Chapter 21
Chapter 21
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: Queen of Insects
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"Kiririk!"
"Do-yoon! Don't let them surround you—fall back!"
"Got it!"
At Han Ji-hyeok's shout, Do-yoon pulled back from the insect he was fighting without a second thought.
He could've pressed a bit harder and taken it down, but orders from a senior hunter took priority.
-Roar!
He didn't need to look to feel the intense heat surging from behind.
And right after—
-Kwaaaa!!
"Kiiiii!!"
"Kisit!"
—he came face-to-face with a swarm of bugs roasting to a crisp from Cha Yun-ha's Fireball.
"There are too damn many of these things!"
"We gotta take out the queen! They're a hive mind!"
The bugs charged endlessly, like a dam bursting at the seams.
Beyond the horde, he spotted the massive insect wriggling its mouthparts busily.
"See the biggest one?!"
"Yeah!"
"We take that bitch down!"
Do-yoon gripped the Goblin Warlord's curved sword tight.
He wanted to charge straight in, but the swarm was the real problem.
"When Yun-ha clears a path, that's when we rush!"
"What if we get surrounded?!"
"Ha-rin's got our backs!"
"Leave the rear to me."
Right behind Han Ji-hyeok and Do-yoon, Jo Ha-rin was loosening up with daggers in both hands.
She good?
Doubt flickered, but Do-yoon trusted Jo Ha-rin.
A higher-level hunter who'd always guarded his back reliably.
She'd match or exceed his power—no way she'd let him down.
-Tadak.
The next wave trampled over their comrade's ashen remains and lunged at Do-yoon.
"Hoo!"
"Hold position here!"
"Roger!"
They'd buy time until Cha Yun-ha's next skill was ready.
"Won't take long! Just a bit!"
"Do-yoon oppa, take a heal!"
Cha Yun-ha and Jeong A-hyeon cheered on Han Ji-hyeok and Do-yoon respectively.
-Saaa...
A warm energy settled over his body, tickling his minor wounds.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Lower Heal. Jeong A-hyeon's support skill dulled the nagging pain considerably.
"Kishit!"
Do-yoon lowered his stance against the insect swinging scythe-like forelimbs.
Can't block.
His battered shield might not hold, and the size difference wouldn't help.
So—
-Shiak!
Do-yoon twisted away, dodging, then slashed the curved sword viciously from under the bug upward.
-Chwaaak!
The sharp edge bit deep into its forechest.
"Kieek!"
As the thin gash spread deep, Do-yoon chained into the next attack.
Familiar.
Linking strikes was his specialty.
Feedback from the Goblin Warlord fight replayed.
Each lesson fueled his moves now.
'Keruk! You can see my movements! No openings after a strike! Especially when you've rattled the foe—don't stop, flow into the next form! That's key!'
Big Green.
Grateful to the boss mob living some new life somewhere, Do-yoon swung for the bug's head.
-Kujik!
He yanked the half-embedded blade free roughly, then chopped like splitting logs again.
The second blow severed the grotesque head from its body.
-Thud...
The massive corpse—bigger than a human—crumpled helplessly.
Unlike Earth's bugs that kept twitching headless, this was different.
"Do-yoon! To your side!"
"...!"
No time to savor the win.
He squared off against a hornet-like insect stabbing in ambush.
Shield blocked the stinger; he thrust the curved sword straight in.
Durability's insane.
Normally the blade would've dulled, but the Goblin Warlord's sword still felt smooth.
"Kieek!"
"Get lost."
He booted the half-gutted hornet aside and scanned the field.
Han Ji-hyeok tanked a swarm with his huge shield.
"Hyung!"
"I'm good—fall back, it's coming soon!"
"Do-yoon oppa! We're all set!"
Do-yoon checked the team's rear.
An uncountable horde swarming in.
One way to break them: whatever flickered in Cha Yun-ha's hands.
"Everyone, clear out!"
Her voice cut sharp and clear.
At the signal, Do-yoon and Han Ji-hyeok split to the sides.
