Dungeon Outbreak. A phenomenon in which the dungeon releases out monsters if the monsters inside are not killed in time.

‘My parents died during a Dungeon Outbreak.’

It happened 10 years ago when he was 16.  As his sadness and embarrassment subsided a little, he was overcome by anger. Still as the time passed, his anger diluted.

He redirected his emotions a little and by then made up his mind to be a Hunter. He enrolled into the Hunter Training Academy with all his parents’ inheritance and some small compensation. He trained himself. He did everything to increase his chance of awakening till he had used up all of his money. He failed.

He didn’t awaken. He was again overcome with anger followed by disappointment. He was just living but then his grandfather came to him. He hugged him and he cried. He still count forget what he said while patting me on the back.

“It’s okay now. You don’t have to be angry.”

I cried too and hence that’s how I ended up finding a purpose.

***

A new hunter training centre outside Yongin, Gyeonggi Province. Suho recalled his past in an old wagon.

‘He coudnt do it when he wanted to but now that his mind empty, he did awaken.’

There was a time when he longed to be a Hunter…

Looking at the signboard of the Training centre, he finally comprehends that he has truly awakened.

‘Well since I am going to do this.’

He got up. It was better to start before the others. He doesn’t need to be the best at it.

‘Let’s do it properly.’

‘Let’s work hard and become an excellent hunter. Let’s do what I wanted to since my past. If possible, I want to eat and live well.’

‘It would also be easier to hide the Dwarves.’

Even if the Dwarven items are suspicious, he can pass it over if he becomes a strong Hunter. Everyone will think that he got it from robbing some dungeon.

‘All right. Lets go.’

After gathering all his emotions, Suho got out of the old carriage. There were dozens of people fathered at the lobby of the training institute. Some were empty handed. A person was covered in an armour made up of some monster’s skin. There were all kinds of people like people who only brought their weapons.

One of them stood out amongst them.

“He He He. This is a high quality sword. My father gave it to me as a present when I awakened.”

A man was talking loudly with an arrogant expression. He was Dongsik Park, the son of the Guild Master of England-Japan.

“Oh it was a gift from the guild master. I knew it. I thought the colour was amazing. Wouldn’t it stats be great as well?”

A sly looking man exclaimed on his side.

“Of course the attack power and all the other stats are awesome. Hhh, I am sure that one swing will cut the crappy equipment brought by these guys.”

Dongsik Park was making a fuss about it. He has been living a life where he got everything which he wanted since a young age.  He has been the main character wherever he went.

He even awakened at the perfect time. Therefore he didn’t not mind the mixed gazes of the other Hunters.

Suho quietly headed over to the empty seat. He caught eyes of Dongsik Park.

“What the hell is that? Why do you have a pot lid on your back? Don’t tell me you are gonna be using that as a shield. Isnt it foolish?”

It was a monologue but loud enough for everyone in the lobby to hear it. All the eyes were on Suho.

‘Tsk. He is drawing attention to me for no reason’

He didn’t mind the offensive remarks because he had been used to bury his anger and the thing on his back wasn’t a lump of metal.

[Sturdy Iron Pot Lid]

-An Iron pout lid used by the Red Hammer tribe. Its round and flat. It’s thick for the usage in long term. It’s heavy but hard so maybe it would be a good idea to use it as a shield. [1]

-Grade: Uncommon

-Physical Defence: 450

-[Intermediate Impact Reduction]

-Stamina: +5

-Durability: 500

This is the pot lid which the Dwarves gave in exchange for the 20 boxes of ramen. Tarunga was ashamed but Bold just giggled.

What about Suho?

‘This is the best pot lid ever.’

He was amazed. It was a lucrative deal since he exchanged a high end item with ramen. Hence he is able to laugh of all the words of that idiot.

This leeway was annoying to Dongsik Park.

“Did you bring a jacket too? That’s ridiculous. Do you think this is a construction site?”

Dongsik Park felt annoyed that such a man was going to be on the same stage as him.

“I know bother. All sorts of people have gathered here but you need to hold it in. There are going to be on the ground in no time.”

“But its not like he will be able to do anything. He He.”

“You are right. This guy is at the ground and my brother, you are in Heaven! And I am your right arm! He He He.”

“Yes you just have to follow me.”

“Thank you brother.”

The performance of the jesters continued. Suho didn’t respond and soon the assistant appeared.

“Everyone please move on to the auditorium.”

Following the guidance of the teaching assistant, the new Hunters headed towards the auditorium. Chairs were prepared in advance.

When the Hunters had finished sitting down, the instructor on the podium opened his mouth.

“I am Jintae Kim, the instructor for this training. It will be for a short period but your life and future are at stake here so I hope you follow well.”

Jintae Kim was an experienced hunter in his mid-40s. After his introduction, he explained the training program.

“The training will place over for two days and one night. This morning we will have the basic combat skill training for Hunters.”

‘They going to start with theory?’

“Then I will explain while playing this video.”

A video played on the screen behind podium. It was about how you should take actions in Dungeons and the mind-set involved. It was tediously long and boring.

