Back-to-Back Legendary Clears

Surprisingly, the instance gate had its own clear rewards.

I'd heard that regular gates didn't offer anything like this.

It was just an F-rank gate, but it got recognized as a legendary clear.

I hadn't really done much.

I'd just gone in, hadn't even touched the goblins, and wiped them all out with a few words.

…When I summarize it like that, it sounds pretty impressive.

Yeah, it's a total cheat ability.

Rewards are given once per rank, I guess.

Looks like I won't get anything more even if I clear more F-rank gates.

Shaaah—.

Along with a faint light, two items materialized.

Just from clearing one F-rank gate, and I get these promising rewards.

Oh…….

A white ticket and a stone fragment appeared in the air amid a soft glow.

The ticket did exactly what its name implied.

My eyes widened as I checked the details.

Wait, does this mean I can use Instant Death one more time?

The original cooldown is 44 days.

That's about a month and a half of waiting gone.

Insane.

Unlike Weakling Extermination, Instant Death has no restrictions whatsoever.

Distance, opponent's strength—it ignores everything.

It can take out an enemy in one shot.

A blatantly overpowered skill.

For a gate I cleared just to test the skill, the rewards are pretty generous.

Of course, I had no intention of using it right away.

Today's the day Korea's world boss got cleared.

No way another one pops up, right?

Historically, world bosses have never appeared two days in a row.

I could hunt one overseas if I really wanted, but the problem is the nickname that gets logged.

It could turn into an international incident, which would be a headache later.

I have zero interest in that kind of trouble.

I'm not planning to hide my identity forever anyway. For now, sticking to Korea makes sense.

I tried putting the ticket into my inventory.

Huh?

Or rather, I tried to.

It bounced right back out.

Because my inventory was full.

I'd sorted the magic stones, huh.

The magic stones from the goblins had filled it up.

Lowest-grade small ones go for 50,000 won each.

The medium one's 150,000 won.

Totaling about 800,000 won.

Unlike the Annihilation Sword, selling these wouldn't cause issues. Plenty for living expenses.

I should expand my inventory ahead of time.

Twenty slots should cover me for a while.

I made a million coins off that Imoogi, so this is fine.

The ticket went in.

While I was at it, I picked up the Legendary Insignia and Imoogi's soul that I'd left in the corner of the room since my inventory was full before, and stored them too.

Then I grabbed the other reward.

Next up…….

It was a black stone engraved with a green pattern.

Right, a rune.

This looks like a high-value item too.

From what I could find, it's a one-time use item with permanent effects.

Weakling Extermination's range is 50m.

Using this would extend that range.

I could sell it for a fortune, but…….

Tough call.

Use it? Sell it?

The Annihilation Sword? Honestly, I have no use for it.

Fine to sell.

But this rune? Using it makes me stronger.

Hmm……. Just use it.

Longer effective range has tons of benefits.

I can wipe out enemies before they get close, or take out beasts without anyone noticing.

"Use rune."

I placed the rune on my palm and spoke the activation word.

Shaaah.

The rune turned to light and absorbed into my body.

Weakling Extermination's range doubled from 50m.

Ooh, and this applies to all future skills too.

That wraps up the rewards. Pretty satisfying.

Everything's great, but…….

Grrrowl.

I've been feeling it for a while now—I'm starving. Even though I ate not long ago.

My hunger's so bad it feels like my stomach's sticking to my back.

Is this the price of Weakling Extermination?

For such a ridiculous power, it's a minor drawback.

……I'm gonna die of hunger.

I opened the cupboard and pulled out three packs of ramen.

Bubble bubble.

The quickly boiled ramen looked tastier than ever.

I devoured all three packs right there, then ordered delivery chicken to top it off.

Didn't feel wasteful at all.

"Sweet."

If food costs are the downside,

I can handle that easily.

The ability's supposed to be a cheat, after all.

The next day.

Hunter Association Seoul Headquarters.

"Director, 1 hour and 3 minutes until world boss emergence."

"Disaster scale: Catastrophic. Estimated level in the 160s."

"Civilians nearby have already evacuated to shelters."

The instruments in the headquarters comms room were buzzing. Clear signs of an impending world boss.

The staff were in near-panic.

Another world boss just one day after the last one.

Yesterday's had definitely appeared.

Unprecedented.

"Damn it. Has Korea been cursed?"

Director Yoo Jincheol grimaced. He was losing ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠his mind.

Then again, the system never cared about human circumstances. At least if they came on a schedule, it'd be easier to prepare.

Still, things were better than yesterday.

"Hunter Sa Choiheon and Hunter Chae Arin are both available to participate."

A subordinate approached the director to report.

Ranking 1: Sa Choiheon.

Ranking 2: Chae Arin.

These two were Korea's ultimate forces.

They'd missed yesterday due to an S-rank gate clear, but today they were on standby.

The Association expected no repeat of yesterday's struggle.

"Monitor closely, and execute anything they request without reporting."

"Understood. We'll keep providing to the other guilds too."

The command center's numerous monitors showed the scene.

Drones hovering in the air relayed live footage—all top models powered by magic stones.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Countless hunters waited at the site.

At the forefront of that scene.

Korea's Rank 1.

Hunter Sa Choiheon stood there.

