Chapter 24

An Ancient Dungeon Access Pass.

Kang Yuseong grinned, holding the golden pass stamped with the National Dungeon Management Bureau’s seal.

This was the real beginning.

Up until now, he had striven to obtain this pass; from here on, a proper tale of revenge would unfold.

After receiving the pass, Kang Yuseong immediately checked if the D-93-A Dungeon was vacant.

A hunt was scheduled for today, making tomorrow the earliest available date.

Not bad.

The Hunters, completely exhausted from the recent test, needed time to rest, and it wasn’t yet the time for the Plunderer’s Legacy to be discovered anyway.

Moreover, the Plunderer’s Legacy wasn’t located in an easily discoverable place.

Even the one who had acquired the Plunderer’s Legacy claimed to have stumbled upon the location quite by accident.

Though he remained silent about it until his death, later investigations by intelligence agencies, which thoroughly searched the D-93-A Dungeon, managed to pinpoint the location.

However, what truly transpired within remained a mystery.

That was the information Kang Yuseong possessed.

Yet, Kang Yuseong knew precisely what he had to do.

Ancient Dungeon D-93-A.

Kang Yuseong knew its strategies and layout better than anyone.

‘Dungeon type… Ruins.’

To be precise, it was a ruined ancient site.

A place strewn with bizarre ruins, untraceable by Earth’s civilizations.

And it wasn’t just ruins.

Extremely powerful monsters were also scattered throughout.

In terms of dungeon grading, it was an AA-class difficulty.

Even for the current Kang Yuseong, it wasn’t a place to rush into carelessly.

‘Highest estimated monster level: 25.’

Ulatang the Giant Fist.

Another predator, towering above countless others.

Its ferocity and brutality were infamous, a monster that truly made Hunters tremble, and it resided within.

Not just it, but all the monsters inhabiting the place were dangerous.

‘Supplies…’

Kang Yuseong examined the materials laid out before him.

Materials he had prepared long ago, waiting for the time to enter the D-93-A Dungeon.

Great Healing Potion.

Stamina Potion.

And…

‘Chakra Enhancer.’

He gazed at the small bottle containing a transparent green liquid.

An elixir among elixirs, capable of instantly skyrocketing one’s Chakra Cultivation level.

Its application extended to ‘all’ Chakra skills, making it effective for ‘Chakra, Primordial Calm’ and ‘Chakra, Swordsman’s Mindset,’ which boost physical abilities.

Physical attributes like stamina, agility, and strength would also experience a dramatic increase.

While it might seem like a flawless potion without drawbacks, surprisingly, Hunters didn’t use this elixir often.

There was one fatal flaw that overshadowed its immense advantages.

That was the exorbitant price: consuming 100 Chakra Points per second of the elixir’s activation.

Since it was a potion that demanded the consumption of blood-like Chakra Points in exchange for immense power, it hadn’t been widely circulated for long.

However, for Kang Yuseong now, it was nothing short of a perfect elixir.

Chakra Cubes.

Because he possessed an enormous quantity of Chakra Cubes.

Of course, it would be a shame to watch Chakra Points vanish into thin air, but in an emergency, he would have no choice but to use it.

‘I hope I don’t have to use it…’

Kang Yuseong gave a wry smile and tucked it into the leather pouch at his waist.

Healing Potions and Stamina Potions would also serve as considerable support.

And two swords, boasting top-tier durability.

Furthermore, Kang Yuseong had even prepared an incredibly sturdy Kukri (a curved dagger).

With this, his preparations were complete.

He finished all preparations and swallowed a Chakra pill.

An immense amount of Chakra Points instantly accumulated, and he distributed them appropriately.

Instead of raising other skills, he used them to enhance his existing Chakra.

Fwaat—

Through True Sight, the status of his enhanced Chakra skills appeared.

