“So, are we going in?”

Kim Songcheol asked.

Dungeons can provide not only Points but also items or equivalent rare goods.

If circumstances allowed, there was no reason not to enter.

“For now…”

Kim Jongwon looked around at his teammates. Although he was the Leader, he had to hear their opinions.

Of course, none of the teammates expressed any difficulty.

I had already cleared ‘Normal’. There was no reason not to go in.

“Let’s go in.”

Kim Jongwon walked over to the Stone Slab and squatted in front of it.

He placed his hand on the Stone Slab and infused it with Mana, causing the letters inscribed on it to begin glowing.

Click! Grrrrk…!

The sound of gears meshing was heard, and soon the Stone Slab opened sideways.

Inside the Stone Slab was a long staircase leading underground.

Kim Jongwon stood up, adjusted his bag strap to be shorter, and spoke.

“Even if it’s ‘Normal’, never let your guard down. You know, right? There are traps, and we don’t know what might come out.”

“What else is there to do but die…”

Kim Sujin naturally added a few words, then muted herself and subtly bowed her head.

It was a bit late, but she had achieved meta-cognition.

That alone could be considered a huge development.

“It would be problematic if we died, haha…”

Kim Songcheol’s voice broke through the brief silence.

Kim Sujin sent another awkward smile.

And the gazes of her teammates looking at her.

They could roughly grasp the situation.

“First, I’ll take the lead. Yeongjin, you take the very rear. We’ll go with the basic perimeter formation. Mr. Kim Songcheol, please take the rear guard.”

Kim Jongwon gave orders as if nothing had happened and stood at the top of the stairs.

Behind him, the teammates lined up in order. Kim Songcheol’s position was right in front of Song Yeongjin, who was at the very rear.

It was a position held by the Mage with the best aggro management.

“Let’s go.”

With Kim Jongwon in the lead, the Haetae Team began to descend the stairs.

Kim Jongwon held his sword and carefully stepped down the stairs.

The Mages were the same.

They had their Mana fully charged.

The stairs grew darker and darker.

The entrance was narrow, and not much sunlight could enter.

Then, at a certain moment.

Flash! Flash!

Flames shot up from the walls as if by magic.

The torches on the walls had lit up on their own.

Thanks to this, their vision was secured.

The Haetae Team descended the stairs with a little more ease.

The stairs, just wide enough for two people to pass, continued for a long time.

The moment the stairs ended and Kim Jongwon stepped onto flat ground.

A faint ‘click!’ echoed, and the entrance above them closed.

“Now we can’t leave until we clear the Dungeon. Everyone get ready.”

Kim Jongwon’s voice echoed, bouncing off the narrow passage walls.

He seemed to be trying to keep the team members on edge.

Even if this was ‘Normal,’ it was still a confined space.

It would be more challenging than hunting monsters in the field.

The stairs ended, revealing a long passage stretching out before the Haetae Team.

With Kim Jongwon in the lead, the Hunters entered the passage one by one.

As expected, the torch lit up, illuminating the surroundings.

The passage’s width was about 2 meters.

Only darkness loomed at the far end of the passage.

It felt like something would appear, but the surroundings were eerily quiet.

Occasionally, sparks would fly from the crackling torch.

When they reached the end of the passage,

Whoosh-!

A strong gust of wind blew, making Kim Jongwon’s bangs flutter.

The light from the torch behind them only reached their feet.

They couldn’t see what was ahead, but they knew it was a considerably large space.

“Light.”

Park Juhyeon created a ball of light. The light orb shot forward, casting light everywhere.

“Huh?”

Kim Jongwon’s voice was filled with surprise.

Ahead was a cliff of unfathomable depth.

There was only one way to cross the cliff.

A long bridge.

He wasn’t sure if it was architecturally possible, but a 2-meter wide bridge precariously connected the ends of the two cliffs.

Moreover, the distance between the cliffs seemed to be at least 100 meters.

“This is Normal…?”

Park Juhyeon muttered, sensing something ominous.

