The party ventured deeper into the dungeon, boots crunching against loose stone and patches of old blood. But something was off.
"We've been walking for a while now," Hwang Dongsuk muttered, eyes narrowing. "But we haven't seen a single magic beast with all four limbs intact…"
He crouched beside a carcass, prodding it with his sword. The creature's body was torn open, its life already extinguished long before they arrived.
"We've only come across corpses… or beasts that were already dying."
The mage beside him, Kyuhwan, glanced around uneasily. "There should still be a boss, though, right? The gate wouldn't still be closed otherwise…"
Before he could finish, Hwang Dongsuk raised a hand. "Wait."
He stood frozen before a narrow tunnel shrouded in darkness. His instincts prickled. "Kyuhwan. Bring the light."
The mage nodded, extending a glowing orb of mana forward. The tunnel slowly brightened under its glow.
Everyone froze.
The walls were not stone, but sinewy, twisted strands of what looked like hardened silk. They arched and wove together like the ribs of a monstrous creature, forming an organic cathedral of pale, fibrous structures.
"Oh my god…" Hwang Dongsuk breathed.
The entire tunnel seemed alive. The floor dipped inward like a giant throat, leading to a deeper darkness. Everything was wrapped in that pale, elastic material—almost like they had stepped inside a spider's nest.
Jinwoo's lips curled into a grin. "It's the boss's lair."
Choi Yoora instinctively clung tighter to Jinwoo's arm, her heartbeat quickening.
Hwang Dongsuk unslung his massive shield from his back. "Get ready!"
The party moved forward cautiously, weapons drawn and nerves taut.
But after just a few steps into the chamber, their expressions changed again—this time, in shock.
A soft blue glow lit up their faces.
"Th-This is…" someone stammered.
"Holy crap…"
"Aren't these mana crystals?!" Kyuhwan exclaimed.
The boss's lair wasn't just a den of monsters—it was a treasure trove. Brilliant blue mana crystals sprouted from every surface like icy flowers, their radiance washing the chamber in a cool, ethereal light. They shimmered with latent energy, dozens—hundreds—scattered across the rocky floor and embedded in the walls.
"How much would all this be worth?" one of the hunters whispered.
"We've hit the jackpot!" Hwang Dongsuk said, eyes gleaming.
"They've got less mana than essence stones, sure," Kyuhwan admitted, stepping closer and tapping one crystal. "So they're cheap on their own… but this many? All together, this haul could easily be worth over a billion won."
One of the men laughed. "Dongsuk, won't this make your little brother jealous?"
"Dude!" Kyuhwan hissed. "Don't bring him up, especially now!"
But Hwang Dongsuk wasn't listening. He stared into the glow of the crystals, his thoughts turning inward.
'Hwang Dongsoo…'
His jaw clenched.
'You always looked down on me after awakening as an S-rank. You betrayed this country and ran off to America the moment someone waved money in your face. You left me behind. You left us behind.'
His fists tightened at his sides.
'You probably think you're still above me… living like royalty, treated like a VIP just because of your rank. But I'm gonna prove you wrong. With this haul… with her… everything's going to change.'
He glanced back at Choi Yoora, eyes calculating.
'I already have an A-rank mage. Soon, I'll have that S-rank summoner too. You'll regret ever treating me like trash, Dongsoo. I swear it.'
One of Hwang Dongsuk's men let out an excited whistle. "We hit the jackpot, guys! A billion won divided by nine is more than a hundred million each!"
"A billion divided by nine?" Jinwoo stepped forward, his voice calm but cutting. "You mean… five hundred million divided by ten, right?"
The man blinked, confused. "Five hundred million? What do you mean?"
"Because half of that is mine." Jinwoo's voice was quiet, but it cut through the lair like a blade.
"What?!" several of the men shouted at once, eyes going wide.
Kyuhwan turned to Hwang Dongsuk, alarmed. "Hwang Dongsuk! What kind of contract did you give him?!"
Trying to look composed, Hwang Dongsuk forced a laugh. "Guys… why are you acting so surprised? He's an S-rank, after all."
The others went silent, unsure of what to say.
But one of them, still doing mental math, finally asked, "Wait… why divided by ten?"
Jinwoo's grin spread like a predator's. This was the question he'd been waiting for. "Do you think I don't know that you're using Choi Yoora?"
"What?!" gasped several of Hwang Dongsuk's men at once, heads snapping to Yoora and then back to him.
Hwang Dongsuk gritted his teeth, rage simmering behind his forced expression. 'This fucker…!' he thought, but he didn't dare speak it aloud.
"Jinwoo… you're exaggerating…" Choi Yoora said weakly, still clinging to Jinwoo's arm. "T-they wouldn't do something like that to me…"
"Jinho," Jinwoo said simply.
Jinho stepped forward, holding a folder. "Based on the contract, Choi Yoora isn't entitled to any part of the dungeon spoils or essence stones. If she dies, her family doesn't get a single won. Oh—and her pay? That's lower than a D-rank's."
"That's ridiculous…!" Yoora's voice cracked. She looked to Hwang Dongsuk, eyes wide with betrayal. "How could you do this to me?!"
"I thought you said we were comrades!" she cried.
"Comrades?" Hwang Dongsuk finally snapped. "With a spineless bitch who screams at the slightest noise?!"
Silence fell. Even the air felt heavier.
"Oh?" Jinwoo's smile didn't reach his eyes. "Calling my woman a bitch… in front of me?"
He took a slow step forward. "Do you want to die?"
"You won't dare!" Hwang Dongsuk shouted, panic replacing arrogance. "My brother is Hwang Dongsoo! The famous S-rank! He's way stronger than a shitty summoner like y—!"
Crack!
Jinwoo's fist shot out like a blur, smashing straight into Hwang Dongsuk's face and sending him flying across the lair.
He landed in a heap, blood spilling from his mouth, eyes unfocused.
"Your brother?" Jinwoo's voice was ice. "I hope he comes to avenge you."
He turned slightly, eyes glowing with threat. "I've been looking for a strong opponent for a while now."
To be continued...
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Also, I'm looking for a girl with spider like powers, do you guys know any of them?