The Way of Life for a Terminal S-Class Hunter - C76
$76
The reason why the succubus had entered Kwon Ho-jun’s body, of all people, was clear. It was to provoke Seo-heon by entering the body of the person he would most likely hate. In fact, it would have been easier to draw out his anger by entering Woo-hyun’s body, but if that had happened, Seo-heon would have noticed within seconds.
[Oh my. I’ve been found out.]
As its identity was revealed, the world created by the succubus gradually dissolved. Soon, only Seo-heon and the succubus remained in the space where he stood. Seo-heon closed his eyes tightly and opened them again as he watched Woo-hyun disappear.
‘That’s just an illusion.’
Seo-heon made a tremendous effort not to connect the Woo-hyun disappearing like smoke to the Woo-hyun lying in the hospital room.
“What’s your purpose? Why have you allied with the dragon?”
“Oh my. You’re not more shaken? I was sure you’d completely crumble from despair. How disappointing. You’re the toughest human I’ve seen so far.”
The succubus replied nonchalantly even in the face of death.
“Didn’t you hear me asking about your purpose?”
Seo-heon steadfastly asked, not falling for the succubus’s words.
“Creating more high-grade dungeons. What we want to do with that is a homework for humans to figure out.”
The succubus giggled.
‘Do they want to dominate the Earth or something?’
If so, that was outside of Seo-heon’s concern. Whether the Earth perishes or not, he would be satisfied as long as Woo-hyun was alright. If Woo-hyun had been awake, he might have actively participated with the desire for him to live in a safe world, but not now.
“Then solve it among yourselves.”
Seo-heon stretched out his hand, created an ice spear, and threw it. The succubus, with a hole pierced through its chest, laughed with a cackling sound. It was an eerie laugh.
“My death won’t be in vain. My kind will make sure of that. You arrogant human.”
The succubus disappeared, bleeding from its entire body.
[You have defeated an S-rank monster, High Noble Succubus.]
The light of the world went out. In that instant, Seo-heon was engulfed in empty darkness with no one around. The light returned very slowly.
The first thing Seo-heon saw when he opened his eyes was Halo’s eyes.
“Did you see Woo-hyun well?”
Although Halo’s attitude suggested he had seen everything through his precognition ability, he asked like that.
“Yes.”
The painful feelings were still there, but Seo-heon thought it was fortunate that he had seen Woo-hyun’s past even now. If he had saved Woo-hyun without knowing anything, their relationship would have remained strained.
‘What should I do after saving Woo-hyun?’
The biggest mountain to overcome was after that. Until now, he had been desperate just to save Woo-hyun, but now he was concerned about what to do after saving him. Keeping someone alive and helping them regain their will to live were entirely different matters.
“So, what are your thoughts after seeing what you’ve done?”
“I don’t need to tell you.”
He didn’t want to reveal his complicated feelings to Halo. No, not just Halo, Seo-heon didn’t want to show his weak side to anyone, even if his mouth was torn. Even if the day came when he had to show it, the subject should be Woo-hyun, not anyone else.
“How much time has passed?”
“A day.”
‘That’s long.’
It was shorter than Seo-heon’s perception, but considering that such created worlds usually have a different flow of time compared to the outside, it was longer than he had thought.
“You’ve worked hard.”
Traces of battle were scattered around Halo. Seo-heon disliked how Halo acted as if he knew everything, but if it weren’t for him, he would have been attacked by monsters while in the world created by the succubus.
‘So that’s why he came along.’
Seo-heon didn’t bother to thank Halo. He must have come along with some purpose of his own. Seo-heon thought that in a situation where everyone was moving for their own benefit, saying thanks was mere formality.
“Let’s go.”
“Are you sure you don’t need to rest?”
In response to Halo’s words, Seo-heon demonstratively drank a health potion. He had already taken potions before entering this dungeon and should have restrained himself if possible, but he had no time to consider such things.
***
Seo-heon’s sorrow and fear were sublimating into combat ability. The offensive power he had been suppressing until now was violently directed towards the monsters. A-rank monsters fell like autumn leaves. It was a speed that could only be marveled at. He finally reached the door of the boss monster’s room in less than ten hours.
“I’m opening the door.”
“Go ahead.”
Halo shrugged his shoulders, having only followed along without participating in combat since Seo-heon had come to his senses. Halo was in a state of overflowing mana, enough to use precognition and communicate all day long.
Creeeeak, the giant door opened.
Kwagwagwang! Huhuhuhuung.
The dragon flapped its wings while embracing its egg. Its breath was full of moisture.
