The Otherworldly Magic Swordsman Who Disciplines the Hunter World Chapter 27

“Hunter Siyoung, have you ever seen a case like this?”

A vast field, so wide it was exhausting just to look at, spread out before their eyes. Leaving behind Woo Yujin, whose mouth was hanging wide open, Gu Jayoung called out to Gong Siyoung.

“It is a first for me. A dungeon where the state changes continuously like this.”

[System Notification]

▶ You have entered an 『F-rank Dungeon』.

▶ Attribute: Earth / Grassland Zone

▶ Time until Overflow: 14,566 hours

▶ Current Personnel: 63

[<The Chosen One> enters the dungeon! Increases allies’ Attack Power by 10% and Health Regeneration by 5%. Until deactivation: 00:30:00]

[1st Circle (D): ‘Limbo’ opens in 00:28:11]

Gong Siyoung was equally confused. This was exactly his third time entering the same dungeon. However, every single time, everything was different. The guidance on the status window, the environment—everything.

The first time it was fire, the second time it was a snowy field. And now, a peaceful meadow was visible. His head throbbed at the changes that lacked any common denominator.

Neither Woo Yujin nor Gu Jayoung looked pleased. Even to them, who had been raiding dungeons for a long time, this place was strange. The anxiety coming from the unknown mixed with the peaceful atmosphere, creating a bizarre sense of unpleasantness.

“Let’s head toward the Gate for now. Be careful not to fall behind.”

Before things became more serious, Myeong Haejin refreshed the mood. Following Myeong Haejin, who took the lead, they also reorganized their formation. Julian moved his feet to follow Gong Siyoung.

Nothing particularly happened until they reached the core area. True to its name as an F-rank dungeon, there were no notable threats. It wasn’t long before they reached their destination.

In the center of the field—where the collapsed floor and the thickly piled snow had disappeared—stood a single door that didn’t fit its surroundings.

Amidst the secluded and peaceful landscape, the black door drew attention like a splash of ink on white paper.

It was narrow enough for only one person to barely pass through. The black door stood wide open, fully revealing its dark interior.

Just then, a red notification window flashed as if issuing a warning.

[1st Circle (D): ‘Limbo’ opens in 00:07:11 ]

A strange tension circulated among the Hunters watching the decreasing numbers. Julian, mixed in with them, stared at the Gate entrance. Readjusting his cap, he narrowed his eyes.

“Hmm…”

The colors of the mana stretching outward were a vivid blue and yellow.

What were the cases where those colors appeared? Julian quickly rummaged through the memories in his head.

It wasn’t easy to make a judgment based solely on the color of mana, but he could roughly piece it together based on experience.

While it wasn’t always the case, mana colors usually followed the colors of the natural elements. Red was the fire attribute, blue was the water attribute; following that logic, beyond that door…

He lightly tapped Gong Siyoung, who was next to him.

“Can you do something like that?”

“Like what?”

Gong Siyoung answered without taking his eyes off the Gate. As the remaining time dropped below one minute, the ground rumbled from somewhere with a roar.

[1st Circle (D): ‘Limbo’ is unlocked.]

The Gangnam Guild team stopped in front of the door. Just before they entered, another guidance window appeared above the Gate entrance.

[All hope abandon, ye who enter here.]

“Uh…?”

At the phrase that was either a warning or a threat, Woo Yujin opened his eyes wide. He vigorously shook the arm of Gu Jayoung, who was beside him.

“Uh? Uh? I’ve heard that somewhere before! What is it? What is it? I’ve definitely seen it somewhere!”

Gu Jayoung fluttered powerlessly every time he shook her arm.

“Our Yujin is acting up again.”

“No! I’m not acting up, I really have heard that somewhere!”

“Where?”

“I said, somewhere! Somewhere!”

Woo Yujin could not easily answer when asked where exactly that “somewhere” was.

“Stop acting up and let’s prepare to enter.”

She patted Woo Yujin as if soothing a child. With an expression of extreme frustration, Woo Yujin grabbed his head.

In the meantime, the rumbling of the ground intensified. The Hunters entered the open door one by one.

They disappeared one by one into the swirling mana. Every time, the flickering of blue and yellow grew slightly stronger.

Julian, the only one here unable to see the status window, grabbed Gong Siyoung’s arm again.

“Can you do something like a shield? Preferably one that can provide insulation.”

“…Insulation?”

“It doesn’t have to be, but for now, the sturdier, the better?”

To those words, Gu Jayoung answered before Gong Siyoung. She lightly raised her hand.

“If a barrier is needed, I’ll do it. But since we’re entering one by one, the distance will grow… it’ll be hard to take care of everyone.”

“How many can it apply to?”

“Even if I expand it to the maximum… one person in front and one behind?”

Julian wrinkled the bridge of his nose. Then, it was three people in total. He gestured to Myeong Haejin and Woo Yujin.

