42

Chapter 42: Skyfall Dungeon

Subin left the Awakener Association before noon.

His new B-rank identification card was still in his pocket, but he barely thought about the promotion anymore. The moment he had seen the list of available dungeons, his attention had shifted toward something else.

Skyfall Dungeon.

The Association had classified it as B rank because of the monsters recorded inside, but the dungeon itself was unusual. Its internal terrain changed whenever the surrounding mana fluctuated, making complete mapping almost impossible.

For most Awakeners, that was a serious problem.

For Subin, it was an opportunity.

He stopped at an equipment store near the Association before leaving the city.

The store was considerably larger than the ordinary shops he had visited before. B-rank Awakeners were among its primary customers, and the equipment displayed inside was noticeably better.

Rare-grade armor.

Mana-resistant boots.

High-quality potions.

Specialized weapons.

Subin walked through the aisles without much interest.

He already had better swords than anything displayed here.

Eventually, he bought several high-grade healing potions, mana recovery potions and a few emergency supplies. He also purchased a compact storage bag capable of holding a considerable amount of equipment.

The clerk looked at his identification card twice before processing the purchase.

"B rank at Level 34?"

Subin nodded.

"That's unusual."

"So I've been told."

The clerk smiled awkwardly.

"You should be careful in Skyfall Dungeon. A lot of experienced teams avoid going too deep."

"How deep?"

"Nobody knows exactly."

Subin's interest increased.

"Why?"

"The terrain changes. Some groups reported a canyon. Others found an underground forest. One team entered through the same entrance twice and claimed the second time it led somewhere completely different."

Subin thought for a moment.

"Does the entrance itself move?"

"No. Only the internal structure."

That made sense.

Mana fluctuations could influence the dungeon's environment.

Subin thanked the clerk and left.

He didn't need to know exactly what was waiting inside.

He only needed to be prepared.

---

The journey to Skyfall Dungeon took several hours.

The dungeon was located in a mountainous region several hundred kilometers from the city. The surrounding area had once been a popular hiking destination, but after the appearance of dungeons, the government had closed most of the region.

A large concrete wall now surrounded the dungeon zone.

Military vehicles were stationed around the perimeter.

Awakener Association personnel controlled access.

Subin showed his identification.

The guard looked at it.

Then looked at Subin.

"B rank?"

"Yes."

"Solo?"

"Yes."

The guard hesitated.

"Skyfall isn't recommended for solo exploration."

"I know."

"You understand that the Association won't be able to guarantee rescue if something happens?"

"I understand."

The guard studied him for another moment before stepping aside.

"Good luck."

Subin entered.

The atmosphere changed immediately.

Mana became denser.

The air felt heavier.

Even before entering the dungeon itself, Subin could sense something unusual.

The surrounding mana wasn't simply concentrated.

It was moving.

Almost like a slow current.

He walked toward the dungeon entrance.

A huge stone arch stood between two cliffs.

Unlike the dungeons he had previously entered, there was no glowing doorway.

Instead, the inside of the arch looked like a dark sky filled with faint blue particles.

Subin stepped through.

The world changed.

---

The first thing Subin noticed was the sky.

It wasn't underground.

He stood on a massive rocky plateau beneath a dark blue sky.

Clouds moved slowly overhead.

There was no sun.

Yet the entire area was illuminated by faint blue light.

Subin looked behind him.

The entrance was still there.

He activated Predator's Sense.

Nothing nearby.

He checked the system.

[Skyfall Dungeon entered.]

[Dungeon Rank: B]

[Environmental Mana Density: 31.7%]

[Estimated Monster Level: 35–55]

[Dungeon Structure: Dynamic]

[Warning: Internal terrain may undergo structural changes.]

Subin nodded.

"Interesting."

He drew Simple Edge.

The moment the sword left its sheath, he felt a faint vibration.

Not danger.

Recognition.

The synchronization remained 99.9%.

Subin walked forward.

He didn't rush.

His first priority was understanding the environment.

The plateau stretched several kilometers.

Large black stones were scattered across the ground.

Some had faint blue veins running through them.

Mana crystals.

Subin approached one.

[Skyfall Mana Stone]

Grade: Rare

Purity: 64%

Mana Content: 1,320

Subin raised an eyebrow.

A single environmental crystal contained more mana than many of the ordinary dungeon stones he had collected before.

He didn't extract it.

Instead, he continued walking.

After several minutes, he sensed movement.

