LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 40
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“Phew. Even after searching, I can’t find a trace of him…”
I couldn’t help but feel tense at the words of the man in the coat. Hunters were all monsters. And here was this guy, running with Hong Yu-ri on his back…
[Gu Jin-ha (Human)]
[Height 182.1cm] [Weight 74.8kg]
[Strength 519] [Agility 577] [Stamina 535] [Magic Power 585]
‘Is he out of his mind.’
Those were some insane stats. The Team Leader of the Dawn’s Break 3, Gu Jin-ha. I knew all the characters in the novel were monsters, but seriously, all abilities over 500? Wow.
‘…I expected as much.’
One thing was certain: there was absolutely no way I could win, no matter how I fought.
“Alpha.”
Alpha? That must be the name he’s calling me.
Just hearing Gu Jin-ha’s calm voice sent waves of fear through me. His intimidation was palpable—like I was about to crumble at any second. I couldn’t help but respond.
“Grrr—!”
[Intimidation (F) Lv.8 has reached maximum level. Intimidation (F) Lv.8 -> Intimidation (F) Lv.9]
Was my voice slightly shaky? Did he catch my fear? But hey, leveling up meant I got through to him… thankfully, it seemed like my title and intimidation did something.
But then, in the blink of an eye, Gu Jin-ha’s gaze shifted.
‘What the hell!’
Instead, it only made him more vigilant. His cold, piercing eyes scanned me like I was prey. The second he saw even the slightest opening, I knew he’d wrap his hands around my throat.
‘Injured leg. Am I right?’
From the unusually deep footprints, it seemed I’d hurt my leg. It wasn’t visible under my shoes, but boy, could I smell the blood.
‘And the weapon…’
There was nothing to use, just the handle of a sword. Maybe he felt my gaze because Gu Jin-ha shoved the sword into his coat pocket. What a relief that was. If he’d had that sword out, I would have had to think of a different escape plan.
‘What a perv.’
A quick look revealed a bandage—or was it cloth—wrapped around Hong Yu-ri’s side. Probably torn and used as a makeshift bandage.
‘Phew.’
Gu Jin-ha lowered Hong Yu-ri to the ground and got into position. Low Hand Guard. His inside hand was by his chin, while the front hand dropped low.
‘So, he’s ready to fight.’
Gu Jin-ha’s thinking seemed clear: eliminate the hindrance first.
‘Spot on.’
I forced a wry smile. With all those advantages he had, fighting him was impossible. Amidst my brief internal conflict,
‘Is he really wasting time on this?’
A gust of wind threatened to sever Gu Jin-ha’s wrist, but all that came from it was a slight scratch. I could have easily sliced through the tusks of a massive boar… What kind of world was this?
“Hup!”
Instead of dodging, I had to retreat the moment he moved.
‘Damn.’
My instincts and perception were worth nada.
Unlike monsters, Gu Jin-ha’s movements changed every moment. The trajectory shifted each time, and even if I read his movements beforehand, he adjusted accordingly. Dozens or hundreds of decisions were made in just a split second; the dance of the Team Leader displayed his skill with every flick of his limbs.
More importantly, even watching closely, it was hard to keep up with Gu Jin-ha’s motions.
‘Is this what technique looks like?’
Continuous strikes without pause; an unfair cycle that required me to take hits while I watched. Even with [All Damage Mitigation] and [Hardening] active, I was still bruised. Despite a myriad of penalties, our match was a foregone conclusion.
‘The gap is unreal.’
The Team Leader of Dawn’s Break 3. An A-Class Hunter. A ranked fighter known as the Sword Master.
I had no need to mention all the flashy titles he wore like a badge. It was clear.
—This guy was really a monster.
***
‘I managed to absorb the shock.’
It was the optimal moment.
My fist struck Alpha. It was not a moment for evasion. As expected, it landed, but the sensation was dull. Alpha revealed his teeth in mockery. If only I had a sword—how many chances to cut him off would I have had? That was frustrating.
‘No running away now.’
I was stuck. I couldn’t move far from Hong Yu-ri. Alpha was cunningly using that fact against me.
‘On top of that, I can’t use magic.’
A throbbing headache warned me of my mental exhaustion. I had to conserve my magic to run from the monster. From my brief exchanges with him, it was clear: Alpha had long surpassed the Skull Wolf level.
‘He isn’t charging in.’
Even if I showed an opening, he wouldn’t bite. He displayed ferocity and madness, yet remained reluctant to act. His ability to assess the situation and weigh his options spoke of a high intellect.
‘He fully understands his position.’
He knew that dragging this out would only benefit him.
He was so crafty it was almost sinister. Gu Jin-ha reminded me of the wolf stories I read in the past—specifically ‘Lobo the Wolf’—the most notorious wolf that roamed the land around 200 years ago. A vile creature that saw through every trap and mocked men; that old tale matched perfectly with the Alpha before me.
‘A monster with intelligence surpassing a human.’
He might just turn into a creature that could go completely off the rails like a purple-striped black tiger. Given Alpha’s potential for growth, he might even be more dangerous than the frenzied flesh-eating beasts. The situation was grim, yet I felt utterly trapped.
“Hugh.”
Hong Yu-ri moaned on the ground. In the Team Leader’s eyes, it looked like Alpha was mocking him. He’d think that no matter what monster came, he could confidently escape, cutting off the pursuers right here.
‘Damn it.’
Cunning? No, it was downright malevolent.
***
The effects of D-Class Regeneration were remarkable. The shattered bone clicked back into place. —30 seconds. I was barely safe because Gu Jin-ha hadn’t come.
“Grrr!”
