Vow in the Desert
There were far more hunters active in the Desert Zone than I'd imagined.
Back when I was a porter, I'd heard that 50 or 60 percent of all hunters entering the Seoul Great Labyrinth operated here. Experiencing it firsthand now confirmed just how many there really were.
The floors weren't exactly cramped—each one was vastly larger than those in the Forest Zone—but encounters with hunters were noticeably more frequent by comparison.
It hit me anew: Korea has this many hunters?
No wonder the Desert Zone teemed with undead monsters. All these hunters were surely a big part of the reason.
With so many hunters around, it wasn't uncommon to spot high-rank powerhouses too.
Not that I faced them head-on—I just watched from afar—but I could definitely feel it.
How dangerous high-rank hunters were.
Were they heading deeper for an expedition?
A massive procession of two or three hundred advanced in tight formation.
Individually, their ranks weren't that high, but sheer numbers made them a real threat.
My survival-honed instincts blared nonstop warnings.
And more terrifying than the horde was the single hunter leading at the front.
Just watching sent chills racing down my scales.
Even with that blank expression as he strode ahead, the sheer pressure was overwhelming.
How strong is he? B-rank? A-rank?
No, definitely higher.
Even from a distance, using Stealth and the Magic Eye's far-sight, fear crept in.
I stopped watching their column and turned away immediately.
Lingering might draw the attention of that monster.
Even after all this growth, I'm still so weak.
I can't get complacent. I have to grow stronger.
The realization hit hard, steeling my resolve once more.
Get stronger.
I recalled why I'd left the safety of the 17th-floor forest in the first place.
Why I'd abandoned the queen's side, where comfortable growth was guaranteed.
I was just a C-rank monster at best.
Killing a few hunters had made me arrogant.
Sure, I'd gotten stronger, but on the grand scale, I was still pathetically weak.
From that high-rank hunter's perspective, there was probably no real difference between porter-era me and now.
I shrank back, wary of prying eyes.
That wasn't inherently bad.
It was a smart survival tactic, depending on the situation.
But I didn't want to keep doing it.
Cowering from lack of power was one thing; doing it despite having power was another entirely.
I'll build my strength.
I repeated it endlessly in my mind.
Next time, I wanted to be the one striding forward openly—not slinking away.
Strong enough that others fled from me.
Get stronger.
That day, I reaffirmed my vow to myself.
My Heat Resistance and Cold Resistance had both climbed to E-rank.
Not quite comfortable yet, but no longer a strain.
I was fully adapting to the Desert Zone.
Not all monsters here were undead.
They dominated, sure, but the labyrinth's diverse ecosystems meant other types lurked too.
One such was the Sand Scorpion.
As the name suggested, a scorpion-type monster, C-rank like me.
I was strong for a typical C-rank, but even so, Sand Scorpions weren't pushovers.
They were enormous—four or five meters long—with armor-like shells that shrugged off blows, massive crushing claws, and a deadly stinger.
Purely physically, it was far better suited for combat than my serpentine body.
Even hunters often avoided direct fights if ranks were close, preferring to whittle them down with numbers. Tough opponents for their rank.
Today, I met one.
The fight wasn't easy, as expected.
My Thick Scales and solid durability kept its attacks from wounding me badly, but piercing its armored shell was a chore.
I'd considered crushing it slowly with Constrict if I couldn't breach the shell.
But it was shockingly agile for its bulk, denying me good angles.
Rushing in recklessly risked those claws shearing me apart.
At least its venomous stinger was no threat thanks to my poison resistance.
Though conversely, my own venom barely fazed it due to its resistance. A stalemate.
We'd been at it for a while now.
No decisive blow yet.
A drawn-out war of attrition.
A snake's body wasn't ideal for prolonged direct clashes.
We excelled at ambushes, not slugfests.
Gluttony and Regeneration were letting me hang on.
If this were just for food, the costs would've outweighed the gains.
But I persisted for one reason: this battle was for growth, not mere sustenance.
More time dragged on.
What started under the midday sun continued into the night, moon high overhead.
This guy's no pushover.
I was enduring via Gluttony and regen, but it was impressive in its own right.
Not just any specimen?