It felt different from the ‘Normal’ they had cleared before.

Kim Songcheol also stepped out of the passage and looked around.

The ceiling was impossibly high, and he couldn’t see how far the space extended to the left or right.

Kim Songcheol created a sphere of light as a test and sent it to the right, but it traveled far and eventually disappeared from sight.

“The door is blocked?”

Song Yeongjin pointed to the opposite side. The light created by Park Juhyeon illuminated the area.

There was a passage similar to the one the Haetae Team had come from, but it was blocked by stones.

It was clear they had to go through that passage. How to open it, however, was unknown.

“We’ll have to go and see. There’s no choice but to cross.”

Kim Jongwon first tapped the bridge with his foot.

It was a prime example of the saying, ‘Even a stone bridge should be tapped before crossing.’

Feeling that it was sturdy, Kim Jongwon cautiously began to cross the bridge.

His teammates followed behind him.

That’s when they were halfway across.

Crumble!

Suddenly, a pile of rocks fell from above the passage behind them.

Their way back was blocked.

But there was no time to be surprised.

Screech! Shriek!

Cries like fingernails on a chalkboard came from all directions.

“Prepare for battle!”

Kim Jongwon shouted urgently.

The Swordsmen held their swords and guarded left and right, while the Mages immediately cast Light Magic to both sides.

Because they could only attack if they could see something.

Five or six Light Magic spells flew, cutting through the space.

Soon, the sound of flapping wings was heard.

“Damn it!”

Monsters, truly in a swarm, appeared, flying towards them.

It wasn’t just one side, but both.

They looked like Pterosaurs.

Their wingspan was about 3 meters.

Their individual size was inferior to the Minions of a D-grade Dungeon.

But the problem was their numbers.

There seemed to be dozens on each side.

If they were on solid ground, it wouldn’t be a big problem, but now the Haetae Team was standing on a bridge only 2 meters wide.

There was nowhere to escape.

Because the passages in front and behind were all blocked.

If they were to collide with a monster and fall, their lives would not be guaranteed.

“I’ll take this side, please take the opposite side.”

Kim Songcheol said. His voice was calm, contrary to the urgent atmosphere.

“Will you be alright!?”

Kim Jongwon asked. If Kim Songcheol took one side, it seemed they could manage.

“Don’t worry.”

Kim Songcheol smiled, then extended his hand forward.

He had learned three Magic spells.

The first was Pin Burst, which had good balance.

This time, it was time to unleash his second Magic.

A Magic circle began to be drawn in front of Kim Songcheol’s hand.

It was complex, as expected of 4-Circle Magic, but it completed in an instant.

“Blade Storm.”

With a small incantation, palm-sized blades began to shoot out from the center of the Magic circle.

It was a magic spell that was weak in power but could cover a wide area.

Rupture! Swish, swish, swish!

The translucent blades, imbued with a pure white light, tore through the dark space.

It looked as if large flower petals were fluttering.

But their power was not as beautiful as flower petals.

Screech, screech!

The blades began to tear the monsters’ wings.

Wing joints were severed, holes appeared in wings, and if they were unlucky, their heads were split open.

There was nowhere to escape.

The blades covered the entirety of the monsters.

The monsters that had been flying so confidently began to fall like autumn leaves.

They weren’t monsters with high defense to begin with.

They were cut down just by having the blades touch them.

And on the opposite side, the mages were sweating profusely, casting magic.

“Ice Fog!”

They also froze the monsters’ wings with ultra-cold fog.

“Stone Missile!”

They also shot them down with several sharp boulders.

“Shield!”

They even showed how they blocked the monsters’ paths with a shield, making them collide and fall.

This is what 4th Circle user mages look like.

4th Circle magic is, so to speak, a finishing move.

“Blade Storm!”

Park Juhyeon completed the Blade Storm after about 7 seconds of casting.

Blades began to shoot out from the flashing magic circle.

Of course, it couldn’t compare to Kim Songcheol’s.

