Chapter 63

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Translator: 8uhl

Chapter: 63

Chapter Title: Labyrinthization of Seoul Station

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Word of Seoul Station's labyrinthization quickly reached Tusinjeon, the number one ranked guild in Korea.

"At 2:32 a.m., a mysterious barrier has enveloped the entirety of Seoul Station!"

"According to reports from hunters on site, it appears a D-rank gate 'labyrinthization' is in progress!"

Tusinjeon was the guild in charge of Seoul Station.

Because of this, Guild Master Bae Su-ji pushed aside the mountain of paperwork on her desk and rushed to the scene.

"Labyrinthization? Is that true?"

"...Yes. Hunters gathering to enter the site are trying to get in but keep getting blocked."

"What about dismantling the barrier?"

"It seems impossible at the moment. A system-level judgment like this can't be overridden by our abilities..."

Bae Su-ji's brow furrowed at the report.

'Labyrinthization... Of all gates, why did it have to happen at Seoul Station?'

In truth, labyrinthization gates weren't all that difficult compared to their infamous reputation.

Proof of that was the fact that the gate that appeared at Seoul Station this time was only D-rank.

'But what makes labyrinthization terrifying isn't the rank—it's that entry becomes impossible.'

Even for a D-rank gate, you needed at least a C-rank hunter to clear it.

But if there was no C-rank hunter in the labyrinthized area to resolve that D-rank gate, it turned into a 'nightmare' of a different sort.

'If the quest in the labyrinthized zone isn't cleared... the barrier won't lift. Meaning everyone trapped inside could die.'

Bae Su-ji bit her lip hard amid her mutterings.

"Huh?"

"That person..."

"It's Guild Master Bae Su-ji!"

Meanwhile, the massive crowd gathered to witness the anomaly at Seoul Station spotted her and widened their eyes.

"Korea's number one!"

"Bae Su-ji's here!"

"Then... the gate at Seoul Station isn't a problem anymore, right?"

Bae Su-ji pressed on toward the site amid the murmurs, but soon halted.

As the reports had indicated, Seoul Station was shrouded in a transparent barrier, rendering approach impossible.

'The system's message is absolute. Not even a nation can defy its rules.'

Bae Su-ji sank into thought with a mutter.

At that moment, several people approached her.

"Guild Master."

They were Tusinjeon hunters already on site.

"We're still tallying numbers, but... it looks like 13th Team Leader and five other D-rank hunters, plus eight guild members, are trapped inside Seoul Station."

Bae Su-ji frowned at the report.

"Just team leaders... What about the other hunters?"

"We're working on it, but... it's not easy. With all communication inside cut off, we won't know the full situation until the barrier lifts."

Bae Su-ji let out a sigh at those words.

"So in the end, we're at the mercy of luck, waiting for the barrier to drop."

"..."

"Got it. Relay any new info to me right away, and notify the Association and the press."

The Tusinjeon guild members were stunned by ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the order.

"...That could make things hard to handle later, Guild Master."

"Ever since the Jeju Island gate incident, the guild's reputation has hit rock bottom. Releasing info before we have the full picture could..."

But Bae Su-ji was resolute.

"What does that matter? Are we supposed to lie to the families, friends, and lovers of those trapped inside?"

"...That's not."

"We failed at our job. The least we can do is give those affected the right to know. No more arguments—release the info."

The guild members exchanged glances before nodding.

No one could stop Bae Su-ji once she'd made up her mind like that.

"..."

Left alone after, Bae Su-ji gazed once more at the barred Seoul Station.

She posed a cold question to herself.

'Can the people trapped inside... clear the quest on their ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠own?'

She shook her head.

There were thirteen Tusinjeon guild members inside, but clearing a D-rank labyrinthization with just them was impossible.

'What makes labyrinths scary isn't the monsters—it's the traps. For those still green, breaking through them... is wishful thinking.'

That meant hoping for some experienced hunter still unreported inside.

'If not... everyone trapped could die.'

Bae Su-ji's expression darkened as her thoughts reached that point.

"G-Guild Master!"

One of the guild members who'd just left came rushing back.

"I-Inside!"

Bae Su-ji whipped her head around, mouth agape.

"What? Say that again."

"He's... inside."

