Chapter 10
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: Became the Last Giant Clan
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‘Butterflies leave a foul stench and sticky mucus around the dungeons they create.’
And right now.
A cave strikingly similar to the ones their dungeons from the past lay before his eyes.
Kang Hyuk wrinkled his nose because of it.
As far as he remembered, the Butterfly dungeon had been found after wandering deep into the mountains.
But upon recalling the details, he realized that wasn’t the case.
‘It wasn’t wandering—it was on the way down the mountain. Meaning, finding it at this spot wasn’t a coincidence.’
With the question resolved, the corner of his mouth lifted.
‘Does this mean I don’t have to play these petty mind games with Lee Yong anymore?’
And at that thought, he shook his head once more.
Now that luck had led him to find the dungeon early.
There was no need to waste energy on pointless rivalry with that guy anymore.
Having reached that conclusion, Kang Hyuk stood up.
As he turned his head, Lee Yong and his team members—who had already subdued the Butterfly—approached.
“You fucking bastard.”
Lee Yong, his face twisted in rage, grabbed Kang Hyuk by the collar from among them.
“What the fuck are you? How the hell did you dodge that Butterfly’s attack?”
Kang Hyuk fell silent at the question.
Enraged by the sight, Lee Yong finally unleashed his ability.
“How did you dodge it, you fucker!”
Whoosh!
His awakened ability, Ignition.
Flames rising from his hand began to scorch Kang Hyuk’s clothes.
“T-Team Leader! Stop!”
“You can’t use your ability here!”
“Let go, you bastards! I’ll roast you all too!?”
“There might still be drones watching!”
“Please!”
The horrified team members tried to intervene, but Lee Yong showed no signs of stopping.
Just as the 2nd Team Leader, having abandoned even the last shred of reason, was about to cause real trouble.
We’ve discovered a dungeon.
“……?”
“Down there—the dungeon made by the escaped Butterfly.”
The sudden declaration rang out.
At those words, Lee Yong’s flame-wreathed fist halted right before Kang Hyuk’s nose.
“A dungeon?”
“Yes. Judging by the smell and the surrounding features, it’s almost certain.”
“……This fucker’s bullshitting. A newbie with no field experience—how the hell would he spot a dungeon?”
“If you don’t believe me, go check it out. It’s not like you’ll lose anything by verifying.”
Lee Yong let out a hollow laugh at the response.
He moved to grab the collar again, but Kang Hyuk’s utterly serious expression and demeanor made him hesitate.
‘What the hell is with this guy?’
‘A dungeon aside, why is he so…… stiff?’
Unawakened humans couldn’t stand up to the awakened.
It was because of the overwhelming presence only the awakened could emit.
Yet this lowly civil servant before him was different.
Despite the pressure, he showed no fear or trembling.
He simply gazed down at him with indifferent eyes.
‘No way he’s awakened……? Nah, impossible. Even if this rat bastard was an unreported ‘villain’ awakened, I’d sense that distinct presence or mana. Something.’
Amid those thoughts, Lee Yong recalled a story he’d once overheard.
That some civilians with iron guts could maintain composure even before the awakened.
‘No way that was true?’
Muttering to himself, Lee Yong pondered briefly before releasing Kang Hyuk’s collar.
Then he gestured to his 2nd Team members standing behind him.
“Like this punk said, go down and check if there’s a dungeon.”
“Yes, sir!”
The team members vanished with their response.
In the meantime, Lee Yong lit a cigarette and spoke up.
“If there’s a dungeon, consider yourself dead.”
“…….”
“Even if there isn’t one, consider yourself dead.”
Kang Hyuk let out a smirk at the threat.
‘Consistent as ever. Good.’
Afterward, he hoisted Senior Officer Lee Yeon-hee, who had passed out facing the Butterfly, onto his shoulder.
And as he slyly picked up a small stone from the ground.
“Team Leader!”
“It’s real! This cave—it’s a Butterfly dungeon!”
The team members who had gone to investigate shouted back.
Lee Yong’s eyes narrowed at that.
‘He was actually right?’
Doubts piled up once more.
Those doubts amplified the odd sense of unease emanating from the lowly civil servant.
‘……Is there really something off about this fucker?’
Muttering, he nervously stubbed out his cigarette.
After a moment’s hesitation, he shook his head.
Unsettling or not, this civil servant was just a civilian.
For many reasons, but mainly because he didn’t carry the distinct hunter scent.
