The next day after the E-Rank dungeon raid, Renji and the four recruits were in the training hall of the hunter's association having a spar against them. Renji having only a wooden sword while the
"Four against one," Min-seo said, a grin tugging at her lips. "Don't regret offering this challenge."
Renji smirked faintly. "I won't."
The first to move was Do-jin. With a roar, he charged, shield first, aiming to pin Renji against the wall. The impact rang out but Renji had already stepped aside, his wooden sword tapping against the side of Do-jin's shield as if to say, too slow.
Min-seo darted in immediately after, his strikes fast and relentless. Renji parried each one with smooth, almost lazy motions, his blade always where it needed to be. His frustration grew with every clash until his sword flicked against his wrist, forcing him to loosen his grip.
"Speed is nothing without control" Renji murmured, before sliding back into stance.
Hye-rin steadied her staff, lips moving as mana began to glow faintly at its tip. Renji's eyes flicked toward her, and in an instant he shifted. One step, two then his wooden sword tapped the staff before the spell could form, leaving her wide-eyed.
"You'll burn yourself out if you hesitate," he said calmly. "Practice chanting while moving."
Only Jae-hee remained at a distance, hands trembling as she raised a faint protective ward over Do-jin. Renji's gaze softened slightly she wasn't fighting, but she was supporting. It was instinct.
"Good," he said, stepping forward with a sudden burst of speed. The recruits tightened their formation, Do-jin raising his shield, Min-seo gritting his teeth, Hye-rin lifting her staff again.
Renji's wooden sword blurred. In three flowing strikes tap to Do-jin's shoulder, tap to Min-seo's knee, tap to Hye-rin's staff again he disarmed them all without leaving so much as a bruise.
The spar ended before they realized it had begun. The recruits stood frozen, their weapons scattered, their breaths ragged. Renji lowered his sword and rested it against his shoulder, expression calm.
"You did well," he said. "Not because you won but because you stood together. That's the first step." Their faces flushed with embarrassment, but behind their shame was something else respect, and the faintest spark of determination.
Renji turned his back to them, heading toward the edge of the training floor. "Again," he called over his shoulder, voice steady. "And this time, don't think of me as your teacher. Think of me as the monster standing in your way."
The four recruits were bent over, sweat dripping down their faces, wooden weapons trembling in their hands. Renji, standing in the center with his own plain wooden sword, looked as though he hadn't moved at all. A small round of applause came from the doorway.
"Not bad," Chaewon said, leaning casually against the frame. "They lasted longer than I thought."
The recruits straightened, startled. At the door stood Chaewon, with Sakura and Eunchae behind her. All of them wore amused smiles that only made the recruits more self-conscious.
Do-jin puffed up his chest. "We... we were getting closer to landing a hit."
Sakura laughed lightly, her voice gentle but teasing. "That's what I used to tell myself too. Trust me, it doesn't get easier."
"Easier?" Eunchae stepped forward, grinning at the recruits. "You're lucky you can still stand. My first spar with him? I couldn't walk straight after the fight."
Min-seo groaned. "That sounds about right."
Chaewon smirked, arms folded. "See? You're all officially part of the 'Renji's Victims Club.' Congratulations."
Hye-rin ducked her head, muttering, "That's not a real club"
"Yes it is," Eunchae said immediately, grinning wide. "We even joke about making matching shirts."
Jae-hee fidgeted with her charm, glancing at Renji. "Is... is he always like this?"
Renji, unfazed, rested the wooden sword against his shoulder. "If you want to survive a dungeon, you can't be soft."
"See?" Chaewon grinned wider, nudging Sakura. "Doesn't matter if you're a recruit or a veteran, that's always his answer. No exceptions."
Sakura added with a knowing smile, "But he's not as scary as he looks. You'll get used to the way he teaches."
Eunchae leaned closer to the recruits, whispering loudly enough for everyone to hear, "Or you'll just suffer until you do."