I had to lure Gu Jin-ha out. But how?
‘The Awakening Evil is closing in.’
It’s getting pretty close. What’s more, the wounds that had turned to ash were slowly healing. I knew for sure I wasn’t the only one looking at a dire state.
‘Does this guy lack emotions or something?’
His calm gaze. That poker face. A relaxed demeanor. Clearly, if the Awakening Evil approached, it wouldn’t be beneficial for him either yet he showed no signs of panic. Did he perhaps have a plan?
‘If that’s the case.’
Then I just had to crush that plan.
Regrettably, I couldn’t beat Gu Jin-ha. Fleeing with Hong Yu-ri was out of the question. Even in this situation, the gap between us was too vast.
So—
“Goooohhhhh!”
—it was time for my insurance to come into play.
“…Swamp Dragon!”
For the first time, cracks appeared in Gu Jin-ha’s mask-like expression. That gave me a slight sense of relief; at least this wasn’t something he had anticipated.
[Swamp Dragon]
[Body Length 8.6m] [Height 2.7m] [Weight 4.4t]
[Strength 426] [Agility 415] [Stamina 476] [Magic Power 318]
[Skills]
[Dragon Wrath (C)] [Devour (D)]
It was definitely a Dungeon Boss Monster.
***
‘Swamp Dragon!’
I had underestimated Alpha’s intelligence. He knew how to set traps for humanity and wait for the right moment. The current threat he posed was way more significant than just a potential one. —How long had it been since I’d felt this cornered? A chill ran down Gu Jin-ha’s spine.
A monster that knows how to bait its prey? And was this truly the end?
I found it hard to believe that Alpha would stop constructing traps here. After all, he had outsmarted me time and time again.
‘This is bad.’
The estimated class of the Swamp Dragon was B to B+.
‘If I had prepared a bit more.’
I was too complacent. Nothing in the dungeon could be predicted. If my sword hadn’t broken. If I had brought a scroll. If I had just paid a little more attention… Countless regrets tangled in Gu Jin-ha’s mind, but that didn’t mean the situation would change.
‘I have no choice.’
Facing the howling Swamp Dragon, Gu Jin-ha clenched his fists.
“Goooohhhhh!”
To save Hong Yu-ri, he had to take it down as quickly as possible.
Time was really of the essence now.
***
Swamp Dragon.
A draconic entity that resides deep within forested swamps. Though it possesses no wings or intelligence, its name suggests it is a monster far stronger than Araneas.
‘What a monstrous child.’
Facing such a creature, he mustered all his strength without the use of magic. No backing down possible.
“Gwaaaaah!”
The Swamp Dragon opened its enormous maw and charged at him. Gu Jin-ha halted it.
‘What are you planning?’
The veins in Gu Jin-ha’s arms bulged as he summoned all his strength.
And with remarkable effort, he was pushing the Swamp Dragon back!
“Gwaaaah!”
Even with its 4.4t weight and 426 strength thrashing around…!
‘No, this is my chance!’
I couldn’t just sit and watch. I used the momentum from the rush of wind to close the distance. But Gu Jin-ha was already in position—he had clearly seen the struggle with the Swamp Dragon.
‘The gap in agility is insane…’
It was extreme. Once I initiated my own action, he had already taken second or third moves. His punch that had been blocking withstood a shift upward.
‘…I can’t dodge it!’
The Awakening Evil was still closing in. I couldn’t buy more time. So.
‘I have to break through!’
I summoned all my magic. My body creaked under the ferocious mobilization of magic—148. Compared to his, it was nothing, but it would do.
“Gwaaaaah!”
He charged from the opposite side. The instant Gu Jin-ha’s expression twisted slightly, he vanished.
‘Told you.’
Finally used his magic. The moment his sword handle sank in, the Swamp Dragon screeched in agony. With the precondition of wielding magic, even the Dungeon Boss couldn’t hold up to Gu Jin-ha—within that brief interval as I dashed towards Hong Yu-ri, he had taken out the Swamp Dragon not once, but twice.
If he’d had a sword in hand, the dragon would have been dead twice over.
‘……’
When Gu Jin-ha wielded magic, he was on a whole different level. Previous movements looked like child’s play in comparison, his speed skyrocketing. But I was prepared.
‘I was expecting this.’
I believed he would find a way to overcome it. Gu Jin-ha’s punch came rushing in with the fierce intent to crush my skull. His straightforward movement held no technique. That was precisely why it was the fastest. If Gu Jin-ha’s punch landed, I knew my head would be smashed to pieces.
Gu Jin-ha’s gaze was filled with certainty. —I found comfort in that.
‘Because I got through.’
The trajectory of his arm shifted. Gu Jin-ha’s eyes widened. Why? A look of confusion filled his gaze.
‘I had no certainty.’
I was hit, but there was no guarantee that Gu Jin-ha would be. So it was a gamble, and it paid off. The magic that knocked Gu Jin-ha’s fists aside returned. —A technique I had learned from the Monk. Using stealth to conceal my magic. Even though I had knocked his arm aside with magic, I could only slightly alter its trajectory. His hand struck my skull.
Ker-thud!
Even just grazing it, my skull cracked.
But— I was the one smiling.
“Alpha!”
I ignored his call and picked up the fallen Hong Yu-ri. As Gu Jin-ha pursued like a storm, I realized he couldn’t catch up.
“Ugh!”
During our little tussle, the gust had completely torn Gu Jin-ha’s ankle apart. He was left sitting on the ground.
“Alpha――!”
His heart-wrenching cry echoed throughout the forest.
—And so, all preparations were complete.
Ready to lure in the Awakening Evil.
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