The Provocative Challenge
The man maintained a steady distance from Charlotte as he moved.
Even though Charlotte wasn't going all out—mindful of the damage she might cause to her surroundings—her speed was fast enough to make the breaking news. Yet the man stayed just out of reach, neither closing in nor falling behind.
Moreover, it was as if he were using some specific skill; no one around them even registered his presence.
He was directing his aura solely at her, ensuring only Charlotte could follow.
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
Insolent fool...
How many years had it been since she'd faced such a brazen challenge?
Setting aside the fact that he was the murderer of her disciple, this was deeply unpleasant.
Chasing after the man, Charlotte arrived at the labyrinth.
The Seoul Great Labyrinth, one of the world's eight great labyrinths.
She had never been there herself, but she knew its fearsome reputation well.
It was where Seong Jae-myeong, an SS-rank hunter like her, had gone missing.
Like a ghost, the man passed through the checkpoint in front of the gate. Charlotte followed without hesitation, crossing the gate as well.
The checkpoint staff let out bewildered cries of "Huh? What?!" but she paid them no mind.
Once inside the labyrinth, Charlotte no longer held back for the sake of those around her.
She pursued the man at full speed.
Boom— Every time her foot hit the ground, the labyrinth floor cratered.
Even at full throttle, she couldn't catch him.
As if he, too, were being considerate of his surroundings, they kept that same fixed distance.
Only then did Charlotte form another assessment of the man, beyond her initial irritation at his arrogance.
...He's no ordinary fighter.
At first, rage had clouded her judgment, but after the prolonged chase, her head had cooled enough for a more objective view.
She'd assumed he had some skill from that initial burst of aura, but this exceeded her expectations.
No matter that she wasn't equipped with her usual gear—just her personal weapon—she was an SS-rank hunter.
One of humanity's strongest, and yet the gap wasn't closing. That proved he was on her level.
...Avenge my disciple? It won't be easy.
She regretted not handling this more calmly.
At least she should have grabbed her proper equipment.
Too late for regrets now, though. Even if she could go back, Charlotte would have chased him anyway.
He was the killer of her beloved disciple, after all.
And so the pursuit between the man and Charlotte dragged on for nearly an hour.
Charlotte, sprinting at full speed without rest for that entire time, and the man evading her effortlessly—they were both monsters in their own right.
They arrived at the 28th floor of the Desert Zone.
At a normal pace, ignoring all other monsters, it should have taken at least a day. They covered it in mere hours.
In the middle of the desert, the man came to a quiet halt. Charlotte landed softly on the sand, keeping her distance.
Neither showed a hint of fatigue, not even a change in their breathing.
"...First, let me ask. Do you know who I am?"
After a brief silence, Charlotte spoke first.
The man nodded calmly at her low question.
"It'd be ridiculous not to. France's SS-rank hunter. The Rose Sword, 'Charlotte Michelle.'"
She let out a hollow chuckle at how casually he revealed her identity.
Of course. There was no chance he didn't know who she was.
"Now, to confirm: why did you lead me here?"
"You're the one who chased me all this way, though..."
"...I'm not here for small talk."
She unleashed a sliver of her aura, her voice turning sharp. The man smirked.
"Obviously, it's a challenge."
"...I see. It's been so long since anyone dared challenge me... I wasn't sure. Especially not such an insolent one."
Charlotte glared silently. The man shrugged lightly.
Silence fell between them again.
And once more, Charlotte broke it.
"...One last confirmation. Did you kill my disciple... Ha-na?"
Unlike before, her aura turned viciously feral—a killing intent so thick it could choke A-rank hunter Amy.
Facing it head-on, the man nodded slowly.
Charlotte's aura exploded outward.
"...Tell me why. If it's some absurd reason like provoking me... I'll make you regret ever living."
Shing— From her waist, her personal sword—the long blade named "White Rose"—slid free with a silky whisper.
Poised to lunge, she awaited his answer.
The man spoke.
"No point in the outcome changing, and I don't need to explain... but for her sake, I suppose I should tell you."
He murmured, then continued.
"She and I had a knot to untie, that's all."
His words shook Charlotte's razor-sharp aura for a moment.
A flash of memory with her disciple made her hesitate before responding.
"...That incident three years ago?"
"So you do know."
