“Everyone looks healthy.”

That was the Celestial Spirit Maiden’s first remark upon returning from her training.

She probably wanted to say that she was glad to see them again, or that they looked well.

“Of course. It’s not like my liver is bad or anything. Besides, Setsu is still young, so of course her complexion should be good.”

Kim Songcheol said, retying his combat boot laces. Sometimes, when talking with the Celestial Spirit Maiden, there are moments when he doesn’t know what he’s saying. This was one of those times.

“But is it okay to get strong so quickly? The feeling is completely different from before training.”

Setsu said, observing the Celestial Spirit Maiden from various angles. Her appearance hadn’t changed. She still had her long hair tied high and was simply wearing training clothes.

However, the aura she exuded had become much stronger. Instead of a sharp feeling, it now felt gentle.

She was developing the qualities of a strong person.

“The Heaven-Shattering Grand Divine Art has reached the 4th Castle. The difference between the 3rd and 4th Castle is significant. The 4th Castle is the beginning of the mid-stage.”

Even Setsu, who has weak sensory perception, could clearly feel the change.

The Celestial Spirit Maiden’s progress in her Castle was indeed fast. Although he didn’t point it out, Kim Songcheol was also quite surprised.

This was more a matter of tenacity than innate talent or other auxiliary factors.

The Celestial Spirit Maiden has a very strong motivation for her training.

That is, her desire for revenge against the Sky Demon.

Kim Songcheol couldn’t even guess what kind of mindset the Celestial Spirit Maiden had when she trained.

“Wow, I’m jealous. I wish we had something like Martial Arts. We just use our Supernatural Abilities haphazardly.”

“Didn’t you say you also had some kind of manual?”

Kim Songcheol asked.

“Yes, but it’s not as cool as Martial Arts and not very helpful. What my brother and Uncle Maeng-gal teach us is more useful.”

The history of Supernatural Abilities in Setsu’s world is relatively short. There hasn’t been enough time to create something as formalized as Martial Arts.

Other worlds might have something, but since the number of Supernatural Ability users is so small, they haven’t even encountered any Supernatural Ability users in the A-rank Dungeon.

“I think there must be something. The organization called ‘Pew’ also exists.”

“But you said there’s almost no information.”

“Well, that’s… the problem. But it’s definitely an existing organization. It almost always comes up when listing powerful organizations.”

Kim Songcheol had also briefly inquired about Pew. Of course, it was for Setsu’s sake.

However, they don’t have a separate headquarters, and he doesn’t know how many members there are. Based on known information, it was even less than Pioneer.

It seemed to be because there weren’t many Supernatural Ability users themselves.

“Won’t we meet them sometime while we’re traveling?”

“I think so too.”

Kim Songcheol also has his own problems. He plans to contact Pioneer to learn ‘The Source Domain Magic’, but he hasn’t even met a Pioneer Mage yet.

Perhaps it wasn’t time yet. Even if they share the same space, the A-rank Dungeon is a place where worlds are divided by strength.

“Alright, shall we start the Beginning?”

Kim Songcheol stood up and tightened his backpack straps.

Today was the day to collect Points. Kim Songcheol and Setsu had a duty to supply Points.

Kim Songcheol was at the edge of the Gigant Forest.

The exact opposite side of where he found the Stone Slab last time.

The Gigant Forest was so vast that it wasn’t a major concern.

Kim Songcheol and Setsu flew ahead, followed by the Celestial Spirit Maiden, Number Fourteen, and Number Fifteen.

As expected, a giant Monster appeared from behind the Nothingness shortly after.

Rupture-zzzzzt!

Kim Songcheol’s Electric Shock sliced through space. A large Red Light streak drew a long line.

Kwagagagak!

The Monster, hit by the Electric Shock in the chest, staggered greatly. It was a powerful attack, but it couldn’t pierce all the way through.

The giant Monster’s hide and bones were tough and hard.

Its defense was quite high.

Kwagagagak!

