Days passed by quickly and finally father had summoned me back to his office, Baek-Hyun had informed me along the way, the specifics of their conversation regarding my appeal to the dungeon exploration, but I l felt nervous yet reassured that father had accepted my request.
Leaving no qualms, he maybe stubborn, but he was understanding, and even Jihoon was quite apprehensive about me venturing into a dungeon. I had to endure so much ranting even from my little brother.
But I guess, after the incident we survived a long time ago, we was right to worry.
Throughout the days, I have been preparing myself to the best I could, and now that the day had come, I couldn’t help but feel nervous yet excited.
This would be the first dungeon that father had picked out for me to enter. And depending on my performance, it might decide whether I can enter dungeon gates in the future until I became a proper hunter.
It took no time to reach the familiar office on the top floor, I gave a shallow knock on the door, and almost immediately, a firm, yet crisp voice reverberated from the inside as I flicked the side panel and the door hummed open.
I stepped into the office, my steps unrushed, my boots clicking against the marble floor, seeing father still sat in his usual spot, but this time round, he looked...nervous.
Father rarely showed any emotion on his face, he tried to portray himself as a rational and pragmatically driven man, but that just went to say that he was more than capable of displaying emotions even it was due.
His lips twitched softly, until an expression that could be registered as a smile tugged at his face. My face mirroring is expression as I stepped closer to his desk and bowed in greeting.
He nodded back and I could feel his shoulders loosen slightly, his brows knitted, the furrow eased by a fraction of an inch, his mouth opening to speak, but he deliberated for a few more seconds.
With a dry cough, he finally spoke. “I have made all the preparations for the dungeon exploration as per your request...,” his voice appeared soft and gentle, yet I felt the concern and care projected through it clearly. “About the information I gave you to study the dungeon, have you gone through it all?”
His eyes bore over me, silent yet caring.
I nodded immediately, seeing him sigh in relief as he leaned back into his chair, his raven hair caught the sunlight projected through the windows. “Jiyoung, this dungeon is a nature based terrain, and after a thorough search of its insides, we determined it to be a stable dungeon, while there are many types of mana beasts in there, I want you to be careful. I may have allowed you to enter this dungeon gate, but, if anything unexpected happens, Elizabeth will be there to assist you only when you need it, and if anything goes wrong, you both need to work together and escape by working together.”
His tone softened further, and I felt my face stir with emotion, and he masked a similar expression as me; concern, hesitation, fear.
“Father, I would be alright. I’m already a
He heard without interrupting, but the uncertainty on his face didn’t subside once. “I know you are capable, but...” he said, his words comforting and swelling in my chest. “But, I’m still worried.”
I returned his concern. “I will clear this dungeon and return back safely, I promise.” I paused for a moment as father appeared somewhat sad, the expression subtlety displayed in his eyes, carrying years of guilt, responsibilities and burden far heavier than I could ever hope to expect. “Well, isn’t this the first step toward me inheriting the guild from you? I suppose you still don’t fully trust me.”
I acted almost offended and hurt by his words, bringing my hand to cover my mouth just to stop it an inch away, eyes widening in shock and betrayal, and father’s expression shifted immediately—his sternness wavering just enough to betray the concern over it, like a mask slipping to reveal the unease beneath.
“I didn’t mean it—” he froze for a moment, contemplating over his words, his arm stretched out awkwardly.
Before he could clarify, I spoke over him. “I know, that blind recklessness can only bring disaster to oneself, so I will take caution at all times and be sure to accept Elizabeth’s help when I need it. I learned a lot just by watching you.” I assured him again, putting strength into my words.
“Alright, I will await your return.” He exhaled, his brows shifting slightly as his head titled, he reached into the drawer of his desk the next heartbeat and retrieved something.
He placed a small box in front of me, gesturing for me take it with a signal from his hand. I approached quietly and took the item in question, with a nod from father, I proceeded to open it, revealing a bracelet which had a sapphire gemstones attached to its string, with gold laden strings holding the gems together.
From a glance, I could sense the mana it emitted, but with a questioning glean, I decided to ask.
“This is?” I asked, taking the bracelet in my palm.
Father looked at me for a passing moment, his gaze urged me to try the bracelet on, and I did as quickly as he implied.
