LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 37
“If I’ve come this far…”
I’ve made quite a distance. I climbed a tree and watched the fight unfold. There’s a saying about a monster duel, isn’t there? That phrase fits perfectly.
“Damn, that’s strong.”
A monster with magic stats over 640 and health stats over 600. Other stats might make it look like a pile of meat could crush it, but Hong Yu-ri had skills and wisdom.
“And magic too.”
Honestly, imagining Hong Yu-ri getting casually beaten by a piece of flesh was harder to picture.
“…I hope it just dies.”
No matter how I thought about it, I didn’t think Hong Yu-ri would lose. The only advantage the monster had was that it was getting stronger over time.
“It’s getting stronger in real-time.”
Other abilities had almost stalled in growth. Strength at 506. Agility at 419. But it was pure health alone that had surpassed 600 and showed no signs of stopping. People are drawn to the huge and strong. Before I knew it, I’d been mesmerized by that fight, staring blankly before I snapped back to reality.
“What am I even watching for?”
The important thing isn’t that monsters are duking it out, but my current situation.
“For now, Gu Ma-jun is okay.”
It would be a good time to escape now that I was drawing the gaze of that flesh monster, but if I went outside, chances are the temple or the main clan would have it tightly guarded. I needed to wait for the right moment when interest in the dungeon dies down.
The immediate goal was to achieve Stealth at C rank.
***
“―――!”
The monster howled, releasing an indescribable sound. Against such a creature, Hong Yu-ri, the girl with the red eyes, showed no intention of hiding her murderous intent.
“Didn’t you say you’d kill me?”
With that chill voice, her mouth moved.
“Distruge, Flacără―!”
The first spell was cast. Everything up until now felt like a joke as the manifested magic shaped itself according to her will, creating phenomena. Flames of devastation engulfed the monsters, and one of them let out a boiling scream.
“Shut up.”
After the girl of the red eyes uttered “Tăcere,” the monster was no longer able to make a sound. The remnants of intellect still lingering within it pondered.
Why did it always fall short? Why couldn’t it reach that wolf, or this girl?
In an outburst of rage, the monster sharpened the ends of thousands of tentacles. Those pointed tentacles advanced without pause.
“You insect.”
Know your place. As that arrogant declaration rang out, the monster let out a soundless scream.
‘――!’
A cry that could not escape its lips.
Before I knew it, her red magic turned bright, then yellow, then white, ultimately becoming pure white. As the flame lost its color, the monster thought, “Isn’t that, in fact, light?”
“Alb pur Stelele sunt sa explodeze―”
As it witnessed the radiant and beautiful light, the monster momentarily forgot its rage and lost itself.
“Iată moartea ta―!”
Finally, the pure white light enveloped the monster. In its last moment, it felt ‘warm.’ That thought faded in an instant.
“Hmph.”
Hong Yu-ri shrugged it off as if it were boring.
As she turned her back, what was left behind, burning black flesh—no, what had lingered in the monster began to writhe. Deep within the monster, something began to throb and stir.
Awakening. Something was trying to shed its shell with its own will.
‘―――!’
The remnants of Gu Ma-jun screamed silently in agony.
As it crossed the river of death, countless evils beckoned. The malice of all beings that existed and all that did not whispered, urging it not to accept death.
‘――.’
The malice originally contained in a vessel could do nothing but transform existence into a chimera.
However, thanks to the aid of ‘some rat,’ this [Incomplete Product of Side Effects] surpassed the original. Not only in effect but also the malice contained within. According to the research results, it was becoming even more horrific, an even more miserable tale of the spirits of those who died.
Thus, as nature grew, so did the malice, allowing it to harbor even more terrible evil.
‘――.’
The malice continued to whisper.
Despite the fear, the desire to see that radiant light once more beckoned the remnants of reason.
“What the hell?”
With a strange feeling, Hong Yu-ri frowned. She had definitely killed it. She killed it, but…?
“…Is it still alive?”
