The forest floor was silent, save for the soft crackle of flames still licking the corpses. Thousands of Gnawleapers lay dead—their twitching limbs, ruptured carapaces, and melted eyes turning the once-lush woodland into a graveyard of twitching husks.
Jinwoo stood at the center, bloodied, calm, and completely unshaken.
The wind brushed past him, lifting the edges of his singed shirt. He flexed his fingers, still radiating heat. A smirk danced on his lips.
[Quest Complete: Exterminate the Inhabitants of the Zone(Gnawleapers)]
Reward: Gacha Ticket | Skill : Appraisal Unlocked.]
> [Corpse Collector Title Activated: +15% Drop Rate Applied]
Jinwoo exhaled. "Finally."
The System buzzed with a dry tone that sounded way too amused.
["Congratulations, O Slayer of Creepy Crawlers. Would you like a broom with that cleanup?"]
"No. But maybe a throne." Jinwoo stepped forward, boots crunching over brittle shells. "That should come with the job."
> [Loot Acquired – Calculating...]
[Inventory Updated]
98,000 D-Rank Mana Stones
1,500 C-Rank Mana Stones (Elite Gnaale'ker)
200 B-Rank Mana Stones (Swarm Leaders)
20 A-Rank Mana Stones (Reaver Matriarchs)
1 Elite Mana Stone
Rare Monster Parts: reinforced legs, acid glands,Insect Brains,Chitin Whipslash....
[ "You know... you just casually looted enough magical material to bankrupt a Guild."]
"I know." Jinwoo's smirk widened. "I might buy one instead."
["Spoken like a true egomaniac. I'm so proud."]
The sarcasm rolled off him. Jinwoo was already flipping open his inventory, eyes scanning through the glowing collection of mana stones like a jeweler inspecting diamonds.
Then—
> [New Feature Unlocked: Mana Stone Merging]
[Would you like to activate Mana Stone Conversion?
- 1000 E-Rank = 1 D-Rank
- 100 D-Rank = 1 C-Rank
- 10 C-Rank = 1 B-Rank
- 10 B-Rank = 1 A-Rank]
Jinwoo's eyes narrowed. "You trying to bait me into burning through my loot?"
["No, no. I'd never. I'm just enabling your hoarding addiction with options."]
He snorted. "Fine. Merge everything that can be safely upgraded to B-Rank or higher. I don't want to flood the market with low-tier trash."
[Confirming Merge...]
• 98,000 D-rank Stones = 980 C-rank
• 980 + 1,500 = 2,480 C-rank Stones
• 2,480 C-rank Stones = 248 B-rank Stones
• 248 + 200 existing = 448 B-rank Stones
• 448 B-rank Stones = 44 A-rank Stones (rounded down)
• 20 A-rank Stones (original) + 44 = 64 A-rank Mana Stones total
• Remaining: 8 B-rank Stones
-------
[Inventory]
64 A-rank Mana Stones
8 B-rank Mana Stones
Sealed Monarch Fang ×1
Elite Mana Stones (A-Rank) ×4
Normal Mana Stones (C-Rank) ×33
Sandworm Hide ×30
Sandworm Fangs ×22
Random Loot Box ×1
Gacha Ticket x 1
Brown Leather Boots (Mildly Durable)"]
Viper X-09 — Smart Street Bike (AI-Assisted)
Gnawleaper Queen's brain x 2 [ Agility +10]
Chitin Whipslash [A long Somewhat durable Whip]
Insect Armor x 2 [worn by Gnawleaper Generals]
----------
He whistled. "This is a fortune."
But even as he admired the haul, reality clicked in.
["Planning to turn them in to the Association, golden boy?"]
"Nope. I'm not an idiot."
Jinwoo crossed his arms and leaned against a scorched log. "If I dump these through the Association, I'll be monitored. Tagged. Watched And worse Dissected." He smirked. "I don't like being watched."
["So what now? Sell them in back alleys like a D-grade thug?"]
He scoffed. "No. I'll do what real professionals do. Discrete channels. The black market."
His voice dropped lower, cooler.
"In my past life, Black market had all kinds of people. There were people who dealt with lives and ledgers.If I consider all that.. then for them Magic stones are safer."