“This is an artifact I acquired from an auction a while back, its a bracelet equipped with the attributes to stun anyone near the wielder upon activation.” A thin smile pulled at his lips, as he saw me put it on and cradle the bracelet on my wrist with care. “It has a lightning-attribute spell engraved in its gemstones, capable of unleashing an attack strong enough to kill mana beasts below
He met my gaze before continuing. “Right now, the biggest gemstone holds ten charges, but you’ll need to supplement it with your own mana to activate the spell. Use it wisely.”
I touched the gem dangling as I felt grateful, knowing father had put a lot of mind in preparing everything for me. And just by the effect it provided, it could easily be a rank artifact, which could easily be valued at a few millions.
I bowed respectfully, father coughed once and I straightened. “Make good use of this artifact. And be extra cautious—anything can happen inside a dungeon. It’s the domain of monsters and the unknown. No matter how well-prepared you are, never let your guard down.”
“And...” father added, before I decided to step out of the office. “Baek-Hyun will provide you with the necessary equipment before you enter the wraithwood dungeon.”
I nodded, feeling his care through each word, he was worried, but with the way he was, he wouldn’t perfectly show it.
“Thank you, father.”
***
After bidding farewell to father, I took my time approaching the underground facility in the guild. Baek-Hyun had provided me with the protection suit that father had prepared for me, a navy blue suit with protection spells which were able to ward off attacks from mana beasts, it was similar to the suit that the Lock provided to students during training sessions, but more advanced and durable.
I changed my clothes and took a look at myself in the mirror, taking a hair-tie to tie my locks into a ponytail as my bangs feel forward and covered my forehead. I looked at the bracelet on my wrist as I empowered my dimensional artifact with mana and checked all of the resources I needed.
Without any deals, I stepped out of the changing room and approached the end of the corridor where I saw Baek-Hyun waiting for me.
He greeted me in his usual respectful grace, with a nod, he fell into line and guided me to the portal room which would guide me to the dungeon gate.
Each of our steps resounded through the empty halls, after a few turns we finally arrived at the entrance to the portal. Baek-Hyun brought his hand forward and the doors hummed open as his fingers flicked the panel.
“This way, Young Miss.” He said, standing at the door, his head held straight, but eyes respectfully downed, without a second wasted I stepped inside on Baek-Hyun’s initiative.
The insides of the chamber were simple, yet the only striking things inside was the portal framing and the woman standing beside it with her arms crossed.
Streaks of golden blonde cascaded down her shoulders, the slightest twitch of her body alarmed me over the aura she exuded naturally, giving her a vibe which a seasonal hunter held. Her physique seemed refined through years of experience by exploring dungeons and facing deadly battles, draped in a similar protection suit like mine but it held a striking red colour, unlike my navy blue.
Her brow rose an inch on my arrival, her hair pulled from her crown and tied into a bun, her symmetrical bangs framing her prestige face which was complimented by her emerald eyes which seemed to catch the light projected inside.
She seemed hesitant for a moment, almost out of place, before she bowed her head, slightly, but enough to show respect.. “It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Miss Park.”
From behind, Baek-Hyun stepped forward like a shadow blending into the surroundings, no sound made by his firm steps, his aged eyes followed Elizabeth and he shared a nod with her and immediately went to the panel to operate the portal.
I spoke before her, seeing her reluctant to speak, and to ease the atmosphere between us, I raised a hand and spoke. “There is no need for such formalities, you can address me just by my name. And, I would like to do the same, Elizabeth.” I finished with a thin smile to lighten the mood, and I could see her breath a sigh as her demeanour changed and she looked more comfortable standing now.
Elizabeth straightened and masked a similar expression as me, her lips twitched into a thin smile which complemented her well. “Oh, that would be so much better, I was actually getting kind of awkward, being all formal.” She said, her hand went to her neck, as she smiled and I raised my hand forward.
A beat later, she took it and her hand wrapped around mine firmly, our expressions mirroring each other, but just like the report I’d gotten from Father about her, she appeared friendlier than the reports made her to be.
Then out of nowhere, Elizabeth's face pulled a little in awe, surprise evident on her. “I was aware that Guild Master Park had a daughter, but I never knew she would be this pretty. I can definitely see a resemblance.”
