Chapter 42
Chapter 42
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 42
Chapter Title: Ace (4)
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"Shiver."
In front of me, 'Anubis's Elite Warrior' flashed its fierce eyes, and behind me, Milky Way Guild's ace, Choi Da-eun, was glaring daggers.
It was a total no-win situation.
I had to pick one of two options.
"Hey, you bastard!"
The image of Choi Da-eun smiling wide at me flashed through my mind.
She was usually harsh with me.
But seeing her happier than anyone about my growth had felt great.
I didn't want to disappoint Choi Da-eun.
To put it bluntly, I wanted to show her more right now.
"I'll show you—the completely changed me."
If it were truly life-or-death, she would've stepped in.
She's in a position where she has to take responsibility as team leader.
But she's just watching and letting the fight drag on?
'She must think it's a fight I can handle.'
Have I ever really fought properly until now?
Not against weak monsters—against ones on my level or stronger.
Have I ever gone all-out against guys like the 'Anubis's Elite Warrior' right in front of me?
No.
If it felt risky, I'd run first.
I didn't want to take chances.
What are my goals?
Scraping by on these small-time gigs?
Crawling along like a turtle, growing slowly from F-Rank Hunter?
No.
I want to become an S-Rank Hunter.
Get stronger, make a name for myself, and hold my head high.
I hate how they treat me like a worthless son at home.
My dream is to give pocket money to my little sister and puff out my chest proudly.
To do that, I can't afford to rest on my laurels.
I need to squeeze every second and push my growth hard.
'But I don't want to overdo it either.'
Just a bit of courage this time.
I still have 'Indestructible' left, so nothing too dangerous will happen.
I can take down an 'Anubis's Elite Warrior' like this.
Not as easily as the low-rank ones, though.
But I've got a party.
Hunting in the 'Tower' isn't solo.
"Sun-woo! We're here too!"
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ Blessing! Strength +2 / Agility +2
Training Team 4's supporter, Lee Eun-seo, shouted.
A support specialized in buffs.
She has auxiliary skills like 'Blessing' and 'Heal'.
A pure white blessing enveloped my body.
My strength and agility went up.
By 2 each, fitting for an F-Rank Hunter.
In a close fight, even that much was welcome.
The ranged dealers loaded their skills and stood ready.
Keeping distance from the elite warrior in case aggro shifted.
I have no attack skills, so I can't deal damage.
All I can do is tank.
"Show me what you've got. Your lingering attachment—your attachment to life." Anubis stamped the ground with his staff.
Thud, thud.
The elite warrior stepped forward in time with it.
The ground felt like it shook—an illusion.
Still just dungeon monsters in the end.
They exist to be hunted by hunters.
If others can take them down, so can I.
Thinking about the 10th-floor hunt in about two weeks...
I don't have time to struggle against elite warriors.
I need to handle 5th-floor dungeon monsters with ease.
I adjusted my stance.
I didn't flinch even with 'Anubis's Elite Warrior' right in front.
The elite warrior gripped its spear and looked down at me.
Its body was incomparably huge to the low-rank warriors.
Just colliding with it would send me flying like hitting an 8-ton truck with busted brakes.
I had to plant my feet firm.
With that resolve, I dodged its thrusting spear.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Boom—crash!
Whoosh!
The elite warrior's spear stabbed into the floor.
Its sharp tip pierced the stone like tofu.
Park Sun-woo snapped to his senses.
He didn't back down even against 'Anubis's Elite Warrior'.
Without proper gear, he was too busy dodging to block.
Aggro was solidly on him.
The elite warrior was going all-out to kill Park Sun-woo.
This was their chance.
Training Team 4's members fulfilled their roles.
It was their first proper hunt in half a year.
Clap, clap clap, clap clap clap.
Choi Da-eun started clapping as she watched Training Team 4's hunt.
The useless idiots were finally doing their jobs in the dungeon.
Especially Park Sun-woo.
A huge leap forward.
Even if she had a kid and it took its first steps, would it feel this moving?
'No way.'
Words couldn't describe it.
