Inside the Dungeon, countless adventurers fought tirelessly, pushing themselves beyond their limits to raise their levels. The reason was simple—every party and every clan wanted a place in the upcoming clan tournament. Each floor echoed with the sounds of battle: steel clashing, monsters roaring, and magic exploding in violent flashes of light. Survival alone was no longer the goal. Glory, reputation, and power were now the driving forces of every step forward.
On the 8th floor, Tristan stood at the front line together with Emily and Evelyn, leading a well-organized squad that had been given a direct mission by Alex—to level up as fast as possible. Their movements were precise, their formation clean, and their teamwork flawless.
Not far from them, Alex and Eris launched a perfectly synchronized combination attack. In a single devastating motion, a level 70 Sabetooth Monster was torn apart, its massive body collapsing to the ground before it could even retaliate.
The success of the team led by Tristan quickly drew attention. Other parties began to observe them carefully, and even major clans like Aegis and Obsidian started to take notice. Their rapid growth, coordination, and efficiency marked them as rising threats in the tournament rankings.
But far deeper within the Dungeon, on a much more dangerous floor, a completely different scene was unfolding.
A massive battle was raging.
Rey was facing a monster that should have been impossible for any normal adventurer to defeat—
An Orc General, Level 147.
It was a living nightmare for every adventurer in the nation of Christope.
Rey was already in a semi-conscious state. A devastating blow had slammed him into the ground, leaving his body unable to move. His vision blurred, his ears rang, and his limbs refused to respond.
The Orc General raised its weapon.
It prepared its final attack—
A strike that would surely kill him.
But before the attack could reach Rey’s chest—
A strange power suddenly enveloped the entire area.
The air itself seemed to freeze.
A voice echoed through the battlefield:
“Binding Domain.”
From the tower, Melvin emerged.
He floated in the air, his presence alone exerting overwhelming pressure on every monster in the area. The Orc General struggled violently, but its body could barely move, as if space itself was crushing it in place.
Rey, in his half-conscious state, looked up.
Melvin no longer looked like himself.
A powerful aura surrounded him, dense and overwhelming. A glowing rune symbol was engraved on his forehead, and similar runic patterns wrapped around his body like living light.
At the same time, the Power Stone released a thick, dark radiance—far brighter than ever before.
Rey weakly watched Melvin, his eyes half-closed, and whispered in his heart:
“Melvin… what has happened to you?”
Then Melvin spoke softly:
“Rey, I will handle this.”
Using a skill that resembled teleportation, Melvin moved Rey beside the unconscious Emily.
Before Rey completely lost consciousness, he heard a faint voice:
“I love you.”
Rey didn’t know who had spoken those words, but the aura felt strangely familiar.
And then—
Darkness.
After some time, Rey slowly regained consciousness.
When he opened his eyes, the first thing he felt was silence.
An unnatural silence.
He looked around—and froze.
The area looked like the aftermath of a massive war.
Trees that once formed a dense ring around the battlefield were now burned to ashes. The ground was blackened and cracked. Bones were scattered everywhere, bleached and broken, littering the earth like relics of a massacre.
Rey’s heart tightened.
He quickly searched the area.
“Melvin… Emily…”
They were nowhere in sight.
Activating his skill, ‘Invisible Sight’, Rey scanned the surroundings. A life signal appeared behind the tower.
He moved toward it—and stopped.
Melvin and Emily were there.
Sleeping.
Locked in a gentle embrace.
Relief flooded Rey’s chest.
They were alive.
They were safe.
Rey turned inward and called the system.
“System, what happened?”
The system responded:
“The system apologizes. It was unable to activate when a powerful aura emitted by someone caused the system to shut down.”
Rey frowned.
“Are you serious? You’re the system, aren’t you? How can someone else shut you down?”
The system replied:
“This information is outside the access scope of System 2.0.”
Rey clenched his fist.
“So I can’t access who is behind all of this?”
The system answered:
“That is correct. The system is currently only at version 2.0, therefore powerful entities are able to detect the system’s existence.”