Her gaze shifted to a soldier beside the guild member.

"That S-rank talent... Kang Hyuk is at Seoul Station!"

The response came again.

Dark clouds lifted from Bae Su-ji's face in an instant.

A question arose simultaneously.

'Why is that guy at Seoul Station?'

But with the situation as it was, she didn't dwell on it.

Instead, her eyes flashed as she muttered.

'If he's really inside like they say...'

It could change the picture she'd envisioned.

No—even surpass it.

'Even half the rumors I've heard would make this labyrinthization a non-issue.'

If so, countless lives that should have been lost could be saved.

Bae Su-ji clenched her fist tight.

'Ghosting my KakaoTalk was infuriating... but please. Work one more miracle.'

Thus, an unexpected spark of hope bloomed, ushering in a time of waiting.

"...Gaaahhh!"

The labyrinth of Seoul Station.

"Keurk!"

Something was happening inside.

"Guh!"

An event utterly unforeseen even by Bae Su-ji, Korea's top hunter.

They clashed.

Or rather, it was more like a hunt than a proper fight.

Swoosh!

Having completed his beastman transformation, Yang Chen was no longer human.

A four-legged beast.

And one cunning enough to possess human intellect and cunning.

Bam!

Thus, this battle was less a fight and more a hunt.

Human versus beast.

Beast versus human.

Each wielded their weapons, aiming for the other's throat.

"...!"

But the beast was on the back foot.

"What the...!"

Yang Chen couldn't believe it.

His speed post-transformation rivaled—even surpassed, perhaps—the superhuman pace of A-rank hunters.

'No, it might even be faster.'

This assassin-basic speed was one of his most confident weapons.

Yet it failed against the C-rank hunter before him.

Swoosh!

He was being outpaced.

By a two-legged human, no less, compared to his four-legged sprint.

Bam! Bam! Bam!

His jaw dropped.

How could a C-rank hunter outrun him, who rivaled A-ranks?

Even with S-rank talent and hidden power nearing B-rank, this defied logic.

"Kuh!"

But there was no time for deep thought.

Being outsped neutered most of his tricks.

Offenses he should've landed missed; defenses he needed failed.

"Guh!"

Damage piled up relentlessly.

He dodged somehow, but that grotesquely swollen fist peeled flesh on mere grazes.

Unbeknownst, wounds outpaced his regeneration, accumulating.

'Th-this won't do! I need distance, somehow.'

With the thought, Yang Chen leaped high.

Then, parting his three maws, he gathered flames.

Roooar!

'Hellfire'—boasting heat incomparable to common fireballs.

Flames that incinerated all engulfed the S-rank talent before him.

But the moment the cape around his neck fluttered...

"...!"

The inferno vanished without a single ember.

Yang Chen roared in frustration.

"What are you!! What the hell are you?!"

As he bellowed, Kang Hyuk gathered his power.

His fist ballooned in an instant.

The power surging from it poured straight into Yang Chen's gut.

"...!"

Pain hit; Yang Chen's eyes bulged.

Breath stopped, organs crushed—visceral sensation.

In that agony, his body slammed into the labyrinth wall.

Boom!

Debris crumbled amid the explosion.

Kang Hyuk emerged from the rubble, grabbing one of Yang Chen's three heads.

"Giving up?"

"..."

"Gonna die?"

Yang Chen trembled at the questions.

Kang Hyuk smirked, hurling him forward.

"Here's your chance. Run."

Flung to the floor, Yang Chen crawled away, widening the gap.

"Next time I catch you, I rip off one of those heads."

Forgetting pain, he bolted.

Whoosh!

His internals were smashed from the prior blow, but Xiao Ran's curse-granted freakish regeneration let him run.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Leveraging his signature speed—too fast for labyrinth traps to detect—Yang Chen's jaws chattered.

'Im-impossible! This can't be!'

Frankly, he'd been confident even without hostages.

The S-rank talent surprised, but with his three souls fused and beastman form, victory seemed assured.

Still, he'd used hostages for certainty.

His master's orders outweighed his life; certainty in mission fulfillment demanded it.

But hostage failure twisted everything.

'No... this isn't right.'

Kang Hyuk's power far exceeded expectations.

No.

It shattered them entirely.

