The next morning came fast.
Too fast.
Adrian stood in front of the Hunter Association Mission Board.
Dozens of requests lined the wall.
Low-rank gates.
Escort missions.
Monster subjugation.
Now—
He could finally take them.
"…E-rank."
It still felt unreal.
But the system didn't lie.
[New Notification]
[Mission Available: Assigned Raid]
Adrian's eyes narrowed.
"…Assigned?"
Before he could check—
"Adrian Velasco."
He turned.
Vice Captain Seo approached, tablet in hand.
"You're joining a team."
Adrian frowned slightly.
"…I work better alone."
"I know," she replied calmly. "But this isn't optional."
A pause.
"…Why?"
Seo's gaze sharpened.
"…Because something's wrong."
That was enough.
"…Details."
Briefing Room
Three other Hunters sat around the table.
One glanced at Adrian—
Then scoffed.
"…This guy?"
Another leaned back, unimpressed.
"An E-rank rookie?"
The third said nothing.
Just watched.
Quiet.
Seo ignored them.
"This is a standard E-rank dungeon," she began.
"Or at least… it should be."
The screen lit up.
[Gate Type: Beginner Dungeon]
Expected Threat: Low
"…But?"
Adrian asked.
Seo tapped the screen.
"Three teams entered."
A pause.
"Only one came back."
Silence.
"…And?"
"They were injured."
Another pause.
"…Badly."
The room grew tense.
"Monsters didn't match the report," Seo continued.
"Stronger. Faster. More aggressive."
"…Mutation?" one Hunter asked.
"Possibly."
Seo looked at Adrian.
"…Or something worse."
His eyes sharpened.
"…Alright."
That was enough.
Dungeon Entrance
The gate pulsed violently.
Darker than normal.
Unstable.
"…Yeah," one Hunter muttered. "This feels wrong."
Adrian stepped closer.
[Warning: Abnormal Energy Detected]
"…So it's not just them."
Seo turned to the team.
"You enter. Investigate. Withdraw if necessary."
A pause.
"…Survive."
The gate swirled.
Adrian stepped forward.
"…Let's go."
And entered.
Inside the Dungeon
The moment they stepped in—
Everyone felt it.
"…This isn't a beginner dungeon."
The air was thick.
Heavy.
Corrupted.
Even the light felt wrong.
Adrian's eyes narrowed.
[Dominion Sense Activated]
Something pulsed in the distance.
"…There's something deeper inside."
"Stick to formation," one Hunter ordered.
Adrian didn't argue.
Not yet.
A growl echoed.
Then—
Monsters emerged.
But not normal ones.
Their bodies were twisted.
Distorted.
Veins glowing dark purple.
[Corrupted Beasts – Level 6]
"…Level 6?!"
"E-rank my ass!"
The monsters charged.
The team reacted instantly.
Steel clashed.
Magic flared.
But something was off.
Even when killed—
The monsters didn't fall normally.
They… dissolved.
Into ash.
Adrian's eyes widened slightly.
"…Again?"
The ash drifted.
Then—
Moved.
Toward him.
"…So it works here too."
The ash entered his body.
A pulse.
Stronger than before.
[Dominion Energy Increased]
Adrian's lips curled slightly.
"…Good."
Another wave came.
Stronger.
More aggressive.
But this time—
Adrian moved differently.
Faster.
Sharper.
Deadlier.
His dagger flashed—
Each strike precise—
Efficient—
The others noticed.
"…He's fast."
"Too fast for E-rank."
"Who the hell is this guy?"
Adrian didn't respond.
Because something changed.
The ash inside him—
Reached a threshold.
[Condition Met]
He froze mid-step.
"…Now?"
[Skill Unlocked]
[Summon: Ash Soldier (Lv. 1)]
Adrian's eyes darkened.
"…Finally."
Another monster lunged at him.
He raised his hand.
"…Rise."
The ash on the ground—
Moved.
Twisted.
Gathered.
Then—
It stood.
A figure formed.
Humanoid.
Armed.
Silent.
An Ash Soldier.
The entire team froze.
"…What the hell is that?!"
The soldier moved instantly.
It struck—
Fast.
Precise.
And killed.
Clean.
Effortless.
Adrian stared at it.
"…So this is my power."
More ash gathered.
More soldiers began to form.
One.
Two.
Three.
The battlefield shifted.
They weren't fighting anymore.
They were overwhelming.
The other Hunters stepped back.
Watching.
"…He's controlling them…"
"…Is that even normal?"
Adrian stood at the center.
Calm.
Dominant.
Like a king among soldiers.
His soldiers.
Then—
A scream echoed from deeper within the dungeon.
Not a monster.
A human.
The team froze.
"…Someone's alive?"
Adrian's eyes narrowed.
But his Dominion Sense—
Reacted violently.
"…No."
That wasn't relief.
That was danger.
"…That's bait."
The scream came again.
Closer.
Desperate.
"…Help—!"
The air twisted.
The ground trembled.
Something was coming.
Something far worse.
Adrian stepped forward.
Ash swirling around him.
"…Get ready."
His voice was calm.
But cold.
"…This is where it gets serious."