The Hydra's Descent
I sprinted frantically to catch up with the hunters who had gone ahead.
Since I didn't know the optimal routes like they did, I inevitably fell behind, but I made up for it with sheer physical effort.
I used every ounce of mana and energy without holding back.
When my energy ran low, I drew assistance from nearby hunters or monsters.
After running nonstop for days on end like this, I finally arrived.
The 56th floor, Lava Zone.
Even I felt exhaustion throughout my body after dashing without rest for days, but there was no time to stop.
The hunters were targeting Arde at every moment.
I quickly crossed floors.
Each time I passed a floor, the atmosphere felt chaotic.
The hunters had already swept through, leaving few monsters in sight.
Not a single ranked one remained.
All that was visible were the weaker ones, too feeble to threaten hunters.
Among them were several under Arde's command.
Creatures that would normally avoid me clung to me first.
Had they tried to hold off the hunters in their own way?
Their bodies were battered everywhere.
[...Wait.]
That was all I could say to them.
It seemed enough for them, as they shouted thanks repeatedly.
Ignoring the noisy thoughts ringing in my head, I dashed onward again.
Please, not too late.
As I crossed floor after floor, the stench of death grew stronger.
Monster corpses littered the area, ones the hunters hadn't even recovered.
How many had they killed?
No high-rank monsters in sight—they'd swept them all, leaving only the lower ones.
Was Arde safe?
I nodded slightly to the voice of Leftie buzzing in my head.
Arde would be fine.
The Arde in my memory was a monstrous being I couldn't imagine defeating.
He might even have already dealt with the hunters and be waiting leisurely, making my worries seem foolish.
'Hoho—come quickly, Nix.'
I pictured Arde smiling warmly and welcoming me as always.
'Yeah. Arde will definitely be okay.'
I shook off the rising unease.
And so, charging ahead without pause, I reached the 66th floor.
The moment I stepped through the warp gate onto this vast plateau—unlike other parts of the volcanic zone.
Black volcanic ash billowed into the sky, and beyond it, I saw it.
A massive, mountain-like figure plummeting helplessly to the ground.
"Shaaaar—!!!"
No time for second thoughts.
The last thread of my reason snapped.
Rage SA activated.
Limit Break SS activated...
Skills...
Ignoring the status window alerts blaring in my head, I charged forward relentlessly.
Moving in sync with my other partners, their murderous intent echoing the labyrinth's will from long ago.
Hunters swarmed toward the fallen Arde in the distance.
Kill them all.
* * *
"...!"
A massive roar echoed from beyond the high volcanic ridge.
It was no less than the magma wyvern's cry from moments ago.
The venomous killing intent and hostility within made even the subjugation team's top brass—whom no one would hesitate to call the pinnacle—shudder.
Leysha, especially sensitive, sensed that thick malice even more intuitively.
"...Another SS-rank."
Chaos swept through the subjugation team at this unforeseen situation.
They were already pouring everything into subjugating the just-fallen magma wyvern—another SS-rank monster appearing now?
"No way..."
As someone muttered, it was an absurd scenario.
"Don't panic! Don't stop the attacks! Focus on the monster right in front of us!"
A voice rang out amid the panicking hunters, who showed no favoritism.
Cha Won-taek, one of the SA-rank hunters, shouted without halting his assault on the magma wyvern.
"Right! Focus on this one now! If it starts moving properly, we're all dead first!"
Hunters began responding one by one to Kwon Je-na's shout echoing Cha Won-taek's words.
The momentarily stalled subjugation team moved again.
Leysha, watching this unfold, quietly approached Park Han, who was unleashing magic from the side.
"Subjugation Leader."
"Leysha Hunter. I was just about to find you. That monster from behind is indeed..."
"Yes. Undoubtedly SS-rank."
"......"
Park Han clamped his mouth shut at her firm, certain reply.
Stopping his ongoing spell, he spoke.
"Should we split the team in half?"
"No. Even with our current forces, dealing with the magma wyvern is barely manageable. Splitting now means failing the subjugation. Worst case, total annihilation."
"...Retreat?"
Leysha glanced over at his low question.
Quite a distance from where the roar came.
"Fortunately, the new monster is far from here. At least three or four mountains away."
"Right. No idea where it came from, but the distance is a relief. Enough to prepare a retreat..."
"No. Proceed with the subjugation as is."
"...Pardon? What do you..."
Leysha calmly addressed the bewildered Park Han.
"I'll handle the new monster."
"Pardon? No. Even for you, Leysha Hunter, facing an SS-rank alone is too dangerous!"
"I'm not planning to subjugate it. Just buy time."
"...Lure it away?"
Leysha nodded matter-of-factly at Park Han's question.
A groan escaped Park Han's lips.
"...Too risky."
