From Trash Rank to Untouchable

4

Eric found himself in a cavern so vast it seemed endless.

Stalactites hung like jagged teeth from the ceiling, dripping water that echoed through the cavern and the ground beneath his feet was uneven, littered with rocks and debris.

Strange glowing moss clung to the walls, faintly illuminating narrow passages that split off in multiple directions.

“Jeff, light the place up,” Regan ordered. “Everyone else, stay alert.”

Eric watched in awe as a young man named Jeff extended his hand and conjured a bright, circular light that floated above them.

The rest of the hunters looked so calm, he could tell this wasn't their first rodeo. They were already adjusting their armor, weapons drawn, eyes scanning the cavern.

And Eric? Every step he took was making the backpack feel heavier. He had never been in this situation before and had no idea what to expect or what he would do once he saw a monster.

He had read about monsters, seen their images in books, watched videos of Hunters fighting, but he had never seen one in person.

‘Okay… just carry the supplies. Don’t die. Don’t do anything stupid,’ Eric reminded himself, swallowing hard as his fingers dug into the straps, forcing one foot in front of the other.

Then a low, guttural growl echoed from deeper in the cavern, sending a chill straight down Eric’s spine. His heart skipped before he could stop it.

Regan immediately tightened his grip on his sword, his gaze sweeping the darkness ahead.

“That sounds like an Omega Wolf,” he said, voice low and serious. “This dungeon is a wolf territory.”

One let out a quiet breath and nodded.

“Then the Alpha must be the boss,” he said. “The one we have to kill to clear this dungeon.”

“Figures,” another Hunter muttered. “Wolf-type dungeons always work that way.”

“Good thing we came prepared,” someone said, already reaching into the bag. “Let’s coat our weapons in wolfsbane. Quickly.”

They took the bag from Eric without ceremony, coating their blades one after another. At the same time, three Hunters stepped forward and spread out, forming a guard line, eyes locked on the shadows in case something rushed them.

‘A dungeon wolf…’Eric thought as he watched them. ‘A-rank level.’

‘Then these wolves aren’t like the ones outside.’

The thought scared him a little.

“Grrrrrr….”

The sound came again and everyone stared at where it was coming from.

Then, right in front of them, a massive blue-eyed wolf stepped into the light. It stood at 5’6’’, muscles taut beneath its fur, sharp fangs bared as it snarled, killing intent rolling off it in waves.

“Awooooo!!!”

The Omega lunged.

“Regan!” someone shouted.

A sword was thrown toward him.

Regan caught it instantly, and the moment his hand wrapped around the hilt, flames burst to life along the blade. Fire crawled up the steel as his ability activated, heat distorting the air around him.

The wolf leapt, jaws snapping and Regan stepped in and swung.

The flaming sword cut through the Omega’s neck cleanly. The head flew off, hitting the ground with a dull thud, followed by the heavy collapse of its body.

Regan scoffed, lowering his blade, flames dying down as he glanced at the fallen monster.

“Hah.” He sneered. “Easy.”

Eric gulped, staring at the dead wolf. The fight had ended so fast he hadn’t even realized he’d stopped breathing.

For a second, he almost felt like clapping.

Regan turned and glanced at him with a sneer.

“Just stay hidden,” he said. “You don’t want to get caught up in this now, do you?”

Eric nodded stiffly, and wore the backpack again, gripping the straps tighter.

So this is what real Hunters look like…

And for the first time, he understood just how wide the gap truly was.

‘Yeah, it’s better I do stay hidden… then a million SLC is mine after,’ Eric thought.

His eyes widened.

Five, maybe more, blue-eyed wolves stepped out from the darkness, their forms appearing one after another. Low growls overlapped, echoing through the cavern until it felt like the walls themselves were closing in.

And just like that, the battle began.

Eric pressed himself into a corner, barely breathing, as the Hunters charged forward. Their coated steels clashed against the monsters’ flesh, abilities flared to life, and one wolf after another fell to the ground, lifeless.

The Hunters moved like a team that had done this countless times before, including Regan. With how strong Regan was, Eric had no chance making him his enemy.

He was nothing compared to Regan.

However, for every wolf that died, another showed itself from the shadows.

Then Eric noticed it.

One wolf stepped forward, separating itself from the others. Its eyes glowed a deep golden yellow, and its body was larger, broader, standing nearly 5’11’’.

The air around it felt heavier, oppressive.

“Shit…” Eric muttered under his breath.

Regan’s eyes narrowed, but there was no fear in them.

“Everyone, stay sharp,” he said. “That one is a beta.”

The Hunters tightened their grips, adjusting their stances.

“Let’s finish this and move on to the boss,” Regan continued calmly.

“Growwwwl!!”

The beta released a thunderous roar and the cavern walls shook violently as its aura exploded outward, a crushing pressure that slammed into everyone at once.

Hunters were thrown back like ragdolls.

Eric’s back hit the wall hard, the air knocked out of his lungs as pain shot through his shoulders.

Only two remained standing.

Regan.

And a B-rank Hunter beside him, knees bent, teeth clenched, barely holding his ground.

Regan straightened fully, rolling his neck once as if loosening up. A confident smirk tugged at his lips as flames surged up his sword, burning hotter and brighter than before.

“Rest of you,” he said evenly, eyes locked on the beta, “gather the treasures.”

He took one step forward.

“I’ll deal with this beast.”