DPGR 52

“The vortex seems to be growing! You need to hurry!”

“…Ha.”

Pressed by the anxious Center staff, Dojin had no choice but to swallow his unease and allow Jiho to accompany them.

“Captain… just in case, I brought Heendungi’s token.”

Yulchan, who had been hesitantly observing the situation, pulled a worn necklace from his pocket and offered it.

Dojin took the necklace and gave Heendunhi a firm command.

“When we enter the gate, don’t leave Guide Jiho’s side no matter what.”

“Use every ability you have to protect Jiho Guide. No matter what. Got it?”

Heendungi snorted but immediately wrapped his tail around Jiho’s waist and nuzzled his forehead into Jiho’s side. As if to say he would protect him without needing orders.

Dojin let out a breathy, baffled laugh.

“Team Alpha and Guide Seo Jiho commencing subjugation of the Incheon B-rank small-scale dungeon.”

Finally, after gathering his team, Dojin signaled the Center staff to begin the raid. Jiho’s face lit up.

And so, the dungeon subjugation began.

As they passed through the portal Yulchan created, a wave of hot, humid air hit them all at once.

When Jiho opened his eyes, a dense, green tropical rainforest stretched out before him.

“Oh, thank god I took my outerwear off,” came Kijoon’s voice from ahead, joking casually.

Jiho quickly scanned his surroundings.

It really is the same dungeon.

His mouth went dry. He was tense, and so was Dojin—both men feeling a strong sense of déjà vu as they took in the jungle-like landscape.

Just like the tropical forest from that dream…

While Dojin stood rigid, the dungeon’s initial zone remained peaceful. The rest of the team loosened up, chuckling and chatting.

“Crap! I didn’t put on sunscreen!”

“Kyaaa! Kijoonie, this feels like a vacation abroad, doesn’t it?”

“It’s kinda hot…”

“Yeah. If we’d kept our coats on, we’d be dying.”

Even the vice-captain, Sehun, looked relaxed.

Dojin’s eyes flitted between his excited team and the one person who stood out—Jiho, stiff and pale, scanning his surroundings nervously.

‘Is he just anxious since it’s his first dungeon?’

Trying to guess Jiho’s thoughts, Dojin reined in the team’s energy.

“Let’s head in deeper. Formation, stay sharp.”

“Yes, sir!”

Dojin forced the lingering fragments of his dream out of his mind, grounding himself in the present.

The raid went smoother than expected. Honestly, it was more like a C-rank than B.

So much so that Kijoon even joked that the Center must’ve misclassified it.

But Dojin couldn’t relax.

It’s getting more and more like the dream.

The deeper they went, the stronger the déjà vu became. Every part of the terrain aligned with what he’d seen in his dream.

SKREEEEK—!

“Two o’clock! I’ll get it!”

Thwack!

A monster burst from the underbrush, only to be immediately swatted aside by Kijoon’s shield.

Dojin glanced at it— a small, light brown monkey-like monster, squirming on the muddy ground.

Just like in the dream.

Screeee! Scree!

“I’ll handle this one!”

Jihye unleashed a magic arrow that instantly struck down another charging creature. The monsters dropped with no resistance.

“Whew. This is too easy. Way too easy.”

“Ugh, I was looking forward to something real. I’m not even warmed up.”

Though monkey-type monsters were known for attacking in groups, they weren’t especially powerful. The team easily handled them without needing coordinated formations.

As a result, tension lowered even further, and the mood grew sluggish from the ease of their streak.

Dojin, unable to completely hide his disappointment, glanced around at his team—only to freeze when he noticed Jiho standing off to the side.

Why…?

Despite the stable clearing, the light atmosphere, and their successful monster takedowns—Jiho still looked worse than before.

If anything, he looked paler. His caramel-colored eyes trembled with unease, locked onto the ground near Yulchan’s feet.

As if he was sure something dangerous would come from there.

“Jiho…”

RUMMBLLLEE—!

Just then, a deafening roar split through the air, and the ground began to tremble violently.

As Dojin moved toward Jiho, Heendungi quickly wrapped around him, steadying his swaying body.

