Lured to the Slaughter
Hunters basically equip themselves with all sorts of gear to raid the labyrinth.
From mass-produced items manufactured in factories using magic stones or monster materials, to custom-made masterpieces painstakingly crafted by artisans stitch by stitch.
A rare few hunters wear special labyrinth-forged equipment, but there are so few of them that they can't really serve as a point of comparison.
For reference, labyrinth-forged gear outperforms human-made equipment across the board.
Of course, such gear is naturally left behind where the hunter dies.
If comrades or other hunters recover it, that's one thing, but normally it's abandoned along with the corpse.
And while hunter corpses might be different, monsters don't really need this kind of gear anyway.
By the logic of the outside world, then, places like this labyrinth should be piled high with mountains of discarded hunter equipment if no one comes to claim it.
But this is the labyrinth, where the outside world's common sense doesn't apply.
Hunter gear vanishes before long.
The labyrinth absorbs it all.
And from the absorbed gear, it forges new labyrinth-made equipment.
That's why hunter corpses and gear don't pile up like mountains throughout the labyrinth.
Hunter deaths and discarded gear.
I've killed my fair share of hunters so far, so I've come across plenty of their equipment.
Multiple pieces of high-end gear that porter-me back then couldn't even dream of.
Naturally, I wondered if I could use it myself, but unfortunately, I'm a snake—a monster.
There was no way for me to wield hunter gear.
It's all made for humans, after all.
So I had no choice but to turn away from those priceless items in disappointment.
Even selling them outside would net tens or hundreds of billions of won without breaking a sweat, but that was impossible for me.
But things are different now.
I'm in a human body. I can equip any abandoned hunter gear I want.
Even if it's not suited for me, I can just pick it up, head outside, and sell it.
It's smart to stockpile funds just in case.
I didn't know exactly how my revenge would unfold amid all the variables, but having money outside was always a good idea.
It'd allow basic responses to any situation.
In that sense, I loaded up plenty.
But don't get the wrong idea.
I didn't strike first against the hunters.
Really.
...I just nudged things a little.
A group of around sixty hunters trudged through the desert.
They were aiming for the Plains Zone, judging by their numbers and the quality of their gear—not bad at all.
That's when I had my revelation about finally being able to use equipment myself. Rather than attack them outright... I played a little trick.
Going in personally felt off, since they were potential owners of gear I'd use later.
So I went with the tried-and-true method I'd favored for the past two years.
Conveniently, there were suitable monsters passing nearby.
I made use of one.
Hwarang Guild might not rank among the nation's top five, but it was a solid mid-tier guild well-regarded among hunters.
And Hwarang's 3rd Raid Team.
They were currently crossing the desert.
Their current floor: 41st.
One more floor, and they'd reach their target—the Plains Zone.
This expedition was a big deal for Hwarang Guild. Rather than deploying their main forces—the 1st or 2nd Raid Teams—they planned to solidify their position by succeeding in the Plains Zone with the 3rd Raid Team.
Succeeding in a lower-zone expedition like the Plains with just second-string elites was baseline for a major guild.
It was essential for Hwarang's growth into a major guild.
And the man chosen to lead this crucial expedition was A-rank hunter Lee Hyun-woo.
...This expedition has to succeed, no matter what.
It wasn't just for the guild—for Lee Hyun-woo personally, success was non-negotiable.
Only then can I go from interim raid leader to permanent.
Hwarang currently had three raid teams.
The 1st and 2nd were led by the guild master and vice-master, respectively. Becoming the official leader of the 3rd meant landing a key guild position.
It's time for me to climb... Succeed here, snag a top spot with full guild backing, and I can reach S-rank too.
Excluding the guild master, Hwarang had no S-rank hunters.
The vice-master was A-rank nearing S, but aged and declining.
Finish this expedition, grow with guild support, and he could become Hwarang's next vice-master as it rose to major-league status.
...Maybe even get scouted by another guild... or start my own...
For that, he needed S-rank. This expedition had to succeed.
And above all, Lee Hyun-woo was optimistic about it.
First, he'd joined plenty of lower-zone expeditions like the Plains as an A-rank.
Second, this team's strength wasn't lacking.
Even as a "second-string" expedition, Hwarang's leadership weren't idiots—they hadn't sent weaklings.
Every member was C-rank or higher veterans, with plenty of B-ranks, and six A-ranks including himself.
The public called it second-string, but it was practically first-string.
It'll be easy, but there are five others to watch... They won't say it, but they're after the same thing as me.
Lee Hyun-woo's gaze swept over the other five A-rankers.
He'd been picked as interim leader because he was the best fit, but they weren't beneath him.
In a pinch, they'd act independently.
Some checking was necessary.
...Still, the goal is the 44th floor. Can't forget that.
No matter his ambitions, Lee Hyun-woo wasn't stupid.
