The first Boss Monster to appear was S-rank.
It wasn’t a monster with particularly unique traits, either. Even ordinary S-rank Hunters, those who weren’t among the Twelve Constellations, could easily handle it.
“Only step in if it gets dangerous. For now, the Twelve Constellations should focus on saving their strength.”
I had the S-rank Hunters take the lead in hunting the Boss Monsters.
Crash!
Boom! Boom!
Since they were elites gathered from all over the world, everyone possessed skills above the baseline. Moreover, they were bolstered by Benjamin’s Buff. They were exerting power far beyond their usual capabilities.
We continued deeper into the forest, clearing out Boss Monsters as we went.
‘They’re coming.’
I felt an intense presence from afar. It wasn’t just one, but dozens.
“Is it… finally starting?”
“Quite a lot of them are swarming in.”
“I’ll get ready.”
The other members of the Twelve Constellations must have sensed them too, as they began preparing for battle. Soon after, the Boss Monsters appeared. While they had been appearing in small groups of one or two before, now dozens of them emerged and surrounded us.
“Graaaaaarh!”
“Raaaaaargh!”
Exuding a menacing aura, the Boss Monsters charged at us simultaneously with fierce roars.
“Let’s sweep them away.”
“Time to properly warm up.”
The S-rank Hunters, including the Twelve Constellations, lunged toward the monsters. Since this was a battle between S-ranks, the aftershocks rippled in every direction.
K-boom!
Rumble!
The ground shook and shockwaves radiated outward, devastating the surrounding area. A few Hunters were caught off guard by the unexpected changes in the environment.
“Ice Spear.”
I created spears made of ice. I fired them at the Boss Monsters targeting the fallen Hunters, pinning them in place. The Hunters who regained their footing quickly finished off those Boss Monsters. I monitored the overall situation and provided assistance wherever it was needed.
“Is that it?”
“No. More are coming from over there.”
“Those guys look a bit stronger, don’t they?”
As the entire forest was swept away by the battle, the terrain had transformed into something resembling an open plain. This allowed us to see the Boss Monsters charging from the distance at a single glance. A diverse array of Boss Monsters approached.
[Using Golden Dragon Eye.]
Their rank was still S+, but just as there are differences in skill even within the same rank, the ones charging now were slightly stronger.
A second round of combat began against the swarming Boss Monsters. The Twelve Constellations still overwhelmed them, but the same couldn’t be said for the ordinary S-rank Hunters. Gaps began to appear in the formation here and there.
I blocked the Boss Monsters that tried to take advantage of those openings.
“Ice Spear.”
Dozens of ice spears shot out in all directions, filling the gaps. There were still many Boss Monsters left. I needed to use these Hunters a bit longer to reduce the enemy’s numbers.
Flash! Boom!
A violent explosion swallowed several Boss Monsters. Jessica stood at the center of it. A burning heat radiated from her entire body, and her red eyes flashed.
“These persistent bastards. They just keep coming.”
Jessica pouted.
“Colonel Lord, cover my spot for a second.”
“What are you planning?”
“I’m going to sweep away the ones coming from behind all at once.”
Withdrawing from the front line, Jessica drank a Mana Potion and began preparing a powerful spell. I turned my gaze toward the battlefield. The third wave of Boss Monsters was approaching from afar. As expected, they were stronger than the ones we had faced before.
‘The boundary between SS-rank and S-rank.’
Most likely, SS-rank Boss Monsters would appear after this. I walked over to Jessica and funneled my Mana. Using the Mana stored within the Dragon Heart, I assisted her powerful Magic.
“I’ll support you. Just focus on the spell.”
Without a word, Jessica made the heat even more intense. The Magic was nearing completion. I instructed the other Hunters to pull back so they wouldn’t be caught in the spell.
“Everyone, fall back for now! We’re going to clear a turn with Jessica!”
I created a powerful barrier behind me. On top of that, Isabella added another barrier infused with Divine Power. All the Hunters retreated inside the protection. At the same time, the Boss Monsters charging from the front realized the nature of Jessica’s Magic and scattered.