Three creatures emerged from behind a rock formation.

They looked like large wolves.

But their bodies were covered in dark metallic scales.

Blue mana lines ran across their legs and necks.

[Skyfall Iron Wolf]

Level: 37

Rank: B-

Race: Mana Beast

Three of them spread out.

Subin immediately understood their intention.

They weren't going to attack simultaneously.

They were surrounding him.

Subin smiled.

"Good."

The first wolf charged.

Subin moved.

Fang Step.

He passed beside it.

Simple Edge flashed.

A thin line appeared across the wolf's neck.

The beast fell.

The second attacked from behind.

Subin's body turned before he even looked.

Predator's Sense.

He blocked the claws with his sword.

The impact pushed him half a step backward.

The third wolf attacked simultaneously.

Subin stepped toward the second wolf instead of away.

Battlefield Control.

The two creatures collided.

Simple Edge moved between them.

One slash.

Two bodies fell.

[Skyfall Iron Wolf defeated.]

[Experience acquired.]

[Skyfall Iron Wolf defeated.]

[Experience acquired.]

[Skyfall Iron Wolf defeated.]

[Experience acquired.]

Subin looked at the bodies.

Their scales were surprisingly durable.

He cut one loose and stored it.

[Iron Wolf Scale]

Grade: Rare

Property: High physical durability.]

"Useful."

He continued.

---

The plateau eventually narrowed into a canyon.

Subin entered carefully.

The walls rose hundreds of meters above him.

Several large nests were visible along the cliffs.

He activated Predator's Sense.

Nothing.

He frowned.

Then he looked upward.

A shadow passed over him.

Subin moved instantly.

A massive bird descended from the sky.

Its wings were nearly fifteen meters wide.

Black feathers covered its body, while its beak and talons were formed from something resembling dark metal.

[Skyfall Raptor]

Level: 41

Rank: B

Race: Mana Beast

The creature screamed.

The sound itself carried mana.

The canyon walls vibrated.

Subin's ears rang.

He immediately understood.

This creature wasn't simply using physical attacks.

Its cry was a mana-based shockwave.

He raised Simple Edge.

Sword Intent spread across the blade.

The shockwave reached him.

Subin cut.

A thin invisible edge traveled forward.

The sound wave split apart.

Subin looked at his sword.

He had instinctively used Sword Intent to divide the incoming mana.

The Raptor attacked.

Its enormous talons descended.

Subin stepped sideways.

The talons smashed into the ground.

Rock exploded.

Subin moved beneath the creature's body.

Silver Flow.

His sword struck.

The scales around the Raptor's abdomen cracked.

The beast immediately folded its wings and spun.

Subin ducked.

The enormous wing passed above him.

He followed its movement.

Unified Edge.

One step.

One slash.

The sword cut through the joint beneath its wing.

The Raptor screamed.

It tried to climb.

Subin didn't allow it.

Fang Step.

He appeared above its back.

Simple Edge descended.

One Absolute Edge.

The blade penetrated the skull.

The creature fell.

[Skyfall Raptor defeated.]

[Level increased.]

[Level 34 → Level 35.]

Subin landed.

He checked his status.

Level: 35

Strength: 66

Agility: 65

Vitality: 59

Intelligence: 33

Mana: 29

Unassigned Attribute Points: 5

He didn't allocate them yet.

Instead, he examined the Raptor's mana core.

[Skyfall Raptor Core]

Grade: Epic

Purity: 73%

Mana Content: 7,860

Subin stored it.

"Not bad."

He looked toward the canyon.

Something was changing.

The blue mana particles in the air had begun moving faster.

The ground beneath his feet vibrated.

Subin immediately stepped away from the cliff.

A low rumble traveled through the canyon.

Then the terrain moved.

The walls shifted.

Not collapsed.

Shifted.

Stone slid sideways as if the entire dungeon were rearranging itself.

The canyon that had been stretching north suddenly opened toward the east.

A large section of rock disappeared into the ground.

Another section rose.

Subin watched silently.

Within several minutes, the entire landscape had changed.

The system appeared.

[Dungeon structural fluctuation detected.]

[Dynamic terrain adjustment complete.]

[Current location has changed.]

Subin looked around.

The canyon was gone.

In its place was a massive forest.

Tall black trees covered the landscape.

Their leaves glowed faintly blue.

Subin smiled.

"So that's how it works."

He didn't find the phenomenon frightening.

It was simply another rule of the dungeon.

