Ascensional Protocol

News Report

"It has just been reported that the bodies of several D-class hunters were discovered in the middle of Hanseo Avenue. Each of the victims had the word Weakling written across their foreheads. Authorities have no leads on the killer's identity. However, sources indicate that similar killings of lower-class hunters have occurred over the past month, with the same haunting message left behind. This is Channel News 303. We urge the Hunter Guild to take immediate action and put a stop to this senseless violence."

Hak-kun leaned back in his leather chair, his expression dark as he switched off the TV. The room was quiet, save for the faint hum of the screen powering down. He turned to Min Soo, who stood at attention nearby.

"It has been months," Hak-kun muttered, his voice low but sharp. "We've tried to get ahead of this, but now that the news has gone public, this killer needs to be stopped. Can we find them?"

Min Soo straightened, his tone firm. "Yes, sir. We will track them down."

Hak-kun nodded. "Good. You can leave."

Min Soo turned to leave but hesitated at the door. "One more thing, sir. General Seong has requested to speak with your daughter, Min-ji, regarding the Jin Tae-min situation."

Hak-kun's eyes narrowed. "Tell him she's busy assisting me right now. When she's done, she'll speak to him."

"Understood, sir." Min Soo left the room without another word.

System Notification:

[Swamp King Eliminated]

Integration Progress: 35%

User's strength, stamina, and speed increased by 10%.

Tae-min knelt beside the murky swamp river, catching his breath. His body was drenched in sweat, and his blood-soaked clothes clung to his skin. Behind him, the massive, lifeless corpse of the Swamp King lay in the mud—a grotesque amalgamation of scaled limbs and sharp fangs. Its enormous bulk made the ground tremble even in death.

Tae-min smirked, his exhaustion overshadowed by satisfaction. "This is really getting interesting."

System Notification:

Returning to Safe Zone. Initiating transport.

In an instant, Tae-min's surroundings shifted, and he found himself back in his small, cluttered apartment. The stench of blood lingered on his clothes, but he no longer flinched at it. He sighed, ready to collapse, but the sharp ring of his phone interrupted his thoughts.

Glancing at the screen, he saw Min-ji's name. With a quick swipe, he answered.

"Hey, hi! Thought you were done with me," Min-ji teased, her voice lighthearted.

"Well, not yet," Tae-min replied.

"Listen, me and my team are heading into a B-class gate. I thought you might want to tag along. You up for it?"

"Yeah, sure," Tae-min said without hesitation.

Min-ji paused, surprised. "Just like that? You're not scared?"

"I can't stay a D-class healer forever, can I?" Tae-min said, his tone laced with determination.

"A healer to a hunter… Now that's a story the whole world would want to hear," Min-ji laughed. "We're leaving in a few minutes. I'll send you the location."

"Okay," Tae-min replied.

The call ended, and Tae-min leaned back on his couch. His head rested against the cushions, his eyes fluttering shut. Despite his calm demeanor, exhaustion had taken its toll. In seconds, he drifted into a restless sleep.

A dream plunged Tae-min into a memory he wished he could forget.

He was ten years old, standing in the corner of a dimly lit room. His parents stood between him and the monstrous figure that had burst through the door—a creature far too massive for the cramped space of their home. It wasn't a monster from a gate but a rogue hunter who had lost their mind after a failed protocol integration.

"Run, Tae-min!" his mother screamed, tears streaking her face.

"But—!"

"No arguments! Go!" his father roared, brandishing a kitchen knife in a futile attempt to defend them.

Tae-min's legs felt like lead as he watched the creature lunge. The sound of his parents' screams and the shattering of furniture echoed in his ears. Blood splattered across the walls.

He had run that night, fleeing into the cold streets, the weight of guilt and helplessness haunting him ever since.

Tae-min jolted awake, his chest heaving. He ran a trembling hand through his hair, sweat dripping down his temples.

"Every time…" he muttered, his voice hoarse.

He stumbled to the bathroom, splashing cold water on his face. As he looked in the mirror, he barely recognized himself. The boy who had once been powerless was long gone, replaced by someone harder, someone stronger.

"You're changing," he whispered to his reflection.

The sharp buzz of his phone broke the silence. A notification flashed on the screen—Min-ji again.

"We're about to enter the gate. Meet us now."

As Tae-min approached the swirling entrance of the B-rank gate, he spotted Min-ji standing with her team. She was outfitted in sleek armor, her sharp gaze scanning him from head to toe.

"You're ten minutes late," Min-ji said, crossing her arms. "And still no armor plate or weapon?"

Tae-min shrugged, a small smirk on his face. "I don't like to overdress."

Min-ji raised a brow, unimpressed, but said nothing further. Tae-min, dressed in his usual black hoodie, gray trousers, and black sneakers, clearly stood out among the heavily equipped hunters.

While the two of them exchanged words, someone tapped Tae-min lightly on the shoulder.

"Hi," a soft voice said from behind him.

Tae-min turned and froze, his breath catching in his throat. It was her—the girl he had bumped into days ago.

"It's me," she said with a bright smile. "The one you ran into while you were busy texting on your phone. Remember?"

