The subtle hum of the newly installed air purifier was the only sound breaking the silence of Kim Hyu-Gi's small apartment. It was a luxury he hadn’t considered just weeks ago, when the relentless chill of poverty had been a constant companion, seeping into the very marrow of his bones. Now, the air was clean, the temperature comfortable, and the small refrigerator in the corner was no longer an empty monument to his destitution. He allowed himself a small, almost imperceptible sigh of contentment. The three E-Class Wolf King cores, along with the mountain of F-Class wolf materials, had fetched a substantial sum at the Hunter Association. Enough to pay off his mounting debts, upgrade his living conditions, and, most importantly, secure a decent stockpile of high-grade healing potions and basic training equipment. His gaze drifted to the plain, functional steel sword propped against the wall. It wasn't a legendary artifact, but it was well-balanced, sharp, and felt right in his grip. His combat skills, honed in the brutal crucible of the Endless Battlefield, felt more real, more ingrained than ever before. He’d cleared the E-Class Wolf Gate with a calculated ferocity that had surprised even himself. The memory of the bloodied fur, the howls of the dying Wolf Kings, and the primal satisfaction of victory was still vivid. He had fought smarter, not just harder, exploiting the territorial instincts and inherent aggression of the beasts. It was a lesson he carried close. Two weeks had passed since that successful solo hunt. Every morning, Kim Hyu-Gi woke with the first hint of dawn, his body now conditioned to an internal alarm far more reliable than any clock. He’d run laps around the local park, not just to build endurance, but to re-familiarize himself with the feel of the real world, the actual ground beneath his feet, the true resistance of the air against his movements. His Basic Swordsmanship, which felt like a part of his very being now, was practiced for hours. He moved through forms, each thrust and parry precise, economical. He trained in an abandoned warehouse he’d found, its echoing emptiness a stark reminder of the desolate landscapes of the Hell Simulation. He pushed his body, demanding more, always more, believing that with each bead of sweat, each strained muscle, his physical statistics would continue their upward climb. He checked his status panel diligently, almost obsessively, after every training session. His initial E-Class stats, a monumental leap from his F-Class self, had been a source of quiet pride. Strength: 52. Agility: 50. Stamina: 48. These numbers, once seemingly impossibly high, were now his baseline. He expected them to nudge upwards, even by a single point, to reflect his rigorous efforts. But they didn't. Not on the first day, nor the second. He dismissed it, telling himself that growth wasn't linear, that the system had its own rhythm. By the end of the first week, a subtle unease began to curdle in his gut. His muscles ached, his lungs burned after extended sprints, and his swordsmanship became marginally smoother, yet the numbers on his panel remained stubbornly unchanged. He increased the intensity of his training. Added weight to his runs. Extended his swordsmanship drills until his arms trembled from fatigue. Still, no change. The numbers mocked him with their static presence. Strength: 52. Agility: 50. Stamina: 48. “Is this it?” he muttered aloud one evening, his voice hoarse, echoing in the quiet apartment. He wiped sweat from his brow, his reflection in the polished surface of his sword showing a man whose frustration was beginning to mount. “Is this the limit of E-Class without another awakening?” The thought was chilling. The Hell Simulation had pushed him beyond his limits, granted him skills and power he could only dream of, but it felt incomplete. He couldn't imagine a future where his growth simply plateaued here. The memories of the Three Flowers Guild, of Kang Hwok and the others trapped in that collapsing C-Class Gate, were a constant, aching reminder. He needed to get stronger. He *had* to get stronger. His quiet sense of validation from clearing the Wolf Gate began to feel hollow, replaced by a gnawing uncertainty. He spent another three days experimenting, trying different training regimens, even considering visiting a specialized gym to use their advanced equipment, though his instincts warned him against drawing unnecessary attention. He tried meditation, focusing on his internal energy, recalling the faint, otherworldly sensation he'd felt during his first awakening. Nothing. The system panel remained a stoic, unyielding wall of fixed numbers. On the morning of the fourteenth day after the Wolf Gate clear, a wave of profound frustration washed over him. He was seated on the floor of his apartment, the training sword lying beside him. His body felt physically tired, but his mind was agitated. He pulled up his status panel, half-expecting, half-dreading the same unchanging display. He stared at it, willing the numbers to shift, to budge even a fraction. His eyes traced the familiar lines: 'Name: Kim Hyu-Gi,' 'Class: E,' 'Titles: None,' 'Skills: Basic Swordsmanship (Novice), Battlefield Adaptation (Novice),' 'Stats: Strength 52, Agility 50, Stamina 48, Willpower 65,' 'Special Abilities: Hell Simulation (Level 1).' Nothing new. Then, without a sound, a new line flickered into existence at the bottom of the panel, shimmering with an unfamiliar, almost ethereal glow. `[ALERT: Growth parameters for current class level achieved.]` Kim Hyu-Gi’s breath hitched. His eyes widened, his frustration instantly replaced by a surge of adrenaline. So, there *was* a reason for the stagnation. His 'current class level' was saturated. He gripped his knees, leaning forward, his gaze fixed on the panel. Another line appeared, bolder, more urgent. `[Initiating next phase of System Calibration.]` His heart began to pound a frantic rhythm against his ribs. Calibration? What did that mean? Was this another awakening? A system update? His mind raced, pulling up fragmented memories of the initial simulation's activation. Then, the final, undeniable prompt materialized, filling the entire panel, its words burning into his retinas. `[Commencing Hell Simulation II.]` `[Objective: Escort the Princess to the Royal Capital through besieged territories.]` `[Simulation Difficulty: EXTREME]` `[START]` Before he could even comprehend the full implications—'Princess'? 'Royal Capital'? 'EXTREME' difficulty?—the familiar, terrifying sensation of being pulled apart and reassembled gripped him. The world spun, his apartment dissolving into a swirling vortex of colors and sensations. He felt a profound sense of dislocation, a visceral wrenching that made him gasp, though no sound escaped his lips. The last thing he registered before darkness consumed him was the image of a massive, ancient city wall, smoke billowing from its battlements, and the distinct, acrid smell of burning timber and something else... something foul and demonic. When his eyes snapped open again, the air was thick with ash and the metallic tang of blood. He lay sprawled on rough, uneven stone, the distant roar of a million throats echoing across a vast, desolate landscape. The sky above was not the familiar blue of Earth, but a bruised, angry purple, choked with black storm clouds. He was clad in rough, unadorned leather armor, a heavy, dull sword strapped to his hip, and around him, the panicked shouts of men in similar attire. Beyond the city walls, an endless, swirling tide of grotesque figures stretched to the horizon, a sea of chitin, claws, and malice. Millions of demon troops. The sheer scale of the invasion was immediately overwhelming, a chilling confirmation of the 'EXTREME' difficulty. He was no longer Kim Hyu-Gi, the E-Class Hunter, but a nameless, weakest knight in a world on the brink.

Chapter 30: The Second Descent