"Danger comes with entering the labyrinth. Same outside."
"...Why go this far?"
"Don't want to regret what we've done so far. Just doing what I can."
"...Thank you."
Park Han bowed deeply.
Leysha gave him a small smile.
"...I'll repay this favor. Not just the subjugation team's reward, but personally too..."
"Won't refuse the favor."
"...Be careful."
"Don't worry too much. I can escape with my life intact."
With that, Leysha slung her bow over her shoulder.
As Park Han urgently added at her ready-to-dash form,
"Need backup? Even Richard Hunter...!"
"Others would just hinder. Explain to Richard yourself."
Glancing at Richard blocking the magma wyvern's attacks at the front, Leysha launched herself forward.
Her figure vanished like the wind.
Park Han, watching her back, bowed his head.
"Truly, thank you, Leysha Hunter."
Raising his head, his face was more serious than ever.
For her effort, this subjugation had to succeed.
"Everyone, push harder! Don't give it a moment's rest! Keep the pressure on!"
Park Han bellowed, casting his own magic to attack the magma wyvern.
Faced with the relentless barrage, harsh cries erupted from the magma wyvern nonstop.
* * *
The hunters before me weren't that numerous.
Probably a detachment blocking other monsters from interfering.
Strike team?
Not many, but impressive lineup.
High-rank hunters I'd seen on TV were mixed in.
With that force, most monsters wouldn't stand a chance.
But irrelevant to me.
The hunters, spotting me early, formed up.
"...Hydra!"
"SS-rank monster... a hydra? From China...?"
"How's it here?! Different one!"
"Not the point! Hold till reinforcements! Stop it joining the main force!"
Before they could act, weapons drawn and glaring, I charged.
"Shaaar—!!!"
"Dodge—!"
Hunters scattered from Leftie's charge.
Anticipating their paths, my other heads followed.
Chomp—crunch—
"Kaaack!"
"Lee Myung-hun! Son Chan-hyuk!"
Two down in an instant.
No time to mourn lost comrades; I lunged again.
"M-monster...!"
Breaking their prepared formation effortlessly, I targeted more.
"R-run! Alert the main force—!"
"Kaaack!"
They counterattacked? I ignored.
"Lee Jae-ik...!"
"S-save...!"
I bit down relentlessly, even as one wounded hunter evaded.
Soon, all hunters cleared.
No thought of losses.
After devouring the last, I moved.
Arde in danger.
Hurry more...
As I headed for Arde again, instinct warned.
A dizzying tingle up my back after so long.
I dodged urgently, but.
Whiiish—boom—
The eighth head exploded with a sharp whoosh.
Ambush...!
The eighth regenerated quickly, but the sudden assault didn't stop.
Another flash streaked in.
This time, the fourth head burst.
"Shii—!"
"Shaaar—!"
Other heads whipped around, excluding the regenerating fourth.
No sign of the attacker.
Arrows? And astonishing stealth.
Her identity was easy to guess.
Heard about her from White Rose before coming.
Praised as top hunter without hesitation.
Truest to the name Hunter.
Leysha Barrett, the Divine Archer.
She blocked my path.
Hunting me?
No, more like luring.
Didn't grasp my intent, but knew my destination.
So she intercepted personally.
No intention of going down easy.
Shii—
I flicked my tongue ceaselessly, seeking her invisible form.
Nothing at the end.
As rumored, incredible stealth. Matches me, no shortcomings.
Superior in some ways.
Wasting time here gains nothing.
Explosions and Arde's roars echoed from the distant volcano.
...Avoid fight with her; prioritize Arde.
Accept some damage to advance.
Once with Arde, no hunter—even top-tier—could touch us.
Not even Leysha Barrett.
Whiiish—
As if reading my mind, a pure white light arrow flew with sharp whoosh.
Mana particles only.
Prepared, I evaded.
But her assault resumed.
"Shii—"
Arrows rained with clever delays.
Each powerful, precisely targeting eyes and heads—highly threatening.
Thought I'd take minor losses, but this wouldn't end lightly.
Still, tracked position from arrow paths.
The eighth head quietly cast magic.
A bolt of lightning crashed down.
Won't hit her, but buys movement time.
In this gap, to Arde...
Whiiish—
I ducked the arrow.
It grazed my forehead, exploding on the hill behind.
Drip—a line of blood trickled from the wound.
"Shii...!"
Before judging the unexpected angle, another arrow flew.
From a completely different spot.
...Even with multiple bodies?
No time to marvel.
Her attacks continued.
I urgently cloaked my body in mana.
One arrow detonated, shaking me.
Before recovering, dozens rained down like a storm.
Reminded of the bombardment in China.
...Won't let me go easy.
If she won't yield, no choice.
Make her regret touching me.
Imagining Leysha somewhere, I quietly flicked my tongue.