Chapter Text
The exit was blocked. Jinwoo tried to steady his breathing as he stared at the rock wall that was blocking his way out. He grit his teeth, damn it. Figures he would have ended up with a group of lizards when he decided to join a different team. Jinwoo turned away from the exit, knowing that he had to find someway out before the gate closed. He had about an hour since the boss had only recently been killed.
Of course, now it made sense why they all ran after grabbing their haul. They wanted to trap him inside. Damn it. Jinwoo sped down the corridor, eyes flickering around the walls, trying to find the dark passage he had spotted hours ago when they had first entered. Being so used to being jumped by monsters, he had kept an eye on the area, but nothing had come out. Which meant it might be safe to go through.
There! Jinwoo spotted it. It really was just a darkened area of the wall, one that would have been easily ignored as some kind of depression in the rock. Taking out his phone, Jinwoo checked the battery and winced. He hoped it lasted long enough. He turned on the flashlight, shining it into the dark shadow.
Taking a deep breath, he stepped into the darkness.
Jinwoo didn't bother checking the time as he walked down the corridor. It was long, and there was nothing in sight. No signs of monsters or other openings. Jinwoo swallowed, shoulders slumping as he realized he could actually be trapped inside the dungeon. Disappearing just like dad did. He had to stop, clenching his eyes closed to keep the tears at bay. He couldn't just leave Jinah alone, not when it was just them while their mom slept on.
A sob almost broke through Jinwoo's lips, but he pressed his hand against his mouth in an attempt to hold it in. He couldn't cry, not right now. Once he actually figured out his fate, would he let himself break down.
There was a loud noise, jolting Jinwoo from his depressing thoughts. His breathing picked up again as he listened. That was the sound of a fight. But why?
Jinwoo swallowed, and headed toward the noise even if his instincts screamed to run far away from the possible danger.
When a beam of light became visible, Jinwoo turned off his camera, tucking his phone away as he headed toward the exit of the tunnel. He stopped just at the edge, peeking out to scan the area for monsters, or hunters. With the coast clear he stepped out.
Jinwoo blinked at the room he exited into. The cavern was massive. Much larger than he was used to from D and E rank dungeons. Fuck, Jinwoo stiffened, slowly turning toward an opening he didn't notice earlier. There were eyes glowing in the dark. A flash of teeth.
And Jinwoo bolted.
Fuck fuck FUCK. Of course he would somehow end up in a dangerous dungeon. And there was no way he was still in the D-rank he had been in before.
He ran, not even chancing a look back as he tried to get away. Jinwoo could hear the monster giving chase, and knew that it would catch up quickly. It sounded bigger, quicker, than Jinwoo who was already weary from the dungeon before and walking who knows how long.
The swish of a weapon had Jinwoo diving to the ground, narrowly avoiding the beasts weapon. Jinwoo sobbed, body shaking too much to push himself back to his feet. He was terrified. He's never encountered a monster so strong. He curled into himself, unable to stop the sobs ripping from his throat now that he knew he was officially done for.
Weapons swished through the air. The resounding thwack of metal hitting flesh echoing as well.
Jinwoo was too afraid to look, trying to muffle his sobs as he stayed curled up. He wasn't hurt. Something else had been attacked. He listened as footsteps came near. Something touched his shoulder, and Jinwoo lashed out.
A hand wrapped around his fist, slamming it into the ground as he was forced onto his back with a grunt. Jinwoo heaved, cheeks wet from his tears as he stared wide eyed up at the, admittedly handsome, face above him. Glowing yellow eyes stared down at him, a frown on the man's face.
Jinwoo didn't move, his breathing ragged. His fist was shaking in the man's grip.
The man's mouth opened, words tumbling out. Jinwoo's eyebrows furrowed in confusion. He tilted his head, a small frown coming to his lips. He had no idea what the man just said. And he said so.
"I, I don't know what you said."
The man blinked, eyes rolling up in annoyance. Jinwoo flinched, turning his head away. He knew that look wasn't good. And the man was obviously a higher rank then he was (everyone was a higher rank than him), and even if most of them talked shit about his rank, Jinwoo's encountered some that liked to push him around.
He kept his gaze turned away, body starting to shake again as his gaze landed on a sword buried into the ground beside his head.
There was a sigh above him before the man was suddenly off him. Jinwoo flinched violently as the sword was pulled out, fully expecting the blade to be buried into him. To his surprise, it wasn't. The man sheathed his sword, and held out a hand to Jinwoo.
Jinwoo blinked, glancing up at the man's face before cautiously placing his hand in the offered one. The man gripped his hand tightly as he easily hauled him to his feet. Jinwoo stumbled, slamming into the man's chest at harsh pull. He stepped away quickly, a flush rising on his cheeks at feeling how solid the man's chest had been.
The man hadn't let go of his hand. Jinwoo blinked, looking up confused. The man flashed a grin at him before pulling him along. As they walked, Jinwoo had to pick up the pace to match the man's stride. He also ended up stepping close, practically pressed to the man's side as they walked past various dead beasts.
Being pressed so close, the man let go of his hand, wrapping his arm around Jinwoo's shoulders instead. Jinwoo glanced up, glancing back down when he noticed the man wasn't looking. Jinwoo wondered where he had ended up. He didn't recognize the language, only that he must still be in Asia. Better than landing across the world.
Jinwoo shivered at that. At least if he had accidentally somehow ended up in America, he would have been able to communicate.
While thinking and ignoring the dead beasts around them, Jinwoo didn't realize they had made it to the gate's exit until the glowing blue caught his attention.
Soon enough, they were stepping out. The man's arm still around Jinwoo's shoulders and keeping him pressed to his side.