Skip to content 
𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟗𝟖: 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬
A colossal thunderbolt descended from the sky, accompanied by the blood of an eyeball monster.
No, that was an understatement.
The crimson calamity that descended upon the 300 or so Hunters literally scorched the landscape.
A gaping crater had formed, and screams echoed from all sides.
Dozens of people were killed or seriously injured on the spot.
More would have perished if not for Choi Sung-il’s shield or the magical shield erected by Gi Il-yeon’s incantation.
“Hold your ground! Healers, tend to the wounded!! Everyone, keep your magical shields up and watch your surroundings!!!”
Do Kyung-hoo shouted at the top of his lungs.
It was extremely difficult to block an attack that struck like a natural disaster, unlike a physical attack.
“Ryu Ji-hwan, you son of a b*tch!!”
He gave urgent orders to the Hunters and then searched for Ryu Ji-hwan.
Things wouldn’t have turned out this way if that bastard hadn’t acted like an idiot.
How dare he disobey the orders of a superior Hunter and launch an attack on his own. . .?!
“. . .Where did he go?”
But Ryu Ji-hwan had vanished without a trace.
He had disappeared into the wasteland as if he had evaporated like smoke.
“Hunter Do Kyung-hoo!!”
At that moment, someone’s urgent cry snapped him back to reality.
Something was rushing towards them from a distance, accompanied by a faint smoke.
Thud. . . thud thud. . . boom boom boom boom!!
A monstrous head with two large horns and a face that resembled a demon’s.
And a massive body that looked like two ogre bodies combined.
It was the Minotaur, a symbol of legendary monsters.
“Is that. . . real?”
“I’ve never seen one before.”
Choi Sung-il sighed, and Kang Yeo-hwa replied.
『ƓRƠƠƠƠƠƠƠƠƠⱲl』
As the approaching creature let out a roar, the entire ground shook violently, and a powerful pressure crushed down on them from all sides.
“Ugh. . .”
“Gah. . .!”
One by one, Hunters who couldn’t withstand the force collapsed, foaming at the mouth.
Not all of the Hunters who entered the Gate were as strong as S-Rank or A+ Hunters.
There were also supporters and healers, so there were many lower-ranked Hunters.
“Damn it!! What the hell is that monster?!”
Do Kyung-hoo drew his sword and charged at the enemy.
His footwork was among the fastest and strongest in the world.
As he was about to swing his blade and wield his gauntlets,
『Λαβύρινθος(Labyrinthos)』
The Minotaur muttered something that sounded like a deep growl.
Magic and magical power surged from various points, causing the heavens and the earth to tremble.
Crash!!
Massive walls rose from the ground like mountain ranges, cutting through the Hunters’ ranks and forming a vast labyrinthine forest.
The labyrinth that was said to have existed in the ancient Palace of Knossos, Labyrinthos.
Some Hunters managed to escape the area before the labyrinth was fully formed, but most of them were trapped inside.
The power of the demon that had entered the realm of legend was incomparable to the Twin-Headed Ogre, Wyvern, or Lycanthrope they had seen before.
“That damn bastard!”
Kang Yeo-hwa gritted her teeth and gathered her magical power.
Most spells were nullified if the caster was killed.
Therefore, if they could kill that little calf, they could render this labyrinth useless.
『Ӈҽɾҽ. Ɱყ. Ɗօʍɑํղ. Ɗҽɑեհ.』
At that moment, the Minotaur’s voice echoed strangely, and his axe, as large as a house, descended upon the Hunters.
Craaaaaaash!!!!
Like a thunderbolt or a catastrophe.
The incredibly powerful axe strike shattered the ground, creating a deafening roar.
‘𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚’𝙨 𝙣𝙤 𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙄 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙗𝙡𝙤𝙘𝙠 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩.’
Unless it was someone like Choi Dae-soo, no one could withstand such a blow.
“Stooooop!!”
At that moment, a resolute voice, almost like a murmur, stopped the monster’s axe.
And then,
[Wind Demon: Wrath of the Mountain Range]
[Warrior of the Wind: Song of the Bow]
Min Si-joon and Kang Yeo-hwa’s magic intertwined, unleashing a barrage of powerful spells at the Minotaur.
Arrows imbued with a storm-like wind and magical power pierced through the air and struck the enemy’s body.
“Hyaaaah!!”