I raised a brow in question. “How so?” I broke the lingering silence with a weak attempt at humour, nudging her, my brows risen mischievously.
Elizabeth’s pointed at her brows and eyes, she squinted them to appear more expressive of her point. “I mean, the way you move your brows and your eyes—your eyes have the same look which Guild master Park has. That seriously intense, yet cool look that can make people reassess themselves, and feel—” She stopped at that, a weak chuckle escaped her lips at the end, but her eyes widened slightly, realising what she had just said, or was about to.
Instead, a chuckle slipped past my lips, my eyes met hers, and for a moment an awkward smile pulled at Elizabeth’s lips, her composed demeanour faltered, unlike her confident and commanding personality, but just as she was about to grow more awkward, a cough from Baek-Hyun saved us both from the embarrassment of continuing this conversation.
Elizabeth straightened and turned to Baek-Hyun like a practiced soldier, ready to greet their high-up.
“The portal will open anytime now. I hope you both are ready.” He said, rather asking, his eyes assessing us both, he shared a glance with Elizabeth and she nodded, gone was her embarrassment, following her, Baek-Hyun’s gaze met mine, he appeared just like father, but his hesitation was somehow unexpected for me
The stoic and devoted butler had grown to be more like a overprotective grandpa, but he seemed to mask father’s expression just a few minutes ago, and that seems to lighten the tension in my veins.
Just on cue, Baek-Hyun operated the panel, as we stepped in front of the portal frame.
It started as a small flutter and the portal frame shimmered, its surface shifting like an oil slick spreading across the frame. Colors bled and darkened, rolling over each other in silent turbulence, their iridescent gleam casting restless patterns across the chamber walls. The distortion wavered, pulsing, before finally settling—its surface now unnervingly smooth, as if inviting something through.
Without any ado, we stepped through the portal and vanished from the facility, my senses dulled and wavered for a moment, feeling the nauseous vertigo of changing locations in an instant as my eyes regained clarity. Only a moment had passed and we appeared in a different chamber similar to the previous one.
‘This must be the facility built around the dungeon gate.’ I murmured as I felt the waves of mana coming from the doors ahead which stood between us and the dungeon gate.
“This way.” Elizabeth said, as she put her palm over a panel to the side, and the doors hummed open.
My eyes focused on the dungeon gate, shimmering purple and black as I saw the distortion in the air appear relaxed, yet the mana this place carried was slightly heavier than outside, probably a barrier to not allow the mana leaking the gate to run rampant and cause another dungeon break.
Elizabeth guided the way and with a breath we were over the gate.
The moment I stepped through the dungeon gate, my senses reeled by the sheer contrast of the shift, my eyes adjusted to the insides, as the landscape before me made me feel a sense of awe and amazement. It was as if the world had been torn apart and stitched back together by a mad god with no regard for consistency.
I took slow steps forward and came to realise we were at the top of a cliff with a mighty forest in front of us, stretching on endlessly to the horizon.
To my left stretched a barren land, dry and cracked, the ground splintered. The air here was thick with heat, the kind that made it hard to breathe, as if the world itself exhaled fire. Yet just beyond that wasteland, an abrupt line of trees stood defiantly against the desolation, a forest so dense that it swallowed the light whole.
I turned back to the forest before me, shadows twisting between the gnarled roots, and the sound of unseen creatures slithering and chittering made my skin prickle.
Love what you're reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.
I saw a river cut through the landscape like a scar, its waters shifting between crystal clarity and murky blackness as it wound through different regions. I followed its path with my eyes, watching it stretch toward the horizon, where the sky itself was at war with itself—dark and foreboding in one half, an oppressive void that swallowed all light, while the other half gleamed unnaturally bright, bathing the land in an almost blinding glow.
Elizabeth stood beside me. I barely had a moment to register the scenery completely before she spoke.
“Jiyoung, from now on, I’ll keep my distance. You’ll have to clear the dungeon and defeat the boss monster on your own. I’ll only step in if things become too difficult for you.”
I met her gaze and nodded. There was no hesitation in her words, and I understood what this meant—I was on my own. Without another word, we parted ways.