Park Sun-woo, who was a worthless animal bastard, was finally listening and following orders like a person—comparing that to a baby's first steps?
Ridiculous.
"Kieeeek!"
Park Sun-woo screamed as he faced the elite warrior.
He dodged blades like a ghost but couldn't evade sudden punches or kicks.
He kept smashing into walls.
Then he'd charge back at the elite warrior.
"Sparta!"
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ Sparta! He leaped powerfully at the elite warrior.
Lifted his leg with all his might and kicked its chest.
Crack!
Park Sun-woo's strength must've been unexpectedly high; the elite warrior couldn't steady itself.
Its body tilted back.
Couldn't right its upper body and fell.
Thud!
Park Sun-woo didn't miss the chance.
He mounted the elite warrior like flying and unleashed a barrage of punches.
Continuous punches from mount position.
Anubis just blankly watched the scene.
He'd assumed the elite warrior would win, but he'd underestimated the opponent.
The elite warrior's movements gradually slowed.
The thing twitching to get up froze, not even twitching a finger.
Dead.
"Huff, huff, huff."
Park Sun-woo rose from atop 'Anubis's Elite Warrior'.
Panting hard as he brushed dirt off his body.
"Easy."
He'd only taken down one elite warrior.
But he'd grabbed max style points for what he could do.
No better time for it.
'...I'll let it slide today.'
Still F-Rank and pretty much useless, but she'd overlook it until today.
Choi Da-eun quietly watched Park Sun-woo's back.
"Didn't expect you to beat even the elite warrior. You've got quite the attachment to life." Just a 5th-floor dungeon.
Even as a test, it wasn't high-level.
F-Rank Hunters are basically infants.
The 'Tower' had a surprisingly humane side.
Lower dungeons were set to matching difficulty—that was proof.
Without that consideration, humans wouldn't even think of challenging the 'Tower'.
"Fine, I'll face you myself. This is my final test." Anubis rose from his throne.
Scattered sand on the floor surged up, forming soldiers each.
Sand soldiers stronger than low-rank but weaker than elite warriors.
Difficulty spiked.
Because it's the boss monster?
No.
'Sand soldiers.'
Choi Da-eun knew the answer.
Neutralize them with water skills or tools, and 'Anubis's Temple' clears easily.
But she kept it secret from Training Team 4.
It was shareable info, but she watched with faint expectations.
"F-fuckin' rice!"
Park Sun-woo turned around.
Glanced at Choi Da-eun, then took stance.
Same as before.
No progress in thinking.
Oh, Choi Da-eun's just standing there?
Means we can clear it ourselves?
Okay, charge.
Park Sun-woo bravely rushed the sand soldiers.
"Ack, aack! W-wait! I got hit in the bone!"
The sand soldiers blocked Park Sun-woo's attacks and knocked him down.
Then swarmed and lifted legs.
No joke—five or six sand soldiers gathered and started stomping him.
Thud! Thud! Thump! Thud!
Park Sun-woo curled up, arms shielding his head.
Thinking he had to protect vitals, he desperately held defensive posture.
Choi Da-eun sighed deeply watching him.
Seemed like he was improving for a sec.
But Training Team 4's hunt ended like this again.
Still, she wasn't mad.
'Compared to a month ago...'
This was decent.
If they kept growing, she'd even welcome this nonsense.
Choi Da-eun unfurled her Thorn Whip.
Hunting Anubis seemed too much, so she'd step in.
Park Sun-woo's role ended here.
"Aaaack! Ow! It hurts, hurts! Save me, Da-eun!"
"...You fucking mutt, don't act like we're buddies."
She was about to help, but his voice pissed her off.
The tower of hatred built over half a year wouldn't crumble easy.
"Ow, ow!"
Choi Da-eun swung her Thorn Whip.
The sand soldiers crumbled in one hit.
Park Sun-woo, covered in falling sand.
Coughed wildly, spitting out sand from his mouth.
"No ordinary mortal, are you?" Anubis glared at Choi Da-eun.
Soon, 'Anubis's Temple' was cleared.
Even as boss monster, it was just 5th-floor level.
Child's play for a C-Rank Hunter.