The recruits exchanged nervous looks, while Chaewon and her team chuckled. Finally, Chaewon tilted her head toward Renji. "Enough bullying your students. The Association Leader's calling for you in his office."
Renji gave a short nod, setting the wooden sword back on the rack. He walked past the group, ignoring Chaewon's amused look as she and her team straightened just enough to let him through. Once the door closed behind him, Eunchae exhaled dramatically. "Poor recruits. They don't even know what's waiting for them."
Sakura smiled softly at the new trainees. "But if it's him leading you'll learn more than you realize."
The recruits stayed quiet, unsure if they should feel encouraged or terrified.
The office door creaked open, and Renji stepped inside. Ma Dong-seok sat behind a wide oak desk, the air thick with authority despite his relaxed posture. His massive frame filled the room more than the furniture did, but his smile softened the weight of his presence.
"Renji," Dong-seok said, his deep voice carrying both warmth and command. "I heard you put the rookies through their first dungeon. Not a single one lost, and even a Goblin Shaman taken down. That's no small feat."
Renji just shrugged his shoulders. "They still lack experience but they'll grow."
Dong-seok chuckled, folding his arms. "Spoken like someone who's been on too many battlefields. You remind me of myself, back when I first came back from that place." His tone dipped slightly, acknowledging the shared weight of the Origin Realm.
For the first time, a faint smile touched Renji's lips. "I doubt anyone came back without scars."
"There's a newly-discovered B-rank portal just outside Busan. One that even the top guilds are already circling like vultures. Tomorrow is the day when the guild leaders send their hunters to conquer the dungeon. We're sending Kim Namjoon to as support from the Association."
Renji frowned. "Namjoon? He's not a frontliner."
"That's why he needs you," Dong-seok said firmly. "The other members from his team are already on separate missions Jin's squad is in China, Jimin's covering the Seoul rift clean-up, Jungkook and Taehyung are tied up with a B-rank incursion, and Suga and Hoseok are escorting supply convoys to other nations. Everyone's stretched thin. Namjoon's the only one available, and the guilds know he's a tactician first, not a fighter."
"And you want me to play bodyguard," Renji said, voice flat.
Dong-seok chuckled at his bluntness. "Not just a bodyguard. A deterrent. These guild leaders some of them respect the Association, others think they can strong-arm us. If they see you at Namjoon's side, it'll keep the jackals from getting bold."
Renji let the silence hang for a moment. Politics were the last thing he cared about. But this wasn't about politics it was about protecting one of their own. And Dong-seok had asked him personally.
"Fine," Renji said at last. "I'll do it."
Relief crossed Dong-seok's face, followed by his trademark grin. "Knew I could count on you. And Renji" his tone hardened, his gaze like steel, "if those guild masters test you, don't hold back. Sometimes people need reminding why the Association still stands."
Renji just nodded heading outside of his office. Ma Dong Seok knew that with Renji, the guilds would be kept in check and Namjoon would be safe in the dungeon.
The daylight shimmered unnaturally around the swirling A-rank portal on the outskirts of Busan. Hunters gathered in clusters nearby, adjusting gear and reviewing strategies, but the air was thick with unease.
Renji walked past the barricades with his steel sword resting calmly on his back, the sunlight catching its plain edge. Unlike the ornate, glowing weapons of other hunters, his blade looked simple almost ordinary.
"About time you showed up," came a familiar voice.
Renji turned to see RM waiting near the command post. His association uniform was neat, his expression collected, but his grin gave him away the moment he spotted Renji.
"I was wondering if Chaewon scared you off with her endless nagging." RM chuckled as he walked up, clapping Renji lightly on the shoulder.
"She tries," Renji replied, his tone calm, "but she means well."
RM laughed. "Yeah, that sounds like her. The others talk about you all the time, you know. Eunchae's been bragging that she got to train with you first. Makes the rookies jealous."
