The cave came into view.
"Phew."
A sigh of relief escaped me. My whole body was drenched in sweat, and although my ribs had healed, a dull ache still lingered.
"Uugh! Uuuugh!"
The Primitive Humans waiting at the entrance cheered. A little child who looked about six years old clung tightly to the Awakened's leg.
THUD! THUD! THUD!
The warriors began lowering the Orc corpses to the ground one by one. Five enormous green bodies.
"Uugh."
A little later, a large man picked up a stone knife and began skinning an Orc. The others joined him. Hide, bones, muscle, meat. They separated everything piece by piece.
'They could make armor from that hide.'
[Species Learning]: Acquire an Orc's ability
Available abilities:
1. Hardy Body (Stamina +30%)
2. Regeneration (Increased recovery speed)
3. Combat Instinct (Enhanced close combat)
I suddenly opened the system window.
'What should I choose?'
Humanity needed all three abilities to survive. Every one of them was too important to give up.
"Uugh!"
Just then, a warrior placed Orc meat over the hearth. Sizzle. Soon, a savory aroma filled the cave.
'They're eating Orcs.'
The others began roasting and eating the Orc meat too. Cautiously at first, but their faces soon brightened.
"Uuu!"
"Aoh! Aoh!"
That was when it happened.
DING!
[Emergency Alert!]
Special condition achieved: Consumed an Orc
A hidden option has been unlocked!
[4. Acquire an Orc's Innate Skill]
― Acquire a special ability unique to the Orc race.
― Combat-specialized skill
― Can only be selected once
Caution: This option only appears after consuming an Orc.
'What?'
A fourth option? I had never seen that in the game.
I reached out and tapped it.
[4. Orc Innate Skill: Berserk]
― Activates automatically when stamina falls to 30% or lower during combat
― On activation: Attack Power +50%, Defense +30%, pain sensation numbed
― Duration: 5 minutes
― Side effect: Extreme fatigue after activation
Effect: Unleashes explosive combat power in a crisis
'That's insane.'
It raised attack power by 50%? Even with a condition attached, that number was absurd.
All the more so if it applied not just to the Awakened or me, but to the entire race.
I remembered the moment the club struck me in the side and knocked me down. If I had possessed this ability then, things would have gone completely differently.
'This really is a hidden reward.'
By now, surprises were beginning to lose their sting. Was it because I had intervened, unlike in the game? Situations I had never seen kept coming one after another.
But that did not mean my knowledge was useless. Even when something was new to me, comparing it with effects from the original game made the right conclusion clear.
'This is the one.'
There was no need to deliberate. An ability that made them explosively stronger after a serious injury. It was a last-resort safeguard that would dramatically increase their odds of survival.
I reached out and tapped the fourth option.
[Confirm]
Selecting the Orc innate skill 'Berserk.'
― 100P consumed
VWOOM!
My heart suddenly pounded. Something hot burst from deep within my chest and spread through me.
And then.
Red light poured down.
"!"
Red light settled over all the Primitive Humans in the cave. The Awakened, the warriors, even the children. All 100 of them.
"Uu ugh?"
"Kree?"
The Primitive Humans stared down at their bodies in bewilderment. They raised their arms, touched their chests, and looked at one another.
Perhaps because the effect was so powerful, the enhancement effect continued for quite a while.
While they were being enhanced, I still had something left to do.
I opened the Point Shop again.
[Current Points: 122P]
I still had 120 points left.
'What should I spend them on?'
I scanned the menu and stopped at one entry.
▸ Physical Enhancement LV.1: 50P
'I need to get stronger too.'
Strengthening only the Primitive Humans was not enough. I needed to get stronger myself. There would be times when I had to fight alongside them, just as I had earlier.
[Confirm]
Acquired Physical Enhancement LV.1
― 50P consumed
― Balance: 72P
Effects acquired:
― Strength +20%
― Agility +20%
― Stamina +20%
― Improved reaction speed
VWOOM!
A hot wave suddenly spread through my entire body. My arms and legs, my chest and back, every last corner of me. My muscles twitched faintly. The sensation of my bones hardening reached all the way to my fingertips.
"Oh."
I opened and closed my hand. I could feel the strength in it.
'I can do more.'
I still had 70P left. Until yesterday, I had saved my points for the race's development, but now that their basic combat power had risen, there was no reason to hold back.
Acquired Physical Enhancement LV.2
― 50P consumed
― Balance: 22P
Additional effects:
― Strength +25%
― Agility +25%
― Stamina +25%
― Greatly improved reaction speed
VWOOM! VWOOM!
This time, it was more intense. It felt as though every cell in my body was changing. My muscles expanded once more, and my bones grew even harder. My heart beat faster and more forcefully.
"Phew."
'With this much power.'
I felt as though I could perform far better in the next battle. I felt as though I could fight properly beside the Awakened.
No, perhaps I could now hold my own to some extent even by myself.
That was when it happened.
DING!
[Berserk Skill Propagation Complete]
All 100 Primitive Humans have acquired the 'Berserk' skill.
Activation condition: Stamina 30% or lower
Activation method: Automatic
― The race will use the skill automatically in a crisis, even without consciously invoking it.
At last, a message appeared announcing that the skill's propagation was complete, and the light faded from the tribespeople.
"Wow."
Even seeing it again, the skill was absurdly overpowered. Considering the Primitive Humans' adaptability, it might even evolve beyond this point.
'Their overall combat power must have gone up by almost 30%, right?'
That was when it happened.
"Uugh, uuuugh."
The Primitive Humans began approaching one by one. The Awakened came first. The warriors followed behind him, then the elderly and the women, and even the children slowly walked over.
All 100 gathered around me.
"What's going on?"
Their sudden behavior puzzled me.
[The Primitive Humans feel grateful to you.]