[Basic] Chakra, Primordial Calm Stage 3

[Tier 1, Support] Chakra, Carapace Melt Level 3

[Tier 1, Attack] Chakra, Flame Barrage Stage 2

[Tier 1, Attack] Chakra, Blade Twist Stage 2

[Tier 1, Attack] Chakra, Critical Strike Stage 2

[Tier 1, Attack] Chakra, Meteor Stab Stage 3

[Special] Chakra, Swordsman’s Mindset Stage 4

[Special] Chakra, Butcher’s Disassembly Stage 2

[Special] Chakra, Wind Flow Stage 2

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

Each skill was enhanced by either one or two stages.

He now possessed power roughly equivalent to a Level 15 Hunter.

If he could create and consume Chakra pills until tomorrow, he estimated he could reach Level 19.

Currently, the strongest individual in South Korea was Level 37.

The gap with Kang Yuseong was considerable, and filling it with pills would require immense time, effort, and materials.

The bigger problem lay with the powerful individuals in China, Japan, Russia, and North Korea.

According to his memory, though not precise, China’s highest level would have surpassed the early 40s by now, and Japan would be around Level 40.

Russia would also be in the early 40s, and North Korea would have likely reached around Level 40.

In China, the state actively fostered Hunters, allowing for concentrated power, while in Japan, strong individuals emerged from countless conflicts and battles, similar to the chaos of the Sengoku period, achieving Level 40.

Russia and North Korea were no exceptions.

North Korea, in particular, with its strong iron-fisted rule, saw its supreme leader Kim Jong-un and his escort unit virtually monopolize dungeons, resulting in higher levels than in South Korea.

Those were the truly frightening places.

In terms of conventional firepower, they might be ahead, but in this world, that was almost meaningless now.

Without mechanized or nuclear capabilities, there wasn’t much of a threat, marking a transitional period where inter-state power dynamics were being redefined.

‘Hoo…’

Just thinking about it made him feel suffocated by South Korea’s constricted geographical position.

The massacre that would unfold in a few weeks.

Even if only to prevent that, he absolutely had to obtain the Plunderer’s Legacy this time.

* * * * *

The next day, Kang Yuseong headed to the rendezvous point with the attack unit.

The attack unit waited for Kang Yuseong, filled with both excitement and tension about entering the ancient dungeon.

They looked puzzled when he said no Porters were needed, but they quickly agreed when he explained it was just a light reconnaissance today.

Though ancient dungeons were known as vaults of infinite treasure, they also understood that these treasures weren’t easily acquired.

It was quite dangerous inside.

Thus, they didn’t expect to get rich on their first try.

Today, they merely intended to lightly observe what the ancient dungeon was like.

“Your access pass, please.”

As expected, it was an ancient dungeon.

Upon reaching the entrance of the D-93-A Dungeon, an officer from the National Dungeon Management Bureau meticulously checked the access pass.

“Kang Yuseong and thirteen others. Entry authorized.”

After a considerable wait, the officer granted them entry.

Screeech—

Then, the massive concrete door blocking the dungeon entrance slowly opened.

And a shimmering, purplish dungeon entrance came into view.

Beyond that radiance lay Ancient Dungeon D-93-A.

“Let’s go.”

Kang Yuseong took a decisive step forward.

And he was drawn directly inside.

The Hunters also moved forward, unable to hide their tense expressions.

Soon, their figures vanished completely as well.

* * * * *

The Ancient Dungeon.

Its vastness and grandeur were incomparable to any other dungeon.

The Hunters felt their hearts pound.

This place was no different from a colossal temple.

Completely collapsed pillars, bluestone paving the ground, half-sunken statues…

It was truly an immense place that overwhelmed the party with its mere scenery.

Countless ages seemed to have passed, as patches of moss and ivy, visible everywhere, appeared to suffocatingly cover the entire world.

Just then.

“Kwooaarrgh!”

A roar echoed from a great distance.

Though the source seemed far away, its roar distinctly pierced the Hunters’ ears.

“Damn it, how can anyone live with their guts trembling like this?”