[ "Charming"]
Jinwoo chuckled, almost fondly. "Maybe. Upgrade the apartment. I would Love to move to a new house..But I have seen the manhwa where this house was a sweet memory and a symbol of hope for mother. A reminiscent memory of my father. So I'll get Jinah her own customised room. A working kitchen. A view of the city that doesn't involve moldy walls."
Then his smile froze.
"…Mom."
That old hospital—no serious doctors, outdated equipment, nurses that barely checked her vitals. No more. He'd move her somewhere better. Somewhere fitting.
She deserved that.
They both did.
The resolve hit him like a surge of flame—clean, hot, absolute.
[ "You've changed, Devil "]
He blinked.
["You were colder before. Efficient. Deadlier. Now you're calculating futures and kitchens."]
Jinwoo didn't answer right away.
He slowly looked down at his bloodied hand. Once used for silent kills. For poisons and wires and blades.
Now?
He was thinking about recipes. Rent. His sister's schoolbooks.
He chuckled softly. "…I became a brother."
He stared into the trees.
I became a son.
And with that thought—warm, confusing, terrifying—came a new one.
"…Crap."
["What?"]
He facepalmed. "How the hell do I explain this money to Jinah?"
["Oh, the true boss monster appears."]
He could already imagine jinah almost killing him with questions:Where did this cash come from? Why are we in a luxury condo? Why is Mom in a private hospital?
His eyes narrowed. "I'll tell her the Association gave me monetary support for surviving the dungeon incident."
[ "That's... dangerously believable."]
"I know. That's why it'll work."
He straightened his back, expression settling into steel.
"I'll protect them. And if I have to lie to keep them safe, I will."
The forest behind him still reeked of burning monsters, but Jinwoo didn't spare it another glance.
His path was forward.
Always forward.
--------
Jinwoo stretched his arms, shoulders cracking as the adrenaline wore off. The System pinged again.
> [Time Remaining in Penalty Zone: 1 Hour]
"Huh. Still got time to kill." He cracked his neck. "Literally."
["Thinking of a nap, or more murder?"]
"Neither. Got a question." His eyes gleamed, a playful smirk tugging at his lips. "This zone… it feels way too structured. Waves, elite mobs, terrain designed to funnel enemies… Is this a penalty, or a dungeon trial disguised as punishment?"
Silence.
["...Well damn. You really are an anime nerd."]
"I am the anime nerd." He grinned. "So?"
["Congratulations, your genre-savvy brain has unlocked a new quest."]
> [New Quest: Unveil the Core of the Penalty Dungeon] Objective: Explore and map out the Penalty Zone. Locate and defeat the Dungeon Boss. Rewards: • Cursed Loot Box (Contains randomized corrupted loot. May bite.) • 3 Gacha Tickets • Skill Upgrade Card (+1 Level to a chosen skill)
["You're not supposed to be enjoying this."]
"I'm not. I'm thriving."
Without another word, Jinwoo launched into the sky with Moonwalk, the air cracking beneath each step as he bounced from tree canopy to tree canopy. Soru kicked in the moment his feet hit ground, turning his movements into blurs—fast enough to leave afterimages, just slow enough to take in the terrain.
It was massive.
A sprawling deciduous biome that looked hand-designed to simulate a natural ecosystem. He spotted wildlife—mutated squirrels, twisted vines with eyes, and...
"Is that a... killer rabbit?"
The creature lunged out of the undergrowth, red eyes glowing, jagged teeth glinting with gore. Jinwoo pivoted, clotheslined it mid-air, and snapped its neck before it hit the ground.
> [Hunter Rabbit slain.] [Loot Acquired: Tender Hunter Rabbit Meat x1 (+10% Recovery Rate for 1 Hour)]
"Huh. Bunny meat. Convenient and nutritious."
The next hour blurred into a silent, calculated hunt. Jinwoo struck down dozens of predator-class mobs—Burrowfang Badgers, Stalker Owls, and more Hunter Rabbits—gathering meat, mana stones, and experience. But his eyes were always on the layout.
Patterns emerged.
River streams flowed toward a central canyon.
Predators became rarer the deeper he ventured.
The trees grew denser, then abruptly stopped.
He stood before a massive sinkhole surrounded by bone fragments and half-chewed carapaces. Heat rose from below, like something breathing.
He grinned.
"Suspicious.. Well Let's see what it offers."
