The city was buzzing.
From online forums to hunter cafés, from academy bulletin boards to corporate guild halls—one topic spread like wildfire:
The Silver Cross Union was personally recruiting an unknown exorcist.
A mysterious newcomer who cleared dozens of high-difficulty requests in record time.
They called him "The Phantom."
No face, no background, no trail.
Just results.
---
Meanwhile, in one of the upper floors of the Han Ye-rin Group, one of Korea's top five guilds, a man in a neat vest paced the hallway with a phone to his ear.
"...The Silver Cross Union themselves are looking for him." His voice trembled with both irritation and excitement. "Do you even understand what that means? Someone of at least high A-Rank, maybe even S-Rank, just appeared out of nowhere!"
A nervous voice replied from the other side:
> "W-We're sorry, sir. We didn't know those requests were being cleared by a single person… not until the reports came in—"
"Forget excuses." The man cut him off. "Just find him. Recruit him before Silver Cross does. If we lose a talent like that, we're finished."
> "Yes sir!"
The call ended with a sharp beep.
---
Back at home, Jae-min sat on the couch with his younger sister Quinn, watching the news play footage of guild analysts discussing "The Phantom."
Quinn, munching on chips, pointed at the screen.
"Woah… that guy must be super strong, right? He did all those missions alone? I hope my brother becomes someone like that too!"
Jae-min nearly choked on his drink.
"R-Right… yeah. That'd be cool," he replied calmly on the outside—
While screaming internally:
> How would she react if I told her that "mysterious exorcist" was literally me??
He decided today would not be a hunting day. He had already reached Level 27 of the 88-floor trial. His strength was growing steadily—his skills evolving.
Instead, today… would be for Quinn.
He turned and flicked her forehead gently.
"Get dressed. We're going out."
"H-huh?? Really?? For real?! No take-backs?!" Quinn's eyes sparkled.
"Yeah," he smiled. "Let's catch up. We missed enough time already."
Quinn threw herself at him—
Or at least tried to.
WHOOSH.
Jae-min sidestepped casually.
THUD.
"Ow—! You big JERK!" she yelled, face planted into the carpet.
He laughed.
She laughed.
That was enough.
---
They spent the day together.
A sunny park picnic.
Movies.
Street snacks.
Fancy restaurants.
Shopping until their arms were full.
Whenever girls tried to ask for Jae-min's number—
Quinn stepped forward like a rabid guard dog.
"No."
"No."
"No."
"Try again and I'll break your nails."
Sisters had unique talents.
By evening, Quinn was practically melting into the passenger seat.
"Today was… the best," she murmured, eyes half-closed. "Thank you, Oppa…"
"For the hundredth time, you don't need to thank me," he answered softly. "We're family. That's all."
The sunset stretched warm gold across the car windows.
For a moment, life was peaceful.
---
But peace doesn't last.
When they arrived home, a figure stood by the front gate.
A woman with smooth black hair tied behind her ear, sharp eyes, and a casual leather jacket.
Her presence was quiet—but undeniably trained.
Baek Eun-ji.
The rising star of the Blue Ravens Guild.
And the girl who had once crossed paths with Jae-min in a dungeon.
Her eyes met his.
Recognition.
Curiosity.
Something else.
"Oppa?" Quinn blinked. "You know her?"
Jae-min nodded.
"Go inside first. I'll talk with her."
Quinn hesitated for a second, then went in.
The door shut behind her.
Jae-min turned to Eun-ji.
She smiled faintly.
"You really don't like staying hidden very well… do you?"
---
---
The street was quiet, the air cool. After Quinn went inside, Baek Eun-ji stood with her hands in her jacket pockets, looking up at Jae-min with an unreadable expression.
"I'm not here to cause trouble." She spoke first. "I just want to ask you a few things. My guild wants some clarification. Nothing more."
She tilted her head slightly. "Walk with me?"
Jae-min didn't answer right away. His instinct said to refuse.
But unnecessary attention was more troublesome.
"…Fine."
They walked side by side down the park path, the faint glow of street lamps guiding their steps. Leaves rustled in the evening wind.
