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“This is a nightmare!”

Euna’s face went pale as the monsters approached.

“Ten… no, twenty… they’re all coming!”

Even without her saying it, countless footsteps echoed through the cave. The archer raised her voice sharply.

“Fall back, fall back!”

A horde of monsters rushed forward. Even though the spear user threw a smoke grenade, it wouldn’t hold them back. The monsters charged through the smoke. Before long, Euna had pulled a lantern from her bag and was running at the forefront. As she looked back, she extended her hand.

“β-Sheet!”

In the narrow passage, they arrived at the spot where they had retreated from the spider, ready for action. A web-like net spread out, tripping up the monsters that had followed closely behind. The spear user whistled in approval.

“Nice job!”

The spear user tossed a torch at the monsters that had stumbled. The lantern was providing enough light for the way. Although the web wasn’t made of protein but magic power—which meant it wouldn’t burn—the monsters’ fur and flesh surely would. The monsters tumbled against the cave floor, entangled with each other, extinguishing the flames. While the damage wasn’t severe, they had successfully bought some time.

“Aren’t you going to help?”

Keeping a safe distance from the retreating hunters, Kang Tae-ho asked, but the wolf shook its head. Since they had managed to hold them off for now, it thought it best to observe a bit longer.

There were still consumables left, so getting out of the dungeon shouldn’t be difficult. Just as the wolf had anticipated, the hunters were in the process of escaping—the horde began to rip through the web. The entangled monsters struggled and flailed, trying to move forward, and the wolf’s gaze shifted beyond them.

[High Lyhon]

[Body Length 4.69m] [Height 1.78m] [Weight 632kg]

[Strength 398] [Agility 379] [Health 374]

[Skills Available]

[Weak Beast Strength (D)] [Weak Stealth (E)] [Predation (F)]

Suddenly, Lyhon halted in his tracks as he felt a chilling gaze. It was as if he would die the moment he moved… Dismissing the sensation as a figment of his imagination, he started to run again.

‘Lyhon…’

A large feline creature, looking like a mix between a saber-toothed tiger and a lion. Though devoid of magic, the base of its status was impressive. It probably rivaled that of the rogue factions, and even if it struggled against Aranea, it would be a decent fight.

When it approached the area with the web, the wolf and Kang Tae-ho had already escaped outside the cave. As the lantern light grew nearer, some of the swifter monsters closely pursued the hunters.

“…!”

The spear user drew his spear from his back and took up a defensive position. He stepped forward and thrust the spear, aiming straight between the monster’s eyes, but it wouldn’t stop. Instead, it used the fallen monster as a shield and charged. Just before the devastating rush could crush him, a wave of light gathered and pushed them apart.

The timing with the scroll was good, but the distance was short. Just as he thought he might be captured again, a magic pulled him away to safety. He barely escaped with his life.

“Phew…”

In that brief moment of relief, light finally began to emerge. As they neared the dungeon entrance, the sound of pounding feet grew louder. The terror of predators was hot on their heels. The hunters made it out, but nothing changed their predicament.

“This is…”

In the darkness, the monsters’ eyes began to gleam with light. That was a bad sign—they were far too close now.

“Are you seriously not going to help?”

Realizing the hopelessness of the situation, Kang Tae-ho scratched beneath his chin, but Alpha showed no signs of moving. If anything, he was the one feeling anxious. After all, this situation was hardly comfortable for him. He desperately wanted to help, but due to his position, he couldn’t act recklessly. He had followed as a supervisor for Alpha while merely monitoring him. To move first would imply he didn’t trust Alpha and would negate the point of being there.

“But if things get serious, I will jump in immediately. Got it?”

At Kang Tae-ho’s warning, the wolf nodded vaguely. The wolf’s gaze was directed ahead—he still did not consider the situation particularly dangerous. He believed they could eventually break free. After all, Euna was currently casting a chant.

“—Explosion!”

The explosion caved in the cave entrance. The monsters hastened their flight to escape, but many were either buried in the fallen debris or isolated from the hunters on the other side. Still, Kang Tae-ho shook his head. They could buy time, but it was only a temporary solution. Ultimately, the monsters would still break through. As they began to charge, the rubble shook. Thud—thud! Soon enough, light began to trickle into the cave. The spear user stabbed through the gap, but the horde didn’t stop. No, it intensified as if there was no other option.

“…!”

Finally, as the monsters broke free from the dungeon, Kang Tae-ho gritted his teeth. Yet somehow, the horde did not charge the hunters. Terrifying roars echoed from behind, causing everyone to scatter in different directions. In that moment of chaos, the fallen debris collapsed in a spray, and the spear user quickly rolled away. What emerged from the rubble was—the dungeon’s boss they had spotted earlier, Lyhon.

“Superior species…”

“…Uhm.”

A far larger superior species than the Lyhon they were familiar with. It had always been a challenging monster, and no matter how they considered it, the odds seemed slim, causing both the archer and warrior to fall silent. A strong smell of blood wafted from within the cave. There would surely be monsters dead beneath the debris, but even if they survived, Lyhon would have likely devoured them.

“―――!”

With an intimidating roar, Euna’s gaze shifted to the wolf. Although she was certain they’d lose this fight, Alpha didn’t budge. Neither did the team leader. Though he looked displeased, he stood with arms crossed, seemingly prepared to watch for the time being. As the blood dripped from Lyhon’s maw, he took a step closer, causing the spear user and warrior to draw up their magic power, which caught Lyhon’s attention.

“Hold the line!”