‘They have no choice but to educate people about it.’

In the dungeons, except for the things recognized as [Items], nothing else functions properly. Electronic devices don’t work properly and the communication is blocked.

The insides of the dungeons become a lawless areas and therefore it is necessary for the Hunters to be thoroughly educated about it.

‘I don’t know how useful it would be.’

The tedious time passed by and the teaching finished.

“Now we will learn about the basic combat techniques.”

Jintae Kim and his assistants demonstrated how to handle the weapons. It had to be done to meet the minimum criteria. Suho was already familiar with it.

There was a time when he kept dreaming of being a Hunter and so he learned about it at the Academy. It would have been understandable if he was bored but he wasn’t.

‘What is this? The body…”

Suho was surprised because he had complete control over his body. From his feet to his fingertips without an inch of an error.

‘He can move the way he thinks.’

In addition, he can read the movements of the other Hunters around him like the palm of his hands.

‘It seems that my eyes have become very sharp…Oh!”

Suho realized the cause of this phenomenon.

‘Its all about the [Sense] stats!’

After drinking the Firewater, he had feeling that all his five senses have become more sensitive. AS he moved around his body roughly, just to be sure. Everything is because of the [Sense] stat.

‘That’s awesome.’

He can automatically grasp his surroundings without having to worry about it. A body which he can move as he pleases. Suho took deep breaths and imitated his fighting moves till the morning class was over.

And there was someone watching him with strange look.

***

The afternoon classes were held in a different building, next to the auditorium. Instructor Jintae Kim began his explanations.

“This afternoon, we are going to test out the basic combat skills learned in the morning. It would be a practise through the virtual combat system so you don’t need to be scared.”

At Jintae Kim’s signalled to a booth made up of mana enhanced glass.

‘When you enter it, monsters will appear as holographic images. You just have to fight the monster and win.”

The victory and defeat will be decided by detecting successful hits with the sensors. Jintae Kim, who had finished talking, pointed out to the screen behind him.

“The monster which you will be fighting is a Letman. Before we proceed with the training, we will first learn about its weakness and behaviour.”

There was a video about Letman. It’s a two legged walking monster which resembles a rat with a height till a human waist.

Its main weapon are its claws and his long fangs. It’s a weak monster found on the lowest level that is 1 star Dungeon.

“Now that you have learned about the Letman. Don’t worry, you won’t be hurt even if it lands a hit on you. Think of this as a pre-hunting experience.”

The training was carried out for each roll call.

“Oh Damn it. I died.”

“I died too. Even if you know how to deal with it, the real deal is still different.”

“I know right, specially his claws.”

“Yeah. The fangs are less threatening than they look but the claws are the problem.”

There were series of dropouts. Losing to a Letman didn’t mean they won’t be registered as a Hunter. It was meaningful experience in advance as explained by the Instructor but there were people who thought differently.

“You nerds. How could you lose to a Letman? Its because of people like you that the status of the Hunters is dropping.”

It was Dongsik Park. He murmured as if wanting to everyone to listen.

“That’s right. If its my brother then he will be able to one shot it.”

“Of course.”

Dongsik Park was confident. Upon his awakening, he drank an expensive elixir. The equipment’s covering his body cost tens of millions of wons.

“I will show you the difference between our levels.”

Dongsik Park was dreaming about a splendid debut.  His father is the Guild Master of the England-Japan guild so he won’t de scouted but he still wanted to gain attention of the whole world.

That was a matter of course for him.

“Nex, Dongsik Park. Get in.”

Just in time, his turn came. Dongsik Park confidently started his training.

“He is doing pretty well. I thought he just talked big.”

“His stats look pretty high.”

“Sheesh he must have had an elixir because he is born with Golden spoon.”

“He was threatening that beggar like guy to drop about coz he thought it would be bad luck. Guess that wont happen.”

People were chattering. Sooner or later, Dongsik Park’s training finished.

“You took 10 minutes. Good work.”

The instructor praised Dongsik Park. His battle was quite good.

“Ha Ha Ha. This is just the basics. Those who can’t even do this aren’t even Hunters.”

Dongsik Park left with a sly smile.

“Next”

Of all things, it was Suho’s turn next. Suho and Dongsik met each other.

“Isn’t using the Pot lid too much? Even beggars won’t use it.”

Dongsik said wanting him to listen. Suho passed by him with a grin.

“Are you smirking? Is this funny?”

Ignoring him, Suho entered the training booth.

“Start!”

The ptraining started at the Instructor’s signal.

Pak!

And ended right away.

A body which he can move as he wants.

[1] Imagining him use the hammer and the pot lid to fight is making me laugh lol. Also a small note. Though I had been using the term pot for the cooking utensils of the Dwarves, it’s actually more like a Cauldron….basically a metal pot. Of course since the dwarves are great inventors, they can easily make it for a better cooking.

Notes:

Well I am curious how you want the names to be. I have been using this format [First Name] [Last Name]. Do you all want me to reverse it? or this seems good to you?