After a moment of silence, Eun-ji asked quietly:
"So… who are you, exactly?"
Jae-min exhaled, expression flat.
"I'm sure you've already done your research. So don't ask questions like you don't know anything."
His eyes turned toward her. "Go straight to the point."
She stopped walking.
"…Your sister."
Her voice softened slightly. "She looks healthy. Better than when she was in the coma. I'm glad."
Jae-min's eyes flickered—just for a moment.
Eun-ji continued, tone returning to business:
"My guild captain told me to investigate the newcomer everyone's calling 'The Phantom.' The one who cleared all those exorcist requests in impossible time."
Jae-min's lips curved slightly.
"So this is where you ask the real question."
Her gaze sharpened.
"Jae-min… are you the Phantom?"
The night paused.
Both stood still.
Staring.
Neither blinking.
Finally, Jae-min let out a low breath and shook his head.
"If I were that guy, don't you think I would've joined a guild already?"
His lie was clean. Smooth. Practiced.
Eun-ji studied him.
Then… her shoulders eased. She exhaled, relieved.
"…Alright. I'll take your word."
But she wasn't finished.
"One more question," she said.
Jae-min's steps stopped.
"Where did you get all that money? Last time I checked—sorry to say this—but you were broke, with your life falling apart."
Jae-min froze silently for a moment.
Then answered without hesitation:
"Before I was fired, the company compensated me with a large severance package for my long service. I just never touched it until now."
The lie slid out just as smoothly as the first.
Eun-ji held his gaze.
Five seconds.
Ten.
Then she smiled and looked away.
"…Okay. I'll drop it."
She stepped forward again.
"For what it's worth, our door is still open for you. If you ever want to join the Blue Ravens, you'd be welcomed."
She began to walk away.
But Jae-min's voice stopped her.
"I'm not joining any guild."
Eun-ji turned back, brows raised.
"Then what? You plan to run around solo forever?"
"No."
His answer was quiet, yet firm.
"I'm going to make my own guild."
Eun-ji stared.
Then—she actually laughed. Not mockingly. Just… surprised.
"That's one hell of a dream. But it's never going to be easy. Maybe even impossible."
Jae-min didn't reply.
He simply walked over to the small grassy field beside the park and sat down.
The moon shone above—round, bright, untouchable.
His voice was steady.
"All my life, I've been stepped on. Used. Ignored."
He closed his eyes.
"Now, I'll write the story myself. I'll decide how it ends."
Eun-ji silently watched him for a moment—then walked away.
---
Meanwhile — Han Ye-rin Group Headquarters
The executive from earlier walked alongside two guild staff members down a marble hallway.
"So how do we find him, sir?" one of them asked. "Everyone is trying to track down the Phantom. If Silver Cross recruits him first—"
"That's exactly why we can't rush," the executive interrupted. "The Phantom is aware every guild wants him. If we push too hard, he'll only hide deeper."
The second man nodded slowly.
"So… we wait?"
"We watch," the executive corrected. "A hunter that skilled won't stay quiet forever. When he moves, we move. Not before."
A thin smile crossed his lips.
"Because the moment he shows himself… we'll make sure he realizes we are the only guild worth joining."
The two men exchanged glances.
The hunt… had already begun.
---
Alright — here comes the Dungeon Arc / Ghost Chamber Arc, featuring the forced partnership between Phantom (MC) and Park Ji-hoon, the Blue Ravens Guild Master.
I'll write this in full Webnovel format, with intensity, pacing, tension, dialogue, ability usage, and MC proving he is HIM.
---
3 days later....
The sky was dim with evening clouds when the city alarms began to ring.
A new Ghost Chamber had appeared.
Unlike normal ghost rifts, Ghost Chambers were unstable dimensional pockets—once entered, there was no guarantee of escape until the boss was defeated.
Most exorcists avoided them.
But Jae-min stood before the swirling, black-purple gate, his hood drawn low.
He had come alone.
Or so he thought.
Footsteps approached—slow, composed, and almost silent.
A man in a perfectly fitted jet-black suit, tie glimmering like obsidian silk, walked to stand beside him. His face was calm, elegant. Almost aristocratic.
