Joon-seok and his party finally reached the end of the dungeon. In front of them was a massive cave. Without saying much, they slowly stepped inside.
At the center of the cave, sitting on a throne, was the Bloodfang Ogre Lord.
In its right hand, it held a massive Bloodiron war axe, its blade shining with a dark red glow. In its left hand, it carried a long spiked chain. A heavy, oppressive aura poured out from its body, making the entire cave tremble.
At that moment, a system window appeared in front of Joon-seok:
Bloodfang Ogre Lord
Rank: B
Monster Type: Boss
Title: Crimson Ravager
Defeat this boss to claim your reward. This boss is ten times stronger than you… proceed with caution.
As soon as the Ogre Lord noticed the party, a terrifying grin spread across its face.
Joon-seok looked at it, a faint excitement rising within him.
"This… isn't just a C-rank boss," he said quietly. "This is a B-rank monster."
Kwon Tae-woo and the others stepped in behind him. The moment they felt the monster's aura, their bodies froze.
No one could move.
The pressure was overwhelming. It felt like the air itself had become too heavy to breathe.
But Joon-seok stood calmly. The pressure didn't affect him at all.
Yeah… this monster is strong, he thought. But I can defeat it. When I defeated the Red Orc, I gained the Perfect Healing skill. No matter how much damage it deals… I can recover.
Meanwhile, Kwon Tae-woo tried to speak to his team, his voice trembling slightly.
"Slowly… I'll distract it. You all attack from behind."
He believed his team would follow his command like always.
With a shout, Tae-woo charged forward to draw the monster's attention.
But before he could even get close—
The Ogre Lord released an even heavier surge of aura. Tae-woo's body stiffened mid-run.
In the next instant, the Ogre Lord swung its chain.
The spiked chain wrapped around Tae-woo's body, lifting him into the air—
Then slammed him into the ceiling.
And in the very next moment, it hurled him down to the ground with brutal force. None of the party members rushed to save him.
None of them tried to attack the monster either.
They were completely frozen in fear.
Kwon Tae-woo coughed up blood and looked at them in disbelief.
"What's wrong with you all? Why didn't you attack that monster?"
No one answered. They were too terrified to even speak.
Suddenly, the Ogre Lord spoke.
"Humans… how did you dare to enter my domain? Now you will face the consequences."
Everyone froze even harder.
A monster… talking?
None of them could process it. Normally, monsters couldn't speak.
The Ogre Lord continued, its voice deep and cold.
"There is an Outsider among you… and you don't even realize it."
The party members looked at each other in fear, then back at the monster.
"O-Outsider? What do you mean?"
The Ogre Lord slowly raised its finger and pointed at Joon-seok.
"I'm talking about him."
Silence filled the cave.
"What are you talking about?" one of them said nervously. "He's just an E-rank hunter… a porter."
Joon-seok stepped forward calmly, unaffected by the heavy pressure.
"Huh… I don't know what you mean by that," he said, looking straight at the Ogre.
"But I'm not going to let you kill these people. That's why I'm stepping in."
The Ogre Lord burst into loud laughter.
"Hahaha… you think you can defeat me? Don't dream."
Joon-seok walked over to Kwon Tae-woo and said,
"You and your team should rest. I'll handle this."
Tae-woo lowered his head slightly.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Joon-seok… I'm the leader, but I couldn't do anything."
"It's fine," Joon-seok replied calmly. "Leave this to me."
Then he turned to the rest of the party.
"All of you, move outside the cave. If you stay here, you'll die in the middle of this fight."
But no one could move. The Ogre Lord's pressure was still too strong.
In the next instant—
Joon-seok disappeared.
He reappeared right in front of the Ogre Lord and delivered a powerful kick.
The impact sent the massive creature flying straight into the wall.
Everyone stared in shock.
An E-rank hunter… sending a B-rank monster flying?
The pressure suddenly vanished.
As soon as they could move, the party members rushed toward the cave entrance, stopping at a safe distance to watch.
The Ogre Lord stood up slowly, pushing aside the broken stone around it.
"You're not human…" it said in a low voice. "Then why are you helping them?"
Joon-seok looked at it calmly.
"I already told you… I'm not letting you kill them."
