Lee Han stared blankly at where the construction site once stood.
Before he could process what happened, a low growl interrupted his thoughts.
He quickly turned around.
A massive beast stood before him, eyes full of hostility.
Bloodhound
(A basic monster, undead)
LV. 5
HP: 300
“You bastard... You were waiting for me.”
The bloodhound moved in a circle, scraping the ground, ready to strike.
Grrr…
It lunged.
Lee Han sidestepped just in time, the bloodhound’s claws barely missing him.
He swung his sword at its head, but the bloodhound dodged, moving with insane speed.
Lee Han narrowed his eyes. Despite the level difference, this bloodhound was fast.
Thread Manipulation.
The threads around the bloodhound halted its movement. In one swift motion, Lee Han’s sword came down, cutting the bloodhound in half.
He picked up the rune and watched it dissolve into his body.
He hadn’t expected that Thread Manipulation would be the trait he lacked. Controlling his opponent’s movement, ambushing before they could react—it was perfect for him.
He headed to the building on Yeoksam-ro in Gangnam. The place was empty as usual. Lee Han looked around the street but saw no one.
After wandering, he encountered a group of bloodhounds. In the middle of the pack stood one unlike the others.
The beast was twice the size of the others, with three heads, sharp fangs, and claws that glinted menacingly.
Cerberus
(Special Elite Monster, Undead)
LV. 24
HP: 70,500
Lee Han clicked his tongue, gripping his sword tightly.
“Tsk. Seriously? At a time like this?”
Damn it.
Lee Han charged at the Cerberus, cutting down the five bloodhounds in front of him. Their heads flew off, blood splattering.
Shrieeeek!
One bloodhound let out a painful cry before collapsing.
But there was no time to hesitate.
The Cerberus swung its massive claw at Lee Han. He raised his sword in time to parry it.
Clang!
The shockwave from the blow rattled his arm, but Lee Han stood firm. The Cerberus recoiled, and Lee Han adjusted his stance.
The first head of the Cerberus bared its fangs, releasing a blast of black flames. The fire surged toward him, scorching everything in its path.
Lee Han barely dodged, the flames grazing his side. His HP dropped by -10 every ten seconds as the flames burned.
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Keurgh!
Lee Han staggered, clutching his chest. This is bad. The black flames are eating away at my HP...
His mind raced. I can’t keep dodging like this. What the hell do I do? His body burned from the inside. Is there any way to survive this?
Before he could think, more bloodhounds rushed at him, claws slashing from every direction.
Damn it!
He barely avoided one, heart pounding. Another bloodhound was already on him, and he dodged just in time.
This is bad...
Suddenly, a bone-chilling howl ripped through the air.
Awoooo!
The Cerberus’ three heads opened wide, and the sky darkened. Lightning crackled. A bolt of lightning shot toward him.
Craaaack!
Lee Han barely dodged. His heart raced. He wasn’t fast enough to outrun it.
The lightning struck nearby, throwing him off balance.
I’m screwed if I get hit by that...
His mind searched for a solution. Think, think...think … He avoided another bloodhound’s claw and realized—Thread Manipulation could protect him.
Thread Manipulation.
Lee Han activated the trait. The threads twisted, forming pitch-black armor that shielded him from the flames and gave some resistance to the lightning.
But how long will this last?
The Cerberus’ three heads glared at him, each filled with malice.
The Cerberus howled again, and the bloodhounds began surrounding him.
Shit! Seems like it called for backup...
One by one, the bloodhounds lunged. Lee Han slashed through them with precise strikes, dodging while attacking.
“Fuck! Isn’t this against the rules? Ganging up on me with hundreds of bloodhounds?!”
The Cerberus was now shrouded in shadows, its three heads glaring ominously. It howled once more.
Awooooo!
Then, it disappeared, vanishing into the shadows.
What?!
Lee Han looked around cautiously. He had been dealing with the bloodhounds while keeping Cerberus in sight. Yet, in an instant, it disappeared.
Where did it go?
His eyes shifted quickly, searching for any trace of the monster. Then, without warning, the Cerberus reappeared behind him, moving with terrifying speed.
Fuck!
Before he could turn, the Cerberus lunged and sank its fangs into his left hand. The pain was instant, and his hand was severed in an instant.
ARGHHHHHHH!
Blood gushed from the wound, leaving him immobile for a moment. The bloodhounds saw their chance and charged.
But,
Lee Han’s bloodshot eyes burned with fury as an adrenaline surge forced him to his feet.
“You bastards! You’ll pay for everything!”
Thread Manipulation.
The black threads slithered out like a snake, wrapping around the bloodhounds and locking them in place.
Grrrr…
Lee Han focused, and the threads formed sharp blades. At the same time, threads wrapped around him, forming pitch-black armor.
With a snap of his fingers—
Swish!
