Chapter 23

A meteor streaked down from the sky.

And that meteor sharply pierced Dephoicimon’s steel carapace.

Crack!

With a thunderous clang of rending metal, the carapace shattered.

Kiiiiing—

In that instant, the sword thrashed wildly.

As if craving more of its blood, Kang Yuseong’s sword bared its sharp teeth and savagely tore into Dephoicimon’s flesh.

Riiip!

Blood splattered.

Bodily fluids sprayed, spreading a pungent stench.

The gruesome sounds of muscles being shredded and tendons severed filled the air.

But the more it resisted, the more ferociously the blade dug into its skin and muscles, tearing them apart.

Chakra, Blade Twist!

Combined with Chakra, Butcher’s Disassembly, the monster’s body of blood and flesh was being butchered like livestock dragged to a slaughterhouse.

Chakra, Butcher’s Disassembly allows the blade to penetrate deeper into the target’s flesh by discerning the muscle fibers.

An auxiliary Chakra skill that severs muscles, cuts tendons, and separates bone from flesh, delivering a fatal blow in an instant!

This was precisely why Kang Yuseong had activated Butcher’s Disassembly.

“Graaaah!”

Dephoicimon, the Hunters’ Butcher, shrieked wildly.

The sword that had pierced its leg was no ordinary blade.

In an instant, its leg was drenched in blood, its muscles torn to shreds, making movement agonizing.

But the true nightmare was that this was not the end.

Dash—

Kang Yuseong swiftly dashed forward, lunging towards its other leg.

Among the unchanging hunting rules of seasoned Hunters, this one stood firm:

When hunting a monster larger than oneself, always incapacitate its legs!

Swish-swish-swish—

Kang Yuseong’s sword whirled through the air.

Snap!

And the cold blade savagely bit into Dephoicimon’s other leg before slicing past.

Shwaaak!

So fierce was its bite that blood gushed from Dephoicimon’s wound.

But Dephoicimon was no pushover either.

“Kwoooar!”

It lashed out with its forelegs, extending its long claws.

At first glance, it seemed like a wild swing, but a cunning attack method was hidden within.

CRASH!

The moment its right foreleg’s attack exploded, tearing up the ground, a Hunter would instinctively dodge sideways.

Whoosh!

But already, its other foreleg was plunging down into that very spot.

Many Hunters had fallen victim to this deceptive combo attack.

CRACK!

Unfortunately for the beast, its opponent was Kang Yuseong.

He immediately deflected its attack, spun on the spot, and then shot into the air.

“Haaaat!”

Then, gripping the sword hilt tightly with both hands, he unleashed his Chakra Force and plunged the blade down towards the beast’s foreleg, which was still imprinted on the ground.

Chakra, Critical Strike!

A powerful offensive skill where potent Chakra Force gathers at the sword’s tip and explodes in an instant!

When his descending sword struck Dephoicimon’s carapace, a deep reverberation echoed, and the beast’s armor rang with a ‘Thunk!’

At that moment, the Chakra Force concentrated at the sword’s tip exploded instantly.

P-p-pow!

“Kieek!”

Dephoicimon flinched violently, as if electrocuted, and lifted its foreleg.

Its foreleg was already drenched in fresh blood.

Kang Yuseong’s attacks weren’t just random strikes.

Each one was lethal to the beast, which was why Dephoicimon couldn’t launch any proper counterattacks.

“Everyone, charge!”

Seizing the opportunity, Baek Myeong-han gave the order to charge.

Kang Yuseong had already opened the gate; now it was time for the infantry to enter and unleash a grand slaughter.

Whoosh—

The Hunters charged forward with all their might.

Yet, they kept a vigilant eye on Dephoicimon’s movements.

They, too, were seasoned Hunters, hardened by countless dungeon expeditions.

They never let their guard down.

“Hyaaah!”

Leading the charge was Baek Myeong-han.

Gripping his war hammer tightly with both hands, he furiously swung it towards Dephoicimon’s already deeply wounded left leg.

