Kill.
From afar, watching had been fine. But as he approached the two hunters, the voice reached him.
It was the same voice he'd heard upon first encountering hunters.
Not in his ears, but reverberating through his mind like a buzzing hum—it was less a language and more a singular will.
Filled with rage and enmity. And boundless malice brimming with murderous intent.
The voice was clearly compelling his actions, yet he couldn't resist it.
He didn't want to resist.
He wanted to obey it just like that.
Was it because what the voice demanded aligned perfectly with his own desires?
He didn't know the reason, but it didn't matter.
Right now, the only thing that mattered was killing the two hunters before him.
As he desired. As the voice desired.
He was...
Skill has activated.
Resisting the mighty Labyrinth Will.
Skill has activated.
A clear, pristine voice—like a chime—rang in his ears, replacing the viscous malice.
His increasingly dazed mind snapped awake in an instant.
...What the hell was that just now?!
For a moment, it felt like he'd lost control of his body.
His body was awake, but he couldn't move it as he wished—like nothing was under his command.
A surge of disgust rose at the eerie sensation.
Formless rage boiled up.
The clean alert voice sounded again.
The endless rage subsided like melting snow.
No point in getting worked up.
The hunters were close.
He calmly settled his mind.
-Shiii───
...So hit B first?
He'd thought or would level first, but no.
Had his proficiency in built up more than expected?
Or had that 'Labyrinth Will' been so overwhelming that it pushed the slightly lagging straight to the next rank, unlike the others?
jumping out too... that Labyrinth Will must be no joke.
He'd never heard the name even as a human.
He needed time to sort this out calmly, but...
There wasn't any.
The two hunters were almost upon him.
First things first—finish what I started.
He slithered forward.
The hunter who'd lost his eyes, and the other carrying him on his back.
They ran endlessly through the forest, leaving their comrades fighting behind.
...I do need to kill them both... but is it okay to?
The 'Labyrinth Will' hadn't spoken again, but it had clearly wanted them dead.
It felt a bit off.
...Stick to the plan for now.
It felt a little iffy, but considering the gains, he couldn't back out now.
If the Labyrinth Will had been hostile toward him, that'd be one thing—but that thick malice had targeted the hunters, not him.
In fact, he felt somewhat relieved.
isn't warning me either.
If it were truly dangerous, would alert him first.
"Huff... huff... huuuh—!"
"...Ngh... Jae-hyun, sorry..."
"Shut up... huff...! Huuuh...! You... just focus on surviving, got it?"
"Ngh...!"
The hunter on his back bowed his head deeply.
Bloody tears dripping from his eyes soaked the other's shoulder.
"Fuck... huff... fuuuck... Hey, Myung-ho."
"...Yeah."
"Us... huff... fuck... when we get out... huff... let's eat something delicious... tons of it... yeah...? Got it? The expensive stuff... like that time... huff... Jin-su wanted to eat... that... huuuh... thing..."
"...Yeah... I'll... I'll survive... and buy as much as you want... tons... sob... I'll buy it all..."
"...Yeah... huuuh... that... that's all... I neeeed—?!"
The hunter's voice stretched out long mid-sentence.
Then both tumbled to the ground.
"Agh—! J-Jae-hyun?! W-What's happening?!"
"...Huff... I'm fine... fine, Myung-ho. Just wait a sec... I'll... handle it quick!"
Belying his urgent tone, the reassuring words from his friend made the eyeless hunter bite his lip hard.
He couldn't see, but he sensed the situation.
He nodded slowly.
"...I trust you."
At his friend's calm words, the hunter rose.
His gaze locked on their attacker.
Me.
"...Fuck. Birds before, now a snake?"
-Shiii───
He let out a long hiss in response to the irritated voice.
Then flicked his tongue, observing the hunter.
Internally, he was surprised.
Didn't expect him to dodge that ambush. And not in perfect shape, carrying a load on his back too...
As expected of the hunter who'd taken down more than half of those dozen-plus Surprise Birds.
Had he anticipated a mid-flight ambush? Or just exceptional reflexes?
Either way, impressive.
The hunter looked a bit fatigued from the prior fight—disappointing, yet fortunate.
What if he'd been at full strength? The thought lingered...
If he were in top condition, I couldn't win.
Another reminder of the hunter-monster matchup disparity.
Hunters were monster slayers. Not to be underestimated.
No matter how wounded or exhausted.
After eyeing him warily, the hunter slowly drew his weapon.
A shortspear about a meter long.
He'd used a longspear against the Surprise Birds, but it must've snapped mid-battle.