“It’s useless, you bastards.”
Having finished the spell, Jessica looked forward and smirked.
“Inferno Reaper!”
As she chanted the incantation, dark-red flames spread in every direction. The landscape looked like a scene from hell. The dark-red flames turned into chains, restraining the Boss Monsters. Simultaneously, a massive reaper’s scythe appeared behind them.
The scythe, forged from flames, moved to claim their lives.
Slash!
The reaper’s scythes moved in unison, decapitating the Boss Monsters. Dozens of them were cleared out in a single strike.
[You understand the principles and structure of Inferno Reaper (SSS) through Magic Talent (EX).]
[Your understanding of Magic is high.]
[Your understanding of Attributes is high.]
[You have learned Inferno Reaper (SS).]
As the messages faded, the hellish dark-red flames vanished. Having exhausted all her Mana, Jessica stumbled. I caught her before she could fall and pulled out a potion. It was an Elixir made by Anne, whose skills were gradually returning to their peak.
“Here.”
I personally fed her the Elixir. Life returned to Jessica’s exhausted face.
“What is this?”
“Ten billion gold per bottle. I’m planning to sell these at the Golden Tower later. What do you think?”
“…You crook. Save some for me.”
“Rest for a bit.”
I sent Jessica over to Isabella and looked at the enemies approaching from the front.
[Using Golden Dragon Eye.]
[Orc King (SS-)]
[Guardian Lord (SS-)]
[Dark Elf (SS-)]
These were Boss Monsters that had crossed the threshold of S-rank.
“The Twelve Constellations will step back. The rest of the Hunters will handle those guys.”
“They look strong. We won’t be able to stop them if we don’t step in,” Colonel Lord said, and I nodded.
“You’re right. But the ones who appear after them truly cannot be stopped unless it’s you guys.”
“After them? How do you know that?”
I shrugged at Martin’s question.
“Think about the mission.”
“100 Boss Monsters?”
“If we include the ones in front of us, that makes ninety. That means there are ten left behind them.”
“…Since they keep getting stronger, that means ten monsters even stronger than these ones are coming.”
“Yeah. Those guys really can’t be stopped unless you are the Twelve Constellations. So, fall back and catch your breath for a moment.”
The expressions of the S-rank Hunters darkened.
“I don’t think they’re at a level we can handle.”
“That’s why I prepared this.”
I pulled a box of potions out from the Dragon Lair. They were Anne’s special potions, prepared for today.
“Take one of each color and drink them.”
“What are these?”
“You’ll know once you drink them. Isabella, Benjamin, get your buffs ready.”
The hesitating S-rank Hunters closed their eyes tight and downed the potions. Their eyes widened with every sip. Once they had finished them all, they stared at me with their mouths agape.
“What… what kind of crazy potion is this?”
“The effect is amazing, right?”
It was a comprehensive set that boosted all abilities by more than three times. Combined with Isabella and Benjamin’s buffs, they could handle SS-rank Boss Monsters without much trouble.
“However, the side effects are quite harsh.”
“Even if the side effects are severe, if we can gain this much power…”
“Well, if you still feel like buying them after experiencing the side effects, come find me at the Golden Tower. I’m planning to sell them soon.”
The S-rank Hunters, now fully prepared for battle, stood at the front. They charged toward the approaching Boss Monsters.
Boom!
They kicked off the ground and closed the distance with incredible speed.
“Wow… what? Was he always that fast?”
“Can I try drinking that too?”
“It won’t have much of an effect on you guys. Those were specifically made for them.”
The Hunters who dashed forward began hunting the Boss Monsters. It was a battle of overwhelming numbers. Three Hunters latched onto each Boss Monster.
Of course, being SS-rank, the resistance was fierce. They didn’t die easily and fought back against the Hunters.
K-boom!
An overwhelming force shook the surroundings. Attacks capable of nearly instant death erupted from the Boss Monsters, but the blessings Isabella had cast beforehand allowed them to cheat death. The surviving Hunters continued to clear out the Boss Monsters.
One, two, three.
