Chapter 46

Trophies.

They were the very reason Hunters flocked to this ancient dungeon.

And now, a trophy lay before their eyes.

[Mutated Predator’s Chain Scythe]
Attack Power: 40
Max Attack Range: 15m
Weight: 15kg
Made of solid, heavy iron, it weighs a considerable amount.
However, the centrifugal force it generates is formidable.
The scythe’s blade, rusted in places, is hard enough to cleave through steel.
[Evolvable]

The longsword Kang Yuseong currently wielded had an Attack Power of 20.
When combined with the damage from his Chakra Force, his total attack power was calculated. In that regard, the Chain Scythe’s attack power was quite high.
However, there was a critical flaw.
Namely, proficiency and weapon speed.
Just because its attack power was high didn’t mean it would be wise to use this Chain Scythe.
No matter how strong the attack power, if one’s proficiency was low, they wouldn’t even be able to wield the weapon properly.
Moreover, weapon speed was influenced by the weapon’s inherent weight or the user’s physical strength.
Longswords, in particular, boasted very fast weapon speeds.
This meant a longsword was an excellent fit for Kang Yuseong, who favored swift attacks.

‘Evolvable, huh…!’
But Kang Yuseong’s interest lay elsewhere.
It was the phrase “Evolvable.”
This was a special attribute uniquely found on armaments discovered in ancient dungeons like this one.
It meant that if the base stats of the Mutated Predator’s Chain Scythe underwent evolution, it could become even more powerful.
The presence or absence of this single attribute significantly altered a weapon’s value.

“This scythe… it would be good for Kang Taek-seong.”
Kang Yuseong said, thinking of a Hunter named Kang Taek-seong, who used a flail with a chain.
Kang Taek-seong’s face registered surprise.
“Oh, me, that…”
Kang Yuseong smiled.
“Take it. The weapon type is similar, so you shouldn’t have too much trouble getting used to it.”
“Wow, lucky! Take it, quick!”
“Opportunities like this don’t come often. Grab it before the Captain changes his mind.”
Hunters around them nudged Kang Taek-seong’s back.
Kang Taek-seong scratched the back of his head, stepped forward, and accepted the Chain Scythe.
“Thank you, Captain!”
This was the feeling.
The true meaning of entering an ancient dungeon and hunting.
Kang Yuseong gave a nod, then looked at the Porters and spoke.
“If you carelessly dismantle a Corpse Predator, you’ll get poisoned… It’s a shame, but let’s leave the body.”
In truth, the byproducts of a Corpse Predator were useless.
Even the corpse poison, once the Corpse Predator died, would oxidize and disappear, rendering it useless. Its internal organs and other parts were completely unusable.
Well, there was a method to skin it and make armor, but there were far better materials for armor out there anyway…

“Alright, let’s go further in.”
The temple was right before them.
With a Corpse Predator already appearing, there was no reason to hesitate.
Kang Yuseong once again took the lead.
He, too, was eager to see what kind of armaments lay hidden within that temple.

* * * * *

The temple was very different from how it appeared from a distance.
It was quite eerie and exceedingly dark.
*Fwoosh!*
Torches and lanterns lit up in various spots.
The stench of rotting corpses emanated from every corner of the temple, a clear sign that something very dangerous was nearby.
Kang Yuseong, too, did not let his guard down once he entered this place.
In dungeons like this, a single misstep could lead to total annihilation.
‘A dangerous place.’
The smell, the feeling, everything visible…
Nothing was normal.
Inside the temple stood colossal stone statues, each with a terrifying form, making the Hunters shiver involuntarily.
If even the Hunters felt this way, how much more so the Porters?
They swallowed dryly, their faces uneasy as they frantically scanned their surroundings while walking.
It was then.

*Fwoosh-sh-sh!*
Suddenly, flames erupted from all directions, brightly illuminating the temple’s interior.
“…!”
The Hunters instinctively drew their weapons and formed a defensive line.
They sent the Porters further inside, while they themselves formed a perimeter facing outwards.
Kang Yuseong also drew his sword, staring intently at something.
‘Someone’s here!’
He had already sensed someone’s presence.

“Kilik!”
Then, a strange sound was heard.
It sounded as if someone had been watching them and was now laughing mockingly, sending another shiver down the Hunters’ spines.
The sudden blaze of numerous torches illuminated the surroundings, yet paradoxically made the atmosphere even more sinister.
“Kilik!”
“Kilirik!”
But then, the laughter began to overlap.
The single laugh multiplied into two, then five, then dozens, then hundreds of “kilik” sounds.
“Kiliriririk!”
The Hunters gritted their teeth at the unsettling sounds coming from all directions.

*Fwoosh!*
At that moment, a massive flame erupted once again in the center of the temple.
And the surrounding darkness was completely peeled back, revealing the scene within.
The Hunters stared at it with looks of horror.
“Oh… my God!”
Their bodies were truly frozen.
There were countless dwarves.
Countless small, squat dwarves with shaggy hair, baring sharp, triangular teeth as they cackled and laughed.
Their faces were covered in crimson markings, as if painted with blood, and they held small torches and spears in their hands.
Hundreds, thousands of such dwarves.
And they had completely surrounded the Hunters.
They continued to make unsettling noises, murmuring, until at a certain moment, they abruptly stopped.
Kang Yuseong’s eyes snapped open.
‘They’re coming!’
– Prepare for battle!
The moment he grasped their intentions, the radio crackled.
In an instant, the creatures surged forward like a black wave from all directions, charging madly.

