Cheonsu blinked slowly, his vision clearing as the haze of pain lifted from his mind. The golden-eyed boy—no, the being before him—sat cross-legged on the edge of the ornate bed, his small frame radiating an otherworldly calm. The chamber around them shimmered with an ethereal glow, the liquid gold pooling like a living river, reflecting the intricate carvings on the walls that depicted ancient battles and forgotten empires.
"You're... Immo? The Immortal King?" Cheonsu stammered, propping himself up on his elbows. His wounds, which had been searing just moments ago, were now nothing more than faint scars, the bloodstains on his clothes the only reminder of the traps' brutality. He glanced around, half-expecting the tomb's defenses to spring to life again, but the air was still, almost reverent.
Immo tilted his head, his golden eyes gleaming with a mix of curiosity and ancient wisdom. Despite his youthful appearance—perhaps no older than twelve—there was an ageless depth in his gaze, as if he had witnessed the rise and fall of civilizations. "Yes, I am Immo, the Immortal King," he replied, his voice soft yet resonant, echoing faintly off the golden walls. "You intruded upon my slumber, mortal. But you... you survived where others perished. Why?"
Cheonsu swallowed hard, his F-grade ability still humming faintly in the back of his mind. "Trap Search... it only detects life-threatening ones. The others just... hurt. My teammates—they didn't listen. Mark, the girls... they're gone." A pang of guilt twisted in his chest, mixed with a bitter relief. The trio had always treated him like baggage, a mere porter to carry their spoils. Now, he was the only one left.
Immo's expression remained neutral, but a flicker of interest crossed his features. "Mortals and their folly. This tomb was designed to weed out the unworthy. You, however, possess a resilience that intrigues me." He paused, his eyes narrowing as if peering into Cheonsu's very soul. "Tell me of your world. This 'Blue Star' you hail from. I sense portals... connections to realms beyond. And beings like myself—immortals who appear and vanish, weaving contracts with the desperate."
Cheonsu's eyes widened. How did this boy know? He hesitated, then nodded slowly. "Yeah... Earth—Blue Star, as some call it now. After the portals opened in 2050, monsters flooded in, killing billions. We were on the brink until the Constellations showed up. They're these higher beings from the upper realms. They offer contracts, granting powers to fight back. Hunters like me... well, like my team... we explore dungeons, clear them for rewards. But the Constellations—they come and go, mysterious as hell. No one knows where they really come from or why they choose who they do."
Immo leaned forward, his golden eyes intensifying. "Constellations... immortals who meddle in mortal affairs. Are you contracted to one? Or... are you one of them in disguise?"
Cheonsu let out a dry laugh, rubbing the back of his neck. "Me? No way. I'm just F-grade trash, as everyone says. My ability's barely useful—Trap Search, that's it. No fancy powers, no constellation backing me up. I got dragged into this as a porter because no one else would take me seriously." He met Immo's gaze, a spark of defiance in his eyes. "But if you're asking if I think you're like them... yeah, maybe. You healed me without even touching me. That's not normal, even in this messed-up world."
A faint smile tugged at Immo's lips, the first sign of emotion. "I am no Constellation, as you call them. I am the Immortal King, guardian of forgotten eras. My slumber was meant to last eternities, but your arrival... it stirs something. Perhaps the threads of fate have intertwined our paths." He stood gracefully, his small stature belying the immense presence he exuded. The golden liquid around the bed rippled, parting like water as he stepped down. "Come. This tomb holds no more for us. Let us depart this realm and see your Blue Star."
Cheonsu scrambled to his feet, still dazed. "Wait, just like that? What about the traps? The portal?"
Immo waved a hand dismissively, and the chamber trembled slightly. The walls shifted, revealing a shimmering gateway that hadn't been there before—a direct exit, bypassing the deadly maze. "The tomb bends to my will. Follow."
They stepped through the portal, the jungle world fading behind them in a swirl of light. Emerging back into the boss chamber of the C-rank dungeon, Cheonsu blinked against the dim, familiar glow of the original portal. The air felt heavier here, laced with the metallic tang of monster blood from their earlier battle. No signs of his fallen teammates remained; the dungeon had claimed them utterly.
Immo glanced around, his golden eyes scanning the space with mild disinterest. "This is but a fragment of the greater web. Your world teems with such rifts."
Cheonsu nodded, pulling out his communicator—miraculously intact despite the ordeal. No signal yet, but they needed to get out. "We have to report this to the Dungeon Management Bureau. Double dungeons like this... they're rare, dangerous. But first, let's get to safety. My place isn't far from the portal hub in the city."
As they exited the dungeon, the cool night air of Blue Star greeted them. The ruined skyline of what was once a bustling metropolis loomed in the distance, dotted with flickering lights from wanderer camps and hunter outposts. Monsters howled faintly in the wilds beyond the barriers, but for now, the area was secure.
Immo walked beside Cheonsu, his bare feet silent on the cracked pavement. Passersby—fellow hunters and survivors—stared at the boy with the golden eyes, whispering about his unusual aura. Cheonsu ignored them, leading the way to his modest shack on the outskirts, a ramshackle structure pieced together from scavenged materials.
Inside, the space was sparse: a cot, a small stove, and shelves lined with basic supplies. Cheonsu collapsed onto a chair, exhaustion finally catching up. "Welcome to my... home. It's not much, but it's safe. No constellations spying here, I think."
Immo surveyed the room, then turned to Cheonsu with a enigmatic smile. "Safe? In a world of portals and monsters? Perhaps. But our meeting heralds change, Cheonsu. The Immortal King does not awaken without purpose."
As the first hints of dawn crept through the window, Cheonsu wondered what fate had thrust upon him. An F-grade porter, now companion to an immortal. The fight against the portals had just gotten a lot more complicated.