Renji only tilted his head slightly, unfazed. "It doesn't matter who trained first. What matters is surviving."
That earned another laugh from RM, shaking his head. "Still the same as ever. Dead serious. You really do fit the 'monster rookie' title people keep joking about."
Renji blinked once. "Monster rookie?"
"Yeah," RM grinned wider. "The Association's been calling you that. You're the rookie they never had someone who cleared a D-Rank Dungeon with only two people? And you even fought a guild leader that was mutated. If you're not a monster rookie then I don't is. I'll leave my safety to you Monster Rookie"
Renji cringed at his title but nodded at RM. "I'll make sure you're safe."
"See, that's the kind of answer that makes me wonder if you're secretly a veteran hiding in a rookie's body." RM smirked, then glanced toward the barricade as a new group approached.
Five hunters, each carrying freshly issued Association gear and enchanted weapons, strode toward them with the restless energy of people eager to prove themselves. The badges on their jackets gleamed with the mark of A-rank, but their movements were just a little too sharp, their laughter a little too loud.
RM sighed under his breath. "Here we go. The new A-rank recruits. Strong on paper, but still green when it comes to teamwork."
He shot Renji a sidelong glance, lips tugging into a half-smile. "Looks like today's going to be interesting. Ready to babysit with me?"
Renji's gaze flicked over the recruits, then settled back on the swirling portal. "As long as they don't get in the way."
The sound of boots crunching gravel drew Renji's eyes toward the clearing. Five hunters approached in formation, their weapons gleaming with the untouched sheen of fresh steel. Each bore the crest of their respective guilds, stitched proudly into their clothes Ironfang, Lunarveil, and Stormwatch.
At the front strode Yeonjun, his twin blades crossed on his back, chin tilted with a self-assured smirk. Beside him walked Jake, his longsword polished to a mirror's shine, every step sharp with drilled discipline. Both bore the insignia of Ironfang, a guild known as much for its rivalry as its pride.
Trailing behind was Yuna, her bow slung casually across her shoulder as she spun an arrow between her fingers, the mark of Stormwatch stitched over her chest. Carefree in her stride, she looked less like she was heading into danger and more like she was showing up late to a game.
The final pair walked side by side, Winter and Karina, the Eclipse Twins of Lunarveil. Winter's icy composure and rune-etched staff contrasted sharply with Karina's fiery grin and the grimoire she spun like a toy. Their steps matched perfectly, radiating the sort of confidence that came from years of being a unit.
RM exhaled slowly, muttering under his breath, "Ironfang, Lunarveil, and Stormwatch putting all three in one party is either genius or madness." His lips tugged into a lopsided grin as he glanced at Renji. "Feels more like we're heading into a guild sparring match than an actual raid."
Renji's hand rested lightly on the steel sword at his side as he studied the group. Their gear was sharp, their confidence sharper but that same confidence could crumble in a heartbeat inside a dungeon.
"Let's just make sure they don't cut themselves with it," he said, his voice steady.
The five hunters halted a few paces away, their guild crests catching the daylight. Their eyes flicked from RM to Renji at his side, curiosity plain on their faces.
RM stepped forward, easy smile in place. "Alright, before we head in, let's get introductions out of the way. You all know me, Namjoon support type, Association rep for this run." His hand gestured toward Renji. "And this here is Renji. He'll be with us as additional support."
The recruits' attention sharpened at once. Yeonjun tilted his head, his smirk curling. "Support? What's his rank?"
"E-rank," RM said casually, as though it were the most natural thing in the world.
A beat of silence followed. Jake blinked, brows knitting. Winter's lips parted slightly, though she quickly masked it with her usual calm. Karina outright raised an eyebrow, while Yuna stifled a laugh that sounded a little too sharp.
Yeonjun didn't bother hiding his incredulity. "An E-rank on a B-rank raid?"
Renji met his stare without flinching, expression unreadable. "That's what I was told."
