Cold mountain wind blew across the valley. Snow covered the rocky ground, and tall pine trees surrounded the narrow road leading to the sealed area. Several vehicles from the Hunter Association were parked nearby. The area had already been evacuated. Only a few association personnel remained. In the center of the clearing floated a large purple dungeon gate. The vortex rotated slowly, releasing waves of dark mana.
Kai Draven stepped out of the association vehicle. He looked at the gate silently. Compared to the previous dungeon… This one felt heavier. More dangerous. Director Han stood beside him.
"This is the B-Rank gate I mentioned." Kai studied the swirling portal. "How long has it been here?"
"Two days," Han replied. "We sealed the area immediately." Han glanced toward the surrounding forest. "No guilds know about this gate." Kai nodded. That meant this dungeon was entirely his hunt. Han handed Kai a small device. "Mana tracker." Kai took it. "It will allow us to monitor your condition from headquarters." Kai slipped it into his pocket. Han continued, "If things become too dangerous…"
"…you can retreat." Kai looked back at the gate. Then he gave a small smile. "I doubt that will happen." Han didn't reply. But his expression said he was curious to see how far Kai could go.
Entering the Dungeon
Kai stepped closer to the gate. The purple vortex distorted the air around it. Cold energy flowed from inside. Kai glanced down at the ground. His shadow rippled slightly. Inside it rested:
Shadow Warlord
Shadow Hound Alpha
His first two soldiers. Kai whispered quietly, "Let's grow stronger." Then he stepped into the gate.
Inside the Dungeon
The world changed instantly. The mountain forest disappeared. Kai now stood in a vast underground canyon. Dark cliffs rose high into the distance. The sky above was hidden by thick black clouds. The air smelled of sulfur. Kai immediately felt something. His Predator Instinct activated. Red warning marks appeared across his vision. Many enemies. Far more than the previous dungeon. Then a low rumbling sound echoed through the canyon. Heavy footsteps. Something large was approaching. Kai slowly pulled out his dagger. The ground trembled again. Then they appeared. Massive creatures climbed over the rocks. Their bodies looked like moving stone. Their arms were thicker than tree trunks. Stone armor covered their skin.
The system appeared immediately.
Monster Identified
Stone Ogre
Rank: B
Kai raised an eyebrow slightly. "Starting strong." There were six of them. Each one easily four meters tall. The monsters roared when they saw him. The ground shook as they charged. Kai didn't move. Instead, he spoke one word. "Rise."
Shadow Soldiers
The ground beneath Kai turned black. Two giant shapes emerged from the darkness. The Shadow Warlord stepped forward first. Its purple eyes glowed in the darkness. Beside it appeared the Shadow Hound Alpha, crouched like a hunting predator. The Stone Ogres hesitated. They could sense something wrong. Something unnatural. Kai pointed his dagger toward the monsters. "Attack."
The Clash
The battle exploded instantly. The Shadow Warlord charged first. Its giant axe collided with a Stone Ogre. BOOM. The impact echoed through the canyon. Meanwhile, the Shadow Hound Alpha dashed between the monsters. Its speed was terrifying. It leaped onto a Stone Ogre's back and tore into its neck. Kai moved as well. His body blurred forward. A Stone Ogre swung its massive fist. Kai slid under the attack. His dagger stabbed into the creature's knee joint. The giant monster roared in pain. But the real hunt had only just begun. Because somewhere deeper in the canyon… A far stronger presence had just awakened.
END OF CHAPTER 20