However, as the second attack struck its chest, it finally created a hole in its upper body.

A half-burnt heart was visible inside the hole, and smoke rose around it in Fear.

Kooong!

The Monster fell, making a sound as massive as its size.

Using that noise as a signal, Number Fourteen and Number Fifteen spread out to the left and right.

They vanished from sight in an instant, and Kim Songcheol and Setsu continued forward.

A Monster suddenly leaped out from behind the Nothingness and reached out its hand.

This time, Setsu’s domain expanded significantly. The Monster’s hand, which had entered the domain, abruptly stopped, and soon its entire body was consumed by the domain.

Even the giant Monster was helpless.

Setsu’s pressure and the Monster’s strength engaged in a brief tug-of-war.

But the trembling head turning 180 degrees happened in an instant.

As they moved forward, dealing with the appearing Monsters, a high-pitched ‘Beep-!’ sound was heard from the left.

It was Number Fourteen’s whistle.

Thump, thump, thump!

Number Fourteen appeared between the branches. He pushed off the branches and approached Kim Songcheol. Behind him, a Monster followed.

Number Fourteen and Number Fifteen’s mission was Monster herding.

Their role was to help make hunting easier.

It was then that the Celestial Spirit Maiden, who had been quietly following, moved.

She simply enveloped herself in dark red Sky Breaker and shot towards the Monsters.

Quite fast.

She lightly weaved between the outstretched hands and grotesque teeth, playfully poking the Monsters’ Official Positions as she passed.

Even if her Heaven-Shattering Grand Divine Art had reached 4 Castle, merely touching them wouldn’t kill the Monsters.

But she had no intention of killing them in the first place.

It just shakes the brain with an Explosive Force and temporarily turns it into Nothingness.

As many Monsters lost their sense of direction and swayed, Setsu dropped down into the center of the Monsters.

Setsu’s domain spans 70 meters. It was enough to contain even the Nothingness of a giant Monster.

CRUNCH!

As Setsu crossed and then spread his hands, the Monsters’ heads all turned at once.

BEEP-!

This time, a signal rang from the right. Kim Songcheol reacted quickly. He changed direction and flew towards Number Fifteen, who was rushing towards him.

Rupture Tsutsutsu!

Red Electric Shocks erupted from Kim Songcheol’s entire body, and at the same time, seven large Electric Shock orbs appeared around him.

The orbs floated slightly into the air and then simultaneously fired powerful Rupture vibrations at the Monsters’ Nothingness.

CRACKLE!

The Nothingness in its path burst, and the Monster’s body split open.

Unlike the Electric Shock he first fired, powerful Thread was imbued within it.

Nearly ten Monsters were torn apart in an instant.

‘Should I go further inside? It seems a bit weak here.’

If you go inside the Gigant Forest, there are even stronger giant Monsters.

It’s natural that the stronger they are, the more Points they give.

‘…?’

It was when Kim Songcheol was calculating the Points acquisition rate.

A strange sensation was felt.

Kim Songcheol’s head moved in one direction, and about 2 seconds later, the Celestial Spirit Maiden also stopped abruptly and looked in that direction.

“Setsu.”

Kim Songcheol called Setsu. Setsu, who had been momentarily separated while dealing with a Monster, immediately flew to his side.

“Why? What’s Nothingness…”

Before Setsu’s question could be fully asked.

Suddenly, Ink-black aura barriers erupted from all directions, surrounding Kim Songcheol’s party.

The barriers, which rose from a cube with sides about 200 meters long, converged at a single point in the air.

Their speed was so fast that there was no time to react.

‘…Damn it.’

The barrier itself was nothing special. It was simply a barrier that blocked Magic and physical Spatial Movement.

They were simply caught in a net, but the problem was those who cast this net.

Swoosh.

Black Mages in black Robes with hoods pulled down began to appear in their sight, one by one.

They stood on branches at a suitable distance, surrounding Kim Songcheol’s party.

