Chapter 55: Flesh Shredded by a Frail Blade, Bones Shattered

Flesh split open under the meager sword, bones crumbling to dust. Guts spilled endlessly from the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠gaping wounds.

The Satyros, battered mercilessly by Park Taemin, wore an expression of utter disbelief at its predicament.

'Why the hell...?'

Its face screamed that it couldn't fathom losing to a puny human like this. And far off, another one mirrored the same stunned look, gaping idiotically as it watched.

"No way this is happening."

It was Kim Dae-san, holding down the other Satyros just a short distance from Taemin. When Taemin had first charged at the beast, he'd honestly thought the guy was rushing to his death. He'd hurried after him, but the scene unfolding before his eyes was utterly absurd.

Instead, the Satyros were getting utterly demolished.

'Impossible.'

What kind of monster was a Satyros? Not on the level of those in the Mausoleum, sure, but on the open fields, they reigned supreme. Even an A-rank hunter needed solid experience and gear to solo one. Yet here was a freshly minted B-rank hunter mercilessly carving them up.

"They said he had a unique class..."

The battle with the Satyros, which Kim Dae-san had expected to drag on, wrapped up far quicker than anticipated. Taemin's performance was stellar, but the teamwork from Yoo Hyuk and the others exceeded his wildest expectations. These were folks who'd been hunting steadily even before the ruins expedition. They could read each other's intentions with a single glance.

As the battlefield seemed mostly cleared, they gathered around Taemin.

"Taemin's on another level, as expected."

"Art. Pure art."

"Knew it'd go down like this."

"At this rate, the Mausoleum's no big deal, right?"

Amid the flood of praise and encouragement, Taemin scratched his head sheepishly and waved it off.

"Nah, you guys were the impressive ones. A-ranks really are something else. You all seem way stronger than back in the ruins."

"Haha, you think? Probably that skill you get at level 80. Boosts offense and defense across the board. But man, at your level, you must feel like you're flying, huh?"

In the warm, jovial atmosphere, Kim Dae-san approached them.

"Everyone, that was impressive. Most teams can't hunt this efficiently on their first Mausoleum run, but your teamwork is top-notch—hard to believe you're new here."

"Our synergy's famous even in the guild. Haha."

Yoo Hyuk beamed with pride, and Kim Dae-san nodded, continuing,

"Figures. Alright, shall we get moving again?"

A few more skirmishes, big ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and small, followed. The hunters fought flawlessly each time, and finally, they reached the Mausoleum entrance—the dungeon's heart.

"Whoa, this thing's way bigger than that pyramid I saw before."

"Yeah."

"Kinda looks like ghosts are gonna pop out, though."

"Tell me about it."

Im Chi-bin called for their attention amid the murmurs.

"Focus up for a sec. This is the Mausoleum I mentioned yesterday. You've all done great so far, but from here on, it's the real deal—stay sharp. These monsters are on a whole different plane from what we've faced. No solo actions, period. Move in squads at minimum. And don't leave your position without me or the leader's say-so."

Before entering, he briefed them on a few more precautions. Even for evaluators like them, the Mausoleum—a true upper-tier dungeon—was no joke. Soloing it? You'd never come out alive.

"Let's head in."

The Mausoleum's interior resembled an old lower dungeon mine, but the walls emitted a eerie purple glow, dim and unsettling, casting a creepy vibe.

"Monsters could pop up anytime, anywhere. Keep your guard up, everyone."

Kim Dae-san took point after another reminder, the party following at measured intervals.

The monsters appeared sooner than expected—barely ten minutes in.

Kim Dae-san's eyes locked on a group of 'Pharmaria'—rock monsters armored in stone, evolved forms of Satyros wielding massive flails instead of hammers.

"Hold. Monsters ahead—six of them. Tough ones, so one squad per beast. I'll handle the extra. Healers from standby, support only."

At his command, the hunters formed their pre-assigned squads and moved with crisp precision. Taemin, in standby, hung back, gauging the foes' stats.

'Defense at 2,800 with that HP... boss-tier.'

As Taemin eyed the stat windows, Kim Dae-san approached from the front.

"What're you looking at?"

"Just thinking how to take 'em down."

"Ah. You're on standby, so stick with that group."

"Do we really need to?"

"Pardon?"

"Six is the perfect number for some fun."

"Fun? This is the..."

"Mausoleum, I know. And my debut stage for the evaluation, right?"

With that, Taemin shot forward like lightning. So fast that even Kim Dae-san's immediate grab missed—Taemin was already dozens of meters ahead.

Yoo Hyuk and the others watched with eager eyes, murmuring,

"Finally showing his true colors."