“Then go in with those people over there. I’ll take care of things here.”

He pulled on Gong Siyoung’s arm. At Julian’s request, the entry order was changed just before. Gu Jayoung, who could cast a barrier, stood between Myeong Haejin and Woo Yujin, and Julian took his place after Gong Siyoung.

While preparing the shield magic, Julian scratched his head. Whether he was right or not, there was no harm in being careful.

“Hunter Gu Jayoung.”

Myeong Haejin gave the signal. Immediately, Gu Jayoung used her skill. A translucent membrane spread around the group standing close together.

“Entering.”

Myeong Haejin’s back disappeared into the narrow, dark door. To prevent the distance from widening, Gu Jayoung quickly followed and entered.

A brief silence fell after the three people, linked together like a string of sausages, finished.

Gong Siyoung approached the Gate without a word. Julian quickly cast a shield. It was a magic as familiar to him as breathing.

The shimmering light gray surface moved along with him. Fearing he might miss it, he focused his senses on Gong Siyoung’s presence.

As soon as they passed through the narrow door, a burning smell rushed in. A flashing light reflected off his face as he reflexively wrinkled his nose.

The space before his eyes flickered. In the very next moment, lightning struck along with a thunderous roar that seemed to tear the sky.

It also sounded vaguely like something collapsing. The pitch-black sky flickered, creating dozens of lightning bolts. Lightning strikes fell from all directions.

The world blinked about once every few seconds. Every time the light came and went, the world flared up brilliantly before being swallowed by darkness again.

Julian relied on those few seconds of light to quickly grasp the surrounding situation. Every time it flickered, he saw people collapsed on the field. Their teams were gathered near the Hunters who had fallen, likely having been struck by lightning.

Gong Siyoung was standing a few steps away. He hurried toward him. Gu Jayoung, Myeong Haejin, and Woo Yujin were also nearby, calmly looking around. Even in that moment, lightning continued to strike.

Rumble!

A blue lightning bolt struck right down onto Gu Jayoung’s shield. Electric currents splattered in all directions the moment the lightning hit.

Woo Yujin, who reflexively lowered his body, sucked in a breath.

“At this rate, half the people would have been knocked out before even finding a monster.”

Myeong Haejin clicked his tongue. Not far from them, there were also men slumped on the ground. The jackets labeled ‘Strong Man’ reflected the light every time the lightning flashed.

“The barrier’s durability is continuously dropping. We must move quickly.”

Even as he said those words, lightning struck the barrier. He couldn’t focus at all due to the incessant lightning strikes.

“Those people haven’t passed away, have they?”

Woo Yujin looked at the collapsed Hunters with anxious eyes. There were many Hunters who had been struck by lightning immediately upon entry. Among them were the Gangnam Guild Hunters who had volunteered to be the leaders of this raid.

Those who were quick-witted enough to cast a barrier or shield were fine, but many teams were seen collapsed powerlessly as a whole. It was the result of letting their guard down because it was a D-rank dungeon.

“Hmm… I’ll go talk to them about whether we should proceed with the raid. Just a moment.”

Maintaining the barrier, the three moved together. Other guilds that were in a state of confusion also hurriedly gathered when Myeong Haejin waved his hand.

Julian watched the scene blankly. Every time the light came on, the world brightened before sinking into darkness. The scenes looked disconnected.

The Hunters who were still able to move mostly looked flustered, surprised, or confused. Judging by their reactions, it seemed that cases like this happening immediately upon entry were not common.

Gong Siyoung lightly tapped him as he stood there blankly lost in thought.

“How did you notice? That a shield would be needed here?”

Instead of answering, he shrugged his shoulders. It wasn’t that he knew, but rather he just guessed it might be the case. Since when blue and yellow mana swirl, people usually think of thunder and lightning.

The area that appeared right after crossing the river, before passing through the Great Canyon, was exactly like that. A world of lightning and thunder that struck eternally. Though it looked terrifying, the threat wasn’t great as long as one avoided the lightning bolts.

Of course, this wasn’t that place, so it was a total coincidence. He had just made a guess based on the mana color; it wasn’t the same place.

But there’s no need to ruin the vibe by saying ‘I just guessed,’ right? Julian kept his words to himself.

As he looked away with a meaningful expression, Gong Siyoung’s gaze sharpened. Julian quickly pointed forward before he could press further.

“That way looks like a path?”

Walking ahead with quick steps, he almost let Gong Siyoung out of the shield. Startled, he hurriedly stepped backward.

He gave an awkward smile to Gong Siyoung, who was staring at him as if asking what he was doing. Gong Siyoung warned him with a stern face.

“Don’t act individually in the dungeon…”

He stopped mid-sentence and shut his mouth. Gong Siyoung’s gaze became fixed in the air. Having seen the same sight multiple times, Julian also knew what this meant.

“Why? What does it say on the status window?”