As the spider's massive body crumpled to the ground, I let out a slow breath, flexing my fingers as the residual energy of Mercury's Requiem dissipated from my limbs. My body still tingled from the sheer speed and force I had just exerted. The system had pushed me to master this gear through grueling trials, but nothing compared to using it in real combat.
Then, the system chimed.
[Boss Defeated: C-Rank Dungeon Clear!]
[Calculating Performance…]
[Due to exceptional combat efficiency and strategic execution, additional rewards will be granted.]
[Reward Acquired: Vega's Brand]
I turned the object over, my brows furrowing. It was a ring—simple in design, yet unnervingly cold against my skin. A faint, star-like glimmer ran along its surface.
[Item Description: A celestial relic imbued with the shifting properties of orbit and gravity. Grants the user the ability to manipulate personal weight and kinetic force for a short duration. Caution: Overuse can result in physical strain.]
My breath hitched. This… This was more than just a reward. This was something dangerous.
I clenched my fingers around it, a slow realization creeping in. This ring wasn't just a power boost—it was a tool. A weapon.
And I had a feeling I would need it very soon.
The hunters who had trapped us here were still waiting on the other side, expecting us to die.
I clenched Vega's Brand in my palm, the metal cool against my skin. It felt lighter than I expected—almost like it wasn't even there—but I could tell there was something more to it.
Outside that door, those bastards were still waiting, probably laughing to themselves, thinking we were long dead. They were expecting to walk in, grab whatever was left, and leave without a fight.
They had no idea what was coming.
A few steps away, Jinwoo wiped some of that disgusting spider blood off his face. His expression was unreadable, but the way his fingers tapped against his dagger told me he was already ahead of me, already planning our next move. We didn't need to talk. We both knew what had to be done.
I let out a slow breath, rolling my shoulders. My body still ached from the fight, but the system's notifications flickered at the edges of my vision, reminding me of what I'd just earned. Vega's Brand… A relic that let me manipulate weight and force. The possibilities were endless, but now wasn't the time for trial and error.
I exhaled, steadying myself. The exhaustion of the battle still clung to me, but the system's notifications kept flashing in my vision, reminding me of what I had just gained. Vega's Brand… A celestial relic with the ability to shift weight and kinetic force. The possibilities spun in my head, and I didn't have the luxury of time to experiment with it right now.
Jinwoo met my eyes and gave a slow nod. No words were needed. We stepped toward the large stone door at the end of the boss room, the only thing separating us from the backstabbing scum waiting on the other side.
The second we pushed it open, the stale air of the dungeon mixed with the scent of sweat and anticipation.
Hwang Dongsuk was standing at the center, his thick arms crossed, a smirk already creeping onto his face. His lackeys were positioned around him, some resting against the walls, others inspecting their weapons in boredom. They thought this was a done deal.
I saw it in their eyes. They weren't just expecting us to be dead. They were hoping for it.
But the moment their gazes landed on us—bloody but alive—the mood shifted.
One of them, a wiry guy with a jagged scar running down his cheek, straightened. "What the hell?"
Hwang's smirk twitched. "Took you long enough. Where's Jinho?"
Neither of us answered. The silence stretched uncomfortably.
Another lackey, this one with beady eyes and a twitchy expression, scoffed. "You're telling me these two took down a C-rank boss?"
"They had to have cheated," someone muttered.
Jinwoo took a slow step forward, his fingers tapping against the hilt of his dagger. "You locked us in here to die."
Hwang Dongsuk shrugged, completely unbothered. "It's just business. Don't take it personally."
I felt something inside me snap. Just business?
They had thrown us to our deaths like it was nothing, and now they had the audacity to act like it was a minor inconvenience?
Jinwoo didn't need to signal me. We moved at the same time.
The nearest lackey barely had time to react before my fist slammed into his gut, sending him sprawling across the dungeon floor. I felt the shift in weight—the subtle, nearly imperceptible pull of Vega's Brand—as my strike hit harder than it should have. The guy gagged, curling in on himself.
Jinwoo, meanwhile, was already a blur of motion, his dagger flashing as he weaved through the panicked hunters.
"Shit! They're fighting back!"
"No kidding, dumbass! Get them!"
Someone lunged at me with a short sword, but I twisted, the Mercury's Requiem activating with a pulse of silver energy. My movements accelerated, carrying me out of range before I retaliated. I grabbed his wrist, shifting my weight just enough to yank him off balance before driving my knee into his ribs. He wheezed, dropping his weapon as he hit the ground.
Hwang Dongsuk scowled, clearly displeased with how this was turning out. "You idiots! Kill them already!"
A larger thug charged at me with a battle axe, his expression twisted with rage. I braced myself, focusing on Vega's Brand. As he swung, I shifted my own weight at the last second, making my body impossibly light. His axe cut through nothing but air, and I surged forward, using the sudden shift in weight to drive my elbow into his sternum.
The impact sent him skidding back, knocking over one of his allies in the process. The shock in his eyes told me he didn't understand what had just happened.
I barely had time to catch my breath before another attacker was on me. This one was faster, more experienced, his strikes calculated rather than reckless. He feinted left, then slashed right, forcing me to dodge. I felt the heat of the blade graze my sleeve.
