Dungeon Predator (WN)

Aldebarun Tomb was a giant dungeon consisting of three underground floors. It was a popular hunting ground because of the above-average experience and proficiency gain.

But that was all in the past.

When it was discovered that it housed a soul dungeon, the surrounding large guilds fought against each other for ownership of the dungeon.

The final victor was the 9th ranked Corruption Guild.

Aside from them and their allies, the Corruption Guild didn't allow entry into the dungeon.

Eun Kang was a member of the Corruption Guild, as well as a gatekeeper to the Aldebarun Tomb. He and nine other guild members protected the dungeon from outsiders.

"Someone's coming," a slightly pudgy man said.

Eun Kang saw them too. It was a woman with fluttering red hair.

'I feel like I've seen her before. Who is she again?'

At that moment...

"This dungeon is owned by the Corruption Guild. You can't enter, so get lost!" the chief gatekeeper yelled.

The woman pulled out her staff and began to chant.

"A chant? Battle positions!" the chief gatekeeper yelled.

Eun Kang instinctively drew the sword at his waist.

Clang, clang.

His comrades also drew their weapons.

An archer notched an arrow.

However...

The woman's lips froze.

No way. Had she already finished her incantation?

Indeed!

Roar!

Giant flames surged from her staff. She gathered golden energy in her off-hand as well.

Flame Tempest!

Raging Wind!

Mighty fire and wind spells were cast simultaneously.

"W-What's going on!?" The chief gatekeeper looked shocked.

The power of her spells was already incredible enough, but she had cast two of them at once!

Bam!

The flames spread everywhere like a wildfire over dry, arid land, and raging winds blew above them. It all happened in the blink of an eye.

"Uheok!"

"Holy shit!"

Two of them were defeated instantly.

Then...

Eun Kang remembered who the woman was. There was only one woman with red hair that controlled magic of that scale!

"I-It's Helena!" he yelled.

"What?"

"The Witch of Annihilation!"

"The Numbers!" The chief gatekeeper furrowed his brow.

'It's Helena?'

Why would someone like Helena show up here? He couldn't understand her intent.

But he was certain that... this didn't bode well for them.

"Buy as much time as you can!" the chief gatekeeper yelled.

"Haahp!"

"Die, you witch!"

The gatekeepers pierced through the inferno and charged at Helena. However, she retaliated with powerful spell after spell, sweeping them away like twigs in a flood.

"W-Why?" Eun Kang asked. He somehow managed to be the last one standing. 'Why are you doing this?'

Helena looked at him nonchalantly, and then said, "Dungeon Liberation."

That was the last thing Eun Kang heard.

Roar!

He was devoured by a flame pillar.

* * *

A glimmering chandelier hung from the ceiling, soft carpet lined the ground, delicate, latticed wallpaper covered the walls, and ornately decorated furniture could be found everywhere.

Demian Palace was a beautiful place. However, dangerous monsters like Blood Knights, Black Maids, etc. could be found here.

More importantly, this palace contained a soul dungeon called the 'Bloodstained Torture Chamber'.

This soul dungeon was filled with bloodstained prisons and torture devices that'd make your skin crawl. Plus, the resentment of those that'd been tortured gathered here, creating the guardian known as Vengeful Spirit Aurike.

Aurike would surrender the soul dungeon to anyone who 'offered him 100 souls'.

"Will you offer me 100 souls?" Aurike said huskily.

Bart grinned. He was surrounded by the defeated members of the Bleach Guild. They were the guild's elite members, who'd attempted to stop him, but were completely annihilated instead.

"Yeah, I'll give you 100 souls. So give me the soul stone," Bart said.

"Understood." Aurike raised its blackened hands.

Whoosh!

The dead players' souls popped out of their bodies, and were absorbed by Aurike.

Give and take.

Once the final soul was absorbed, a triangular stone was released from its body.

Bart snatched the soul stone, which glowed brightly. The light rippled outwards, and a circular arena appeared thereafter. A Sacred Duel would now commence, which would determine the owner of the soul dungeon.

The Bleach Guildmaster, Kanon, stepped out of the portal.

"Let me ask you one thing."

"What is it?"

"Why are you attacking our guild? I don't think we've done anything to you." Kanon glared at Bart loathingly.

"You didn't do anything to me. But..."

"But?"

"I'm simply liberating the dungeon."

Two giant magic circles appeared to his left and to his right, and out came a Fire Giant and an Ice Giant.

The Bleach Guildmaster and high ranker, Kanon, looked on in despair.

* * *

Kang Oh's target was Lividon Garden.

Tons of plant-type monsters, as well as carnivorous plants, appeared there. It was owned by the 7th ranked Festival Guild.

Their flag stood at the entrance of the dungeon. It was adorned with their symbol, fireworks.

However, there was no one protecting the entrance. There was only a warning sign.

- Warning: This dungeon is the property of the Festival Guild. You cannot enter unless you have permission. Trespassers will not be forgiven.

Kang Oh softly swung Demon Sword Ubist.

Swish.

The sign fell to the floor.

After today, there would no longer be a use for this signpost! Why? Because the dungeon would be free to the public after he was done here.

Kang Oh entered the dungeon.

