[Active Dungeon Quest: Investigate the Hidden Gate]
Location: Sector 3-B, Abandoned Subway TunnelsTime Until Breach: 71:12:36
[Recommended Party: 2-4 Members]
[Threat: ??? – Unstable Signature Detected]
[Warning: This Dungeon Has a Mutation Flag.]
❖ Guild Tower – Training Hall Lounge
Jin Hwan sat at the corner of the training lounge, a towel around his neck, hair slightly damp from sweat. Despite the constant training, he was still the weakest in the room—at least in terms of raw stats—but the atmosphere around him had changed.
He wasn't being laughed at today.
He was being watched.
Even the veterans pretended not to glance at him. But they did.
[System Mood: They're scared you might dodge their girlfriend's heart next.]
[Status Updated]
— Name: Jin Hwan
— Rank: F
— Class: Beast-Type (Rabbit)
— Title: Golden Ghost (Rumored)
──────────────
[Stats]
Strength: 9
Agility: 32 (+2)
Perception: 19
Intelligence: 15
Vitality: 13
Charm: 24
Stat Points Available: 1
──────────────
[Skills]•
Rabbit's Mark (Lv. 1)
• Aerial Drift (Lv. 2)
• Rabbit's Wind Aura (Lv. 1)
• Momentum Grace (Lv. 1 – Passive)
[New Quest Active]
– Golden Ghost Rumor
– Investigate Hidden Gate
– Sector 3-B
❖ Guild Conference Room – Unauthorized Meeting
"Absolutely not!" barked Instructor Bae Sang-Il, a B-rank veteran with a military buzz cut.
"He's F-rank! He doesn't even carry a weapon!"
Ryu Hae-Rin leaned back in the seat with a lazy smile, sipping iced coffee. "He won't need one."
Joo-Yeon crossed her arms, glaring daggers at Sang-Il. "He's fast. We don't need another heavy hitter. We need someone who can scout and survive."
Cho Hana leaned against the window sill, writing something in her notebook. Probably more death threats.
"He's going," Hana said quietly. "Or I'm not going either."
Sang-Il cursed under his breath.
"You're serious about this bunny boy?"
Ryu Hae-Rin's eyes glinted. "Deadly."
❖ Later – Hallway to Sector 3-B
The air grew colder the deeper they went.
The four of them stood in front of an old tunnel entrance. Rusted metal gates. A cracked sign: Line 3 – DECOMMISSIONED. NO ENTRY.
Static buzzed in the air.
[Golden Interface Activated]
You have approached a Hidden Gate.Would you like to sync your System to the Dungeon Core?
[Syncing will allow better environmental adaptation and loot recognition.]
Jin Hwan exhaled. "Yes."
The golden interface flickered—an elegant hum like chimes in the wind. For a moment, the dark tunnel ahead seemed to respond. The torches that weren't supposed to exist lit up with eerie golden light.
[System Sync: 4%... 27%... 71%...]
[Hidden Trait Detected – Rabbit Affinity]
Sub-Dungeon Condition Detected: "Burrowed Madness"
[WARNING]
This dungeon may shift structure mid-run.New Optional Objective Added: Survive without killing any creatures.
Jin Hwan blinked. "Wait, I can clear this without killing?"
[System Mood: Perfect challenge for a soft-hearted handsome idiot.]
Reward for Pacifist Clear: Unknown Legendary Skill
His eyes widened.
The others didn't see the full details—only their own interfaces. But Hana paused as she looked at him.
"…Your system's golden glow just got brighter."
He turned away, slightly embarrassed. "Is that… bad?"
"No," Hana muttered. "It's beautiful."
❖ Inside the Dungeon – "Burrowed Madness"
They moved slowly through the abandoned tunnels. It was like a maze—a shifting warren of old subway passages filled with darkness and decayed echoes.
Guttural snarls echoed around corners.
Then—
Skittering.
Hundreds of small feet.
A swarm of black, rabbit-like monsters with twisted red eyes poured from a broken wall. Each only the size of a cat—but fast, hungry, wrong.
[Monster Type: Hollow Warrenspawn]
[Class: D]
These creatures are the mutated shadows of beast-type energy. Infected with the dungeon's madness, they endlessly burrow through walls in search of warmth and sound.
[New Dungeon Bonus Objective: Touch no Warrenblood.]
"BACK!" Joo-Yeon shouted, forming a barrier of silver-blue flame.
Ryu Hae-Rin threw her glaive, piercing several of the beasts mid-air.
But Jin Hwan leapt forward.
"What are you doing?!" Sang-Il roared.
"I can redirect them!"
He activated Rabbit's Wind Aura and moved through the swarm with seamless grace, using Aerial Drift to bounce off walls, then pillars. He never touched the beasts—only disrupted their path.
[Momentum Grace Activated: +15% Dodge Efficiency][Skill Sync Bonus: Rabbit's Mark × 5]
[Temporary Title: Burrow Dancer Gained]
The creatures shifted—drawn to his movement, forgetting the others.
"I'm leading them deeper," he shouted. "Don't follow!"
"Wait—Jin Hwan!!"
He was already gone, the swarm flooding behind him into a separate tunnel.
[New Sub-Quest Received]– Burrowed Trial – Lure the Maddened Swarm to the Heart of the Dungeon
Avoid Damage. Reach the Core. Unlock Burrow Heart.
[Reward: ???]
[Failure: Mass spawn trigger and dungeon overload.]
❖ ??? – Burrowed Core
Jin Hwan landed in a vast underground chamber lit only by bioluminescent roots.
The swarm slowed… and stopped.
They surrounded him in silence.
Then—from above—something enormous stirred.
A massive golden-furred rabbit descended from the ceiling, eyes glowing like moons. But it looked… ancient. Not hostile.
It stared at him.
Then it nodded.
[You have encountered a Dungeon Warden: Hollow Guardian – Burrowfather]
[Interaction Pending…]
[System Compatibility Detected: Golden Interface + Beast-Type Affinity]
Do you wish to attempt bonding with the Warden Spirit?
[Y/N]
Jin Hwan stared, heart racing.
"…Yes."