[A/N: It feels kinda weird that I'm adding my OC into a story when I'm making a harem, but I'm stoked to see how he'll handle himself as a hunter.]

Name: Israel Yabuki

Age: 22

Height: 5'9

Weight: 178 lbs

Occupation: Hunter

Best Friend: Jinwoo Sung

Rank: A (Close to S after 2nd awakening)

Powers: Elemental magic: Fire, water, earth and wind. (Divine Magic after 2nd awakening)

Appearence:

After 2nd Awakening

Harem:

Jinah Sung (Age 18)

Haein Cha

Yoora Choi (shared with Jinwoo)

[You guys saw how she checked out Jinwoo in canon. She's fallen for him just as much, so it's only fair we share her. Gotta have someone for our boi to love, am I right?]

Backstory: Israel Yabuki awakened as a hunter when he was 15 years old, 3 whole years after the dungeons first appear. His life was a struggle between managing his grades in high school and raiding dungeons with other hunters back in his home country. One day, a dungeon appeared at his high school and was offered to graduate a year early should he defeat the dungeon boss, which he did.

After graduating at 16, he continued to hunt and gain experience. His magical abilities made him almost untouchable, yet he stayed true to himself rather than soaking in the glory. When he was 21 years old, he was approached by members of the Hunters Association in Korea. Apparently, they were short on Hunters and needed his help.

With some encouragement from his huge family, he accepted to help and moved from the United States to Korea. For the first few months of being there, he lent his strength to hunters both low and high ranked. It wasn't until his 9th month that he met the weakest hunter in history known as Jinwoo Sung, E rank. 

His family had been struggling with the bills at home and to cover for his mom's treatment ever since she was diagnosed with the Eternal Sleeping sickness. He offered to help with the bills and even offered to move in. Jinwoo and his sister were hesitant and denied at first. But a couple of weeks later, they welcomed you.

Since then, the two of you took on dungeons left and right. He only got hurt a few times, but other than that, he managed to survive. Naturally, his sister would get mad at Jinwoo for always coming home looking like a living mummy from all the bandages on him. But in any case, at least he still lives. 

[End of backstory. And now onto our story.]

It's a bright and sunny day. The streets were busy with drivers and pedastrians walking to get from point A to point B. But our attention turns to a group of hunters waiting outside a construction site where a dungeon gate is open. Everyone is waiting for everyone to show up for this raid, chatting all carefree.

A man in a food truck offers one of the hunters a drink, wishing him the best on his latest raid. This hunter is Sangshik Kim.

Man: "Best of luck to you and your crew on today's raid." *hands him a drink*

Kim: *accepts drink* "Thanks." *takes sip*

And now, another hunter shows up, calling out to Kim. This other hunter goes by the name, Beom-Shik Park.

Park: "Hey! What's up, Mr. Kim?" *walks up* "Long time no see."

Kim: *happily* "Now, there's a face I wasn't expecting. Thought you said you had your fill of hunting, Beom-Shik."

Park: *chuckles* "That was before baby number two was on the way."

Kim: "A successful raid will definitely score you a pretty nice mint for your new kiddo."

Park: "It's been a while. So, you know, I'm super rusty. I was always weak to begin with."

Kang:  "Huh, is that a Jinwoo Sung and Israel Yabuki I see?"

Sure enough, as Jeongho Kang pointed out, they see the dynamic weak-strong duo appear. 

As usual, Jinwoo's got patches on his face from another rough dungeon raid while Yabuki... still looks unharmed.

Cho: "Yo, what's going on?"

[He's not mad, he's actually calm at the moment and welcoming.]

Guhyun: "Came out despite the cold, huh?"

Yabuki: *chuckles* "Well, nice to meet you guys, too."

Kim: "Hey kids, have you eaten yet? Can't fight magic beasts running on fumes."

Jinwoo: "Right. We both ate before we got here. Thanks."

So, the dynamic duo walks by while the two older men converse in secet.

Park: "Why is everyoe flagging them down? Are those kids like big deals or something?"

Kim: "Well, Yabuki is a specimen worth mentioning, but Jinwoo's the exact opposite. Those two joined up not long after you quit. Well, I call Jinwoo the weakest hunter of all mankind."

Park: "Wait, really? That's a thing?"