[You have entered the dungeon, Lividon Garden.]

It was a dense jungle.

"A trespasser!"

"Didn't you see the warning sign?"

"It doesn't matter. Kill anyone who trespasses."

Lividon Garden was the Darius Squad's hunting ground.

Three members of the squad immediately bombarded him with attacks.

Kang Oh merely threw Ubist at them.

Weapon Bombardment!

Bam! Bam! Bam!

There was no need for any other techniques. Once struck by the jet-black blade, his enemies fell.

Kang Oh strode forward.

A short while later...

Darius and several members of his squad appeared in front of him.

"Was it you?" Darius looked Kang Oh over and scowled. Eventually, his expression did a complete 180. "K-Kang Oh?"

"Yeah, it's me." Kang Oh grinned.

"Why are you here? You're not..."

Darius recalled the recent hot topic, the Dungeon Liberation Movement.

"Yep. Dungeon Liberation."

"Mm. You should rethink this. If you back off now, then we'll let this slide. But if you continue, then... the entire Festival Guild will get involved," Darius said murderously.

"Oh man, I'm shivering in my boots." Kang Oh shook exaggeratingly.

Darius bit his lip. Kang Oh's speech and actions were in clear contempt of the Festival Guild.

"Are we really doing this?"

"Yeah, let's go." Kang Oh grinned.

"Attack!"

Darius and his squad rushed at Kang Oh. However, Kang Oh's strength far exceeded their wildest imaginations.

'N-No way!'

Darius couldn't help but gape as he saw his subordinates get sliced down without putting up much of a fight.

'How can he be this strong? Yeah, I get that he's 2nd and all, but still!'

In other words, he and Kang Oh were realms apart.

"A-Are you... a Master?"

Darius voiced the one and only thing that could explain the overwhelming power disparity.

"Yeah. I'm a Master," Kang Oh smiled and said.

This wasn't a fight he could win.

"Retreat!" Darius yelled.

Darius and his squad members quickly ran away in every direction.

"See you later."

Kang Oh didn't pursue them.

Sometime later...

The owner of Lividon Garden changed.

* * *

Arth's ranking system was unique. It took into account multiple factors, such as combat ability, skill, wealth, influence, charisma, fame, etc., in order to determine one's rank.

However, Kang Oh, Bart, and Helena were unable to receive a high 'influence' rating. They weren't part of the 4 great guilds, nor were they in one of the top 20 large guilds.

Despite that, Kang Oh was 2nd, Helena was 5th, and Bart was 6th. This meant that their combat ability was much higher than the norm to compensate for their lacking influence.

In other words, they possessed enough power to overcome the power of an organization. Large guilds weren't weak. Kang Oh, Bart, and Helena were just freakishly strong; so much so that they were capable of stealing soul dungeons from large guilds.

"Good work." Kang Oh beamed as he looked upon Helena and Bart.

"I emailed you the video where I stole the large guild's soul dungeon," Helena said.

"Me too," Bart added.

"Thank you."

"What should we do with the soul dungeons?" Helena asked.

"Do with them as you wish. You can take them for yourselves or sell them. But..."

"Whatever we choose, you want us to allow anyone to pass through them," Helena said.

"Yes." Kang Oh nodded his head.

"Understood."

"I assume we can't sell them to large guilds," Bart said.

"You can."

"We can?"

"Yes. In exchange, you have to ensure that they don't bar anyone from entering the dungeon. Plus, they have to give skilled players the chance to take ownership of the dungeon. They can't just keep them out."

Kang Oh sought to liberate the dungeons, not ostracize the large guilds.

If he completely ostracized the large guilds, then they wouldn't sit still. They would probably make a huge fuss, which would be bothersome for him to deal with.

"So if we were to sell them to a large guild, we need a definite answer from them or a Sabra's Contract. Ok." Bart gave him an ok sign.

"What's next?" Helena asked.

"For the time being, you two can do as you wish. I don't need your help right now," Kang Oh said.

"Understood. By the way, when can I meet Gainus?"

"Soon."

"Alright. Well, it seems like we're done here, so I'll be going now." Helena stood up.

"I'll get going too." Bart followed suit.

Kang Oh clasped his fingers together.

'Let's make this even bigger.'

* * *

Gaming networks gained incredible influence when the era of virtual games began. It was because people went wild over these games, where you could see, hear, taste, and feel.

Arth's release only cemented the position of these gaming networks.

'Is this the place?' Jae Woo looked up at the skyscraper.

It was about the same size as a broadcast television network building. There was a giant sign at the top that said VG.

That's right. This was the second highest rated gaming network, VG.

A short while later...

"Welcome."

He was greeted by a man with a rough beard and thick, horn-rimmed glasses.

"My name is Lee Han Cheol." He passed Kang Oh his business card, which stated that he was a producer.

"My name is Choi Jae Woo. I go by the ID, Kang Oh."

"I know. Thank you for accepting our invitation." Han Cheol slightly bowed his head.

"I'm grateful for the opportunity to be on VG's most popular show, the Ranking Show. I asked you to put me on the show as soon as possible, and you accommodated me too. I have a lot to say."

'Indeed, I have a ton of stuff to say.' Kang Oh grinned.