Hwoooosh—

A crisp breeze brushed his cheek.

Between countless falling leaves, the giant temple loomed, majestic and imposing.

“Found it.”

Ha Gangwoo stood before the vast temple, staring straight ahead.

Gray stone pillars, colossal statues, moss-caked wall tiles. Even at a glance, this place felt sacred.

‘Right out in the open.’

But something felt off.

A spot hiding a Hidden quest.

He’d expected it to be tucked away tight, yet here it was, more conspicuous than he’d imagined.

Ha Gangwoo walked forward slowly, checking the Hidden quest.

Ding-

[Defeat Igrite!][Hidden]

Description: This temple seals the Knight of Fallen Flame, Igrite. Break the seal and claim Igrite’s treasure.

Reward: Igrite’s Heart, Survival Essentials x50

‘Boss-type raid, huh.’

A smile touched Ha Gangwoo’s lips as he read the Hidden quest.

The quest was a raid format: kill the boss.

No complications—straightforward and intuitive. And the Igrite’s Heart offered as a reward piqued his interest.

‘Let’s go.’

Ha Gangwoo stepped forward slowly.

As he climbed the moss-covered steps, a door emblazoned with flame-like patterns appeared before him.

Thump—thump—

Standing before the massive door, Ha Gangwoo heard the pounding of his own heart.

‘Strong.’

He could feel it clearly.

The presence beyond that door was far stronger than the Battle Master Sharp Goblin.

Strong enough to make him wonder if he could actually take it down.

But there was no reason to hesitate. This was a dungeon he absolutely had to clear to meet his Job-change conditions.

Ha Gangwoo placed his palm on the door to push it open. That was when—

Ding-

(Caution! This is a 100-player quest. Do you wish to challenge it?)

A warning window floated before his eyes.

The moment he saw it, Gangwoo understood.

Why the monster beyond the door felt so unnaturally strong. Why a Hidden dungeon was sitting out in the open like this.

It was a 100-player raid.

The Job-change quests were 50-player content. But this—this was a 100-player quest.

At minimum, it would take two factions joining forces to clear it.

And the only real reward? Igrite’s Heart.

What player would willingly join hands and cooperate on something like that? This quest was practically designed to spark conflict.

‘Interesting.’

Instead of being daunted, Ha Gangwoo found the situation stirring his curiosity.

Thump—thump—

He wondered just how far his own abilities would take him.

Creeeak—

Ha Gangwoo pushed open the massive door and stepped into the temple.

The giant door groaned as it swung slowly open, a shriek of rusted hinges.

In an instant, a lurch like riding a rollercoaster hit him, and a System window appeared.

Ding-

[You have entered Igrite’s Domain.]

[To break the seal, withdraw the sword at the temple’s center.]

Ha Gangwoo narrowed his eyes, scanning his surroundings.

A run-down temple. It was as vast as a soccer stadium, with an ornate magic circle drawn across the floor.

Around the magic circle stood over a hundred stone pillars. Hundreds of iron chains connected them, wrapping around something at the center.

‘So that’s Igrite.’

What kind of monster needed a seal this heavy?

Ha Gangwoo’s interest piqued as he slowly approached the center.

Then he saw it.

A single body bound in hundreds of iron chains. A monster about his own size.

A long greatsword driven into the monster’s chest.

‘I’m supposed to pull that out.’

Gulp—

Overwhelmed by the sight, Ha Gangwoo swallowed dryly without realizing it, then grabbed the sword. Creak—

‘Can I do this?’

The Tower of Job Change was built around party hunting. Every monster was tough.

And here was a Boss that required a hundred players.

Could he really take it alone? For a moment, doubt flickered.

Thump—thump—

But Ha Gangwoo felt a thrill.

Adrenaline surged. That familiar chill he hadn’t felt in ages—it made his heart race.

‘Let’s do it.’

Ha Gangwoo gripped the sword with all his strength, and the moment he drew it— Slither—

Ding-

[Igrite’s seal has been released.]

[The Corrupted Guardian of Flame, Igrite, awakens.]

Groooooan—

The ground shuddered and heaved beneath him.

Crack—Boom!! Crack—Boom!!! The chains anchored to the steles began snapping.

In that instant.

Bang!!!!!

A violent explosion.

“Ngh!”

Ha Gangwoo’s body was flung backward.

Craaaaaash—

His feet scraped the ground as he skidded to a halt, and then he saw it.

Whoosh—

A knight wreathed in roaring flames from head to toe.

“Bring it on!”

Ha Gangwoo clenched his fist and called up the Activation word in his mind.

‘Demonization.’

