The Hunters' Last Stand
I failed to kill them.
This was the first time I'd ever set out to kill someone and failed.
Leysia and Kwon Je-na. In the end, I couldn't finish off either hunter.
Surprisingly, Kwon Je-na, who had grown to SS-rank mid-battle, was incredible.
Even as an enemy, I couldn't help but admire her.
Especially that final explosion of light—it had enough power to blow off all seven of my heads in one go.
While I was regenerating from that attack, the two hunters seized the opening and fled.
My two intact heads rushed to block them, but even together, they couldn't handle two SS-rank hunters.
On top of that, Leysia kept firing special arrows even as they ran, forcing me to spend no small amount of time regenerating.
By the time I gave chase, it was too late. Catching SS-rank hunters who were dead set on escaping was no easy task.
And just like that, I let both Leysia—whom I'd nearly had in my grasp—and Kwon Je-na slip away.
It stung, deep in my bones.
Well, this isn't the end.
If I couldn't kill them now, I'd do it next time.
Leysia and Kwon Je-na were both headaches waiting to happen, but once this was over, I'd return to the labyrinth.
No matter how determined SS-rank hunters were, they couldn't track me if I holed up in the labyrinth for good.
But more than those two escapees, Arde's vengeance weighed on my mind right now.
I still haven't properly avenged her.
I'd planned to kill Leysia as a tribute, but with things turning out like this, I'd have to adjust.
Leysia and Kwon Je-na weren't idiots—they wouldn't head straight back to the raid team.
They'd probably circle around to shake me off.
Considering that, I had no intention of chasing them.
I'll ambush the raid team waiting for them at the rendezvous point.
Hunters' habits made it easy enough to guess where that point would be.
Not all of them, but I'll kill as many as I can.
That would have to serve as vengeance for Arde and the monsters who died with her.
As expected, the hunters were holed up on the 55th floor—the last layer of the Plains Zone.
Did they think I wouldn't follow them into the next zone?
It was a reasonable assumption based on labyrinth common sense, but I operated far outside those norms from the start.
The hunters panicked at my sudden assault, scrambling in confusion.
I tore through their ranks without mercy.
"What did you do to the President…?! What the hell are you, monster?!"
A typical Western hunter charged at me ferociously, as if he'd lost his mind.
One of the ones who'd come with Leysia?
His attacks were straightforward and textbook—not much of a threat.
Thwack—
He took a hit from my tail but got right back up, so his durability must have been top-notch.
If he'd fought alongside Leysia or Kwon Je-na, he might've been dangerous.
As he charged again, my right head unleashed the Magic Eye of Petrification.
He seemed to know about it beforehand and ducked behind his shield, but that wasn't my target anyway.
"Sha—"
The moment he hid and lost sight of me, the fourth and fifth heads lunged.
And to make sure of it, the seventh head cast a spell.
No tank, no matter how skilled, could survive an all-out assault from four heads.
Crunch—
"Gaaah…!!"
A fountain of blood erupted, along with his missing arm.
As he grimaced, suppressing the pain, my right head pounced.
True to form, it devoured him in one gulp.
Crunch crunch—
With his screams echoing in my mouth, I scanned the surroundings.
The hunters all stared at me in stunned silence at how quickly he'd fallen.
If this is all it takes to shock them, we're in for a disappointment.
My revenge hadn't even truly begun.
I hope they put up more of a fight.
It wouldn't be fun if it was too boring.
I rampaged freely through the hunters, who were gripped by fear, terror, and chaos.
Richard was dead.
The man who'd held the front line so reliably against the Magma Wyvern had lost his life in such a pathetic, effortless way.
Naturally, the hunters' morale plummeted.
Truth be told, it had already hit rock bottom—burrowed right through and kept sinking—ever since Nix appeared instead of the Leysia and Kwon Je-na they'd been waiting for.
Hadn't they sensed it when even Richard lost his cool and charged?
How could they handle a monster that even Leysia couldn't defeat?
The hunters chose flight over fight.
Absolute pandemonium ensued.
They abandoned comrades they'd fought beside to survive.
They ignored screams from behind as they sought their own paths out.
Yoon Myung-ho, sprawled on the ground amid the horror, couldn't regain his senses.
"Raid leader… Raid leader…"
Like a chick who'd lost its mother, Yoon Myung-ho wailed pitifully.
A Galaxy Guild member approached him.
"Vice raid leader! Get a grip! We have to run!"
The captain of Galaxy Guild's second raid team.
At the guild member's call, Yoon Myung-ho flinched.
The guild member shouted roughly.
"Vice Guild Master wouldn't want to see you like this! Pull yourself together and look after the others!"
Rumble—Boom—
A fierce bolt of lightning struck.
That snapped Yoon Myung-ho out of his daze.
Right. If Kwon Je-na were here, what would she do?
"…Lee Kwang-hoon, hunter. Rally the guild members now. We retreat immediately."
"Everything's ready. Just give the word!"
"…Efficient. Thank you."
Yoon Myung-ho bowed lightly and glanced over.
The monster was casually handling Hong Jun-yeol and Cha Won-taek, who stood in its way.
If Kwon Je-na were here, she'd have entrusted the guild to him and charged straight in.
Grip— Yoon Myung-ho clenched his fist, then turned.
He wasn't Kwon Je-na.
"We retreat."
"Yes! Right behind you!"