[The Primitive Humans clearly recognize your benevolence. They realize that you are the one who granted them strength.]
System messages appeared one after another.
Their contents glittered gold.
THUMP!
"Uugh!"
As I read them, the Awakened knelt before me. Then he slowly bent forward until his forehead touched the ground.
At that moment, all the Primitive Humans followed suit. All 100 prostrated themselves and pressed their heads to the ground.
"!"
My breath caught. This was sincere.
DING!
[The Primitive Humans pledge their loyalty to you]
Race Loyalty: 100%
― They are prepared to sacrifice their lives for you.
― Your bond with the Primitive Humans has reached its peak.
― Race Development speed increases.
My vision blurred. My chest grew hot.
'These guys.'
I reached out and patted the Awakened on the shoulder. He slowly raised his head.
"Thank you. Truly."
My voice trembled.
I looked at the others too. One hundred pairs of eyes were fixed on me.
"You have to survive for a long, long time. Got it?"
"Uugh! Uugh!"
"Aou!"
They shouted and nodded vigorously.
DING!
[Dimensional Transfer Ended]
Return in: 10 seconds
'Already?'
My time was up. I wanted to stay longer, but there was nothing I could do.
"I'll be back next time. Definitely."
I raised a hand and waved. All the Primitive Humans waved back.
[5 4 3]
My vision gradually blurred. White light began to pour down.
[2 1]
VWOOM!
***
"Phew."
I opened my eyes. A familiar ceiling came into view. I was in my room.
I sat up. My whole body was drenched in sweat, but I felt good.
'I enhanced my body too.'
I raised my hand and clenched my fist.
SWISH!
I threw a light punch into the air. I heard it slice through the wind.
'Fast.'
I was clearly different from before. Both my speed and my strength.
SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!
I swung a few more times. My body moved naturally.
TAP!
My leg rose with ease. All the way to waist height.
'Oh.'
I was definitely stronger. Spearmanship LV.1 and Physical Enhancement LV.2. At this level, I might even be stronger than most F-grade Awakened.
I sat on the edge of the bed and rested my chin on one hand.
'At this level.'
An idea suddenly occurred to me.
'Couldn't I manage an F-grade Dungeon?'
The Awakened Center guidebook lay on my desk. F-grade Dungeons. The first places newly Awakened people challenged.
'Should I try it?'
It was worth a shot.
That was the conclusion I reached.
***
10 a.m. the next day.
I stood in front of the Dungeon Management Center near Hwagok Station.
Apparently, there were thousands of centers like this throughout the country. That meant there were just as many Dungeons.
'I can't go alone.'
The interior was more spacious than I had expected. Several people sat in the waiting room. Most were young, in their twenties or thirties.
SWISH.
I swept my gaze around. A man sitting in the corner wore worn leather armor. He appeared to be an F-grade Hunter.
Beside him, a woman with a backpack nervously bit her nails. She looked newly Awakened.
'Everyone seems to be around the same level.'
"Welcome."
A female attendant in a suit approached me.
"Is this your first visit?"
"Yes, it is."
"Are you here to apply for Dungeon entry?"
"Yes. I'd like to enter an F-grade Dungeon."
The attendant operated her tablet.
"For an F-grade Dungeon, I recommend matching with a party rather than entering alone. We would form a party with other Hunters."
"That sounds best. Please match me with one."
"A wise choice. An F-grade Dungeon party usually consists of three newly Awakened people entering a Dungeon for the first time, along with one D-grade guide Hunter who has been vetted by the government. The guide Hunter leads the party safely."
Anyone vetted by the government should be trustworthy. A D-grade Hunter could probably clear an F-grade Dungeon with their eyes closed.
"That sounds good. Please match me with a party."
"Certainly. Please wait a moment."
The attendant tapped on her tablet.
"Two people are currently waiting to be matched for an F-grade Dungeon. Once one more person arrives, you can enter immediately with the guide Hunter."
"How long will I have to wait?"
"Matching is usually completed within 30 minutes. Please wait comfortably in the waiting room over there, and we'll call you when it's ready."
The attendant gestured toward the waiting room.
When I entered, the large TV mounted on the wall caught my eye. It was tuned to a channel dedicated to Hunters.
[S-grade Hunter 'Cheon Mujin' Clears an A-grade Dungeon Solo!]
The man on the screen swung his sword. Blue light erupted from the blade. Sword aura. A beam easily 10 meters long tore through the air.
KABOOOOM!
The enormous monster was split in two. Its building-sized body toppled helplessly.
'...That's insane.'
My heart pounded. So that was an S-grade. I could hardly believe a human could wield that kind of power.
The image changed.
[A-grade Hunter 'Seo Yeonhwa' Sets a New Record for Fastest Clear!]
This time, it was a woman. Flames bloomed at her fingertips. A tiny spark became a storm in an instant. The entire Dungeon turned into a sea of fire.
GULP.
I swallowed.
'Someday, I'll be like that too...'
I looked down at my hands. For now, they were still ordinary hands. But they held Spearmanship. Inside my heart were 100 Primitive Humans.
I had played the game 3,000 times. I knew how to guide the Primitive Humans all the way to civilization.
'I can do it.'
THUMP. THUMP.
Confidence welled up inside me.
DING!
Something vibrated in my pocket.
[F-grade Dungeon Match Complete]
Entry Portal: Gate 3
I sprang to my feet.
"Your match is complete."
The attendant approached me.
"Head to Gate 3. Enter the portal, and the guide Hunter and the other party members will be waiting for you."
"Thank you."
I headed toward Gate 3. A portal swirling with blue light came into view.
I took a deep breath.
I stepped forward. Cold energy traveled up from my toes. My vision turned blue.
The portal swallowed me.
This was the beginning.