CHAPTER TWELVE !
───instant dungeon.

HYEON FOUND HIMSELF FLOATING IN AN ENDLESS VOID, confused and uncertain of his surroundings. He wondered, "Am I dead?" He tried to recall the events leading up to this moment and, suddenly, memories of the dungeon with Jinwoo flashed in his mind – the statues, the stabbing, the pain.

A realization hit him like a wave, "I'm dead," and he sighed with acceptance. Just then, a white glowing figure before him, taking on a human-like form.

Hyeon, now shrunk in shock, stared at the mysterious being.

"Who are you? Where am I?" Hyeon inquired, but the white glowing figure remained silent. The tension grew as the figure asked, "Do you want to live again?"

Hyeon hesitated, tempted by the thought of strolling in the park with Jinwoo and reuniting with his family and friends. Before agreeing, he cautiously asked if the offer was genuine. The figure repeated the question, "Do you want to live again?"

Quickly nodding, Hyeon was met with the figure leaning in and said. "But in two conditions."

"What are those conditions?" Hyeon asked, a mix of anticipation and anxiety in his voice.

"Become our king's aid," it said. Confused about who their king was.

So Hyeon asked again, "Who is your king?" he asked but only to be met with the mysterious response,

"Unfortunately, I cannot answer that."

"Alright, I accept the first condition. What about the last one?" Hyeon bravely asked.

"You will forget someone," the figure reiterated. Panicking, Hyeon's thoughts raced, fearing the loss of a loved one, perhaps even Jinwoo. His anxiety manifested as a chibi-sized display in front of the white glowing figure, the figure scratching its head.

"I accept," Hyeon declared. The figure nodded approvingly, raising its hand.

"Good luck on your journey. Let me and the system give you a present to protect yourself and your loved ones," it said. Hyeon's body began to glow, enveloped in a brilliant light that covered the void. As the light faded, only the white glowing figure remained.

"May your fate connect again with his."

[You have acquired the qualifications to be a Player. Will you accept?]

[Yes] or No

Enter.

[Congratulations o—]

[Congratulations on becom–]

[Congratulations on becoming a Player.]

'WHAT I'M DOING HERE AGAIN?' Hyeon thought while holding the key in his hands. He looks at the key and information appears again.

[ITEM: DUNGEON KEY]

Acquisition Difficulty: E

Category: Key

A key that will take you to an instance dungeon. It can be used at the exit of the Tokyo Subway Station.

'I'm just joking, let's go home now.' he said to himself but he didn't even move. He sighed and just nodded to himself and entered the dungeon using the key.

And he was mistaken.

Knock! Knock!

"Where did this wall come from..?"

Hyeon slammed his fist against the invisible barrier, frustration mounting with every unanswered call. "Hey! Can anyone hear me?!" he yelled, his voice echoing in the sterile emptiness of the Tokyo Subway Station... Exit Three. Except, this wasn't the familiar Tokyo Station he knew. The once bustling passage was eerily quiet, devoid of the usual hustle and bustle.

A system message flashed before his eyes, a constant reminder of his predicament: [You cannot leave the dungeon. You must either kill the boss or use a teleportation stone.]

Despair gnawed at him. The Dungeon Key, his supposed ticket out, had vanished the moment he stepped through the threshold. Turning back, he found the entrance sealed shut, a cruel joke played by the dungeon itself. 

There were no secret doors, no imposing gates, just an unnerving silence that stretched on forever.

"This isn't a normal dungeon," he muttered, his voice barely a whisper.

Suddenly, a guttural growl shattered the silence. A pair of beady red eyes emerged from the darkness, followed by a hulking creature with matted fur and razor-sharp claws. 

It was a Kobold Warrior, a low-ranked monster but dangerous nonetheless for a level 1 mage.

Hyeon's heart hammered against his ribs. He gripped his staff, the wood slick with sweat. This was it. Fight or become monster chow. Taking a deep breath, he unleashed an Arcane Bolt. 

The magical projectile struck the Kobold true, eliciting a pained yelp. However, the creature shrugged it off with surprising resilience and charged.

The fight was a desperate dance of survival. Hyeon weaved between Kobold's swipes, his agility his only saving grace. He launched another Arcane Bolt, but the Kobold sidestepped it with surprising agility. 

A searing pain erupted in his shoulder as the creature landed a glancing blow.

His vision swam, HP dropping precariously low (70 HP). Panic threatened to consume him, but a surge of defiance pushed it back. He wouldn't go down without a fight. 

Gritting his teeth, he activated his Mana Shield. A faint blue shimmer enveloped him, offering a meager defense.

The Kobold, emboldened by Hyeon's weakness, pressed the attack. It lunged, claws outstretched. With a desperate lunge, Hyeon sidestepped the attack, the razor-sharp claws snapping at empty air. 

He retaliated with a burst of flame from his Elemental Grasp (Fire). The flames singed the Kobold's fur, forcing it to back away with a screech.

The battle raged on, a brutal exchange of blows. Hyeon, battered and bruised, his MP dwindling (30 MP), felt the sting of exhaustion. His vision blurred, his breaths coming in ragged gasps. 