And so, Ha Gangwoo’s Hidden quest Clearing began.

***

Crunch—

Each step on the thick pile of fallen leaves gave a soft, cushiony feel.

“I can do this!”

The group now walking through the forest was Blue Team’s twenty-five-player quest-clearing party.

Jo Seunghyun, at the lead, tried to steady himself.

-Jo Seunghyun will lead this clearing party.

Ha Gangwoo had appointed Jo Seunghyun as the party leader.

“Sir? I recommend Player Han Seongdae. By any measure, he’s the most outstanding.”

“I agree. Same here.”

Han Seongdae’s original party members protested at first, but—

-This time, the leader is Jo Seunghyun.

Ha Gangwoo’s pressure easily shut them down.

Thump—thump—

That was why Jo Seunghyun’s heart was pounding now.

‘Hyung-nim trusts me that much!’

The leader of a full twenty-five-person party—it was a first for him.

‘I can do it!’

Anxiety kept washing over him, but Jo Seunghyun forced himself to stay calm.

“Hoo…”

Jo Seunghyun kept walking, licking his lips.

‘Why did the Inventory have to get blocked of all times?’

He hadn’t been able to replenish his sugar intake, and now the withdrawal was hitting him.

A touch of anxiety, a craving for something sweet that wouldn’t let up. But it didn’t matter.

Eating sweets had always been one of his ways to calm his nerves, after all.

“Looks like we’re almost there.”

The woman at the front, Bae Heena, broke the silence first.

Bae Heena was leading the party again this time. But even without her saying a word, everyone could tell they’d arrived.

“That’s one big-ass cave.”

“You sure this is a cave?”

The place they’d reached was the Keibarnto Cave.

True to its name, it was a tunnel shaped like an archway.

But its sheer scale was something else entirely.

A massive cliff loomed before them, an abyss of darkness stretching out into an endless void.

The Blue Team members gaped, then stepped toward the cave.

Ding-

[You have discovered the Keibarnto Cave!!!]

[A Quest to explore the Keibarnto Cave has arrived.]

In an instant, a quest window appeared before all twenty-five Players.

The Clearing Party’s leader, Jo Seunghyun, stared at the quest window, his expression hardening.

‘First, let’s check the quest.’

The fate of the fifty-person Party now hung on his decision. The weight of that responsibility was no joke.

Just as Jo Seunghyun was about to confirm the quest.

“Player Bae Heena takes point; twelve players each stick to the front and rear flanks for perimeter watch. Teams 1, 2, and 3 lead; teams 4, 5, and 6 support from the rear. Sound good to everyone?”

Han Seongdae had suddenly laid down the operation plan.

‘What the— out of nowhere?’

Jo Seunghyun found the move a bit off-putting, but he prioritized checking the quest.

“Huh? Oh! Hold on a second.”

[Exploration of Keibarnto Cave]

Description: The unknown domain that beckons death, Keibarnto Cave. Seek the treasure slumbering at its end.

Rewards: Food Kit x200, Keibarnto Black Mask.

‘An exploration quest, huh.’

An exploration quest.

A dungeon mostly packed with traps and monsters you had to navigate.

The kind of dungeon that desperately needed a Detection-class player.

‘Lucky.’

As it happened, this clearing party had Bae Heena—an excellent detection specialist.

Jo Seunghyun made his call on the spot.

“Just as Mr. Han said, I’ll form squads of twelve, with Ms. Bae leading.”

Jo Seunghyun found Han Seongdae’s behavior grating, but the clearing method he proposed was solid. So he went along with it.

“Now, we move in!”

Seunghyun bellowed at the front of the formation,

“Yes, sir!”

the Blue Team members locked into formation and filed into the pitch-dark cave.

***

Meanwhile.

“Not here.”

Perched high in a tree before the mouth of the Kybalion Cave.

Kang Seongbin’s face went cold as he watched the Blue Team enter the cave.

Ha Gangwoo wasn’t among them—the one he wanted.

‘Did he end up in a different dungeon like me?’

The Red Team Seongbin belonged to had split into two squads of twenty-four.

They’d sent one squad to the ??? Dungeon and the other to Bikeun Temple.

Seongbin had come to the Kybalion Cave alone.

Leaving the base empty was a bold gamble, targeting all three quests at once was a greedy strategy.

But Kang Seongbin was certain now.

‘I’ll take this quest well.’

This Kaybalronto Cave quest was his.

Kang Seongbin flashed an eerie smile as he trailed Blue Team into the cave.

***

A sweet floral scent wafted gently through the air.

The floor, once stark with bloodstains, now gleamed spotless as if nothing had happened.

