Chapter 60: Fluke (2)
But there was no time to think anymore. The situation was still rapidly unfolding even at that moment.
Keugh!
Clang!
A chilling ice pillar rose from the ground. The cult members used ice to change the terrain of the dungeon and attacked their opponent without mercy.
The awakening grades of these cult members were A, C, and C respectively. Even though there was only one opponent who was on par with them in terms of awakening class, Ahn Yoonseung couldn’t handle the situation. Because he didn’t have proper offensive skills!
The range difference is too big!
It was bound to be difficult to deal with a hunter who used such a wide range of skills with just one blunt weapon.
Ugh.
Kim Kiryeo anxiously watched Yoonseung fight and put strength into his legs. However, even in this situation, his frozen feet wouldn’t budge.
“K-Kiryeo Hyung! Please help me?!”
Ahn Yoonseung looked back with a flustered face as he was beaten by their attacks. However, Kim Kiryeo had nothing particular to say to him.
No, what on earth are you telling an F-Class to do?
Knowing that he wouldn’t be of any help if he intervened, Kim Kiryeo shook his head from side to side, telling him not to expect too much. After seeing this, Ahn Yoonseung swallowed hard, his expression changing as if he had realized something.
Is it because it’s difficult for you to intervene when it comes to dealing with people!
Originally, the stronger awakened individuals are, the more likely they are to kill people with just small mistakes.
“I-I understand! Then, for now, I’ll try to do something!”
Despite seeming flustered, Ahn Yoonseung gathered his thoughts and faced the attackers head-on.
But wait a moment. Looking at this, considering it’s 3 against 1, the situation actually wasn’t that bad.
Buk!
Someone’s body floated backward. It was from Yoonseung’s tackle. He simply collided with the opponent, holding his shield firmly, but it had a force that couldn’t be ignored.
“Ugh!”
Tung!
A C-Class awakened person from Rakshasa Temple who hit the wall fainted at once.
There are only two people left.
After defeating all those golems—how are you still in such good condition?
The steal criminals swallowed their saliva when they saw Yoonseung running wild.
Everything was beyond expectations. Normally, steal criminals assume that the opponent is exhausted from fighting monsters.
Boom!
“Ugh!”
Ahn Yoonseung was in unusually good condition. On top of that, with equipment support from the first-rate guild Neo Sisters, even for a hunter of the same level, it was quite a challenging situation.
I can’t help it.
The cult members exchanged glances for a moment.
Then they pulled something out of their pockets.
What’s in their pockets?
The question lasted only for a moment.
Keugh!
They threw the items they had pulled out of their pockets toward Yoonseung.
Then, the powder wrapped in thin paper burst, scattering over Yoonseung’s body.
Is it like a fainting item?
He was worried for a moment because it was a sight he had seen many times before. Fortunately, the effect of the powder was far from what Kiryeo had thought.
No, actually, it would have been better if it was a fainting item.
I’m going crazy.
Gugugugugu.
Kiryeo became alert to the faint noise coming from beyond the hallway. It sounded like a four-legged beast running.
-Kaaaaa!
Just as expected. Soon, a huge monster appeared in this golden room.
Gorilla?
Enormous fists.
A well-developed upper body.
The arm muscles were so terrifyingly developed that the lower body seemed relatively slender in comparison.
[Grid]
[Grade: A]
The dungeon’s boss had burst out of its own room.
In other words, the identity of the powder they threw was—
Krrrrr—
“Yoonseung-ah! Run!”
A scent that attracts monsters!
Kiryeo realized the attackers’ intentions and shouted to Yoonseung.
But is it easy to run away when faced with two enemies?
“Wait, ugh!”
Yoonseung clumsily tried to escape, but his legs were caught by ice magic.
Crack.
By the time the white frost covered his body, the berserk giant monster rushed toward Yoonseung.
“Aaargh!”
Of course, Grid was also a kind of golem. The problem was, this biological golem was quite advanced, so it took time to figure out its emergency shutdown mechanism.
Damn it. I brought him here to help him overcome the trauma, but it’s only going to get worse!
Kiryeo pulled out his leg, prepared to tear off his skin. The frozen feet finally came off, but it didn’t mean much.