He stumbled, his staff clattering to the floor. The Kobold seized the opportunity, lunging for the fallen mage.

In a last-ditch effort, Hyeon focused the remaining embers of his mana, conjuring a small fireball in his palm. As the Kobold's maw gaped wide, inches from his face, Hyeon hurled the fireball. 

It struck the creature square in the chest, engulfing it in flames. The Kobold let out a shriek before collapsing in a smoldering heap.

Hyeon slumped to the ground, his body screaming in protest. Every muscle aches, his breaths shallow and ragged. He had won, but at a terrible cost. 

Yet, a sliver of hope flickered within him. He had survived. He had defeated a monster.

As his ragged breaths calmed, a wave of warmth washed over him. A system message materialized before him:

[Congratulations! You have defeated a Kobold Warrior. You have gained 10 EXP, 5 MP, and 3 Skill Point.]

[Name: Kim Hyeon]

[Job: Mage] [HP: 55 (Slowly Recovers)]

[Fatigue: 30%]

[Level: 1 (10/100 EXP)]

[Title: Novice]

[MP: 35 (Slowly Recovers)]

[Stats]

Strength: 8

Dexterity: 12

Stamina: 7

Agility: 9

Intelligence: 50

Constitution: 8

Perception: 11

(Available ability points: 5)

[Skills]

Arcane Bolt: Unleashes a basic magical projectile towards the target.
Mana Shield: Creates a protective barrier using mana, reducing incoming damage by 20% for.

Leaning against the cold, sterile wall, Hyeon gasped for breath. Every muscle in his body screamed in protest, his vision clouded with exhaustion. 

The Kobold Warrior lay still, a testament to his desperate victory. A wave of nausea washed over him, reminding him of the meager 30% Fatigue clinging to him like a shroud.

The system helpfully displayed a list of learnable skills based on his current class and Intelligence stat. His eyes scanned the list, landing on two that resonated with his recent fight.

1. Minor Heal: A basic restorative spell that mends minor wounds. (Cost: 5 MP)

2. Arcane Blast: A more powerful version of Arcane Bolt, dealing increased magical damage. (Cost: 10 MP)

The choice was clear. Hyeon confirmed his selection, feeling a surge of energy flow through him as the knowledge of the new spell settled in his mind. Minor Heal seemed crucial for future encounters, while Arcane Blast offered a stronger offensive option.

With a deep breath, he focused his remaining will, casting Minor Heal on himself. A warm green light enveloped him, slowly knitting the wounds the Kobold had inflicted. 

The pain dulled, and his strength gradually returned. The Fatigue meter ticked down to a more manageable 20%.

Taking stock of his remaining resources, Hyeon decided to explore the seemingly endless expanse of the Tokyo Subway Station... Exit Three. He limped forward, his staff tapping a slow rhythm against the smooth floor.

Suddenly, a guttural chorus of growls echoed through the sterile silence. Three more Kobold Warriors emerged from the shadows, their beady red eyes glinting with predatory hunger. 

This time, they were outnumbered three to one, and Hyeon was far from his peak.

"Here we go again," he muttered, his voice laced with a newfound steel.

The battle that ensued was a brutal ballet of desperation and resilience. Hyeon weaved between their attacks, his agility his only saving grace. He launched an Arcane Blast at one, the bolt of magical energy striking true and sending the creature staggering back with a shriek. 

His newfound Mana Shield shimmered faintly, deflecting a glancing blow from another Kobold.

The fight was a grueling test of his endurance. He burned through his remaining MP, alternating between offensive blasts and defensive shields. 

The Kobolds, though individually weaker, overwhelmed him with their numbers. A searing pain tore through his arm as claws raked flesh, dropping his HP to a critical 30.

Just as despair threatened to engulf him, Hyeon remembered his newly acquired skill. With a surge of will, he cast Minor Heal. The green light washed over him, pulling him back from the brink. It wasn't much, but it bought him precious moments.

Desperate for an edge, Hyeon pushed the limits of his control, channeling the last embers of his mana. 

A small fireball materialized in his palm, hotter and brighter than before. With a final roar, he hurled it at the group. The fireball exploded in a shower of embers, engulfing all three Kobolds in flames.

The Kobolds shrieked in fury and pain, their movements faltering. Taking advantage of the momentary chaos, Hyeon unleashed another Arcane Blast, a final burst of defiance. The bolt struck one of the Kobolds square in the chest, sending it crashing to the ground, lifeless.

The remaining two Kobolds, singed and wounded, hesitated for a moment before turning and fleeing back into the darkness. 

Hyeon collapsed on the ground, his body wracked with exhaustion. His breath came in ragged gasps, his HP precariously low (25 HP), but a triumphant smile played on his lips. He had survived, again.

[Congratulations! You have defeated 2 Kobold Warriors. You have gained 20 EXP, 10 MP, and 2 Skill Points.]

The meager rewards seemed insignificant compared to the monumental effort. Yet, with each victory, Hyeon felt a sense of growth, a hardening of his resolve. He had tasted both defeat and success, and neither had broken him.

As he lay there, gathering his remaining strength, the familiar warmth washed over him. This time, however, a message appear in front of him.

[You have leveled up!]