‘Even if he’s hiding something, fuck…… What could it be from some shitty civil servant?’
With his thoughts settled, Lee Yong grinned savagely.
“Follow me, you punk.”
He didn’t hide his excitement for the violence about to unfold.
Meanwhile, the 2nd Team members, shocked by Lee Yong heading into the dungeon, asked.
“A-Are you going in, Team Leader?”
“Sh-Shouldn’t we report it……?”
“A Butterfly dungeon—won’t it be tough with just us?”
But Lee Yong wasn’t one to heed warnings.
“You fucking idiots! Then should we spot a dungeon and just walk away!?”
“B-But……”
“You know why national hunters don’t grow? Because they hand over every soulstone from dungeons and gates……! Quit your commie bullshit!”
With that shout, Lee Yong strode forward.
The 2nd Team exchanged uneasy glances but followed in the end.
This time, their team leader was right.
“You come too, punk!”
Lee Yong yelled, beckoning Kang Hyuk who stood at a distance.
Kang Hyuk, having laid the unconscious Lee Yeon-hee in a safe spot, followed as ordered.
“…….”
Meanwhile, the 2nd Team Leader, who had entered the dungeon first, scanned the surroundings.
As expected, no drones or CCTV in sight.
‘No traces left behind here.’
His lips curled at the thought.
“Soulstones aside……”
He turned leisurely.
“You’re getting beat first. Close your eyes and brace for death.”
With those words, he stepped forward.
“…….”
Kang Hyuk narrowed his eyes at the murderous advance.
And awakened the giant’s power.
Power of the Last Giant Clan is activated.
Giant's Vision is obtained.
Power of the Last Giant Clan: 0.8%
In that instant, his expanded vision pierced the darkness, revealing the monster lurking deep within the vast cave.
Power of the Last Giant Clan is activated.
Giant's Hand is obtained.
Power of the Last Giant Clan: 0.7%
Confirming its presence, Kang Hyuk gripped the stone in his hand tighter.
And with speed no one present could detect, he hurled it.
“Whining won’t save you. One leg, one arm—I’ll snap them, and you’ll never……”
As Lee Yong closed in on Kang Hyuk and raised his hand.
Boom!
A massive explosion-like roar shook the entire cave.
Kieeeek!
The monster’s cry echoed, followed by the flapping of wings from the depths.
The startled 2nd Team Leader and his team whipped their heads around.
“Wh-What?”
Amid their panicked voices, something burst through the darkness.
The eight Butterflies that had fled the gate into the mountains.
“Fuck!”
“What the hell! Why are they coming now?!”
Lee Yong retracted his raised fist at the monsters’ sudden appearance.
He barked orders swiftly.
“Form up, you idiots! Block first, ask later!”
As he shouted, the 2nd Team Leader and members forgot Kang Hyuk and prepared for battle.
Whoosh!
The 2nd Team Leader ignited his ability, hurling a massive fireball at the Butterflies.
Kieeeek!
The Butterflies flinched at the flames, letting out eerie cries.
“Where do you think you’re going, you bugs!”
A glint entered Kang Hyuk’s eyes as he watched.
Now that he saw it, Lee Yong’s ability countered the Butterflies perfectly.
Evidence: his attacks landed as effectively as a D-rank hunter’s.
Kieeek!
The Butterflies, unable to endure, tried to take flight, but the cave’s low ceiling prevented it.
Lee Yong’s eyes widened as he yelled.
“They can’t fly because of the ceiling! Crush them now!”
With that, the 2nd Team Leader and members launched a full assault.
Kieeeek!
Though five times more numerous than before, the Butterflies couldn’t counter properly in the cramped space.
They only repeated threatening gestures at each other.
“…….”
Kang Hyuk quietly observed the battle before turning his gaze deeper into the cave.
His lips curled up.
‘Pretty brutal.’
This dungeon’s true master.
The Big Butterfly, awakened by the stone he’d thrown moments ago, was approaching.
The others hadn’t sensed its rage yet, but it was only a matter of time.
Everyone, including Lee Yong, would notice soon.
And Kang Hyuk’s prediction hit the mark perfectly.
“……What?”
Lee Yong paused mid-flame barrage at the Butterflies.
“What the……”
He felt the same murderous intent Kang Hyuk had earlier.
His mouth gaped at the chilling pressure raising every hair on his body.
Kieeeek!
An eerie wail reverberated.
Kiiiiieeeek!
Lee Yong backed away step by step at the ear-splitting shriek.