“This!”
Ahn Yoonseung, who was attacked by a boss monster, was just knocked down.
Keugh!
Boom!
Ahn Yoonseung, who was hit in the body, could hardly get up. As soon as Kiryeo saw the scene, he poured the magic booster he had on hand into his mouth.
Now, even if an F-Class steps up, what difference will it make? At least they had to avoid the worst-case scenario.
“What? You’re already out of the ice?!”
Around the time the ice wizard shouted in surprise, Kiryeo stretched out his hand and activated a spell. It was a simple water magic.
“Ugh!”
Splash!
Strong water poured over the fallen Ahn Yoonseung’s head.
Grrrrrrrrr?
And then, as expected, when the powder covering Ahn Yoonseung was washed away, the boss’s actions abruptly stopped.
Sniff! Sniff!
With the traces of the magic tool that had been stimulating it suddenly fading, it was only natural for confusion to arise.
Water attribute awakener?
Gulp.
The cult member, who had been holding their breath to avoid attracting the boss’s attention, swallowed their dry saliva. They thought they had finally taken care of Ahn Yoonseung, but they never expected that the hunter who had been quiet would now step forward.
What grade is that human anyway? I can’t feel any magic from him at all!
Normally, just one lure incense would have been enough. However, because they swept through the gate in just an hour, there were too few monsters attracted to the scent. Moreover, that side uses water attribute skills. Then, no matter how many times it’s thrown, the powder will all wash away—
Hiik!
But this time—
-Crumble!
While this side was lost in thought, the C-Class cult member standing beside him once again sprinkled the powder on the enemy.
On Kim Kiryeo.
Seeing this, the ice wizard became greatly angered. How much is that worth!
“Hey! If you spray it on, it will wash off right away, so what are you doing now!”
“U-ugh. But I panicked when the boss looked this way!”
Grid snorted and glanced around restlessly, but eventually fixed its gaze on a new target.
No, still!
But that person. Why isn’t he washing off the lure incense this time?
...
The blonde hunter who had used the powder earlier flipped it over and quietly looked up at the boss through his goggles.
The blonde hunter covered in powder quietly looked up at the boss with his sambaegan eyes.
They had one more set of that powder?
For reference, Kim Kiryeo used up all of his magic power to wash Ahn Yoonseung, so he couldn’t make any more water.
“K-Kiryeo Hyung?”
Heuph.
He calmly took a deep breath. And he left his last word.
“Yoonseung-ah, take this time to quickly drink some recovery medicine.”
“Yes?”
As soon as the sentence was finished, Grid started running wild.
Wuu! Wuu! Wuu!
Whoosh.
Kiryeo immediately widened the distance between himself and Yoonseung, and Grid swung its fist after the running target.
Boom!
With each blow of the boss’s fist, the beautiful golden walls of the dungeon were being violently destroyed.
But is gold really important right now? Someone’s life is at stake.
“Aaaah!”
Boom!
Still, the fortunate thing was that Grid’s massive size made him slow.
Ugh. Anyway, I really can’t do anything without Hyung-nim’s help...
While Kiryeo caught the boss’s attention, Ahn Yoonseung finally completed his recovery. The steal criminals exclaimed in astonishment.
“Why didn’t he wash it off right away? That crazy guy! Surely he’s not trying to take on the boss alone, is he?!”
At this, Yoonseung spoke.
“You guys are lucky. Do you know how much he’s letting you off right now?”
“What?”
“He’s holding back because he’s afraid he might accidentally kill someone!”
“So, before he crosses the line, just stop it.”
Ahn Yoonseung gave a sympathetic look, as if he felt sorry for the attackers in front of him.
The steal criminals gradually became confused by his serious face and firm faith.
Save me!
Of course, it wouldn’t be any more confusing than the situation here.
If I take one hit from this, I’m done for!
Boom! Boom!
Kiryeo was still playing a dizzying game of tag.
The human body is small and agile. The monster gorilla struggled to change direction due to its weight, which the humans took advantage of to somehow manage to survive.
Heuk!
Guggugugugugu—
But since the prey couldn’t be caught at all, perhaps the boss eventually got angry?