Inside his heart, Rey thought:
But why didn’t that person уничтож us? Wait a moment…
Memories resurfaced.
“I saw Melvin floating in the air with a powerful aura, and I saw a rune on his forehead.”
Rey’s mind raced.
Was that really Melvin? That power was far too overwhelming…
He looked at the Power Stone.
It was cracked.
The green glow inside had faded.
Shock filled his face.
He asked:
“System, is this Power Stone damaged?”
The system scanned and replied:
“The energy within it has drastically decreased. It is highly likely that someone used its power. However, a small amount of energy still remains.”
Rey’s thoughts spiraled.
Who could use this power? Earlier, I saw the Power Stone shine after Melvin released his full strength… could it be…?
The possibility formed in his mind.
But with so little evidence, he refused to reach a final conclusion.
He called out to them.
After several attempts, Melvin and Emily slowly woke up.
Emily held her head, dizzy and in pain.
Melvin looked exhausted, his body trembling with weakness. He checked his MP.
Only 15 MP remained.
His eyes widened.
He realized that he must have exhausted himself trying to save Rey during the battle with the Orc General.
When they looked around, shock filled their faces.
The battlefield was unrecognizable.
Melvin forced a smile and said:
“Congratulations, Rey. You did it.”
Rey remained silent.
Melvin felt uneasy.
“What’s wrong, Rey?”
Rey answered calmly:
“I don’t know… but this wasn’t my battle. Someone helped us. I almost lost to that Orc, but after I fainted and woke up, the entire area was destroyed.”
Rey pointed to a spot on the ground.
“Do you see that? Those are the bones of the Orc General I fought. I was almost killed before—but now only bones remain.”
Melvin and Emily fell silent.
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Emily finally said softly:
“It’s okay, Rey. What matters is that the three of us are alive.”
Rey exhaled deeply.
“Yes… you’re right. I’m sorry. I couldn’t protect both of you.”
Suddenly, Melvin hugged Rey.
His body moved on its own.
He froze.
His face turned red in embarrassment.
Emily giggled.
“Hahaha… Melvin’s body is acting on its own now.”
Melvin panicked and said:
“Hey, Emily, it’s not like that! It happened randomly—I don’t even know what I just did!”
Rey smiled.
Even after everything they had faced, they were still arguing over something so small.
It felt human.
It felt real.
Rey opened his status window.
His eyes widened.
The numbers were unreal.
Name: REY
Level: 67
Race: Human
Role: Free
Title: Chosen One (All stats ×30)
Stats:
HP - 7850 x30
STR - 350 ×30 (x120%)
AGI - 250 x30 (x85%)
SPD - 260 ×30 (x75%)
INT - 170 x30 (x89%)
END - 160 ×30 (x95%)
MP - 110 ×30 (x10%)
Note: Additional percentage bonuses are granted by Rey’s armor, ‘Absolute Veil’.
Rey stared at the screen.
The numbers didn’t feel real.
But the weight in his body did.
Whatever had happened in that battle—
Whatever power had descended upon that battlefield—
It had changed everything.
And somewhere in the shadows of the Dungeon…
A truth far greater than any system update was slowly beginning to awaken.
Rey’s thoughts were in chaos as he stared at his status window.
Level 67? Nine levels at once?
But I didn’t kill the Orc General…
Confusion filled his mind.
Inside his heart, he questioned everything he had just seen.
Then he turned inward and called the system.
“System, how could my level increase this much?”
The system began analyzing every source of experience Rey had gained previously. After a brief pause, it replied:
“Host XP increased due to successfully defeating Orc Generals of level 147 and level 135.”
Rey froze.
“But I wasn’t the one who killed those two monsters.”
The system responded calmly:
“That is because the host has formed a party with Candidates designated by the system. When a Candidate or the host defeats a monster, shared experience is distributed, causing rapid XP growth.”
Rey fell silent for a moment.
