The world changed more than a dozen years ago. portals appeared like CGI projections. At first, that's exactly what everyone thought. A performance. Yet, gradually, creatures not of this world began pouring out.
The beasts were mindless with only one goal in mind—to feast on human flesh.
Earth fell into a state of chaos, and then, the system awakened to combat the situation. Like a tutorial guide, it taught and directed humans on what to do, gave them quests; people grew stronger.
The moment things settled down for a short period of reprieve, the system began to categorize humans into different classes, subclasses, and naming skills they'd learned. As an example, there was the [Mage] class, the subclass of a [Mage], [Fire Wizard], and skill [Fireball] respectively.
Everything was looking up from Earth's side. There was no limit to one's growth so long as they kept working towards leveling up…
…Then fifteen years later, the dark truth came to light.
The system and [Dungeons], which had once been a diamond in the rough, turned out to be a curse disguised as a blessing. Parasitic leeches rather than the symbiote they once thought.
Of course, plenty of people had their own opinions. Some disliked the concept of [Dungeons] and even the system itself, but the temptation of growing stronger or gaining a unique class was too tempting.
Besides…they had to, right? If they didn't, the monsters would surge after a period of time.
By the time anyone realized the underlying problem of "taking advantage" of the situation, it was too late. The system and [Dungeons] made the host body stronger at a steep cost. One's life.
Yoon Eun-ho, an average [Player], stared at the blood red system screen. [Consumption in Progress: 95%].
For fifteen years, he had scrambled to reach the top. For fifteen years, he struggled to become stronger. Strong enough to protect what he loved.
And then what did he find all those years later? That it was all a ruse!
He was alone in this dark world.
In the end, there was nothing he could do.
Was it because he wasn't strong enough? Didn't have enough will? Perhaps both.
He looked up at the black sky. His surroundings were all coated in shadows besides the one, bright patch he rested on.
[Consumption in Progress: 99%]
He closed his eyes. The red glare and ominous text was hurting his eyes. Even the monsters that had helped in the destruction of the world had been consumed.
[Consumption in Progress: 99.1%]
'Ah, will it just hurry up already?' Eun-ho thought with a sigh. The darkness slowly crept up his leg. It was slow. Agonizingly slow.
[Consumption in Progress: 99.5%]
He missed his family.
His father, mother, brother, and sister...all devoured.
He had failed to protect the one thing that mattered.
[Consumption in Progress: 99.9%]
He was scared, but determined. He would not die a coward. He raised his arm, flicking his middle finger. "Fuck you." He didn't know who he was cursing, but all that mattered was that he did something.
As if feeling offended, the darkness swallowed his hand first, then his arm. A few moments later and all that was left were his wide, angry eyes. Then nothing.
[Consumption Complete: 100%]
It was silent.
[Consumption Complete: 101%]
…?
[Error: unable to contain excess energy!]
The system imploded
…
"KUHAAACK!!"
Yoon Eun-ho screamed in pain. What the hell!? Didn't he die!? Wasn't he consumed!? So what was with this pain!?
His surroundings were white and it was as if his body was disintegrating…it was being erased.
This wasn't just pain, this was complete and utter agony. His body twisted in ways it shouldn't, bones cracking and turning the mush. The next second, he couldn't even scream.
'If this was because I flicked you off, I'm sorry..!' His mind shouted relentlessly. The pain remained, worsening even. 'Dammit..Fuck you..! Fuck!' His thoughts began to fade. He was losing consciousness.
The chaos of the events unfolding caused wormholes to form. His body was thrown around like a ragdoll the moment it was close enough to be pulled into their vacuum-like environment. He had turned into a ping pong ball.
At this point, he couldn't comprehend what was going on, only the sensation that his surroundings were warping.
And finally, his body, which no longer existed, and his soul, which was weakened, was thrown into the emptiness where a single mass twisted and writhed.
A black shadow-like substance that seemed to be remnants of what had consumed his world twisted lifelessly.
The moment the two beings touched, a soulless body and a soul without a body, the surroundings changed
Memories of his life flashed like a movie in his head. The moment he awakened a system, the struggles he went through to obtain just a little bit more strength, his obsession. Time seemed to be going in reverse; it felt like he was being shot faster than the speed of light.
And all he could think about was the regret he felt for not spending more time with his family.
…
When Yoon Eun-ho woke up again, he found himself in front of an ominous door. It was eerie—simple and made of what looked like twisted black and white branches that interlocked together, forming a warped archway.
He stared at it.
Cold.
Empty.
Silent.
The last thing he remembered was being swallowed, his body breaking down and disappearing. And now…he stood before something that felt…alive yet…dead.
He stepped closer.
Thump. Thump.
The door pulsed the closer he got, as if reacting to his presence.
"…What is this place…where am I?" he rasped. His voice was hoarse, like his throat had been scraped raw by fire and ash. That wasn't his voice. It sounded too…monstrous.
He raised his hand to his throat, and paused.
His skin writhed like it wasn't his own—dark, shifting like smoke, bones stretching, reshaping. His hands…his body…
Eun-ho stumbled back, tripping over nothing. His breathing grew ragged. This wasn't his body. There was no way. He couldn't have become a monster!
But no matter how he looked at it, his skin was pitch black and gleamed with an unnatural sheen.
"Wh-what..the hell—what the hell is this!?"
His mind flooded with memories—ancient beings, labyrinths, monsters being born and shaped with will alone. He felt the presence of a core buried deep inside him. Not a heart. A dungeon core.
This didn't make any sense. A dungeon core should be in the open, on an altar. Why was it inside him..what were these memories!?
Information poured in like a torrent. There was no one speaking. No automated system voice. It was his body itself telling him. He came to a realization, filled with dread.
He was no longer Yoon Eun-ho, the last human of a dying world.
He was now… something else.
Something born from death and the unnatural merger of two incompatible beings.
[Dungeon Master(Infancy)]
[Skill Inherited: Labyrinth Creation (Level 1)]
[Grace Period: 30:23:59:59 Remaining]
He gasped for air he didn't need. "A system..?"
He staggered to his feet, his reflection visible on the smooth surface of the door in front of him. His hand rested against the door as he observed his new appearance.
It was like something straight out of a nightmare—his entire body was dark and writhing, covered in something that looked organic and disgusting. His eyes, contrasting against the black, were pure white.
A human trapped in an inhuman form.
"Son of a..! I didn't experience all of that just to end up like this!"
He slammed his hand against the door as it rattled. He wanted to go out. He wanted to see his family!
But nothing answered. No voice, no system response, nothing. Only the quiet hum of the dungeon space surrounding him.
He slid onto his knees, shaking. It was so unfair.
…
The [Dungeon Master], or rather, Yoon Eun-ho, stared at the blank surroundings dazedly.
He had a few minutes to sort through his thoughts.
Whatever "body" he possessed had allowed him to inherit several things. Memories and a skill called [Labyrinth Creation].
He silently activated the skill. The system appeared again, but the screen was….different.
The system on Earth and this one was similar, but…unique.
For now, he decided to survive. No matter how much he hated the prospects, he was alive now and he wasn't going to let go of this chance.
Afterall, if life gives you lemons, squeeze lemon juice into its eyes.
To be continued…
Additional information:
>Yoon Eun-Ho has a body that looks like it was made up of liquid charred flesh and smoke from a fire. His eyes are pure white and his body has several floating tendrils. His mouth is usually hidden unless he speaks. He does not need to breathe or eat. (Image here)