While advancing deeper into the dungeon toward the boss room, Ha-Joon kept his Byakugan active in one eye and the Sharingan in the other. The two mystical dojutsu glowed faintly, casting an eerie light in the dim corridor. His senses were heightened to their peak, allowing him to analyze every detail of the dungeon walls, each fluctuation of mana in the air, and the distant movements of lurking monsters.
He scanned the surroundings carefully, noting the strange symbols etched into the stone and the ominous stillness that grew heavier the closer they got to the boss room. "I can't summon Natsu to possess me right now... If I use that power too early, it'll be difficult to deal with the final boss," he thought. His inner voice was calm but edged with tension. He knew this dungeon wasn't ordinary.
Behind him, Jin-Ah followed closely, gripping tightly the sword Ha-Joon had entrusted to her. Her knuckles were white, her body slightly tense. Her breath was shallow as anxiety crept in with every step. She called out, her voice trembling just a little, "Ha-Joon, do you really think you can defeat the boss and get us out of here? It's dangerous… What if we waited for reinforcements?"
Ha-Joon turned his head toward her, catching the concern in her expression. He slowed his steps and walked back to her, his own heart aching at the fear in her voice. Without hesitation, he gently embraced her. His arms were firm, steady—offering her warmth and reassurance in the cold void of the dungeon.
While gently stroking her hair, he whispered, "Jin-Ah… when I woke up in the hospital after , I gave up on being a hunter. I was too weak to protect anyone. I could've died any day. But when I awakened my powers that day… for the first time, I felt confident I could protect those I care about, even in a world as dangerous as this one."
He pulled back slightly, holding her by the shoulders, and looked deeply into her eyes. "Do you trust me?"
Jin-Ah stared into his unwavering gaze. Her thoughts drifted to her late mother, a memory surfacing. "Mom… is this what you felt when you looked at Dad? That even if it was dangerous, you needed to trust him and greet him with a smile when he came back victorious?" Her heart fluttered with mixed emotions—fear, hope, and affection.
She nodded softly, leaning up to place a gentle kiss on his cheek. "That's for luck in your battle."
Ha-Joon smiled for a moment, but the sharp instincts honed through combat quickly took over. His eyes flickered. "Looks like we've been discovered."
Down the corridor ahead, guttural growls echoed off the walls. Red-skinned goblins with white, lifeless eyes emerged from the darkness, sprinting toward them with twisted, unnatural movements. Their presence reeked of bloodlust and ancient, cursed magic.
He turned toward Song-Yi, who stood a few paces away with her fists clenched. "I'm leaving Jin-Ah's safety in your hands. Can you handle it?"
Song-Yi looked at Ha-Joon's serious face. The pressure of the moment weighed on her, but seeing Jin-Ah's worried expression and Ha-Joon's fierce determination ignited her own courage. She took a breath and nodded firmly. "I'll protect her."
Ha-Joon gave a single nod of gratitude, then turned to face the oncoming horde. Without a word, he surged forward. Mana flared around him as flames licked up his arms. The Dragon Slayer Magic ignited with a roar.
His attacks were a blur. Fists engulfed in fire crashed into goblin after goblin. Each blow sent tremors through the floor, charred remains scattered in his wake. He pivoted, evading claws and weapons with preternatural grace, his dojutsu predicting every movement before they even happened.
His left eye read muscle tension, his right deciphered chakra flow. To the goblins, he was a ghost of fire and fury.
Behind him, Song-Yi could barely keep up with what she was witnessing. "Is he really just a Rank E hunter?" she whispered in disbelief.
Jin-Ah watched Ha-Joon's back, her lips curling into a soft smile. "Not anymore."
Outside the dungeon, aboveground, the skies were overcast. The winds howled around the collapsed structure surrounding the portal. Magical police had cordoned off the area, but tension filled the air.
Cha Hae-In, the famed S-Rank hunter of the Hunters Guild, stood at the gate. Her long, flowing hair fluttered in the wind as her cold, sharp eyes stared at the glowing rift. She had been nearby when the emergency alert reached her.
Her heart pounded. "This dungeon… it's giving off a sinister aura," she thought. Her senses tingled—not from fear, but anticipation.
She stepped forward and narrowed her eyes. "I hope… someone's still alive in there."
She readied her weapon and took a deep breath. The faint echo of distant roars reached her ears. She would enter soon, and if anyone inside was fighting for their lives… she would not be too late.
The final battle was drawing near.