Chapter 17

After meeting Yoon Seong-tak and returning home, Kang Yuseong hurried with the patent preparations.

He planned to launch the Stamina Potion after registering the patent.

He had already handcrafted a few Stamina Potions.

Before mass production, he intended to test them, much like clinical trials.

Since the Stamina Potion was made with a very safe recipe, there was no chance of side effects.

What he wanted to see was how effective this liquid, named Stamina Potion-I, would be.

He planned to have the Hunters take it today and observe the results.

He prepared the documents for the patent registration.

He detailed the ingredients and manufacturing method in the documents, and while patent registration would make the method public, as long as Kang Yuseong held the patent rights for 20 years, no one could simply create and sell replica potions. It was the same with Viagra, the best erectile dysfunction treatment developed by Pfizer in the past.

Even though Pfizer disclosed the ingredients and manufacturing method, no generic versions could be sold while the Viagra patent was active.

The patent Kang Yuseong was filing now was no different from the pharmaceutical field.

The ingredients were easy to acquire, and it was simple to make.

Kang Yuseong had meticulously planned out his subsequent steps, but that was for later.

He glanced at the clock; it was almost ten.

‘Shall I go?’

He rose from his seat.

The reason he was going to the dungeon.

There was another reason for it.

The D-98-A Dungeon.

To enter, he needed a pass, and also an attack unit.

Even with a pass, entry was absolutely impossible without an organized attack unit.

Of course, there were exceptions. Hunters above Level 25 could enter alone, but such individuals were few and far between.

Kang Yuseong was no different.

Although he was steadily raising his Chakra skills with water infused with Chakra Cubes, even doing so would take several months to reach Level 25.

That’s why an attack unit was necessary.

An attack unit strong enough to pass the entry permit review.

And an attack unit that wouldn’t bother him while he searched for the Plunderer’s Legacy, even if they entered the dungeon together.

Kang Yuseong intended to shape Baek Myeong-han and the other Hunters into such a unit.

One week from now.

They would gain much through Kang Yuseong, and in return, he would earn their trust.

Step.

Kang Yuseong exited the basement and stepped outside.

The blazing sunlight was particularly dazzling today.

* * * * *

“Captain Kang Yuseong, you’ve arrived?”

Jwa Myeong-hoon, who had arrived at the dungeon entrance earlier, spotted him and waved.

He had, in no time, become their captain.

It had only been one meeting, but they were deeply captivated by Kang Yuseong.

It was only natural.

Who wouldn’t follow him when he made hunting so seamless, even without their constant attention?

Moreover, being with Kang Yuseong allowed them to truly experience the thrilling rush of hunting.

If it had been just them, they would have retreated the moment a strong monster appeared.

But Kang Yuseong was different.

As if proving his SS-rank wasn’t for show, he led the charge, fighting with the fiercest intensity. The Hunters couldn’t help but be fired up by his presence.

In other words, Kang Yuseong possessed the power to draw out the Hunters’ full strength.

“Good to see you.”

Kang Yuseong waved back at Jwa Myeong-hoon.

“Hey, Yuseong!”

Then, a familiar face appeared to one side.

It was Yoon Seong-tak.

Like a seasoned Porter, he wore a large backpack and had various survival gear strapped to his waist.

“You’ve arrived.”

Kang Yuseong bowed his head slightly in greeting.

“But Captain… they’re talking about you, right?”

He seemed to have overheard Jwa Myeong-hoon’s earlier comment.

Kang Yuseong chuckled.

“They’re just joking around. Haha.”

“Captain Kang Yuseong. The entire attack unit has arrived.”

At that moment, Baek Myeong-han’s voice rang out.

Kang Yuseong smacked his lips and nodded.

“Then, check your radios, and prepare for departure.”

“Yes, sir.”

Perhaps sensing the veteran aura emanating from him, Yoon Seong-tak stared at Kang Yuseong with a surprised expression.

Kang Yuseong grinned at him.

“Senior. You’re good at running, right?”

“Hm? Running? Ah, this is a C-rank dungeon. There’ll likely be a lot of running away, I suppose.”

Kang Yuseong smiled silently.

Then he spoke.

“No. We…”

Kang Yuseong looked at the entrance of the D-34 Dungeon and continued.

“We’re going to run straight ahead, no matter what. Follow closely. You’ll have an immense amount to take away. And this, take it when your stamina is depleted. It’s a medicine passed down through my family for generations. With ginseng and deer antler, it’s exceptionally effective for restoring vitality.”

“Yuseong… you…”

He was different from any Hunter he’d encountered before.

Yoon Seong-tak had followed countless Hunters, but they always told him to run or hide when danger struck.

But Kang Yuseong was saying something entirely unexpected.

Yoon Seong-tak frowned slightly and looked towards Kang Yuseong, but he was already walking towards the dungeon.

– Hunting begins.

His voice came through the radio.

Yoon Seong-tak furrowed his brow.

What on earth had happened in just a few days?

Kang Yuseong, who had been a complete novice even as a Porter, was now a full-fledged captain, leading these numerous Hunters.

Yoon Seong-tak gazed down at the small medicine bottle Kang Yuseong had handed him.