Park Ji-hoon. Guild Captain of Blue Ravens. One of the Top 5 S-rank exorcists in Korea.
"…You're here too." Ji-hoon's voice was low, collected. "Good. I was told another S-rank entered first, but it seems you arrived ahead of me."
Jae-min didn't respond.
They looked at each other—
And the gate pulled them both inside.
---
Inside the Ghost Chamber
They landed in a vast ruined hall, crumbled stone and hanging roots weaving through walls. A dark pressure filled the air, thick like smoke.
The system's voice echoed in Jae-min's mind:
> [Warning: A-Rank+ Ghost Boss Detected] [Ability: Energy Absorption – Capable of devouring ghosts and spiritual essence to enhance attacks.]
Jae-min exhaled softly.
So that's the gimmick.
A whisper crawled through the air.
Then—
BOOOOOM
A towering ghost emerged—massive, humanoid but twisted, its body made of dozens of screaming faces shifting across its form.
Its eyes burned purple.
Park Ji-hoon stepped forward first.
His voice remained perfectly calm.
"Stay close. I'll draw aggro."
His body suddenly phased, becoming transparent—like a ghost himself.
That was his ability:
Ghost Form — Dimensional Distortion
Physical attacks passed through him. Most curses could not bind him. Rules of the physical world—barely applied.
He moved like a blade of wind—silent, lethal. His strikes were sharp, perfect martial precision.
But the ghost was bigger. Stronger. And intelligent.
It roared—
And absorbed the spirits lingering in the chamber.
A wave of condensed, volatile ghost energy gathered—
And fired directly at Jae-min.
Ji-hoon extended a hand.
"I'll handle—"
But Jae-min had already moved.
His eyes sharpened under the hood.
Ghost Mapping Transmission — Activated
He vanished—teleporting behind the boss.
His dagger materialized in his grip, and dark aura flooded his muscles.
Spirit Enhancement — Level 5
The blow landed.
CRACK
The ghost reeled, roaring.
Ji-hoon paused mid-motion—eyes narrowing just slightly.
"…Fast."
The ghost retaliated—its arm morphing into a massive blade of condensed souls.
It swung.
Jae-min blocked—barely—but was launched backward.
Dust scattered.
The system chimed:
> [Analysis Complete] The boss must be prevented from absorbing spirit energy. Destroy energy cores within its body.
Jae-min smirked beneath his mask.
"Figures."
He raised his hand—
Dark Flame Conjuration
Black-purple fire spiraled from his fingertips.
He launched a barrage—forcing the ghost to defend rather than absorb.
Park Ji-hoon flickered beside him.
"You're… interesting."
"No time. Cover me."
"Very well."
Ji-hoon phased again, disrupting the ghost's movements, preventing absorption.
Jae-min created two portals mid-air—
One behind the monster. One behind himself.
Ghost Map Gate Link
He fired flames into the gate—
They emerged behind the boss, scorching the core embedded in its back.
The ghost screamed, staggering.
Jae-min dashed, chains erupting from the ground—
Spectral Chain Control
They wrapped the monster, binding it in place, just long enough—
For him to leap high—
Both daggers drawn—
Dark flame coating his arms—
And he descended, striking directly into the exposed core.
B O O O O M
A shockwave tore through the chamber.
The ghost shrieked—and disintegrated, its form crumbling into fading ash and light.
Silence followed.
Smoke settled.
Jae-min stood there, breath steady, eyes cold beneath his hood.
Park Ji-hoon watched him quietly.
"…You're not just strong."
His voice held no arrogance now. Only recognition.
"You're beyond the level of most S-ranks."
Jae-min turned to leave.
"No need to flatter me."
Ji-hoon scoffed lightly.
"That wasn't flattery."
He took a step forward, gaze serious now:
"Phantom. Whether you admit it or not—"
"You will change the balance of every guild in this country."
Jae-min paused.
Ji-hoon smiled—calm, controlled, and dangerous.
"I'll be waiting. When you decide to show your true face."
The chamber shattered.
Light swallowed them both.
---
---