Starting with Galaxy Guild's swift evacuation, the raid teams scattered to save themselves.
"Huff… Hah…"
"You okay?"
Cha Won-taek asked Hong Jun-yeol, who was gasping for breath.
Rather than flee Nix, they'd bought time—even if briefly—standing before death.
An absurdly overwhelming monster.
Richard hadn't died easily for nothing.
Without one of them, they'd have been gone long ago.
"No… it wasn't just us two."
Hong Jun-yeol glanced back.
Not far off, Park Han was diligently casting spells.
The raid leader for this subjugation.
He should've rallied the others and fled early, but…
Park Han must be suffering too. For things to end up like this…
Park Han hadn't done anything wrong, yet the situation couldn't be worse.
Countless hunters had died, and more were dying.
Above all, Leysia's disappearance was the biggest blow.
Her death wasn't confirmed, but disappearance in the labyrinth was as good as dead. Escaping blame after this would be tough.
So he'd chosen to stay in this hell rather than flee last.
And Hong Jun-yeol wasn't much different.
We were too hasty. We should've prepared more thoroughly…
Hong Jun-yeol, who'd recently become Dawn Guild master after their previous leader died in an expedition, blamed his impatience.
Other guilds too, but Dawn had bet everything on this subjugation.
Manpower, funds—they'd poured it all in without holding back.
Dawn had sent and lost the most forces here.
After this, the five great guilds might become four.
Better to die here than watch that.
Hah— Hong Jun-yeol let out a hollow laugh and looked at Cha Won-taek.
"Cha Won-taek, you okay with dying here?"
"Pardon?"
"Unlike me, with nothing left to lose, don't you have a lot at stake?"
Cha Won-taek paused at the question, pondering.
"…Honestly, I'm worried. As you know, our guild master isn't the nicest."
"Yes, I'm well aware."
"It's only because of me keeping her in check. Without me, she'd go wild."
"Which is why you should live, Cha hunter."
Cha Won-taek shook his head.
He spoke flatly.
"I couldn't just leave you."
"…Impressive."
"It's only natural."
"Plenty can't even manage that much."
"No. There are plenty as good as me."
Cha Won-taek glanced around.
Hunters were starting to gather, one by one.
Not a huge number, but not insignificant either.
Hong Jun-yeol stared in brief surprise, then smiled faintly.
"I see. The world still seems worth living in."
"Then let's give it our all. Maybe heaven—or the labyrinth—will be moved and let us live."
"Hah. Didn't know you had jokes in you, Cha hunter. Funny. But maybe that monster would be more moved and spare us quicker?"
"A monster? No way."
Cha Won-taek laughed bitterly and prepared to charge Nix again.
Hong Jun-yeol, smiling the same, placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Hong Jun-yeol?"
"Cha hunter. I have a favor to ask."
"…What is it?"
"Live."
"…Pardon?"
Hong Jun-yeol spoke plainly to the visibly flustered Cha Won-taek.
"Someone like you should live. Take the other hunters and go. Please."
"…Hong Jun-yeol. That's…"
"I ask the same."
Park Han approached them.
"Raid leader…"
"I handed that role to our retreating vice guild master. I'm just a regular hunter now."
Park Han looked steadily at Cha Won-taek.
"Anyway, I agree with Hong Jun-yeol. I won't tell you to run. Just live, Cha Won-taek."
"……."
Under their calm gazes, Cha Won-taek couldn't speak easily.
Hong Jun-yeol watched fondly for a moment, then spoke brightly.
"If it weighs on you, grant one more request."
"…What?"
"Take good care of our guild. Things will be rough."
"…Then you should live, Hong Jun-yeol…"
"A failure like me going back? I'd just fail again. Better to hand it to someone capable."
No need to say who that was.
Cha Won-taek blinked slowly at Hong Jun-yeol's quiet smile.
His deliberation didn't last long.
"…Thank you."
"No, thank you. Take care of the guild members."
"…I'll make sure the name Dawn Guild isn't forgotten."
"Hah. Thanks."
Hong Jun-yeol smiled and glanced at Park Han.
Park Han shook his head with a bitter smile, as if no further words needed.
"Nothing much to ask. Just… take the other hunters and get back safely."
Park Han looked bitterly at the remaining hunters.
If he'd been more capable, they wouldn't be stuck here.
They could've claimed only glory, honor, and wealth.
Regretful, Park Han slowly closed his eyes.
"…We'll go then."
"Take care."
"Stay safe."
Blessed by the two, Cha Won-taek gathered the others and turned.
Not a few insisted on staying, but Park Han and Hong Jun-yeol's earnest pleas convinced them reluctantly.
Still, some stayed by their sides to the end.
"Guild master. Let's go together."
"You weren't gonna leave me out and have all the fun alone, right? Can't do that."
Stalwart hunters who'd trusted and followed them before.
Neither Park Han nor Hong Jun-yeol lacked loyal subordinates.
"Hah. Why stick by my side to the end? Hoping for something good?"
"Sorry… for being such a lousy raid leader. No, guild master."
Hiding complex emotions behind bitter smiles, the two hunters charged Nix with their followers.
That day, two pillar guild masters of Korea's five great guilds—North Star and Dawn—ended their long careers as hunters.
The dozen or so who followed them to the end perished with them.
It sent shockwaves through Korea's hunter world.