I reached into my dimensional artifact and withdrew my sword and put it above my hip, feeling the cold sheath touch against my thigh as I descended down the steep hill, I came down to the thick greenery encompassing everything around me.
Long and thick barks ran deep, roots jutting through the ground, sunlight raining down through the leaves and gaps of the massive monoliths.
Venturing deeper into the forest, I soon lost sight of her, and before long, even the faint presence of her mana signature had faded completely, as I found myself surrounded by the mana signatures of several mana beasts which were already nearby.
I kept my guard up, my senses stretched out, searching for any attempt at an ambush, suppressing my mana for less detection from the mana beasts who may be sensitive to my energy signature.
The deeper I ventured into the forest, the more suffocating the air became. Thick, intertwining roots slithered across the ground like serpents, making every step treacherous, unlike before.
Towering trees with twisted bark loomed overhead, their leaves casting eerie shadows under the dungeon’s glow, forcing out the sunlight. There was barely any sunlight here—only the unnatural illumination of glowing mushrooms and clusters of faintly pulsating crystals embedded in the ground.
The air buzzed with an unnatural hum, as if the dungeon itself was breathing, alive in ways I couldn’t yet understand. My hand firming across the hilt as I took each step carefully.
Every region in this dungeon felt like a different world, coexisting in a chaotic, fragile balance.
I exhaled slowly, fingers tightening around my weapon. This will be the best test I could ask for to see how much I’d grown in the last few months.
It had only been ten minutes, before I felt it.
A subtle tremor beneath my feet.
I stopped, taking shelter behind a tree, gripping the hilt of my sword as I pulled it out of the sheath.
I focused my senses and immediately heard a low, guttural sound echo through the forest, the rustling of leaves turning into something more sinister as the earth shook below my feet. The ground ahead of me cracked, and I registered mana beasts, from the ground some plant like creatures emerged—twisted amalgamations of roots, vines, and bark, their hollow, glowing eyes fixated on the surrounding, each movement they made stripped away the life below or in front of them as the small fissures around their bodies glowed in an eerie colour.
They resembled humanoid golems, their bodies constructed from entangled plant matter and reinforced by hardened soil. Some had elongated limbs covered in razor-sharp thorns, while others had jagged, bark-like armour shielding them. I counted at least five of them, each radiating a potent earth-based mana.
“Looks like I don’t have time for a slow start,” I muttered, drawing my sword. “They’re probably
Just as I made my presence know to them, I released my mana and saw the one closed to me lunge at me, its vine-covered arm stretching unnaturally toward me like a whip. I sidestepped just in time, feeling the air shift as the attack sliced past where I had stood moments ago. No pause, no hesitation. My instincts kicked in—I twisted my body and slashed downward, my blade severing the extended limb with ease, my sword moved with practiced grace as I mutilated the golem into nothing.
I twisted my body to the left as I rolled over the ground, shifting into an aggressive stance as I slashed the second golem which came my way.
The golem screeched, its severed vines writhing before retracting back into its body. Another one charged from my left, its bark-armoured fist crashing down toward my shoulder.
“Tch—too slow!”
I pivoted, bringing my sword up just in time to parry the strike as mana reinforced my limbs. The impact sent a jolt through my arms, reaching my bones as I felt the brute strength behind its strike, but I held my ground. The golem reared back, preparing to attack again, but I wasn’t going to wait.
With a deep breath, I channelled mana into my palm, igniting the air around my sword. Flames roared to life, engulfing the white blade in a crimson glow. The fire crackled, its heat distorting the air around me.
The golems hesitated.
‘Not so confident now, are you?’ I smirked before dashing forward.
I drove my burning sword through the closest golem’s chest. The fire spread instantly, latching onto the creature like a living beast. It screeched as the flames devoured its roots and soon it whole, the mana within it destabilizing until its entire form crumbled into ashes.
Two others attacked in unison, one swinging its thorned arm while the other sent a wave of sharpened roots surging from the ground like serpents.
I jumped, flipping mid-air to avoid the roots as they erupted from the earth beneath me. The thorned arm came next, slashing horizontally—I twisted my body just enough to dodge, the jagged spikes grazing my sleeve but leaving me unharmed.