“The detergent really is good.”

A woman, who had been scrubbing the floor with just water until now, marvelled at the floor’s newfound cleanliness, rediscovering the greatness of modern amenities.

Swoosh—

“Whoa~! It’s so soft!”

Mimic lay sprawled on the plush mattress, beaming wide.

The place they had gathered now was the site of the former Boss Room.

The rotting corpses and blood were gone without a trace, and they had turned the Boss Room into a sleeping quarters using items found inside.

“Ah, I’m beat.”

“Let’s take a break.”

“Sure.”

It had been a massive renovation taking over six hours.

They had not only repaired the walls but also set up a sleeping area and a kitchen.

Everyone lay on their mattresses, relaxing. Having survived life-and-death situations together, they were now on fairly close terms.

“Ah… I’m hungry. Think the quest will succeed?”

“We just have to trust and wait. We did everything we could, didn’t we?”

“Still, it’s satisfying. Thinking about how surprised they’ll be when they see this. I hope they come back soon.”

A player in the midst of conversation looked around, a satisfied expression on their face.

From the clean floor to the sleeping bags and mattresses — it looked like they could get a good night’s sleep.

As they continued chatting…

“Since we’re just waiting around, let’s go find some supplies!”

Kim Jisoo got up from the mattress and voiced her opinion. But the team members’ expressions weren’t good.

“Huh? Even if no other faction shows up, going into the forest by ourselves is a bit…”

“Right. Let’s ask the leader.”

“Huh?! Come to think of it, where did the leader go?”

The remaining party members would talk among themselves, then realize Ha Gangwoo was missing.

“Ah! If it’s Player Ha Gangwoo…”

Just as Kim Jisoo was about to mention that Ha Gangwoo had left, at that very moment…

Mimic, who had been playing around on the mattress, suddenly jumped to her feet.

“What’s wrong, kid?”

As everyone looked at her with confused expressions, Mimic broke into a cold sweat and spoke in a low voice.

“Master is in danger!”

“What?”

None of them understood what she meant.

Only Mimic knew what was happening right now.

If she stayed here, Master would die.

“Kid! Where are you going!”

Mimic, her face flushed, dashed outside.

***

Whoosh— Gurgle!

Inside the temple, fierce flames flickered and eerie magma stirred across the floor.

“Huff… huff…”

Ha Gangwoo dropped to his knees on the narrow patch of tile. Scorching heat coiled around his entire body.

Ding-

[You have been burned by intense heat.]

[Resisted by Asrul’s Lust.]

The moment a dizzying sting clawed through his flesh, a fierce light erupted from Asrul’s Lust hanging around his neck.

‘Strong.’

Ha Gangwoo scowled, fixing his gaze on the Boss standing before him.

Flames blazing across its whole form, white armor within the colossal fire, a long greatsword gripped in one hand.

The Boss of the Hidden Dungeon—Igrite, the Knight of Fallen Flame.

‘Tough.’

Ha Gangwoo pushed himself upright and steadied his breathing.

He’d thrown everything at it—Demonization, his exclusive skills, from Demon: Seismic Stomp to Demon: Force Discharge. None of it brought Igrite down.

Every time he hammered Igrite’s body with all his strength—Whoosh!—a massive burst of flame would instead scorch Ha Gangwoo’s own flesh.

“One more time!”

Even so, Ha Gangwoo didn’t give up.

Because one skill still remained—the one he hadn’t yet succeeded with.

Ha Gangwoo stepped forward with his right leg and called up the Activation Word.

‘Attack Stance.’

Thrum!

In an instant, a red aura rippled across his whole body.

Ding-

[Attack Stance has been activated.]

[Your next attack will have twice the destructive power.]

It was a shame Extreme Strike Stance hadn’t triggered, but it didn’t matter.

Tap-

Ha Gangwoo charged at Igrite at full speed.

Whoosh-

His form tore through the flames, splitting the ground. In an instant, he reached Igrite’s abdomen.

Whoosh-

As always, Igrite’s sword arced faster than Ha Gangwoo could move.

Ha Gangwoo planted both feet on the ground and watched that sword strike.

His pupils contracted.

The flame-wreathed blade parted the air, aiming for his shoulder.

Every detail of that motion etched itself into his pupils.

And then, just as the blade was about to cleave his shoulder—

Ding-

[Realm of Transcendence has been activated.]

The moment his newly learned skill triggered, everything stopped.

The incoming sword strike, the roaring flames, the magma belching intense heat.

In that frozen world, Ha Gangwoo drove his fist forward.