How? Before Hong Yu-ri could finish her questioning, it revealed its existence and howled.
As the horrific evil engulfed the remnants of reason, the dreadful malice fully devoured the monster.
“―――! ―――!”
Glorp! Glorp! Glorp!
Her judgment was not wrong.
Nothing returns from death.
So, this must be called a miracle.
—The worst miracle born from pure and terrible malice.
“What the hell did I create? These damn bastards!”
The red mass turned black—thus the monster became an embodiment of malice.
***
“Grrrr!”
The huge tusks of the wild boar just barely missed.
‘Wow. That was close.’
It may be called a wild boar, but it was more akin to an elephant in size.
‘But still, it’s just a boar.’
I dodged the charging wild boar like a matador. Although its agility exceeded 200, I couldn’t help but think, “Aren’t you kind of late for that now?”
‘And my agility isn’t even above 200.’
With a level up, I’m at exactly 180. All the monsters I’ve been facing until now were so fearsome that my standards have been raised ridiculously high.
As I activated the wind gust, the wild boar stopped in its tracks, realizing the chilling wind cutting through the air threatened it. Perhaps it understood it couldn’t escape, it charged forth with its massive tusks, but when they shattered into pieces, it let out a scream, “Grrrr!”
‘I didn’t expect it to be this strong.’
The tusks, which had looked solid at first, were crushed like they were in a blender.
‘Is this really C rank?’
I can’t wait for the Evil Food and Ash Flames to rise to C rank. The wild boar made its final struggle but ultimately.
[You have consumed the Large Tusker Boar. Experience and fullness have risen.]
[EXP 38074 / 62743]
A level up was not far off. While searching for new prey, I was taken aback when I saw a pure white flame explode in the distance. It was a mind-blowing sight, like witnessing a supernova explosion in a video once. Even from this far away, it was blinding.
‘I miraculously survived.’
It was a miracle that I survived from Hong Yu-ri. That monster of a girl. The thought of her eagerly coming after me made me shudder.
‘…Park Yo-han, you bastard.’
While chewing Park Yo-han like gum, I cursed. I wasted those precious skill points just to save that baldy monk, and now I’m suffering.
‘But once I level up.’
The remaining skill points will be 4. I should be able to learn D rank Stealth, and if all goes well, maybe lift it to C rank? Then—
Suddenly, an instinctive chill made me look around.
‘Wow. Damn. Is it still alive.’
It was a horrifying vitality. But that meant I was buying precious time. I needed to grow as quickly as possible.
‘…I thought Hong Yu-ri was winning.’
Now, I’m not so sure. Out of curiosity, I inadvertently used my Scout skill.
[The proficiency of Scout (E) Lv.9 has reached its maximum level. Scout (E) Lv.9 -> Scout (E) Lv.10]
[Scout (E) Lv.10 has reached its maximum level. Scout (E) Lv.10 -> Insight (D) Lv.1]
‘They’re just dishing out proficiency points.’
That just meant it’s a really complicated existence. With my newly upgraded skill, I looked at its stats.
[The Awakening Evil]
[Body Size …] [Height …] [Weight …]
[Strength …] [Agility …] [Health …] [Magic …]
[Skills List]
[Rapid Regeneration (B)]
“……!”
I was surprised that I could now confirm the skills it possessed, but more than that.
‘Did the monster, no, Gu Ma-jun have such skills?’
All traces of the acceleration Gu Ma-jun had were gone, and where did this B rank skill suddenly come from? It would be impossible unless it became an entirely different being.
‘Rapid Regeneration?’
Even my D rank regeneration could regrow limbs if they were severed. But if it’s two ranks higher, at B rank, what then?
‘It must have been able to withstand Hong Yu-ri.’
Moreover, its health paired with that would create a terrifying synergy. Just imagining the rising effect was horrifying. As for its magic…
‘Is it not 0?’
100. 200… Just like its initial health, its magic was skyrocketing at an absurd rate. What on earth happened? What took place here? No, more importantly, what does it mean to be ‘The Awakening Evil’?