*Whizz! Whizz! Whizz!*
They sprinted forward, wildly throwing the short spears they held.
*Clang! Clang! Clang!*
The Hunters swung their weapons, deflecting the spears.
“Ugh!”
But the force behind the spears was so immense that Hunters were constantly forced back.
Each spear carried significant damage.
“Kiryaaat!”
And the dwarves, who had closed in right before them, leaped and attacked the Hunters.
Though called dwarves, their attacks were terrifying.
*Clang!*
The power behind the spears was as strong as a high-level Hunter’s strike, and the Hunters began to be pushed back helplessly.

“Maintain formation!”
Inside the chaos, Kang Yuseong shouted loudly.
*Whoosh-*
And he kicked off the ground.
*Shing-*
Another sword, sheathed at his waist, rang out as it was drawn.
Simultaneously, his swords wildly carved through the air.
*Swish-swish-swish!*
Chakra, Two-Headed Snake’s Dance!
The moment his swords flashed, the dwarves’ heads were severed, and their arms and legs were cut off.
*Splatter!*
Blood gushed, and entrails, completely shredded, spilled out.
The sword that had soared heavenward plunged downwards, and the sword that had plummeted upwards now surged like a fierce bird, spraying blood.
*Clang! Clang! Clang!*
Crimson sparks flew everywhere as the dwarves’ spears were cut down, and in an instant, a river of blood formed before Kang Yuseong.

“Counterattack!”
At that moment, Baek Myeong-han’s loud shout came from behind.
They couldn’t be defeated by these creatures.
“Uryaaaat!”
He brought down his battle hammer, infused with Chakra Force, directly onto them.
*Boom!*
A tremendous explosion occurred, crushing several dwarves under his battle hammer.
*Crunch! Splat!*
Under that immense force, their bones shattered and their entrails were pulped, flattening the dwarves.
“Push them back!”
“Haaah!”
*Thud! Crash!*
Each Hunter tightly gripped their weapon and launched a counterattack.
The dwarves, in turn, charged back with mad shrieks.

*Swish-swish-swish!*
In the midst of it, a long chain unfurled, something flashing in the air.
*Thud! Thud!*
That flash instantly decapitated numerous dwarves before vanishing.
*Clank!*
The Hunters looked with surprise to see Kang Taek-seong, who had just received the Mutated Predator’s Chain Scythe, standing there with an equally surprised expression.
“Oh… this is….”
The surrounding Hunters shrugged at the formidable power.
“Aim carefully with that! You’ll slice us too!”
*Clang! Clang! Clang!*
Thus, the fierce battle between the Hunters and the dwarves raged on.

It was then.
*Whoosh-sh-sh!*
From somewhere, an immense heat radiated, and something was seen plummeting towards them.
The Hunters saw it, but far from evading it, they didn’t even have time to ascertain what it was.
A blinding radiance, and a heat that threatened to incinerate their very flesh!
*Boom!*
Just then, someone shot into the air and struck that something.
It was Kang Yuseong.
*Boom! Boom! Crash!*
But in that instant, the fireball exploded, sending Kang Yuseong flying.
*Thud-bang!*
“Ugh!”
Kang Yuseong, who had been sent flying and crashed a good distance away, staggered to his feet.
One of his swords had melted.
Kang Yuseong gritted his teeth and threw the melted sword aside.
‘This is magic!’
It was magic.
In a place like this, especially while under attack from countless dwarves, to be struck by fire-elemental magic!
And it was a fireball entirely different from the level of Jang So-dan’s in the past.
Kang Yuseong’s eyes gleamed coldly.
Because someone had revealed themselves over there.
A gaunt figure, nearly two meters tall, clad in a black robe.
The robe looked very old, but it exuded a palpable sense of gloom and malevolence.
‘A Magician.’
Kang Yuseong gripped his sword tighter.
Although the opponent was a monster, not human, the method for dealing with Magic Users or magic-wielding monsters was fundamentally the same.
Close combat.
*Whoosh!*
Before the creature could create distance, Kang Yuseong’s body vanished as if sucked towards it.
Chakra, Wind Run!
The ability he had taken from the pack leader of wolves was now unleashed to its maximum.
*Thud-*
And he leaped high in front of the Magician.
The sword in his hand glinted fiercely, catching the light from the surrounding flames.
“Haaaat!”
Chakra, Critical Strike!
For a downward strike, there was nothing quite like this.
It was imbued with both Butcher’s Disassembly and Carapace Melt.
The strongest combination skill, capable of shattering most defenses!
*Flash!*
His sword plunged down.
*Clang!*
At that instant, fierce flames erupted.
Kang Yuseong’s eyes widened.
His sword…
was being pushed back.
*Whoosh!*
*Thwack!*
“Cough!”
Unable to withstand the intense pain that felt like it would shatter his entire body, he was sent flying backward and crashed.
“Captain!”
The Hunters urgently called out to him.
Kang Yuseong gritted his teeth and slowly rose to his feet.
He had felt something rush at him at the last moment and quickly lowered his sword to defend, but the force that struck his blade had shaken his internal organs and sent him flying.
Kang Yuseong noticed a long staff in the Magician’s hand.
He frowned deeply.
‘A War Magician…!’
If the general solution for swordsmen facing magicians was close combat, then magicians would also need a solution for swordsmen engaging them in close combat.
That’s why War Magicians were created.
They could wield that staff, made of sturdy wood, with complete mastery.
Engaging in close combat as skillfully as any swordsman.
But now…
‘This one is terrifying!’
Not only did it parry his attack, which was imbued with Chakra Force, but it also launched a counterattack.
This meant it was of a considerable level.

At that moment, Kang Yuseong’s lips twisted into a smirk.
‘Is that all you’ve got…’
He rose to his feet.
‘In that case.’
Kang Yuseong re-gripped his sword.
A cold aura emanated from his eyes.
‘I’ll break you.’
*Vwoom-*
A massive aura gathered around his sword.
*Bang-*
And he pushed off the ground.