Chapter 103

“Graaah!”

*Crunch!*

A massive, sturdy battle hammer utterly crushed a monster’s head.

“Aargh!”

*Thwack!*

*Crack!*

Not content with that, the Hunter wielding the battle hammer glared at the monster with bloodshot eyes and smashed its head down again.

*Splat!*

Blood splattered, the skull shattered, and bone fragments flew in all directions.

But the Hunter wasn’t satisfied.

“Raaaaagh!”

*Whoosh!*

He swung his battle hammer at another monster rushing in from the side.

*Thump!*

*Snap!*

With that immense force, the monster’s neck was ripped clean off.

“Die!”

Beside him, another Hunter swung a colossal greatsword, cleaving through monster bodies and taking off their heads. Thick blood had already caked onto the greatsword, leaving no trace of its sharpness, but he didn’t care.

What erupted from his eyes in that moment was an insane bloodlust and madness! His heart pounded as if it would burst from the surging adrenaline, and a thrill coursed through his hands.

*Slice!*

He sliced off a monster’s shoulder, then swung again, carving its body into pieces.

*Whump!*

A mace flew towards the dismembered monster, taking its head clean off.

Blood splattered everywhere, drenching the Hunters’ faces, but they didn’t care. Instead, they were further consumed by madness, crushing, smashing, tearing, and cutting down everything in their path.

In front of them stood a man wielding his sword even more wildly than they were. A man with a chilling smile on his lips, eyes glowing with intense elation, cutting down the monsters surrounding him!

*Slash!*

Each time his sword swung, monsters were pulverized. Finely shredded flesh scattered into the air, and thick bodily fluids and blood spurted like a fountain.

His blood-soaked appearance was truly that of a madman. The sheer slaughter by this blood-crazed individual sent shivers down the spines of even the other Hunters present.

Stardust.

Officially known as the 26th Attack Unit.

The sight they presented was both astonishing and horrifying. Their appearance, as if born for slaughter, was chilling, but at the same time, it offered a sense of relief that they were on the same side.

‘Ins… insane!’

Such swordsmanship.

Such movements.

Such slaughter!

Where had they ever seen such a display?!

All the Hunters of the Phoenix Guild, including the Phoenix Attack Unit, felt a thrill course through their bodies at the sight of them. It wasn’t fear or terror. It was the sheer madness they exuded in all directions!

That madness, more contagious than any plague, was infecting every Hunter in the hall.

“Graaaah!”

*Crack!*

*Crunch!*

And the Hunters, infected by that madness, invariably bared their white teeth, reveled in the slaughter, found elation in tearing monster bodies to shreds, and trembled uncontrollably, unsure what else to do.

Had they ever felt such frantic elation before? The immense martial prowess and electrifying movements they displayed when facing Ganas had already completely overwhelmed all the Hunters of the Phoenix Guild who had previously disregarded them.

But their subsequent actions drove them into an even greater frenzy. As if enjoying a blood festival, the Phoenix Guild Hunters found themselves unknowingly captivated by the sight of them relentlessly taking lives.

The countless monsters that had charged with bared fangs fell in an instant, and even the Giant Mantra was collapsing under the Phoenix Attack Unit’s attacks, riddled with countless wounds.

*Whish!*

And a single sword perfectly severed the Giant Mantra’s life.

*Thud!*

The Giant Mantra fell, and the countless monsters that had followed it met the same fate. They had repelled an offensive that had seemed utterly unstoppable.

“Haa! Haa!”

The Hunters gasped for breath. Weaker monsters, sensing their disadvantage, had already fled far away. But the Hunters had no strength left to pursue them.

They had poured everything into fighting the monsters, and they had won.

“M-Master.”

The victorious Hunters looked towards Master Song Sang-woo. Song Sang-woo also stood tall, holding his blood-stained battle hammer. He exuded the dignity befitting a Master.

*Whoosh—*

The vast hall. A heavy silence settled within it. Looking around, one’s eyes immediately fell upon the horrifyingly shattered corpses of countless monsters and the bodies of fallen Hunters.

The stench of blood hung heavy in the air, and the repulsive smell of bodily fluids made one’s nose wrinkle. The faces of the Hunters standing amidst it all clearly showed the exhaustion that felt like their hearts would burst.

Most were barely standing, using their weapons as staffs, and some had simply collapsed onto the ground. Yet, there were those who stood tall.

The Hunters of the Stardust Attack Unit, including Kang Yuseong.

And the members of the Phoenix Attack Unit, including Moon Baek-woo.

They too were covered head to toe in blood, their weapons thickly caked with it, creating a chilling sight, yet the two groups merely stood, staring at each other.

*Step.*

Song Sang-woo walked towards them, who seemed on the verge of exploding. Stardust and Phoenix. Coincidentally, this monster attack had become an opportunity to precisely gauge the strength of the two groups. Who was superior, and who was inferior.

That was precisely why Song Sang-woo’s expression was grim as he approached them.

“Phoenix.”

His gaze turned to Moon Baek-woo, the leader of the Phoenix Attack Unit. His armor was also completely blood-soaked, and thick blood streamed down his shoulder. Song Sang-woo looked at him and spoke softly.

