Chapter 80

Whoosh!

Rough flames scorched the air.

The fire consumed countless water droplets, reducing everything to nothingness.

Crash!

Not only that, but a massive fireball relentlessly battered Gainok’s body as if to shatter it.

Though Gainok was covered in tough scales and carapace, the fireball struck it mercilessly without hesitation.

Boom! Boom!

“K-yahhh!”

The Earth Dragon, Gainok, thrashed wildly, letting out a shriek.

With powerful ranged attacks continuing, the creature was in immense pain.

Kim Do-jin’s ranged attacks were formidable, but that wasn’t the most serious problem.

Crunch! Crackle!

As Gainok was enveloped in the hot flames, a sword and two axes, blazing with fire, mercilessly shattered its scales and tore its entire body apart.

These were no ordinary sword and axes.

The Chakra Force of two formidable individuals surged powerfully through these weapons, crushing Gainok’s scales and shattering its carapace.

“Haa!”

The sword, enhanced by crimson flames, inflicted even greater agony upon Gainok.

The flaming blade burrowed between the scales, melting the muscle layers and burning the flesh.

It also pushed the sword’s sharpness to its limit, instantly severing the creature’s veins and tendons, leaving Gainok a mangled mess.

And on the opposite side, a madman’s axe-strikes raged like a storm.

Thwack! Thwack!

The two axes relentlessly tore into Gainok’s body, almost without pause, as if clawing at it.

Blood splattered, and chunks of flesh fell away, creating a gruesome spectacle.

Gil Hyeok-jun plunged his axes into Gainok’s body, a chilling smile on his face. His white teeth were bared, and his eyes were tinged with uncontrollable madness.

He, too, was a Hunter who thrilled at the sight of blood.

Especially when facing a powerful foe like Gainok, his primal instincts erupted, seemingly possessing him.

K-woaaargh!

At that moment, Gainok thrashed wildly, twisted its body, and plunged its head into the ground.

Then, it burrowed straight into the earth.

Kang Yuseong pursued its trail.

It wasn’t fleeing.

The Earth Dragon Gainok never fled during battle.

It was that fierce and primal.

The same burning instinct that flowed within Kang Yuseong also resided in the beast.

Its burrowing into the ground was not an escape, but rather a prelude to an attack.

Rumble!

“Watch out!”

“K-woaaargh!”

At that instant, the ground shook violently, and the Earth Dragon Gainok erupted, its enormous maw wide open.

Its target was Kang Yuseong!

No, it wasn’t its target.

Kang Yuseong knew its habits well and had anticipated where it would emerge, rushing towards that spot.

Clack!

The Earth Dragon’s hard fangs clamped down on Kang Yuseong in an instant.

But instead of the sound of flesh tearing and bones breaking, there was the grinding of metal.

Clang! Clang!

Crimson sparks flew wildly from the maw of the Earth Dragon, Gainok.

Gil Hyeok-jun’s expression tightened for a moment, then relaxed.

Kang Yuseong.

He was covered head-to-toe in steel armor, fending off Gainok’s teeth.

There was a reason he had deliberately taken the creature’s attack.

Its vulnerable spot, its head, was quite high above the ground.

To strike it directly, he had to pin its body down, and there had been several opportunities to leap onto its head.

One such opportunity was now.

He had been waiting for the moment it would emerge from the ground with its maw open.

Crack!

Kang Yuseong, who had been blocking the creature’s fearsome teeth with his steel armor, now plunged his sword into the roof of its mouth.

“K-weeeeargh!”

Gainok, which had been soaring high, thrashed violently once more as if in a frenzy.

Kang Yuseong instantly grabbed the creature’s maw with his hand, pulled out his sword, and launched himself upward.

Thud.

He was suddenly standing atop its head.

“Captain!”

The Hunters’ hands grew sweaty at the perilous sight.

“Kim Do-jin! Target the body! Blast it!”

Kim Do-jin, who had been watching Kang Yuseong for a moment, nodded.

K-woooh!

A massive flame erupted from his hands.

Flame Spear!

It was Kim Do-jin’s new technique, possessing extreme heat of fire and piercing power.

Clang!

At the same time, Gil Hyeok-jun, who was waiting below, violently clashed his two axes together.

Sparks flew, and a peculiar energy burst explosively from the axes.

Chakra, Berserk Wildness.

A Chakra skill that enhanced all offensive capabilities had been activated.

“K-woooargh!”

Gil Hyeok-jun’s mouth opened wide, and a roar erupted.

Screech!

The Flame Spear sliced through the air and flew with fierce momentum towards the body of the Earth Dragon, Gainok.

And Gil Hyeok-jun’s axe-wielding began.

Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!

It was nothing short of frenzied hacking!

It was like a madman wielding two massive blades, indiscriminately hacking away.

Gouge! Gouge! Gouge!

Scales shattered and blood spurted. Gil Hyeok-jun, covered in blood as he plunged his axes in, looked like a demonic fiend.

Crash!

Suddenly, Gainok’s body reeled violently.

The Flame Spear had pierced its body and exploded.

And…

Boom!

Once more, a gigantic spear of fire pierced its body.

“K-yahhh!”

Gainok shrieked wildly, thrashing about in a frenzy.

Its upright body was already tattered from Gil Hyeok-jun’s axe-strikes and Kang Yuseong’s attacks, and the long section connecting to its neck was charred black and steaming from the continuous explosions of fireballs and Flame Spear attacks.