“I think you know how to protect your life.”
“Of course.”
Halo replied indifferently and moved far back, focusing on transmitting the future to Seo-heon.
[Core… There’s a core inside you.]
The dragon muttered. The desire to snatch the Hetchling’s core that Seo-heon had consumed shone in its reptilian eyes. Judging by its blue skin, it wasn’t a fire attribute but a water attribute, a Blue Dragon.
Immediately after, something unexpected happened.
[The Red Hetchling’s core is reacting to the Blue Dragon. You have acquired the A-rank skill, Hunter’s Blood, given to Dragon Slayers.]
Seo-heon felt that the goddess of victory was raising his hand. There was no reason not to use such a useful skill.
[Using A-rank skill, Hunter’s Blood. The impact received by the dragon increases by 30%.]
It was exactly what was needed at this moment.
‘It was good that I ate the Hetchling’s core.’
Although other guild members strongly dissuaded him, Seo-heon was certain that eating it wouldn’t kill him. And now that things had worked out well, Seo-heon was satisfied with his judgment.
“Kang Seo-heon!”
Halo warned through precognition that water would soon pour onto the floor and dissolve bodies. It was natural for the attack method to be different since the dragon’s attribute was different from the Red Dragon.
[Using S-rank skill, Ice Path. Ice harder than gold ore nullifies the opponent’s attack.]
Seo-heon used his skill as the dragon spewed water. The solidly frozen liquid not only failed to melt him but also bound the dragon’s feet.
The angry dragon shattered all the ice with its wing beats. The shattered ice particles sparkled as they scattered into the air.
“Unlike the Red Dragon, its pattern isn’t standardized.”
This was because the Blue Dragon was holding its offspring and was extremely sensitive. As a result, its attack power was lower than before, but attacks often came from places that couldn’t be rationally anticipated.
Seo-heon gritted his teeth as he turned to defense instead of attack. If it weren’t for Halo’s precognition, he would have been seriously injured long ago. As much as he didn’t want to admit it, his ability was very useful in battle.
[Using S-rank skill, Cold Breath. Freezes everything the breath touches.]
He froze the Blue Dragon’s wings, buying a very brief moment.
[Using A-rank skill, Ice Sword. Through skill linkage, the S-rank item Goddess’s Sword is summoned. The blessing of ice descends upon your sword.]
A blue sword, almost identical to the Excalibur that Woo-hyun uses, was gripped in Seo-heon’s hand. It was an item he rarely used. Its destructive power was too strong, likely to injure nearby guild members when conquering as a group.
Crack, crack!
The sharp sword cut off half of the dragon’s wing. Since both wings were needed to use wing attacks, this was a very favorable development for future combat.
Guuuuuu, kuung!
The dragon didn’t just sit there and take it. Sacrificing one wing, it swung its claws and accurately attacked Seo-heon’s shoulder. Blood gushed from Seo-heon’s shoulder blade, coloring the floor.
‘This doesn’t hurt either.’
Seo-heon barely felt any pain. He was originally like that, but since Woo-hyun collapsed, he had been becoming increasingly numb to pain from external injuries, aside from fatigue and headaches.
‘My shoulder feels dull.’
Separately, the range of motion where he was wounded had indeed decreased. Seo-heon moved far enough away from the dragon’s attack range and then poured a healing potion directly onto the wound.
Since he poured the potion that should have been drunk directly onto the wound, a terrible burning smell came from his shoulder. It should have been painful, but Seo-heon didn’t even flinch. Although the effect wasn’t as good as an A-rank healer’s skill, pouring it directly on the wound increased its effectiveness, and new flesh began to creep up.
As soon as Seo-heon confirmed this, he moved again.
[Using S-rank skill, Cold Breath. Freezes everything the breath touches.]
Seo-heon froze all the water falling from above. Ice crystals formed wherever he stabbed the dragon’s feet with his sword.
[Using A-rank skill, Hunter’s Blood. The impact received by the dragon increases by 30%.]
These ice crystals spread to every corner of the monster’s body, causing internal injuries. Seo-heon didn’t miss this opportunity and used ‘Hunter’s Blood’ to make the wounds even larger. The dragon repeatedly kicked away the crystals.
The battle continued like this for over three hours, with Seo-heon inflicting major wounds on the dragon and recovering his injured body using potions. Even the great Kang Seo-heon was becoming sluggish after engaging in offense and defense alone without switching.
[Kang Seo-heon, at this rate, you’ll die.]
A future where Seo-heon’s body completely melted from the dragon’s breath unfolded in his head.
Memes From Aida