“[It’s Shin Sooa. I’m currently with Mr. Jang Taeheon and Rini.]”

“[It’s Bom, noona. I’m with Yorongi. Having to work with noona again…….]”

“[I didn’t want to be with you either!]”

Anticipating that the group would be split up, communication items had been distributed in advance.

Since they only functioned within the same Demon Realm and were somewhat expensive, many people hadn’t brought these items in the early stages.

“[Then, Mr. Kangrim, you’re alone?]”

“Yes. That’s how it turned out.”

The zones where each person was placed upon teleportation were random.

They had worried about someone being separated alone, but if that someone was me, it wasn’t a big deal.

“[Master, can’t you summon your spirit beast from there? If you send Yorongi back to the Spirit Realm first, then summon…….]”

“No, it’s fine. It seems better for the spirit beasts to act with you.”

Since the two ranged damage dealers were in the same place, they might struggle in close combat.

Also, aside from Ms. Shin Sooa, none of them had reached level 30 yet.

“For now, move according to my instructions, and we’ll communicate again later.”

“[Yes!]”

After ending the communication, I surveyed the Demon Realm that had given me so much trouble in my past life.

Back then, I’d nearly died even to low-level demon beasts.

How would it be this time.

Harboring a faint sense of anticipation, I set foot deeper into the Demon Realm.

* * *

[The first Great Demon Realm has begun.]

[Defeat the ruler of the Great Demon Realm.]

[Time Limit: None]

“Damn it, were we the only ones teleported?”

An awakened one who had been teleported to the Great Demon Realm spoke while scanning the surroundings.

The majority of those who had entered were panicking at the current situation.

That was because after entering the Great Demon Realm, many of their companions had vanished.

“What do we do now? It’d be nice to go back outside, but there’s no door.”

Just as he said, there was no exit to the Demon Realm in sight.

The apparent leader grumbled as he spoke.

“Looks like we have to defeat the boss to get out of this Demon Realm. What a hassle. We don’t have enough people.”

They had gathered roughly ten awakened ones and entered the Great Demon Realm.

They had assigned roles and devised tactics, but only four people had been teleported to the same zone.

One person said with concern.

“Wouldn’t it be better to at least recruit another party and act together?”

The leader paused to consider the suggestion.

There was a need to replenish their numbers, but having outsiders involved posed problems.

Boss clear rewards could be stolen, and there was always the possibility they might stab them in the back.

“If there’s anyone acting alone, recruit them.”

“Yes, understood!”

If it was someone who had been separated alone, they could pull them into the team while maintaining the upper hand.

The party members scattered to find people according to the leader’s instructions.

Just then, one person caught the leader’s eye.

A man was walking alone deeper into the Great Demon Realm.

‘What’s this? He seems to be alone, but he’s diving right in……. Is he a beginner who’s never been to a Demon Realm?’

He’d seen plenty of beginners who, intoxicated by the fact that they’d awakened, charged in recklessly.

Normally he would have left the man alone, but the leader approached him.

“Hey! You there, walking alone! Stop!”

Despite the shout, the man continued walking silently.

Flustered, the leader ran after him.

“Hey! I said stop!”

Only when the leader had closed the distance did the man come to a halt.

He showed no signs of tension or fear—just an expressionless face.

The leader looked the man up and down.

‘His build isn’t bad. He’d be useful enough as a bullet shield.’

In a situation where they couldn’t know what this Demon Realm entailed.

They did need someone to serve as bait or a shield.

The leader spoke to the man.

“Looks like you’re alone. Why don’t you come with us?”

“……With you?”

He expected the man to be pleased, but his expression remained unchanged.

Then, the man turned it around and looked the leader up and down in return.

The leader’s face contorted in momentary bewilderment.

‘What’s with this bastard? A beginner sizing me up?’

A surge of irritation washed over him.

He considered ignoring the man, but he did need people.

The leader put on a benevolent smile, though it looked forced.

“You must not know much since you’re still a beginner. I am the Sect Leader of Muhyeongpa.”

“……Muhyeongpa?”

The man’s face showed he had no idea.

The leader was genuinely taken aback by the reaction.

“You’ve never heard of Muhyeongpa? We’re on the rise these days…….”

“I’m not familiar with it.”

Not knowing Muhyeongpa.

That fact stung his pride, but seeing the man’s appearance, the leader calmed himself.

‘He must really be a beginner.’

It seemed he had recently awakened, received a revelation, and entered recklessly.

As he debated whether to generously forgive the man and bring him along or just leave him behind—

A party member rushed over urgently and pulled the leader aside.

“L-leader! Come here, we need to talk!”

The leader was dragged away in confusion.

After putting considerable distance between them and the man, the party member cautiously opened his mouth.

“A-are you planning to bring that person along?”

“Who is he?”

“That’s Seo Kangrim!”

Hearing that name, he belatedly recalled who it was.

Seo Kangrim was famous in more ways than one.

As a skilled fighter, or as a killer.

“I did hear he came from the Education Facility, but they say he killed several people…….”

He’d thought the man was a beginner, but he was a training cadet.

If the rumors of his skill were true, Seo Kangrim would certainly be an outstanding asset.

The party member asked in a hushed voice.

“Are you going to bring him along?”

“No. I’m not bringing him.”

“But they say he’s skilled…….”

“Skilled my foot. He looks like a novice.”