"Let's see how much he's leveled up."

Taemin closed the gap swiftly, then vanished from sight.

Moments later, a thunderous boom erupted as the nearest monster exploded in a shower of chunks.

Ambush—the Il-sala-ja class's killer move.

Having dispatched one in a blink, Taemin dove into the remaining five, unleashing a storm of strikes.

Papap! Pow!

Each sword stroke painted the air, crits exploding in flashes of light and blasts. Soon, a second beast crumpled.

Two down in under five minutes, reduced to ash.

"His moves are insane."

"Even faster than before."

"No Haste buff, right?"

The hunters spectating from afar gasped in awe, buzzing with excitement. Normally, they'd jump in to help, but Taemin was dominating so one-sidedly, it felt like the monsters needed backup.

Unlike them, two ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠men watched in near-horror.

"Hah. Is that ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠even possible?"

Im Chi-bin let out a stunned yelp. Not at the kills themselves, but Taemin's inhuman agility—S-rank caliber, flawless even surrounded. No openings.

Kim Dae-san was equally floored.

'Am I dreaming? That's not human movement.'

While they gawked, Taemin finished the last one.

Papap! Boom!

'All done?'

Ambush cooldown spent on the finale, Taemin sheathed his sword and returned as the monsters vanished.

The hunters erupted like they were welcoming a triumphant general.

"Woo! As expected!"

"Hell, Taemin could solo this."

"Taemin carrying today?"

"Mausoleum's a joke."

Taemin responded with an awkward smile to the cheers, then headed to Kim Dae-san.

"Sorry for bolting without warning. But it's a test—I figured I should show something."

Kim Dae-san waved it off as Taemin looked apologetic.

"No apologies. Great show, actually. But now you'll need to lead from the front. Too wasteful for standby. That okay?"

"Sure, I..."

"Thanks. Let's move?"

They pressed on, hunts smooth—mostly Taemin's work, but Kim Dae-san and Im Chi-bin shone too.

Eventually, Kim Dae-san halted them, sensing something ahead.

"Hold up. Something's there."

A hunter walking beside him peered into the empty front, puzzled.

"I don't see anyth—"

The ground ahead collapsed, unleashing a horde of monsters. Skeletons—bare-boned frames wielding polished iron swords and shields, common in the Mausoleum.

Kuoooo!

"Skeletons. Battle ready—they're weak, overwhelm 'em."

At Kim Dae-san's order, weapons drew, stances set.

Taemin charged first, buffs hitting instantly, blurring forward like a beam. Kim Dae-san and the DPS followed.

Mausoleum's weakest, skeletons crumpled against the hunters. As melee clashed ahead, rear mages prepped spells—fire, earth, water, wind, a rainbow of elements.

Each cast exploded forward, shattering skeletons in droves.

Over two hundred wiped in seconds. But before victory smiles...

New monsters emerged afar, tensing the group.

"What're those?"

Yoo Hyuk asked, sidling to Kim Dae-san.

"Doom Warriors."

"So that's the one? The unique..."

"Yeah. Dark attribute. Switch to light gear, everyone."

Hunters swapped equipment seamlessly. Meanwhile, Taemin scanned the lead one.

'Near boss-level. Level 70-plus?'

Even censored stats screamed powerhouse.

"Defense over 3,000. High dark resist too—watch yourselves."

As he spoke, the lumbering foes exploded into a sprint.

Taemin met the lead one, sword flashing in fierce exchange. Others handled the rest—perfect numbers: Taemin and Kim Dae-san one each, squads on the four trailing.

Standby healers rotated heals and magic from behind.

As predicted, Doom Warriors tanked hits insanely. Dozens of strikes, no lethal blows—just dents in armor from crit chains.

'Ridiculous defense.'

Taemin activated Invisible and Ambush in tandem.

A vortex of light hammered the torso—boom, chunks flew.

One down, Taemin rushed the hottest spot.

Then he spotted black shapes behind standby.

"Coming from behind!"

Hunters whipped around at his shout—then screams.

"Aaaagh!"

Flank Doom Warriors blindsided the forward-focused healers, launching two skyward. Just impacts—no fatalities. They hit ground rolling, spells firing as they retreated.

Taemin barreled in, engaging.

Four flankers total. Ambush on cooldown, he unleashed Chaos Trap.

The floor blackened, spreading like ink.

The pressing foes froze in unison, straining futilely against invisible bonds, twitching helplessly.

Skill landed perfectly—Taemin swung, decapitating.

Sek! Thud.

A grin crept across Taemin's face amid the EXP chimes.

'Trap's straight-up broken.'

Having tasted its power firsthand, he leaped to aid the others.