The Demon Hunters

Doyun had just entered the 11th floor.

Including this one, there were about four floors left.

The gallery's interest was now focused on whether Doyun could safely reach the 15th floor.

As the moderators appeared one by one, the sparks of the gallery that were about to burst into flames died down.

They had to remember. The dark era when they were just waiting to be ejected. They had to feel infinite gratitude that a thin ray of hope called the "Newbie" had arrived.

And, meanwhile.

"Why are they like this again?"

Doyun, who was just about to start the 11th-floor clear, was flustered by the unusual atmosphere of the gallery.

"What is it."

He wanted to ask if there was any information he missed, but it didn't seem like he could talk right now. The atmosphere of the gallery was unusual, no different from any other gallery when it was burning with strange bait. In times like this, just watching from the sidelines was the point and the solution.

"Sigh."

Leaving his disappointment behind, he simply tidied up his body's condition. Strangely, after the 10th floor, the boundary between non-combat zones and combat zones was faint. Didn't Rakia Belz fight as soon as she spawned?

"I'll protect you, Oppa!"

A heartwarming feeling welled up at the line that reminded him of someone with pink hair.

"Thank you."

He replied simply and turned on his stat window for a moment.

"Good."

Along with the previous Netheroot, the level that had risen significantly after dealing with the Alchemist of Oblivion stood out. He didn't know what state other Hunters were in, but these were stats that definitely wouldn't fall behind even when compared to them. He had felt this clearly while dealing with the Alchemist of Oblivion last time.

Doyun, who had roughly dusted off his body and stood up, looked around.

'Is the chain quest not here yet?'

He remembered the quite exciting text window. A quest. According to the gallery, it was quite rare to meet an NPC as soon as you entered the 10th floor.

[It's better this way. Push through the quests and build up more progress than other Hunters.]

Actually, that was the reason he wanted to come to the Tower quickly. 'Progress.' It was a realm that others couldn't easily reach, and for Doyun, that point was truly attractive.

-Kiii...

In the distance, an unidentifiable cry broke ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the silence once again. Thinking of Rakia Belz, who must already be clearing quests somewhere, Doyun stepped beyond the 11th floor.

#

"Kuaaaa!!"

Terrible dead souls encroaching on the floor. Those whose souls had been corrupted and turned into beasts greedily tried to covet the raw flesh of others. They were on a different level from ordinary kobolds. Superior physical abilities. More ferocious momentum. Specs designed as if to hunt and chew humans, instinctively chasing the target in front of them.

However, the movements of the one who became the prey were also extraordinary.

"You bastards."

What followed the scathing curse was the judgment of a giant axe.

-Kudjik!

"Kkeng!"

The 'Lycan' whose legs were shattered in an instant howled in pain. But there was no mercy. The cool, bright yellow pupils watched the sacrifice's end.

-Kwaduk!

The twitching arm trembled and fell to the ground. One Lycan with a smashed head ended its life helplessly.

"...."

The other Lycans watching the scene hesitated for a moment.

"Not coming anymore?"

"Grrr..."

"You pretended to be dignified warriors when you ambushed, but now you're no different from castrated dogs."

It was because they instinctively realized that if they rashly attacked the prey in front of them, the woman named Rakia Belz, the same ending as the one whose neck had just flown off awaited them.

"If you don't come, I'll go."

A pair of brilliant wings spread out behind her back. It was a symbol of those who would die honorably on the battlefield and a token of emotion. Feeling the presence of someone who remained in her heart even though they were apart, Rakia Belz's heart beat fiercely once more.

-Thump!

'.....?'

The face of the innocent man who tilted his head at her question of whether he would be with her came to mind. Recently, there were many times when she felt impulses she couldn't even understand herself when she saw him. Even when other females residing on the 9th floor looked at him, conflicting, annoying emotions tormented Rakia Belz.

'Good timing.'

Rakia Belz needed a place to resolve this lingering sentiment. This battlefield was just that.

"Kkiing...."

"Welcome."

She decided to take her anger out on the Lycans who were looking at her with those despicable eyes.

#

-Shudder.

"What is it?"

"Why?"

At the innocent question, Doyun shook his head at a sensation he couldn't even ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠understand himself.

"Is it just my imagination?"

It couldn't be, because the phenomena that followed when he felt this sensation were usually not good. A Hunter's intuition? Or just a simple coincidence? Leaving such meaningless assumptions aside, he grasped the situation inside the 11th floor.

'Well, I arrived, at least.'

He thought a happy-go-lucky Hunter life with monsters would be waiting, just like any other time. However, what he faced was—

"...."

The owners of an overwhelming pressure he was feeling for the first time, lurking in the darkness.

'I know that.'

"Huh?"

His head froze at the status window announcing that not one, but several had arrived.

"Is it a beast?"

A heavy voice echoed from beyond the darkness.

"I can feel magic. It might be a beast."

However, the one receiving that remark was another Demon Hunter.

'How many are there?'

In Doyun's head, the combat situation with them was instinctively drawn. It would never be easy. No, they might be far stronger than the monsters he had faced so far. It was because they were clearly beings that were far beyond the category of monsters to begin with.

The conversation from the gallery at that time flashed through his mind vividly.

'That's why.'

"It doesn't matter. Being here anyway means that before long, you'll become a 'beast'."

"Let the hunt begin."

-Sreung.

The sound of blades being drawn echoed eerily. However, inside Doyun's inventory—

The indulgence he had obtained earlier was sitting there.