“So you’re saying… the level 147 Orc was defeated by us?”
The system replied:
“That is correct. After checking the rewards obtained by the host, the level 147 monster was confirmed to have been defeated by your party.”
Rey’s mind grew heavier.
He then asked:
“Can the auto-pilot function be activated when the system is shut down?”
The system answered:
“That is not possible. That function is controlled exclusively by the system itself.”
Rey felt even more confused.
Inside his heart, a frightening thought formed:
So… one of them defeated the Orc General?
Rey asked Melvin and Emily to move forward.
The three of them continued through the passage, following the path in search of the Dungeon’s exit.
After some time, Rey suddenly detected a presence ahead.
He activated ‘Invisible Sight’.
The aura in front of them felt human—
But overwhelmingly powerful.
Rey moved forward slowly, cautiously.
When he arrived, he saw a man wearing magnificent golden armor. His presence alone radiated authority and dominance. Behind him stood twenty warriors, each one emitting a powerful aura.
As Rey approached, the man spoke in a commanding voice:
“Introduce yourself.”
Rey replied under pressure:
“My name is Ace.”
The man released his aura.
It felt like a mountain crashing down.
“Where are you from?”
Rey did not release his own aura. There were only three of them, while the other side had twenty-one.
“I’m from the nation of Christope. I entered on floor six and got lost. I don’t even know where I am now.”
The man looked surprised.
“You’re from Christope? Then you are currently on floor six near the entrance to the nation of Xylandra.”
Rey’s eyes widened.
He had traveled far deeper than he realized.
“I’m sorry. I got lost during my journey and just want to return to Christope as soon as possible.”
The man stared at him.
“Oh… so you want to leave? But do you know the ancient law? When an adventurer from another nation enters the Dungeon and reaches the territory of a different nation, punishment is imposed.”
Rey was shocked.
“I’m sorry. I truly didn’t know. I’m still new.”
The man laughed.
“New? What kind of new adventurer can enter floor six? Are you a Player?”
Rey paused, then answered honestly:
“Yes. That’s true.”
The man smiled.
He dismounted from his warhorse and walked toward Rey with a majestic aura.
“I am Leo. I am also a Player.”
Rey was shocked.
Leo continued:
“It’s fine. I will bring the three of you out of this Dungeon.”
He ordered his troops to begin exiting the Dungeon.
On the way out, Leo asked:
“So, Ace, did you face any powerful monsters inside?”
Rey replied calmly:
“I avoided strong monsters as much as possible. The strongest monster I fought was only around level 120.”
Leo was stunned.
“You’re incredible. Every Player is granted powerful skills, but this is the first time I’ve seen someone like you—someone capable of defeating level 100+ monsters with such calm confidence.”
Rey asked:
“Leo, are you affiliated with any faction or family in Xylandra?”
Leo smiled.
“Of course. I belong to the Royal Family of Xylandra.”
Rey was shocked.
“Have you been playing VRMMO for a long time?”
Leo laughed.
“Hahaha. Of course. I’ve been playing this game for three years.”
Rey was stunned.
“So you must have memorized all the floors, right?”
Leo’s expression grew serious.
“No, Ace. After entering this world, many things changed. I’d say about seventy percent of the game mechanics and structure are completely different from what we knew.”
Rey nodded.
He felt the same.
When they reached the Dungeon exit, Leo invited Rey to stay at his residence to rest.
But Rey refused.
Inside his heart, he thought:
Tomorrow is the tournament.
I’ve been in the Dungeon for too long.
My communication device is broken, and I can’t contact Alex.
After exiting the Dungeon, nobles were already waiting for the return of their hero—Leo.
They were shocked when they saw Rey and his party walking beside him.
A sharp voice rang out:
“Outsiders! What are you doing here?”
It was Katarina and Duke Yuri.
They had been waiting for Leo’s arrival.
Katarina moved toward Rey—but Leo stopped her.
“Katarina, he is my guest.”
She froze.
Although Leo was only level 81, the pressure he emitted was overwhelming.
