"Oooh, the torches lit up. Nice!"
"I've never seen a dungeon like this before. Now, chop-chop! Let's split up and take a look around."
"It looks like nobody's been here for a long time."
"The statues are strange… each one is holding something different. Look—some of them are holding instruments."
"There are so many… it's kind of scary."
The others, after entering, kept chatting like adventurous explorers, describing the dungeon's surroundings—completely forgetting how dangerous it could be and lowering their guard.
They looked like children.
But when I glanced at a few of them—like Mr. Song and some others—their faces were serious, as if they were trying to understand the situation we were in.
"Why do I feel like we're being watched?"
"Stop trying to freak us out."
"Wow… that one's huge."
"Surely that's not the boss, right?"
I turned to the one who said that.
"Bingo. You got it right… but the price will be your life."
I didn't realize I had said it out loud.
"Wait—what did you say, Jinwoo?" Joohee asked.
When I stayed silent, she spoke again. "You're acting strange again, Jinwoo…" Her voice carried a hint of fear and worry.
"It's just that…" I hesitated before continuing. "This dungeon is too quiet. There's clearly something wrong."
Hearing that only made Joohee more anxious.
"Huh?! What the hell are you talking about, you weak and useless kid?!" one of the hunters snapped. He must have heard me—the same one who mentioned the boss earlier.
So, he's picking on me?
A grin slowly formed on my face.
"You! What are you grinning at?" he said, clearly offended as he started walking towards me.
"Song! There's something written over here! I think you should take a look!"
That immediately grabbed everyone's attention, and the hunter who was about to reach me stopped in his tracks.
All of us headed toward the angel statue holding the commandments. I followed along, pretending nothing was wrong.
"Is this… a runic inscription?"
"Let's see… Commandments of the Cartenon Temple…"
"One: Thou shalt worship God."
"Two: Thou shalt praise God."
I turned toward Joohee. Her face had gone pale with confusion.
"H-hey, Jinwoo… over there—that huge statue…"
"Three: Thou shalt prove thy faith."
She pointed at it, her voice trembling.
"Jinwoo… that statue…"
"Its pupils… were moving, It was looking at us."
I leaned closer and spoke quietly, "Joohee, do you see that statue over there?"
"Yes…? What are you—"
"Go over there," I interrupted. "When I shout 'down,' drop to the ground immediately."
"What are you saying—?"
"There's no time. Just trust me."
She stared at me for a moment, confused and scared… then slowly nodded.
Without another word, she began walking toward the statue holding an instrument.
Even though she didn't understand, she chose to listen.
Mr. Song continued reading the commandments aloud.
"Those who fail to obey these commandments… shall not be spared."
BOOM! SLAM!
"What the hell?! The doors—They're closed!"
The massive entrance sealed shut behind us.
I didn't hesitate.
"Everyone—hurry! Go to the statues with instruments!" I shouted, already sprinting toward the nearest one.
"What the—?!"
Mr. Song's eyes widened, but he didn't argue.
"Do what Jinwoo says!" he called out, immediately running to another statue. A few hunters followed him—those who hadn't completely let their guard down.
But not everyone listened.
"Tsk."
The same hunter from earlier—the one who wanted to "teach me a lesson"—clicked his tongue in annoyance.
"And you idiots are actually listening to that brat?" he scoffed. "I'm out of here. I didn't agree to this crap."
He waved his hand dismissively.
"You can keep all the bosses and treasure for yourselves. I don't give a damn. Good luck."
Without another glance, he turned and started walking toward the sealed entrance.
"Stop! Don't touch the door handle!" Mr. Song shouted as he and the others reached the statues.
Then—
I felt it.
It's coming… that blast from its eyes.
"Everyone—duck down!!"
In the distance, Joohee dropped to the ground instantly. Even the hunter near the entrance—just about to reach the door—reacted at the last second and ducked.
FLAAASH—
ZZZZZZZZ—
SPARK!
KABOOOOOOM!!!
KRA—KRA—KRA—BOOM!
HISSSSS—
The entire chamber shook violently, the ground rumbling beneath us.
Dust and heat filled the air.
…Silence followed.
Then, a voice cut through the haze.
"Wake up!"
"Hey!"
you okay?
yeah... you?
"I'm… I'm good…"
"Kyaaaaa!!"
"There are so many casualties…"
"I barely got out of the way—just by the skin of my teeth. If Sung hadn't shouted… we could've all died."
The hunters in the center were almost completely wiped out. Only four of them survived—aside from those who had already taken cover near the statues.
There was no time to think.
"Hurry! Get to the statues—those not holding weapons!" I shouted.
In the distance, Mr. Sung looked like he was about to say something, but after hearing me, he stopped himself and simply repeated,
"Hurry!!"
"Jinwoo—!"
"Okay!"
I managed to change the course of events.
Mr. Sung didn't lose his other hand… and I didn't lose my legs here.
In the distance, Joohee was trembling, struggling to stay composed.
"Joohee! Calm down!" I shouted.
That seemed to snap her out of it, even if only a little.
"O-okay…"
Joohee couldn't handle frightening situations well—that's why she usually only joined easier raids. Even though she's a B-rank healer, her current state was at its worst.
"Joohee, listen to me!" I called out again. "Just follow what I say—don't think, just move!"
"Mm…" She nodded, forcing herself to steady her breathing.
From what I observed, only those who moved were attacked.
Those who listened to me and ducked… survived.
"That thing… it might be an S-rank," said the hunter who had been near the entrance earlier. Now standing by one of the statues, his face had gone pale, his voice heavy with dread.
Gates—portals that connect our world to another dimension.
Since these gates first appeared ten years ago, countless unexplained events have occurred.
One of the most significant changes was the emergence of awakened beings—people now known as hunters.
Awakened individuals are granted permanent abilities the moment they awaken.
I, too, am one of them.
But my power… is nothing special.
I'm only E-rank—slightly stronger than the average person, yet far weaker than experienced hunters of higher ranks.
Awakened beings enter gates and venture into dungeons, where they fight against magical beasts.
Those who make a living doing this… are called hunters.
And sometimes, beyond these gates…
…you encounter something far worse.
Terrifying monsters—beings that drag you into absolute despair.
Just like now.
Two hunters stood frozen, completely paralyzed. The others shouted at them, trying to snap them out of it—
—but they didn't move.
At this rate…
They're going to die.
Then I noticed Mr. Song was about to move.
"No!" I shouted.
He froze mid-step and turned to look at me.
I slowly shook my head.
The moment they failed to follow what I said… their fate was already sealed.
The statue's eyes glowed once more—
—and fired.
FLASH—
"Arghhhhh!!"
"No!!!"
In an instant, the two hunters in the center were engulfed and incinerated before our eyes—leaving not even a trace of dust behind.
Silence fell over the chamber.
In Mr. Song's mind, a grim realization took hold.
If Jinwoo hadn't stopped me… I would have died too.
Back to Jinwoo
Jinwoo's father was incredibly strong… so why didn't he inherit that strength?
Then another thought followed.
A lion's son isn't always a lion.
If not for Ashborn's power… and fate itself—
Jinwoo would have died a dog's death in this place.
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Need your inputs and Feedback so I can improve the style.
this story might be a slow one the updates I meant, hope you won't get bored.