I briefly considered telepathic communication, then dismissed it.
No need for talk between us.
Just kill or be killed.
As monsters, neither could yield.
"Shiiiaaa──!!!"
"Kirrurrr──!"
Untouched thanks to Gluttony and Regeneration, I watched its body accumulate wounds.
Its vaunted shell was cracking under relentless pressure, losing integrity.
Stinger dulled, claws bent—the end was near.
Gluttony and Regeneration proved decisive.
Cumulative fatigue and depleting stamina opened a fatal gap.
I seized it.
My body coiled around it in a flash.
Crack—crunch—
Shell fractured, then shattered with a snap.
Its thrashing ceased, body going limp.
Greenish ichor, thick unlike human blood, oozed over my scales.
Shii───
Victory.
The status window chimed in my mind as tension ebbed.
Deep fatigue washed over me.
The battle had drained me plenty, but the rewards matched.
Stats rose, as always.
Durability surged especially, now rivaling my top attribute.
Stat gains were gratifying, but durability meant I'd tanked a lot—bittersweet, as usual.
Despite dodging hard.
Skills grew too.
No jumps in my core ones, but secondary skills lagging behind made solid progress.
High costs, but ample gains—a worthwhile win.
Glancing at my status window confirmed my real-time growth when I sensed presences.
Tongue flicking instinctively, I turned to see a group of hunters.
"Is it cool to just go for it like this? That thing looks fine as hell."
"Relax, relax. Didn't you see those two fighting nonstop? Even the winner's gotta be wiped."
"But... no wounds at all..."
"Ugh, I said it's fine! Yong-ho, think about it—two monsters like that? The payout's insane. Months of grinding in one go for you and us!"
"Right! When's luck like this hit again? Monsters killing each other ain't common, especially big C-ranks. Normals run on sight!"
Five hunters emerged, chattering boisterously.
One D-rank, four E-ranks. Laughably low compared to me.
Low numbers, low ranks.
They should've fled on sight.
Instead, they approached boldly, eyes gleaming with undisguised greed.
"Heh heh... Sell these, and we're rolling in it! We're rich now!"
"All that sand-crawling paid off with this luck! Gotta have magic stones, right?"
"Both for sure. Heh... Don't sell the scales or shell—gear up with 'em."
"Damn, jackpot. That gear alone bumps us all a rank, yeah?"
"Pfft, rank-up's the least. Haul two like this, mid guilds'll scout us for sure. Life set!"
"Even though we didn't kill 'em?"
"Who cares? Keep our mouths shut, no one knows. Jae-hyun, you want that sports car? Good's good—zip it."
They ignored my glaring eyes, assuming exhaustion as they'd guessed.
They weren't wrong.
Gluttony restored wounds and stamina, but fatigue lingered.
Plus, stored energy from the fight was low.
A bit longer, and I'd have bottomed out.
"Heh... Worn out, but those eyes are fierce. Snake thing, huh?"
"...Isn't this risky? Doesn't look tired at all."
"Yong-ho! Stop jinxing! Hours of fighting—how couldn't it be? Just the glare!"
"Whoa... Raid leader, check the size up close. Massive. True C-rank?"
"Near floor boss level. Took down another C-rank."
"Report it vague to the Association. Ups the value."
"Heh... And our rep as the killers."
"Heh... No need to say it. Obvious."
Grinning unpleasantly, they closed in—cautious despite bravado, weapons drawn.
I blinked slowly at their creeping advance.
Yes, I was tired.
Another full fight? I'd drop in minutes.
But against these scrubs?
Child's play.
"Wha...? H-hey, raid leader? It's m-moving!"
"Duh, we're approaching! All bluff—no fear! Hack the head quick and—"
The hunter's words cut off.
Thwack—something whipped out fast, sending him flying.
"Wha—what─?!"
"Fuck! Knew it felt off! Run, now!"
"Eek! S-save me!"
Shii───
They scattered in panic, fleeing my subtle shift.
Where'd that confidence and greed go?
Terror of imminent death shattered their minds.
Perfect timing—energy low, belly empty.
Delivering themselves to my door.
Packaged delivery?
I pursued leisurely as they bolted.
Hungry anyway, and as always, no survivors planned.