Chapter 31: Request (3)

Thud.

The Ironclad Gladiator wrapped in metal armor collapsed.

[Ironclad Gladiator defeated.]

[Experience points gained.]

Suho glanced at the message and ran to the side.

“I can handle this alone… ugh!”

Ignoring Kim Jinseong’s voice, Suho unleashed Flame Strike.

Gwaaah!

The Ironclad Gladiator struck on the back was left half-destroyed and fell to the ground.

Suho scanned the opposing side.

“We won. Haah… why are these guys so tough? Wow! That guy already took down all of them!”

Yun Mirae, who had defeated an Ironclad Gladiator together with Seo Hyunseok, teased Suho.

Having fully acknowledged Suho’s strength, there was no excessive competitive spirit like before.

“So, this stage is finally over, huh?”

Seo Hyunseok smiled kindly as he approached.

He gestured toward one side of the wall.

Gu-gu-gung—

The huge door lifted upward, revealing a new passage.

“Yeah, if you win three times at this stage, you pass.”

They had fought three times even at the first stage where Stone Gladiators appeared.

Until then, each of them could easily defeat one monster each.

But from the second stage onward, the situation was different.

“If it weren’t for you, Suho, we would’ve been in serious trouble. Haha.”

“Right? That guy is insanely strong. I wish he came with us to the Five-Star Dungeon.”

From the second stage on, only Suho could swiftly defeat monsters.

While the three faced two monsters, the plan was for Suho to kill one first.

And since he also handled Kim Jinseong’s monsters while tied up, it was natural for the others to follow.

“Thanks to that, my level’s rising nicely, so it’s good.”

In the meantime, Suho had leveled up twice and reached Level 18.

It was due to his overwhelming contribution.

“Everyone, take a seat and rest.”

Seo Hyunseok was the first to sit down.

They needed to conserve their stamina before moving on to the next stage.

“We don’t know how many stages there are, so let’s rest enough.”

Suho sat down on the floor.

Unlike Kim Jinseong, who sat apart, Yun Mirae came closer to Suho.

“Mister, why are you so strong? Are you really First-Rank?”

“This dungeon won’t let anyone above Level 20 in. Naturally, I’m under 20.”

“It’s strange, really. I’ve never seen anyone stronger than you in our level group. How do you move like that? I’m jealous.”

Suho smiled and shrugged off the middle schooler’s compliment.

He understood it was Yun Mirae’s way of showing friendliness.

He turned his gaze toward the far end of the passage.

‘The end is in sight.’

Something was about to happen soon.

Supporting Suho’s thought, Balryong’s voice came.

“I sense a filthy Magic aura beyond the passage. With that level of energy, something uncontrollable will definitely happen.”

Suho nodded.

“The gloomier the aura gets, the less quietly this will go.”

Suho hadn’t sensed the Magic that Balryong detected outside the dungeon.

But now, it was undeniable.

The Magic on the other side of the passage was that blatant and dense.

“Those tainted by Magic are tenacious. They don’t die easily from physical damage. Attack with your soul as if you want to utterly annihilate their existence.”

‘How do I attack with soul power?’

Suho sent a telepathic glance, but Balryong didn’t understand.

That guy’s typical middle school syndrome.

“Just smash them to bits as much as possible.”

After some time passed, the party’s stamina was restored.

Suho pretended to reach into his pocket and opened his Dimensional Bag.

“Drink one of these before we go.”

He took out a Carp potion and handed it to the party.

“What’s this, mister?”

“Carp Potion.”

“Ugh, isn’t that fishy? I can’t drink it because I have a weak stomach.”

“Tastes like watermelon.”

“…Really?”

“No, seriously, watermelon flavor.”

Suho drank the Carp Potion first.

Then, he shook the empty bottle in front of Yun Mirae’s nose.

“Oh? Really?”

Only then did Yun Mirae drink it.

Seo Hyunseok emptied his bottle seriously.

“Suho, you have good sense. Bringing even this. If we get out safely, I’ll be sure to reward you.”

“Let’s think about getting out safely first.”

Kim Jinseong silently finished his Carp Potion and gave Suho a slight bow.

“Wow, you get this kind of taste from Carp Potion? Where did you buy this?”

“Our store.”

“Store? Are you the owner?”

Suho nodded and stood up.

“Let’s go. Before the Carp Potion wears off.”

He headed toward the passage.

The rest of the party followed behind Suho.

***

The final stage was similar in style.

The Colosseum.

Enemies appearing to match the number of party members.