At this moment, Grid, the owner of the gate, activated his unique ability.
What is this?
One side of the dungeon collapsed, and it was replaced by an endless abyss.
Kiryeo suddenly stopped in his spot as he tried to run away. The road was cut off. For some reason unknown to him, it seemed that Grid had the ability to alter the terrain of this gate.
Ugh.
Hwiiiing.
Beyond the path, which had been carved out like a cliff, there echoed the sound of a fierce wind. Even without looking down, he could intuitively sense that falling here would mean certain death.
Damn it.
Kiryeo changed direction without hesitation.
Guuuuu!
However, with each roar from Grid, the abyss expanded mercilessly. There was less and less space to escape. He felt like a warrior thrown into the Colosseum.
What is Ahn Yoonseung doing? Take it down quickly!
The only way out was through the northern passage they used to enter this room, but weren’t there some robbers blocking it?
-Ice Field!
It was like a double blow. Then, a crude ice spear shot out from the passage, aiming to tie Ahn Yoonseung’s feet with magic spread all around.
It’s all covered in ice!
A smooth frozen path like a mirror. In such a tense situation, if one were to stumble even for a moment—
It’s like walking on thin ice.
Thud!
A chilling thought crossed his mind. The alien wearing a shell called Kim Kiryeo gritted his teeth and ran.
Why is he so unlucky?
Today, he had just wanted to make some money.
Heuk, heuk!
However, sadly, his misfortune soon reached its peak.
Damn it, the room—!
Grrrrr—
With the roar of Grid, the path collapsed once again. This collapse was fatal. Without any chance to change direction, the southern part of the dungeon disappeared abruptly.
“Ah.”
When he turned around, Grid had already caught up with him. He was completely backed into a corner. Grid swung its massive foreleg toward where Kiryeo stood. However, where there’s a will, there’s a way, even in the direst situations.
The bottom is empty!
Just before the attack struck, Kiryeo rushed forward as if diving into the monster’s embrace. Originally, the plan was to pass the monster like this.
“Haha! You stupid gorilla!”
But then—
-Slippery.
With a sudden sensation of dizziness rushing through his veins, accompanied by the sound of a dull thud—
“Uck.”
Come to think of it, the room had become so narrow that finding a place without ice was difficult.
...
Kiryeo fell into contemplation. He had rushed to escape without checking beneath his feet. As a result, he slid down the ice path laid by the enemy, all the way down.
Heuk!
However, surprisingly, he was able to avoid the monster’s attack because he fell on the ice and lowered his posture.
Whoong.
The monster’s fist just barely passed by the bridge of his nose. If he hadn’t stepped on this ice, his head would have exploded.
Phew.
It was a moment of relief. Kim Kiryeo’s foot touched Grid’s left leg.
Thud!
Since he hit an A-Class monster with a lot of acceleration, it was natural that his ankle would break.
“Ugh! Looks like I’m the only one who got hurt. Even if I hit like this, it wouldn’t even leave a scratch on that golem—”
Kiryeo, who was thinking about something, immediately closed his mouth.
Guuuu!
Right after that, the huge monster fell forward and plunged into the endless abyss.
Yes?
Let’s summarize again.
Grid is a monster with disproportionately developed upper body strength. When it attacks, its weight shifts forward. Its relatively weak legs had just been standing on the ice until now.
-Guuuuu—
-Uu.
-U...
Kim Kiryeo unintentionally applied force to Grid’s legs. It wasn’t intentional. He had just stopped there while sliding.
From then on, it was just the application of basic physics. Whether it’s A-Class or B-Class, they all experience the same influence of friction coefficients.
Uhm.
He accidentally slipped on the ice.
The monster swung over it.
Therefore, taking advantage of the monster’s unstable posture, he kicked it away, causing it to dive off the cliff.
Uh—
Kiryeo looked across the darkness with a puzzled expression. Suddenly, something emerged before him out of nowhere.
A mysterious object engulfed in pale light—
No, is it really going to end like this?
It’s the reward for defeating the boss.
With the death of Grid, Kim Kiryeo was recognized by the gate as the top contributor to the hunt.