Karina's grin spread slowly, her voice dripping with playful mockery. "This is going to be entertaining. An E-rank support for us?"
RM chuckled, unbothered. "Don't underestimate him. You'll find out soon enough why he's here."
Yuna's eyes flicked back to Renji, more curious now than dismissive. Winter stayed quiet, her gaze lingering a second longer than the others, as if she were searching for something beneath the surface. Renji stayed quiet not wanting to cast unwanted attention towards him. They step inside the portal once everything was clear and headed inside
The recruits, still smirking, stepped forward with exaggerated confidence, weapons gleaming. Renji followed at the rear, his presence quiet but steady. The world warped as they passed through the portal.
On the other side, the air was heavy with humidity. Dense trees loomed overhead, their canopies blotting out the sun, and vines snaked down like grasping hands. The jungle pulsed with life unnatural, hostile. A chorus of distant shrieks and growls echoed through the underbrush.
Yuna wrinkled her nose. "Ugh. Humid and sticky. Great."
Jake swung his sword lightly, his voice dripping with arrogance. "Perfect warm-up. B-rank jungle mobs? This will be over quick."
A low rustle cut through the air, followed by a guttural growl. From between the twisted trees, creatures crawled into view scaled beasts with jagged claws, their eyes glowing faint green. They were wolf-like, but their bodies were plated with hardened scales that shimmered against the dim light.
"Scaled Fanghounds," RM muttered, voice sharp now. "B-rank. Fast and vicious. Don't let them circle you."
The recruits braced themselves, eager grins on their faces. Renji drew his steel sword in one smooth motion, eyes narrowing as the monsters spread out through the jungle mist. He didn't spare a glance at the recruits' arrogance. To him, their mockery was nothing what mattered was keeping them alive when the hunt began.
The Fanghounds burst from the dense foliage, their scales glinting like dark stone as they lunged from the shadows. Yeonjun grinned, spinning his glaive with exaggerated flair. "Perfect warm-up! Try to keep up." He rushed forward, cleaving a hound across its snout.
Jake followed, his greatsword hacking down with brute strength. "Stay behind me if you're scared, E-rank."
Karina lifted her hand, flames coiling around her palm. With a snap, she hurled a blazing orb that exploded among the beasts, scattering them in a spray of fire. "Pathetic mutts."
Winter's tone was calm in contrast, frost spreading from her fingertips as spears of ice formed in the air. They shot forward with deadly precision, pinning a hound through the throat before it could leap.
Yuna laughed as she added her own spells, bursts of raw mana slamming into the monsters. "This is easier than training dummies!"
Their attacks were powerful, but sloppy leaving wide gaps in formation. The Fanghounds noticed. Two snarled and darted wide, weaving past Yeonjun's swings, their yellow eyes locked on RM. RM raised his staff, readying a barrier, but the hounds were too fast. Steel flashed.
Renji stepped in, blade carving a clean arc that split one beast mid-air. He pivoted before the second even landed, thrusting straight through its chest. The corpse dropped at RM's feet with a heavy thud.
The recruits hardly noticed, too caught up in their showy attacks. Karina's flames roared brighter, Winter's ice lances shot sharper but RM, brushing stray blood from his sleeve, exhaled. His lips curved into the faintest smile.
"Still the same," he murmured under his breath. "Quiet, but never misses a threat."
Renji just nodded smiling. His role wasn't to be the one killing every monster but one that protects RM as the support and keep the team safe. The group pressed deeper into the jungle, the air heavy with damp earth and the shrill cries of hidden beasts.
Yeonjun twirled his glaive, smirking as another Fanghound crumpled under his strike. "See? Clean sweep. At this rate we'll be out before sundown."
Jake swung his greatsword in a wide arc, knocking two creatures back into the underbrush. He scoffed. "And this is B-rank? Waste of time."
Karina snapped her fingers, sending a wave of fire rolling through the brush and reducing a cluster of smaller beasts to ash. She tossed her hair back with a proud smile. "Let's hope it gets harder, or this will be boring."
