Dungeon Seoul

The training grounds of Tiger Gate HQ had been transformed overnight.

A shimmering dome of mana covered the field, its surface rippling with projected environments, forests, ruins, sandstorms cycling every few seconds. Rows of seats lined the observation deck, where camera drones floated like curious birds.

Jinho stood awkwardly in his new tactical jacket, Pan hovering beside his shoulder.

"This feels like I'm about to get graded," he muttered.

"YOU ARE."

"Not helping."

Yoo Mirae's voice carried over the loudspeakers. "Welcome to the first cross‑guild exercise. Objective, clear a simulated dungeon under cooperative conditions. Expect anomalies."

Jinho's team began to assemble, each figure striding onto the field like they owned the place.

From Sunblade Guild.

A tall man in pale armor, long hair tied back neatly.

"Hoshino Keiji," he said with a curt bow. His eyes flicked to Pan, then back to Jinho. "Try not to break reality."

"Sure," Jinho replied. "You try not to break my pan."

Pan hummed ominously.

"I WILL BREAK HIM."

From NéoCode (France). Étienne Leclerc arrived in a flourish of enchanted fabric, a rapier at his hip and a smile that sparkled as much as his cuffs.

"Ah, mon ami! We meet again. Today, I shall show you what artistry looks like on the battlefield."

Jinho scratched his cheek. "Can you also show me where the exit is if this goes bad?"

Étienne winked. "Ah, comedy. Très bien."

From Silvercore (Korea). Shin Doyoon sauntered in, spinning a spear with effortless confidence.

"Well, well, my favorite bug boy. Try not to embarrass us in front of the foreigners."

"I'll try," Jinho said. "Can't promise anything."

"HE PROMISES NOTHING.

A TRUE WARRIOR."

"Thanks, Pan," Jinho whispered.

Tiger Gate's Own Representative. Riyeon jogged over, checking her wristband. "I'm here to keep you alive. Don't make me regret it."

"Wouldn't dream of it," Jinho said.

The dome shimmered, locking into place. A darkened ruin under a bleeding sunset sky. The announcer's voice boomed.

> SIMULATION START – CLEAR THE CORE

They moved in formation. Keiji took point, sword gleaming. Doyoon covered the flank with sharp spear thrusts. Étienne darted ahead like a duelist in a ballroom, each slash leaving trails of glowing code.

Jinho stayed in the middle, Pan spinning warily.

Simulated goblins poured from broken doorways. Keiji's blade flashed, precise and silent. Étienne sang as he struck. Doyoon laughed and swept three down at once.

Jinho raised Pan and—

[Skill Activation: Frystrike Lv.3]

The goblins exploded in puffs of data, chat messages flooding the live stream.

Chat: PATCH NOTE OPPA IS HERE!

Chat: wow this team is STACKED!

Chat: what's the pan's kill count?

They reached a chasm, only a narrow beam bridging the gap. Étienne gestured grandly. "After you, mon ami."

Jinho stepped carefully. Pan hummed a tune.

Doyoon jogged past him with a smirk. "Slowpoke."

The beam glitched under Jinho's foot, reality stuttered.

[GLITCH DETECTED]

Stability: 62%

"Uh," Jinho said.

The beam fractured into two overlapping paths. Jinho half‑stepped onto one, half‑on the other and both collapsed.

He yelped, flailing, before Pan flared with light.

"NO FALLING TODAY."

They teleported in a burst of static to the other side, landing in a heap. Jinho groaned.

"Pan, warn me next time."

"YOU DID NOT ASK."

They pressed deeper, following faint traces of mana. The simulation shifted, sky darkening further, whispers rising in the walls.

Keiji slowed. "This is not in the parameters."

Étienne frowned. "Ah, mon dieu. The program is… improvising."

A system alert flashed before Jinho's eyes.

[UNREGISTERED ENTITY – SIMULATION BREACH]

The floor trembled. A massive shadow rose from the ruins, twisting into a jagged humanoid of pure error code.

Chat: ??? THIS WASNT IN THE TRAILER??

Chat: PATCH NOTE OPPA DO SOMETHING

Chat: this is better than K‑drama lol

"Form up!" Riyeon barked.

Keiji struck first, blade sparking against the entity. Étienne leapt in with a flurry of enchanted rapiers. Doyoon charged, laughing, spear spinning like a windmill.

Jinho swung Pan and the entity turned its head, a hundred pixelated eyes locking onto him.

"BEARER. CORRUPTION. RETURN."

Jinho felt the glitch surge. His vision fractured, system icons flickering.

[Skill Fusion Detected]

Frystrike + BUG BASHER → PATCH SLAM Lv.2

"Okay, big guy," Jinho said, bracing. "Come get some."

He lunged, Pan blazing with static. The entity roared, slamming a corrupted fist. Jinho deflected it with a clang that echoed like thunder, sending shards of code flying.

"Cover him!" Riyeon shouted.

Keiji channeled mana through his blade, sending arcs of light to shield Jinho. Étienne threw up a barrier that shimmered like stained glass. Doyoon vaulted over Jinho's back, spear plunging into the entity's shoulder.

Pan's voice rose, layered and eerie.

"PATCH THE WORLD.

PATCH THE SOUL.

STRIKE!"

Jinho unleashed a spinning strike. The entity screamed in binary and shattered into fragments of light.

The simulation dome flickered back to the training field. The audience erupted into cheers, drones zipping in to capture reactions.

Keiji sheathed his sword, giving a short nod. "Not bad… for a glitch."

Étienne grinned, brushing dust off his lapels. "Ah, magnifique! I have never been so gloriously terrified."

Doyoon slapped Jinho's shoulder. "See? With us watching, you don't even die that much."

"Comforting," Jinho muttered.

Pan floated proudly.

"WE ARE THE PATCH.

WE ARE THE FUTURE."

The chat scrolled like wildfire.

Chat: DID YOU SEE THAT??

Chat: PATCH NOTE OPPA MVP!!

Chat: marry me pan pls

Mirae's voice crackled over the comms. "Excellent work, team. Simulation concluded. Jinho, please report to my office immediately."

"Uh‑oh," Jinho said.

"UH‑OH INDEED," Pan intoned.

Doyoon laughed. "You're in trouble again."

Étienne bowed dramatically. "Until next time, mon ami."

Keiji simply said, "Train harder."

Riyeon patted Jinho's arm. "Come on, Specialist. Let's go find out if you're getting another medal… or another leash."