Baekho Guild Headquarters – Central Seoul
The building stood tall like a fortress of glass and steel, its surface polished to a mirror shine. The Baekho emblem—an ancient white tiger encircling a glowing mana stone—was etched in silver across the lobby floor. Dozens of uniformed Hunters passed through the doors with calm precision.
This was not a place for E-ranks.
It was the territory of A-ranks and above—professional, lethal, elite.
And yet, here he was.
> "You're serious about this?" the receptionist asked, blinking at his application. "You're E-rank. We don't accept E-ranks into field operations unless you have a unique skill."
"I understand," Joo Yeong-su said politely. "But I'd like to apply for support duty or probationary field scout."
She frowned, but typed something on her terminal.
> "There's one opening on a temporary subjugation unit. It's an F-rank gate in the outskirts. No pay. High risk. No backup. You'll be expected to assist, carry gear, and not get in the way. You still interested?"
He nodded.
> "I'm not here to be safe."
---
[Mission Assignment – Temporary Field Scout]
Guild: Baekho (White Tiger)
Location: Seonam Quarry (Sector 9 – Outskirts)
Dungeon Type: Open Terrain / Burrowing-type Monsters
Rank: F (unstable)
Party Lead: Hunter Han Tae-gun (B-rank)
---
The van ride to the outskirts was silent except for the hum of the engine and the occasional radio check-in. Joo Yeong-su sat in the back with a dull gray support vest on, surrounded by crates of mana ropes and emergency flares.
In front sat three professional Hunters:
Han Tae-gun, the party leader—a B-rank swordsman with a military haircut, squared jaw, and a scar across his nose.
Kim Ga-yeon, a C-rank healer, quiet and observant.
Lee Sang-woo, a cocky D-rank fire user who kept glancing at Yeong-su with a smirk.
> "You look like you'll die before we even enter the gate," Sang-woo said with a laugh.
> "Did your parents pay someone to sneak you in?"
Yeong-su said nothing.
He didn't need to talk.
He just needed to see the dungeon.
---
Seonam Quarry Dungeon Gate – F-Rank (Unstable)
The entrance shimmered like a warped mirror above the quarry pit, guarded by two low-tier monitors. The gate itself was visibly flickering—unstable, leaking black mist at the edges.
Han Tae-gun turned to the group.
> "We're in and out. This is cleanup duty. Local reports say it's filled with Stone Crawlers—low mobility but strong shells. Fire and piercing attacks only. Watch your spacing."
His eyes landed on Yeong-su.
> "You don't do anything unless I say. Understand?"
Yeong-su nodded. "Yes, sir."
> "Good. Let's move."
---
Inside the Dungeon
The quarry transformed into a massive underground nest. Stone tunnels stretched endlessly in every direction, the walls lined with claw marks. The team's flashlights cut through the dark as they advanced, weapons drawn.
They encountered their first monsters within minutes.
Stone Crawlers—large beetle-like creatures with thick gray carapaces and glowing red eyes—charged out of the tunnels.
Han Tae-gun slashed the first one in half with a single clean swing. Sang-woo threw a fireball that roasted two more. Ga-yeon stood back, maintaining the mana barrier.
Yeong-su kept his eyes on the map marker in his system.
> 'That's not the real threat. The boss is moving underground.'
Suddenly—
DING!
[Foresight Activated – Lv. 1]
3 Seconds Ahead
His vision flashed—an image of the stone beneath Sang-woo cracking. A massive claw erupting upward. Death.
He moved instantly.
> "Get back!"
Yeong-su lunged forward, grabbed Sang-woo by the vest, and yanked him just as the ground exploded.
BOOM!
A massive Stone Burrower—a rare mutated variant—emerged with a roar, its jaws snapping shut inches from where Sang-woo's leg had been.
The others reacted late.
Han Tae-gun cursed. "What the hell?! That's not in the report!"
> "It's a mid-tier variant!" Ga-yeon shouted. "Not F-rank!"
Yeong-su didn't wait.
He rolled across the ground, grabbed a nearby spear from the supply pack, and dashed forward with unnatural precision.
> 'Foresight... Echo Vision... give me an opening.'
[Echo Vision – Lv. 1 Activated]
His world slowed.
The boss would swing its claw—then spin—then roar to stun.
He moved through the sequence like a ghost, sliding under its limb, stabbing upward.
CRACK!
The spear lodged into its underbelly—its only soft spot.
Han Tae-gun jumped in, capitalizing on the opening, slicing through the exposed wound. Sang-woo, still stunned, blasted the creature with fire. It shrieked and collapsed.
[Boss Defeated]
[EXP Gained – +913]
[Level Up – 3 → 5]
---
Later, back outside the dungeon, silence hung in the air.
Han Tae-gun approached Yeong-su, his gaze sharp.
> "You're E-rank…?"
Yeong-su met his eyes calmly. "That's what the test said."
Tae-gun didn't press further.
> "You have good instincts. You saved Sang-woo's life. That was a mutated burrower. You should've died."
Ga-yeon stepped forward. "Most E-ranks freeze. You didn't hesitate."
Sang-woo scowled but said nothing.
Tae-gun handed him a folded slip of paper.
> "This is a referral. Bring it to HQ. They're forming a new sub-guild branch under Baekho. It's for scouts. You'd fit."
> "...Thanks."
But Yeong-su's thoughts were elsewhere.
---
That night, back in his room, the system chimed again.
---
[New Skill Unlocked – Combat Prediction Lv. 1]
Passive: Predict hostile movement patterns and weak points within 5 meters.
[System Alert – Guild Access Achieved: Temporary]
[Main Quest Updated – "Climb the Guild Ladder or Break It"]
Objective: Gain permanent rank in a major guild OR create your own.
---
He leaned against the window, watching the lights of Seoul blink.
> "Let's see how long I can pretend to be weak..."
> "Before I rewrite the entire world of Hunters."