Chapter 99
Chapter 99
Civil Servant Hunter’s S-class Resignation Log – Chapter 99
If not for the glowing stones embedded here and there, it would have been impossible to see ahead in the pitch-black, cramped space. It was a disadvantageous battlefield.
"Will the path keep going like this?"
"No. Dungeon names aren't just made up. It's called a 'castle,' so either a real castle or something on that level will show up."
As Kang Se-jun, who had entered this place before, predicted, the narrow path soon came to an end.
Everyone who stepped out let out gasps of admiration. Beneath a sky shrouded in darkness stood a massive white castle.
"A Grade 1 dungeon is on a whole other scale compared to the others. A castle, of all things."
"I heard the Cheolwon Dungeon had an active volcano inside. Seems like the higher the grade, the bigger the scale."
Se-ra was appalled by Jung Ho-young's words. An active volcano?
How on earth had her mom fought in there twelve years ago? She wasn't even a fire-specialized mage like Kang Se-jun.
"!"
That's when they sensed monsters. Everyone fell silent and held their breath. Jung Ho-young, scouting ahead, held up two fingers.
Two monsters.
'Should we take them out?'
She signaled with her gun, but Jung Ho-young shook his head. The monsters hadn't noticed them yet, so they should observe a bit more.
Lu Enwei, who had been watching the outside with her, clicked her tongue. At the gesture to fall back, everyone retreated into the narrow path. Only after putting some distance did Lu Enwei irritably spit it out.
"What rotten luck. Phantoms."
Phantoms. Among ghost-types, they were top-tier monsterseven hunters who could hunt spirits struggled against them.
These nightmare-bringers were far worse than the white ghosts Se-ra had faced before.
"Normal tactics don't work against ghost-types. And phantoms make it even worse. One slip, and we'll be haunted by nightmares for life."
Plus, if the boss was a magical beast, even L-rankers couldn't guarantee victory.
"If it's a magical beast, all three L-rankers would have to pile on. They wouldn't even have time to worry about the other monsters. You think five S-rankers could handle that?"
Lu Enwei looked at the S-rankers pitifully. She grumbled that they shouldn't have come here.
Downplaying the S-rankers in this situation didn't help at all. Se-ra found her pathetic.
"The boss is probably in the castle, so let's smash that first. Clear out hiding spots for the monsters, then take them down. Fastest way."
"I agree. With Kang Se-jun's firepower, destroying the castle should be easy."
"Once the boss mob pops out, we'll handle it. You five deal with the monsters in the meantime."
It was a rough plan, but ghost-types left no choice. Unlike other monsters, they could pass through objects, making them perfect for ambushesthey had to block that first.
"Any objections?"
There probably weren't. Lu Enwei scanned the hunters one by one. In the silence, Se-ra raised her hand slightly.
"Got a complaint?"
"Yes. Having three L-rankers on the boss is too inefficient."
"Then what? We need all three just to handle a ghost-type magical beast."
"It's fine. I'll take it alone."
"What?"
Lu Enwei glared, as if it were reckless bravado.
But if you had the ability, it wasn't bravado. Se-ra snapped her fingers, and a small cube appeared in the air.
"I'm a space ability user. My power can separate the boss from the monsters."
With the red cube, she could kill ghost-types too. And now that the skill was upgraded, every attack would land inside the cube.
"While I block it, you all handle the monsters. That's most efficient."
"Have you lost your mind? Efficient? You can't kill a Grade 1 magical beast alone. Cocky just because you took down one in Cheolwon?"
"Hunter Lu Enwei, that's too far. Don't be rude. If you keep it up, the Korean Association will warn China."
Lu Enwei's eyes flashed fiercely at Do Jun-young's warning. Her face twisted in frustrationKorea, once far weaker than China, now matched them.
"If it's cockiness, it'll end with my death, so no need for Hunter Lu Enwei to worry."
Se-ra defused the freezing tension.
"Anyway, I can do it, that's why I'm saying. You wouldn't know, Hunter Lu Enwei, but I have terrible matchup against ghost-types."
"Terrible matchup? And you're taking it solo? You're completely insane."
Lu Enwei snorted, but backed off with a wave when Do Jun-young shot her another glare. She didn't care if Se-ra lived or died.
Coming to raid together yet acting like thisSe-ra was getting annoyed, but said no more.
Yeah, terrible matchup indeed. For those bastards, that is.
Se-ra smirked, backed by the strongest guardian keeping her sane.
Of all things, ghost-types. They brought back bad memories.
Those damn white ghosts that ruined her early quit!
'No grudge against phantoms specifically, but being ghost-types pisses me off enough. Haha. Time to relive that rage.'