This place was on an entirely different level from the B-class dungeons they were used to.

“Wait here.”

At that moment, Kang Yuseong spoke abruptly.

“Here? At the entrance…?”

Kang Yuseong nodded.

“It seems extremely dangerous, so I’ll scout ahead for a bit.”

“Are you sure you’ll be alright alone?”

Baek Myeong-han looked at him worriedly.

Kang Yuseong offered a faint smile.

“I’ll be fine. If it gets dangerous, I’ll come right back. Don’t go anywhere, just wait here. I’ll radio if anything happens.”

“Understood…”

Baek Myeong-han stepped back.

Kang Yuseong tightened his backpack and moved forward.

From now on, he had to move alone.

The Plunderer’s Legacy.

That was why he had come here.

Fwaat—

He swiftly traversed the ruined ancient site.

* * * * *

How much time had passed? The ruins were incredibly complex and rapidly drained his stamina.

Long grasses and ivy grew in patches, hindering his progress, and here, even plants harbored strong carnivorous instincts, forcing Kang Yuseong to fend off flesh-eating plants multiple times.

But Kang Yuseong swiftly overcame all these obstacles.

He had experienced countless dungeons like this.

He had even infiltrated the lairs of ancient dragons, where powerful guardian attacks greeted him from the dungeon’s very entrance.

For him, a dungeon of this caliber wasn’t particularly difficult.

‘Golden Monkey Statue.’

What he sought was a golden monkey statue.

That was the starting point of the secret passage to acquire the Plunderer’s Legacy.

According to intelligence reports, the monkey statue was enormous.

However, the reports also stated that it was broken in places and overgrown with plants, making it impossible to spot from a distance.

Kang Yuseong’s eyes gleamed sharply.

He had reached a place where the path ahead was completely obscured by massively overgrown plants.

No path.

That’s what ordinary Hunters would have thought.

But Kang Yuseong, on the contrary, smiled faintly.

‘Found it.’

These plants were herbaceous plants called Euphocris. They were, in essence, plants that fed on other plants, including carnivorous vegetation and moss.

Their sprawling growth was due to tentacles designed to siphon nutrients from other plants.

They were harmless if humans touched them, but if other plants made contact, they would react instantly, wrapping around them tightly.

The report stated that the golden monkey statue was located behind this curtain of Euphocris.

And there, Kang Yuseong discovered the foot of a greenish-yellow statue.

This part, appearing to be a fragment of a colossal foot, was buried deep in the ground, making it not easily noticeable.

Thick tentacles of Euphocris were draped around the statue.

Thus, at a glance, it could be mistaken for a dead end, but in reality, it signified another path lay within.

Perhaps the Hunter who acquired the Plunderer’s Legacy had also stumbled upon this place after getting lost and, for some reason, managed to venture further inside.

Kang Yuseong, likewise, had found the starting point.

‘Beyond the curtain… The Wanderer’s Tomb.’

He cut through the Euphocris tentacles without hesitation, pressing forward.

The second point was The Wanderer’s Tomb.

Kang Yuseong didn’t know what that implied.

He had merely read what was written in the report.

But now, that faint memory was serving as an invaluable guide.

So far, so good.

No monsters had appeared, and he was finding the path correctly.

It was as Kang Yuseong cut through the sprawling Euphocris tentacles ahead, pressing forward.

Splosh!

A strange sensation met the tip of his foot.

‘…!’

He frowned and looked down at his feet.

Then he bit his lip.

Beneath him…

Black, putrid blood filled the ground, and submerged within it were countless skeletons.

Some skeletons clutched completely rusted swords, while others held shattered shields.

Unknown skulls lay scattered, and everything was decaying and rotting once more in the putrid blood.

‘This is…’

Kang Yuseong gripped his sword tightly.

The Wanderer’s Tomb.

That chillingly eerie place seemed to welcome Kang Yuseong.

It was as if he was experiencing a strange hallucination, urging him to become one with this place.