At the archer’s command, the spear user and warrior stepped forward to block Lyhon’s advance. They wouldn’t retreat. It wasn’t about having a mission as hunters; it was just that they had each other’s backs. They wouldn’t step up now—if a dangerous situation were to arise, they absolutely would. They saw it as a good opportunity. How often do you get a chance to fight a powerful monster without risking your life? The archer strung her bow, convinced that this might be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

“If we take it head-on…!”

Just as she was about to say they shouldn’t, Lyhon leapt. As he exited the dungeon, his massive size gained him even more advantage. The beast leaped high and set his sights on the archer. The archer widened the distance and ripped open a scroll.

The overwhelming difference in status meant the ranks fell apart in an instant. Lyhon cleared over the two at the front and landed, charging toward the archer. The spear user threw his spear, but it was effortlessly dodged. Just like that, the entire formation was shattered by one monster. The spear user and warrior hastily pursued, but by then, Lyhon had already tackled the archer to the ground.

It felt as if her spine were crushed under the weight of its forepaw. As Lyhon opened his jaw to deliver the killing blow, light began to gather, but at this rate, only a corpse would be sent back.

“This…!”

Kang Tae-ho, unable to hold back, reached out, but before the terrifying wind pressure could hit, it was offset by the gusts. There was no need to see who it was. Kang Tae-ho glared daggers at the wolf.

“What are you doing?!”

Before Lyhon could sink his teeth into the archer’s neck, his foot came down first, smashing her skull. If things kept going this way, the effect of the scroll would activate only after her death.

“Distort!”

By a hair, he managed to block it. The archer slipped back into the ranks, but she sensed the odds were against them.

“Are you planning to block again?”

This was the end. It was impossible for them to defeat the superior species Lyhon. If they could stay calm in a narrow cave, it might be a different story, but in a wide-open space, the odds were nil. Despite Kang Tae-ho’s desire to help, the wolf remained detached as he observed the situation.

“…Not yet.”

At those words, Kang Tae-ho gritted his teeth. For now, they couldn’t take an attack head-on. Besides, gaining the speed advantage was also impossible. In the end, it was just a matter of time until the fight concluded. They could gain experience, but if things went poorly, it could lead to irreversible consequences…

The archer was perplexed to find the string snapped as she pulled it taut. She retrieved a new string from her pocket and tied it, but during that time, the spatial distortion fell apart. Euna clenched her numbed hands and frowned. It was because Lyhon’s gaze fell on her. He likely calculated that it would be better to deal with her before the others. Though she stood at the center of the ranks, it raised questions about its significance.

But as long as the team leader and Alpha weren’t moving…!

“Ten seconds. Just give me ten seconds.”

The hunters nodded carefully. They hoped the standoff would continue, but while they may hesitate, Lyhon had no reason to hold back. With newfound momentum, he lifted his forepaw to pounce. Seeing this, the warrior charged forward. Attempting to slip beneath the colossal lion while holding his shield ended up backfiring. Yet, that halted Lyhon’s advance, as a sword had pierced through between his forelimbs.

Despite the spear user catching the warrior as they were pushed back, Lyhon growled and pulled out the sword. Even while bleeding, he didn’t care, trampling down and breaking the blade and hilt. By the time the two hunters lost their weapons, the archer had already let fly her arrow. The spell-laden arrow flew towards Lyhon, but he merely turned his head to evade it. While it grazed him and caused a wound, that was all.

“…….”

As they found themselves feeling despondent in the face of overwhelming odds, Lyhon lunged towards Euna.

“Embiggen!”

A colossal stake that had been hovering above suddenly soared toward Lyhon. It was fast, but everyone knew he wouldn’t be defeated by something like that.

“Distort―!”

Thus prepared, Euna prepared the chant. Perceptively feeling the direction Lyhon would evade, she twisted the space, and the immense stake was influenced by that as well. The beast tore through the magic with its brute strength and attempted to escape. In that instance, the archer’s arrow pierced Lyhon’s eye. In that split second, Lyhon, whose judgment was clouded by pain, met the massive stake. But Euna had to bite her lip. Lyhon twisted his body, swatting away the stake with one of his forelimbs, merely leaving him with a torn-off leg. Blood poured from the twisted shoulder, but his gaze remained bloodthirsty.

“…….”

In the meantime, the spear user retrieved the spear he had thrown and returned to the ranks. Lyhon had lost a leg and sustained an eye wound, but victory was still uncertain. The warrior prepared to throw a dagger, if only as a substitute for his broken shield and sword. The longer they could stall, the more advantageous it would be for the hunters.

“Cough.”

As the situation shifted abruptly, Kang Tae-ho cleared his throat awkwardly. A glimmer of hope ignited in him as his stiff expression eased.

‘Maybe there’s a chance…’

As the growling Lyhon approached the hunters, he lost his balance, staggering. The hunters reformed their ranks, facing Lyhon’s menacing gaze, and Euna swallowed hard.

‘We can do this.’

Recalling their conversation from the rooftop last night, Euna pressed her lips tightly together. She couldn’t just give up now. They had received the elixir. If she had anything to hope for, she needed to show it… As they held their ground, something rustled within the dungeon. The monsters that had run for their lives from Lyhon’s pursuit had darted for cover into the left path of the three branching ways.

“Hey, what’s going on…?”

Seeing the absurd situation unfold, Kang Tae-ho urged the wolf. Just then, shadows consumed the monsters as they rushed out of the dungeon, and they vanished.

“…How peculiar.”

Kang Tae-ho scratched his head at the sight. Regardless, the fact remained that only the hunters and Lyhon were left.

 

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