[Ghost’s Eye: Moon Hunter]
Finally, Do Kyung-hoo’s gauntlet, which shimmered with killing intent, scattered rays of light across the Minotaur’s torso.
Crackle crackle crackle!!
That attack would have been enough to shatter the body of an ordinary monster into a million pieces.
But the monster’s thick magical shield deflected most of the attacks.
『Ɠɾɾɾɾɾɾɾɑɑɑɑɑɑɑɑɑɑɑ!!!』
The Minotaur roared as if its anger was boiling over because of the wounds on its body.
“Even a combo like that couldn’t deal a fatal blow.”
Choi Sung-il muttered in a distant voice.
As a tanker, there wasn’t much he could do.
His job was to draw the enemy’s aggro and withstand its attacks.
‘𝘽𝙪𝙩 𝙝𝙤𝙬 𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙮 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙨 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙄 𝙙𝙧𝙖𝙬 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙤𝙛 𝙖𝙣 𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙢𝙮 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨?’
One mistake, and he would surely be crushed under the axe.
‘𝘿𝙖𝙢𝙢𝙞𝙩!!’
He wasn’t afraid of death.
He was afraid of dying without being able to help his fellow comrades. . . of being a disgrace.
“What are you hesitating for?”
Someone approached him and spoke.
“Hu. . . Hunter Ha-min.”
“We don’t only have S-Rank Hunters here, so why don’t you use them? Why should I take orders from the [White Lion] Guild Leader when he’s hanging his head?”
Dozens of Hunters who had escaped being trapped in the labyrinth.
Although they were weaker than the Guild Leaders, they were still Hunters.
Chu Ha-min drew magical power from his dantian and wrapped it around his body.
Red armor manifested itself, exuding an aura as strong as the Minotaur’s.
“I don’t know how to strategize, so I’ll go first. I trust that my ‘hyung’ will block it with his shield if anything happens.”
“. . . . . .”
He charged forward, dodging the monster’s attacks.
Choi Sung-il seemed to regain his senses and stared ahead, gathering his magical power.
‘𝙄’𝙡𝙡 𝙗𝙡𝙤𝙘𝙠 𝙞𝙩 𝙣𝙤 𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙝𝙤𝙬 𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙮 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙨, 𝙖𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙚𝙡𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙎𝙤𝙪𝙩𝙝 𝙆𝙤𝙧𝙚𝙖!!’
As Chu Ha-min approached the monster’s blind spot,
“You’ll be lonely if you go alone.”
Someone approached him from the side and spoke in a friendly voice.
“Who is it? Oh, Hunter Hwang.”
“I’ll draw its attention, so please give it your best shot~”
The Minotaur finally noticed the Hunters’ movements.
Then, as the human beings, who were as small as the palm of its hand, ran towards it, it swung its axe like a bat.
One step ahead of that movement, Hwang Jeong-gu threw a knife at the monster’s eye.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Hwang Jeong-gu didn’t just stab the eyeball.
Using [Psychokinesis], he inserted the knife into the monster’s skull and twisted it around.
『ƓRƠƠƠƠƠƠⱲl!!』
The Minotaur felt a sharp pain that ran from its head to its toes, and it dropped its axe and covered its face.
It was as if an ant had entered its brain and was gnawing away at it.
“Fall!!”
Gi Il-yeon’s words seized the opportunity, and
Boom!!
The monster’s dull body collapsed and knelt on the ground.
The Minotaur’s concentration was broken by the unpleasant pain and the unexpected situation, and it failed to maintain its magical shield.
“Now’s our chance!!”
Fists imbued with Asura’s mana mercilessly bombarded the monster’s skull, and Do Kyung-hoo’s sword slashed down from above.
[Ghost’s Eye: Wolf’s Fang]
A streak of light traced a trajectory, and then the Minotaur’s head split open with a crack.
Its deformed, giant brain and blood splattered onto the ground.
“Wow. . .!”
Someone let out a single exclamation of joy.
At the same time, the labyrinth’s spell was lifted, revealing the trapped Hunters.
They were all covered in blood and dirt, as if they had been through hell.
“We’re. . . finally out!”
“We’re alive. . .”
“This damn Gate, damn it!”
People reacted differently, some rejoicing, others fuming with anger.
Kim Eun-ju and Lee Ye-ji, who had emerged from the labyrinth, approached them unsteadily.
“We’re ashamed. We couldn’t even avoid such an attack. . .”
“We’re sorry.”
As the two Hunters apologized, Do Kyung-hoo and the other Hunters shook their heads and said it was okay.