Kim: "It was once he got hospitalized after a trip through an E-rank gate. If that isn't weak, I dunno what is."

Park: "So, what about the foreigner, Yabuki?"

Kim: "Heh, truth be told, he's been raiding dungeon since he was a teenager. He's got this special skill with magic unlike anyone's ever seen. He may look like a greenhorn, but he sure doesn't fight like one."

Park: "Wow, impressive. Still, it's hard to picture that E-rank hunter being that bad."

Kim: "But he is. Him being here might be an easy raid, but it might get complicated if Yabuki's involved with us."

Park: "Uh-huh. Gotcha."

Kim: "We should probably drop it. I'd hate for him to overhear us."

Yabuki: "Too late, we heard you."

The two older men flinch, chuckling nervously from the A-ranker's retort.

Yabuki: "Relax, I'm not gonna blow my top off from you guys speaking your minds, just be more mindful, okay?"

???: "Jinwoo, you got hurt again!"

Aaand there's the nagging healer calling out. Joohee Lee.

[And yes, she's gonna be in the harem.]

Yabuki: *sighs in annoyance, in a familiar OG's voice* "Ah, shit. Here we go again."

Jinwoo: "Yeah, but I'll live. It's good to see you, Joohee."

Joohee: "How about you skip the small talk and explain what happened to you?"

Jinwoo: "Oh, I uh... You know, the same thing that usually happens."

Joohee: "You seriously need to be more careful." *later, sitting on a bench* "I heard you even had a hospital stay.

Jinwoo: "Hey, silver lining, though, is that I was the only one hurt."

Joohee: "So, what exactly went wrong?"

Jinwoo: "The rest of the team was a higher rank and the dungeon was an E, so they didn't think to bring a healer."

Yabuki: "I told Jinwoo I would come along, but he insisted I stayed out, wanting to prove he can do things all by himself. Too stubborn for his own good, you know?"

Joohee: "Seriously? Of all the thoughtless, self-centered things to do!"

Jinwoo: "Not like I'm mad. It isn't their fault I'm so weak."

Yabuki: "Jinwoo... I'm only saying this because we're like family... stop. Okay? Stop being such a motherfucking DOORMAT! Grow some cojones. Just because your rank is considered weak, doesn't mean your personality should be weak. Dios mio!"

[Yes, my OC is Mexican like me.]

Joohee: "Hey, that's easy for you to say Mr. A-Ranker. You're just saying that because you have a strong rank to back it up."

Yabuki: "Hey, I was no pushover even BEFORE I became a hunter."

Jinwoo: "Guys, please. Don't argue so much. I'm sure you both mean well and I appreciate it."

Well, Jinwoo is what he is, that's what Yabuki and Joohee think anyways.

Yabuki: "Well, come on. They're about to head inside."

The three hunters drop their heated argument and meet up with the leader of the strike team. That guy was an older man, a very respectable one at that. The kind of guy others can trust.

Chiyul: "Name's Chiyul Song, and unless any of you have any objections, I volunteer to be the leader of our dungeon raid. Speak now or hold your peace."

Yabuki: *thinks* "Heh, good one."

Park: "Nope, I'm all for it."

Kim: "Chiyul is the most skilled out of everybody here... well, except for you-know-who." *hints at Yabuki*

Yabuki: *shrugs* "Gotta give others a chance to shine, so I'll let him take the reigns."

Chiyul: "Thank you, Yabuki."

Jinwoo: "Working with you, sir, is an absolute privilege."

Chiyul: "Thanks. Now, with that settled... shall we?"

The hunters then open the gates that guard the dungeon gate behind them and venture forth. 

Kim: "Hey, kid. *walks up, pats Jinwoo's shoulder* Hang behind the rest of the pack and don't get yourself hurt."

Jinwoo: "Good idea, I'll try."

Joohee: "Focus on succeeding, not trying."

Yabuki stayed behind and looked at Jinwoo as he brought out a cheap knife.

Jinwoo: "This knife has barely any magic power in it, but it was the only weapon I could afford."

Yabuki: "You know, you could've just asked me to buy you a better weapon, all you had to do was ask, Jinwoo."

Jinwoo: "Thanks, but... I wanna earn my keep. I can't keep relying on you to bail me out."

Yabuki: *sighs* "If you say so. Come on, let's see this through to the end."