He muttered blankly.
“……Big Butterfly?”
The upgraded version of the Butterfly.
Big Butterfly.
In many ways, it was a fitting gatekeeper for a D-rank gate.
Kieeeek!
Unlike regular Butterflies, the Big Butterfly didn’t spray paralyzing venom—it could ‘disperse’ it.
The poison in powder form, not liquid.
And dispersing rather than spraying made it deadly to humans.
Liquid venom could be dodged, but humans with respiratory systems couldn’t evade airborne attacks.
“Aaaagh!”
“M-My body…… It won’t move!”
Proof: the veteran 2nd Team hunters succumbed to the poison without much fight.
“……Eek! Get away, get away!”
As they lost control, the Big Butterfly moved leisurely.
“Ugh……”
It bound the terrified ones with silk from its maw.
Preparing its meal for whenever it pleased.
“……This is insane!”
“Run!”
“It’ll eat us!”
But it wasn’t mere self-indulgence.
The fear it induced through this act.
It aimed to control the remaining prey with that terror.
‘D-rank boss monsters boast high intelligence. In that sense…… Rushing in without strategy or control could backfire.’
Thus, the fear-stricken 2nd Team Leader and his subordinates had already lost the battle.
“Aaaagh!”
They fled without proper formation against a D-rank monster.
Considering the Big Butterfly’s agile flight speed, it was suicidal—and Kang Hyuk’s prediction struck true again.
“Ugh……”
The 2nd Team hunters collapsed unconscious after mere steps.
Only the veteran-ish Lee Yong remained conscious.
Kang Hyuk’s eyes gleamed at that.
‘There’s still a chance.’
Lee Yong’s ability, Ignition, was a solid counter even against the upgraded Big Butterfly.
Factoring that in, victory wasn’t impossible.
‘If Lee Yong fights with his life on the line.’
With that thought, Kang Hyuk looked up.
Would Lee Yong choose differently this time?
Fight for his team instead of fleeing?
And then.
“Fuck!”
Lee Yong spat curses and bolted, leaving his fainted team behind.
“T-Team Leader!”
“Don’t care! I gotta survive first, fuck!”
The few still conscious team members cried out in shock.
“You fucker!!!!”
But their outburst didn’t last.
The Big Butterfly’s silk bound their bodies.
Now the entire 2nd Team, save Lee Yong, were silk-wrapped.
Terror overwhelming him, Lee Yong screamed—then spotted Kang Hyuk standing far in the corner.
“…….”
Out of his mind with fear, he couldn’t fathom why Kang Hyuk hadn’t fled and stood still.
Instead, he delusionally saw a perfect ‘scapegoat’ to replace him.
“C-Come here, punk. If you’re as useless as me, then for my sake……”
Snarling, Lee Yong reached out.
He grabbed Kang Hyuk’s wrist forcibly, trying to drag and toss him.
“Sacrifice for me…… Sacrifice for me! I’m not dying here!”
In that moment, the hunter’s power activated.
An E-rank hunter’s superhuman strength surged.
But.
“……?”
Despite the strength, Kang Hyuk didn’t budge.
Shocked, Lee Yong yanked again—to no avail.
Like a deeply rooted old tree, Kang Hyuk’s arm withstood his grip effortlessly.
As his eyes bulged, Kang Hyuk slowly spoke.
“In the past or now, trash like you never changes.”
“Wh-What?”
“I gave you a chance, but you threw it away. Don’t blame anyone else.”
Muttering, Kang Hyuk reversed the grip, seizing Lee Yong’s hand on his arm.
And snapped it.
“Aaaagh!”
The scream came a beat late.
Overwhelmed by pain, Lee Yong couldn’t think straight.
In that time, Kang Hyuk awakened the giant’s power again.
Power of the Last Giant Clan is activated.
Giant's Hand is obtained.
Power of the Last Giant Clan: 0.3%
He lifted Lee Yong by the broken wrist into the air.
Kiiiiieeeek!
The excited Big Butterfly shrieked at the sight.
Kang Hyuk hurled Lee Yong toward it.
“Aaaaagh!”
Lee Yong tumbled across the ground, screaming.
He overcame the pain in his broken wrist and barely lifted his head.
A hollow laugh escaped him.
“……Fuck.”
The Big Butterfly flapped its wings at inescapable range.
He knew instinctively.
A desperate deathmatch was about to begin.
But.
Kieeeek—
He also felt, on instinct, it was a fight he couldn’t win.