The number of blades was significantly fewer, and the covered area was narrower.

Originally, Blade Storm is a magic spell that devastates an area within 5 meters.

Covering tens of meters like Kim Songcheol was impossible.

However, the effect of the 4th Circle magic was definitely there.

A large number of monsters that had lost their flying ability due to the blades fell, and finally, the last couple of them were finished off by piercing them with Lightning Spears.

Two mages had defended one side.

Kim Songcheol watched the scene with satisfaction.

Of course, the others didn’t notice, as they were catching their breath.

Rumble…!

After all the monsters were dealt with, the wall blocking the passage ahead crumbled, revealing the path.

“Let’s cross quickly. That was a fright.”

Following Kim Jongwon’s suggestion, the Haetae Team quickly crossed the bridge and entered the passage.

Just knowing there wasn’t a cliff below brought a lot of peace of mind.

“I never knew land was so precious.”

Park Juhyeon mumbled as if fed up.

“Isn’t it strange? Why is this ‘Normal’?

Song Yeongjin spoke as if he didn’t understand. The difficulty was clearly bizarre.

Trapping them on a bridge above a cliff and then flying monsters?

Perhaps something was omitted before ‘Normal’.

For example, ‘For Kim Songcheol’.

“We’re already in. We have to move forward.”

Kim Jongwon encouraged his teammates and continued to lead the way.

Once inside the dungeon, there was no choice but to advance.

After about 30 meters through the narrow passage, a large space was revealed this time.

It was a square space about 50 meters in diameter.

Rumble!

Again, the passage crumbled into nothingness the moment all the teammates came out.

At the same time, stone doors opened from all directions, and four monsters walked out.

They all looked different, but one thing was the same.

They were two tiers above minions like unicorns.

Their forms varied, with some being quadrupeds and others bipeds, but none of the foes looked easy to deal with.

“Damn… Th-this is definitely not ‘Normal’!

Kim Sujin shouted.

It would be wise to avoid these monsters if you encountered even one.

But four of them were unleashed in a confined space.

Despair flashed across the teammates’ faces.

It was then that the explosion of hope erupted.

“Pin Buster.”

The Pin Buster flashed, asserting its presence.

Boom!

A subsequent explosion sound.

A two-meter explosion engulfed the monster’s head.

Crack…!

Surprisingly, the foe withstood the explosion. Unlike other minions that burst apart, it maintained its form.

However.

“Pin Buster, Pin Buster, Pin Buster.”

Boom, boom, boom!

Explosions continuously occurred, accumulating damage.

The shiny head quickly became as soft as a sea cucumber, and the monster rolled its eyes back and collapsed.

‘Confirmed its defense… ‘

Kim Songcheol immediately transitioned to offense.

“Pin Buster.”

Pin Busters were fired relentlessly.

The team members, who were in despair at the sight of the monsters, momentarily forgot their fear due to the astonishing casting speed.

Boom, boom, boom!

Explosions erupted alternately on the monsters’ heads, as if someone were playing drums.

The interval was as quick as a blink of an eye.

Even when using Nothingness, a 4th Circle Magic.

Pin Buster exploded nearly thirty times, and all the monsters that charged out with good aura fell to the ground.

All of them had their heads completely burst open, or were on the verge of bursting.

“Whew, this one was a bit difficult.”

Kim Songcheol said.

But no one responded.

The Haetae team members just stared at Kim Songcheol with mixed emotions.

They had realized it too.

That it was ‘normal’ only for Kim Songcheol.

Though not certain, by the standards of the Haetae Team, it would probably be ‘extremely hard’.

From their perspective, it was no different from having mistaken the difficulty due to Kim Songcheol and entering hell.

“You son of a…”

Just as Kim Sujin was about to say something, glaring at Kim Songcheol.

Song Yeongjin quickly closed the distance and covered her mouth.

Right now, Kim Songcheol was holding everyone’s lifeline.

There was no need to unnecessarily upset him.

Kim Songcheol also read the atmosphere and opened his mouth with an apologetic expression.