As the only two hunters left, both of them head inside the dungeon with the others. Little do either of them know... this raid was about to change their lives and leave a huge impact.

https://youtu.be/S3wsCRJVUyg

The battle is really heating up within the dungeon. Jinwoo managed to get lucky and take out a goblin and obtain an essence stone.

Jinwoo: *panting, pleased* "I actually got one. I can hardly believe it."

Joohee: "JINWOO!!!"

Just then, another goblin comes at him, but he barely blocks it with his knife, which then cracks, almost giving out. The goblin strikes again and again, but Jinwoo jumps away from it. Barely hanging in there.

He goes for a striking blow to the goblin's side, but his knife gives way, breaking apart. Just when he thinks he's done for, Yabuki appears between him and the monster. He coats his arm in earth magic, forming into a bulky golem arm.

Yabuki: "STEP BACK, JINWOO!" 

He delivers a crushing punch to the goblin, knocking it back a few feet away. His golem hand returns to normal and then casts another spell.

Yabuki: "Cut the act, Gobby!" 

This time, he uses a wind magic spell, launching a blade-shaped wind attack at the goblin, taking its head off, ending its life.

Yabuki: "You okay, Jinwoo?"

Jinwoo: "Yeah... Thanks for the help."

Yabuki: "Good. Now, stay there and recuperate. We'll handle the rest."

He didn't argue and just stayed behind while his high-ranking partner fought alongside the rest of the hunters. It took little time to wipe out the monsters, thanks to their coordinated teamwork and having their ace on hand.

When all was said and done, it was safe for Jinwoo to join the others. Lucky for him, he wasn't hurt as much as he was in previous raids.

Chiyul: "Everyone good? All loot collected?"

Kim: "If it can fetch a price, *presents goblin sword* safe to say we got it."

Park: "Mana crystals are scarce here as essence stones. This dungeon was one dry cash cow."

Yabuki: "Look on the bright side. At least you'll have some cash on hand for your future kid. And you'll have one hell of a story to tell him when he grows up."

Jinwoo: *thinks* "Looks like it's over. And all I have to show for it is a single E-Rank essence stone. What a crap reward for risking my life."

Kang: *calls out* "Hey! Come take a look at this, guys!"

Jaehwan: "A cave?"

[Jaehwan Joo looks like this]

Cho: "Or tunnel maybe?"

Yabuki: "It might sound improbable, but maybe it's a... double dungeon or something. And it seems to go pretty far."

Kang: "A double dungeon? I've never seen one in person."

Joohee: "I was wondering why there weren't any signs of this place shutting down after we beat that mutt."

Yabuki: "The thought also crossed my mind."

Park: "Then there's more."

Kim: "Maybe, this cash cow might not be as dry as we assumed."

Chiyul: "Listen up ladies and gents. Standard procedures is to report cases like this to the Hunters Association. And wait for their approval."

Kim: "Now, hang on a second here. That'd give other hunters a chance to beat the boss and loot the goods."

Park: "There isn't any part of a D-rank dungeon that would be out of our group's league."

Kim: *points to Park* "He's got aother kid on the way. He's banking on a decent hall from this raid. It'd be okay to bend the rules a tiny bit, right?"

Park: "Just a smidge?"

Chiyul: "I understand how you feel, but going any farther would endanger our lives."

Yabuki: "Even if I'm around?"

Chiyul: "Well, no doubt you're strong enough to hold your own, but you're still only one A-ranker and have your limitations. We don't want you carrying the load all on your own. So, in regards to this double dungeon... I say we put it to a vote."

Hunter 1: "I'm not feeling it."

Hunter 2: "Well, I am.

Hunter 3: "I vote no."

Hunter 4: "Same here."

Hunter 5: "It's worth checking out."

Hunter 6: "I agree."

Hunter 7: "Me too."

Hunter 8: "I beg to differ."

Park: "Come on, let's go."

Kim: "We'll be fine."

Joohee: "I'm sorry everyone. I really don't want to."

Chiyul: "Alright. That's 6 in favor of going and 6 opposed. Which would leave Jinwoo and Yabuki the deciding votes."

Jinwoo: "What, i-it's up to us?"

Yabuki: "We'll have to make a decision we both can agree upon. So, think it over."