“You’ve worked hard.”

Moon Baek-woo slightly bowed his head. Song Sang-woo then turned his gaze back to Kang Yuseong.

“And the 26th Attack Unit.”

Kang Yuseong calmly met his gaze. For a moment, Song Sang-woo’s eyes held a strange glint as he looked at Kang Yuseong. Surprise, disbelief, and awe. Such complex emotions were wildly mixed in the eyes of a Master leading a guild.

Song Sang-woo, after looking at Kang Yuseong for a moment, spoke with a heavy tone.

“Why the Phoenix Guild?”

At Song Sang-woo’s words, Kang Yuseong simply stared back at him. Song Sang-woo continued, looking at him.

“With that level of skill, even if it weren’t us…”

Song Sang-woo stopped mid-sentence, his expression hardening slightly. It was because Kang Yuseong was smiling at him.

“Didn’t I tell you?”

The smile on his lips deepened.

“Places that have everything are no fun.”

At those words, the Hunters of the Phoenix Guild flinched, but none stepped forward as they had before. Their overwhelming martial prowess had sealed their lips.

Kang Yuseong continued, still smiling.

“But that’s precisely why, from now on, the Phoenix Guild will…”

His eyes slowly swept around. He saw the Hunters stained with thick blood. Extreme exhaustion was clearly etched on their faces, but not a single person showed it. Kang Yuseong looked at them and spoke again.

“It will have everything. Just as you all have shown today.”

“…!”

At those words, the Hunters felt a shiver run down their spines. The intense elation and thrill they had felt just moments ago suddenly resurfaced. They had truly fought like madmen, not retreating an inch.

They had experienced countless battles before, but the tremor they felt just now was new. Thinking back, the situation earlier had been truly unbelievable. To think that with countless monsters swarming from all sides, they had actually charged into the fray, raging to tear apart even one more of them…

They couldn’t believe they themselves had done that. But it was an undeniable fact, and they all knew it. That it was possible because of the man before them, Kang Yuseong.

The flame of madness he ignited by leading the charge had instantly dominated the hall, allowing them to rampage like lunatics. Kang Yuseong grinned and looked at Song Sang-woo.

“So, did we pass the entrance test?”

Song Sang-woo furrowed his brow. Then, a moment later, he shook his head, a faint smile on his lips.

“You truly are a frightening individual.”

Song Sang-woo remained silent for a moment, then nodded.

“The entrance test is passed. And the conditions requested by Commander Kang Yuseong are…”

Just then, someone stepped forward and spoke.

“I believe those demands should naturally be met.”

It was Moon Baek-woo, the leader of the Phoenix Attack Unit and Vice Master of the Phoenix Guild. All eyes in the hall turned to him. But Moon Baek-woo continued, his expression unchanged.

“The Phoenix Guild’s First Attack Unit is its sword and shield. It is right that the Attack Unit with the strongest power takes that role. The Phoenix Attack Unit was defeated by the 26th Attack Unit in terms of strength this time, and we acknowledge that result. Therefore…”

“I never asked for the First Attack Unit, though?”

It was Kang Yuseong.

“All I requested was the existence of a special unit, and for it to be treated on par with the Phoenix Attack Unit. As for the Vice Master position, you can just create another one. And to begin with, I have no intention of becoming the Phoenix Guild’s sword and shield. That just sounds like a headache.”

Moon Baek-woo frowned, while Song Sang-woo smiled.

“So, Master. I don’t think my request is particularly unreasonable. What do you say?”

“Master…”

Moon Baek-woo looked at Song Sang-woo, but Song Sang-woo merely chuckled. He had noticed something in Kang Yuseong’s words. That his goal was absolutely not the Phoenix Guild.

He was looking for something higher, something greater. Song Sang-woo had accurately seen through it.

“You’re not satisfied with just this Phoenix Guild, are you? Well, alright.”

He looked at Kang Yuseong, his eyes shining with a sharp glint.

“In that case, do as you please. Whether you make this Phoenix Guild your sword and shield, or whatever else. Suddenly, I’m curious about the outcome. What exactly are you planning, I wonder. Haha!”

Kang Yuseong grinned back at him.

“First, let’s take care of the Immortal Guild, then we’ll see.”

Arrogant. This man, who treated the nation’s number one guild as if it were pocket change. But strangely, his words weren’t unlikable.

‘The Immortal Guild, huh…’

Song Sang-woo knew all too well how incredibly difficult it was just to climb one rank from tenth place. No, even maintaining a spot in the top ten required considerable effort and power. Because the power of the rising new guilds was also formidable.

Yet Kang Yuseong wasn’t even considering such things. And he dared to say he would take down the number one Immortal Guild.

‘Hmm…’

Song Sang-woo felt as if he had taken a magnificent tiger into his embrace. And if, one day, that tiger were to roar across the land and ascend by riding on the Phoenix Guild’s back, he thought that wouldn’t be so bad.

Because then, the Phoenix Guild too would spread its two wings and soar majestically.