Gathering mana into my feet, I kicked off a nearby tree, launching myself toward them. The fire around my blade flared as I swung in a wide arc, severing the thorned limb before thrusting my sword into the ground, allowing the flames to swallow everything around me.
I remembered what I’d learned from father for the last few months, training endlessly to claim the sword styles for myself. I saw the two golems rushing in my direction together.
But my stance was calm, no hesitation in my movements as I waited, my blade poised with power that made it look as if it was part of the air itself, my mana worked to match the amount I needed to perform the first movement.
Still Waters Guard.
Just as the golems were a hair’s breadth away from me, I completely settled into the stance as I felt the energy gather into the tip of my sword.
Then I moved, no wasted movement or extra force needed, I effortlessly cut through the two golems as I balanced my body and ripped through their bodies like slicing through paper.
The dead roots laid on the crumbled ground as I laid eyes on the last one which was keeping a distance from me, but giving it no time, I transitioned into the second stance of the samarthyang style.
I adjusted my stance with a breath, feeling the strain on my muscles throughout my body, just by shifting from one stance to the next placed this immense of a burden over me, yet father was able to make it look effortless; that just went to say how far behind I was.
The image of father performing the second stance popped inside my mind, I tried to mimic his stillness and control of that time, feeling my mana move in synchronization to my movements.
‘Don’t tense,’ his words murmured inside my mind like a silent encouragement. ‘Just feel the weight of the blade. Let it become a part of you.’
The last golem tried to reinforce itself, layers of hardened bark growing over its body like armour. It stomped the ground, sending another wave of spikes shooting toward me.
Without another thought, I shifted, my movements subtle but deliberate as I flowed into the next stance. “Breath of the Stream,” I said under my breath, swaying slightly as I moved my blade in a slow rhythm, inhaling deeply, I aligned myself with everything around me. Feeling the forest through each breath, letting my body become part of the flow itself.
The tip of the blade pulsed in my grip as I shifted my stance.
Just as my sword struck against the thick bark protecting the golem, it sliced through it effortlessly as the air around us boomed, pulling everything into a quiet rhythm. Every sound disappeared for a moment as I felt at harmony with my surroundings—like something meditative in it, like the world around me had faded until it was just me, before everything returned to normal.
My eyes looked down at the evenly chopped stump of the golem’s roots as I surveyed the surroundings.
I stood amidst the destruction, my breath steady despite the intense battle. The heat from my flames lingered in the air, flickering embers dancing around me before fading into the darkness.
Slowly, I lowered my sword.
“That wasn’t so bad,” I muttered to myself, brushing soot off my sleeve.
But this was just the beginning.
I sheathed my sword and turned my gaze deeper into the forest. Whatever lay ahead, I was ready for it.
***
The fire burned with a dim, flickering glow, its light barely pushing back the darkness of the dungeon. Shadows danced along the jagged trees, stretching and twisting with every subtle shift of the flame. The faint scent of burning wood mixed with the damp, earthy air, a contrast to the usual staleness that lingered in these depths.
I sat near the fire, cleaning my blade out of habit rather than necessity. The low hum of unseen insects filled the silence, their droning song blending with the occasional whisper of a breeze that ghosted through the cavern, carrying with it the distant echoes of dripping water from nearby. It was quiet—too quiet—but at least for now, it was safe.
It had been a full day inside the dungeon, and after finding a safe spot to rest, I had put up camp to rest and eat.
Suddenly, I heard footsteps approach from the darkness, steady and unhurried. I didn’t need to look up to know it was Elizabeth. She moved with a certain grace, measured and deliberate, yet the weight of exhaustion was clear in the way she lowered herself onto a nearby rock with a quiet sigh.
Looking at her I thought for a moment that she appeared more bored than anything. It was her mission to look over me, but so far, I didn’t have any issue in facing the mana beasts inside this dungeon.
But the ones which were out of my league, I avoided them and continued on with my exploration.
“So, how was your first day of dungeon exploration?” she asked, her voice barely louder than the crackling embers. She took a seat and brought a flask out of her dimensional artifact and drank from it.
“It wasn’t too bad,” I replied, keeping my eyes on the fire. “Just the usual feeling of being watched, fighting mana beasts and having to push myself to know how much better I can do.”
