Chapter 197
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 197
Chapter Title: Hellflower Blooming in Hell (2)
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Lee Soo-ah's embers were already insanely powerful.
With the stacking effect that ramps up damage by 1% per ember, the more you add, the stronger it gets. And on top of that, the (Burning effect) delivers an extra 20% damage when striking a target already marked by embers.
And that's not all.
The SSS-grade ability comes with a straight-up insane passive that triples the damage of all fire skills.
All these effects multiply together, turning even a single tiny ember into something that hits like touching molten lava.
And now, a 33% damage boost from her S-grade artifact had been added to the mix.
Ten embers had merged into a single fireball bigger than a volleyball.
As the hunters rushed forward in a frenzy, she finished her preparations first and peered through the magic telescope hanging around her neck. About 50 meters away, a pack of camouflaged monsters was closing in.
At a glance, their camouflage was so perfect they were nearly invisible.
It wasn't like they'd gone out of their way to hide—they were just monsters native to this land.
They closed the distance rapidly.
At the same time, a circular 'Gate' opened in front of the flaming flower-like mass that fit right in with the hellish inferno Lee Soo-ah had conjured.
The gate opened precisely toward the monsters charging straight ahead.
The fireball shot forward.
The moment it passed through the 'Gate', the 50-meter gap vanished, and to the monsters, a volleyball-sized inferno appeared right in front of them—something they might not have even noticed otherwise.
A leading S-grade monster swatted at it like it was an annoying fly.
Boom!
The fireball detonated, scattering embers in every direction.
At the same time, all ten embers exploded, and a few of them chain-reacted with secondary blasts.
Boom boom boom!
Kraaaah!
The monsters' screams echoed all the way here.
True to its SS-grade dungeon status, whether this was a core nesting ground or just how things were, the pack included S-grade monsters right from the start as they lunged forward.
But she handled them with such effortless naturalness that it was impossible to tell if they were S-grade or B-grade.
Five S-grades would force even Semi Guild to go all-out.
But against an SSS-grade hunter equipped with an S-grade artifact, plus Han Semi's SSS-grade buff skill layered on top...
No one could ignore her anymore.
And they had no choice but to acknowledge it.
A double SSS-grade hunter.
Not publicly revealed yet, but the might of a triple SSS-grade hunter who was the first to use the level 10 miracle cure effect.
And it wasn't over.
The 'Fireball'—that's what Lee Soo-ah had named her ember volleyball—had no sooner entered the fray than five more followed in rapid succession, passing through the 'Gate' without pause.
The instant the first fireball exploded amid the monsters, splattering embers like searing lava onto several of them...
A beat later, the fireballs that had hovered silently in the air poured down on the ember-marked monsters, triggering a chain explosion.
Boom boom boom boom!!
The guided ones, packing an extra 20% punch, didn't scatter their embers this time. Instead, they collided among themselves, erupting in a massive blast.
And when the fireballs with (Special effect) detonated once more...
"...Insane."
"...That's a double SSS hunter?"
"She seems even stronger than last time."
"Maybe she was just half-assing it in that S-grade dungeon."
"The monsters... they're all groggy?"
"Might be combat ineffective..."
About 30 meters out. The raging embers were visible even without the telescope, burning bright.
The monsters, who had blended seamlessly into the surrounding earth and shadows with their natural camouflage, were now perfectly visible, one by one.
Writhing in agony.
S-grades, lowers—didn't matter.
They all thrashed helplessly in the hell of embers, indistinguishable from one another.
The easiest way to tell them apart? The scraps had already perished from the chain explosions, direct or indirect damage.
Having reached level 5 and unlocked 'Firepower' through her first awakening, Lee Soo-ah's skill output was overwhelming when unleashed in that state.
Sure, the artifact's +10% mana cost and the fixed mana drain were massive, but the explosive power it yielded was worth several times over.
These weren't the cute little embers from level 1 anymore.
The skill had only gained one extra effect at level 5, but the raw damage scaling with levels was no joke. Combined with both first awakenings—for Pyromancer and Ember—plus the fireball's unique trait, she could render a pack mixed with five S-grades combat-ineffective in one shot, amplified by Han Semi's 'Gate'.
The result? The hunters, stunned and just watching instead of fighting, ended up muttering to themselves.
"Maybe it's not really five S-grades?"
"Hana might've miscounted..."
"Finish them all off!"
If not for Han Semi's command, they would've gawked at the S-grade monsters roasting in the blaze for much longer.
"Kill 'em!!"
Even with damage that would kill if left alone, considering S-grade tenacity, a few might escape somehow.
Leaving loose ends was the absolute worst thing in an SS-grade dungeon.
Monsters that survived a fight would bide their time for revenge against the humans who attacked them.
Especially ones that blended into the environment, hard to spot. Even one or two survivors meant no peaceful campout.
So everyone snapped to attention and charged.
After the fight, they counted the corpses to verify against Kang Hana's initial count.
"They really are S-grades..."
"Chameleon Wolf pack... We almost got fucked."
"How do you even spot these? It's mind-blowing every time."
"It's an SSS-grade detection skill. Not visual—more like radar, apparently."
The hunters moved lightly, stamping out stray embers, scanning the surroundings, and double-checking the kills.
Jealousy or envy? Those had no place inside a dungeon. The moment you entered danger, such emotions weren't tolerated.
They were just suicidal.
The only place where "My party member's OP? Great, we clear faster" made sense—and was accepted—was inside a dungeon.
With a single powerhouse SSS-grade hunter who could resurrect the dying...
Who stripped invisible assassin-types bare...
And turned lurking stragglers waiting for gaps into firewood wolf meat all at once.
What would've taken dozens of hunters slaving away, she handled with a snap.
In the dungeon, they felt nothing but endless respect and gratitude.
Thus, the hazy, drowsy dawn hours slipped by as the perfect stage to test Lee Soo-ah's 'Burning Flower' gear.
"I love you, babe."
She proudly displayed the bracelet and snuggled up, bubbling with excitement regardless of who saw.
"Where'd you get it?"
"Found it on the way."
It was true—she'd gotten the bracelet from Kim Gap-soo en route—but it clearly didn't land that way with Lee Soo-ah.
"...An S-grade artifact brace? That must've cost a fortune. I looked into some but held off for now."
Her eyes shone with emotion.
Her face said she'd grant any demand right then.
This was why you bragged.
Of course, Im Hyeji's faintly envious glance from the side made the moment even sweeter.
Lee Soo-ah spotted Im Hyeji's expression, panicked, and pulled away from me.
"Oh, Hyeji... isn't here. Sorry, Hyeji. Was I being too oblivious?"
"No!! Unnie!! Of course he'd give something he worked hard for to you—it suits you perfectly. Congrats!! Don't hold back; enjoy it more. I was watching with my jaw dropped. The artifact effect?"
She seemed to assume I'd gifted them one by one.
Im Hyeji waved it off in surprise and offered congratulations instead.
"Yeah. Wanna see?"
"Yes!!"
They were close enough to chat like this, share without hesitation.
I could've handed Im Hyeji an artifact right there for a heartwarming close, but I wanted to milk a bit more anticipation for a bigger reaction.
It was just a pretty bauble with no real use right now anyway.
"I'll grab something good for you too, Hyeji."
"Yes, Oppa!!"
Sure, she'd be lying if she wasn't a little bummed, but seeing her trust me, smile brightly, and try not to burden me filled me with pride.