He’d wondered what kind of person he was after all the commotion on the community forums, but meeting him face-to-face, he was nothing special.

He didn’t look particularly strong, nor did he exude any killing intent.

His equipment didn’t look exceptional either.

‘The rumors seem exaggerated. No matter how I look at him, he just seems like an ordinary hunter.’

Besides, he’d heard the man hadn’t even received Divine Descent.

Considering the enormous gap that existed between Manshin and ordinary hunters, he felt he could easily defeat Seo Kangrim.

‘There were rumors he passed through the Education Facility through unconventional means……. That seems to be true.’

The leader glanced at Seo Kangrim once more, then turned away.

Seo Kangrim, seemingly uninterested in him as well, silently headed deeper into the Demon Realm alone.

The party member fretted at the sight.

“A-are you really letting him go? Still, hunting together would…….”

“For now, we proceed with just us.”

Their numbers were small, but he had confidence.

His sect had been making a name for itself recently.

Moreover, since this was the first Great Demon Realm, he didn’t think the difficulty would be that high.

‘We should hurry.’

Other parties were already beginning to move deeper into the Great Demon Realm one by one.

Seeing that, anxiety crept in that they might miss the First Clear.

He urgently shouted at his party members.

“Everyone, gather up! We’re heading into the Great Demon Realm!”

The party members looked somewhat worried but followed the leader’s instructions and headed inside.

As they walked, a massive cave appeared before them.

Upon entering the cave, multiple branching paths spread out like an anthill.

“Branching paths……?”

“Where are we supposed to go?”

The party members began to murmur in confusion.

Just then, sharp screams and the clashing of weapons echoed from within the right path.

“……We go this way.”

The leader hastily headed toward the left path.

The other party members had also heard the screams and quietly followed behind him.

No one spoke as they walked through the dim passage.

‘Damn it, should I have brought that guy earlier?’

The branching path was wide enough for four or five people to walk side by side, but it was filled with gwi-gi dense enough to suffocate.

Moreover, with only four people, an ambush in this situation would mean certain death.

As the leader swallowed his anxiety and quickened his pace, light began to appear at the end of the corridor.

The leader’s face instantly brightened.

“Alright, we came the right way!”

—Ku-gu-geung……!

The moment the leader finished speaking, a faint rumbling sound echoed.

The piles of stone near the exit began to stir, then slowly rose to their feet.

Demon beasts blocked the intruders’ path.

“Oot?”

What they’d thought were boulders were actually giant Earthen Figures.

The Earthen Figures tilted their heads upon seeing the intruders.

At that sight, the leader’s tension melted away.

“H-haha……. What? They’re just Earthen Figures?”

Earthen Figures were about two meters tall but had a comical appearance.

These Earthen Figures were a bit larger than usual, but he’d encountered Earthen Figures in other Demon Realms several times before.

Their movements were sluggish, and as long as one paid sufficient attention, they were easy enough to defeat.

The leader stepped forward with confidence and shouted.

“Everyone, on my signal, att—!”

—Kwaang!

Before the leader could finish, the Earthen Figure’s fist came flying.

The party member standing in front was sent flying and slammed into the wall.

Seeing that, the leader’s eyes trembled.

‘Why is it so fast?! Earthen Figures are supposed to be nothing special, and I’m Third Dragon Grade!’

He had indeed encountered Earthen Figures multiple times and won.

So he’d let his guard down based on appearances alone, but he’d overlooked something.

The fact that this was a Great Demon Realm.

“Oot—!”

The bizarre shriek from the giant Earthen Figure reverberated through the cave.

And the same sound was coming from behind them.

Another giant Earthen Figure had appeared behind them without them noticing.

“D-damn it! Everyone, attack!”

The leader issued an order, but it was too frantic to even be called a command.

The party members launched attacks at the giant Earthen Figures, but none landed properly.

The Earthen Figures swatted people around and hurled them like toys.

“Agh, my arm!”

“W-where’s the healer?”

“The healer’s been hit too!”

Before long, all the party members had sustained serious injuries and collapsed.

The leader too sat on the ground with a broken leg.

The giant Earthen Figure raised its arm high toward the leader.

The premonition of death swept over him like a chill.

‘I’m going to die!’

The leader squeezed his eyes shut involuntarily.

At that same moment, a tremendous boom echoed through the cave.

—Kwaang!

It was the sound of something shattering.

As the sound subsided, the leader cautiously opened his eyes and surveyed the surroundings.

‘Did it attack someone else instead of me?’

But no one else had been injured.

He glanced ahead and saw the Earthen Figure still standing in place.

The Earthen Figure stood with its arm raised, looking behind.

One party member shouted in a startled voice.

“L-look…… behind you……!”

The leader turned around and his eyes grew even wider.

The giant Earthen Figure that had been pressing them moments ago was now rolling on the ground.

Beside it stood a familiar face.

“We meet again.”

Seo Kangrim said, casually knocking the fallen Earthen Figure aside.

The giant Earthen Figure, its body cleaved in half, lay on the ground reaching toward the other Earthen Figure ahead.

“O, oot…….”

—Kwajik!

“Still alive, I see.”

Seo Kangrim delivered the final blow, ending its life.

The sight was enough to make him look almost like a villain.

At its companion’s death, the remaining giant Earthen Figure seemed struck with shock and dropped to its knees.

“Oo-oot—!”