Their movements were quite planned, and a strong Will to capture was felt.

Moreover, there were many Black Mages. More than thirty were visible.

‘This won’t be easy…’

Kim Songcheol continuously scanned his surroundings with sharp eyes.

This was because he knew that the true enemy had not yet revealed itself.

A sensation that had been annoying Kim Songcheol ever since the moment the barrier rose and trapped them.

That would likely be the captain leading these Dark Mages.

Grrrrr…!

The Celestial Spirit Maiden silently amplified her Sky Breaker. The materialized Sky Breaker surged into the air, almost touching the barrier.

A Hegemonic energy, so intense it made his skin tingle, pressed down on everything around them.

Setsu’s domain also greatly activated, surrounding them. A green light, even deeper than usual, represented Setsu’s resolute heart.

‘If only I had more time… No, even if I had more time…’

Kim Songcheol had not yet perfected Thunderclap.

To be precise, it was about 5-star. In other words, half.

He hadn’t been lazy. Acquiring Thunderclap’s already complex Magic Formula this quickly would be an unprecedented speed.

However, despite that, he was unable to properly use Lightning God Transformation, the core of Thunderclap.

It would be better to use Thunder Control instead.

Kim Songcheol drew forth a large amount of Thunder Control’s red Electric Shock.

Furthermore, Number Fourteen and Number Fifteen had even consumed a Mad Dragon Blood Pill under the Celestial Spirit Maiden’s command.

Kim Songcheol’s team had brought out their maximum power, but in front of the numerous Dark Mages, they seemed as precarious as a lamp in the wind.

Each Dark Mage was on par with the Dark Mage named ‘Songha’ that Setsu and he had faced last time.

The power difference was overwhelmingly vast.

And then.

Black sparks flew from the air, quickly engulfing the space, and a female staff member appeared from within the black fireballs.

Vapula.

One of Mamon’s Twelve Palaces.

Short black hair and green eyes.

Her purplish skin made her seem more like an alien than a human.

Her green eyes stared directly at Kim Songcheol.

“Surrender. Then your companions will die peacefully.”

A low voice, unusual for a female staff member, flowed out.

Kim Songcheol couldn’t answer. Honestly, he didn’t know what to do.

Even if he surrendered, Setsu and the Celestial Spirit Maiden would die anyway.

What if he fought to the end?

Even if he only faced Vapula alone, he would lose with a 99 percent probability.

If they lost, he didn’t know what terrible pain Setsu and the Celestial Spirit Maiden would endure.

…

Kim Songcheol was calculating every possible scenario to find a way out.

Kiiing…!

A sensation that would be more like a feeling than a noise.

A faint Mana Flow was felt.

And it wasn’t just Kim Songcheol who felt it.

Vapula’s green eyes turned to the sky. Kim Songcheol also looked up at the sky.

A dark blue comet-like castle was falling from the sky.

It was moving at an incredible speed.

It quickly closed the distance, making its presence known.

As it got closer, the true nature of the comet-like castle became clear.

It was a person.

The strongest hunter on Earth, Ocean Winslow.

He was enveloped in Sword Aura, plummeting from the sky.

The brilliant blue light of the Sword Aura was clearer than the open sky.

Its length was approximately 20 meters.

It was truly a divine sword and body in perfect unity.

Shuaaaaaak-! Kwaang!

The tip of the Sword Aura precisely struck the apex of the barrier, pressing it down.

Rupture Lance!

Then, the barrier shattered into pieces, scattering in all directions.

At that moment, a male staff member appeared in front of Kim Songcheol.

“Long time no see.”

Even though it was just the voice and his back, Kim Songcheol knew.

That he was the man named Peter.

“Demonic Eye…!”

Kim Songcheol couldn’t see Peter’s eyes, but Vapula quickly averted his gaze and took a step back.

“Isn’t it a bit much for the Twelve Palaces to bring their elites and even activate the Black Coffin, considering the opponent?”

Peter knew Vapula.