Chapter 63: Haeundae (3)

Ding-dong!

<Parasitic Barnacle Zombie Variant has appeared!>

<Phase 2 begins!>

A colossal barnacle completely blocking the subway tunnel.

Its shell was splitting wide open, as though the gates of a fortress were being flung apart.

CRACK-CRACK-CRACK-CRACK—

Moments later, a pale, fleshy mass burst out from inside the giant barnacle.

“Wow.”

The word escaped my lips; it was a monstrosity on a level incomparable to the previous barnacle zombies.

A gigantic body reminiscent of an ogre.

Pale, slimy skin covering its entire frame.

Pink organs and blue blood vessels clearly visible beneath.

But the strangest feature of all was…

One, two, three, four, five, six…

Twelve enormous arms extended from its torso like a protective embrace.

Ding-dong!

<Parasitic Barnacle ─ Hermit Crab Variant>

– Danger Level: A  

– Discovery Location: Haeundae Station, Busan Metropolitan City

A specimen perfectly fused with the parasitic barnacle.

An existence that has mutated after undergoing the ‘molting’ process from a barnacle zombie.

Overall stats have dramatically increased; it moves freely using six pairs of arms.

The hermit crab variant uses hard objects around it as a shell for protection, but the main body inside the shell is extremely vulnerable to external stimuli.

In environments rich in moisture or salt, all stats—strength, speed, stamina—skyrocket.

Damn.

A danger level on a completely different dimension from the regular barnacle zombies.

A total transformation, like the sea becoming mulberry fields or shedding one’s bones.

But that wasn’t the only problem.

Ding-dong!

<Monster mutation detected in the vicinity!>

<The presence of ‘moisture’ and ‘salt’ accelerates the monster’s transformation!>

<All stats of ‘Parasitic Barnacle ─ Hermit Crab Variant’ greatly increased!>

As expected, because of the seawater filling the surroundings, the variant’s stats had also skyrocketed.

At the same time.

Ding-dong!

<Sudden Quest Triggered!>

<Morgue’s Magical Warehouse requests a sample of the parasitic barnacle variant’s flesh… (0/1)>

<Reward: All Warehouse Keeper stats +1>

Another sudden quest had appeared.

“Again? Why do they want so many things?”

Whatever.

To move forward, I had to take this thing down anyway.

At that moment, the hermit crab variant began to move.

[KIGIK— KIGIGIGIK—]

All twelve arms touched the ground at once, groping around.

Between the gaps, yellow eyes gleamed brightly.

But…

[KIII… KIGIGIGI…]

The hermit crab variant only made strange noises while feeling its surroundings.

As if it had no interest in me at all.

…No, as if it had something far more important to do.

Swipe— swipe— swipe—

The variant suddenly flinched while sweeping the floor with its massive hands.

Then it began rapidly scuttling toward something.

Swipe— swipe— swipe— swipe—

It was heading straight for a drum canister floating on the water.

I instantly understood its intention.

It’s looking for something to use as a new home!

According to the guidebook, hermit crab variants protect themselves by hiding inside hard objects.

Having only just finished molting, it hadn’t yet found a new shell.

I immediately activated my skills.

Ding-dong!

<Activating skill ‘Embers’!>

<Activating skill ‘Inherited Skin Oil’!>

Crimson flames merged with oil, producing a massive explosion.

KWAKWAKWAKWANG!

Fierce flames spread in all directions, turning the tunnel into a sea of fire.

The swirling firestorm swallowed the hermit crab variant whole.

[KIIEEEEEEEEK~!]

A scream of agony echoed through the tunnel.

Inside the blazing inferno, dozens of arms and fingers flailed madly.

Experiencing searing pain for the first time in its life, the variant thrashed in desperation.

Swinging its arms, rubbing against the tunnel walls, rolling in the water.

Splash-splash-splash

Splash-splash-splash-splash—!

Yet the embers of the fire crow only burned brighter with time.

Sizzle-sizzle-sizzle-sizzle—

Soon the pale flesh of the variant began to cook, turning red and blistered.

The stench of burning meat and the unique fishy smell of shellfish filled the air.

[KIIIIIK~!]

A furious roar began to shake the tunnel.

Between the scorched red arms, yellow light flashed.

Hatred and hostility seemed to pour from its gaze.

…It looks seriously terrifying in the dark.

Then I just need to make the surroundings not dark.

—Ding-dong!

<Activating skill ‘Embers’!>

<Activating skill ‘Inherited Skin Oil’!>

KWAKWAKWANG!

Another ferocious firestorm swallowed the variant.

[KIIEEEEEEK!]

In the end.

Splash-splash-splash

Splash-splash-splash-splash~!

The hermit crab variant abandoned the drum canister and fled into the darkness.

It swam so fast that its form vanished in mere seconds.

[KRRRRG— KRRRRRR~!]

A sound like nails on a chalkboard echoed from far away.

A faint light was receding into the darkness.

The embers of the fire crow would not extinguish until their target was completely incinerated.

