Chapter 25

The clash with Hwang Dongsuk arrives at its breaking point. Sung Jinwoo methodically clears away the rest of Dongsuk's crew before turning his attention to the leader himself, saved for the end so his full strength can be felt. Dongsuk had schemed to turn on Jinwoo and Jinho to seize their gear, and only now does he grasp how badly he misread the man across from him. The stretch tracks Jinwoo's leap from an ignored low-rank hunter into a cold, calculating threat, and it underscores the trust forming between him and Jinho, whom he moves to keep out of harm's way during the brawl.

Jinwoo eliminates Dongsuk's allies one by one, deliberately leaving the ringleader for last. Dongsuk's betrayal plan collapses against Jinwoo's superior power. Afterward Jinho brings Jinwoo to a cafe to talk through what happened, still rattled by how close they came to dying yet steadfast in his loyalty, which Jinwoo answers with reassurance.

The chapter belongs to the Dungeon and Prisoners Arc and adapts into Episode 7. Jinwoo weighs the burden that comes with his rising ability, concluding that he can no longer drift through dangerous moments passively because more of them are certain to come.