The Forsaken Awakening

The air was thick with the scent of blood and burnt fur. The massive body of the Crimson Fang Lycan lay motionless on the cavern floor, its once-fearsome red eyes now lifeless. The hunters were exhausted but triumphant, their weapons lowered as cheers filled the dungeon.

"That was one hell of a fight!" Kim Hojin, the swordsman and team leader, clapped Han Jisung on the back.

"Yeah, I thought we were goners when that thing entered its frenzy state," Yoon Seojin, the healer, sighed, wiping sweat from her brow.

Jinhyuk sat on a rock, catching his breath. He glanced at Taesuk, who was panting heavily nearby. "We actually did it, huh?"

Taesuk chuckled, shaking his head. "Yeah... but damn, my whole body feels like it's been crushed by a boulder."

Jinhyuk smiled, still amazed by the sheer intensity of the battle. His new skill, Shadow Manipulation, had given him an edge, and for the first time, he felt like he had truly contributed to a fight beyond just assisting from the sidelines.

Just as the party started discussing their loot distribution, a sudden chill ran down Jinhyuk's spine.

Something was wrong.

The cavern, which had been filled with the voices of hunters celebrating, suddenly fell into an eerie silence.

A wet, guttural snarl echoed through the dungeon.

Jinhyuk's eyes widened as he turned toward the seemingly dead Crimson Fang Lycan. Its body twitched.

"No way..." Kim Hojin's voice was barely above a whisper.

Before anyone could react, a shadow-like aura burst from the boss's chest, its dying embers of life igniting in one final, desperate attack.

The Crimson Fang Lycan, its face twisted in pure malice, lunged forward—its claws aiming directly at Jinhyuk's heart.

Jinhyuk's body froze. His instincts screamed at him to move, but he was exhausted, his mana drained.

It was too fast.

Just as death seemed inevitable—

"MOVE, KID!"

A strong force crashed into Jinhyuk, shoving him to the ground.

A sickening CRACK echoed through the cavern.

Taesuk.

The middle-aged hunter had thrown himself between Jinhyuk and the Lycan's attack. The monstrous claws tore through his chest, sending blood spraying into the air.

"TAESUK!" Jinhyuk's voice cracked as he scrambled to his feet.

The older hunter's body hit the ground with a heavy thud.

The Lycan let out a final, pained growl before its body truly collapsed, this time for good.

For a moment, the world was silent.

Then—

"HEALERS! GET OVER HERE!" Kim Hojin's voice snapped the team into action.

Yoon Seojin and Im Daehyung, the two healers, rushed forward, their hands glowing with restorative energy.

Jinhyuk knelt beside Taesuk, his hands trembling. The man's breathing was ragged, and blood pooled around his body.

"Stay with me, Taesuk!" Jinhyuk pleaded.

The healers worked frantically, their magic weaving through Taesuk's body.

But it wasn't enough.

Yoon Seojin bit her lip, sweat forming on her forehead. "His wounds are too deep! Our healing magic can only stabilize him temporarily!"

Im Daehyung's voice was filled with urgency. "We need a higher-ranking healer! If we don't get him medical attention soon, he won't make it!"

Jinhyuk's heart pounded in his chest.

Taesuk had saved his life.

And now, he was barely holding onto his own.

Jinhyuk clenched his fists. "Then we get him out of here. NOW."

Kim Hojin nodded. "Everyone, pack up! We're leaving immediately!"

With their victory soured by tragedy, the hunters began their desperate race against time—rushing to save the man who had just sacrificed himself for his comrade.

---

The sharp scent of antiseptic filled the air, mingling with the sterile white walls of the Seoul Central Hunter Hospital. The automatic doors slid open as the exhausted hunters stepped inside, carrying Taesuk's unconscious body on a stretcher.

"Emergency patient! Critical injuries!" Kim Hojin shouted as the hospital staff rushed forward.

Jinhyuk watched numbly as doctors and nurses took over, their movements swift and precise. Taesuk's bloodied body disappeared behind the emergency room doors.

Then, the waiting began.

---

Hours passed like a blur.

Jinhyuk sat in the waiting area, his hands clasped together tightly. His mind replayed the moment over and over again—Taesuk throwing himself in front of the attack, the sickening crack of bones, the desperate healing attempts.

It should have been me.

His jaw clenched. His fists tightened.

"Excuse me…"

A trembling voice snapped him out of his thoughts.

A middle-aged woman with tired, red-rimmed eyes stood before him. Behind her, a teenage girl—no older than seventeen—clutched her mother's arm, her face streaked with tears.

Jinhyuk immediately knew who they were.

Taesuk's family.

"Are you… are you the one who was with my husband?" the woman asked.

Jinhyuk felt a lump form in his throat. He stood up and bowed deeply. "Yes, ma'am. My name is Jin Jinhyuk. I was in the dungeon raid with him."

The woman let out a shaky breath. "Is he… Is my husband alive?"

Jinhyuk hesitated, his eyes flickering toward the emergency room doors.

"He's alive," he said softly.

The woman gasped, bringing her hands to her mouth, her eyes filling with fresh tears.

The teenage girl stepped forward, her voice barely above a whisper. "Is he going to be okay?"

Jinhyuk opened his mouth, then stopped. He didn't know how to answer that.

As if on cue, the doctor emerged from the ER, removing his blood-stained gloves.

"Doctor!" Taesuk's wife rushed forward. "How is he?"

The doctor sighed, pulling down his mask. "We managed to stabilize him. His life is no longer in immediate danger."

A visible wave of relief washed over the family.

But the doctor wasn't done speaking.

"However," his expression darkened, "the damage to his internal organs and nervous system is severe. Even with healing magic, there are limits to what we can repair."

Jinhyuk felt his stomach drop.

The doctor's next words confirmed his worst fear.

"He will never be able to enter a dungeon again."

A heavy silence filled the room.

Taesuk's wife covered her mouth, her body trembling. The teenage girl stared at the doctor in disbelief before whispering, "Then… what will happen to us?"

Jinhyuk looked away, his hands tightening into fists.

For hunters like them, dungeons weren't just a career—they were a lifeline. Without the income from raids, supporting a family became nearly impossible.

Taesuk had risked his life to provide for them. And now…

He wouldn't be able to do that anymore.

Jinhyuk clenched his jaw, his heart pounding. This wasn't fair.

Taesuk didn't deserve this.

---

That night, Jinhyuk sat alone on the hospital balcony, staring blankly at the city skyline.

His mind was in turmoil.

No matter how much he replayed the battle, the outcome remained the same. Taesuk had saved him.

And now Taesuk's life was ruined.

Jinhyuk exhaled shakily. He had gained a new skill, increased his level, and proven himself in battle.

But at what cost?

Was this the price of being a hunter?

He wasn't sure he could accept that.