She let out a small chuckle, though there was little amusement in it. “I didn’t mean to be rude...” she said, appearing casual. “But most people wouldn’t have said that, their response is usually like: it was a crappy experience to even be inside a dungeon.”
I nodded, saying nothing, sharing a smile with Elizabeth. Because she was right—no matter how prepared we were, this place would always belong to the monsters and the unknown, and who in their right might would like to enter a dungeon.
“But still,” she added, looking above at the trees, through the gaps of the leaves and the moon which shined below at us. “I was kind of surprised when I first got this mission. But after seeing your performance today, I feel like this isn’t the first time you have been inside a dungeon. Just by how you scouted the area, fought the mana beasts, and even secured a good escape when encountered with a stronger foe than you, it gave me the vibe that you already have experience.”
I nodded to her obvious statement. “Yes, before this, I’ve had a fair share of exploring dungeon gates. Most of them were through accessing the ones which the black market owned, but in the last few years, I’ve experienced a lot of ups and downs considering the risk which a person takes entering a gate.”
Elizabeth rose a brow and asked. “How so?”
“Are you aware of the dungeon gate incident that appeared in japan an year and half ago?” I asked her, and Elizabeth rose a brows before realizing which incident I was talking about.
She nodded. “Yeah. The one that pulled the lock students inside and they somehow miraculously escaped—but there were a few casualties.” She stated, her eyes locked on to me, and I put my sword down and stored it back inside my dimensional artifact as I brought my legs forward and leaned forward.
“I was one of the students who was stuck inside.” I admitted and I saw Elizabeth gasp in surprise, her expression looked of astonishment and sympathy.
“But, that experience gave me an idea of how hard it actually is when someone risks their life, when entering a dungeon gate.” I said and Elizabeth silently listened as I felt the warmth of the fire over my skin. “But, it was all thanks to someone who was inside that dungeon who stood up for all of us like a leader and guided us when we were lost, not knowing what to do.”
I waited for a moment, remembering the harrowing moments inside that dungeon gate. How Jiwoo had coordinated us all without panic, and been the one who had fought the hardest to finish the boss monster—the basilisk.
“Without him, none of us would have escaped.” I said, as the flickering flames were brushed slightly by a passing breeze.
“He must have been a strong individual.” Elizabeth admitted. “Because, panic is the most common reaction when someone enters a gate. But, I won’t say that we hunters get used to it. There's always some new horror that we witness inside a dungeon, and even if we says we are used to it, we never are.” She said, her gaze fixed on the flames which burned between us. “And surprisingly, that somehow makes me want to do better. Because, hunters never know when they might loss their life inside a gate, even by the smallest mistake, so I try to be more cautious in that aspect.”
I smiled, seeing Elizabeth leaning deeper as she relaxed. “I see. It’s never easy in this line of work.” I said and Elizabeth agreed with me.
After a moment, I decided to ask. "Then, how did you get in the hunter business?"
Elizabeth seem to remember something as the expression over her face looked nostalgic, yet filled with something unspoken. With a smile, she spoke. "When I was a kid, my parents were active hunters in a guild in England. They were kind parents, really good people, who cared about everyone. But there was a dungeon break in England back when I was a kid and my parents were present on the scene." Her gaze wavered deeper into the fire, as his looking for something in the flickering flames. "The mana beasts which escaped the gate were too strong for ranks like them, and they fought to the end, until the guild raid teams and union hunters arrived to stop the dungeon break. But, that day, I lost my parents, knowing that this line was business was dangerous, that they put their lives on the line."
I listened quietly to her story, feeling her sorrow seep through each word she spoke. Her brows slacked, her eyes seemed to grow weary. "I don't resent them, but I do feel pity that I couldn't spend as much time as I could with them."
She trailed off and continued. "After that, I was adopted by a Korean couple and I came to Korea, and after a few years past, I awakened as a hunter. And, to be honest, the reason I became a hunter was to actually understand what my parents must have felt like when they saved civilians and performed raids, just how would they have felt. Was it fulfilling for them? This question always festered in my mind."
"Then, have you found your answer yet?" I asked, my voice slow and comforting.