Winter's icy projectiles skewered another hound, her voice cool. "Don't fall behind. We're not slowing down."
Yuna clapped her hands together, her raw mana bursting outward like shockwaves. "Easy kills all day! Guess A-rank really does mean we're built different."
RM adjusted his staff, his brow furrowing slightly. "Don't get careless. This portal just opened, and there's no telling what the core has waiting for us. " He glanced upward at the unseen sky, voice lower. "The time dilation means we're staying the night. What feels like hours in here will only be minutes outside."
Yeonjun shrugged, flashing a grin. "All the more reason to clear it fast. No one's gonna complain if we finish early."
Renji said nothing. He walked near RM, his steel sword resting loosely in his hand, eyes constantly scanning the tree line. He didn't rise to their arrogance, didn't correct their assumptions. He only moved when needed swift, efficient cuts that eliminated any Fanghound that dared slip past the chaos.
Each time, the recruits thought the danger had been theirs to begin with. RM glanced sidelong at Renji, recognizing the truth in silence. The recruits, however, laughed louder, more certain than ever.
By the time the sunless sky of the dungeon dimmed into night, the group had carved their way through packs of Fanghounds and lesser beasts. A small clearing became their camp, lit by the flicker of Karina's fire magic and the pale glow of enchanted lanterns RM carried.
The recruits lounged around the flames with easy grins, their confidence only growing.
Yeonjun leaned back against a fallen log, tossing a Fanghound fang into the air like a trophy. "Not bad for a 'dangerous' dungeon. Thought we'd be knee-deep in corpses by now."
Jake rested his greatsword beside him and smirked. "Guess the Association overestimated this place. If this is what B-rank looks like, A-rank will be a joke."
Karina stretched her arms above her head, her fire gently crackling to life in her palm. "At least it's warm. Maybe we should ask the Association for something more challenging next time."
Winter gave a cool smile, sipping from her canteen. "Agreed. If this is the standard, we'll dominate."
Yuna puffed up with pride, kicking at the dirt. "I told you we're different. A-rank is where we belong."
RM sat cross-legged, quiet, his staff lying across his lap. He didn't look nearly as relaxed as the others. "Don't get too comfortable. Nightfall changes things in portals. Monsters grow restless. Stronger ones come out to hunt. Keep your guard up."
The recruits exchanged knowing smirks, clearly dismissing the warning.
Renji remained silent, seated a little apart from the circle. His sword rested on his knees, his eyes half-closed—but his aura sharp, aware. He hadn't spoken a word against their arrogance all day, hadn't sought credit for the times his blade intercepted the Fanghounds lunging for RM.
Because for Renji, it wasn't about pride. It was survival.
The first howl pierced the night air.
Low, guttural. Deeper than the Fanghounds.
The recruits straightened, their laughter faltering. From the shadows of the jungle, glowing eyes began to multiply. Dozens. Then hundreds.
RM rose immediately, staff glowing faintly. "Fanghounds don't hunt in these numbers. These are night fangs." His voice dropped grim. "Stay sharp. This is where it gets real."
Renji stood as well, steel blade gleaming in the firelight. His gaze swept the tree line once before settling into calm focus.
The recruits, for the first time since stepping inside, looked uncertain and when the first wave of night fangs surged from the dark, it became clear they were about to learn just how fragile arrogance could be.
The recruits scattered into formation, blades flashing, spells igniting. Fire and ice lit up the jungle as Karina and Winter unleashed twin streams of flame and frost, their magic tearing through the first line of beasts.
But in the chaos, Winter's confidence slipped into recklessness. She pressed forward, chasing her own barrage of ice spears, not noticing the second wave slinking in from the side.
A night fang, larger than the rest, broke through the shadows with a guttural snarl, fangs gleaming as it lunged straight for her unguarded flank.
"Winter—!" Karina's scream tore through the air.