Chapter 42: Severing the Evil Fate (1)

Thump—

Something was pounding somewhere inside his body.

Thump—

It wasn’t his heart.

Park Youngil had the instinct to tell the difference.

Thump—

“This is strange. Something’s definitely wrong. Why did I come to this place?”

Thump—

Out on a mountain path in the outskirts of Gyeonggi Province.

Ignoring a sign that the road was blocked, he went further.

Park Youngil didn’t even know a place like this existed.

But an unknown instinct urged him that he absolutely had to come here.

Ahead, a tunnel carved through the mountain came into view.

Thump, thump—

The pounding grew faster.

Park Youngil parked the car at a suitable spot and got out.

“There he is, there! That bastard!”

Youngil was startled by his own words.

“That bastard? Who is that?”

Strangely, the answer came to him the moment he asked.

That bastard—

The one who killed his only son, Dongsik!

The one who cleared the Youngil Guild’s dungeon!

“That son of a bitch who’s not even worth killing!”

Park Youngil spat out curses.

His murderous intent boiled up fiercely.

“I’m going to kill him.”

Muttering to himself, Youngil began walking.

How could he imagine the culprit he had been searching for all this time?

How did he know the culprit was here?

How did he find this unfamiliar place just by feeling?

The questions that should have arisen didn’t exist in Park Youngil’s mind.

“I’m going to kill him!”

All that remained was murderous intent.

Because of the enchantment set by Yuk Kyunghwan, Park Youngil was completely under its influence and unaware of it.

Step, step.

Youngil walked toward the tunnel.

As he approached, the murderous intent in his heart grew thicker.

But then, a voice blocked his way.

“You can’t enter here. This is private property.”

It was a member of the Sangwangryeon Dungeon Management Team.

They were responsible for guarding the dungeon entrance and the dungeon’s security.

“Get out of the way.”

Without even looking at the team member, Park Youngil ordered.

“This is private property. I warned you. If you come any closer, we’ll have no choice but to respond.”

The team member raised a hand to his waist.

A taser was holstered there.

Despite the warning, Youngil didn’t avert his gaze.

He didn’t stop walking either.

Step.

The team member finally drew out the taser.

“Stop right there!”

“I’m going to kill him.”

Youngil replied with murderous intent to the warning.

The taser fired toward him.

Pzzzt—crack—

The taser easily hit its target.

And then the current was pulled out.

“Damn it! He doesn’t even flinch!”

The taser’s intensity was adjusted to pose at least some threat to a Hunter.

But Park Youngil didn’t even blink.

He didn’t even stop walking.

“Don’t interfere.”

Thump—

Youngil’s eyes no longer clearly recognized the team member before him.

He only felt like a pesky fly blocking his way while he had something to do.

Youngil drew his sword.

Swaak—

The blade sliced cleanly through the member’s neck without hesitation.

The team member didn’t even scream and died instantly.

Thump, thump, thump—

Was it because he committed murder?

The pounding grew even more violent.

Youngil’s pace quickened.

“I’m going to kill them all.”

The intent to kill the culprit had by now turned into murderous intent toward all humans.

Park Youngil didn’t realize the change.

It was because of Yuk Kyunghwan’s enchantment.

“Who are you? Who allowed you here… Gah!”

“What the hell! It’s a murderer! Hunter! Contact the Association… Ack!”

The Management Team guarding the passageway was wiped out in an instant.

Park Youngil moved toward the aura of the “culprit” calling him from the far end of the tunnel.

Thump, thump, thump, thump, thump—

The magic implanted somewhere inside Youngil’s body trembled wildly.

“Found you!”

The face of the culprit implanted in Park Youngil’s mind appeared ahead.

***

‘Magic?’

When Balryong’s voice was heard, Suho also sensed magic.

Unlike the Association request, it was an extremely blatant aura.

Crack

“R-report quickly… Gah!”

A scream came from the far side of the tunnel but was quickly cut off.

“‘They wiped them all out in an instant. It’s a Mainira. Prepare!’”

Balryong’s warning made Suho grit his teeth.

‘Why? Why did a Mainira appear here?’

Why now?

Could it be a grudge over the Association request?

That was the only thought that came to mind.

Step.