Elizabeth turned to me, her emerald eyes glowing with the flames burning in the campfire. "Yes, it is. When I saved people, assisted my teammates and did my best to ensure that those who can't deal with these situations can be at peace, I felt fulfilled." She ended with a bright smile, and I smiled back.
After a short conversation, I yawned, feeling the entire days strain finally weigh down on me.
“You can rest, I will keep watch. You had a rough day, well, compared to you, all I had to do was keep watch over you.” Elizabeth said, and I took her over her kindness and nodded, slowly leaning against a root nearby as I felt my eyes immediately closing.
***
Just like that, the next few days were mundane. I continued exploring the wraithwood dungeon and encountering mana beasts left and right, while I was put in a tight spot sometimes when encountering an opponent stronger than me, but with Elizabeth’s interference, I was able to successfully escape and avoid such scenarios.
Soon, I came around the area which was free of trees like the previous region, a barren land with dead trees, their roots looked gaunt and so did the land appear the same.
Everything in the further distance appeared dead. It was odd, but it one of the many things added in the report I’d read. It said that this dungeon had several big regions left by the boss monster—the wraithwood—having absorbed all the nourishments from the land.
“Jiyoung, be careful here. This was the place where the moss monster was first sighted.” Elizabeth appeared by my side, her hair flowed like gold under the warm sunlight as she surveyed the area with keen eyes.
“We have been looking for the boss monster for the last few days in the appointed regions, and we still haven’t found it.” I said, and Elizabeth pondered over my words. “Isn’t it odd? We have already checked almost all of the main spots which could have been the habitants of the new boss monster, but we still have no clue about it.”
Just as Elizabeth was about to speak, I felt the ground shaking violently, the land split apart, like a disaster was about to manifest itself.
Then it came, from the depths of this land, Elizabeth shouted to move, shouting orders as I immediately followed her and found a safe distance as I looked ahead at the monstrosity which rose in front of us.
It was a monolithic horror of twisted bark and gnarled limbs, towering over everything like a grotesque parody of an ancient tree. Its trunk was split open like a yawning maw, revealing a hollow inside where I saw a dim glow emanating, lined with writhing, pulsating roots that coiled and slithered like veins exposed to open air.
Its bark was not wood, but something far worse—dark and cracked like charred flesh, oozing a thick, tar-like sap that reeked of decay. Countless jagged branches jutted from its body, each one lined with serrated, blade-like leaves that rustled with an unnatural, whispering sound. The air around it was suffocating, heavy with an oppressive force that made the ground tremble beneath its weight.
Its face—if it could even be called that—was a hollow cavity near the upper part of its trunk, an abyssal void.
And then there were the roots. Making for it’s mobility and reach.
They snaked through its body like living parasites, burrowing through the massive trunk and stretching deep beneath the earth, unseen yet omnipresent. Every movement the monster made was accompanied by a sickening creak, as if the roots themselves were struggling against their confinement.
I could feel Elizabeth’s panic evidently as she looked at the boss monster. “What is a Wraithwood doing here? Shouldn't it have been taken care of in the last dungeon raid when they killed it?” She spoke, her words seemed fast, uncertain, as I looked at her and Elizabeth shared a glance with me before speaking.
“Jiyoung, this boss monster isn’t something who we can fight on our own. It was able to overpower an entire party of rank hunters, even with all that, this mana beast was evaluated to be borderline rank, but given its territorial advantage and the roots which it uses for its mobility disadvantage it can even go on par with an rank.” Elizabeth sternly said, her expression darkened as the beast seemed to have caught notice of our presence. “We have no choice to take it on, but follow my lead. This thing can’t simply be hacked apart—it would regenerate its limbs reforming from the very dungeon itself.”
“We need to sever those vines which are inside its maw like mouth, that’s its vitals which keeps it sustained. If we cut them, then we can win.” She added after a moment.
“But getting close enough to do that would be the biggest problem, it wouldn’t willingly invite us.” I spoke, my nerves felt pumped as I saw two dark gaps above its maw which resembled eyes. “Let’s do this.” I said, following into step with Elizabeth as she withdrew are rapier and unsheathed the blade as I saw her mana rushing through her channels.