‘What the hell is going on?’
Even considering I drank that [Incomplete Product of Side Effects], there were still too many unknowns. But one thing was certain; the being there had truly become a monster.
‘…Ugh.’
I shivered. What if it were me fighting instead of Hong Yu-ri?
‘I wouldn’t last even 10 seconds.’
While looking for another prey, I couldn’t tear my gaze away from that fight.
***
The small, delicate being had always kept watch over the wolf, and standing in opposition to it, they could sense the evil residing within the monster first.
“Kyu-rur…”
It was the very embodiment of enormous and chilling evil. The young being had to fall to the great evil that swallowed the monster. They couldn’t dare resist. For they were still weak and insignificant.
But there was a chance to save.
Though they couldn’t defeat evil, they could run away with the wolf.
“Kyu-rur! Kyu-rur-ruk!”
The young being felt the need to act for the sake of the wolf that had previously saved them.
***
“Hong Yu-ri!”
The team leader shouted to Hong Yu-ri, who was floating in red magic. When her crimson eyes looked down, the team leader was filled with questions.
‘Aw, it’s already crimson?’
That meant she was properly using her magic. He had seen her white flames in action too. But did that mean they still couldn’t bring it down? The top mage of the dawn?
“What?”
A voice that showed no intention of hiding her annoyance returned. The team leader gazed at her crimson eyes.
“…I guess it could be my turn to join?”
For a moment, hesitance flickered across her expression. It was a blatantly evident dilemma.
‘Is it pride? Or…’
In a brief pause, Hong Yu-ri clicked her tongue and turned away. She didn’t say it, but that must have been her last shred of pride.
‘Tch.’
It was easy to read, so I chuckled softly, but she glared back at me. The team leader quickly lowered his gaze, wiping away his smile as he drew out his sword from his coat.
Cling—. A clear sound echoed, carried by the cold wind.
‘The weak points?’
There are none. Attack anywhere, it won’t change a thing. But the team’s role was not to slay it.
‘To support.’
Scores, hundreds of tentacles charged at Hong Yu-ri at terrifying speeds. This was on a whole different level than before. —Why?
‘Her magic?’
It wasn’t that there wasn’t any magic; was it that it hadn’t been used? Each individual tentacle bore magic and resisted Hong Yu-ri’s strength. Although it was burning mightily, it was the first time Hong Yu-ri had evaded an attack.
“Tch! Glonț arzător!”
Eight bullets were shot from between her fingers. Each of the eight bullets pierced through and dug into the approaching tentacles, but.
‘Dammit.’
That was all it accomplished. Just like stabbing a needle wouldn’t kill an elephant, bullets wouldn’t kill the monster either. Furthermore, the monster was growing, producing colossal tentacles that were ten times the size of the regular ones. The larger they grew, the more they resisted her magic.
“Flacără―!”
Desperately, the flames of magic detoured one of the massive tentacles. But if there are dozens of those tentacles?
“……!”
It was too late to dodge. There wasn’t time to cast magic. All she could do was concentrate magic to brace for the impact. But dozens of tentacles failed to touch Hong Yu-ri.
Thud! Tentacles that fell to the ground writhed like fish thrown onto land.
“Close call.”
The team leader wiped the blood from his rapier.
“Not at all, you idiot!”
“Yeah, call it that. But what about your magic?”
“I have plenty left, so stop worrying and focus on yourself.”
“I want to, but our matchups are bad.”
The team leader’s calm words were just a dry truth. His rapier was trembling at the tip.
“…This sword wasn’t made for foolish fights like this.”
“Gu Jin-ha you worthless piece of! “
As a swordsman, he preferred graceful techniques and meticulously calculated combat. No matter how skilled he was, a thin rapier didn’t fit the battle against such a monster. His expertise lay in personal head-to-head combat—not battling gigantic monsters.
“It’s painful to admit, but it’s true.”