Sa Choiheon stared impassively at the road where the boss would emerge.

It's beginning…….

His expression darkened further.

Back-to-back world bosses.

Undeniable proof.

The world was about to change.

The tutorial would end soon.

The system would pull every trick to wipe out humanity,

and all sorts of lurking beings would surface.

Cities ablaze, collapsed buildings, lands overrun by beasts…….

That's how it would be.

Not a flow you could stop just by wanting to.

Grind.

Sa Choiheon gritted his teeth in frustration. He'd challenged that hopeless future countless times, but the outcome was always the same.

But this time, he had to change it.

With resolute determination, he drew his sword.

Sa Choiheon.

He was a returner.

Unique skill Regression.

He'd experienced this world multiple times already.

He knew all too well.

This was just the beginning.

"World bosses two days in a row…… What rotten luck, huh?"

Rank 2 Chae Arin approached Sa Choiheon and said. He replied indifferently.

"Yes, rotten luck."

"More importantly…… will that person show up again?"

Chae Arin asked with a sly smile.

"……"

She shrugged at Sa Choiheon's silence.

"Aren't you too stiff? We've known each other a while…… Time to get friendly?"

"Mumyeong will definitely appear."

"Hey…… are we actually having a conversation here?"

Sa Choiheon ignored her and fixed his gaze on a point on the road.

This world boss.

He was participating not just to clear it, but for another reason.

Rumble rumble rumble…….

The road and ground cracked as the beast hidden beneath the surface began to emerge.

Rumble!

A massive hellhound rose amid scorching flames.

Lava dripped from its maw, blue flames wreathed its neck—a black hound from hell.

Dozens of guilds charged in unison.

Whoosh!

Pew pew pew!

With the boss's emergence, countless spells tore through the sky.

Kaboom!

A barrage hammered the hellhound.

But it didn't even flinch.

Splash!

Most spells and arrows evaporated in the hellfire rising from its body.

"W-what the hell!"

"Fall back!"

"Get out of its path!"

The hunters were horrified. Attacks that did zero damage?

Meanwhile, the colossal hellhound advanced leisurely.

"What is this?! Our guild's attacks aren't landing at all!"

Even Rank 2 Chae Arin up front looked a bit rattled. But her surprise was fleeting.

"Chae Arin, draw your sword of light."

"Was already planning to."

At Sa Choiheon's urging, Chae Arin raised her right hand.

Her ability: sword of light.

The holy sword.

Flash!

The sword of light in her hand extended endlessly. Her sharp blade fell toward the hellhound.

Kaboom!

But it didn't connect.

The hellhound's infernal flames blocked the sword of light.

"Nngh! Even my attacks aren't getting through……?"

This was completely new.

"Hey! Do something!"

Chae Arin yelled back at Sa Choiheon.

"……"

But he just stood there.

"This is a real crisis, you know?!"

Pain like her arm might snap.

Chae Arin screamed.

"……Fall back."

Sa Choiheon muttered.

"You can handle it, right?!"

Hearing that, Chae Arin retracted her sword and leaped back.

Grip.

Sa Choiheon gripped his sword with both hands.

Mumyeong. Not showing up even now?

The world boss rewards were tempting enough to join.

Yet Mumyeong hadn't appeared.

No suspicious presences nearby either.

Given the hellhound's danger, he couldn't let it advance further.

Vmmm!

Space warped around Sa Choiheon holding his sword. The sign of his signature Space Sword.

Awoooo!

The hellhound's chilling howl echoed across the city. Its flames intensified simultaneously.

Its fire doubled as a barrier.

Hellfire that incinerated all magic attacks.

Even Sa Choiheon would need two strikes to fell it now.

Not a problem.

As a returner, he'd monopolized hidden pieces and items.

A single world boss was no issue solo.

Majestic energy gathered on his sheath.

The moment tyrannical aura began dominating the surroundings—

Splatter!

The hellhound exploded suddenly. Its blood soaked the road.

Before Sa Choiheon could even swing.

"What……?"

Shock filled Sa Choiheon's eyes.

No warning.

No energy felt.

Not even a hint of a powerhouse.

He couldn't comprehend what just happened.

"Mu-Mumyeong? He really came!"

Chae Arin, who had fallen back, lit up. Guild members in the fight cheered in relief.

"Phew, thank god!"

"Whoa, insane……"

"Mumyeong!"

Only Sa Choiheon remained frozen, unmoving.

The system message for contribution settlement.

Sa Choiheon could only mutter in disbelief.

"Mumyeong, what the hell are you……."

A split ticket lay before me.

The TV blared news of the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠successful clear.

— The colossal world boss has been cleared by Hunter Mumyeong once more.

— A new hunter surpassing Sa Choiheon has emerged…….

……Honestly, I hesitated since Sa Choiheon was there, but I used it anyway.

I ended up using the skill reset ticket.

I pondered quite a bit.

Use it or not?

Decision: use it.

No point holding onto it.

Better to squeeze out every item and reward possible.

World boss rewards are on another level.

The Imoogi gave me Weakling Extermination.

Whatever it is, a useful skill means faster growth.

Once my level rises, most monsters will one-shot to Weakling Extermination.

And who knows.

Maybe I'll get a new ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠skill.

"Alright then…… time for more rewards."

A golden glow began gathering before me.