The Forsaken Awakening

Two Days Later – Seoul, South Korea

Jinhyuk sat at a small ramen shop near the Hunter Hub, quietly eating as he listened to the whispers around him.

It had been 48 hours since the Red Gate incident, but the rumors had only grown stronger.

"Did you hear? A D-Class hunter soloed a mutated Executioner in a Red Gate."

"No way, that's C-Class at best. Maybe he just landed the finishing blow?"

"No, no, I was there! I saw it! His illusions warped reality, and his shadows moved like they were alive."

"Tch. Sounds like an Awakening. He's B-Class now, right?"

Jinhyuk exhaled, chewing on his ramen slowly.

It was exactly as he had feared.

His moment of desperation had turned into a spectacle.

And now, everyone was talking about him.

Not good.

Too much attention meant trouble.

Guild recruiters. Government agents. People who wanted to control him.

He stirred his ramen with his chopsticks, deep in thought.

"I should be happy," he murmured to himself. "I hit B-Class in just one month. I have another full month before the DHR entrance exam."

He clenched his fist under the table.

"But I was reckless. I showed too much."

Strength brought safety—but it also brought enemies.

He wasn't ready for that yet.

For now, he had to lay low.

Train smarter.

And stay ahead of those who would try to use him.

---

Jinhyuk's Family – A Moment of Rest

Later that night, Jinhyuk stepped into his family home, the familiar scent of home-cooked food filling the air.

"You're finally back, you troublemaker!"

His mother, Seo Mira, rushed over, grabbing his wrist and inspecting him for injuries.

"Eomma, I'm fine!" Jinhyuk laughed, trying to pull away.

His father, Jin Sangho, sat at the table, arms crossed.

"You've been all over the news, Jinhyuk. The 'Shadow Hunter'—is that what they're calling you now?"

Jinhyuk sighed, rubbing his temples. "I didn't choose that name."

His younger siblings, Jinhee and Jinhwan, ran into the room, their faces filled with excitement.

Jinhwan (19) - The energetic younger brother

"Hyung! That Red Gate fight was insane! You're so cool!"

Jinhee (19) - The cautious, analytical younger sister

"Idiot, don't encourage him. You realize the top guilds will be looking into him now, right?"

Jinhyuk chuckled, ruffling Jinhwan's hair. "I don't plan on joining any guild yet."

Jinhee narrowed her eyes. "You say that, but the DHR exam is next month. Are you ready for that?"

Jinhyuk paused.

Was he?

He had reached B-Class, but that didn't mean he was safe.

The DHR exam wasn't just about strength.

It was about politics, connections, and knowing who to trust.

And right now, Jinhyuk had one major problem.

Seongjun.

His family didn't know about his forced mission.

They didn't know about the Black Wolf Syndicate.

And they didn't know that his survival depended on playing along—until he was strong enough to break free.

Jinhyuk smiled, hiding his thoughts.

"I'll be fine. I just need to keep training."

His mother scoffed. "You're already stronger than half those arrogant hunters on TV. Just don't come home missing an arm, okay?"

Jinhyuk grinned. "No promises."

The night passed with warmth and laughter, but deep down, Jinhyuk knew—

This was just the calm before the storm.

---

Hunter Hub – Seoul, South Korea

Jinhyuk leaned against the railing of the Hunter Hub's upper balcony, staring down at the bustling hall below. Hunters of all ranks gathered, forming teams, negotiating dungeon contracts, and discussing the latest rumors.

And one of the biggest rumors right now… was him.

Ever since the Red Gate incident, people wouldn't stop talking about how a "D-Class hunter" pulled off something impossible. He saw the way guild recruiters eyed him from across the room, the way lower-ranked hunters whispered when he walked by.

It made him uneasy.

"I can't keep doing party raids. It's too risky."

Jinhyuk's rise had been too fast. If he kept showing new abilities in public dungeons, it would only draw more dangerous attention.

And yet—

B-Class wasn't enough.

His goal wasn't just to be a high-ranked hunter. He wanted true strength. Enough to survive whatever was coming.

He exhaled deeply, a decision forming in his mind.

"Solo raids."

---

The Solo Raid Decision

Jinhyuk opened his HunterNet profile, scrolling through dungeon listings.

DHR Regulations on Solo Raids:

Solo raids are legal but not recommended.

Hunters may enter at their own risk.

"Perfect," Jinhyuk muttered.

A solo raid would allow him to train freely, test his limits, and avoid unnecessary eyes.

It would also be good money.

Since party raids split loot, a successful solo raid would let him keep everything.

But the biggest reason?

He wanted to be ready for C-Class solo clears.

If he could handle that, then he'd be on a whole different level.

He tapped on a D-Class dungeon request.

[ Dungeon: Forgotten Crypt (D-Class) ]

[ Monsters: Undead, Skeleton Warriors, Lesser Wraiths ]

[ Solo Raid Request Accepted. ]

A one-hour countdown started.

Jinhyuk stretched his shoulders and smirked.

"Let's see how far I've come."

---

One Hour Later – Dungeon Entrance

The Forgotten Crypt dungeon stood at the edge of Seoul, a small abandoned shrine-like ruin covered in faded carvings. A swirling blue D-Class Gate hummed softly at its center.

A Hunter Regulation Officer stood nearby, checking his tablet. He raised an eyebrow as Jinhyuk approached.

"Solo raid?" the officer asked. "You sure about this?"

Jinhyuk nodded. "Yeah."

The officer glanced at his Hunter License. "Jin Jinhyuk… huh. Oh, you're that guy from the Red Gate rumors."

Jinhyuk sighed. "Can I just go in?"

The officer smirked. "Your funeral, kid." He gestured to the portal. "Solo hunters usually come back in body bags. Hope you're not planning to be one of them."

Jinhyuk smirked. "Not today."

With that, he stepped into the portal.

---

Inside the Dungeon – The First Test

The air inside the crypt was cold, filled with the faint scent of dust and decay. Dim torches lined the stone walls, flickering weakly, barely holding back the darkness.

Jinhyuk took a slow breath, letting his mana spread out.

"No teammates. No backup. Just me."

He stepped forward, shadows shifting at his feet.

Then—

A rattling noise echoed through the crypt.

From the darkness, skeletal warriors emerged, dragging rusted swords and shields. Their hollow eye sockets glowed with pale blue light.

[ Enemy Identified: Undead Soldiers (D-Class) ]

Jinhyuk grinned.

"Let's see how solo hunting feels."