CRACK!

Snap!

“Kweeeek!”

Dephoicimon’s massive body violently lurched, and it opened its maw wide, letting out a pained shriek.

Chakra, Great Ape’s Stomp!

That powerful, Chakra-infused hammer blow was enough to make Dephoicimon recoil instantly.

“Han Do-seong, go!”

Following closely, Han Do-seong gritted his teeth and charged.

G-g-graunch!

His weapon was a serrated blade with gleaming, blue-edged teeth.

“Hyaaaah!”

CRUNCH!

The saw-teeth shattered the beast’s already tattered carapace and dug straight in.

“Yaaah!”

Riiip! Tear!

Like a shark’s teeth gripping its prey, the serrated blade, refusing to let go, was pulled back, tearing Dephoicimon’s severed muscles and flesh to shreds.

In immense agony, Dephoicimon thrashed wildly.

“Get back!”

As it thrashed, the surrounding ground shook violently, sending clumps of earth and gravel flying.

Unable to maintain their vision, the Hunters quickly retreated.

Losing sight in combat was extremely perilous.

As seasoned Hunters, they knew this, so they pulled back, waiting for an opening.

Slash! Tear!

Dephoicimon thrashed about wildly, tearing at everything with its forelegs and long horns.

This time, there was no discernible pattern.

Its berserk state possessed an incredibly terrifying power.

“Fall back!”

Baek Myeong-han pulled the Hunters back for a moment.

They retreated further, waiting for Dephoicimon to tire.

But there was one.

One who had not retreated from that horrific battlefield.

Tat-tat-tat—

Amidst the swirling dust and shattered gravel raining down like hail in that perilous battlefield, the one dashing forward was Kang Yuseong.

The only reason he could maintain his balance even as the ground shook and large rocks overturned was simple:

Chakra, Wind Flow.

It was thanks to the power of a formidable martial art that allowed him to discern and evade the flow of air around him.

And the longsword in his hand glowed with a pure white light, relentlessly targeting Dephoicimon’s lifeline.

The moment that sword pierced a vital spot, Dephoicimon would suffer an immense blow.

Kang Yuseong was trying to create that very moment.

Whoooosh—

His sword let out a fierce hum.

Flash—

And he leaped forward as if flying, thrusting his sword directly.

Swish! Swish! Swish!

In an instant, countless flames erupted in the air.

Chakra, Flame Barrage!

An attack that pressured the enemy with dozens of slashes had unfolded.

The greatest advantage of Flame Barrage was its ability to deliver a powerful, concentrated strike at a single point in an instant.

“Kwoooargh!”

Dephoicimon recoiled again.

Simultaneously, countless flames erupted and vanished on its legs.

Neither of its two legs was intact now.

Its left leg was exposed to the bone, and blood gushed from the other.

And the Hunters, who had momentarily retreated, were now slowly closing in on the beast.

No trace of fear remained.

They approached, their eyes blazing with a fierce, blue light, like Hunters closing in for the kill on cornered prey.

“Krrrk! Krrrk!”

Dephoicimon, in fact, stumbled back upon seeing their expressions.

It likely hadn’t even conceived of such a thing.

“Everyone!”

At that moment, Kang Yuseong shouted loudly.

“Press the attack!”

At his words, the Hunters felt something hot surge within them and began to roar.

“Woooooah!”

“Graaaah!”

Unable to control the adrenaline surging wildly from deep within their bodies, they charged with frenzied eyes.

“Go!”

Kang Yuseong ignited their fighting spirit once more.

“Eyaaaah!”

CRASH!

Thwack!

Crunch!

Battle axes tore through the air, and war hammers shattered the ground.

Serrated blades split the prey’s carapace, slicing through the muscles within.

Swords plunged in, tasting blood, and still craving more, dug deeper.

The Hunters, eyes wild, thrashed about, intent on butchering Dephoicimon.

The predator and prey had swapped roles.