His aura was strange—unnatural.
Katarina did not dare speak.
Duke Yuri stepped forward.
“Sir Hero, your guest is not from Xylandra, is he? I can see the Clan Origin emblem on their clothing.”
Silence fell.
Xylandra, a nation that had dominated the upper rankings for years and looked down on lower nations—
Yet there was one clan they had begun to fear:
Clan Origin of Christope.
Leo looked at Rey and smiled.
“Oh… so you’re from Clan Origin, Ace.”
Katarina and Duke Yuri became visibly tense.
Duke Yuri shouted:
“So you are Duke Ace—the one who cleared floor seven and obtained the Duke title!”
Leo looked at Rey in shock.
“Oh? Ace… you’ve already become a Duke too?”
Leo laughed.
“I never expected you to surpass me.”
Rey said calmly:
“Leo, that’s nothing. I just want to return to Christope as quickly as possible.”
Leo turned to a noble.
“You will escort my guest safely back to Christope. If anything happens…”
His gaze alone was enough.
The noble trembled and accepted the order without hesitation.
Soon, a carriage was prepared.
Rey, Melvin, and Emily departed for Christope.
Leo watched them leave with a smile.
Then—
His aura suddenly darkened.
A terrifying pressure exploded outward.
Every soldier around him froze in fear.
Leo spoke coldly:
“Ace huh…I can feel it, is that really you? I can feel a familiar aura from those three.”
Suddenly, the pressure vanished.
Leo staggered slightly, looking confused and dizzy.
Then he smiled again.
He told his companions to return.
They obeyed—
But fear lingered in their eyes.
Because Leo, at that moment, no longer felt like the man they had known when he first entered this world.
On the day that the people of the Kingdom of Christope had long awaited, the grand Clan Tournament finally arrived.
The entire Beginner City was overflowing with life.
Banners fluttered in the wind, massive crystal screens hovered in the sky, and countless citizens, adventurers, nobles, and merchants filled every corner of the city. Excitement echoed through the streets like rolling thunder.
Every major Clan was present.
Aegis.
Obsidian.
The Adventurer Guild.
Each arrival shook the great arena with deafening cheers.
Yet, despite the presence of these legendary forces, the true focus of the crowd was directed toward a newly risen power — a clan that had shattered records and defied expectations.
Clan Origin.
The clan that had emerged from nothing.
The clan that had rewritten the hierarchy of Beginner City.
The clan that now stood at the center of attention.
At the heart of the city stood a colossal tournament arena, constructed specifically for this event.
Towering stone walls, enchanted barriers, and royal sigils carved into every pillar gave the structure a sacred and terrifying presence. Tens of thousands of spectators filled the stands, their voices merging into a single roaring tide of anticipation.
This was not a simple competition.
This was a trial of power, prestige, and dominance.
For the first event, each Clan would send a team of seven members into battle.
Their opponent:
A monster personally selected by the King of Christope and the ruling noble council.
Victory would be judged by speed, efficiency, coordination, and tactical superiority.
The first clan chosen was Clan Aegis.
Their opponent:
An Earth Dragon, Level 75.
A monster whose scales were harder than steel, whose defense surpassed most evolved creatures, and whose raw strength alone could crush elite adventurers.
Leading the team was Raven, one of the high-ranking elites of Clan Aegis.
Role: Warrior
Level: 80
His party composition:
· 1 Assassin
· 2 Warriors
· 2 Mages
· 2 Supports
Rather than relying on long-range destruction, they chose a close-combat suppression strategy.
The mages would serve as diversion.
The warriors and assassin would deliver fatal strikes.
When the referee signaled the start of the match, Raven and the two warriors charged forward.
Raven commanded the mages to unleash their strongest spells.
Both support units activated their buffs.
Light engulfed the three frontliners as their bodies glowed with enhancement magic.
Fire arrows and blazing spells rained down on the Earth Dragon.
But its evolved stone scales absorbed most of the damage.