He entered the forest.

---

The trees were enormous.

Some were more than fifty meters tall.

Mana flowed through their roots.

Subin could feel it through the ground.

He stopped beside one tree.

Its bark was extremely hard.

He touched it.

[Skyfall Mana Tree]

Grade: Rare+

Mana Density: High

Special Property: Mana Storage]

Subin considered cutting a piece.

Then stopped.

The tree was alive.

There was no reason to destroy it unless necessary.

He continued walking.

After several minutes, he heard movement.

This time, it wasn't one creature.

It was dozens.

Subin drew Simple Edge.

Creatures emerged from between the trees.

Humanoid.

Approximately two meters tall.

Their bodies were covered in dark armor-like scales.

Each carried a different weapon.

Spears.

Axes.

Swords.

Clubs.

The system identified them.

[Skyfall Orc Warrior]

Level: 38–43

Rank: B- to B

Subin counted them.

Twenty-seven.

Then another group appeared.

Thirty-two.

More than sixty monsters.

The Orcs didn't attack immediately.

They spread into formation.

Subin's eyes sharpened.

This wasn't random behavior.

They had organization.

A large Orc carrying a massive axe stepped forward.

[Skyfall Orc Captain]

Level: 46

Rank: B

It roared.

The others charged.

Subin stepped forward.

His sword moved.

The battle began.

The first Orc swung its axe.

Subin avoided it.

A spear came from his left.

He redirected it.

A sword attacked from behind.

He turned.

Simple Edge struck.

The Orc fell.

Subin moved continuously.

Unified Edge.

His movements flowed between enemies.

He didn't remain in one place.

Every step changed the battlefield.

Every strike reduced the number of opponents.

The Orcs tried surrounding him.

Subin broke through the formation.

They changed formation.

He adapted.

They attacked together.

He separated them.

Their cooperation was far better than the goblins and stone soldiers he had fought before.

But their swordsmanship was crude.

Subin understood the difference.

They had discipline.

But not refinement.

He accelerated.

Simple Edge flashed repeatedly.

One Orc fell.

Then another.

Then another.

The forest floor became covered with fallen bodies.

The Orc Captain charged.

Its axe came down with enough force to crack the ground.

Subin stepped sideways.

The axe struck the earth.

Subin moved inside its reach.

The Captain attempted a knee strike.

Subin avoided it.

The axe swung horizontally.

Subin ducked.

His sword moved upward.

Stonebreaker Edge.

The blade penetrated the Captain's armor.

The Orc staggered.

Subin stepped forward.

Sword Intent gathered around Simple Edge.

One clean strike.

The Captain fell.

[Skyfall Orc Captain defeated.]

[Experience acquired.]

The remaining Orcs hesitated.

Subin looked at them.

They charged again.

The battle lasted several more minutes.

Eventually, the forest became silent.

[Skyfall Orc Warrior defeated.]

[Skyfall Orc Warrior defeated.]

[Skyfall Orc Warrior defeated.]

A series of notifications appeared.

Then:

[Level increased.]

[Level 35 → Level 36.]

Subin exhaled.

He looked around.

The dungeon was changing again.

The blue mana particles gathered toward one direction.

Subin followed them.

After several hundred meters, the forest ended.

Beyond it stood an enormous structure.

A fortress.

Black stone walls rose into the sky.

Several towers surrounded the main gate.

Subin looked at the system.

[Skyfall Fortress]

[Dungeon Sub-Area detected.]

[Recommended minimum level: 40]

Subin looked at the massive gate.

Then at Simple Edge.

The sword remained silent.

Its synchronization was still:

99.9%

Subin smiled.

He wasn't going to force it.

There was no need.

He had just become Level 36.

He was a newly promoted B-rank Awakener.

And ahead of him stood an area designed for stronger opponents.

Subin placed one hand on the fortress gate.

It opened.

Beyond it was a massive courtyard.

At the far end stood a lone swordsman.

Human-shaped.

Completely motionless.

The system displayed its information.

[Skyfall Sword Guardian]

Level: 48

Rank: B+

Class: Swordmaster

Subin's eyes brightened.

Finally.

A real swordsman.

He drew Simple Edge.

The guardian opened its eyes.

Both swordsmen stood silently across the courtyard.

Subin's grip tightened.

He had come to Skyfall Dungeon looking for stronger opponents.

He had found one.

And this time, he wouldn't simply try to defeat it.

He would understand its sword.