Chapter 20

“Kang Yuseong!”

Just then, a voice called Kang Yuseong from the reception desk.

When Kang Yuseong approached the desk, the employee handed him a receipt and said,

“Your application for the Ancient Dungeon Entry Test has been processed. Please check the available test dates here and select one.”

The Ancient Dungeon Entry Test was by no means an easy examination.

Therefore, the National Dungeon Management Bureau provided ample time for preparation.

Kang Yuseong looked at the test dates and chose two days later for his exam.

This was because some personnel had been injured during their recent trip to a B-rank dungeon.

“I’ll take this date.”

“Understood. Then, please report to the D-14 Dungeon entrance at 10 AM, two days from now. Four examiners will accompany you, and the test will be in an assault team format.”

Kang Yuseong nodded.

“Yes, understood.”

The examiners were renowned figures from domestic guilds.

They served not only as examiners but also as safety managers.

As Kang Yuseong understood it, D-14 Dungeon was a B-rank dungeon, and since unforeseen accidents could occur within, highly skilled examiners would accompany the participants.

Furthermore, they controlled the scope of the test.

They could demand a full clear, or they could conclude the test after the first battle.

This authority was entirely vested in them.

“Let’s head back.”

Kang Yuseong said to Baek Myeong-han and the others.

“Yes, Captain.”

“Myeong-han.”

Baek Myeong-han looked at Kang Yuseong.

Kang Yuseong grinned and patted his shoulder.

“Don’t worry too much.”

Baek Myeong-han offered a faint smile.

“I’m not worried. It’s just… those guys are so violent…”

“And.”

Kang Yuseong looked directly at Baek Myeong-han and spoke.

“From now on, don’t bow your head to those guys in front of me. I won’t tolerate that again.”

‘…!’

Baek Myeong-han was momentarily speechless.

He saw Kang Yuseong’s eyes fixed on him.

Because he discovered an intense power emanating from those clear eyes.

A gaze that naturally overwhelmed anyone who met it!

Baek Myeong-han nodded after a long moment.

He knew what Kang Yuseong’s words implied.

“Understood, Captain.”

Kang Yuseong smiled again.

“Good. Now, let’s focus on preparing for the test two days from now.”

“Understood, Captain.”

“Then.”

Kang Yuseong waved his hand and turned his back.

An unexpected variable had emerged, but it was precisely what Kang Yuseong had hoped for.

He would have to clash with those guys eventually.

That wasn’t something Kang Yuseong could decide.

As Baek Myeong-han said, they were a gang-like syndicate that had organized and militarized Hunters.

That meant weaker guilds or Hunters would inevitably become their prey, disappearing or being absorbed.

Such a situation would soon confront Kang Yuseong as well.

If a clash was inevitable, it was better to crush them properly from the start.

Because if they looked weak, they would be the ones devoured.

* * * * *

For two days, Kang Yuseong made healing potions for his party, distributed them, and had them rest comfortably at home.

There was no need to overexert themselves before an important test.

At this time, healing potions were readily available on the market, so the Hunters accepted them without suspicion, grateful.

Kang Yuseong watched them and smiled inwardly.

Those weren’t just ordinary healing potions.

Though their potency was moderately adjusted, they were a different class of Healing Potion than what was currently available on the market.

It was a healing agent infused with the powerful components of a Healing Potion, highly effective not only for abrasions but also for lacerations and incised wounds.

It would completely heal the injuries sustained in the B-rank dungeon this time.

Now, preparations were complete.

The Plunderer’s Legacy.

Now, only the final hurdle remained for him.

* * * * *

Kang Yuseong hadn’t been idle for those two days either.

He continuously refined the steadily accumulating Chakra Cubes, crafting endless pills, and his Chakra Points had accumulated significantly.

Having amassed nearly 10,000 points, Kang Yuseong activated True Sight.

[Basic] Chakra, Primordial Calm Stage 2

[Stage 1, Support] Chakra, Carapace Melt Level 1

[Stage 1, Attack] Chakra, Flame Barrage Stage 1

[Stage 1, Attack] Chakra, Blade Twist Stage 1

[Stage 1, Attack] Chakra, Critical Strike Stage 1

[Stage 1, Attack] Chakra, Meteor Stab Stage 1

[Special] Chakra, Swordsman’s Mindset Stage 2

[Special] Chakra, Butcher’s Disassembly Stage 1

The Chakra skills he had accumulated so far were displayed.

Among them, Kang Yuseong raised Chakra, Carapace Melt to Level 2.

With Carapace Melt, even monsters with formidable defenses could be melted down.

He also raised Meteor Stab to Stage 2 to unlock Starlight Storm, the strongest area-of-effect skill in Stage 1.

‘The third one…’

The third Chakra.

He unlocked a Chakra skill precisely as meticulously calculated.

[Special] Chakra, Wind Flow

Wind Flow.

This was a physical technique.

In other words, it referred to body movements akin to Kendo’s sliding steps or boxing’s footwork.