I needed an opening.
Then, I saw it.
I adjusted Vega's Brand mid-motion, shifting my weight to suddenly become heavier. My foot slammed into the dungeon floor with unexpected force, sending a shockwave through the stone. The sudden impact threw my opponent off balance, and I took the opportunity to slam my fist into his jaw.
Jinwoo was cutting through them with terrifying efficiency. His attacks were ruthless, every movement precise. It was like he had done this before—like he had already accepted what it meant to kill.
Hwang Dongsuk, however, hadn't moved yet. He stood at the center, fists clenched, watching as his carefully laid plan crumbled before his eyes.
Then, he snarled. "Enough of this."
He reached behind his back, pulling out a massive spiked mace. The air seemed to thrum with power as he gripped it, his expression twisting into something darker.
I rolled my shoulders, adjusting my stance. This was going to be different from the lackeys.
Hwang pointed the mace at me. "You think you're hot shit? Just because you survived that dungeon?" He scoffed. "I don't know what trick you pulled, but it won't work on me."
I didn't bother responding. I just raised my fists.
He took the bait.
With a roar, he charged, swinging the mace in a brutal arc. I barely dodged in time, the weapon smashing into the ground where I had been standing moments before. Stone cracked beneath the force. If that had hit me directly, I would've been paste.
I moved, activating Mercury's Requiem again, using its speed to dart around him. But Hwang was experienced—he wasn't just a brute. He adjusted quickly, shifting his grip to bring the mace back around faster than I expected.
I twisted, barely avoiding the blow, but I felt the air shift as the spiked head grazed my side. Pain lanced through me, and I staggered back.
Hwang grinned. "Not so fast now, are you?"
I clenched my jaw. I couldn't match him in pure strength, but I didn't need to.
I glanced down at Vega's Brand, the faint celestial glow pulsing in sync with my heartbeat.
If I couldn't overpower him, I would outmaneuver him.
I adjusted my stance, focusing on my breathing. This time, when he swung, I used the ring's ability mid-motion, shifting my weight to become impossibly light. I leapt, twisting over his attack in a move that shouldn't have been possible.
Before he could react, I shifted my weight again—this time making myself heavier as I came down. My fist connected with his shoulder with enough force to send him reeling.
His eyes widened in shock.
I didn't give him a chance to recover. Jinwoo was already finishing off the last of the lackeys. I had to end this.
Hwang roared, swinging wildly, but he was losing control. I dodged with ease, adjusting Vega's Brand to throw off his balance at key moments.
Then, I saw my opening.
I ducked beneath his final desperate swing, surged forward, and drove my fist into his gut with everything I had.
He choked, staggering back. His mace slipped from his grasp.
And then, finally, he collapsed.
The dungeon was silent once more.
I let out a slow breath, rolling my shoulders as the system chimed in my vision.
[Enemy Defeated: Hwang Dongsuk]
[Reward Acquired…]
I exhaled, glancing at Jinwoo. He looked back at me, his expression unreadable.
.
.
.
By the time I got home, exhaustion had settled deep into my bones. The weight of the day—the fight, the betrayals, the kills—pressed on me, but I pushed it aside. I was alive. That was enough.
My house was dimly lit, the quiet hum of the city outside serving as a stark contrast to the chaos I had left behind. I tossed my jacket over a chair and made my way to the small table near my bed, pulling out the mana crystals I had snagged before leaving the dungeon. They gleamed faintly under the light, small but potent reminders of what I had been through.
Then, the system's notification rang again.
[You have unclaimed rewards.]
I exhaled, settling onto the edge of my bed. "Alright, let's see what you've got for me."
A familiar glow filled my vision as the system processed my performance in the dungeon.
[Due to exceptional combat performance and overcoming a life-threatening scenario, an additional reward has been granted.]
The air in front of me shimmered, and an object materialized in a flash of light, landing softly on the table.
I leaned forward, my eyes narrowing as I examined it.
It was a pair of gloves—dark, almost metallic-looking, with faint silver patterns woven into the fabric. They were sleek, lightweight, and had an unmistakable aura of power humming beneath their surface.
[Item Acquired: Phantom Stride]
[Item Description: A unique artifact that enhances speed, reaction time, and evasion. The gloves adapt to the wearer's movements, reducing the strain of high-speed combat. When activated, the user's footsteps become nearly silent, allowing for seamless movement in battle.]
I let out a low whistle. "Damn…"
These weren't just an upgrade—they were exactly what I needed. Mercury's Requiem was already pushing my body to its limits when I moved at full speed, and Vega's Brand had given me the ability to manipulate my weight mid-motion. But this… Phantom Stride would refine my movements, making my attacks smoother, my dodges sharper.
I slipped the gloves on, flexing my fingers. They fit perfectly, like they had been made for me. A strange sensation ran up my arms—like a static charge, but softer, more controlled.
The system's final message popped up.
[Adaptation in progress. Phantom Stride is now synced with Mercury's Requiem.]
I clenched my fists, feeling the way the gloves molded to my movements. This was going to change things.
And considering what had happened today, I had no doubt I was going to need every advantage I could get.