Dephoicimon, once called the strongest predator, was now being devoured by the Hunters’ swords, axes, and hammers.

At the very forefront was Kang Yuseong.

He, who, with a single sword in hand and a chilling smile, had somehow climbed onto Dephoicimon’s shoulder and was relentlessly stabbing his blade into it!

Puh-haat!

With every stab of the sword, blood spurted and bodily fluids sprayed.

Crack! Crack! Crack!

Chakra Force erupted wildly, exploding again and again within Dephoicimon’s body.

Klang—

Amidst his frenzied stabbing, the sword, unable to withstand the madness, snapped.

“Kraaah!”

Kang Yuseong drove the remaining half of his sword straight into Dephoicimon’s shoulder blade.

“Kweeeek!”

The beast writhed, but Kang Yuseong refused to be dislodged from its back.

He drew another sword he had brought as a spare and this time, plunged it into the beast’s temple.

Thwock!

If once wasn’t enough, then twice; if twice wasn’t enough, then thrice!

The power of various Chakras exploded in Dephoicimon’s head, making it vomit blood and causing its brain matter to burst forth.

“Haaaaah!”

At some point, Kang Yuseong gripped the sword with both hands and swung it down.

Swaaash!

Puh-haat!

Its neck was half-severed, and the fresh blood gushing from within drenched Kang Yuseong’s entire body.

Thump-thump-thump!

With the beast’s violent heartbeats, the blood gushed out like a fountain, raining down from the air.

Beneath it, the Hunters were seized by an excitement that felt like their chests would burst.

“Hah, hah!”

“Haaah, haaah…!”

THUD!

And then Dephoicimon collapsed.

The life had already vanished from its eyes.

“Heh, heh-heh-heh!”

The Hunters saw it and laughed.

They didn’t even know why they were laughing.

The laughter simply bubbled up.

“Pfft! Hahahaha!”

Dephoicimon.

That fierce predator lay before their eyes, completely butchered.

It sent shivers of exhilaration down their spines.

They had thought it utterly impossible this time.

Thought they could never do it.

Who would have thought that with just this many people, they could take down a Level 10 monster?

The Hunters’ gazes collectively turned to one man.

The man who had achieved the impossible.

Towards Kang Yuseong.

Shing—

Receiving their gazes, Kang Yuseong sheathed his sword.

Covered in blood from head to toe, he grinned.

His crazed appearance, like a lord of blood, sent another thrill through the Hunters.

Kang Yuseong turned his gaze to the examiners standing far off.

The examiners, meeting his gaze, flinched.

A silent pressure.

No, even before that, they were already filled with dread at the horrifying scene unfolding before their eyes.

This wasn’t a hunt.

It was a unilateral slaughter.

And it was Dephoicimon, a powerful monster, that had been unilaterally slaughtered.

Gulp—

Kang Gi-han swallowed hard.

“Im…impossible…”

He couldn’t believe it.

No, was this even something that could be believed?

Thump, thump.

Then someone walked towards him.

That someone, drenched in blood.

It was Kang Yuseong.

“D-14 Dungeon, requesting clear confirmation.”

Only then did the examiners snap out of their daze.

As the three examiners wore solemn expressions, Kim Young-seok stepped forward.

There could be no argument here.

“As an examiner, I confirm that Kang Yuseong and thirteen others have successfully completed the D-14 Dungeon All Clear mission.”

Kang Yuseong grinned.

“Thank you.”

Kim Young-seok nodded silently.

‘A terrifying man…’

And that’s what he thought to himself.

This man didn’t come for an exam.

He came steeped in madness, to commit slaughter.

That was Kim Young-seok’s honest feeling as he faced Kang Yuseong.

Kang Yuseong gave him one last smile, then turned.

His gaze fell upon the Hunters and Dephoicimon, sprawled dead on the ground.

The Ancient Dungeon.

Now, he could finally go there.

‘The Plunderer’s Legacy…’

Kang Yuseong’s heart pounded wildly.