๐๐ก๐๐ฉ๐ญ๐๐ซ ๐๐: ๐๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ซ ๐จ๐ ๐๐จ๐ง๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ฌ
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.
ใฦRฦ ฦ ฦ ฦ ฦ ฦ ฦ ฦ ฦ โฑฒlใ
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,
ใฮฮฑฮฒฯฯฮนฮฝฮธฮฟฯ(Labyrinthos)ใ
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.
ใำาฝษพาฝ. โฑฎแง. ฦึ สษเนีฒ. ฦาฝษีฅีฐ.ใ
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.
‘๐๐๐๐ง๐’๐จ ๐ฃ๐ค ๐ฌ๐๐ฎ ๐ ๐๐๐ฃ ๐๐ก๐ค๐๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฉ.’
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.
ใฦษพษพษพษพษพษพษพษษษษษษษษษษษ!!!ใ
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.
‘๐ฝ๐ช๐ฉ ๐๐ค๐ฌ ๐ข๐๐ฃ๐ฎ ๐ฉ๐๐ข๐๐จ ๐๐๐ฃ ๐ ๐๐ง๐๐ฌ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐๐ฃ๐ฉ๐๐ค๐ฃ ๐ค๐ ๐๐ฃ ๐๐ฃ๐๐ข๐ฎ ๐ก๐๐ ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐จ?’
One mistake, and he would surely be crushed under the axe.
‘๐ฟ๐๐ข๐ข๐๐ฉ!!’
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 Minotaurโs.
“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.
‘๐’๐ก๐ก ๐๐ก๐ค๐๐ ๐๐ฉ ๐ฃ๐ค ๐ข๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐๐ง ๐๐ค๐ฌ ๐ข๐๐ฃ๐ฎ ๐ฉ๐๐ข๐๐จ, ๐๐จ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐๐จ๐ฉ ๐จ๐๐๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ฃ ๐๐ค๐ช๐ฉ๐ ๐๐ค๐ง๐๐!!’
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.
ใฦRฦ ฦ ฦ ฦ ฦ ฦ โฑฒl!!ใ
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 Asuraโs mana mercilessly bombarded the monsterโs skull, and Do Kyung-hooโs 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.
โWeโre. . . finally out!โ
“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.
ใฦฌีฐษีฅ ฦึ ึ ฦs ีชาฝฦเนฯฒเนึ ีดs.ใ
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.
ใำ ีชเนีชีฒ’ีฅ ีฅาฝฦฦ แงึ ีด ีฅึ สึ ัตาฝ.ใ
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.
ใโฑฒีฐษีฅ ษษพาฝ แงึ ีด.ใ
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.
‘๐๐๐๐จ. . . ๐๐จ ๐ ๐๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ค๐ ๐ ๐๐ค๐ข๐ฅ๐ก๐๐ฉ๐๐ก๐ฎ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ง๐๐ฃ๐ฉ ๐๐ญ๐๐จ๐ฉ๐๐ฃ๐๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฃ ๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐ค๐ฉ๐๐ช๐ง.’
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.
ใ๐๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ฆ๐ข๐ณ๐ข๐ฏ๐ค๐ฆ ๐ฐ๐ง ๐ข ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ด๐ต๐ณ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ด ๐ค๐ณ๐ฆ๐ข๐ต๐ถ๐ณ๐ฆ. ๐๐ญ๐ญ 237 ๐-๐๐ฆ๐ข๐ฎ ๐ฉ๐ถ๐ฏ๐ต๐ฆ๐ณ๐ด ๐ฑ๐ณ๐ฆ๐ด๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ต ๐ข๐ต ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐ด๐ค๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ฆ ๐ธ๐ฆ๐ณ๐ฆ ๐ฌ๐ช๐ญ๐ญ๐ฆ๐ฅ ๐ช๐ฏ๐ด๐ต๐ข๐ฏ๐ต๐ญ๐บ.
๐๐ฐ ๐ธ๐ช๐ต๐ฏ๐ฆ๐ด๐ด๐ฆ๐ด ๐ข๐ต ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐ด๐ค๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ฆ.
๐๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐ข๐ฃ๐ฐ๐ท๐ฆ ๐ณ๐ฆ๐ค๐ฐ๐ณ๐ฅ ๐ธ๐ข๐ด ๐ธ๐ณ๐ช๐ต๐ต๐ฆ๐ฏ ๐ฃ๐ข๐ด๐ฆ๐ฅ ๐ฐ๐ฏ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐ต๐ฆ๐ด๐ต๐ช๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฏ๐บ ๐ฐ๐ง ๐ข ๐๐ถ๐ฏ๐ต๐ฆ๐ณ ๐ธ๐ช๐ต๐ฉ ‘๐ค๐ญ๐ข๐ช๐ณ๐ท๐ฐ๐บ๐ข๐ฏ๐ค๐ฆ.’
(๐๐ฆ๐ง๐ฆ๐ณ ๐ต๐ฐ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐ฑ๐ช๐ค๐ต๐ถ๐ณ๐ฆ ๐ฐ๐ง ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐ด๐ต๐ณ๐ข๐ฏ๐จ๐ฆ ๐ค๐ณ๐ฆ๐ข๐ต๐ถ๐ณ๐ฆ ๐ช๐ฏ ๐ฎ๐บ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฐ๐ญ๐ฐ๐จ๐บ.)
๐๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐ง๐ถ๐ญ๐ญ ๐ฏ๐ข๐ฎ๐ฆ ๐ฐ๐ง ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐ด๐ต๐ณ๐ข๐ฏ๐จ๐ฆ ๐ค๐ณ๐ฆ๐ข๐ต๐ถ๐ณ๐ฆ ๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ต๐ช๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ฆ๐ฅ ๐ช๐ฏ ๐ฎ๐บ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฐ๐ญ๐ฐ๐จ๐บ ๐ธ๐ข๐ด ๐๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐ณ๐ข๐ถ๐ฌ๐ข๐ณ.
๐๐ณ๐ฐ๐ฎ 01 ๐ฉ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ณ, ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐ฏ๐ข๐ฎ๐ฆ ๐ฐ๐ง ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐ด๐ต๐ณ๐ข๐ฏ๐จ๐ฆ ๐ค๐ณ๐ฆ๐ข๐ต๐ถ๐ณ๐ฆ ๐ธ๐ช๐ญ๐ญ ๐ฃ๐ฆ ๐ด๐ช๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ญ๐ช๐ง๐ช๐ฆ๐ฅ.
๐๐ข๐ฏ๐จ๐ฆ๐ณ ๐ญ๐ฆ๐ท๐ฆ๐ญ: ๐๐-๐๐ข๐ฏ๐ฌ
๐๐ข๐ฎ๐ฆ: ๐๐ข๐ญ๐ฐ๐ฌ
ใ
The name Valaraukar meant ‘Demon of Strength.’
Number of discoveries: 1
Number of subjugations: 0
ใโฑฒีฐแง ีชเนีช แงึ ีด ฦเนฦฦ สแง ีฉาฝีฅ.ใ
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.
‘๐ฟ-๐ฟ๐ค๐ฃโ๐ฉ!!’
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.
ใฦณึ ีด, ีกีฐแง ษษพาฝ แงึ ีด ฦึ ึ ฦเนีฒึ ษีฅ สาฝ.ใ
At that moment, as Balok’s cruel voice rang out,
Boom!
Gi Il-yeon’s head exploded.