As the number of defeated Boss Monsters grew, the number of Hunters swarming a single monster increased. Eventually, the balance collapsed. The Hunters shouted in victory as they completely finished off the Boss Monsters.
“We won!”
“We… did it… Gaaaaah!”
The victorious Hunters suddenly began foaming at the mouth and screaming. Their eyes lost focus, and they collapsed one after another.
“Are they going to be okay?”
“Yeah. They’ll be bedridden for about a week, but there are no permanent side effects.”
I used Teleport to send all the fallen Hunters back to the Dragon Lair. Then, I prepared to face the final ten. Soon after, the enemies appeared.
The real SS-rank Boss Monsters.
The pressure they radiated was on a completely different level from the Boss Monsters we had faced so far. It was like a quiet, swaying breeze.
As if hiding their true strength, they only emitted enough pressure to make their presence known.
“This won’t be easy.”
“Actually, I’m getting a bit excited.”
“But there are more of them.”
“Who’s going to take on two?”
“First come, first served.”
At that moment, Cheonma raised his sword and gave it a light swing.
Slash!
Three Boss Monsters in the distance collapsed, their heads severed. Instantly, goosebumps broke out all over my body.
[You understand the principles and structure of Heart Sword (???) through Talent of the Martial God (EX).]
[Your understanding of swordsmanship is low.]
[You have failed to learn Heart Sword.]
I couldn’t fully comprehend the information entering my mind. Literally, my understanding was too low. I think this was the first time I failed to learn a technique through the Talent of the Martial God. Since I couldn’t get it, I started to feel a bit greedy.
‘I should learn swordsmanship properly when I get back.’
I wasn’t the only one surprised.
“Crazy…”
“How did you do that?”
The Twelve Constellations were even more shocked.
“I’m done. You guys handle the rest.”
Cheonma sheathed his sword and plopped down on the ground. It was a realm that even Cheonma couldn’t yet handle perfectly.
“He just copied what I do.”
“He’s way stronger than you, though.”
“I can do that in a few years too, okay?”
While Jessica and Martin bickered, the enemies reached our noses. Everyone ramped up their tension. Then, the battle began. Without anyone needing to signal, they all lunged at each other at once.
‘Let’s wrap this up quickly.’
Based on the mission, it should end the moment we clear these guys out, but what I had seen with the Golden Dragon Eye was a bit different.
This place was a testing ground where the Red Dragon selected the Apostle it would offer to the Red Dragon God.
The moment we cleared them all, the Dragon and a Lower Apostle would reveal themselves.
To prepare for any variables, we had to clear the Boss Monsters while saving as much energy as possible.
Flash!
I used Teleport to close in on an enemy. I clenched my fist and performed the Black Killing Fist.
K-boom!
A black whirlwind erupted from my fist and swallowed a Boss Monster.
Thanks to the buffs Benjamin had provided, I could clear the Boss Monster without using Dragon Transformation or Transcendence.
I turned my head to scan the battlefield.
All the members of the Twelve Constellations were still fighting on equal footing.
‘If Benjamin’s buff cuts out…’
Our combat power would plummet in an instant. I gathered the Mana in the Dragon Heart and cast additional support Magic. Simultaneously, I used various spells to restrict the movements of the Boss Monsters.
The evenly matched battlefield was overturned in an instant. The Twelve Constellations used their respective ultimate moves to finish off the Boss Monsters.
Along with that, a message appeared.
[The Dungeon has been cleared… The mission is being updated.]
[Assigning a new mission.]
Flash!
A massive light vanished, and a Lower Apostle revealed himself. He looked at me with a sickening smile.
“Welcome to hell.”
“Just bring out whatever you’ve prepared.”
“Hehehehe, this place will be your grave.”
The Apostle of the Red Dragon God pulled out a red dagger and plunged it into his own heart.
The flames flowing from his heart became a pillar that soared into the sky.
A massive pillar of fire. And then, it appeared.
[The Red Dragon God’s Intermediate Apostle has appeared.]
A figure clad in a red robe descended to the ground along with seven Red Dragons.
[The Intermediate Apostle declares a Guardian Battle.]