Chapter 18: The Unseen Faction

Over the next few days, Jinyoung couldn’t shake the feeling that he was being watched. The whispers returned intermittently, faint and cryptic. But each time they did, they left him with a deeper sense of unease. It wasn’t just the system that had taken notice of him—there was something bigger, something ancient, lurking beneath the surface of the dungeons.

His training became more focused. Every time he practiced his newly acquired abilities—Dawn of the Summoner and Space Manipulation—he felt the presence grow stronger, as though his use of these powers was triggering something deeper within the world itself.

Then, one night, the system reappeared with an urgent message:

[System Alert: A new quest has been unlocked.]

[Quest: The Hidden Hand]

[Objective: Survive the first trial and uncover the truth behind the dungeons.]

Jinyoung’s heart pounded as he read the screen. The first trial? The system had never mentioned trials before. And the reference to uncovering the truth behind the dungeons sent a chill down his spine.

[Location: Unknown Dungeon—Access Unlocked.]

Before Jinyoung could process it further, his vision blurred, and the familiar sensation of being transported into a dungeon took hold. But this time, something felt different. The transition was rougher, as though the world itself resisted his presence.

When his vision cleared, he was standing in an unfamiliar dungeon—one unlike any he had encountered before.

The walls of the dungeon were made of glowing obsidian, pulsating faintly with an eerie blue light. Strange symbols and runes, written in a language Jinyoung didn’t recognize, covered every surface. The air was thick with mana, so dense it was hard to breathe. The oppressive atmosphere weighed on him, but he forced himself to remain calm.

"The trial begins," the whispering voice said, louder now, echoing through the dark corridors.

Jinyoung drew his sword and stepped forward, his All-Knowing Eye activating as he scanned the environment for threats. The mana flow here was wild, erratic, as if the dungeon itself was alive and watching him.

Suddenly, a dark figure emerged from the shadows ahead—a humanoid creature wrapped in black robes, its face hidden beneath a hood. Its aura was unlike any monster Jinyoung had encountered. This wasn’t a mindless beast. It was sentient.

The figure raised a hand, and blades of shadow shot toward Jinyoung at blinding speed.

"Dodge!"

Jinyoung’s instincts kicked in. He sidestepped, narrowly avoiding the attack, and retaliated with a blast of light magic, piercing through the darkness. But the figure moved with unnatural grace, dodging the light and countering with a wave of void energy that sent Jinyoung stumbling back.

BOOM!

The impact shook the dungeon, sending cracks through the walls.

This wasn’t like the battles in the academy or the dungeons he had faced before. This creature fought with intelligence, precision, and an understanding of the laws of magic that surpassed even the most skilled hunters.

Jinyoung pushed himself to his feet, wiping the blood from his lip. His All-Knowing Eye locked onto the figure’s movements, analyzing the way it shifted through the shadows.

He couldn’t rely on brute force. He had to adapt.

With a swift motion, Jinyoung summoned his shadow beast using Dawn of the Summoner. The creature lunged at the robed figure, its claws swiping through the air, forcing the enemy back. At the same time, Jinyoung activated Space Manipulation, drawing a series of enchanted weapons from his personal dimension and launching them toward the target.

The figure faltered, but only for a moment. It unleashed a barrage of void tendrils, severing Jinyoung’s weapons mid-air and destroying his shadow beast with a single strike.

"You must prove yourself worthy, marked one," the figure hissed, its voice distorted and filled with malice.

Jinyoung gritted his teeth. He had no choice but to push harder.

SLASH!

He closed the distance between them in an instant, his sword glowing with both light and darkness. With a precise strike, he aimed for the figure’s core, channeling his mana into the blade.

CRACK!

The figure staggered, dark energy spilling from its chest as Jinyoung’s blade found its mark. For a brief moment, the robed creature faltered, and Jinyoung saw something flicker beneath the hood—an ancient, otherworldly face, its eyes burning with cosmic power.

"You... are not yet ready," it whispered.

Then, with a final, earth-shattering blast of void energy, the figure vanished, leaving only silence in its wake.

Chapter 19: The Truth Behind the Dungeons

Jinyoung collapsed to the ground, his body trembling from the exertion of the battle. He had barely survived the encounter, but it had left him with more questions than answers. Who was that creature? And what did it mean by calling him the "marked one"?

As he sat there, catching his breath, the system reappeared.

[Quest Completed: The Hidden Hand—Survive the first trial.]

[New Information Unlocked: The Origin of the Dungeons.]

Jinyoung’s vision blurred again as a flood of images flashed before his eyes. He saw glimpses of ancient civilizations, long forgotten, and beings of immense power standing atop towering structures. These beings weren’t human. They were something else—primordial entities, their forms vast and alien.

They had created the dungeons, not as a natural occurrence, but as a test—a way to breed warriors, to find those strong enough to withstand what was coming.

The images shifted, showing scenes of war on a cosmic scale. Stars collapsing, galaxies torn apart, entire worlds consumed by darkness. The entities watched from afar, manipulating events to prepare humanity for the inevitable conflict.

A cosmic war is coming, the voice whispered in Jinyoung’s mind. And you, marked one, are at the center of it.

Chapter 20: The Dean's Suspicion

When Jinyoung returned to the academy, he kept his revelations to himself. The truth behind the dungeons was too dangerous to reveal, especially without fully understanding the scope of what he had learned. But he couldn’t ignore the weight of the knowledge. The dungeons weren’t just trials for survival—they were part of a greater plan, a way to prepare humanity for the cosmic conflict to come.

Over the next few days, Jinyoung threw himself into training, pushing his abilities to their limits. But the whispers hadn’t stopped. Every time he used his powers, especially Space Manipulation and Summoning, he felt the presence of those ancient entities lingering, watching his progress.

However, not everyone was unaware of the shifts in power. The dean had taken notice of Jinyoung’s sudden growth in strength, his extraordinary abilities, and the rumors surrounding his recent dungeon performances.

One afternoon, the dean summoned Jinyoung to his office once again. But this time, the atmosphere was different—heavier, filled with suspicion.

"You’ve grown rapidly, Jinyoung," the dean said, his tone sharper than before. "Far too rapidly for someone your age and experience."

Jinyoung met the dean’s gaze, careful not to reveal too much. "I’ve been working hard, sir."

The dean’s eyes narrowed. "Hard work doesn’t explain the way you’ve handled yourself in these dungeons. I’ve seen hunters train their whole lives to achieve half of what you’ve shown. I suspect there’s more to your abilities than you’re letting on."

Jinyoung tensed, but kept his expression neutral. He couldn’t afford to have the dean prying too deeply.

"You should be careful," the dean continued, his voice dropping to a low whisper. "Power like yours tends to attract attention—attention you might not want."

Jinyoung said nothing, but he could feel the tension between them growing. The dean knew something was off, but for now, he seemed content to let the matter rest.

"You’re dismissed," the dean said, waving his hand. "But keep in mind—there are those watching you."