The blades pierced through the bloodhounds’ heads with brutal precision.
Shrieeeek!
The bloodhounds let out painful cries before collapsing. Hundreds of colorless runes scattered.
The Cerberus, sensing Lee Han’s bloodlust, retreated cautiously, keeping its distance.
Lee Han extended the threads, gathering the scattered runes into his body.
“Keh! Time for round two. You crazy bastard..!”
He tightened his grip on his sword, adjusting his stance. The threads around him surged, engulfing everything.
The black flames vanished, replaced by an ominous darkness.
The Cerberus charged, intent on killing. Lightning struck twice toward him, bolts crackling.
Shrieeeek!
But Lee Han was faster, unleashing a powerful thrust.
The air exploded with a deafening sound, piercing through the eardrums.
His body vanished and reappeared behind the Cerberus' blind spot.
With the same speed, he poured everything into this one thrust—a single strike aimed directly at the Cerberus's heart.
No matter how many heads it had, it still lived in the same body.
The thrust pierced through its body, creating a massive hole, killing it with one strike.
The body of the Cerberus vanished, and two skill books and several relics dropped from it.
After he killed Cerberus, he sighed in relief. His body was barely standing. He never expected to win a fight against that monster.
He had let his guard down until the end. If there were a next time, he wanted to win with his own strength, not relying on luck.
He picked up the first skill book he received and saw it was AA+ rank.
[You’ve acquired a new trait! Instant Regeneration.]
Instant Regeneration (AA+)
Grants the ability to heal severe wounds instantly and regrow lost limbs.
Effect: Restores 50% of max health instantly and regrows lost limbs within 10 seconds.
Cooldown: 5 minutes.
“This is insane… why is something like this here?!”
Lee Han’s body recovered instantly, and his severed left hand regenerated in a split second.
"Seriously? I’m becoming less human," he muttered.
He moved his left hand and clenched his fist. It felt just like before—no, even better.
He then quickly picked up the last skill book and it was B-rank. It was better than having nothing.
[You’ve acquired a new trait! Shadow Clone.]
Shadow Clone (B)
Creates a clone to fight alongside the user.
Effect: Clone has 50% of user’s stats, lasts for 2 minutes, and has a cooldown of 10 minutes.
Surprisingly, it was more useful than he thought. He activated Shadow Clone, and another figure of him appeared. It looked exactly like him—same expression, same physique. But it seemed more like a mirror than a person.
Lee Han picked up the relics and looked at the sword in his hand. He gasped, staring at it for a moment.
"Wh-What? A legendary fragment rank!? Ragnar... never heard of him. But, this sword…it’s mine now.” He smirked. “Even if it's sealed, I'll figure out how to use it later."
Abyssal Sword (???) (Sealed)
Legendary Fragment Rank
A divine sword, one of the sixteen forged by the legendary blacksmith Ragnar. Its origin is unknown.
Effects:
120% chance to ignore enemy defense.
Increases damage against undead monsters by 300%.
Grants 15% movement speed.
Extra Skills:
Abyss Slash
Unleashes a powerful slash infused with dark energy, dealing 200% damage in a wide radius.
Void Step
Teleport a short distance forward, becoming intangible for 5 seconds. During this time, you can pass through enemies and obstacles.
Skill Slots:
Slot 1: Locked (Sealed State).
Slot 2: Unused.
Slot 3: Unused.
Unique Rank
Cerberus Guard (Breastplate)
Crafted from the hide of the three-headed beast.
Effect: +10 Defense, +5 Vitality, 30% fire damage reduction.
Gale Stride (Boots)
Rare Rank
Lightweight boots blessed by the wind spirit.
Effect: +5 Agility, 15% movement speed.
Cerberus Claw (Gauntlets)
Rare Rank
Made from the claws of Cerberus, enhancing agility and combat skills.
Effect: +8 Agility, 5% chance to stun enemies with each punch.
He was satisfied. Lee Han knew he needed items that could support him and increase his chances of survival.
Without hesitation, he equipped the Cerberus's Guard and the Gale Stride.
As for the Cerberus Claw, he stored it in his inventory. It wasn’t time to use it yet.
While he was still enjoying the items he’d acquired, a sudden notification appeared before him.
Ding!
[You’ve achieved impossible feats! You have defeated an opponent stronger than you.]
[You’ve acquired the title, "Monstrous Newbie."]
Monstrous Newbie (Legendary)
A title granted to the user who clears the tutorial in a single attempt.
Effect: All stats +10
“Wh-What’s this? Monstrous Newbie? Tutorial? Are you telling me that everything until now was just a tutorial?!”
“Fuck! I almost died twice, and you say it was a tutorial?!”
“And why am I alone? Where is everyone?”
Lee Han had countless questions, but frustration grew as the system notifications continued popping up.
Ding!
[You have completed the tutorial in Gangnam district.]