"Oh… yes, I remember," Tae-min replied, his face flushing. He tried his best to hide the blush creeping up his cheeks.

"My name is Kim Jun-hee, by the way. What's yours?"

"I'm Jin Tae-min."

Jun-hee's eyes lit up with recognition. "Oh! You're the Tae-min who survived an Archfiend, aren't you?"

Tae-min chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of his neck. "Uh, yeah… that's me."

"Nice to officially meet you," Jun-hee said, her smile widening.

"Wait, what are you doing here?" Tae-min asked, his curiosity piqued.

Before Jun-hee could answer, Min-ji interrupted, stepping between them. "Kim Jun-hee is an A-class hunter and a close family friend."

"An A-class?" Tae-min repeated, genuinely impressed. "That's… wow. Nice to really meet you, Jun-hee." He extended a hand. "And I see you're not wearing any armor plate either."

Jun-hee laughed softly, shaking his hand. "A-class to SSS-class hunters wear customized suits. Mine can withstand flames, energy blasts, and more."

Tae-min looked her over, momentarily caught by her beauty. She was dressed in a sleek black combat suit that accentuated her athletic frame, paired with stylish heeled boots. Her neatly tied hair only added to her sharp, commanding presence.

"Eyes up here, Tae-min," Min-ji said dryly, pulling him out of his trance.

"We're entering the gate now. Everyone, get ready," Min-ji announced to the group.

Seconds later, they all stepped into the swirling gate.

As soon as they crossed the threshold, the world around them shifted. The atmosphere felt oppressive, the air heavy and biting cold. The sky was a dark crimson, and snow blanketed the ground. Ice-covered trees stretched impossibly high, their jagged branches seeming to claw at the blood-red clouds above.

The hunters paused, taking in their surroundings.

"This is… unsettling," one of Min-ji's team members muttered, gripping their weapon tightly.

Tae-min stayed close to Jun-hee, his senses sharp. The eerie silence of the gate was deafening, broken only by the faint howling of the wind.

As the group moved through the eerie, crimson-hued landscape of the B-rank gate, their weapons drawn and stances ready, the air grew heavier with tension. The sharp sound of crunching snow beneath their boots echoed ominously in the stillness.

Kim Jun-hee, however, seemed utterly unbothered. Her hands rested casually in her pockets as she strolled near the back of the group alongside Tae-min.

Tae-min glanced at her, puzzled. "Don't tell me you're not scared of all this."

Jun-hee smirked slightly, her gaze fixed ahead. "This is just a B-class gate."

"So a B-class gate can't sc—" Tae-min started, but his words were abruptly cut off as the ground trembled.

A massive serpent burst forth from the shadows of the towering ice trees. Its body was long enough to coil around multiple trunks, its scales blackened and slick with an unnatural sheen. Four glowing red eyes locked onto Tae-min, and its gaping mouth, lined with jagged teeth, stretched wide as it lunged at him.

Before Tae-min could react—or even comprehend what was happening—Jun-hee moved.

In an instant, she leaped from the ground with a burst of speed so fast it seemed to defy logic, let alone the capabilities of a typical A-class hunter. A glowing blade of pure energy sparked to life in her hand, purple lightning crackling across its surface.

The serpent's massive jaws snapped just inches from Tae-min, but Jun-hee intercepted it mid-air, her blade cleaving through its thick neck with precision and ferocity. She landed gracefully, the impact of her descent cracking the frozen ground beneath her feet as the serpent's head thudded lifelessly to the earth.

The rest of the team turned, their eyes widening at the sheer display of strength and speed. It was evident—Jun-hee's abilities surpassed the limits of an A-class hunter.

"She's stronger than she looks…" someone murmured in awe.

Jun-hee wiped her glowing blade on the snow, the lightning dancing along its edges fading slightly. But there was no time to admire her work.

From the shadows of the trees, more serpents emerged—fifteen in total, each as massive and menacing as the first. Their hisses filled the air like a deadly symphony, and their glowing eyes burned with predatory hunger.

The group immediately fell into defensive stances, weapons at the ready. Jun-hee remained calm, her blade still crackling with energy. She glanced at Tae-min with a faint smirk.

"Hey, Tae-min, you ready for this?"

Tae-min, gripping his obsidian blade tightly, took a deep breath. "Can't turn back now, can I?"

Suddenly, a translucent white screen appeared before Tae-min, the familiar text of the system flashing rapidly.

[System Notification]

Warning: You have entered a Serpentine Abyss Zone.

Threat Level: Extreme.

Primary Enemies: Abyssal Horned Serpents.

Enemy Attributes: Venomous, highly agile, enhanced durability.

Recommended Strategy: Coordinate with your team. Utilize agility and precision to strike weak points—eyes and underside of the neck.

Tae-min's heart raced as he read the information.

"Great," he muttered. "This just keeps getting better."

The serpents, their massive forms slithering toward them with unnatural speed, lunged simultaneously. Their massive jaws snapped open, revealing rows of razor-sharp teeth glistening with venom.

"Here they come!" Min-ji shouted, raising her weapon.