Kael drummed his fingers against the steering wheel. After thinking it through, he drove the car and arrived at the nearest inn.
Before entering, he made his car invisible and carefully guided it inside the inn's parking area. After checking in, he went up to his room and planned to rest for the night.
He had just finished showering when he noticed loud noises coming from the street. Screams for help and panicked voices echoed from every direction.
His room was on the third floor. He quickly changed into a fresh set of clothes that he had stored in his car, then walked to the window to see what was happening.
He froze.
A massive dungeon gate shimmered into existence right in front of the inn's entrance. It looked like a black hole, swirling violently and pulling in light objects caught in the powerful wind.
Kael's hand clenched.
This overwhelming surge of mana…
This is an A class dungeon!
He immediately rushed out of his room and headed downstairs. People were running in all directions, trying to escape the pull of the gate. Some were calling the authorities and the Hunter Association to report the sudden appearance of a dungeon. Others were filming the chaos.
When Kael reached the entrance, the suction from the gate was intense. Any ordinary person who got too close would be pulled in without resistance.
He stepped forward and raised his voice.
"Please stand back. I'm a hunter. While we wait for the Association, move farther away from the dungeon gate."
As he was directing the crowd, he felt someone arrive behind him.
There had been no sound of footsteps.
Wait… did he even walk?
No.
He materialized right behind me.
Kael turned his head and came face to face with the same green eyes he had seen earlier.
The man wore a mask and a cap that barely concealed his tousled brown hair. A few strands stuck out from under the brim.
"Are you from the Association?" Kael asked calmly.
Ezekiel shook his head. "Are you?"
"No."
Kael carefully controlled his expression so that the other man would not realize he recognized him.
After the brief exchange, Ezekiel turned away and made a phone call.
A minute later, he sighed. "The Association will not arrive within the next hour," he informed Kael.
"Why?"
"Because they know I'm here. They want me to clear this dungeon alone." He emphasized the last word.
"Why?"
Ezekiel shrugged. "Because I'm strong. Also, according to the real time dungeon updates, four more dungeons have appeared in the Capital City along with this one. The Association are busy as thay have dispatched their hunters to those locations. They are just as powerful as this one. Since no other hunters are coming, can you guard the perimeter and make sure no one disturbs me while I clear it?"
Kael had no doubts about Ezekiel's capability.
Kael saw that in the real time dungeon updates, it displayed the A class rating of the four other dungeons.
The Hunter Association have not arrived and measured this dungeon yet but he already know how strong it is based on the mana alone.
He nodded and stepped back.
Earlier, when Kael had searched for articles about Ezekiel, he discovered that the S class hunter preferred clearing dungeons alone. And he had never failed.
No one truly knew what his abilities were. Even his teammates claimed that Ezekiel relied heavily on his weapon and defeated bosses without revealing his actual skills.
As expected of an S class hunter.
For a fleeting moment, Kael remembered the young boy with fluffy brown hair who used to grin brightly while following him around.
That boy had grown into the amazing man standing before him.
Just as Ezekiel was about to enter the dungeon, he noticed a familiar figure approaching through the crowd.
Kael also saw him.
Another hunter he knew?
Jason stopped in front of them and glanced at Kael with a serious expression.
"From the Association?" he asked.
Ezekiel replied, "No. Just a hunter who happened to be nearby. Good timing. Since you are here, both of you can guard the entrance while I clear it."
Jason adjusted his glasses. "Alright."
Ezekiel nodded at both of them. "See you in a bit."
Then he leaped straight into the dungeon gate.
Kael and Jason stood several meters away from the entrance. Neither of them spoke. Each remained alert.
But Jason could not ignore the strange familiarity he felt toward the young man beside him. It was as if he had seen that face somewhere before.
While he was trying to recall where, Kael suddenly said, "You should step farther back."
"Why?" Jason's thoughts were interrupted. He looked at his side and his eyes widened.
A purple tentacle slithered around Kael's feet and wrapped around his calves. It was not painfully tight, but firm enough to prevent escape.
Kael remained calm on the surface, though inwardly he was shocked.
This aura… it feels the same as Ezekiel's.
What is happening?
In the next instant, his entire body vanished.
Jason recovered quickly from his surprise and scratched the back of his neck.
I thought Zeke wanted to handle this dungeon alone. Why did he take that hunter with him?
When Kael opened his eyes again, he was stunned.
He was falling.
Midair.
Beside him, Ezekiel was falling as well. Just as Kael was shocked to find himself here, Ezekiel looked equally surprised to see him.
In Ezekiel's hand was a dagger glowing with purple light. From it, writhing tentacles extended outward.
Kael stared at the weapon as they plummeted downward.
Then he heard Ezekiel groan in frustration.
"You dumbass, I told you to get Jason, why bring this hunter here? Now all of us are falling straight into a molten lava!"
Kael silently gasped.
No wonder his teammates said Ezekiel can clear dungeons just by using his weapon alone.
Because this dagger is no ordinary one. This was crafted using a monster's body part and in the middle of its weapon creation, it develops consciousness.