Double Dungeon Incident

Lore & Background

For Sung Jin-Woo, this dungeon became a training ground unlike any other. While his companions fought for survival against overwhelming odds, he was granted access to a blue holographic interface that issued daily quests. These tasks required him to endure extreme physical and mental strain over several days without leaving the dungeon's perimeter. This isolation allowed him to evolve rapidly, unlocking stat increases and skills that were previously impossible for any human hunter.

In Their Own Story

The air inside the stone castle was cold enough to freeze breath in lungs. Sung Jin-Woo leaned against a crumbling pillar, his body trembling not from fear, but from exhaustion. The blue light of the floating window hovered before him, unblinking and demanding. Outside the inner sanctum, the sounds of battle had long since faded into silence. He gripped his sword tighter, steel biting into palm. The knight in black armor stood at the end of the hall, unmoving, a shadow waiting to be claimed.

Reader's Guide

The incident begins when a party of hunters enters what is classified as an E-rank dungeon on Jeju Island. Unbeknownst to them, the entrance seals shut, revealing a second layer hidden within the first. This Double Dungeon operates under different rules, trapping everyone inside with no way out except completing a specific trial. Most members perish quickly due to the sudden shift in difficulty from low-level monsters to high-tier threats.

Sung Jin-Woo, initially considered the weakest E-rank hunter, finds himself uniquely targeted by a mysterious blue interface known as the System. While others struggle against physical barriers and enemies, he receives daily quests that force him to survive in hostile conditions for three days without leaving the dungeon boundaries. This period isolates him from his allies, forcing rapid growth through combat and endurance training.

The climax involves confronting the dungeon's guardian, a powerful knight clad in dark armor known as Igris. Defeating this entity allows Jin-Woo to claim its shadow, marking the first instance of necromancy-like abilities granted by the System. Upon escaping, he emerges not just alive, but fundamentally changed, possessing powers that will eventually reshape the balance between humanity and monsters across the globe.

Did You Know?

• This event is widely considered the moment Sung Jin-Woo officially became the vessel for the Shadow Monarch legacy.
• The guardian knight Igris later becomes one of the first members of Jin-Woo's Shadow Army.
• Only a handful of hunters from the original raid party survived the initial collapse and subsequent events.
• The dungeon was located on Jeju Island, making it a significant location in hunter history.