But that wasn’t the only major crisis facing the creature.

Crack!

The flaming sword struck down from atop its head!

That maddening sword, striking indiscriminately from Gainok’s snout downwards, was driving Gainok to the very brink.

Gainok’s greatest weak point was the square bone located between the two small horns on its head.

Roughly the size of a small desk, some called it Gainok’s shield, and beneath that square bone lay its brainstem.

The bone was quite thick, but if it shattered, the creature was finished.

And Kang Yuseong’s sword was gradually approaching that very shield of Gainok.

Gush!

Hot, foul-smelling blood splattered, but Kang Yuseong paid it no mind.

As if clinging to an untamed beast, he plunged the sword from his waist into its forehead, holding onto it with one arm to maintain his balance.

With his other arm, he continued to stab with his sword into Gainok’s wildly shaking head.

The Hunters watched the battle of these three, speechless.

The power of a Magic User, the madman’s axe-wielding pushed to its limits by a Chakra User, and the thrilling display from the man they had breathed with until now.

These three were truly invincible!

‘Th… these terrifying people…!’

Not just Baek Myeong-han, but all the Hunters thought the same thing.

At this moment, the frenzied appearance of these three struck more terror into them than the Earth Dragon Gainok itself.

And on another note, their blood slowly began to boil.

They gripped their weapons tightly, lamenting their own lack of skill, unable to join such an incredible battle.

If only they had the skill…

If only they had the power, they would be right there!

Right there, tearing its body, carving out its organs, and shattering its bones!

As that mix of regret and thrilling exhilaration washed over them all, the comms exploded.

“Attack Unit!”

It was Kang Yuseong.

The Hunters’ eyes flashed open, gripping their weapons tightly.

“Everyone, charge!”

“K-waaaargh!”

As if sensing their dying regret, the moment Kang Yuseong’s command came through, the Hunters roared like beasts and charged madly.

Crash!

Battle hammers slammed against its scales.

Crunch! Thwack!

Axes gouged its wounds.

Swords slashed, and iron clubs pounded its carapace.

Flames erupted, blood spurted, and a scene of frenzied madness unfolded all around.

Even the Porters clenched their fists, unable to tear their eyes away from the fierce battle!

Crack!

As if to bring an end to the fight, Kang Yuseong’s sword pierced Gainok’s right eyeball. Only a short distance remained to Gainok’s shield.

Thud.

The moment Gainok twisted its body, Kang Yuseong released the hilt of the sword he had been holding with his left hand.

And he launched himself into the air.

Thud!

Kang Yuseong, gripping the flaming sword’s hilt with both hands, descended.

Crack!

The tip of the sword touched Gainok’s shield.

Crrrrrrk!

And cracks began to appear in that hard bone.

At first, it was a very small crack, but it gradually widened into a thick fissure.

Crack!

A chilling sound echoed, and Gainok’s shield finally split open.

And…

Gush!

“Kieeeeargh!”

The tip of the hot sword completely tore apart Gainok’s brainstem, and Gainok, as if struck by lightning, instantly straightened its body and let out a great shriek.

Tremble!

The creature stood erect, trembling.

Its body shook violently, like an aspen leaf in the wind.

“K-wooo…”

And then, the body of the creature that had been raging wildly began to collapse limply.

Whoosh!

Thump!

Its long neck fell first, and its head plunged straight into the ground as if driven down.

The surrounding area shook violently from the impact, but the Hunters merely watched, clenching their fists.

Overwhelmed by intense emotions welling up from deep within their chests, they could neither move nor speak.

“W-we killed it! We killed Gainok! We did it!”

Someone shouted, clenching their fist.

A mighty cheer erupted in response.

“Wooaaah! We did it!”

One of the most powerful and difficult monsters in an AA-rank dungeon.

Gainok, a creature they thought they might never even glimpse in their lifetime, had fallen.

The Hunters clenched their fists, cheering incessantly.

In truth, their contribution hadn’t been much, but what mattered was that they had bravely fought against Gainok.

Thud.

Kang Yuseong stepped down from the creature’s head.

His sword was completely drenched in Gainok’s blood.

“We got it.”

Gil Hyeok-jun also looked at him with sharp eyes.

His eyes, which had been clouded with madness, were slowly returning to normal.

Kang Yuseong nodded.

“Thanks to you, we did.”

Gil Hyeok-jun chuckled.

“Let’s be clear. I should be thanking you first.”

Gil Hyeok-jun walked over and patted Kang Yuseong’s shoulder.

“Thank you, truly.”

Kang Yuseong smiled.

“I’ll accept your thanks after your daughter’s illness is cured, Team Leader Baek Myeong-han.”

“Yes, Captain.”

Baek Myeong-han, still flushed with excitement, immediately rushed over.

“This creature, collect as much of its bodily fluid as possible. You’ll find a sac storing fluid near its liver. You absolutely must secure that. And if there are any unusually white scales, secure those as well.”

Gainok’s white scales.

Those were essential ingredients for crafting the ‘Gainora’ armor set later.

“Understood.”

Baek Myeong-han nodded without asking any questions.

It was proof of the great trust he had built in Kang Yuseong over time.

Having given his instructions, Kang Yuseong turned his head to the other side.

And then he chuckled.

‘Honestly, that guy is incorrigible.’

Kim Do-jin.

He had vanished.

He was a man like the wind, but now, he was reliable.

Because if Kang Yuseong needed him, he would reappear anytime.