Jinwoo: *thinks* "Even if the danger is't above a D-rank, I'm in trouble no matter what. Still... with dad missing, Yabuki and I are the only ones who can provide for my family. Even if he does most of the work while covering for me. Mom's treatments aren't free. And then there's my sister's college tuition. I don't want money... I need it!" *grips essence stone tightly*

Yabuki: *thinks* "There's no way of telling what lies ahead in this double dungeon. And if Jinwoo's going, I gotta be on top of my A-game. His family's given me enough courtesy to live with them while helping them with the bills."

Both: *aloud* "I vote yes!"

And there we have it. Let's hope their decision doesn't come back to bite them in the ass.

[Much much later]

We see the hunters still walking down the path as it seems to go on forever to them.

Cho: "How long's it been sice we started this trek?"

Jaehwan: "About 40 minutes. Gates close an hour after the boss is defeated, so we'll have 20 minutes to spare."

Yabuki: "That's assuming if the monster we fought back there was the actual dungeon boss."

Just then...

Joohee: "I'M OBVIOUSLY NOT OKAY! Get a sudden case of amnesia? Or has it not occurred to you that goblin could've struck a little higher and ended your life?"

Yabuki looks back to see Joohee at it again.

Yabuki: "Ah que la, must you always get up in his case like this?"

Joohee: *to Yabuki* "YOU stay out of this!"

Yabuki: "No, let me make this clear. You can scold Jinwoo all you like, but you can't change his mind on the career he's chosen for himself! Yes, he gets hurt and it's a pain that he does, but at least he has the backbone to try and help. You think we're not all in the same boat? These guys bust their asses and risk their lives to help support their own lifestyles, too!"

Joohee: "Yeah, but they don't come out of dungeons with so many bruises and blood spilled from their own bodies!"

Yabuki: "At least they're not all scared. And they don't insult Jinwoo when he's doing what a hunter should do! Which is taking on these raids and choose to fight instead of cower."

The thing about these two hunters... they're too stubborn when it comes to Jinwoo. Joohee tries to protect him, Yabuki tries to encourage him to stand on his own two feet while he's watching his back... And so, this whole situation just seems pointless to the healer.

Joohee: "Fine, but if he's gonna keep putting himself in harms way and you keep insisting on guiding him, you two might as well treat me to something to eat."

Yabuki: "Uh, you fucking serious?"

Joohee: "What? Is the thought of you two treating me to a meal so upsetting to you?"

Yabuki: "Good grief, you are impossible. FINE! One meal. You're lucky I'm a nice guy."

Jinwoo: "Come on, don't fight, you guys."

Kang: "Finally! We found the lair!"

The little quarrel you two had ends as you all turn your attention to a giant double door.

Yabuki: "Well, that's rare. You don't see these quite that often in a place like this. Kind of unnerving, to say the least."

Kim: *approaches door* "Didn't walk that marathon to walk back empty-handed."

Park: "No, sure as heck didn't."

Kim: "The team moves forward together. All 14 of us. Isn't that right?"

Chiyul: "Yup, that's the deal."

The leader of the group walks up to the double door and next to Kim. Steeling their nerves, they open the doors. Simultaneously, multiple blue flames light up inside torches around the room, revealing the interior. The hunters all walk in, taking in the sight of the place.

Jaehwan: "Heh. "Let there be light." And a dope atmosphere."

Cho: "This dungeon's unique alright."

The hunters keep walking and stop at the center, their eyes fixated on the giant stone statues all around them.

Guhyun: "What's with the old statues?"

Yoon: "They each have something different."

Yabuki: "Yeah... either a weapon or an instrument. I wonder why that is."

Jinwoo: "Oh whoa."

Yabuki looks at where Jinwoo's looking and gets wide-eyed from the towering statue before him.

Yabuki: "Holy shit... Judging from the clothing on this giant rock, I'd say he looks like some kind of divine entity, possibly a god."

Other hunter: "That's damn huge."

Yabuki: "That's what she said." *laughs*

Jinwoo: "Come on, really?"

Myung: "Is that a king?"

Yujung: "King of creepiness."

Jaehwan: "So, where are the mana crystals and magic beasts?

Yabuki: "I'm not sure. Not even seeing any bugs here."

Chiyul: *kneels down, looks at floor* "What's this for? Divination?

