The Assassin’s Pledge

The journey back to the surface was a blur of exhaustion and tension. The group moved in silence, their bodies aching and their minds weighed down by the horrors they had faced. The amulet in Sung-min’s pouch pulsed faintly, a constant reminder of the strange power they had encountered. As they emerged from the dungeon, the sunlight felt almost foreign, its warmth a stark contrast to the oppressive darkness they had left behind. The hunter’s guild was a bustling hub of activity, filled with hunters of all ranks exchanging stories, trading loot, and preparing for their next missions. The building itself was a massive structure of stone and wood, with banners bearing the guild’s emblem, a crossed sword and staff hanging from the walls. The air was thick with the smell of sweat, ale, and the faint metallic tang of blood. As Sung-min and his friends entered, they were met with a mix of curious glances and outright sneers. E-rank hunters were a common sight, but their disheveled appeara

The guild’s mission board was crowded with hunters of all ranks, their voices blending into a cacophony of excitement and tension. Sung-min and his friends stood at the edge of the crowd, their eyes fixed on the newly posted mission. It was a D-rank dungeon, located in the dense forests outside the city. The description was brief: “Investigate and clear the dungeon. High mana fluctuations detected. Proceed with caution.”“This could be our chance,” Sung-min said, his voice low. “If we clear this dungeon, we might finally get some answers about the amulets.”“Or it could be another trap,” Li Wei muttered, adjusting his glasses. “We’ve been lucky so far, but our luck won’t last forever.”“We don’t have a choice,” Dae-hyun said, his tone firm. “We need to get stronger, and this is the only way.”Jung Uk nodded, his eyes gleaming with determination. “Let’s do it. But we stick together, no matter what.”The journey to the dungeon took them through dense, shadowy forests where the trees see

The group spent the next few days recovering from their injuries and planning their next move. The amulet’s power had given them a glimpse of what they were capable of, but it had also raised more questions than answers. What was the Shadow System, and why had it chosen them? What was the connection between the amulets and the ancient systems mentioned in the book? Most importantly, how could they use this power to protect their families? “We need to learn more about the Shadow System,” Li Wei said, flipping through the pages of the ancient tome they had retrieved from the archives. “If we’re going to control it, we need to understand it.” “And we need to find the other amulets,” Sung-min added. “If they’re as powerful as this one, they could be the key to reaching A-rank.” “But how do we find them?” Dae-hyun asked, his brow furrowed. “We don’t even know where to start.” “We start with the guild,” Jung Uk said, his eyes gleaming with determination. “If anyone knows about the amule