The impact was minimal.
Raven and his teammates moved swiftly, targeting the monster’s weak points — the legs, the underbelly, the joint areas where the armor was thinner.
The Earth Dragon roared and activated its defensive skill, reinforcing its body with earthen energy.
Seeing the opening, Raven activated his skill.
'Fatal Blow.'
He drove his spear forward with overwhelming force.
The weapon pierced through the reinforced hide and penetrated the monster’s body.
The crowd erupted.
From the VIP platform, Helberg and Mercury Arden — the elder brother of Marek and a core leader of Clan Aegis — watched with satisfaction.
Helberg spoke calmly.
"Victor! Has the matter been handled?"
Victor, standing behind them alongside Zeldric Arden (Leader of Clan Obsidian and cousin of Mercury Arden), answered respectfully.
"It has been carried out, Lord Helberg."
Helberg smiled.
His gaze shifted slowly toward the direction of Clan Origin.
After the battle concluded, the referee announced:
"Clan Aegis has completed the match in 27 minutes and 54 seconds."
An impressive time.
Especially against an evolved monster.
(Note: Monsters above Level 60 undergo evolutionary upgrades that significantly increase their stats — such as Orc Warrior evolving into Orc Champion.)
Next came Clan Obsidian.
Facing the same Level 75 Earth Dragon, they shattered Aegis’s record.
Time:
25 minutes and 32 seconds.
The crowd roared.
Then the Adventurer Guild entered the arena.
They achieved an even more terrifying result.
20 minutes and 15 seconds.
A massive gap.
Pressure spread through the stadium.
Now, it was time for Clan Origin.
Inside a private command tent reserved for Origin’s leadership, Alex sat in silence.
His expression was serious.
He looked directly at Vincent.
"Vincent, I want you to lead the team — the elite units from Division 1 and Division 2."
Vincent responded loudly and confidently.
"Don’t worry, Alex. I’ll finish it in under ten minutes."
Alex smiled.
"Good. That’s the spirit Clan Origin needs."
But inside his heart, a deep anxiety remained.
“Where are you, Rey?”
After returning from Floor 6, Alex and the others had gone through a long recovery period due to their injuries.
During that time, Alex had prepared strategies, formations, and contingencies for the tournament.
Yet one fear never left him.
Rey.
Melvin.
Emily.
He had ordered the Division Captains and scouting units to continuously monitor the area around the entrance to Floor 6.
Nothing.
One day before the tournament, Alex was consumed by frustration.
Thoughts flooded his mind:
“Is Rey already dead?”
“Are they lost inside the dungeon?”
Floryn had confirmed that Rey’s communication crystal was broken.
No signal.
No trace.
Yet today was a crucial day.
The day Clan Origin had to prove they deserved recognition.
Vincent’s team entered the arena.
Alex and the other leaders watched with hope.
Suddenly —
A strange, oppressive aura swept across the arena.
Wilson and Drax, standing outside the battlefield, felt it instantly.
It was wrong.
When the monster was released into the arena, the entire stadium fell silent.
It was not an Earth Dragon.
It was a Minotaur.
Level 75.
A monster whose:
· Strength surpassed Earth Dragons
· Defense was superior
· Speed and agility were far higher
· Intelligence exceeded normal monster standards
Even a Level 85 adventurer would struggle in a 1v1.
Alex clenched his fist.
His aura flared with rage.
It felt like deliberate sabotage.
He growled:
"The Arden family!"
Vincent now faced a monster far beyond the assigned standard.
Alex contacted Duke Edric.
"How is this possible? Wasn’t our opponent supposed to be an Earth Dragon too?"
Edric was equally shocked.
He immediately moved toward King Carlos to discuss the situation.
The referee prepared to start the match.
Alex shouted:
"Wait! There’s something wrong with this round!"
He exited the tent.
Wilson.
Tristan.
Drax.
They followed behind him.
With the authority of a true leader, Alex walked toward the arena.
His presence alone silenced part of the crowd.
