
"I wouldn't be so sure about that, Guildmaster," Eun-ha said, her voice calm but laced with concern.
Min-soo raised an eyebrow, leaning forward slightly. "What do you mean?"
Eun-ha set the report aside and pulled out another file, sliding it across the desk. She then placed a photograph on top. It was an image from a recent protest demanding action from the Korean government and the Hunter Association to push for the peninsula's reunification. She tapped her finger on the picture, highlighting a familiar face in the crowd.
"This girl comes with her own baggage," Eun-ha said, her finger resting on the image of Choe Song-hwa, her face half-obscured by a raised protest banner.
Min-soo studied the photo for a moment before letting out a sigh. "Ah," he muttered, understanding dawning on him.
"She's one of the refugees from the North," Eun-ha continued. "And not just any refugee, as she's deeply involved in the reunification movement. She's been actively participating in protests and demonstrations. Here," she gestured again to the photo, "she's right in the middle of it all."
Min-soo frowned, running a hand through his silver-streaked hair. "And now she's an S-Rank Hunter…"
Eun-ha nodded, picking up the photo. "And that's where things get complicated. If she chooses, she could refuse to join any existing guild and instead use her newfound status to become the face of this movement. With her power and influence, she could rally more people, put immense pressure on the government and the Hunter Association, and potentially force their hands toward some kind of action in the North."
Min-soo let out a short, nervous chuckle, though there was no humor in it. "This is definitely going to end in a shitshow."
Eun-ha didn't smile. "A shitshow, indeed," she agreed. "Up until now, the reunification movement has been easy to ignore. Sure, it's vocal, and there's public sympathy, but it hasn't had the weight of a major figure backing it. While some Hunters may privately support the idea of reclaiming the North, none of them have been willing to stick their necks out for it. At least, not in a way that would cause real ripples."
She tucked a strand of her purple hair behind her ear before continuing.
"But now? We're looking at a potential powder keg. An S-Rank Hunter, who is an impressionable teenager, no less, could become the rallying point they've been waiting for. And not just any S-Rank," Eun-ha emphasized. "A Seraph. It's one of the rarest and most powerful Classes we've ever recorded. Catherine Howlett is practically a goddess in her own right. If Song-hwa has even half that potential, she could change the entire balance of power in Korea."
Min-soo's brow furrowed, his mind clearly racing through the implications.
Eun-ha's expression darkened. "And that's not all. She isn't just a powerful Hunter. She's a weapon of mass destruction. But unlike other S-Ranks who've been tempered by experience or kept in check by the system, she's a highly volatile, patriotic teenager. One who's grown up watching her homeland fall apart and who now has the power to do something about it."
Her voice grew softer but heavier.
"If this isn't handled delicately, she could spark a conflict the likes of which we've never seen. Not just a battle against the monsters in the North… but a war between Hunters themselves."
The room settled into a tense, heavy silence, the weight of their conversation hanging between them like a thick fog. Min-soo and Eun-ha sat quietly, their thoughts circling the implications of what they had just discussed. The stakes were clear; if they mishandled this, the consequences would be catastrophic.
"…What do you suggest we do?" Min-soo finally broke the silence, his voice low and even, though edged with concern.
Eun-ha didn't miss a beat. "Sabotage," she answered plainly, her tone steady. "Cut the problem off before it has a chance to grow. We make sure she never gains influence. The best course would be preventing her from becoming a Hunter in the first place."
Min-soo's jaw tightened, a grimace pulling at his features as if the suggestion left a bitter taste. He leaned back in his chair, fingers pressing against his temples before he exhaled sharply and shook his head.
"That's… certainly an option," he conceded, though his tone was far from convinced. "But sabotaging a teenager's future? That's crossing a line." His gaze drifted downward as his eyes clouded with thought. "We're supposed to be protecting people, defending them from the dungeons, the Abyss, everything that threatens them. But if we destroy a young girl's potential just because it's inconvenient for us…"
His voice trailed off momentarily, the weight of his reasoning settling in.
"…then we're no better than the threats we claim to protect against. Just hypocrites, hiding behind our ideals when it suits us."
Eun-ha nodded slightly, acknowledging his point without emotion. "Then I suppose I shouldn't suggest assassination."
Min-soo's head snapped up, eyebrows lifting as if he hadn't heard her right. "That's even worse." He managed to keep his voice level, but there was a sharpness to it now, a warning edge. "We're not going to harm a child."
Eun-ha stayed composed. "I needed to know where you draw the line," she said, her tone clinical.
Min-soo sighed again, the weight of the situation pressing harder against his shoulders. "So, if we're not sabotaging her, and we're not… doing anything drastic, what's left?"
Eun-ha leaned forward slightly, her voice taking on a more thoughtful tone. "We guide her. She's still young and impressionable. If we step in now, we can steer her in the right direction before her ideals become more dangerous. But we'll need to tread carefully. Even if she's just a teenager, she's an S-Rank Hunter. A living weapon."
Min-soo nodded, mulling over her words, though a conflicted look still lingered on his face. Then, almost unexpectedly, a thought seemed to dawn on him. His posture straightened, his eyes focusing as an idea began to form.
Eun-ha noticed the change immediately. "Guildmaster?" she asked, tilting her head.
Min-soo didn't answer right away. The idea crystallized in his mind, simple yet elegant in its potential. A small smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. Subtle but there.
"I think I know what she needs," he said, almost to himself initially.
Eun-ha waited, watching as the thought began to take full shape.
Min-soo looked up, meeting her gaze with newfound certainty.
"She doesn't need a mentor, not really. What she needs… is a brother figure."