Failing due to needless infighting would be putting the cart before the horse.
The target: [Mandragora], unique to the 44th floor.
Collect the plant used for high-grade potions and return.
Lee Hyun-woo never forgot that.
Afterward, the 3rd Raid Team proceeded smoothly under his lead.
As they neared the pre-planned warp gate, Lee Hyun-woo began to relax.
Transfer gate areas saw frequent hunter traffic, so monsters stayed away.
The top five guilds and other majors cleared them regularly—monsters wouldn't spawn there.
It was one of the dungeon's rare safe zones. Lee Hyun-woo naturally felt at ease.
And that's when disaster struck.
"...R-Raid leader! Monster reaction!"
It started with the hunter handling detection, his sensing skill on perimeter watch.
The B-rank veteran shouted in uncharacteristic panic.
He'd relaxed nearing the gate too.
Lee Hyun-woo flinched at the urgent cry.
"L-Location? How many?!"
"Everyone, brace for ambush!"
Panic lasted a moment. Proving why Hwarang picked him for this, Lee Hyun-woo swiftly took command.
The team formed up crisply at his order.
A-rank elites up front, others in support behind—solid formation.
Veterans all; it looked unbreakable.
No monster could breach it easily.
Lee Hyun-woo's face calmed as he eyed ahead intently.
But the sensor's expression stayed grim.
Lee Hyun-woo hardened.
"What is it? Numbers too high?"
"...M-M-Monster... a beast...! Th-There's a beast!"
"W-We’re all gonna die...!"
Lee Hyun-woo froze at the B-rank's terrified scream. It didn't match his usual cool demeanor.
What the hell could it be? Floor boss...? No, zone boss? But Eunha Guild's 2nd Raid took down the desert area boss recently... Did it respawn already?
Situation was bad.
Lee Hyun-woo tensed, steeling for possible wipeout.
Ready to react anytime, anywhere.
It didn't take long for the unknown foe to appear.
"KIRAAA───!!!"
Bursting from the sand: a massive earthworm.
Unlike normal ones, it dwarfed a small mountain, its maw lined with hundreds of razor teeth.
[Sand Worm].
A minimum B-rank monster common in the Desert Zone.
Especially vicious, hiding under sand for sudden ambushes—many hunters fall to it.
Lee Hyun-woo yelled at its appearance.
"Everyone, scatter!"
The team dispersed swiftly.
No panic—just minimal movement. They knew Sand Worms lacked eyes but sensed vibrations to locate prey.
"One enemy! Overwhelm it! High physical resistance—focus magic attacks!"
Magic skills erupted toward the Sand Worm, led by A-rankers.
-KIRAAA….!
The Sand Worm fell quickly.
A strong specimen—A-rank level—but no match for six A-rankers' barrage.
Relief washed over Lee Hyun-woo and the team as it crumpled.
Tension eased naturally.
"Whew... Not as bad as I thought."
Sand Worms were manageable for any decent veteran team, even below 3rd Raid level.
No reason for B-rank hysterics.
Lee Hyun-woo glanced lightly at the B-rank.
"Seriously, why the fuss over something like th—"
"It's still here...?"
He swallowed his words.
The sensor's face was deathly pale, more terrified than before.
"Monster... huge snake... it's... it's watching us... We're all gonna die... all of us..."
Lee Hyun-woo's face stiffened, thinking it was over.
"What...?"
His cautious question cut short by a roar.
Several raiders exploded in blood and flesh, flung airborne.
"Kyaaack!"
"...It's a [Sand Eater]!!!"
"M-Multiple Sand Worms incoming too!"
S-rank.
A floor boss at least, zone boss at worst.
Its body dwarfed the prior worm like a pup—easily over 40-50 meters.
The desert turned to chaos in an instant.
Lee Hyun-woo snapped from stunned watching and shouted.
"Damn it! Scatter! Stick to pre-set groups! A-Team and I take the Sand Eater! Others, prioritize Sand Worms!"
Quick response for back-to-back ambushes, but the foe was wrong.
S-rank monster.
Normally, 3rd Raid could handle it—but not a surprise attack.
The rampaging Sand Eater's destruction overwhelmed even veterans.
Raiders torn apart alive by Sand Worm packs everywhere.
He wanted to save them, but the Sand Eater loomed.
At this rate, even downing it meant near-total wipe.
Expedition failed.
Lee Hyun-woo's face darkened.
"Damn...! This chance... You bastard... because of you...!"
Dying comrades.
Failed expedition.
Shattered dreams before his eyes.
Fueled by rage, Lee Hyun-woo charged the Sand Eater.
Other A-rankers followed.
Whatever came next, save who they could—first, drop the immediate threat: the Sand Eater.
And this whole scene was watched from afar by a single snake—or rather, a person.
The hunters lunging at the colossal Sand Eater looked just like moths to a flame.