But the instant he tried to attack—Shunk—Igrite’s blade carved into his shoulder.

Ha Gangwoo put distance between himself and Igrite, his face twisting.

Drip-

Crimson blood streamed from the cut on his shoulder.

Ssssssh-

Soon, the surrounding heat began to cauterize the wound.

“Ugh!”

Ding-

(HP is below 10%.)

(Warning!!! Please be careful not to die!)

After a grueling battle lasting over six hours.

The System notification heralding Ha Gangwoo’s end rang out.

“Haah… haah…”

Ha Gangwoo’s gaze darkened as he looked at Igrite.

‘Failed again…’

Ha Gangwoo ground his teeth, staring at the failed skill.

[Realm of Transcendence]

Grade: S-Rank

Type: Passive

MP Cost: –

Activation Condition: Activates upon perceiving the target’s attack.

Effect: Activates the Realm of Transcendence. At the moment the realm is activated, all attacks deal lethal damage to the opponent.

An S-Rank skill obtained through the Catalog Synthesis System.

He’d kept trying until now, and failed every time. The reason was simple.

‘My Agility stat is too low.’

The moment he perceived the opponent’s attack, everything was already too late.

As soon as he entered the Realm of Transcendence and tried to strike, Igrite’s blade would slice through his body.

“Hoooh…”

But this skill was the only option left.

‘Again.’

Barzel’s Appetite had the effect of destroying all Barriers.

If even that didn’t land a blow, it simply meant his attack power was insufficient.

Grit-crunch—

Ha Gangwoo ground his teeth and made a resolve.

‘As fast as possible.’

Speed that surpassed his own limits. That was the only answer.

Ha Gangwoo clenched his right hand, where Barzel’s Appetite was equipped.

Swelling—

In an instant, crimson Demonic energy rippled across Ha Gangwoo’s entire body.

Fizzleshss—

[400 HP consumed.]

[Restoring physical damage.]

In an instant, his charred shoulder regenerated.

“Hoooh…”

Ha Gangwoo steadied his breath and closed his eyes tightly.

‘This is the last one.’

His remaining HP was barely over 10%. If even this next attack failed, he might die.

But he couldn’t give up. The opportunity that had come to him now was a stepping stone for growth like no other.

Ha Gangwoo steeled his fighting spirit and lowered his stance.

He spread both legs wide and called up the Activation word.

‘Attack Stance.’

Ding-

[Extreme Strike Stance has been activated.]

[The next attack possesses 10 times the destructive power.]

Just in time, the Extreme Strike Stance activated, breaking through the infinitesimal probability.

Tap!

Ha Gangwoo kicked off the ground with all his might. The earth where he stepped exploded—Boom!!!—shattering outward.

Ccrrrraaassshhhhh—

With each step Ha Gangwoo took, the ground was gouged away.

Shrrrrk— In an instant, he reached Igrite’s abdomen.

Whirrr—

As always, Igrite’s sword arced a half-beat faster.

This time, a sword strike aimed at his head. Even a glancing touch would be fatal!

But Ha Gangwoo didn’t dodge.

His eyes flashed as he seared the attack into his vision.

‘I can do this!!!’

Once more, Ha Gangwoo’s pupils contracted.

He could see the incoming sword strike. The blazing flames—whoosh—the oxygen the fire consumed—voom—he felt it all.

It was the moment his Sense stat, pushed to its limit, merged with his utter concentration.

Chin!!!!

In an instant, everything stopped.

A supreme realm that only Ha Gangwoo could perceive.

“Now!!!”

He felt that fleeting instant he had failed to grasp countless times before, and Ha Gangwoo threw his punch with all his might.

Ding-

[You have entered the Realm of Transcendence!!!]

With the satisfying chime of the system, Ha Gangwoo’s fist shot forward.

*CLANG!*

A deafening crack—louder than any before—filled the air, and then *BOOM!* A massive circular shockwave erupted from Ha Gangwoo’s fist.

*Ding-*

[You have defeated the Knight of Fallen Flame, Igrite.]

[You gain 2,500,000 EXP!!]

[Due to the Perk’s effect, you gain an additional 2,500,000 EXP.]

[Level up!!!]

[Level up!!!]

[Level up!!!]

[Level up!!!]

……..

…..

….

.

“Haah… haah…”

Ha Gangwoo steadied his ragged breath and lifted his head.

Through the cracks left by the aftermath of his strike, a blaze of sunlight poured down.

“Got it…”

Ha Gangwoo clenched both fists, then flopped—*thump*—onto his back, sprawling flat on the floor.

A raid boss meant for a hundred players, and he’d taken it down alone.