Hunter: "Mr. Song! Something's writte over here."

Chiyul: *walks up to stone tablet* "An ancient scrypt, of course. "The Cartenon Temple's Commandments are as follows. First, thou shalt worship God. Second, thou shalt praise God. Third, thou shalt prove thy faith. Those who fail to obey these commandments will not leave this place alive."

Yabuki: "That doesn't sound good..."

Right on cue, there's a loud noise that catches everyone's attention.

Cho: "The door! It just shut on its own!"

Guhyun: "But why?"

Ahn: *looking nervous* "It's fine. I'm sure we can open it back up again."

[She goes by Yujung Ahn. And yes "pkmnmasterblue" she'll be IN the harem and she'll survive the dungeon.]

Jung: *nudges her aside, upset while walking* "Better hope so. See, this is what we get for taking a stupid risk. I knew we shouldn't have kept goind, but I was outvoted. If there's treasure lying around, you idiots are welcome to it. I'm leaving!"

Unfortunately... fate has other plans in the form of a... GIANT MOVING STATUE!!!

Chiyul: *alerted* "LOOK OUT, IT'S A TRAP!"

Yabuki: "GET OUTTA THERE NOW!!!"

But it was too late, the statue swung its axe and chopped him up, splattering his blood everywhere, ending his life. His lifeless body slid down the closed door, falling to the ground.

The sheer horror of this bloody massacre was burned into everyone's minds. The shock and revalation of what transpired now has everyone on their toes. Ahn dropped the ground, grabbing her head and screamed at the top of her lungs.

Yabuki: *more worried* "Definitely not good!"

Park: "What now? Do we fight those things?"

Yabuki: "Not unless you wanna get chopped up like sushi!"

Jinwoo: *thinks, horrified* "That guy who died, he must've been D-rank at least. Stronger than me, I think. I mean, who isn't?" *sees statue return to its position* "And he was gone. Just like that, what's going on? This is a D-rank dungeon. No, no, there aren't supposed to be things like that down here."

Chiyul: "If these statues are moving, then that means...

Yabuki and Jinwoo, though scared out of their wits, turned to the statue that sat upon its stone throne, assuming this other statue might move as well... and their horrors were confirmed as death itself... stared back at them.

They had stared death in the eyes plenty of times since they became hunters. For Jinwoo, he lost his first raid and wound up stranded for a while until Yabuki came by. But when he arrived, Jinwoo was still badly hurt and had been hospitalized for weeks. One time he almost starved to death in a labyrinth. Even in the lowest of low ranked dungeons, Jinwoo had to fight for his life when Yabuki wasn't around.

Many other hunters have no problem cashing in the loot they get from selling essence stones by taking down stronger beasts. Jinwoo... barely breaks the bank with cheap knives before he has to go back to fighting bare-handed.

Jinwoo and Yabuki: *panicked* "GET DOWN, NOW!!!"

The stone deity's eyes light up and shoot strong lasers from its eyes, vaporizing one of the hunters, leaving behind a burning trail of scorched land while the others ducked for cover. And all that was left of this other hunter... was their charred up, decapitated hand. Its owner forever lost to the stone deity.

Ahn screamed at the sight.

Hunter 1: "WHAT THE HELL?!"

Hunter 2: "For real!"

Hunter 3: "How'd we trigger it?"

Hunter 4: "You think I know?"

Kim: "Are you alright, Beom-shik?"

Park: "Somehow. What about you?"

Kim: "I'm fine."

Yabuki and Jinwoo looked towards Joohee. She was on the ground, her hands to her ears, eyes closed, deeply traumatized.

Joohee: *scared, weeping* "No more. Please, no more!"

Jinwoo: *looks up at deity, thinks* "What just happened? This can't be real. But it is, we're trapped. Done for... dead." *gasps, aloud... panicked* "We're all gonna die!"

Yabuki: *slaps Jinwoo across the face* "PULL IT TOGETHER! This is no time to grovel and fold!" *looks up at statue god* "There's gotta be a way to beat this... Somehow... Some way."

If only everyone had that same level of focus, even when staring death square in the eyes.

[A/N: Never thought I'd actually make a Solo Leveling story with my own character, I hope that's alright. It's something I've been dying to try out myself. Still, this chapter was tricky, what with all the different hunters involved in it.]