Jinwoo dropped in.
The air grew thicker. Dark. His boots hit stone—an ancient arena carved into bedrock, walls covered in claw marks and dried blood. At the center, curled up like a mountain of flesh and bone, was the Boss.
It stirred.
Rising.
Jinwoo spoke "Appraise"
[Appraisal Activated]
[Name: Gorehorn ](A/N:Its like Rhyhorn 😅Pokemon Nerds)
Type: Dungeon Boss (Cursed Variant)
Rank:Peak A
Level: 58
HP: 180,000 MP: 3,500
["Pro Tip: Don't poke the murder-rhino."]
Jinwoo cracked his knuckles.
"...I'm gonna poke it."
["Of course you are."]
"Hey system, Could u let me trial the full extent of appraisal skill?"
[Well since u asked nicely!!]
Further appraisal results-
Abilities: • Stonehide – Reduces incoming physical damage by 50%
• Stampede – Area Charge dealing AoE knockback
• Roar of Ruin – Inflicts Fear and Defense Down in a wide radius
• Cursed Blood – Applies random debuff to melee attackers
• Frenzy Mode at 30% HP: +50%Atk, -70%INT.
-------
Jinwoo read through the appraisal results, eyes glinting with amusement.
"A tanky brute with low intelligence... you and me," he murmured, stepping into the arena, "we're a terrible matchup."
The Gorehorn's eyes snapped open, crimson and seething with primal fury. It rose, muscles rippling beneath cracked stone armor, and let out a guttural ROOOOOAAAAARRRRR—
The entire chamber quaked.
[Skill Activated: Roar of Ruin]
[Effect: Wide-area Fear + Defense Down]
[You have been affected by Fear. You have been affected by —]
[Passive Skill Activated: Iron Will]
[Effect: Immune to Fear, Charm, and Illusion-based attacks.]
Jinwoo didn't flinch.
In fact, he smiled. Slowly. Almost... mockingly.
"Nice scream. Got another one in F-sharp?"
The roar echoed off the walls, shaking loose dust and debris. Gorehorn paused—confused. Predators like it were used to seeing prey buckle, cry, beg. But Jinwoo?
He just walked forward, calm as a storm brewing at sea.
["Did you just tank a fear debuff and crack a joke?"]
"I'm built different."
Gorehorn snarled, its massive head lowering. With a grunt of rage, it heaved up its weapon—a colossal kanabo forged from the femur of some long-dead predator. Jagged, stained, and far too large to be practical.
Yet in Gorehorn's grip, it spun like a twig.
Jinwoo's smirk widened. "A club made from a bone? Classy. What is that? Your ex?"
The Gorehorn bellowed again, slamming the kanabo into the ground. Cracks spiderwebbed from the impact, dust and bone flying as the floor trembled.
And Jinwoo?
He vanished in a blink.
Soru.
He reappeared midair above Gorehorn's head, haki-cloaked foot already swinging down.
"Jet Flame Kick!"
[Skill Activated: Flame Tempest Kick ]
A column of fire erupted as Jinwoo's foot connected with Gorehorn's skull, flames exploding across its stony hide and lighting the cavern like a forge.
The beast roared—not in triumph, but in pain.
Jinwoo landed smoothly, crouched, smoldering boots leaving scorch marks in the stone.
He looked over his shoulder.He smirked..
"When I said we're a terrible matchup. I wasn't talking about me."
--------
Author's Note:
And THAT, my dear degenerates, concludes Chapter : Cooking Up Carnage and Bunny Stew!
Let's take a moment to appreciate how our boy Jinwoo went from frying insects to planning real estate investments, all while dodging emotional trauma and killer rabbits. Character development? Nah, this is character evolution on steroids.
Also, shoutout to Gorehorn the Murder-Rhino. Big guy really thought "Roar of Ruin" would ruin Jinwoo's vibe. But alas, Garp's Iron Will said, "Fear? Never heard of her."
As always, if you laughed, gasped, or raised a concerned eyebrow at Jinwoo's casual black-market ambitions, drop a comment, throw me a like, or sacrifice a power stone in the name of the algorithm.
Till next time—stay cracked, stay cursed, and never trust a rabbit with red eyes.
—Your Friendly Neighborhood Author, probably also cursed.