Chapter 18

Kang Yuseong continued to push the attack unit relentlessly.

They had to fight to the death, constantly pushed to their absolute limits.

Kang Yuseong was intentionally making it so.

He would deliberately force them into perilous terrain, or provoke monsters to create sudden, life-or-death battles.

But amidst it all, the Hunters profoundly felt one clear truth.

Kang Yuseong.

His combat command remained unwavering in any situation, and surprisingly, following his directives during crises always led to easy overcoming.

It was an experience truly difficult to put into words.

This was Kang Yuseong, who had once led hundreds of thousands of Hunters into the vanguard of battle.

Commanding a mere dozen Hunters was no challenge at all for him.

He would instantly read the battlefield and devise a suitable strategy.

And once a strategy was set, he would execute it without a moment’s hesitation.

That was Kang Yuseong’s fighting style.

It was only possible because Kang Yuseong knew the monsters’ characteristics, weaknesses, and habits inside and out.

He created situations and pushed the Hunters to overcome them, allowing them to naturally acquire that knowledge.

Three days passed like this.

They had to enter dungeons more than three times a day, which meant that by the time the hunt was over, their legs would give out, forcing them to collapse.

Yet, none of them voiced a single complaint.

Instead, a strange phenomenon occurred where they blamed their own lack of stamina for not being able to hunt more.

Kang Yuseong watched them, lost in thought.

‘This should be enough.’

D-Day was three days away.

Before then, they needed to obtain entry permits for the Ancient Dungeon.

Kang Yuseong knew exactly what test was required to receive those permits.

That was why he had pushed them so harshly until now.

“Attention.”

As Kang Yuseong’s voice rang out, the Hunters looked towards him.

Once their gazes converged, Kang Yuseong continued.

“I have something to tell you. I am about to put you all through a test.”

“A test…?”

The Hunters cast bewildered glances at Kang Yuseong.

“That’s right. The test is…”

Kang Yuseong swept his gaze over them, then continued.

“The Ancient Dungeon entry permit test.”

“What…?”

A murmur spread through the Hunters.

“Ancient… Dungeon, you say…”

Baek Myeong-han gulped.

Ancient Dungeon.

A special type of dungeon, designated with an ‘A’ (Ancient) after its name.

It wasn’t categorized by rank.

Because it was so unique and peculiar.

These dungeons were riddled with countless curses, powerful monsters could suddenly appear, and the guardians within the dungeon had even been known to annihilate entire hunting parties.

In short, it was a dungeon of a completely different caliber.

In the early days, countless Hunters recklessly entered Ancient Dungeons and never returned.

Therefore, the government imposed entry restrictions on Ancient Dungeons.

At a minimum, one had to pass the permit test managed by the state, and secondly, an attack unit was mandatory.

Although now, Hunters above Level 25 could enter alone, the truth was that Ancient Dungeons were places where even such high-level Hunters often faced situations they couldn’t guarantee surviving.

However, rumors of significant rewards for clearing Ancient Dungeons circulated rapidly, making it a place every Hunter salivated over.

Not just money or gold, but ancient swords, magical artifacts, armor…

The Ancient Dungeon was the only place where one could acquire weapons and armor forged from metals unknown on Earth.

That was why Baek Myeong-han and the other Hunters were now nervously swallowing dryly, their expressions tense.

Just by entering and finding treasure there, they could achieve immense growth.

“But I heard that test is incredibly difficult.”

Kang Yuseong smiled and nodded.

“That’s right. It is difficult.”

“But how…?”

Kang Yuseong continued.

“The Ancient Dungeon entry permit test can be taken alone, but an attack unit can also take it together. Though the difficulty would increase.”

“That’s true, but I heard the difficulty is equivalent to a B-rank dungeon or higher.”

B-rank dungeon.

A place where only Hunters Level 7 and above could survive.

Among the Hunters present, Baek Myeong-han was the highest level, and even he had only recently leveled up to 5.

If the current attack unit took the test, it meant certain failure.

Kang Yuseong grinned.

The answer was already clear.

“Then, shall we try a test?”

“A test, you say?”

The Hunters’ eyes once again turned to Kang Yuseong.

“Tomorrow, at noon, we begin hunting again. The target is…”

His eyes swept over the Hunters.

“D-39 Dungeon. Its rank is.”

Baek Myeong-han’s expression stiffened instantly. He knew what D-39 Dungeon was.

At that moment, Kang Yuseong’s lips parted again.

“B-rank.”

At that, the Hunters’ mouths fell open.

C-rank and B-rank were a world of difference.

B-rank dungeons were places where entirely different monsters appeared compared to C-rank dungeons.

For the first time, doubt began to surface on the Hunters’ faces.

No matter how capable Kang Yuseong was, a B-rank dungeon…

Observing the Hunters’ agitation, Kang Yuseong spoke again.

“Don’t you want to go and test your skills? To see what power… you truly possess?”

Looking at Kang Yuseong, who radiated an inexplicable confidence, the Hunters gradually ceased their murmuring.

The conviction in his voice had stirred their hearts.

It was strange.

Their minds screamed impossibility, yet their hearts pounded with an inexplicable fervor.

“I will stand at the very front. As I always have.”

The Hunters fell silent at those words.

It was true.

Thinking back, they hadn’t been like this from the beginning.

Even for C-rank dungeons, they had to make countless preparations just to survive.

They had to scout the area, then search it further, and when they encountered monsters, instead of fighting boldly, they had to engage in tedious hunts primarily focused on wearing down their enemies.

They believed they were weak compared to the monsters.

But…

That man had changed everything in an instant.

Not with words, but with actions.

He had proudly proven himself with his sword, and the Hunters had been drawn by that confidence, following him this far.