A mere backup, yet he spun it adeptly into stance—far from amateurish.
Charge straight in, and he'll skewer me. Gotta whittle him down slowly with at the core.
Regretted not landing in that first ambush.
Could've dragged it out for more experience.
-Shiii───
After a brief standoff, he struck first.
Defensive play might be more efficient overall, but today's fight was for experience.
He needed to get used to hunter movements for future encounters.
Shaaah───!!!
"Ngh...!"
Against the hunter momentarily staggered by , he launched for a swift strike.
The hunter seemed wide open, but he didn't overcommit.
Inflict damage, pull back.
After several such hits, frustration boiled over from the hunter.
"Damn it! You fucking snake bastard!"
The hunter, who'd been conserving energy defensively, switched aggressively.
Closed the gap, thrusting his spear.
Whiiish—
The blade slicing air was highly threatening.
He focused entirely on the tip.
The world slowed.
As his flicking tongue nearly clashed with the blade, he moved.
Target: the hunter's momentarily exposed ankle.
-Shaa───
"Gaaah!"
Perfect riposte.
The ankle-bitten hunter staggered back.
It quickly turned purple.
poisoning.
"Grrgh... damn... you...!"
Despite the painful wound, he didn't retreat.
Instead, he lunged even fiercer.
The blade cleaved air again.
Focus on the tip once more.
World slowed again.
The sharp point crystal clear.
He flicked his tongue at the approaching blade.
Time to end it. Seen all I need.
Talented hunter, but poor condition. Even slightly better, a head-on would be tough.
But not now.
Just as he timed another , an anomaly.
"Take this—!!!"
With a shout, the spear tip multiplied.
Even he, composed throughout, was startled.
Shit! He had a skill?!
Skills were hunters' ultimate moves.
He'd noted their existence beforehand, but unused in battle.
Assumed condition prevented it—but apparently not.
Saved it for the very last?
No, condition was the issue; the tips trembled unstably.
Some flickered, on the verge of vanishing.
Forced it out. Whether it hits or not, he's done.
Recoil or cumulative poison—he was finished.
He knew it, squeezing out this final skill.
Good experience gained.
Full power might've endangered him, but unstable? No threat.
Still dangerous, but dodgeable.
Instead of , he evaded.
The shaky skill dispersed like a mirage.
"Kuh... damn... it..."
Thud.
He collapsed to one knee.
Leaning on his spear, but not for long.
Even without finishing him, he'd die left alone.
"Ngh... fucking snake... bastard... what're you looking at...?"
Staring blankly, the hunter met his gaze and spat viciously.
Fierce eyes promising assault, but his trembling body couldn't deliver.
After watching, he glanced aside.
To the other hunter, huddled shaking in the corner.
The eyeless one.
"Damn it...! You fucking snake bastard! Look here! Look at me—!!!"
Because his gaze hit his friend?
The hunter yelled desperately, trying to draw attention back.
Glance—he looked again.
"Huuuh... huuuh... ngh...! You snake fuck... those eyes are creepy as hell... can't just stab 'em out... fuck..."
If my eyes creep you out...
Reflexive glance away at the snappy tone.
Back to his friend—urgent shout again.
"Look at me! Look at me, you snake fuck!"
Shiii───
Back to the hunter, a sigh of relief escaped him.
A chuckle slipped out.
"Fuck... this shitty labyrinth. Shitty monsters... Hey, snake fuck. Can't understand me, right? Yeah? Got a favor to ask..."
Eye contact held; he spoke calmly, voice trembling at the end.
Resigned, hollow tone. He stared silently.
How he took it—or didn't care—the hunter rambled on.
"My friend... that poor eyeless guy, Myung-ho."
— Spare him.
Calm, yet earnestly pleading.
"Ngh...! J-Jae-hyun!"
"...Myung-ho. Looks like I'll have to eat the expensive stuff alone."
"Jae-hyun! Jae-huuun—!!!"
Desperate cries echoed through the forest.
Ignoring them completely, the hunter stared at him.
"You fucking snake bastard... please. I'm begging... spare my friend..."
Shiii────
The hunter's voice cut off.
His body fully purpled from .
He bit his throat.
The familiar convulsions shook through.
"J-Jae-hyun? You there? Yeah? Hey, Ahn Jae-hyun...? Don't joke... yeah? I'm scared... answer quick, quick!"
Jae-huuun───!!!
Beside the terrified hunter, a faint snake hiss sounded.
-Shiii───
Today brought substantial gains.
Day 81 concluded.