Chapter 62
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 62
Chapter Title: Became the Last of the Giant Clan 62
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Right after entering the labyrinth.
Following Team Leader Kang's instructions, Lee Ye-sol refrained from acting rashly. She stayed hidden in a safe zone, protecting the civilians.
With just a bit of light pondering, that is.
'Which tie should I get him...'
She had decided to gift Team Leader Kang a tie.
As a thank-you for his help during the Jeju Island Gate incident—a perfectly plausible excuse.
The question was, which tie to choose.
'...Just buying him a luxury brand doesn't feel right.'
For someone of Team Leader Kang's caliber, designer labels weren't an issue.
If he wanted, he could easily snag the world's most expensive tie without batting an eye.
That's why it had to match his taste.
'He wears suits every day... nothing flashy in color... Maybe something like that.'
She was lost in this dilemma—far trickier than the labyrinth before her—racking her brain over and over.
"...?"
Suddenly, her senses picked up an eerie movement.
The moment Lee Ye-sol lifted her head, something massive blotted out her vision.
'Huh?'
There was no time to react.
The colossal thing moved with blinding speed and precision.
She could only blankly watch as her throat was seized.
Snapping to her senses too late, she tried to move, but her body wouldn't obey.
'P-Poison!'
Her senses went numb.
Her vision blurred, her ears rang.
Instinct told her some foreign toxin had invaded her body.
She struggled, but it was already too late.
The poison spread rapidly, stripping away her senses entirely.
"Wh-what the hell!"
"Who are you!"
"...Aaaagh!"
Screams echoed around her.
Clutching at her fading consciousness, Lee Ye-sol clung to those desperate cries piercing her deafened ears.
As she tried to activate her ability, Nightmare, to save the people, an unfamiliar Chinese voice rang out.
"Make any funny moves, and I'll carve a scar on that pretty face of yours."
She didn't understand the words, but the glinting blade spoke for itself.
Lee Ye-sol's mouth fell open.
'Why is a Chinese hunter here?'
Her mind swirled with questions.
But she couldn't dwell on them.
Another wave of poison forced her head to droop against her will.
Unable even to make out the shapes before her eyes, she dangled captive in the mystery player's grip.
"Like the little surprise I prepared, punk?"
The silent Chinese hunter finally spoke.
At the same time, a familiar silhouette barely registered in her hazy sight.
"... ."
A broad, dependable back.
The back of the man she'd only ever gazed at from afar.
'Team Leader Kang?'
Meanwhile, the Chinese hunter spoke again.
A sharp sting followed.
"Now that you've got the picture, let's keep this simple, punk. Answer my questions. Obey. Disobey, and I'll slice this bitch's throat one cut at a time."
Something warm trickled from the stinging spot on her neck.
Her own blood.
"First question. How did a worm like you find that dungeon in Gangwon Province? Did you know about it? Pure luck? Speak clearly. Any lies or bullshit, and her throat gets it right away."
That's when Lee Ye-sol pieced it together.
This man's target wasn't her.
'Team Leader Kang was the goal all along.'
That's why he was using her as a hostage.
Realizing this, Lee Ye-sol bit her lip.
'Not only can I not help... I'm just a burden...'
She squeezed her eyes shut, desperately seeking a way to break free.
"Do it."
A cold voice cut through.
"Do it. And you'll answer for whatever comes after."
Lee Ye-sol's mouth parted slightly as she raised her gaze.
"... ."
Through her blurred vision, she caught Team Leader Kang's unfamiliar expression.
A sly, alien smile tugged at his lips.
That jarring sight nearly halted her thoughts.
'...Huh?'
His eyes locked on hers.
Unlike that bizarre expression, they held the gaze she knew so well.
'That's...'
The look he gave his teammates—not her specifically.
Unmistakable. Forgetting her plight, Lee Ye-sol's mouth opened in realization.
She understood.
'Team Leader Kang isn't abandoning me!'
In that instant, her body was hoisted into the air.
"Ugh!"
Pain made her squeeze her eyes shut.
The Chinese hunter spoke amid it all.
"Fine, let's see what you've got, punk."
A chill crept up from behind her.
Lee Ye-sol opened her eyes, naturally meeting Team Leader Kang's gaze.
"... ."
In that split second.
A faint smile crossed her lips as she mouthed silently.
'I trust you.'
His eyes flickered at the wordless message.
Seeing that, she closed her eyes.
That moment.
"...!"
Fresh blood sprayed.
"...What?"
The Chinese hunter panicked, staring at the hole in his shoulder.
"This is...!"
Horror-struck, he whipped his head around.
Meeeoooow!
A bizarre cry echoed through the labyrinth.
In his previous life.
Back when he was Hunter Association President.
Kang Hyuk had clashed with countless villains and red players.
'Where there's good, there's evil; where there's light, there's shadow.'
Unlike regular hunters, they moved only for their own pleasure and greed, committing atrocities without remorse using their powers.
Kang Hyuk had faced endless threats and hostage situations, gaining one key insight from it all.
'You can never resolve things by playing along with their demands.'
That's why he ignored Yang Chen—the Three Generals' Dog Corps Leader.