He paused for a moment, then
"But what do you mean… I'm not human?" The Ogre Lord looked down at Joon-seok and spoke in a deep, heavy voice.
"Leave those humans here and walk away. I'll let you live. Sounds like a fair deal, doesn't it?"
Joon-seok let out a small smirk.
"Let me live?" he said calmly. "Do you really think you can even defeat me?"
The Ogre's expression twisted in anger.
In the next second, it disappeared.
Before anyone could react, the chain wrapped around Joon-seok and slammed him straight into the wall.
A loud crack echoed through the cave.
Joon-seok coughed, blood spilling from his mouth as he dropped to one knee.
"…So you weren't just talking," he muttered. "You're actually strong."
But then—
his wounds began to heal.
The broken flesh closed. The pain faded.
Perfect Healing activated.
At the same time, the system appeared in front of him.
[Survivor of the Hidden Gate Activated]
Hidden threats detected.
All stats temporarily increased by 12%.
Joon-seok exhaled slowly.
So… still stronger than me, he thought. Even now.
A faint grin appeared on his face.
Doesn't matter. With this… I'll kill you no matter what.
He pushed aside the broken pieces of the wall and stood up.
His sword appeared in his hand.
In the next instant—he vanished.
A blur.
Joon-seok appeared right in front of the Ogre Lord, swinging his blade straight for its neck.
But the Ogre reacted just as fast.
Clang!
The axe blocked the strike.
A massive shockwave burst out, shaking the entire dungeon. Cracks spread across the walls as debris fell from above.
Joon-seok smirked slightly.
"Not bad… you're stronger than I expected."
The Ogre's eyes flared.
In an instant, the chain shot forward again, wrapping tightly around Joon-seok and slamming him into the ceiling this time.
Blood spilled from his mouth as his body crashed down.
But again—
his wounds healed.
Joon-seok clicked his tongue, irritation creeping into his voice.
"This monster is seriously annoying…"
He grabbed the chain tightly and, with a single swing of his sword, cut it apart.
The Ogre roared in fury.
And then—
the real fight began.
Their weapons clashed again and again, faster than the eye could follow.
Axe and sword collided, releasing violent shockwaves that shook the entire cave. Red and blue flashes filled the space as their attacks collided.
From a distance, Kwon Tae-woo and the others could barely see anything.
Only streaks of light.
Only the sound of destruction.
If anyone had been close to that battlefield, they would have been crushed by the shockwaves alone.
In the middle of the chaos—
Joon-seok suddenly disappeared.
In the next moment, he was behind the Ogre Lord.
He delivered a powerful kick.
The impact sent the massive body flying through the air before crashing straight into the wall.
A huge crater formed on impact.
Joon-seok landed lightly on the ground and began walking forward, calm and steady.
He looked at the Ogre and spoke in a cold tone,
"You said you'd let me go, right?"
He tilted his head slightly.
"Now tell me… who's letting who go?"
The Ogre slowly stood up, blood dripping from its mouth, its eyes burning with rage.
"…You bastard," it growled. "Now I'll show you my real power."
Joon-seok's expression didn't change.
"Real power?" he said flatly. "Don't tell me… you weren't even serious until now." The Ogre Lord slowly stood up, its red eyes burning intensely.
"Listen," it said in a low, heavy voice. "I don't have any personal grudge against you. But you're standing in my way… and anyone who stands in my way gets destroyed."
Joon-seok stared at it calmly.
"…Alright," he replied. "Show me your real power."
But inside, his thoughts were different.
Is it telling the truth? he wondered. If this isn't even its full strength… then how was I struggling before? If it really goes all out… can I even stop it?
The Ogre Lord suddenly let out a furious roar.
The entire dungeon trembled violently.
Its aura exploded outward—far heavier than before.
The pressure in the air became suffocating.
Even Joon-seok, who had been moving freely until now, felt his body grow heavier.
In the distance, Kwon Tae-woo and the others stood frozen in shock.
Kim Soo-ah's voice trembled. "Do you think… Mr. Joon-seok can actually defeat something like that?"
Lee Min-jae clenched his teeth. "Just stay quiet and watch. We can't even step into that fight. The pressure alone would crush us."
He glanced toward Joon-seok, eyes narrowing.