-Roar!
Flames erupted from her hand like a beast's savage breath before the pounce.
The magic circle etched on her palm signaled doom, a flare to hell for the enemy.
"Unni! You roasted 'em all!"
Jeong A-hyeon squealed excitedly, her bug disgust plain.
"Just clearing a path."
"Yeah...!"
They couldn't let it hit the 3rd floor boss.
This stage had its own star.
"Do-yoon-ssi."
"...?"
Just before unleashing, Cha Yun-ha murmured his name softly.
Meeting his puzzled look, she flashed a confident smile.
"You can do it, right?"
He knew what she meant, nodding seriously.
"Let's go."
With that—
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ Fireball -Kwaaaaaa!!!
Calamitous flames devoured the swarm, burning away malice.
"Kisit...!"
Feeding even on their agonized screams, it pressed on—
carving a gray ash road from the embers.
"Do-yoon!"
Han Ji-hyeok sensed the moment and called out.
"Stay sharp to the end."
Jo Ha-rin gripped her daggers double-handed and charged the narrowing bug pack.
Speed too fast to track.
"Kieek!"
The bugs Do-yoon strained against fell one, two—sliced per second.
She's miles ahead.
Shoving aside the hollow thought, he bolted down Cha Yun-ha's cleared path.
"Don't look back—keep running!"
"...Yeah!"
-Thump! Thump!
His heart pounded like war drums, heating his veins.
Elation surged from his chest core, flooding limbs.
Get to the boss, fast as possible.
Couldn't waste this chance.
Do-yoon—he used everyone's opening to close on the monster puppeteering the horde.
"Kieek!"
Han Ji-hyeok shield-smashed bugs guarding their queen.
-Kwaang!
Turning from the flying insect, Do-yoon eyed the next from the side.
-Saak!
Curved sword countered; he struck the exposed neck.
The headless bug slumped like a marionette with cut strings.
Too many.
Regulating his quickening breath, Do-yoon eyed the distance.
Still far from the boss.
Hesitate here, and the path might seal shut.
Faster.
Prioritize reaching the boss over clearing adds.
Shifting focus, Do-yoon accelerated.
"Kirik!"
He dodged the creepy swarm's assaults, pushing forward.
"Don't look back!"
Han Ji-hyeok's rough voice boomed behind.
Do-yoon didn't reply, just kept charging ahead.
Thus—
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Defeat the boss monster, 'Brutalstag', to pass the trial. —he faced the boss with its ominous name.
"Hoo."
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Attempting resonance with boss monster, 'Brutalstag'. Failed. "..."
He'd half-expected it, but still disappointing.
Doesn't matter.
Goal unchanged.
For the hunters blocking bugs swarming him in real time, too.
Do-yoon had to take that boss's head.
-Grip.
Crushing the hilt, he poured on max speed.
"Kirik!"
Only then did the massive Brutalstag finally move.
-Whoosh..!
Overwhelming presence dwarfed every insect monster before.
One hit might end him—its bulk pressed down.
Blocking's suicide.
He dove to the ground, rolling.
-Kwaaaang!!
Feeling the quaking earth and flying debris, he kept moving.
Target: leg joints.
Size meant exposed weak points.
-Kwaduk!
But the curved sword jammed in the joint gap for the first time.
Blade's limit reached?
No.
His own strength was lacking.
Even with the S-grade weapon from Ugly Green Guy, user limits held it back.
Once more.
Coating the blade in Acidic Digestive Fluid (D), he struck the joint again.
-Chiiik...!
"Kiririk!"
The sensation of melting carapace seeping in enraged the Brutalstag into frenzy.
"Shit!"
Just a bit more would've severed it!
Do-yoon dodged the thrashing bulk, retreating briefly.
Missed the hit, but he'd found the weakness.
Balance is shaky.
Huge size, but equilibrium lacking.
One leg down, and it'd topple, exposing vitals.
Let's move.
Mountains left to climb.
No time to dawdle.
