Hyun wakes up to a loud noise coming from the living room.
— What the fuck is that noise... — he grumbles, rubbing his eyes.
— SEOK-JIN! Can you cut that shit out, you
little bastard? I was trying to sleep!
From across the room, Seok-jin shouts back:
— And what kind of lazy fuck sleeps at this hour?! Come help me! I'm trying to make some ramyeon but I can't find the damn pot and the microwave's busted!
— Figure it out yourself... I'm gonna take a shit, — Hyun mutters as he drags himself to the bathroom.
A few minutes later, Hyun is in the shower when Seok-jin starts banging on the door:
— YOU EMO MOTHERFUCKER! How much longer are you gonna hog the damn bathroom?! Don't tell me you're jerking off in there!
— You dumbass, I'm almost done! And I don't do that kind of pervy shit!
— Yeah, yeah, sure. But hurry the hell up! The guild sent us a mission just now, and we need to get going. We've got 40 minutes to get there or they'll dock our pay and send it to another team!
— Alright, I'm coming out!
Hyun finishes his shower, suits up in his hunter gear, and heads out with Seok-jin. They get in the car and drive off to the guild HQ.
The Iron Fang Guild, currently ranked 10th in South Korea, is considered a mid-tier guild. Home to some powerful hunters, it currently boasts 30 Rank A hunters, 50 Rank B, 25 Rank C — including Seok-jin — and 20 Rank D hunters, one of which is Hyun. Its guildmaster is a high-ranking offensive mage, listed among the top 100 Rank S hunters in Korea, placing within the top 35. A former member of the legendary Shadow Guild — the current #1 in the country — his reputation still echoes in elite circles.
Upon arriving at the guild, Hyun and Seok-jin find the rest of their team already gathered.
The team consists of:
Seok-jin — Class: Tank (Body Enhancement), Rank C. Group leader. Calm, protective, and Hyun's best friend. They live together.
Minho — Support Mage, Rank D. Arrogant and provocative, constantly mocking Hyun.
Kwon-seok — Offensive Mage, Rank D. Calm and kind, he often plays the role of mediator.
Hoon — Healer Mage, Rank D. Helpful and focused, he's the one keeping everyone alive with healing and buffs.
As soon as Minho sees Hyun, he smirks and throws a jab:
— Lookin' great today, Hyun, — he laughs.
— Go fuck yourself, Minho, — Hyun snaps, not in the mood.
The group heads into the prep room and receives the mission details.
Mission Requirements: 5 Hunters
Difficulty Level: Rank D
Danger Type: Jungle
Monsters Present:
– Blood Wolf (Rank D)
– Demon Bear (Rank D)
– Blood Wolf – Pack Leader (Rank C)
Leader spawn chance: 45%
Recommended: At least one Rank C hunter with support to handle the pack leader
— If the pack leader shows up, things'll get ugly. Rank C ain't a joke, — says Seok-jin seriously.
— I'll stay ready to buff resistance if he shows up, — Hoon says, adjusting his gear.
The group heads out. In the car on the way to the portal, Seok-jin drives. Kwon-seok holds a tablet with mission data. Hoon organizes supplies in the backseat. Minho lounges with his usual smug grin, while Hyun stares out the window.
— The portal spawned near a remote village. We've got 30 minutes to reach it before weaker monsters start spilling into civilian areas, — Kwon-seok reads aloud.
— Alright, I'm stepping on it. Not trying to get blamed for some grandma's house getting invaded by wolves, — Seok-jin jokes.
— Imagine the headlines: "Iron Fang Hunters Fail to Protect Village Chickens." A national tragedy, — Minho adds, dripping sarcasm.
— Shut the fuck up, Minho, — Hyun mutters, eyes still on the passing scenery.
— I'll stay ready to buff resistance if the pack leader shows up, — Hoon repeats, double-checking his backpack.
