Si-Hun felt the strange shift in energy.
Kuro too sensed the abnormality.
Si-Hun entered the portal.
As soon as they entered the portal, a group of ants came sparring towards their group.
Everyone spun into action.
One came towards Si-Hun, but he jerked it away with one hand.
Then, he took out his dagger and cut through the ant's skin.
Thankfully, no one noticed.
Except for someone.
Their team had hired two new members.
They seemed normal.
Si-Hun would kill any ant that came his way.
He also leveled up.
He gained XP.
They moved to the boss's chamber.
The boss was a normal ant.
Si-Hun knew that his teammates could kill it, so he didn't do anything.
This portal was normal, so why did it give off energy?
They cleared this portal.
For the next one, Si-Hun went home and got refreshed.
He went to the second portal, and it gave off that same kind of energy that the previous one did.
"Kuro, don't you feel the abnormality?"
"I do master, but nothing happened in the previous portal."
"I know, but this doesn't feel quite right."
"It doesn't."
They went and came safely.
The portal was cleared easily.
Almost…, too easily.
The third portal, when they reached it, was different.
More calm.
They entered, and nothing happened.
It was a different team, but there was one odd thing.
Those two new members were with them in all three raids.
It was definitely suspicious.
It caught the eye of Si-Hun.
"Kuro."
"Yes master?''
"Did you notice the two new members who were in 'our' team, but they are here too and were also a part of the other two raids?"
"Umm, no. I didn't really pay attention."
"They raise my suspicion that they're up to no good."
"Master, forget them and focus on your raid."
"I guess I can let this pass.'
But Si-hun was feeling uneasy.
It was strange that they hadn't seen even a single monster.
Si-Hun, at that moment, knew everything was off the track.
"I think that this portal was… misinterpreted.''
"What!?"
"I want to use my XP to level up right now."
"O-okay master. You just have to say "stats" and here, this ring also lets you access your stats, and you can communicate through it and it can be used for other purposes too. Please keep it safe.''
"Okay. It's good that it's not that confusing and can serve othe purposes as well."
"Stats."
When he said that, an opaque screen appeared.
The screen was glowing blue, and it looked like those futuristic screens in movies.
It showed his XP, which was right now at 38.
"Your XP can only help you level up, but you can't unlock a skill yet."
"Okay. I will level up."
"But, in what exactly?''
"Strength, and instincts."
"Okay."
Si-Hun tapped the screen and used his XP for strength and instincts.
[Stats Activated]
XP: 38
Strength: 24 → 43
Instincts: 19 → 38
Other Slots: Intelligence | Reflex | Explosive Power | Speed | Endurance | Perception
They walked deeper into the portal.
And there it was: the boss's chamber.
Si-Hun felt some kind of strange energy coming from it.
He entered with the others.
The boss was a beast.
He was MUSCULAR, and he looked too powerful.
But he seemed cliché.
"This is not a low-level monster!"
Si-Hun said to Kuro.
"I know. I think they misinterpreted it."
"I knew that. That's why I used my XP."
"Very smart, actually."
Everyone looked terrified.
They took a few steps back.
The wolf looked at them hungrily, like they were something to eat.
"H-he's gonna kill us!" someone shouted from the crowd.
"We will all die!" Another one screamed.
But during all of this drama, Si-Hun's eyes were on those two new guys, who seemed pretty calm about a situation like this.
"There is something wrong with those two. They seem dangerously calm."
"It's weird."
The shooters pointed their guns at the wolf and started shooting, but it wasn't doing any damage.
Si-Hun was hesitant to go and fight, since he wasn't sure if he'd be able to fight a monster this strong.
"Kuro, I'm not sure if I even stand a chance against this beast!"
'Master, this is not the time to be reluctant. You can do it."
Si-Hun needed that in the moment.
He let his fears aside and walked calmly, even though he was feeling weak.
He went past all the predators and stood his ground in front of the monster.
The two men's eyes turned sharp.
They observed him.
Every move.
They were silently studying Si-Hun behind their masks in the corner.
Kuro also sensed something wasn't so right about these guys.
On the other hand, everyone, after seeing the 'weak boy' coming forward, were surprised.
"What the heck are you doing, young man!?" A man from the group shouted.
"Si-Hun! What are you doing!? Stay back!" His team leader, who was an elderly old man shouted.
"He is reckless! How can he think that a novis like him could kill such a high-level monster!? You will die!"
"Shh''
Si-Hun murmured while putting his index finger on his lips, silencing them.
Everyone was scared. So no one said anything else.
All they cared about in that moment was how to save themselves and leave this cursed place.
The wolf stared at Si-Hun.
His stare was mocking.
Si-Hun took out his dagger from his bag.
He was small against the wolf, but only in size.
The wolf howled and jerked his hand to push Si-Hun, but Si-Hun was fast enough to move aside.
The wolf was angry, and he outgrew his sharp nails, which were like a warning.
But Si-Hun, being a stubborn man, didn't back out.
He stood sturdy and looked the wolf directly in the eyes.
"Short-tempered, huh?''
The wolf didn't understand what he was saying, but he knew he was mocking him.
The wolf scratched Si-Hun's arm.
Blood dripped from his arm.
He looked at the peeled-off skin of his arm.