However—
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Attempting resonance. "...Ugh!"
Frequent headaches assaulted from the skill forcing a boss link.
Last time with Big Green, Mana Resistance (C) worked fine.
Should've checked more posts.
This boss resisted fiercely.
But it didn't matter.
His attacks were landing; a bit more, and it'd topple for the kill.
-Chiik...!
"Kieeeeek!"
Finally, half the joint melted—the Brutalstag's bulk began to tilt.
"Nice!"
Han Ji-hyeok, holding the swarm, shouted approval.
Focus.
Steeling his slackening mind, he closed for the finisher.
...You too.
Beyond that vicious form, did it have its own reason?
King Slime, Ugly Green Guy—all reacted the same.
Out of control despite their own bodies, thrashing under system compulsion to kill him.
Don't overthink.
Do-yoon shook his head, advancing for the coup de grâce.
That instant—
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Resonance with target, 'Brutalstag', successful! "...Ah."
Resonance linked at the last second; Do-yoon gazed at the boss ruefully.
"This is... ah. I see."
A calm woman's voice, mismatched with the horrific insect form.
"I've watched your exploits through my children. Wielding such fierce, mysterious power."
"Yeah."
Do-yoon replied verbally while instinctively scouting weak points.
Beyond the crumbling balance, fragile structures stood out.
"You must slay me. That's a hunter's duty. We block; you overcome to pass the trial."
"You know it."
"But this is special. Since speaking with you, something's opened in my mind. Nostalgic... not unpleasant."
"Can't you just stay put?"
"Impossible. The moment you and your allies entered my domain, I lost all control of my body."
He knew.
He'd been through it a few times.
"No worries, though. You can end me easily. I'm gravely wounded, can't rise again. Just flailing."
"Looks that way."
"How about the others? Did they speak with you too?"
This boss sought rational talk.
Its body thrashed irrationally, though.
He smacked down rampaging legs, then severed the rest for approach.
-Kwa-jik! Kwak!
"It hurts. You're cutting my legs. But it's fine. My life will cycle back into the tower."
"...Yeah."
"So, my question? The other bosses—"
"Yeah. Chatted with the 1st and 2nd floor ones too."
"...I see. Not coincidence, then. Another tower mystery."
"You always this chatty?"
"Didn't know I was. Usually just talk to my children."
All six legs gone; only the wriggling torso remained.
Easy to chat now, but his struggling comrades forbade it.
"That weapon of yours... alien power from it. Belonged to one like me."
"Right."
"Grateful for the talk, I'd give something, but I have nothing."
"It's fine."
Its fragile body remained right here.
Why do I feel like the villain?
Hunters cleared bosses for world safety, right?
Yet Do-yoon's runs felt off.
Suspiciously friendly bosses. He'd stabbed them all.
Not weird, is it?
Still, job was job.
He was a rookie hunter with much left to solve.
"Faced countless hunters, but you feel different."
"..."
"Those eyes... pitying me. Mysterious, but being pitied isn't bad. Far better than eyes full of murder."
"Do-yoon! How much farther?!"
Han Ji-hyeok's urgent shout cut after the Brutalstag's words.
Finally, Do-yoon aimed the curved sword at its neck for the end.
"Thanks."
"You're thanking me. Nice words, but no need. I must block you, after all. Still."
The staggering monster bug's head turned to him.
Countless compound eyes reflected Do-yoon's hesitating face.
"May blessings light your kind path ahead. This place—ah, beyond my purview."
That was Brutalstag's last.
Do-yoon, complex feelings swirling, cast Acidic Digestive Fluid on the blade.
-Chiik...!
Goblin Warlord's sharp edge, coated in body-melting slime.
No hesitation after.
-Shwak!
Do-yoon beheaded the Brutalstag.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Challenger, 'Kim Do-yoon', has defeated boss monster 'Brutalstag'! Collecting rewards. ✨ LEVEL UP! ✨ Lv.4 → Lv.5 + Unopened rewards remain.
3rd floor cleared.