At the very least, it was true that he wasn’t being much help in this fight. The team leader bitterly smiled as he cut a tentacle to assist Hong Yu-ri. And at that moment.
“Team Leader!”
Woo Taek joined the fray, leading a party of people.
‘This is a bit ambiguous.’
The team leader glanced over, sizing them up.
‘Four of them. Between C and B class.’
He had heard there were supposed to be six; for some reason, two were missing. It seemed possible that they’d searched for survivors and regrouped with Woo Taek.
‘Not enough numbers.’
They had too few fighters. Hunters below a certain level would just weigh them down. Given the overwhelmingly tough situation, it might be better to send Woo Taek back alone.
‘…It can’t be helped.’
After all, he didn’t have the authority to make that call. The dungeon was delegated to the temple, after all.
‘Let’s use them for now.’
He could shout across to send them all running, but the team leader didn’t do that.
‘At least they can buy time until the vice-team leader arrives.’
As long as they could serve as a meat shield, that would sufficiently ease Hong Yu-ri’s burden. Having calculated coldly, the team leader shouted down to Woo Taek below.
“Woo Taek! You join up with them! I’ll operate freely!”
“Understood!”
At his spirited reply, the tentacles shifted direction. The ones that had been aiming for the ground now targeted the group.
“Huff!”
Blocked by robust arm strength, they were crushed. Nevertheless, Woo Taek’s expression wasn’t bright.
‘…The recoil is stronger than expected.’
Even a mere exchange of strikes was enough to feel how formidable the monster was.
‘So this is what you’ve been fighting against?’
Another tentacle charged forward. As Woo Taek prepared, the holy knight stepped in, swinging a hammer like a batter at a baseball.
It was a blow focused purely on raw power, lacking precision, but given the monster’s size, swinging wildly would still land a blow.
“Hmph!”
It was barely blocked, but the tentacle remained unscathed. In contrast, the holy knight nearly lost his grip on the handle due to the impact.
“Is this seriously the dungeon boss?”
“No way. It’s many times stronger than this!”
The monk and Woo Taek hammered at the sides, crushing tentacles.
“…It should be weaker!”
“Whether it’s fortunate or unfortunate, won’t know until we catch it. The real dungeon boss is still out there!”
“Brothers! Another one is coming!”
Compared to the torrents of tentacles above, this truly was just the tip of the iceberg. However, blocking them was no easy feat. The number was increasingly growing. Block, block, and yet again. Woo Taek’s fists bled from the friction against the attack.
“Huff! We need to stay alive!”
“That’s a wise remark!”
Hammers and fists swayed wildly in the air.
***
“Kuh!”
Hong Yu-ri rubbed her temples with her palm, fighting off a building headache. It was a natural outcome after using so much magic.
‘The remaining magic…’
It was barely half. As her magic began to dwindle, the monster continued to grow larger.
‘…How annoying.’
To be unable to deal with such a repulsive mass of flesh and to her own incompetence.
No, she had outright killed it. But for some reason, it had returned from death. The resurrected being was now a monster of immortality, refusing to die no matter how many times she struck it down. Even fending off the tentacles was a massive struggle. Most of it was being handled by Gu Jin-ha, but there was no way that thin rapier alone could block everything.
‘Ugh, it just won’t die.’
Burn it, crush it, destroy it. Despite every method employed, it regenerated in under a second. Ultimately, it meant she needed to obliterate the hideous thing that had grown to the size of a building in a single blow. After a long contemplation, Hong Yu-ri finally spoke.
“Gu Jin-ha!”
The team leader’s head turned briefly as he was mid-slice through the tentacles. Their eyes briefly locked, and Hong Yu-ri bit her lip.
“…Keep it busy.”
“Got it.”
Though his response was calm, Hong Yu-ri shook slightly. To fail to kill even that thing!
‘I will kill it!’
To tear it apart, no, to burn it entirely, leaving not a single ash behind.