“Don’t worry. The dungeon doesn’t lie. If it’s normal, it’s normal.”

He reassured the hunters.

Dungeons don’t deceive hunters and lead them to their deaths.

Kim Songcheol knew that best.

If it was ‘normal’, he wouldn’t need to use everything he knew, risking fainting like last time.

“…Then let’s move.”

Kim Jongwon said in a low, almost solemn voice.

For now, trusting Kim Songcheol and getting out was the priority.

The passage was already open. After passing through the torch-lit passage, a much wider space than before was revealed this time.

It was a circular space, about 100 meters in diameter.

The Haetae Team entered that space.

Rumble…!

With a large tremor, the front wall opened.

At first, nothing was visible.

Only darkness.

But soon, a thumping sound was heard, and a giant monster appeared.

It was almost 7 meters tall.

It was a four-legged Monster with bumpy skin.

Purple drool dripped from its sharp teeth.

Even the Haetae Team members, who had explored quite a few D-grade Dungeons, had never seen a Monster like this before.

They immediately looked at Kim Songcheol, asking with their expressions if he could handle it.

If it was a Monster of that caliber, the Haetae Team members wouldn’t be of any help.

“I’ll try. Just step back for a moment.”

Kim Songcheol stepped forward.

The distance to the Monster was about 80 meters.

Kwooooh!

The Monster let out a loud roar and began to run towards Kim Songcheol.

Kim Songcheol brought his hands together in front of his chest, as if in prayer.

It was time to unleash his third Magic spell.

A Magic circle formed between Kim Songcheol’s palms.

It was a Magic circle large enough to extend behind Kim Songcheol’s body.

Soon, the Magic circle began to glow with an illusionary light.

“Volt…”

Kim Songcheol laboriously separated his palms, as if they had been stuck together.

Then,

Crackle, crackle, crackle!

An enormous Electric Shock, visible at a glance, filled the space between his palms.

The sparks flew, tearing up the ground.

Kim Songcheol’s hands completely separated, then instantly came back together, and a tremendous blast of Electric Shock raged around his hands.

“…Bringer!”

Kim Songcheol thrust both hands forward.

A powerful Electric Shock shot out from his hands as if exploding.

Kim Songcheol infused a bit of his will into the Magic to control the stream of Electric Shock.

The Electric Shock twisted and merged, becoming a single beam of light that pierced the Monster’s chest.

Crackle, crackle, crackle!

The Monster endured the stream of Electric Shock with its body. A brief tug-of-war unfolded between the giant Monster and Kim Songcheol.

Kwooooh!

For a moment, it seemed the Monster was being pushed back, but then it let out a loud cry and lunged forward.

The Haetae Team members watched with bated breath.

And Kim Songcheol stood before them.

Kim Songcheol brought his hands together again, then quickly extended them forward.

Then, an even more powerful Electric Shock directly hit the Monster’s chest.

Crackle, crackle, crackle!

It seemed it would endure this time too, but the Electric Shock ruptured the slight opening where the skin parted.

The crack was small at first, but it grew instantly.

The Electric Shock tore through the crack, widening it, and finally pierced through its chest.

The monster fell forward, a large hole in its body.

Kim Songcheol looked at the limp monster and thought,

‘This should be enough…’

It seemed to be about a normal difficulty.

Only then did Kim Songcheol turn around.

There stood the Haetae Team members, their faces pale.

“It seems to be over, haha…”

It was then that Kim Songcheol awkwardly scratched his cheek.

Rupture! Oops!

Suddenly, light poured out from inside the door where the monster had emerged.

Under the bright light was a box.

It was a reward, and it also meant that the dungeon had been cleared.

Kim Songcheol and the Haetae Team members all rushed towards the box.

It was ‘normal’ for Kim Songcheol, but for the Haetae Team, it was a reward equivalent to ‘very hard.’

There was no data at all on what would come out.

“Um… why don’t you open it?”

Kim Jongwon urged Kim Songcheol on.