“Form up! Be on alert!”

The muddy ground beneath them began to bubble ominously.

A chill ran down Dojin’s spine.

The current situation—and the exact spot Yulchan had been standing—matched his dream perfectly.

“So Yulchan!”

Without a second thought, Dojin activated his ability. Yulchan’s body shot through the air, landing right beside him.

“Wah—!”

At that very moment, a massive monster’s arm burst from the ground where Yulchan had just been.

Dojin left the frozen Yulchan where he was and ground his teeth as he watched the monster slowly rise from the mud.

Crash!

The creature slammed its enormous fist into the ground, flinging mud in every direction.

Dojin wiped the muck off his cheek with his fingers and glanced behind him to check on Yulchan, who was sitting on the ground, stunned.

More precisely, he checked his legs.

“…Ha.”

Yulchan was safe. The stuff on his cheek was just mud. His legs were intact—there would be no lasting injury.

Relief flooded through Dojin, and he exhaled. Even without a mirror, he could feel the blood drained from his face.

“C-Captain… th-thank y—”

“It’s fine.”

Snapping out of it at the sound of Yulchan’s trembling voice, Dojin immediately checked on the rest of the team and Jiho, then adjusted the grip on his spear—until now, just held without purpose.

“Kijoon, you stay on defense with Jiho Guide and the others. Jihye, keep watch for any more monsters popping up.”

“Got it!”

“Vice-captain.”

“My mana’s recharged!”

“Good. Attack when I give the signal.”

With rapid-fire commands, Dojin crouched low and shot forward like a bullet.

The monster had fully revealed its head, shoulders, and chest.

A large-class golem. No way this should appear in a small-scale B-rank gate.

GRRAAAAGH—!

The monster roared, shoulders rising, and began trying to pull out its other arm.

Not happening.

Dojin kicked off the ground, launching into the air. With his spear poised, he drove it straight into the monster’s incoming hand.

GRRAAGH!

He already knew how to handle golems. His mentor, Kwak Jiheon, had made him face all kinds of monsters during his training.

The spear pierced deep into the joint of the creature’s wrist. Once it was securely lodged, Dojin twisted it hard to the side.

Crack—!

A fracture split outward from the monster’s wrist. Dojin let go of the weapon entirely and leapt back, calling out.

“Now!”

“Yes!”

Sehun stepped forward and swung his magic staff. Sparkling flecks of frost gathered midair, transforming into razor-sharp ice shards.

A dozen or more glinting projectiles shot toward the golem.

“Aim for the joints and the eyes!”

The shards embedded themselves into the monster’s neck, shoulders, elbows, and face.

While the golem thrashed and bellowed, Dojin drew the gun holstered at his hip.

Click—

He aimed the muzzle straight at the glowing core-like stone set into the creature’s chest.

“…Haa.”

Exhaling low, Dojin pulled the trigger.

BANG—!

The shot rang out like thunder. The silver bullet struck the exact spot he’d aimed for—no margin for error.

Then, with a snap of his fingers—

Snap—

BOOOM!

It detonated.

Dojin’s signature ability: combustion through fire affinity.

“Hh…!”

Jiho, standing further back under the team’s protection, flinched as the heat wave swept past. He stifled a quiet gasp.

Even through the dull ringing in his ears, he could hear Heendungi’s low growl—grrrr…

Jiho’s eyes flew open.

From all directions, the monkey-like monsters that had been hiding now charged all at once, as if triggered by the explosion.

“What the hell—?!”

Caught off guard by the monsters’ sudden aggression, the team swung their weapons frantically.

In the chaos, one monster slipped past Kijoon’s defenses and lunged straight for Yulchan.

Focused on supporting Jihye’s attack, Yulchan didn’t see it coming.

Only Jiho, who had been watching Yulchan the entire time, noticed.

No…!

Jiho opened his mouth to shout, but the warning that came out was barely more than a whisper. It didn’t reach Yulchan in time.

Crunch—

“Aaagh!”

And then it happened.

The monster clamped down on the back of Yulchan’s neck and dragged him forward, throwing him to the ground.

The sharp, metallic scent of blood flooded the air in an instant.