"It's over......."
At someone's murmur, the tension stretched taut inside us abruptly snapped.
THUD.
The strength left my legs, and I sank to the ground.
"Haa. Haa."
I gasped for breath. My entire body was drenched in sweat. The hand that had gripped my spear was still trembling faintly.
I was not the only one.
Kim Dohyeon used his spear like a cane to stay upright, but eventually lay flat on the floor. Lee Seoyeon had sprawled out with her limbs spread, staring only at the ceiling.
"Everyone... did well."
Park Jeongsu managed a smile as she leaned against her shattered shield. Her voice was half gone.
Dozens of Golems multiplied by the mutation, followed by an E-grade boss.
The fact that all of us were alive and sprawled across this floor was a miracle in itself.
Step. Step.
Then footsteps approached.
It was the Awakened. Blood still dripped from his fists, but there was no unsteadiness in his stride.
He went down on one knee before me.
"Ruler. I think... it is time for me to return."
The edges of his body began to glow faintly.
[Remaining Duration: 2:47]
The system window displayed the time he had left.
'Already.'
I was disappointed. This was our first battle together after he crossed dimensions.
I gazed at him.
His face was smeared with blood and stone dust. Yet his eyes alone shone fiercely.
The Primitive Human who had trembled before a bear was nowhere to be found.
Then I suddenly realized something.
"...Come to think of it, I never gave you a name."
"A name... you say?"
The Awakened blinked.
It was true. Until now, I had only called him "the Awakened."
The first Awakened. Guardian of the tribe. Chief.
He had many titles, but no actual name.
He had stood with me before a pack of bears. He had taken an Orc's club for me. He had even torn through dimensions to reach me.
And I had been calling him without so much as a name.
"That's a good idea."
Park Jeongsu joined in from the side. She had apparently caught her breath and approached us.
"They say a summon can display greater power as its bond with the summoner deepens. Apparently, emotional connection affects the power of the skill. There are quite a few actual cases."
"She's right. Why not give him a name now?"
Lee Seoyeon sat up and joined in. Curiosity glimmered on her exhausted face.
I looked at the Awakened again.
"If you're willing, I'll give you a name."
His eyes instantly widened.
Then he nodded vigorously. Again and again, as though his neck might snap.
"It would be an honor, Ruler."
'What should it be?'
I did not deliberate for long. One name had already come to mind.
Dawn of the Races.
When I played as the Primitive Humans in the game I had spent more than a decade with, there was a legendary-grade hero born only at an extremely low probability.
The greatest spearman, who had split battlefields with a single spear.
The name suited him. No. He could become something even greater.
"Panterun."
I pronounced it clearly.
"Your name is Panterun."
"Panterun..."
He slowly repeated the unfamiliar pronunciation, as though carving it into his tongue.
"It's the name of a character from a game I enjoyed. He was an incredibly powerful spear wielder."
"Panterun. Panterun!"
He smiled brightly.
It was an expression I had never seen before. A childlike smile spread across his habitually serious face.
At that very moment.
DING!
[Soul Link Formed]
The Ruler has bestowed a name upon the first Awakened.
'Panterun'
A name defines existence.
A deep Soul Link has formed between the Ruler and the Awakened.
Effects:
▸ Bond limit surpassed
▸ The Awakened's latent talent will bloom.
'His talent will bloom?'
I had not even finished reading the message.
FLARE!
Golden light erupted from Panterun's body.
"What is it this time?"
"The summon is glowing!"
The Hunters rose in surprise.
It was a warm and brilliant light, the exact opposite of the Golem's dark red glow.
Within the radiance, Panterun slowly closed his eyes. He showed no sign of pain. If anything, he looked peaceful, as though something inside him were finding its rightful place.
DING!
[Talent Bloom]
The latent potential of the Awakened 'Panterun' has bloomed by one stage.
New Trait Acquired:
▸ [Pioneer of Spearmanship]
― Forges new realms of Spearmanship through his own efforts instead of following an established path.
― Greatly increases the growth rate of Spearmanship
― Can devise new techniques during combat
'Pioneer... of Spearmanship.'
Even the name sounded extraordinary.
A realm of creating rather than learning.
'Just how far does this guy intend to grow?'
That was when it happened as I marveled.
DING!
The notification sounded once more.
This time, it came from my side.
[Inheritance of Power]
The authority of the 'Ruler of Civilization' activates.
The trait of the Awakened 'Panterun' will be inherited by the Ruler.
▸ Trait Acquired: [Pioneer of Spearmanship]
"...What is this?"
The words slipped from my mouth.
Inheritance.
I had gained the exact trait Panterun had acquired.
HUM—
At the same time, something seeped into my mind.
It was different from when I bought the Spearmanship skill. Knowledge was not pouring into me. It felt more like a new sense had opened.
Until now, I had only swung the spear as I had been taught. Now, it felt as though I could wield it in my own way.
'This isn't a 20 percent conversion. I received the whole thing.'
Was it because this was a trait rather than a skill?
Either way, it was broken.
FLARE!
The light surrounding Panterun grew even stronger.
[Remaining duration has ended.]
[The Awakened is returning to the planet.]
Panterun respectfully held out the spear in both hands.
"I return the spear you lent me."
"All right."
When I took the spear, he thumped his fist against his chest.
"I will be back, Ruler. Panterun will become a warrior worthy of this name."
"I'll look forward to it."
He beamed.
WHOOSH!
Light swallowed Panterun. Particles of light scattered, leaving nothing behind.
"...He's gone."
Lee Seoyeon murmured wistfully.
"Did you see how happy he was to receive a name? He was less like a summon and more like a knight pledging his loyalty."
"Seriously. If I had just one summon like that, I'd want nothing else."
