The cavern trembled as the black ice titan let out a final screech, its body cracking from the relentless barrage of bullets and blade slashes. As the core shattered with a blinding flash of blue and red light, a gust of freezing wind whooshed past Yujin, Kain, and Taro Blaze, scattering demon corpses across the dungeon floor like broken dolls.
The silence that followed was deafening.
"…We won," Kain said, lowering his Phantom Blade, its blue glow dimming.
Yujin exhaled and holstered Demon Howl, the barrels still glowing faintly from the heat. "Barely. That thing was no ordinary boss… It felt like it was… aware."
Taro leaned on his flaming gauntlets, breathing heavily. "That wasn't a normal B-rank dungeon. That was hell."
The icy fog lifted slowly, revealing the room littered with corpses — demons frozen mid-scream, their bodies pierced by bullets and slashed open by Kain's sword. The dungeon core floated in the air, reduced to fragments.
A golden glow lit up Yujin's vision.
> [Mistake Solved: 5]
[You have corrected your fifth past mistake: Preventing a Dungeon Break that was never stopped in your past life.]
[Milestone Reached: 5/50 Mistakes Solved]
[Upon solving 50 Mistakes, you will learn the Secrets of the World.]
Yujin's eyes widened slightly.
Secrets of the world…? He hadn't thought much about it until now. His mind raced.
Why did other intelligent races suddenly appear on Earth 300 years ago?
Why are they confined to dungeons?
And why is the Unknown Civilization the only group that roams freely outside—hidden on the other side of the planet with humanity?
Questions with no answers. Yet.
"Yujin, you good?" Kain asked.
Yujin snapped out of his thoughts and nodded. "Yeah. Let's grab the core shards and get out of here."
They returned to the warp gate and stepped into the academy's arrival chamber. A team of staff and healers was already waiting. News of the Dungeon Break had reached Star Academy minutes ago.
Later, in the debriefing hall, Headmaster Arcan Ludien stood behind a wide semicircular table. His eyes, calm yet piercing, scanned the three cadets standing before him.
"Explain how a B-rank dungeon turned into a Dungeon Break," Ludien said calmly.
Yujin stepped forward. "We believe the dungeon was tampered with. The mana fluctuations were unnatural. The monster behavior… too coordinated."
Kain added, "There was also something watching us. We couldn't see it—but we felt it."
Arcan frowned, then turned to the other two teachers present—Rowel Vayne and Avelyn Drake.
"We will send a team to investigate. Until then, this matter is confidential."
The cadets nodded.
"You three did well," Arcan continued. "Not only did you survive, you stopped a potential disaster. A Dungeon Break reaching the city would've been catastrophic."
Rowel smirked. "That's what I like to see. Cadets growing into real Hunters."
Taro grinned. "Told you I'm not just brute strength."
Later that evening, Yujin sat in the academy garden. The stars were bright, and the moonlight shimmered over the glass lake. He was staring at his reflection, thinking.
Footsteps approached.
"You're thinking too much again," said Sylvia Estelle, sitting beside him. She wore a white academy hoodie and her long silver hair shimmered under the moonlight.
"Maybe," Yujin replied, turning toward her. "The fifth mistake… it said after fifty, I'll know the secrets of the world."
Sylvia's eyes widened. "Secrets of the world?"
Yujin nodded. "Why the other races are stuck inside dungeons… Why only humans and the Unknown Civilization exist outside… It doesn't add up."
Sylvia was quiet for a moment, then gently placed her hand on his. "Whatever answers are waiting, you won't face them alone."
He turned to look at her, their eyes locking. His heartbeat quickened slightly.
"…Thanks."
Sylvia smiled. "Also, I'm claiming next dungeon run. You're not leaving me behind like you did with Kain and Taro."
Yujin chuckled. "Noted. Besides, you're getting stronger too."
She leaned back and added, "Speaking of relationships… Kain and Mira are getting close again."
Yujin smiled faintly. "Yeah. It's nice. They both deserve it."
Sylvia looked at him sideways. "What about us?"
Yujin blinked.
"…I mean," she said quickly, "we've grown closer too. I know we joke around, but I do care about you, you know?"
He smiled softly. "I know. And… same here."
They sat in silence, hand in hand, under the stars. No words needed.
Later that night, a system notification blinked in Yujin's mind.
> [Stat Update Detected]
Lee Yujin
Level: 30
Title: The One Who Corrects Mistakes
Weapon: Demon Howl (Dual Pistols – Demon Lord Core)
Abilities: Demon Vision (Weak Point Detection, Zoom View), Fire Manipulation
Stat: Mistake Solved – 5/50
Kain Vagor
Level: 25
Weapon: Phantom Blade (Frost Lord Core)
Abilities: Sword Aura, Flash Step, Frost Slash
Taro Blaze
Level: 25
Weapon: Infernal Gauntlets
Abilities: Brute Strength, Inferno Punch, Explosive Leap
> Mistake Solved: 5/50
The path is just beginning. The truth lies in the darkness beyond the dungeons.