With heavy footsteps, the Mainira’s figure emerged.

“Kuh, hehehehe, found you.”

The Mainira clearly wasn’t in a right state of mind.

His eyes were bloodshot with rage, saliva dripped from his mouth.

Blood dripped from the sword he held.

“Park Youngil? What on earth are you doing?”

It was then that Jung Hyunsu’s voice was heard nearby.

Suho was shocked.

“Park Youngil? The Youngil Guild Master?”

“Yes, that’s the Park Youngil. But why? Unless you’re planning to go to war with Sangwangryeon…”

Jung Hyunsu couldn’t finish his sentence.

Youngil Guild was a moderately successful mid-tier guild, but it was in a completely different league from Sangwangryeon, who had a tight grip on Korea’s item market.

Sangwangryeon only showed weakness in combat when compared to large guilds.

Youngil could be crushed with money alone.

It was natural that Jung Hyunsu was bewildered.

But Suho was different.

‘Could it be that it was discovered that Park Dongsik was killed?’

The murderous intent directed at him.

The crazed look in his eyes.

It was something that could only be expressed with intense resentment.

“But why did he become a Mainira?”

Suho’s mind was tangled.

If the Park Dongsik incident had been discovered, it made sense that someone would come looking for revenge.

But suddenly becoming a Mainira?

There was no connection between the Mainira and the Park Dongsik case.

His curiosity was soon partially satisfied.

Because Park Youngil spoke himself.

“Kuh, hehehe… The one who killed my son! Krrr hhehehe—I’m going to kill you. Tear you apart and kill you, Jung Hyunsu. I’ll kill you and everyone related to you. Kuh hehehe—”

Park Youngil raved in madness.

“What? What are you saying? Why would I kill Park Dongsik?”

Jung Hyunsu answered helplessly.

Suho couldn’t bring himself to speak.

“What on earth is going on here?”

It wasn’t Suho.

Park Youngil’s murderous intent clearly pointed at Jung Hyunsu.

‘Why does he think Hyunsu killed Park Dongsik?’

It was because of Yuk Kyunghwan’s enchantment.

Yuk Kyunghwan, of course, didn’t know or care about the true culprit.

He only cared about killing Jung Hyunsu to shake Sangwangryeon.

Even if it failed, it didn’t matter.

It was just something done instead of disposing of Park Youngil, who was considered a disposable pawn.

Of course, no one here knew the truth.

“This is impossible to understand.”

Suho furrowed his brows.

“Kuhahaha! Die!”

Park Youngil swung both hands wildly.

Zwaaaaak—

Black magic stretched out from his fingertips like spears.

Suho reflexively raised his shield.

Kwahhh-ang!

Suho was pushed back violently.

His hands went numb.

Yet his brows furrowed even more.

Crunch—

A groan came from behind.

“Damn it! Hyunsu’s been hit!”

Because his mind was tangled, he hadn’t paid attention to Jung Hyunsu.

The result: a magic spear pierced Jung Hyunsu’s stomach.

“Kuhahaha—I got you! I caught the culprit! Now I’m going to kill you.”

Park Youngil shouted maniacally.

If anything, it was fortunate.

‘Still not dead.’

Perhaps expecting to relieve his pain.

Or maybe by chance.

Jung Hyunsu was still alive despite the piercing wound.

“Suho, it’s urgent.”

Balryong’s warning came then.

With a single offense and defense, Balryong assessed the enemy’s strength.

As Balryong said, Park Youngil was stronger than Suho.

A level 60 Hunter, Park Youngil.

And with magic on top of that, it was hard to predict the outcome of a direct confrontation.

“Still, we can’t just abandon Hyunsu…”

Suho gritted his teeth.

It was Suho who killed Park Dongsik.

If he turned his back now, this day would be forever etched in his memory.

He didn’t want to create another terrible memory he’d never forget.

“That’s impossible. We fight.”

Of course, he didn’t plan to die instead.

He would just do his best.

‘Even in the worst case, there’s a lifeline.’

A Blink Scroll.

If things went badly, he could use the scroll to escape alone.

His thoughts were long, but time passed in an instant.

When his mind cleared, Suho’s hand moved reflexively.

‘Flame Strike!’