As they approach the portal location — now surrounded by caution tape and non-awakened police officers — Minho comments:
— Guess some granny got lucky this time. We made it.
— Alright, get out and gear up. We're heading in, — Seok-jin says, parking the car.
As the team disembarks, a cop approaches them:
— Glad you guys showed up. This thing popped up right in front of an old lady... poor thing nearly had a heart attack. We'll stay out here to keep civilians away.
— Don't worry, we'll wrap this up quick, — Seok-jin assures him.
The team gears up efficiently. Swords, staves, potions, and magic crystals click into place. They line up in front of the portal, which pulses with unstable magical energy.
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
They cross.
Upon entering, the five hunters are instantly surrounded by an oppressive environment. Massive trees tower in every direction, their thick canopies blotting out almost all natural light. The ground is covered in damp leaves and jutting roots. The forest thrums with distant monster calls and snapping branches. The air is muggy, humid, and heavy to breathe.
Narrow paths wind between trees, as if the forest itself decided who could pass through.
Hyun scans everything carefully, his eyes dancing between shadows and trunks.
— This place's a paradise for my Shadow Assassin class, — he thinks.
— Hope your class is actually useful in a dark-ass forest full of shadows... Would be fucking hilarious if it wasn't, — Minho snickers.
The Shadow Assassin class is one of the rarest among hunters.
A stealth-based class, it's known for unmatched speed and agility in close- to mid-range combat. Its specialty lies in stealth kills, with the ability to vanish into shadows and completely erase its presence — especially against higher-ranked enemies.
For instance, a Rank C monster wouldn't be able to sense a Shadow Assassin unless it had specialized perception skills.
It's a deadly class in environments with heavy shadows or darkness, turning places like this into perfect hunting grounds.
Moving cautiously through the tight forest paths, the group is on high alert. The atmosphere presses in even more.
Suddenly, a faint rustle breaks the silence.
From the underbrush, a Demonic Lizard appears. Its skin is grayish, eyes glowing faint red, body twitching erratically. Despite its grotesque appearance, it's a Class F demon — a low-tier demon.
Before it can even react, Hyun vanishes into the shadows.
In a blink, he appears behind the lizard and slices its head clean off in one swift motion — like he teleported. The body collapses, lifeless.
— A demonic lizard? — Hyun mutters, eyeing the corpse.
Seok-jin frowns, suspicious.
— That's weird... this thing shouldn't be here.
Hoon steps closer, cautious.
— That's a low-tier demon... What the hell's it doing in a Blood Wolf danger zone?
Hyun scans the path ahead, thinking aloud.
— It definitely doesn't belong here. Something's off about this danger... Come to think of it, why the hell are the paths here so narrow and carved like someone slashed through with blades?
The group pauses. A heavy silence hangs in the air. They glance at each other, something clicking.
Seok-jin speaks up, trying to keep them grounded:
— Who knows... these dangers are always weird. Let's keep going and see what else we find. So far, no Blood Wolves in sight.
After about twenty minutes of walking deeper into the forest without encountering another monster, the tension only grows.
Then, up ahead, the darkness gives way. Natural daylight spills through as they approach an opening.
— Look ahead, — Minho points, surprised. — There's a clearing.
They reach the edge — and realize they're standing atop a slope. Below them is another dense forest... but what grabs their attention isn't the green.
It's the ominous sight beyond it:
A dark, medieval-style fortress looms in the distance. Tall towers, black walls, and flags waving with demonic symbols. At its center, a larger, more sinister structure rises like a throne of command — a Demonic Control Tower.
The group freezes. A long moment passes before, in unison, they mutter:
— What the fuck...
Minho breaks the silence:
— Why the actual fuck is there a demon base inside a Rank D danger?
Hyun, eyes locked ahead, speaks gravely:
— If it's what I think it is... that wasn't a normal Rank D portal.
— Wow. Thanks, Sherlock. Would've never guessed, — Minho mocks.
