The Hunters' Desperate Stand
Spotting hunters in the forest after nearly a month felt like quite the event.
Was it because traffic here was so sparse? Seeing them again after so long was welcome in more ways than one.
The group consisted of just three men.
Considering most raid teams had at least four, this seemed perilously small.
Overconfidence, perhaps? Or did they have the skills to back it up?
My Instinct skill showed no reaction, so it was probably the former.
Up close, they looked downright amateurish.
That must be why they'd ventured into these remote outskirts.
Still, they seem to have some talent or instinct for this.
They were clumsy in many ways, but steadily hunting monsters showed they weren't just wandering the labyrinth aimlessly as a trio.
All three at least E-rank? Two up front, one in the rear. Pretty solid formation.
Amateur or not, a head-on clash would give me zero chance of winning.
If I ambushed and took one down first, my odds might climb to 30 or 40 percent—but sadly, none of my skills packed enough punch for an instant kill.
I thought this was my chance, but it's too much...
I'd wanted to test my current level ahead of future revenge, but against them, even a proper assessment was impossible.
And it would only get worse moving forward.
They weren't idiots; they'd keep hunting and gaining experience.
Wish I had a partner right now.
Not as strong as the Silent Wolves, but something reliable like a Surprise Bird would be nice.
With a comrade at my level, I could even take on these hunters right here.
Can't push for what I don't have, though.
For now, I had to stick to what I could manage.
Too bad—I'll pass on the hunters for now.
I desperately wanted to fight one for experience and growth, but forcing it felt unwise.
Better to retreat today.
Assuming no major incidents, they'd keep hunting nearby, so an opportunity might arise later.
Luckily, their hunting ground was a good distance from my nest, so I decided to just observe for a few days.
Day 80 of survival.
They'd seemed clumsy at first glance, but days of watching proved they weren't complete fools.
They understood the labyrinth well.
At least, they knew what to watch for in the Forest Zone and on this 18th floor.
They arrived in the morning and always left before sunset.
They were fully aware of the Silent Wolves, the de facto rulers around here.
Utterly unlike the previous group.
They were cautious of other dangerous monsters too.
Like the Bomb Beetles—F-rank but hazardous if provoked—which they wisely avoided.
After days of surveillance, their talent was clear.
Things I never had as a human.
I couldn't let this continue.
Left alone, they'd grow for sure.
I couldn't just watch.
Time for this human-turned-snake monster to use some intelligence.
Day 81 of survival.
Obviously, taking on hunters solo was impossible.
Maybe after evolving through growth, but not now.
So, I just needed company.
Monsters lacked true intelligence.
Some instinct by species or individual, but nothing like communication or conversation.
No point begging forest monsters to team up against hunters—they'd ignore me or attack.
This held for most E-rank monsters and even pack-hunting wolves.
The Gray Killer Wolf or Lizardmen that spared me once might be different, but realistically, I couldn't control them.
To them, I was just another dime-a-dozen E-rank monster.
Normal communication to recruit allies was out.
Cooperating with other monsters seemed impossible—but not entirely without methods.
Communication wasn't the only way to manipulate them.
I found a Surprise Bird nest.
Different flock from the ones I'd killed before, naturally.
After investing half a day, I found exactly what I wanted.
I stole their eggs.
Didn't eat them.
Tempting as they looked.
Repeated the process a few times.
I knew well how fiercely they guarded their eggs.
How berserk they went when enraged.
Originally, I'd planned to toss the eggs at the hunters or leave them nearby—but no need.
These hunters had already stirred up the forest for days, so the six pairs naturally blamed them.
Chaos erupted.
(The stolen eggs? Delicious.)
Wolves in packs even slinked away from a single rampaging Surprise Bird.
Now over a dozen were going wild?
My doing, but it was a bit much.
Two nests would've sufficed, maybe?
The thought crossed my mind, but I shook it off.
No regretting spilled milk.
I just worried the birds might wipe out the hunters entirely.
Would my goal of fighting them slip away like this?
But contrary to my fears, the hunters fought beyond expectations.
Each had a hidden ace, downing more than half the flock.
At great cost, of course.
"Pii—!!"
A shrill cry pierced the air.
The sonic attack I'd seen before targeted them.
Two dodged; one didn't.
Weakened from prior fighting.
"Arghhh!"
"Myung-ho!"
One hunter screamed his comrade's name at the agonizing sight.
Bad spot for them.
Eight birds down, but more remained. No time to tend the wounded.
Unable to bear the blood streaming from his ears, one gritted his teeth and turned back.
He knew prioritizing the monsters was rational over aiding now.