"…Didn't you see his strength? He's not some normal hunter. He's at least A-rank… maybe even higher. I think… he can win."
Kwon Tae-woo nodded slowly.
"…Yeah. Don't underestimate him."
The scene shifted back.
The Ogre Lord roared again, its aura growing even denser.
The ground trembled under its presence.
Joon-seok struggled slightly just to remain standing.
Then—
in a single instant, the Ogre moved.
It raised its axe and appeared right in front of Joon-seok.
Joon-seok barely reacted in time.
Clang!
He blocked the attack with his sword—but the impact was overwhelming.
The ground beneath his feet cracked and began to collapse.
Blood spilled from his mouth as the force pushed him down.
The Ogre pressed harder.
With a brutal surge of strength, it slammed Joon-seok straight into the ground.
Joon-seok coughed, blood dripping as he lay there.
"This…" the Ogre said coldly, "…is my power. And you thought you could defeat me?"
For a moment, everything went still.
Then—
Joon-seok's body began to heal again.
In seconds, he was back on his feet.
Without wasting time, he jumped back, creating distance between them.
He wiped the blood from his mouth and looked at the Ogre.
"…Didn't expect that attack to come that fast," he said quietly.
Then he raised his sword vertically.
A dark aura began to gather around him.
Black energy wrapped around his arm… then around the blade.
The air itself started to distort.
The pressure around him intensified so much that even a high-rank hunter wouldn't be able to stand in that space.
Joon-seok's eyes turned cold.
In a low voice, he spoke—
"Void Strike."
And in the next moment—
he released it.
The black slash tore through the air, heading straight toward the Ogre Lord. The Ogre Lord's eyes widened in shock. It swung its axe with everything it had—but even with all its strength, it couldn't stop the strike. Sparks flew as the axe and its hand were sliced clean off.
Joon-seok's voice was calm, cold. "This strike… even stronger than the one I used on Red Orc."
The pressure of the blow was so immense that the entire cave threatened to collapse.
Before the Ogre could recover, Joon-seok moved with lightning speed. His sword cut through both of its legs. The Ogre screamed in pain, thrashing wildly.
Joon-seok stepped closer, his voice low and emotionless. "Look… you're going to die. But before that… tell me. What did you mean when you said I'm not human… that I'm an Outsider? What does that even mean?"
Blood dripped from the Ogre Lord's mouth as it tried to respond. "Whenever we see humans… we hear the call to kill them. But… with you… I heard nothing like that."
Joon-seok blinked, slightly taken aback. "The call to kill… what do you mean? Who sends this… call?"
The Ogre Lord didn't answer. Silence filled the cave.
Joon-seok realized it was trying to say something, but couldn't. The connection must be tied to the hidden dungeon… and that faceless being.
He shook his head. "No matter… I'll figure it out later."
With a precise strike, Joon-seok severed the Ogre Lord's head. A fountain of red blood shot into the air as the head flew off, and the massive body collapsed onto the floor.
A system notification popped up:
[Congratulations! You have defeated the Bloodfang Ogre Lord (B-rank Boss)]
Rewards Claimed:
Character Status: Kang Joon-seok
Level Up: Level 20 → Level 28
Stat Increase:
Health: 400 → 620
Strength: 80 → 130
Speed: 70 → 110
Endurance: 80 → 125
Reflexes: 75 → 115
Focus: 90 → 135
New Skill Unlocked: Blood Rage Resonance
When HP falls below 30%, Strength and Speed temporarily increase by 40%.
Bonus: Slight resistance to blood-related attacks.
Duration: 30 seconds | Cooldown: 5 minutes
Item Received: Bloodfang War Axe (Rare Grade)
Large, heavy axe with a dark red blade.
Special Effect: Inflicts bleeding damage for 5 seconds on every hit.
Bonus: 20% extra damage against Ogre-type monsters.
Title Unlocked: Ogre Slayer
15% extra damage against Ogre-type monsters.
Joon-seok let out a small, peaceful smile. "Huh… finally. This one's defeated."
He glanced at the rewards, skills, and title he had received—far beyond what even Red Orc had given him.
He thought quietly to himself, "Alright… time to get out of here." Joon-seok stepped out of the cave. Kwon Tae-woo and the rest of the party were badly injured, bloodied and exhausted. Without a word, Joon-seok activated Perfect Healing, and one by one, he restored them to full strength.