— Shut up, Minho, — Seok-jin growls. — Hyun's right. This is nothing like a normal danger. Look at this whole open field... this place is way too big to be just a dungeon. It's like... another world.
Hoon gulps, still trying to grasp the situation:
— You mean we entered a Rank D portal, a danger... and ended up in another world?
— We're fucked, — Kwon-seok adds, dead serious.
Seok-jin steps forward, trying to stay calm:
— Alright, don't panic. There has to be a mistake. There's no way we were transported to the demon realm through a normal danger.
Then, the sound of footsteps — dry and sharp — echoes behind them.
Crack. Crack.
The group spins around, weapons drawn, skills activating.
A voice oozing with sarcasm and contempt rings out from the trees, accompanied by a mocking laugh:
— Filthy humans... in the demon realm...
A warrior demon of Rank D, with reddish skin and amber-glowing eyes, emerges from the bushes. His rustic armor, made of bone and metal, creaks as he walks slowly.
— Looks like they're lost... — says another demon, stepping out from the forest's shadows with a wicked grin. — Let's give our lovely guests a proper welcome. — He laughs loudly, a macabre cackle that sends chills down even the most seasoned of the group.
Suddenly, a third demon appears — larger, with bulging muscles and a denser aura. His cold eyes scan the group with disdain.
— Silence. — he orders in a deep, firm voice. — Let's kill these worms... and bring their corpses back to the base along with the others.
This was a Rank C demon, clearly the leader among them.
As the group begins to form up, yet another demon approaches — this one wrapped in tattered furs, wielding a spear stained with dried blood. He watches the five hunters with a hungry gaze.
— These humans... they're different from the others. — He licks his lips. — They're hunters...
He lets out a short, satisfied chuckle, like he just found a new toy.
The demons exchange glances and sadistic smirks, circling the group like predators toying with cornered prey.
To them, Hyun and his team were nothing but insects.
Immediately, Hoon raises his hands and activates a special ability. A soft glow flashes through the group's eyes for a brief moment.
— Ability activated: Telepathic Communication. — his voice echoes in everyone's minds. — We need a quick strategy!
Seok-jin, already partially covered by his stone armor, responds with resolve:
— Combat formation! Get ready to fight. We have the numbers on our side... Hyun, you know what to do.
Hyun was about to respond mentally, but before he could say a word, the Rank C demon in front of them lifted one of his twisted fingers and spoke in a low, commanding voice:
— Khar'zul Thar'akshar!
The forest seemed to tremble slightly. The atmosphere grew heavier, as if the surrounding shadows had gained mass.
The rest of the group looked around in confusion, not understanding the words. To them, it just sounded like another guttural demonic chant — the kind that usually meant trouble.
But Hyun...
Hyun froze for a second. His heart skipped a beat, his eyes widened slightly. A strange sensation ran down his spine, like an echo rising from deep within him.
"What the fuck... Did I just understand that?"
The words rang clearly in his mind, as if they'd been spoken in his native tongue:
Shadow Disruption.
While the others were still trying to figure out what the spell meant, Hyun stood still, trying to grasp what had just happened.
The déjà vu...
The weight behind those words...
And the fact that he understood them so naturally...
...it was as if something ancient inside him had awakened — even if only for a moment.
As soon as the demon spoke the dark incantation, a black wave spread like thick fog, engulfing the area in a 100-meter radius.
The glow in the hunters' eyes faded instantly.
The telepathic link was cut.
The skill "Shadow Disruption" had been activated — a Rank C demonic magic, used to sever magical bonds and disrupt group coordination.
The five hunters immediately felt the mental silence. It was as if a bridge had suddenly collapsed between them.
Seok-jin, realizing what had happened, reacted instantly.
— GET READY! — he shouted with authority, stepping forward slowly, fists clenched and his stone armor now covering every inch of his body.
The other members instinctively fell into their combat stances — eyes sharp, senses alert.
The tension was suffocating.
