The system spoke.
Quiet.
Into the space between them.
---
*Hunter: Eun Byol.*
*Level 3.*
*Cultivation — significant increase.*
*Mana body relationship — high increase.*
*Projection: approaching Level 5.*
*Path symbol forming.*
*Latent skill emerging.*
---
*Hunter: Ha Joon.*
*Level 2.*
*Cultivation — increase confirmed.*
*Mana body relationship — high increase.*
---
*Reminder.*
*For a Sleeper Hunter to fully awaken they must kill a monster with their bare hands.*
*Both Hunters have fulfilled this requirement.*
*Awakening confirmed.*
---
The old elevator descended.
Wood and metal.
Old enough to feel every year of itself.
The yellow light above them blinking slowly.
Irregularly.
Like something trying to stay on through habit alone.
---
Chi-Long stood with them.
Looking at nothing specific.
Just ahead.
Just down.
---
Then she spoke.
---
"Have you ever heard of Mana Orou."
Not quite a question.
Just an opening.
Her eyes still forward.
"A type of metal found within dungeons."
A pause.
"I'm fairly certain you've seen it before."
Her eyes moved to Ha Joon.
---
He looked at her.
"Yes ma'am."
A breath.
"During my time as a porter. Carrying weapons and equipment for awakened hunters."
---
Chi-Long's eyes stayed on him.
"Normal humans cannot enter dungeons."
A pause.
"Sleepers are immune to the Mana Rot. That is why they could enter as porters while normal humans could not."
She let that sit a moment.
Then—
"Tell me."
Her voice even.
"Why is this metal valuable. Specifically to hunters."
---
Ha Joon looked ahead.
Thinking through it properly before speaking.
"Because Mana Orou is used to channel mana."
A breath.
"It's the only material the energy can move through freely."
He continued.
"It's also used to store mana. Through a process called joint cultivation."
---
Chi-Long said nothing.
Listening.
---
"Joint cultivation is different from solo cultivation Deul cultivation."
Ha Joon's voice finding its footing.
"Deul cultivation."
"It is fact different from the solo cultivation we've been doing."
"You can cultivate with a partner. Or partners. The energy passes between them. Builds between them."
A pause.
"Like a game of hot potato. But the energy increases each time it moves."
---
The elevator shuddered slightly.
Kept descending.
---
"But it's not just between people."
He continued.
"You can do it with your equipment. Your shield. Your armor. Your sword. Even bullets."
A breath.
"The metal creates its own core inside the weapon. Stores the energy there."
He paused.
"It's mainly used to increase attack power. Or to save mana for when a hunter desperately needs it."
His voice finding the right image.
"Like water saved for the desert."
---
Chi-Long went quiet.
Her eyes moving away from him.
Looking at the elevator wall.
At the wood of it.
Old grain catching the yellow light.
---
The elevator shuddered again.
More this time.
The light blinking faster.
Then slower.
Then the descent stopped.
---
The door opened.
The corridor beyond it dim and familiar.
---
Chi-Long stepped forward.
Her voice coming back over her shoulder.
Quiet.
Almost nothing.
---
"You did well."
A breath.
"Go to sleep."
---
She didn't turn around.
---
"Tomorrow. More training."