“If it weren’t for that Ryu Ji-hwan bastard, things wouldn’t have gotten so messed up.”
“That’s right. . .”
“We’ll have him punished according to Hunter law as soon as we return.”
Do Kyung-hoo spoke angrily, and Kim Eun-ju nodded.
“By the way, it’s really pathetic. We only faced three of them, and our ranks were thrown into disarray.”
Choi Sung-il looked at the Hunters with a bitter expression.
“Let’s rest for about five minutes and take care of the wounded.”
“That sounds good.”
Kang Yeo-hwa agreed with Min Si-joon’s suggestion.
“Okay. Let’s rest for a bit and then go. Those who have potions should drink them now to replenish their stamina or mana.”
“I’ll give the order.”
Kim Eun-ju nodded.
Choi Sung-il took out a potion from his pocket and took a sip.
『Ƭհɑե Ɩօօƙs ժҽƖํϲํօմs.』
Just one sentence.
At those ordinary, unremarkable words, the bodies of all the Hunters froze.
An intense aura that seemed to pierce their skin gripped their hearts.
Gulp.
Excessive fear extinguished all human senses, making it impossible to move from the spot.
It was like a small frog facing a giant snake.
At that moment, one of the Hunters turned his head with a gasp.
An act of madness caused by intense fear.
“Ah. . .”
Boom.
His body exploded instantly, splattering blood everywhere.
His entrails and flesh flew onto the faces of his comrades, but no one reacted.
『Ӏ ժํժղ’ե եҽƖƖ ყօմ եօ ʍօѵҽ.』
An eerie, ominous magical power swept across the battlefield, asserting its presence alone.
Not even S+ Hunters like Do Kyung-hoo or Gi Il-yeon dared to turn their heads.
Everyone stood frozen in place, barely breathing.
Click. Click. Click.
Only the ticking of someone’s watch indicated that time was still passing.
『Ⱳհɑե ɑɾҽ ყօմ.』
A powerful aura that could make people faint just by hearing it flew among the Hunters.
Kang Yeo-hwa rolled her eyes to confirm the creature’s identity.
Large, demonic wings, black and white skin, sharp and long triple fingers and toes, and long horns on its head.
‘𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙨. . . 𝙞𝙨 𝙖 𝙗𝙚𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙛 𝙖 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝙙𝙞𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙚𝙭𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣 𝙖 𝙈𝙞𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙖𝙪𝙧.’
She had once read a brief report that ‘this’ had been discovered in an S-Rank Gate in the United States.
The reason it was brief was because there wasn’t much to report.
「𝘈𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦. 𝘈𝘭𝘭 237 𝘋-𝘛𝘦𝘢𝘮 𝘩𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘺.
𝘕𝘰 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘦.
𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘥 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘸𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘣𝘢𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘏𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 ‘𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘳𝘷𝘰𝘺𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦.’
(𝘙𝘦𝘧𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘺.)
𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘭𝘭 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘺 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘝𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘶𝘬𝘢𝘳.
𝘍𝘳𝘰𝘮 01 𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘳, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘴𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘦𝘥.
𝘋𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘭𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭: 𝘚𝘚-𝘙𝘢𝘯𝘬
𝘕𝘢𝘮𝘦: 𝘉𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘬
」
The name Valaraukar meant ‘Demon of Strength.’
Number of discoveries: 1
Number of subjugations: 0
『Ⱳհყ ժํժ ყօմ ƙํƖƖ ʍყ թҽե.』
Balok stroked his forehead, which had grown like a goat’s horn, and walked slowly.
Seeing his nonchalance, some of the Hunters were enraged by the fact that no one could stop him.
Do Kyung-hoo bit his lips until they bled.
But he couldn’t draw his sword.
His body wouldn’t obey him, as if he was completely overwhelmed by the other party’s aura.
Could he even withstand a single blow?
Could he hit his skill even once?
His eyes met Gi Il-yeon’s.
She tried to open her lips, her jaw trembling.
‘𝘿-𝘿𝙤𝙣’𝙩!!’
Do Kyung-hoo wanted to stop Gi Il-yeon’s actions.
With such a monster, even if she used all her magical power, she wouldn’t be able to move a single finger with her incantation.
『Ƴօմ, ահყ ɑɾҽ ყօմ Ɩօօƙํղց ɑե ʍҽ.』
At that moment, as Balok’s cruel voice rang out,
Boom!
Gi Il-yeon’s head exploded.