“Getting too close will trap you in the field and you’ll be unable to do anything.”
As Snake Beastman Lee Hae-jin said, the Hellacne-type monsters are a real headache, always activating their passive area like my trait, [Dreadful Land of Chaos].
The toxic substances they spew fill an area with a 100-meter radius.
The components that prevent breathing will be deadly for hunters.
Even wearing the Ent Mask won’t block it completely, requiring a quick resolution.
“Already feeling the poison gas coming. They’re tunneling… preparing to spawn, huh?”
Within the waves of my senses, there were several other parties aside from us.
They seemed to have paused, perhaps noticing the disturbance from the vibrations a moment ago, contemplating their next move.
To defeat that massive creature, we would need to gather the strength of all the hunters in the vicinity to raid it like a big event.
Of course, there’s no guarantee we would win by doing so, and there certainly wouldn’t be a hunter that could play that pivotal role.
After a moment of deliberation, we decided to take a detour.
[We’re taking a big turn to the left.]
While circling away, I pondered how to deal with it.
What if I started with a meteor, followed by skeleton bombs and activated all my abilities appropriately?
Perhaps I could sneak in and jump into its mouth when it opens?
Despite running multiple simulations, there wasn’t a clear solution. That ‘size’ weapon was incredibly powerful.
A tough opponent, making precise judgment difficult.
For now, I postponed any action.
“They say the spawning period lasts more than two days. We have time.”
I could try it again after finishing the beastmen’s task, and if it doesn’t work out, I can just run away.
─────
The distant destructive howls of the Hellacne resonated through the bones, spreading a profound vibration.
“Ugh… insane. That’s the Sea Serpent Hellacne…”
“And it’s ‘land-based.’ It must be far stronger underwater.”
“It’s still too much for us.”
After encountering the Hellacne, moving around became considerably easier.
“Damn Dragard bastards, they’ve all scattered to avoid the Hellacne.”
“Even the seemingly unshakeable Marshall Dragard had no luck, huh.”
Of course, this stroke of luck lasted only an hour.
After that, we had to continuously endure assaults from the Dragard faction testing us again.
But everything eventually comes to an end.
“Whoa──”
After moving for a half-day longer, we arrived at the fringe of our third hunting ground.
Unfortunately, while we managed to catch a decent number of Dragards, [Thievery] was not activated, nor did we receive any minor quests.
Many hunters were already waiting for the boss battle, and the administrators of the ‘difficulty’ were diligently fulfilling their tasks.
Hunters affiliated with the association managing the boss battle.
I wondered how they were managing to endure here, but I heard that a pretty safe system was set up.
And behind them loomed a massive structure painted in black, roughly shaped.
Given the faint distance, entering that building would likely unlock another vast space inside.
“So that thing is in there…”
“Maybe it’s because I just met a Hellacne, but the shivering has lessened.”
The name of the first boss-level monster we would encounter in the dungeon was ‘Corrupted Lesser Hellacne.’
Usually, when the term ‘corrupted’ is attached, it implies a general weakening compared to regular entities, but this one was contrary to that.
A monster positioned between Lesser and Adult.
Wooooo──
“Ah- it’s finally starting to react.”
“Good!”
And only after reaching the boss battle did I see the subtly shining armor of the beastmen.
The option of the ‘Swift Hellacne Warplate’ began to activate in earnest.
“The more deeply we venture into the dungeon, the higher the defense increases, plus there’s an additional option that increases defense by % for every Hellacne taken down.”
Of course, the effects would reset when we exited the dungeon, but within this dungeon, it was undoubtedly the most efficient armor.
No wonder the dwarves were losing their minds, rushing at the beastmen.
“Please take a ticket~ You must meet the minimum required number to enter.”
A safety device to protect hunters.
To catch the Corrupted Lesser Hellacne required at least 30 A-rank hunters.
However, the dungeon had one advantage over previous ones.
During combat, if it becomes unfavorable or too dangerous, retreat is an option.
Of course, I’d get a mouthful from the fellow hunters, but hey, surviving comes first.
“It’s a bit awkward to go in on the first turn.”
“It wouldn’t take long to gather if we wait until the next turn.”
“Right. Let’s at least catch some shut-eye until everyone gathers.”
[I will take watch.]
“Oh, have the minions take care of it?”
“That’s going to consume magic, and we can’t allow that! We’ll handle it!”
[It’s just a suggestion so that you won’t be a bother while recovering.]
“Ugh…”
“I-I will rest hard!”
“That’s harsh…”
I may have spoken a bit too strongly, but the beastmen knew I was controlling the skeleton soldiers, so they didn’t object much and quickly settled down.
(Necromancer… Knight… Chef… Sorcerer… Guide…)
(What is his true identity?)
(I haven’t heard a single story about a hunter with such insane talent.)
(Not even in comics would there be complaints.)
(Really…)
The beastmen were turning our conversation into a flower while lying down.
Their curiosity about me deepened, but there was little to gain from pondering among themselves.
’30 A-rank hunters… Normally, it wouldn’t be easy to gather them.’
Luckily, with the Adult Hellacne appearing, hunters that avoided it quickly gathered here.
We were ready for the challenge, but I refrained from waking the sleeping beastmen and waited.
‘Should I go in at full strength or not?’
Boss monsters are typically larger than regular monsters.
With their size increase, combat power escalates too.
So even if they are classified as A-rank monsters, the gap can be as vast as the sky and earth.
Just observing the roaring Hellacne in the distance confirmed that.
Whoosh- whoosh-
Beastmen soundlessly slept slightly away from the entrance of the boss battle, seemingly unbothered by the critical mission at hand, hoping to feel a sense of debt towards me by helping somehow.
While waiting for them, I took out Irmana’s icon and offered a prayer.