Her pride would not allow for such defeat. Her crimson eyes pulsed with intense bloodlust, but in contrast, her awareness sank coldly, like a heavy weight into the depths of the sea.
“Huff….”
Exhaling and regaining her breath, her crimson eyes scattered light. As her red magic flickered, her lips began to move.
“―Se înroșesc.”
With the incantation infused with power, her magic deepened. The color of her eyes transgressed from bright red to dark red. Eventually, her magic, dyed in true crimson, began to spread.
“Puterea cuvintelor mele Acoperă lumea.”
As she recited the incantation, her magic began to engulf everything around her.
“Ah…”
While fighting, the holy knight stared at her in a daze.
The crimson magic emanating from her consumed the flora, the living beings, ultimately encompassing the atmosphere itself, bringing everything under her rule.
“Prin urmare, Ceea ce vreau este devenit realitate―”
As her desires dictated, the magic took form, revealing itself as a phenomenon in the world.
“―――!”
The monster that had been stunned finally started moving. No longer spewing merely tentacles, its immense body crawled across the ground. Trees fell, and birds took flight. Amidst screams from animals and plants alike.
“Woo Taek!”
At the call of the team leader, Woo Taek looked up.
“Just for a moment! I just need a moment! Can you stop it?!”
Even when looking upwards, the monster seemed endless. The team leader was asking Woo Taek to halt that creature. It was a reckless request, but he tightened his fists.
“Yes! I will do it!”
That answer left the holy knight and the monk stunned.
“That’s impossible! How do you plan to stop that monster?!”
Up until now, the fight had been solely defensive, merely blocking the onslaught of tentacles. Woo Taek’s fists were bloodied from the onslaught he had faced. And asking him to stop that blasted thing?
“Please, move aside!”
“Though our affiliations differ, we are comrades united in this battle! I can’t—”
Before he could finish that, Woo Taek shoved them aside and got into position.
“Stop! If you do not, you’ll be crushed to death!”
Now it was at a point they couldn’t even approach the looming puddle of flesh, reaching their hands out—
“Huh!”
Woo Taek’s arm swung back behind his shoulder. The movement originated from his supple waist, spiraled through his solid shoulder and elbow, and with a twist from his wrist, sent a punch.
—Along with that, a heavy aura of magic enveloped Woo Taek’s fist.
“No way!”
The holy knight, Seong Daewoon, widened his eyes in shock.
Indeed, Woo Taek’s punch bled red as he merely blocked the tentacles. No matter how trained, one couldn’t just block an overwhelming weight and strength without consequence—without their bare body.
A massive magic was swirling inside. The magic stormed through his entire body alongside the movement of his muscles, and it surged entirely into Woo Taek’s fist.
“…Could it be he never used magic until now!”
They had been mistaken.
Woo Taek had never applied magic even once. He had smashed through the tentacles entirely with pure physical strength—the ministry mistook it for a application of magic.
“This is not just B rank!”
B rank. Even that level of achievement was a monumental milestone. Few hunters could reach it, a mere handful of talented individuals. But it had been over five years since Woo Taek reached B rank. The foremost mage of the dawn, Hong Yu-ri’s teachings fortified the iron-handed fighter.
“This is monstrous!”
He already possessed enough power to approach A rank.
“Huh!”
With a deep breath, he stretched out his iron fist.
“Kuh!”
The monk and holy knight merely struggled to keep from being pushed back, gripping onto each other for support.
In the past, when the wolf was still a slime, it had seen Woo Taek’s power at 517. Far too illogical a power for an individual human to possess; it had grown further to an impressive 578 through consistent effort—now, a storm erupted.
As Woo Taek’s fist slammed into the massive mass, it quivered, and once the gust of wind died down, a massive crater showcased the aftermath like a detonation of dozens of tons of explosives. The sight beyond that? They stood aghast, unable to process the vile carnage spread through a landscape now stained in flesh and black blood.
“What in the world…”
But their shock didn’t end there.
—Finally, Hong Yu-ri’s magic was complete.