Who would have thought they could defeat C-rank dungeon monsters so easily?

Kang Yuseong’s flawless combat command had transformed them.

He, who had stood at the forefront, swinging his sword and often drenched in monster blood.

“I’m going. Wherever the Captain goes.”

Han Do-seong suddenly stood up.

His well-built body was still grimy with monster blood, but his eyes gleamed with fierce determination.

“Damn it… if this guy goes, I have to go too…”

Jwa Myeong-hoon grumbled, glaring at Han Do-seong, who had suddenly stood up.

He irritably scratched the back of his head, then shut his eyes tight, sprang to his feet, and roared.

“To hell with it, I don’t care! I’m going too! Myeong-han, what are you doing!”

Baek Myeong-han seemed to ponder for a moment, then nodded.

“Alright, I’m going too. How can I send just the two of you when I’m worried? Hey, all of you come along. It’s not like you have anywhere else to go anyway.”

The remaining Hunters grumbled at Baek Myeong-han’s words.

“Damn it, who said we have nowhere else to go? Well, I’ll stick with Captain Kang Yuseong! It’s much more exciting this way.”

“I’m coming too.”

“Me too.”

All the Hunters raised their hands.

Kang Yuseong smiled.

In truth, they had all made a momentous decision.

Kang Yuseong knew that well.

And they would never regret this decision.

Because Kang Yuseong had made it so, and he would continue to do so.

He nodded and said,

“Then I’ll see you all tomorrow at noon.”

* * * * *

B-rank Dungeon.

When it takes dozens of Hunters to clear a C-rank dungeon, could a B-rank dungeon possibly be cleared by a mere dozen or so?

The next day, as the Hunters gathered before the D-39 Dungeon, such questions floated across their faces.

Kang Yuseong hadn’t recruited any additional members.

He truly intended to enter the B-rank dungeon with just this dozen or so.

Even the porters, now accustomed to Kang Yuseong’s combat command style, shared the same apprehension.

They had weathered every storm imaginable.

Moreover, they possessed an uncanny knack for sensing impending danger.

But they didn’t back down.

As they stood in formation, Kang Yuseong appeared.

He said nothing else.

*Crackle—*

The radio crackled to life, and a single command was issued.

—Entering dungeon.

The Hunters took a deep, shaky breath, then headed towards the D-39 Dungeon before them.

* * * * *

It was strange.

It felt as though the very air of a B-rank dungeon was different.

A heavy weight seemed to settle on their shoulders.

‘Hoo!’

Just standing there, their breath hitched in their throats.

This was pressure.

Like a deep-sea diver facing the abyss for the first time, their entire body stiffened in panic; they felt the same.

—Are you scared?

Just then, Kang Yuseong’s voice crackled through their radios, jolting them awake.

*Are you scared?*

It was a very brief question, but strangely, hearing it made a warmth slowly spread through their bodies.

That single remark had struck a chord deep within them.

And they could look directly into the unmasked face of the abyss that sought to swallow them whole.

The deep sea, too, was the same ocean they had been swimming in all along.

Just a little deeper, nothing else had changed.

Kang Yuseong had been waking them up.

—When this is over, let’s have a beer.

It didn’t fit.

A terribly out-of-place remark for this situation.

They couldn’t even guarantee this situation would end well, so would they even have the luxury of a beer when it was over?

And so, laughter escaped them.

Out of sheer disbelief, out of utter absurdity.

The Hunters snickered.

Could such a joke really be made in a situation like this?

“…!”

But the next moment, they felt goosebumps erupt across their skin.

‘No, it’s… not a joke!’

Kang Yuseong was not joking.

They, who had spent days rolling with him, knew him well enough.

That he was not a man to speak idly.

That he was a man who always kept his word.

*Shink—*

At that moment, Kang Yuseong drew his sword.

As if to prove his words once more with that blade.

—The hunt begins.

His voice was calm and unwavering.

Just as it had always been.

Just as it was when he massacred monsters in C-rank dungeons.

*Whoosh—*

He shot forward.

His figure swiftly cut through this dungeon, teeming with danger.

*Clang!*

And not long after, scarlet sparks flew.

He had encountered a monster encased in tough carapace.

The Hunters watched him fight in a daze.

Kang Yuseong slashed his sword at the monster without an inch of retreat.

*A tearing sound!*

*Crunch!*

His sword pierced the monster’s carapace.

Blood gushed, and the monster writhed.

A monstrous shriek tore from its throat, a desperate cry.

*Thump!*

The Hunters’ hearts pounded fiercely for a moment.

*It works.*

Kang Yuseong’s sword works.

This single, small fact ignited their suppressed will to fight.

*Crunch!*

They gritted their teeth and gripped their weapons tight.

And charged forward like madmen.

“Waaah!”

If Kang Yuseong’s attacks worked, it meant their attacks would work too.

*Boom!*

They swung their weapons wildly at the monsters, hitting everything in their path.

Carapace shattered under heavy war hammers, revealing raw flesh.

Skulls were crushed, brains splattered.

Leg joints broke from battle axe blows, spraying bodily fluids.

“Die!”

The moment they confirmed their attacks were effective against the monsters they had once vaguely feared, they transformed into frenzied beasts.

“Graaah!”

“Ugh-yaah!”

*Boom!*

*Crack! Crunch!*

Kang Yuseong smirked grimly.

A beast truly becomes a beast when it bares its fangs completely.

‘Bite! Charge! Trample!’

A chilling smile appeared on Kang Yuseong’s lips, the man who had orchestrated this entire situation.

*Crack!*

On this battlefield, steeped in madness, everyone was raging wildly.

*Whoosh!*

As if to fuel their madness, a heavy downpour of rain began to fall.