'Not even B-rank! At least... A-rank. Top-tier A-rank maybe!'

So he fled.

Not from fear of death.

'I must report this! Survive somehow and tell my master!'

Korea's S-rank talent was hiding power.

Ridiculous power.

And he'd hinted at knowing Yang Chen's secret.

'No one but my master knows... that I have three souls. Considering ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠that...!'

This S-rank would harm his master.

No, he had to.

'I must pass it on! Even if I die!'

Thus, Yang Chen ran.

To warn of the threat—not from fear of death.

But his sprint didn't last.

"...!"

His tail was severed.

He hadn't even noticed when.

Without the thrashing thing landing before him, he'd never have known.

"As promised, one head."

Kang Hyuk, appearing from nowhere, whispered.

That instant.

"...Graaaahhh!"

Soul-rending grotesque pain; one head gone.

"Kuh... guh!"

Regeneration fixed flesh wounds, but decapitation agony was indescribable.

Moreover, the regrown head bore Xiao Ran's special curse, amplifying torment.

"Hahk... guh."

Legs buckled; body skidded across the floor.

Beastman form forcibly released; strength drained entirely.

He had to ask.

"Wh-what are you?"

"..."

"What the hell are you?! How do you know what I am? Why hide your power?!"

Kang Hyuk smirked.

Yang Chen now reminded him of his past self.

'I was like that too... Trembling in fear, demanding why those five saviors betrayed us, why they plunged Seoul into the abyss.'

But returned to the past.

Roles reversed.

"Answer me, you bastard!!! Eastern dog!"

Though mere minion, not one of the five, it carried weight.

Kang Hyuk leaned in.

"Why should I...?"

He placed a hand on Yang Chen's remaining head.

"...tell you?"

Then lifted and hurled the fallen foe again.

The body endured fresh agony; Yang Chen screamed.

"Did you explain?"

Kang Hyuk questioned coldly, watching.

"To those you just harmed... did you explain why?"

Yang Chen realized amid his fogging mind.

'He's... toying with me.'

He'd vaguely sensed it.

This S-rank could kill him anytime.

But didn't—out of mercy? No, for amusement.

Just like the 'people' he'd slain.

'Me... feel guilt?!'

As rage boiled to scream...

Thud! Thud! Thud!

The ground quaked.

Rooooar!

A massive roar echoed; a gigantic bull appeared.

Snort!

The labyrinth's master.

C-rank boss monster.

The Minotaur had arrived.

Yang Chen's eyes widened; he thought.

'Front and back. Coincidence, but it's blocking him.'

Anger subsided.

Cold reason filled the void.

'Maybe my last chance. To take his head.'

Outwardly screaming, he meticulously prepared a move.

Rawr!

The Minotaur, spotting the intruder, readied its charge.

Kang Hyuk's gaze lowered; scorching heat assailed.

Roooar!

Yang Chen's signature flames.

Slap!

But the cape around his neck blocked as always.

Rawr!

The Minotaur charged through.

Yang Chen, hidden in the blaze, yelled.

"Die!!!! Bastard!"

Daggers lunged with the shout.

The perfectly timed joint assault from Minotaur and Yang Chen drew a smirk from Kang Hyuk.

Power unleashed.

He drew on OPKG's power too—never before tapped.

Vast vibrations spread; Minotaur and Yang Chen sensed doom, but too late.

BOOM!!!

Kang Hyuk swung his fist amid the cataclysm.

All swallowed by the shockwave turned to dust and ash.

Yang Chen and Minotaur were no exceptions.

"...Guh!"

Yang Chen's lower body and the Minotaur's head were obliterated.

As they collapsed to their knees, messages appeared.

Hunting the Minotaur had dismantled the labyrinthization.

Some unknown reward popped up, but he ignored it.

"..."

Instead, he approached Yang Chen—still alive despite lost lower half.

'No way to torture an assassin like this for info anyway.'

With the thought, Kang Hyuk gathered power.

'Then at least end it cleanly.'

As he raised his fist to deliver death...

A familiar voice struck his ear.

Kang Hyuk's eyes widened; unconscious Yang Chen's mouth slowly opened.

A scene flashed in Kang Hyuk's mind.

Emotions swirled with it; he uttered the voice's owner.

"Xiao Ran."