“Filthy aura detected.”

Hearing Balryong’s warning, Suho drew his sword.

Gu-gu-gung—

The wall rose, revealing four monsters.

“Mister, it’s a Purple Gladiator!”

It was a swordsman with purple skin.

Among all the monsters that had appeared so far, it was the closest to a human but also the most unsettling.

“Krrrr—”

The door opened, and the purple swordsman charged like a swarm of gnats.

Suho advanced even faster.

“Flame Strike!”

Without hesitation, Suho thrust his sword.

Before the swordsman’s iron mace could be raised—

Gwaaah!

The Flame Thorn Magic Sword engulfed in flames struck the swordsman’s chest.

The swordsman was thrown into the wall with a crash.

His chest was completely caved in.

“Krrrr—”

The remaining swordsmen charged at Suho with terrifying howls.

They were provoked by Suho’s outstanding actions.

Kim Jinseong attacked from the side, swinging his sword.

“True Iron Strike!”

Yun Mirae also activated her skill to attack one of them.

Seo Hyunseok’s dagger flew sharply.

“Suho, behind you!”

Balryong’s warning came just then.

‘I’ve been waiting.’

It was also the moment Suho was preparing to counterattack.

Suho spun around like a whirlwind and swung his sword like a lightning strike.

Swish.

The severed forearm fell to the ground.

“Ah! Mister, what did you do?”

Yun Mirae, grappling with a swordsman, cried out in surprise.

Suho’s eyes did not look that way.

“How did you notice?”

Seo Hyunseok asked, dripping black blood from the severed forearm.

“You can’t not notice when you are radiating such a filthy aura.”

Suho dashed toward Seo Hyunseok as he spoke.

Flash!

‘Did he block that?!’

The Flame Strike was blocked by Seo Hyunseok’s dagger.

His forearm shattered from the impact but the attack was definitely blocked.

Seo Hyunseok ignored his injury and kept swinging his dagger.

‘It’s a Magic Beast. Don’t forget.’

That meant it wouldn’t die easily.

Even now, swordsmen were rushing toward them from behind.

Seo Hyunseok needed to be taken care of quickly.

‘We have to bet on victory.’

Just as Suho was about to raise the wager count, Seo Hyunseok smiled strangely.

His eyes turned completely black.

A black aura poured from his body.

He was completely possessed by Magic.

‘Kuhahaha, that guy. I want to kill him.’

He had now forgotten he was a Hunter.

Only the killing intent to eliminate an annoying presence remained.

“I will kill. Hehehe, I can kill him.”

His murderous intent turned into confidence in killing.

“This body! Even if crushed, it won’t die! I am superior to those insignificant things! Let them be my prey!”

Then he turned into a Mad Magic Beast.

Seo Hyunseok—

No, the Magic Beast that had once been Seo Hyunseok—roared.

“Kuhahahaha! I will devour you all!”

At that moment, Suho raised the wager count.

“Super Strength Amplification.”

A mighty aura radiated from the Red Gray Guardian.

Energy flowed into his body.

Like an active volcano, strength roared out.

Flash!

Suho stomped the ground.

His strength, amplified twofold, pushed his body forward.

Physical damage from excessive movement was held back by the Regeneration Stat.

An overwhelming momentum!

Suho swung his sword.

Krrr—Kum!

Seo Hyunseok didn’t realize it until the Flame Thorn Magic Sword struck his chest.

Gwaaah!

The shockwave shook the entire battlefield.

De-guru-ru—

Seo Hyunseok’s head rolled on the floor.

His severed limbs rolled across the ground.

His face still distorted with a scream.

“Alright, the weirdest one’s dealt with.”

Suho handled Seo Hyunseok, who had been emitting Magic from the start.

He hurried to turn toward the remaining swordsmen.

But then—

“Not done yet.”

Balryong’s warning sounded.

At the same time, Seo Hyunseok’s severed head opened its mouth wide.

Kieeek—

A black mass shot toward Suho’s face.

“What is that?”

Suho swung his shield.

The mass hit the shield and flew into the wall.

“That mass is the core! Humans are just hosts, and swordsman monsters too. You must annihilate that to end this.”

That black thing was the root of the Magic.

Suho ran to the wall and swung his sword.

Gwaaah!

Flame Strike struck the black mass downward.

‘It’s not dead?!’

Although crushed, the mass still remained, writhing.

To completely destroy it, it seemed he’d have to strike repeatedly.

But there was no time.

‘I have to deal with the swordsmen first.’