He looked at it for a moment, then tucked it into his pocket.

– Entering.

The command to enter was given.

* * * * *

The D-35 Dungeon.

It was classified as a large-scale dungeon among C-rank dungeons.

Even now, with two other attack units already inside hunting, the hunting grounds remained remarkably quiet.

Baek Myeong-han and a few other Hunters had already conducted a reconnaissance, drawing up a map, and Kang Yuseong used it to determine the hunting route.

The shortest route straight through the dungeon.

Clang-

Kang Yuseong drew his sword.

The Hunters, having heard his strategy, also lined up neatly beside him without a word of complaint.

There wasn’t a speck of doubt on their faces.

– Hunt, begin.

With a whoosh-

With that brief command, Kang Yuseong was the first to charge forward.

Trailing behind him, as he dashed with a flash of silver light, the Hunters began to sprint, not wanting to be left behind.

The Porters were no different.

Kang Yuseong’s attack orders had already been given, and they faithfully followed the operation, code-named ‘Storm’.

CRACK!

Kang Yuseong, at the very front, encountered a monster and swung his sword, instantly severing its neck. That marked the beginning of the battle.

CRASH!

Baek Myeong-han slammed his battle hammer into a monster’s head, splattering brains and blood everywhere.

“Haaah!”

Splashed with the repulsive, hot blood, Han Do-seong charged forward, plunging his serrated blade into a monster’s waist and fiercely pulling it with both hands.

“Kueeegh!”

Even at the gruesome sight of intestines spilling out and bones exposed, Han Do-seong paid no heed, plunging his serrated blade into the monster’s neck once more.

CRUNCH!

SPLAT!

The sound of its neck bones grinding apart was heard, and blood gushed out like a fountain.

“Push through them all!”

Baek Myeong-han roared.

“Graaaah!”

The Hunters swung their weapons like madmen.

In the past, they would have scouted, found strategies to deal with the monsters, and formed tactical formations before approaching, but now it was different.

They ran when Kang Yuseong told them to run, slashed when he told them to slash, and stopped when he told them to stop.

That was the extent of it.

Yet, despite that, the hunt was astonishingly easy and swift.

CRACK!

Blood splattered, limbs were severed.

Monsters’ hides were torn, and screams erupted.

In the midst of it, the Hunters swung their hammers to shatter skulls and used battle axes to crush ribs.

Amidst this pandemonium, Yoon Seong-tak stood stunned, speechless.

This place…

Even for Yoon Seong-tak, who had been to countless dungeons, this place felt incredibly alien.

Wasn’t this the heart of a battlefield, where blood flowed and flesh was torn apart!

This wasn’t where a Porter like him should be.

His place was at the back, a place so safe it was boring, so how could…

Thump-thump, thump-thump!

At that moment, Yoon Seong-tak felt his heart pounding so hard it took his breath away.

He could distinctly feel the blood in his entire body boiling hot.

‘Haaah…!’

Just then, a monster nearby gushed blood and collapsed.

‘This is a battlefield…!’

He squeezed his eyes shut.

He clenched his fists tightly.

He felt as if he wouldn’t be able to control this trembling otherwise.

Ironically, he felt safest now, even while being in the most dangerous place in the world.

Tap-

At that instant, someone tapped him on the shoulder.

He startled, opened his eyes, and saw Kang Yuseong standing there with a gentle smile.

“Let’s go, Senior.”

“Ah…”

Yoon Seong-tak looked around.

All those numerous monsters lay defeated.

Only then did he recall Kang Yuseong’s words.

About being good at running…

He had been talking about this from the very beginning.

From the outset, he had intended to sweep everything away.

So, even the Porters had no choice but to run like mad.

‘Damn it…’

Yoon Seong-tak let out a wry chuckle.

‘Good at running, huh?’

He gave Kang Yuseong a broad smile.

“Alright, let’s go.”

He gritted his teeth and caught up to the already distant Kang Yuseong, shouting internally, ‘I was on the track team in school, you rascal!’

And so, a single gust of wind swept through the D-35 Dungeon.

A wind that would slowly grow, swelling into a mighty tempest, ready to devour everything in its path.

* * * * *

The conquest of the D-35 Dungeon was over in an instant.

The Hunters, who had once again experienced Kang Yuseong’s godlike battle command, were panting, out of breath, yet showed no signs of exhaustion.

Instead, most of them were drenched in euphoria, so excited they couldn’t control their trembling.

Today’s hunt had been truly satisfying for them.

No other thoughts, just breaking, smashing, slaughtering.

Dodging their attacks, counterattacking, severing their lifelines.

That simple repetition had provided them with the ultimate thrill.

This was all thanks to one man.

Kang Yuseong.

If they simply followed his command, which seemed to foresee the future, they could effortlessly evade monster attacks and deliver counterattacks that struck with 100% accuracy.

Kang Yuseong also smiled faintly as he watched them.

‘Grow stronger. Grow even stronger, and… become my sword and shield.’

For the battle against formidable monsters that would surely come.

And the war against Hunters from other nations.

Kang Yuseong’s eyes, slowly preparing for this, gleamed with a sharp light.