If compared to wuxia novels that were once popular, it could be called a light-body technique.

While necessary for combat against monsters, Kang Yuseong didn’t unlock it for that reason alone.

Man-to-man combat.

Because he knew that in man-to-man combat, the power of physical techniques was absolute.

It was different from simply dodging due to high agility.

Just as boxing footwork, mastered through countless evasive maneuvers, creates powerful counters, so too do physical techniques.

Since they had already clashed with the Black Fang Guild, those guys would now come seeking revenge.

Kang Yuseong was leveling up his skills in preparation for that time.

‘And one more.’

[Stage 1, Counter] Chakra, Vengeful Iron Sword.

Vengeful Iron Sword.

It was a powerful counter-skill that blocked an opponent’s physical damage with a sword and returned that damage directly.

An indispensable swordsman’s skill in man-to-man combat.

‘Good.’

The Chakra skill unlocks seemed sufficient for now.

Kang Yuseong, having evenly distributed the remaining points among his skills, packed his backpack and weapons, then left his house.

Today was the day of the test.

The location was D-14 Dungeon, a B-rank dungeon.

“Captain!”

Upon arriving at the dungeon entrance, the Hunters who had been waiting greeted him.

Tension was clearly etched on their faces.

However, the vague fear or terror from last time was absent.

They had already broken through that wall once.

Just then, someone arrived at the dungeon entrance.

“Who is Kang Yuseong?”

A man walked over and spoke in a heavy tone.

“Yes, that’s me.”

It was an examiner.

He had a stern, unyielding appearance and seemed like a very difficult person.

The Hunters gasped in surprise and whispered among themselves as they saw him.

“Gah, why him?”

“Right? I heard he’s incredibly strict…!”

“They say countless people failed when he was an examiner for the Hunter’s License, didn’t they?”

Ignoring the Hunters’ whispers, Kang Yuseong stepped forward.

“Pleased to meet you. I am Examiner Kang Gi-han. These are the other examiners.”

“Yes, pleased to meet you all.”

After exchanging greetings with them, Kang Gi-han continued,

“You’ve come today for the Ancient Dungeon Entry Test, correct?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“First, I’ll go over the precautions. First, when taking the test as an assault team, if even one person falls behind, you fail. And second.”

Kang Gi-han’s emotionless eyes fixed on Kang Yuseong.

“The condition for completing today’s test is a full dungeon clear. Only that will be accepted.”

At his words, the Hunters’ expressions stiffened.

The conditions for test completion varied entirely depending on the examiners’ discretion.

Sometimes it ended after just one battle, while a full dungeon clear, like this, was extremely rare.

However, it was no exaggeration to say that setting a full dungeon clear as a condition had almost ceased at some point.

This was due to safety concerns.

But now, Kang Gi-han and the three other examiners had set it as a qualification requirement.

The Hunters instinctively looked at Kang Yuseong.

But at that moment, they flinched.

He was smiling.

“Is that all?”

At Kang Yuseong’s words, Kang Gi-han frowned this time.

“Understood then. Since I’m not fond of doing things half-heartedly anyway… let’s do this properly.”

Kang Gi-han stared intently at Kang Yuseong.

After a long moment, he nodded.

“I hope for a good outcome.”

Kang Gi-han walked over to where the other examiners stood.

The Hunters, who had been holding their breath, let out a sigh.

“Damn it, this is no joke!”

“Why are they doing this only to us? This is too strict.”

“Whew, rumors have been circulating lately that high-ranking guilds are monopolizing the Ancient Dungeons, so I guess this is why! They just want to keep it all for themselves.”

Kang Yuseong chuckled at their words.

In fact, they were right.

Kang Yuseong already knew that man, Kang Gi-han.

A powerful member of the Immortal Guild.

However, he wasn’t remembered fondly by Kang Yuseong for the very reason someone had just stated.

This was a time when the value of Ancient Dungeons was becoming extremely significant.

It was not uncommon for people to emerge with excellent weapons just by entering, and some even gained unexpected boons. But would they just let anyone enter such places?

Absolutely not.

Thus, the major guilds had colluded to make the issuance of entry permits much stricter.

Kang Gi-han was one of the individuals who had been at the forefront of that collusion.

However, it wasn’t strictly illegal.

Since the examiners set the issuance criteria.

And since a full dungeon clear was an original condition for passing, the Hunters, despite their indignation, could do nothing.

Kang Gi-han and the three other examiners had cunningly exploited that very clause.

But their mistake was that they knew far too little about Kang Yuseong.

— Everyone, prepare for entry.

Kang Yuseong’s calm radio message reached the ears of the agitated Hunters.

At his words, the agitated Hunters straightened their stances.

They moved because they knew that no matter how impossible or arduous it seemed, this voice would never betray them.

Because they believed he would crush that dungeon, and the arrogance of those examiners.

With resolute expressions, they checked their radios and their equipment.

The battle had already begun, in all but name.

Kang Yuseong sent another message.

— Assault team, entering.

With a decisive step.

He moved.