Now a divine being I could not do without.
‘Her voice feels closer… I think I hear something…’
– ······.
I could feel the gaze of Goddess Irmana upon me, much warmer than before.
Although I had been connected to the Great Being for nearly half a year, I had never felt such a sensation.
‘The Great Being feels distant and far…’
I should be grateful just for the continued allowance to use my powers and refrain from being greedy.
– Monsters appearing repeatedly in a restricted area are referred to as boss-level, and the government supports challenges against them, but the responsibility lies solely with the Awakened One…
The expression of the guide reading the legally mandated announcement mechanically held no emotion at all.
However, upon entering the black space, a paradox awaited me, revealing a being that exuded vivid emotions.
Swooosh───!
A vast expanse resembling the outer landscape unfolded, taking on a wasteland with little difference.
At its center, a creature that, while not quite a lake, boasted a pond-like expanse swaggered around.
The creature’s scales rising above the water’s surface swelled and retracted, each scale being larger than an ordinary human face.
‘Corrupted Lesser Hellacne…’
Whether corrupted or not, entities at the Lesser stage exhibit the same behavior patterns and abilities, but they reportedly prefer moving on land rather than under the sea during their youth.
Thus, just because it’s currently underwater doesn’t mean it’s safe if you maintain a distance; at any moment, it could emerge and drag you below with its jaws.
When it matures, it becomes a class of monster with characteristics like ‘Might,’ ‘Speed,’ ‘Vitality,’ and ‘Magic,’ but the way to deal with it at the Lesser stage is straightforward and clear.
‘Just lure it onto land and pound it.’
Of course, executing that was easier said than done.
“I think I might be able to catch it. But then, it would be a big ‘no’.”
“Yeah, it’s got sensory organs all over its body that feel the flow of magic, allowing it to detect and evade any danger within a certain radius.”
It was similar to how I compressed waves of sensing around my body.
‘Logically, it would be a high-difficulty hunt, but I possess a binding skill that guarantees a hit.’
The corrupted green binding has a favorable attribute in terms of synergy, but it’s technically a non-targeting method.
In contrast, the Chains of Flame and Water are definitive in binding a target.
‘I won’t be able to hold that massive creature for long. I’ll need to seize the moment.’
In addition to our party, around forty hunters were accompanying us.
We had more participants than the minimum requirement, but nobody expressed dissatisfaction over the dwindling pie.
This was likely because the reward wasn’t the priority but also linked to the overarching goal.
“We have to somehow defeat that thing to receive a symbol and move on to the next location.”
Hunters from various parties, aware of this goal, spread out wide, maintaining a safe distance.
WHOOSH───!!
The Lesser Hellacne, positioned centrally, began to spin its head in a semicircle, causing a water vortex that shot its head high into the sky.
It was only about a third the size of the Adult Hellacne we saw earlier, but it was still a massive creature, easily surpassing ten meters.
“Dodge!!”
A huge water bomb materialized around its mouth, quickly spreading outward and crashing down.
KWA-KWA-KWA-KWA-KWA-BOOM──!!
The immensely heavy and terrifyingly magical water spell struck six parties, devouring them whole.
“Insane?! What power behind that?!”
“It’s just a bunch of water condensed with magic!!”
That simple act sent about forty hunters into a panic.
Even the A-rank top hunters likely hadn’t seen such a powerful attack before.
‘Could it be that it’s this strong?’
Even as I thought it was a bit excessive, I easily dodged the magic and rushed in.
‘Hello?’
– Sssss?!
I swung my great sword, aiming to slice through its neck in one go, but the Lesser Hellacne was already far off course from my strike.
‘Darn, the line was clear, but it blurred at the end.’
Splash─
It disappeared back into the water, yet the massive serpent’s form was still easily visible.
Its dark shape, lurking beneath the lake, gleamed with eyes, waiting for a chance.
‘?! Something’s coming again!’
I spread my arms, signaling to the beastmen, and they all hurriedly activated their water shields to brace for an attack.
──?!
Surrounding hunters caught on and promptly solidified their defenses.
Turturturtur-TUNG──!!
At the same time, dozens of dark blue thorn-like tentacles shot up from the ground, striking the hunters!
“W-What?!”
Since this was an attack type never seen before, everyone panicked and let out startled cries.
Each tentacle evaded the hunters’ attacks as if alive, and their sizes also instilled fear, akin to the torso of a person.
The hunters recoiled instinctively.
– What the hell was that!
– It’s clearly abnormal! Damn it!!
– Shouldn’t we consider retreat right now!!
Hunters stationed on the opposite side yelled their opinions, their tensions peaking after just a single exchange.
The Corrupted Lesser Hellacne, while generally possessing lower-tier water-type magic like [Water Ball] and physical abilities focused on charge attacks, this was beyond all expectations.
There remained little doubt even the more experienced hunters realized that there was a variable without needing to exchange blows first.
‘I hope it’s not because of me. Mutants don’t sprout up overnight.’
Of course, boss-level monsters are naturally mutants, and this was a unique situation of a mutant upon a mutant.
With a flourish, the creature submerged while continuing to release watery tentacles.
Still, given everyone here was somewhat seasoned, the injuries were mostly limited to minor wounds at worst.
– What the hell is that wretched eel doing! Where did it learn such weird techniques!?
– Everyone, time your skills perfectly!!
– How are we supposed to hit it when it’s not coming above water!?
‘Of all times, it resembles my skill too closely, so I can’t use [Root Chain].’
Splash-
Without hesitation, I dove into the water.
The shouts of Arang and the other party hunters, horrified at my leap, faded away into the background.
Whoosh…
From below, a massive bubble surfaced as it propelled me upward.
‘Downward it is!’
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