Fwoooosh—!

Flame Strike hit Park Youngil’s chest with ease.

Because he was busy stabbing a spear into Jung Hyunsu’s stomach, his chest was wide open.

Without checking the result of the attack, Suho shouted,

“Give that to Hyunsu!”

The potion he’d just received from Jung Hyunsu flew toward Balryong.

“Got it.”

Balryong snatched the potion with his front paw and rushed to Jung Hyunsu.

Suho turned his gaze back to Park Youngil.

“Who are you? Why are you interfering with me?”

Park Youngil stepped back a little.

He looked at Suho with a puzzled expression.

Why was such a worthless bug withstanding my overwhelming attack?

He should have died already.

Why was he not only alive but counterattacking?

Thump, thump, thump—

Curiosity soon turned into murderous intent.

“Kuh heh heh—You’ll die.”

Suho frowned.

“The attack doesn’t work.”

The Flame Strike hit Park Youngil’s chest, which was a deep wound.

But a black heat haze covered the pierced area.

“Magic is restoring his body. I can’t deal a fatal blow with my strength alone.”

Suho realized.

Whether he used Strength Explosion or Haste, he wouldn’t be able to neutralize Park Youngil’s strength instantly.

“I have to find another way.”

Suho quickly thought of a plan.

They were close to the tunnel entrance, but the advantage was theirs!

“Balryong, take Hyunsu inside!”

Suho shouted toward the dungeon.

“Of course.”

“Got it.”

Balryong clicked his tongue and lifted Jung Hyunsu by the collar.

“Kuh heh heh—Where do you think you’re going?”

Park Youngil fired magic spears from both hands.

Suho hurriedly raised his shield.

Kwah kwah-ang!

This time, he blocked both spears without mercy.

Suho’s body was pushed back heavily.

‘Follow me, Mainira!’

Without hesitation, Suho lunged forward.

His body was pulled into the dungeon gate.

***

Heat.

The first thing felt inside the dungeon was intense heat.

Naturally.

Water boiled in vats at the four corners.

A river of lava flowed above.

Several stone islands floated like boats atop it.

That was the dungeon’s terrain.

“If I can’t kill him with my strength, I’ll use the dungeon!”

“What on earth are you thinking?”

Balryong asked in a worried voice.

But there was no time for conversation.

“Kuh heh heh—Here you are. Die.”

Park Youngil followed immediately into the dungeon.

Suho moved without hesitation.

Whoosh, whoosh—

Spider webs shot from Suho’s wrists.

Thanks to using all his remaining charges, Park Youngil’s body was entangled in spider webs.

“What is this?”

Scritch, scritch—

Park Youngil swung his magic spears and cut the webs.

Meanwhile, Suho charged in.

“Haste!”

He activated the skill simultaneously.

His gaze sharpened, and Park Youngil’s movements came into sharp focus.

Cutting through the spider webs, Park Youngil swung his spears.

Chik—

The spears grazed Suho’s armor.

Without slowing down, Suho pierced into Park Youngil’s chest.

“Kuh heup—You worthless bug!”

Park Youngil wildly swung both hands.

Chachachachachacha—

A magic mixer was formed in front of him.

‘I can’t move forward.’

Just as Suho resolved to evade,

“Hey, if you’re going to run, how about letting me know first?”

Balryong’s voice came.

Then,

Graurururu—

A breath blast was fired next to Park Youngil’s head.

“Kuh—fly!”

Park Youngil, burned on the face by the breath, swung his spears.

Thok!

Balryong was hit and flew back.

“Balryong!”

Worry welled up.

Suho forced himself to suppress his feelings.

“He’ll be fine. One blow can’t kill him—it’s the best he can take.”

He mustn’t go check on Balryong.

That would make all Balryong’s effort meaningless.

Instead, he’d use the opening Balryong created.

Suho kept running.

He stuffed the Flame Thorn Magic Sword into his dimensional pouch.

“Strength Explosion!”

He activated the skill.

Volcanic power surged within him.

Suho charged at Park Youngil in that state.

Pow!

The impact was heard.

Splash!

Suho and Park Youngil disappeared into the water.

“Ugh, what on earth did you do?”

Balryong looked on with disbelief as he stood up.