Even if it didn’t die, it would be gravely wounded.

I checked the lantern.

The light had already returned to its emerald glow.

Apparently, it turns red when encountering a powerful enemy.

…So it only reacts to enemies of at least A-rank.

I took a light breath.

“Phew—”

I hadn’t even entered the dungeon yet, and it was already like this.

I’d heard S-rank dungeons turn the entire surrounding area into part of the dungeon… but I never imagined it would be this bad.

Probably the entire Busan subway line was turning into a hellscape like this.

If things continued this way, not just Haeundae but the whole city of Busan would become a monster den.

I had to clear the dungeon as quickly as possible before the damage grew worse.

Ding-dong!

<You must swiftly obey His Majesty the Sorcerer Emperor ‘T’’s imperial decree!>

<Enter Maslow’s Tower and carry out the imperial decree!>

<The great and majestic Sorcerer Emperor bestows fitting rewards on the excellent and severe punishment on the inferior!>

Yeah, yeah.

Just to stop hearing the nagging system windows, I needed to hurry.

To do that…

Should I summon Jeanne and the shadow knights?

But I decided against it.

Jeanne and the shadow knights were currently exploring the Observation Zone.

Searching for any possible survivors of Ravianglily.

I could still clearly picture the desperate expression Jeanne had made.

First, I’ll go as far as I can alone. If it really becomes impossible… I’ll call them then.

With that resolve, just as I was about to take a step—

KIGIGIGIGIK—

A scraping sound rang out.

“…?”

And furthermore.

KIGIIIIIIK~!

The sound was getting closer.

Soon, I realized what it was.

A subway train was barreling toward me from the far end of the tunnel.

KIGIGIK—!

A train charging fiercely across the seawater-filled tracks.

From the windows on both sides, dozens of red, fried-looking hands protruded.

Those hands were propelling the train forward at terrifying speed.

The hermit crab variant.

The one that had fled earlier had claimed the subway train as its new shell and returned.

KWAKWAKWAKWAKWAKWAKWAKWANG!

A runaway locomotive tearing through the tunnel.

The two front arms that had been burning were crudely torn off.

It must have amputated them itself before the embers could spread to its whole body.

Soon, the train car began scraping against the tunnel walls, spraying countless sparks.

KIGIGIGIGIK—!

I immediately activated a skill.

Ding-dong!

<Activating skill ‘Superhuman Strength’!>

Now that I was facing something like this, I had no choice but to use a secret technique.

I had planned to save it for the dungeon boss…

KIGIIIIIIK—! KWAKWAKWAKWAKWAKWAK!

But this was no time to hold back.

KUUUUUUUUUU…

Black mana began overflowing from my dantian.

I compressed the surging black mana as much as possible.

Into a single point. 

Into a single trajectory.

If I unleashed the secret technique fully in this narrow underground tunnel, the ground would collapse.

HUM-HUM— HUM—

The frantically swirling mana gradually condensed at my fingertips.

And just as the train was mere steps away—

『Seven Demons First Strike Secret Art: Gluttony Slash, Beelzebub』

<Current output of 『Gluttony Slash Secret Art』  

…  

7%>

Surging black mana shot forward.

KUKWAKWAKWAKWAKWA!

A sword aura honed to the extreme—a blade of mana thinner than paper—bisected the front of the train.

But at that instant.

KIGIGIGIK—

The train’s trajectory suddenly veered sideways.

The hermit crab variant had kicked off one wall and flipped the entire train sideways.

An unbelievable sight.

With that massive body, how can it move like that…

KWADUDUDUK~! KWABANG!

The misfired Gluttony Slash carved through the corner of the train and the tunnel floor before disappearing far away.

The variant, now safely inside an intact carriage, charged again.

KUGUGUGUGUGUGU—

I could no longer use the secret art.

The burden on my body was already considerable.

Both arms tingled as if cramped, and my legs felt as heavy as after running full-speed up and down stairs all day.

This won’t do. I have to…

I had no choice but to summon Jeanne and the shadow knights.

I immediately opened the status window.

But at that moment.

FLASH!

A blinding flash of light erupted, followed by a fierce gust of cutting wind.

SLASH~! KWADUDUDUK~!

A sharp metallic ringing resounded clearly through the tunnel.

The subway train charging toward me slowly began splitting in half.

The car body parted, and the hermit crab variant inside spilled out like entrails.

Soon.

CRACK-CRACK-CRACK-CRACK-CRACK—

The train and the variant’s body were sliced into fourteen neat chunks.

“!?”

I turned my head toward the direction the sword aura had come from.

There stood a man exuding an enigmatic aura.

He wore a traditional gat and a white durumagi robe.

His face was hidden behind a brown hahoe mask, making it impossible to identify him.

Then an elderly voice rang out.

“Hohoho— the youngsters these days are full of vigor! Coming all the way down here alone.”

The man removed the hahoe mask covering his face.

In that instant, my eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.

…South Korea’s Hunter Ranking No. 1!?

Why on earth is this person here?