Kim Dohyeon gave a hollow laugh and stood.
That was when it happened.
DING! DING!
As though they had been waiting, notifications sounded one after another.
[Dungeon Raid Complete!]
E-grade Dungeon 'Corrupted Temple' cleared.
Boss Defeated: Guardian Asura
[Level Up!]
Your growth limit has been surpassed by defeating a Boss Monster.
The Planetary Ruler System converts the growth value into points.
▸ Reward: +500 Planet Points
▸ Current Points: 522P
'Five hundred points.'
My mouth fell open on its own.
Five Orcs had been worth 250. Yet a single boss had given me 500.
"I leveled up."
"Me too. My Spearmanship increased."
Lee Seoyeon and Kim Dohyeon brightened. Park Jeongsu looked into empty air for a moment, then smiled.
"Everyone had a good haul. Surviving that mutated Dungeon was worth the trouble."
She looked at me and added.
"And you certainly got our money's worth from that potion."
"Thanks to you. It was useful."
'Five hundred and twenty-two points.'
There were plenty of places to spend them.
Strengthening Panterun. Inducing an Orc Awakening. Knowledge Imprinting. Or perhaps my own skills...
'I'll think about it later.'
I set the thought aside. The other Hunters were gathering around me.
"I suppose it's time to part ways."
Park Jeongsu smiled as she spoke.
"I suppose so."
BZZZT.......
Right on cue, one wall of the temple split open and a blue portal appeared. It was the exit marking the end of the Dungeon.
A trace of regret crossed the three Hunters' faces when they saw the portal.
It was understandable. We had broken through dozens of Golems together and even defeated the boss. It had only been a few hours, but the experience was more intense than most stretches of several days.
I spoke first.
"Let's exchange contact information."
All three looked at me at once.
"I'd be happy to."
"Shall we?"
We exchanged numbers in no time.
A moment later, Kim Dohyeon tapped his screen a few times and grinned.
DING.
A group-chat invitation appeared.
[Corrupted Temple Raid Team (4)]
"Isn't 'Raid Team' a little grandiose?"
Lee Seoyeon teased him with a laugh.
"We're the members who cleared a mutated Dungeon. That deserves a name like this."
The first message had already appeared when I entered the room.
[Kim Dohyeon: Everyone did well. Let's get together again next time.]
Looking down at the group chat, I could not help but grin.
They were the first Hunter companions I had made since Awakening.
"I'll contact you again, Junhyeok."
"See you in D-grade next time."
We exchanged farewells.
We stood side by side before the portal. Blue light swirled within it.
HUM!
The light swallowed us.
***
When I opened my eyes, I was in the familiar gate hall.
But.
'...What is this?'
The atmosphere was strange.
The area before the gate was packed with people. Association staff. Fully armed Hunters. Even paramedics carrying stretchers.
"They're out! There are survivors!"
Someone shouted.
Every gaze turned toward us.
"The same number came out? They all survived?"
"Not one of them is injured?"
'Survivors?'
While I stood bewildered, an Association employee hurried over.
"Are you all right?! What happened inside?"
"What? Well, it was a Dungeon... so we cleared it and came out."
Park Jeongsu answered for us.
The surroundings fell silent.
"...You cleared it?"
The employee's eyes widened.
"It was classified as a mutation immediately after you entered. An E-grade party of four had been caught inside, so we were organizing a rescue team under the worst-case assumption."
'A mutation classification.'
Only then did I understand the commotion.
The Association had concluded we were trapped. We had defeated the boss and walked out of a Dungeon dangerous enough to warrant a rescue team.
"They cleared a mutated Dungeon?"
"With only that many people?"
"My god."
Murmur. Murmur.
The agitation spread like a wave. Astonished gazes swept over the four of us.
Step. Step.
That was when it happened.
The crowd parted on its own.
A woman was walking toward us.
She wore a pure white coat, and silver hair fell to her waist. The air chilled wherever she passed. Even indoors, my breath was visible.
"It's the Frost Queen......."
"Why is a B-grade Hunter here?"
I heard whispers.
The Frost Queen.
A B-grade Hunter who wielded ice. I had only read her name in the guidebook. She was a high-ranking Hunter whom every Guild was desperate to recruit.
She was not merely B-grade. She was a top Hunter and super rookie with the potential to reach SS-rank!
And of all people, she stopped in front of me.
Her blue eyes stared straight into mine. There was no wariness or hostility. Her gaze was full of curiosity, like a child who had discovered something fascinating.
"How did you clear it?"
The blunt question came without so much as a greeting.
"...We were lucky."
Instead of answering, she continued staring at me. Her gaze swept over every corner of my face, as though trying to see through me.
How long had passed?
Eventually, she turned her head.
"Luck alone... couldn't have brought you out."
It was a quiet murmur, almost to herself.
Then she turned and vanished into the crowd. Only a lingering trace of cold air remained.
'What was that about?'
My bewilderment lasted only a moment.
"Are you Hunter Lee Junhyeok?"
This time, a man in a neat suit approached. A Hunter Association badge was pinned to his chest.
"Yes, I am."
"My sincere congratulations on clearing the mutated Dungeon. You have accomplished something truly remarkable."
The man bowed politely.
Then he took a step closer and lowered his voice.
"And... the Association branch director would like to meet with you, Hunter."
"...The branch director?"
"Yes. If you have time, I will escort you there immediately."
'The Hunter Association branch director wants to meet me?'
Me, who had been working part-time at a convenience store only days ago?
Thump.
My heart beat heavily once.
"...I'll go."
I had no reason to refuse. Making a connection with a high-ranking Association official could only help.
I followed the employee's guidance.
The gazes pouring into my back stung, but strangely, I did not mind.