The swordsman who had been crushed into the wall stood up.

Another approached from behind.

‘Kim Jinseong is fine.’

He hadn’t lost his fighting spirit till the end.

Kim Jinseong was hiding a trump card.

The Werewolf.

He transformed into a werewolf who looked about 3 meters tall.

He was showing dominance over the swordsman.

‘Yun Mirae is in danger.’

On the other hand, Yun Mirae was barely holding on.

Though she moved elegantly, one mistake would be fatal.

‘Finish this before the buff ends.’

Suho moved like lightning.

The floor cracked with every strike.

Suho’s figure vanished.

Gwaaang!

One monster was left with half its body destroyed.

Then, overlapping explosions sounded, and another was smashed and thrown against the wall.

Two remained.

Yun Mirae and Kim Jinseong each took one.

“Yun Mirae first.”

Suho rushed toward Yun Mirae’s side.

Yun Mirae noticed Suho’s approach.

“Mister, toss!”

She lightly deflected the swordsman’s attack and pushed toward Suho.

‘Flame Strike!’

Gwaaah!

Suho didn’t miss and blasted the monster’s head away.

Now only one remained.

“Krrr— I can handle this!”

Kim Jinseong shouted and activated his skill.

“Werewolf !”

His eyes bloodshot, fur standing on end.

He swung his arms like windmills.

The swordsman soon fell.

Thud.

Kim Jinseong collapsed to the floor.

“Phew, that was a close call.”

Suho exhaled deeply.

The Super Strength Amplification was over, leaving a hollow feeling.

“Mister, what happened to that person?”

Yun Mirae ran up to Suho’s side.

She pointed at Seo Hyunseok’s severed head and the black mass crushed against the wall.

The mass still writhed.

“Mister! What do you know about this? Please tell me. That person… no, maybe he’s not even human anymore. Why is he like that? Did that person really attack you from behind earlier? And what is that black thing? It’s so ominous!”

Yun Mirae bombarded him with questions.

Suho frowned.

Not because of her chatter.

“It seems swordsmen all have these black masses inside them.”

The same aura felt from the defeated swordsmen and Seo Hyunseok.

“Step back for a moment.”

Suho approached the corpses of the slain swordsmen.

As he neared, the black masses surged aggressively.

Pop!

Suho swung around the corpses and destroyed the black masses.

“How do I completely annihilate them?”

Though crushed, the masses still writhed.

‘Did he really mean to attack with soul power? But how?’

Suho glanced at Balryong.

Balryong read Suho’s mind.

“First, gather all the masses together.”

Suho used his sword tip to corral the masses into one spot.

“Eek! Mister, be careful, it’s creepy.”

“Stop asking questions and help out.”

“Ugh, fine.”

Yun Mirae grimaced but helped.

After a moment, all the masses were gathered in one place.

“What now?”

Suho asked with a narrowed gaze.

“There are two ways. You could completely disintegrate them with your Flame Strike—by hitting them hundreds of times.”

That would be exhausting, and his magic power might run out.

“What’s the other way?”

“The other way is to offer three chickens to the great lord. Krruk.”

The ridiculous thought lasted only a moment.

Suho smirked and nodded.

“Yeah, you’ve got to get paid for your work.”

“Are you ready? Then reach out your hand toward them.”

Suho did as Balryong instructed.

“And shout, ‘Summon Flame of the Abyss!'”

What?

Suho’s face stiffened.

‘You want me to shout that cheesy middle school slogan here?’

But there was no turning back now—he was already riding the tiger.

“Mister, what are you doing? Why are your hands raised?”

Yun Mirae’s eyes sparkled as she asked.

Kim Jinseong watched with a strange expression.

“Come on, shout. Then I will lend you my power.”

We’ll see about that when we get home.

“…Summon Flame of the Abyss.”

The moment the words left Suho’s lips, Balryong settled on the back of his hand and opened his mouth.

The dragon’s breath burst forth.

Kiyaaaaaaak!

A scream that squeezed the very soul echoed.

Chiiiiik—

The black masses struck by the breath turned to ash and vanished.

Messages began flooding before Suho’s eyes.

[Magic-tainted Swordsman defeated.]

[Experience points gained.]

[Magic-tainted Swordsman defeated.]

[Experience points gained.]

[Level Up!]

[Level Up!]

[Perception increased by 1.]

[Regeneration increased by 1.]

[Agility increased by 1.]

….

As the countless messages ended,

Gu-gu-gung—

The Dungeon Core rose, signaling the dungeon clear.