But knowing and accepting were worlds apart.
"Damn it! You bastards! I won't forgive you!"
Unable to contain his rage, one charged wildly.
Fierce, but wrong target.
Surprise Birds: avian monsters of the sky, not ground.
His strike missed easily.
"Fuck! Why the hell are they attacking out of nowhere?! All at once...!"
Frustrated, one yelled.
No one to answer.
Neither comrades nor birds.
"Pii— Piii—!!"
One let out a prolonged screech.
Unknown meaning, but the ominous vibe was clear.
The two less-injured braced defensively—but the birds never targeted them.
Monsters lacked intellect, but had cunning.
They knew the prime target in a fight, what favored them.
Fwump—
"Damn...! Myung-ho!!!"
After wingbeats, two birds dove at the fallen hunter.
Realizing the ploy, the pair rushed to him—but the remaining two blocked them.
Clever birds.
They knew the weakness.
"Pii—! Piii—!!"
"Uwaaagh! H-Help! Jae-hyun...! Jin-su...!"
Pecking beaks, slashing talons. In a blink, the hunter was mangled.
Powerless, pathetic, heartbreaking.
The survivors burned hotter.
Desperate to reach him, but blocked.
Foul curses erupted.
"Fuck! Move! Get out of the way, you bird-brained shits!"
"Myung-ho! Hold...! Ugh...! Damn it...!"
Comrade mangled. Others raging to protect.
I watched silently, tongue clicking.
Cunning bastards. Even amid frenzy, they know exactly what to do.
As I'd felt before, impressive in many ways.
Deliberately sparing the fallen one to exploit the gap.
Dead, no issue—but alive, the others would go berserk to save him.
Especially as his state worsened.
Anything but their brains would make rematching them tough.
Explained my luck last time, why wolves avoided enraged ones.
Those eggs were tasty, though—might clash again.
Musing, the fight neared its end.
One blocker down; the other nearly finished.
"Damn...! Myung-ho! Hold on! I'm coming!!!"
He charged the fallen one.
As if waiting, a bird reared its beak.
Crunch—
Horrific scream.
"Arrrghhhh! My eyes...! My eyeees—!!!"
"Myung-hooo!!!"
The charging hunter swung his sword.
The birds leisurely flew off, having gouged the eyes.
Cunning indeed.
"Myung-ho! Hey, Yoon Myung-ho! Fuck, you okay? Hey? Say you're okay!"
"U-Ughhh... J-Jin-su... M-My eyes... eyes..."
"...Fuck! Fuck! Fuuuuck—!"
Blood poured from the tightly shut eyes.
Curses poured from the watcher.
"...I'll fix it. I'll definitely find an elixir or healer—whatever it takes. So, Myung-ho... it's okay... it'll be okay."
The fallen one didn't reply to the mutter.
Just nodded frantically, "Y-Yeah, yeah...!" tears or blood streaming.
Silent, the hunter rose.
His body mangled from the reckless rush.
The late arriver approached, also wrecked.
"Jae-hyun."
"...Yeah."
"Take Myung-ho."
Calm words spun the other's face.
Resolved expression.
"W-What the hell?!"
"...Don't look back. Get out and straight to the hospital."
"Hey, Hwang Jin-su! What the—?!"
Grabbed his shoulder.
Urgent pleas met slow headshake.
"...Sorry. Shouldn't have insisted on three. If we'd recruited properly like you said... even one more..."
"Jin-su..."
No reply to the call.
Just strode calmly.
Three birds left. No chance.
Yet he advanced boldly.
"Fuck...! Hey, Hwang Jin-su! Let's fight together! Maybe...!"
"Idiot, if we were both fine, sure—but we're not. Follow the raid leader's orders."
Calm tone silenced him.
Lips trembled, staring at the back.
"Fuck... Fuck... Fuuuck—! Hey, you take Myung-ho! I'm in better shape! So...!"
"Idiot. What about your wife?"
"......"
Mouth shut tight.
"No more chatter. Take Myung-ho and go. You're better off than me; you'll protect him properly."
"...Sorry."
"Go. I've got work to do."
"Sorry... Sorry, Jin-su..."
Muttering, he hoisted his fallen comrade and left.
Abandoning one friend.
Bloody tears streamed from both departing hunters' eyes.
And I rose.
A touching tale.
Even a stranger like me could feel their bond.
Hunter sacrificing for comrades, friends.
Others swallowing tears, departing.
Heartwarming, hopeful.
Yet tragic.
I knew the ending: despair.
Snakes have no conscience.
I'm a snake-monster.
Surviving via sacrifice? Mere fantasy.