She gripped her gun tightly, her face fierce enough to silence even Lu Enwei's constant complaints.
* * *
"Ninth Strike Spell: Meteor."
With the low chant, the darkened sky ignited. The phantoms, sensing the ominous mana flow, looked up in unison.
A meteor wrapped in flames streaked through the clouds. A meteor summoned by terrifying mana.
Kieeeek! Kiiiii!
The phantoms writhed with eerie cries. Even as rare physical ghost-types, they couldn't block the raining meteors.
Boom! Kwang! The castle, exuding a sinister aura, shattered amid deafening roars. As its twin towers collapsed, a massive chain rattledcharrrrk.
From the ruined castle emerged the boss: chains wrapped around its body, wielding a giant scythe. Red eyes gleamed from beneath its black robe.
"Phantom Lord, huh. Takes three L-rankers to kill that thing. You sure you can solo it?"
Lu Enwei sneered at Se-ra behind her. Having seen her get kidnapped effortlessly in America, it was understandable.
"Yes. Everyone else, stick to the plan."
The other seven were already positioned around. They'd handle the spawned phantoms while Se-ra blocked the boss solo. Even the infamous tricky Phantom Lord changed nothing.
"Activating skill."
As the Phantom Lord swung its scythe at Kang Se-jun raining meteors from above, a red cube enveloped it. The scythe halted just before him, blocked by the red wall.
Left in the isolated space: just it and Se-ra.
"Hi. Sorry for wrecking your house while you were chilling. Shouldn't have shown up on Earth."
Facing the skyscraper-sized Phantom Lord, Se-ra smiled leisurely. Heat, transformed into a shotgun revolver, was in one hand.
"The cube won't break till you kill me. Want to save your minions? Deal with me first."
[Arrogant fool. You think you can kill me alone?]
True to a top-tier magical beast, communication was flawless.
"Honestly, no idea? First time soloing a Grade 1 magical beast."
Different from Cheolwon. That one upgraded from Grade 2, so weaker than natives. This Phantom Lord was stronger.
"Normally, I wouldn't be so bold. But you're a ghost-type?"
[Don't get cocky, human. It'll hasten your death.]
Chains flew from its body. She dodged swiftly and fired the chains shattered with a bang.
As expected, inside the cube, she could strike ghost-types freely.
[Clever tricks, human.]
"You too."
She pulled the Crimson Flail from inventory, dripped bloodit whipped into form instantly. Shot down incoming chains, then lashed out with the longer post-S-rank whip.
Scythe met whip in a thunderous clash.
"Oh. Power's up with the rank boost?"
But S-rank weapon wasn't enough for Grade 1 damage.
So instead of attacking, Se-ra collapsed the space at her feet to obscure vision, then dove low and fired at its "face."
The shotgun revolver's devastating power poured out, but the bullets sliced empty air.
Those red eye-lights suggested a faceturns out no. Damn, confusing jerk.
"Gasp."
Chains flew again. She leaped into air to evadenow the scythe rushed. Blocked with Heatboom. A grating skreeeech pierced her ears.
[How? It doesn't break!]
"Wanna break this? Bring another EX-rank."
It's a gift from our Administrator, after all.
"Heat, transform."
The shotgun revolver shifted.
Panzerschreck. The anti-tank weapon's heavy shoulder presence brought a grin.
"Can't destroy my weapon? Then you die."
L-rank mana forged the rocket. If it couldn't block properly, it'd shred the beast.
Se-ra grinned, backed off, and fired with glee.
Kwaaaang! Flames erupted with colossal roar.
* * *
Lu Enwei bashed enraged minion phantoms with her spear, glancing sideways.
A massive red box in the former castle plaza. China's top focus was inside.
'So that's why the assassination failed.'
Instead of Wei Hu guarding the president, the security bureau attended WDO and orchestrated the Headbang representative's hit as a warning.
For clean closure, they outsourced to Blackjack, chased by America's Guardians.
Plan was perfectyet failed. Song Han-na raided Blackjack's base, wiping them out and extraditing all to the U.S. Association.
Absurd. How hard could kidnapping and killing one F-rank be? Something was hidden.
So Lu Enwei came here per the president's orders, learning the shocking truth.
That F-rank was Headbang herself.
'Must report this.'
His power and aura on the ship.
Not someone to dismiss as small-nation trash. Needed full intel breakdown.
Omniscient Mage? Kang Se-jun? Not the issue now. Headbang, fooling all L-rankers at WDO with calm face, was the real threat.
'Forget statsbest if she dies here.'
No matter how skilled, couldn't solo Phantom Lord.
So drag it out till she dies or takes fatal wounds needing urgent care.
"To do that, first."