Han Ji-eun's voice trembled slightly as she spoke, still in shock. "I've never seen a hunter like this… someone who fights like that and can heal at the same time."
Joon-seok said nothing. Calmly, he gestured for them to move forward. The group continued deeper into the dungeon until they finally reached the exit. A soft, ethereal light poured through the gate, marking the end of the perilous dungeon.
Kwon Tae-woo, still uneasy, asked, "Who… who are you, Mr. Joon-seok?"
Joon-seok's voice was cold, controlled. "Better not ask about me. And today… tell no one what happened. Consider this your warning."
All of them nodded silently.
"Alright… I'm heading out. I'm exhausted," Joon-seok said.
Kwon Tae-woo bowed deeply. "Thank you, Kang Joon-seok. You didn't just save me… you saved the entire party."
The others followed suit, bowing and murmuring their thanks.
Joon-seok smirked lightly. "No need for all that. If there's any other dungeon work… porter-type jobs… just call me. I'll show up."
With that, he turned toward home.
When he arrived, he rang the bell. Han Soo-jin opened the door.
"Son, you're back!" she said.
Joon-seok smiled. "Here, Mom."
Han Soo-jin shook her head. "You're early… it's only been thirty minutes!"
"Yeah, came as fast as I could," Joon-seok said, quietly thinking, Dungeon time and Earth time… completely different.
He headed to the shower, cleaned up, changed into fresh clothes, and told his mother, "Mom, I'm taking Seo-yeon to her Parents-Teacher Conference."
"Alright, Son. Be careful," she said.
At school, the hall was crowded with parents and students. Today was the Parents-Teacher Conference. Outside the classroom, people chatted anxiously.
Seo-yeon stood by the gate. When she saw Joon-seok, a small smile appeared on her face.
"Joon-seok, you're here!" she exclaimed.
"Yeah, let's go," he replied.
As Joon-seok entered, a few girls whispered among themselves, glancing at him.
"Who's that? So handsome."
"I've never seen him here before."
"Maybe he's from another school… I'll get his number later."
Seo-yeon giggled. "Hehe… looks like you've become famous. Want me to introduce you to someone?"
Joon-seok placed a hand gently on her head. "Stop that nonsense. Let's go inside for the conference."
They walked in. A line waited outside the classroom. Soon, it was their turn.
Inside, a teacher sat behind a desk, her expression serious but soft. This was Miss Park Eun-ji, Seo-yeon's homeroom teacher.
Joon-seok bowed politely as he sat. Seo-yeon took her seat beside him.
Miss Park opened her file and smiled gently. "You must be Kang Seo-yeon's older brother… Kang Joon-seok?"
"Yes, ma'am," he replied.
She glanced at the file, then looked at Joon-seok. "Seo-yeon is a very smart student. Academically, she's strong. But recently, her grades have dropped a little—especially in Math and Science. She used to be in the top five, now she's outside the top fifteen."
Joon-seok looked at Seo-yeon. She lowered her head, ashamed.
Miss Park continued, "She's also become quieter lately and participates less in class. Is everything okay at home? I know, being a hunter… your work must keep you busy, so I wanted to ask."
Joon-seok paused for a moment. He answered slowly, "Yes, ma'am… I haven't been able to spend much time because of work. But I'll make sure to pay attention from now on."
The teacher smiled kindly. "Look, Seo-yeon needs support. I understand that being a hunter is tough, but for children, family time is the most important. If you spend a little more time with her, her grades can improve again."
Joon-seok nodded. "Thank you, ma'am. I'll take care of it."
After the conference ended, the two of them walked out.
Seo-yeon spoke softly, "Joon-seok… I'm sorry."
Joon-seok ran his hand over her head and said, "It's fine. We'll talk properly once we get home."
As they walked out of the school's main gate, Joon-seok suddenly felt a strong, powerful aura. His instincts kicked in, and he scanned the area.
Near the parking lot, a tall man was standing, wearing a black coat. He looked confident, talking on the phone, but his eyes were fixed directly on Joon-seok.
A single thought ran through Joon-seok's mind: This is not a normal person… I need to be careful.
To Be Countinue