Episode 5 kicks off with Sung Jinwoo recovering in the hospital, continuing his stealth training routine. His dramatic physical transformation hasn’t gone unnoticed; nurses keep ogling him, but he remains clueless about their interest. Even when asked for his number by a smitten nurse, he assumes it’s just for medical follow-up.
Meanwhile, his younger sister Jinah observes he’s grown taller and more muscular but doesn’t yet suspect the extraordinary reasons behind it. Though she does think it’s a little weird that he’s grown taller in his twenties.
As she leaves, Jinwoo, the protective and caring brother he is, insists that Jinah take an umbrella in case of rain, despite the weather being nice and sunny at the time.
Baek, An S-Rank Hunter is on the Morning Show
Yoonho Baek, the president of the White Tiger Guild, makes an appearance on the Ultra Morning talk show. The host comments that Baek is only one of seven S-Rank hunters in the entire country, giving us some insight into just how rare S-Rank really is.
Seeking Bigger Challenges
Back home, Jinwoo checks the progress of his daily quest for the day and only has his 10km run left, which he decides to save for later.
He divvies up his 12 newly acquired ability points, keeping careful track of his stats. He contemplates putting all of his points into strength, since it has been one of the most noticeable benefits he’s received so far, but then worries that he’ll struggle to connect his hits if he doesn’t increase his agility. He’s not really interested in intelligence, since it seems magic-related. He decides to invest the majority of his points into agility and a couple of points into strength and perception.
Still tight on cash, and after a call from the landlord about his overdue rent, Jinwoo decides to tackle higher-ranked Gates for better loot and quicker leveling. However, he’s wary of drawing attention to his sudden power spike, since re-awakenings are so rare that it could make him a target if exposed.
Teaming Up for His First C-Rank Raid
Jinwoo joins a C-rank raid group led by Hwang Dongsuk. Since he’s officially E-rank, the team relegates him to carrying their gear, needing him only to reach the required headcount of 8 hunters to enter a gate. Jinwoo is fine with this. Though he does question why the group doesn’t have a healer – strange for a group of “tanks” and damage-dealers.
Yoo Jinho, a D-rank hunter, introduces himself to Jinwoo and explains that he’s also a quota guy, there only to help the group meet the 8-member quota.
He’s a friendly guy and promises to watch Jinwoo’s back. Jinwoo, of course, plays along, staying under the radar while secretly aware he could outmatch many of them.
A Twisted Dungeon
Upon entering the insect-infested tunnels, the hunters face off against monstrous ants. Initially, they’re successful, but the team senses something odd when they discover that the ants are already wounded, implying a fearsome boss monster lurks nearby.
Mid-episode, we cut to Baek Yoonho, the S-Rank hunter from earlier, who’s training in a special gym for elite hunters. His raw strength is on display, hinting that the power levels in this world extend far beyond what we’ve seen.
Betrayal and Cliffhanger
Back in the dungeon, the group stumbles onto a massive cave covered in valuable mana crystals, along with a slumbering spider boss perched above. The dungeon will close if the boss is defeated so they need to mine the crystals first. But they “forgot” to bring the proper mining gear, so the more experienced hunters leave both Jinwoo and Jinho behind while they go get it. Jinho isn’t happy with the idea and Jinwoo is suspicious, but Hwang Dongsuk tells them they’ll be fine.
As the group leaves, they seal off the entrance, trapping Jinwoo and Jinho in with the boss. Once it awakens, Jinwoo calmly draws a sword from his inventory and tells Jinho to stand back. He’s ready to fight. He pulls the dagger, “Kasaka’s Venom Fang,” from his inventory and says “this one’s mine.”
The episode ends on a tense cliffhanger, leaving us to wonder not only how Jinwoo will fare against the boss, but also how the traitors will react once they return.
Final Thoughts
Episode 5 effectively showcases both Sung Jinwoo’s growing confidence and the treacherous nature of dungeon raids. We know he’s strong enough to handle the imminent threat, but the bigger question remains: how will he deal with those who betrayed him, and what will it mean for his carefully guarded secret? We’ll have to wait and see, but one thing’s certain: these hunters have no idea what they’re up against.