"...That was the only unresolved issue she had. But..."
Charlotte eyed him appraisingly.
"Everyone involved in that incident is dead by now... Are you a relative?"
"No. I'm the man himself."
"...What?"
Her steely gaze wavered.
It made no sense.
How could a dead man...
The man pressed on calmly.
"Believe it or not, doesn't matter to me. I've already untied my knot."
"...Impossible things happen in labyrinths all the time... Fine. I'll accept you as the victim—no, survivor—of that incident three years ago."
—But.
Steadying her breath, Charlotte fixed him with her previous sharp aura.
"Does that mean you had to kill Ha-na?"
"You think I should have forgiven her?"
"...Ha-na lived every day in regret after that. Without fail, she grieved and suffered over those memories. Couldn't you have forgiven that poor girl?"
"...That's her side of the story. I only took my rightful revenge."
"Did that revenge have to be her death?"
"What else?"
"For example..."
The man cut her off with a sharp "Enough."
"No more pointless talk. Your preaching won't change a thing."
"...You're right. Ha-na won't come back now... Yes, you have a point."
Charlotte quietly raised her beloved sword.
"Just as you did to Ha-na, I'll take my rightful revenge on you."
"Exactly what I wanted."
After a short silence, they clashed.
Charlotte thrust her sword without mercy.
A strike as swift as lightning.
To counter the piercing blade, the man drew "Cheongsong Sword" in an instant.
Clang—
The sharp ring of clashing steel echoed briefly, followed by a flurry of blows too fast to follow.
The man retreated step by step under Charlotte's relentless stabs.
Small cuts multiplied on his clothes and skin.
After the exchange, she aimed for his brow next.
He deflected; as if anticipating it, her follow-ups chained seamlessly.
A fierce, precise barrage worthy of an SS-rank hunter.
Unable to endure, the man leaped back.
"Your swordsmanship is abysmal for someone of your caliber."
She eyed him leisurely, not pursuing immediately.
The one-sided exchange showed: he was a mess, while she remained pristine, breathing steady.
They paused to catch their breath.
His wounds healed rapidly. Even his tattered clothes mended good as new.
Like rewinding footage, he was spotless. Charlotte's eyes widened briefly.
"A skill?"
"Something like that."
He nodded, then raised his hand.
Mana gathered at his fingertips.
The massive surge made Charlotte charge without hesitation.
A huge ice wall erupted before her as she closed in with a whoosh.
"Magic now?!"
She swung her sword wide, cleaving the wall clean.
As if expecting that, dozens of fireballs flew over the ice toward her.
Individually weak, but their number was the threat.
After a split-second decision, she ignored them and pressed on.
BOOM-BOOM-BOOM—
The fireballs exploded on impact.
Amid the blasts and flames, a sharp wind sliced through.
Her gleaming blade caught the moonlight as Charlotte burst from the inferno.
Her elegant form had only minor singes—no real damage.
Though without her usual gear, her SS-rank body endured.
Unyielding, she rocketed toward him like a flash.
Right in his face, he unleashed his prepared spell.
A small purple snake shot toward her.
Even Charlotte, who had bulldozed everything before, dodged this time.
Whoosh—
Her momentum vanished as if illusory; she spun smoothly, defying inertia.
Her redirected blade now sought his throat.
She attacked even while evading.
Slash—
The purple snake passed harmlessly through her as the man barely dodged her sword—nearly simultaneous.
She evaded perfectly; he did not.
Blood gushed from his neck as he retreated.
It would heal, but the sand was already soaked.
"I meant to take your head... Good dodge."
She flicked her sword casually.
He touched his neck a few times before responding flatly.
"Indeed. Nearly died there. Haven't felt this close in ages."
"...No thoughts of surrender? I won't let you live, but at least make it clean..."
Before she finished, he shook his head.
His resolve made her lips twitch.
She had words, but swallowed them, offering one last attempt at persuasion.
"Fighting on changes nothing. The outcome's set. The wall between SA-rank and SS-rank is that high. Still?"
"...Yeah. SA and SS are worlds apart."
"Then..."
"This body can't go further."
She didn't grasp his quiet addition at first.
Her puzzled look turned to horror.
—Shaaaaa───!!!
A massive serpent's roar echoed under the desert night sky.