'Even if I answered, he wouldn't spare Lee Ye-sol, let alone me.'
Someone like Xiao Ran's mad hound wouldn't leave witnesses, even after achieving his goal.
So he rejected the offer and provoked instead.
"Do it. And you'll answer for whatever comes after."
Yang Chen's expression wavered.
My actions defied his expectations, planting doubt.
'That's right. Waver. That's when the opening appears.'
Muttering to himself, Kang Hyuk stepped forward, provoking more.
His eyes flashed.
At that moment, Black—the one he'd secretly unleashed before arriving—peeked out.
...!
It began a cautious flight.
But that assassin's sharp senses would spot it.
That's why Kang Hyuk knew the 'Cape of Winid' he'd tied around Black's neck was a godsend.
'The cape’s special ability: Wind Concealment. It manipulates all air currents.'
The hyper-sensitive assassin hadn't noticed Black's flight at all.
'Even with a dog's nose, if you control the scent-carrying air flows, he can't detect it.'
With that thought, Kang Hyuk smirked.
As he taunted Yang Chen, drawing his full attention.
"...Fine, go ahead, punk. Let's see if you keep that smug face after this bitch dies."
Having lost the tug-of-war, Yang Chen moved to stab Lee Ye-sol's throat.
Kang Hyuk, who'd been waiting for that gap, bellowed.
"Black!"
The shout unleashed the eerie cry.
Blood erupted from Yang Chen's shoulder, dagger still in hand.
"What?"
The startled assassin twisted away.
Kang Hyuk lunged, wrapping Giant's Strike around his fist.
'...!'
Sensing the ominous power, Yang Chen released his grip on Lee Ye-sol.
She coughed violently upon falling free. Kang Hyuk scooped her up, murmuring.
"You okay, Miss Lee Ye-sol?"
"...Yes."
"You held out well. Leave the rest to me."
A small smile crossed her lips.
Then her eyes fluttered shut as she passed out.
Glancing at her wound, he said.
"Black. Take care of her."
Meeeoooow!
The Black Wyvern cried out, letting Lee Ye-sol onto its back.
Yang Chen ground his teeth, watching.
'Damn it... Black Wyvern... Forgot about that.'
His fatal mistake.
Mind-numbing.
He should've anticipated the S-rank's moves.
The wyvern scales from the Gangwon dungeon—he still had one in his pocket.
'Too many surprises... My judgment's clouded.'
Rage trembled his shoulders, but as a pro, he quickly reined it in.
"Hoo..."
With cold reason, he muttered.
'How... is this punk handling a Black Wyvern? A dual ability user with taming?'
His eyes gleamed.
'If true... Beyond the prize, I need to report this. A freak like that in this trash country. But to do that...'
He'd have to clash with the S-rank talent head-on.
'I won't let him go either, but that S-rank won't spare me.'
Face hardening, Yang Chen thought.
'Black Wyvern... And that other ability my soul saw... No choice but to unseal the taboo.'
He unleashed the forbidden modifications from Xiao Ran's ritual.
"...!"
His body twisted grotesquely.
"...Graaaargh!"
His scream heralded the change: arms morphing into beastly forepaws.
But that was just the start.
Crunch!
Fur sprouted across his body, skeleton reshaping.
No longer a bipedal human, but a quadrupedal beast.
[Graaaaaargh!]
The true mark of shedding humanity: three elongated heads.
Fully transformed, Yang Chen resembled the mythical Cerberus.
[Now that you've seen this!]
[I'll rip your head off, punk!]
[Don't dream of walking away alive!]
Roaring, flames gathered in the beast's maws.
Fwoosh!
The inferno scorched the air as it shot forward.
Kang Hyuk stared into the blazing abyss, then pulled back his fist.
Boom!
Giant's power collided with the fireball mid-air.
Crrrackle!
In their clash of strength, Yang Chen's flames buckled.
[Kuhahaha!]
Yet Yang Chen laughed.
Uspent embers scattered, landing on Kang Hyuk and igniting.
[Fool!]
[That's no ordinary fire—it's 'Hellfire'!]
[It'll burn right through your puny fist!]
True to his word, the embers refused to die, blazing around Kang Hyuk.
[S-rank or not, you're still human!]
[You can't resist unquenchable flames!]
Yang Chen prepared his next move: new fireballs in three maws, power surging into massive forepaws.
'End it with this strike!'
As he charged—
An unbelievable twist.
[...!]
The flames that should never extinguish suddenly died out.
Horrified, he looked: the S-rank's cape.
Its aura devoured every flame nearby.
[Wh-what?]
Impossible. Yang Chen gaped in shock.
Kang Hyuk murmured.
"Done talking?"
He stepped forward.
[...!]
The giant frame vanished.
Yang Chen whipped around—too late.
A massive impact slammed his gut.
[...Guh!]
Pain allowed only a gasp.
No scream.
The S-rank loomed behind, speaking slowly.
"Done talking, right?"
From the voice, Yang Chen knew.
"No more chances for last words. Chink."
His assessment of the S-rank's power.
Way off the mark.