Chapter 36
**Line 1:** CHAPTER_TITLE: The Assassin Hunter Stops Time (36)
**Line 2 onwards:**
The time it took for him to enter the dungeon felt slightly longer than usual.
As the long darkness gradually lifted, the first sensation was the intense heat that made his skin burn.
[Body Temperature Management Option Activated.]
At the same time, the option attached to his jacket activated, adjusting the temperature to a pleasantly warm level.
Dojin looked around.
“…Did everyone fall behind?”
It was actually fortunate.
If the others were still together, he would have had to be careful while moving alone.
Dojin lightly shook off his jacket.
“It’s nice to have expensive gear after all.”
The cracked ground like spider webs from the flames. A territory brimming with overwhelming heat where he had to locate the others.
“First… everyone will move using signal flares.”
Dojin scanned his surroundings, then climbed onto a high rock.
Soon after, signal flares shot into the sky from various points.
They would draw aggro from the monsters, but first priority was gathering the scattered attack teams.
And…
“There it is.”
A purple signal flare shooting up.
A signal flare used by the Red Circle Guild.
It wasn’t particularly far away compared to the others.
Dojin immediately leaped from the rock and ran toward the location of the Red Circle attack team.
He still didn’t know how many were there.
“I need to get there as fast as possible and secure my position.”
And… stealthily follow them.
Ultimately, what the bastards wanted was to amplify the dungeon’s mana reaction using Cartel Crystals.
“I won’t let them do that… no matter what.”
The floor cracked with flames blazing inside the gaps.
Dojin began sprinting through the fissures.
* * *
“It’s pretty hot.”
“Hah… if I had known this, I would have brought a few cool ice water pouches from the dimensional bag.”
“That’s some pretty convenient talk.”
One of the Red Circle attack team members, Isejin, spoke up. The team leader, Jang Won-sik, responded.
Thankfully, it was fortunate that the five of them—led by the guild master Choi Jang-hoon—were together.
The remaining four members and Yellow Dragon Guild’s Hao Chen were separated.
Jang Won-sik looked at Jang-hoon and asked.
“Should I fire a signal flare?”
“We should. And the rest will search within a five-hundred-meter radius. We need to check if the monsters react first.”
“Understood.”
“Yes!”
Following Jang-hoon’s orders, three attack team members moved in different directions to search the area.
Thanks to having worked together for a long time, their movements flowed naturally like water.
And when Jang Won-sik launched a signal flare into the sky…
Boo-woo-woo-woo-woo-woong!
A purple light flare shot up into the sky.
Jang-hoon said.
“First, let’s check what the main monsters are. Then check the areas with strong mana reactions right away.”
“Aren’t we waiting for Hao Chen first?”
“Before starting the ‘hunt,’ he’ll only get in the way anyway. He’s skilled, but teamwork with monsters is important.”
“But what if he doesn’t join later…?”
Hao Chen was an important figure dispatched for the ‘hunt.’
If he didn’t join, it could put them at a disadvantage.
But Jang-hoon shook his head.
“He’s a pro, even if he does things his own way. He’ll join if he can. Don’t worry.”
“Understood.”
Won-sik answered briefly.
Soon, the members who had gone out to search returned hurriedly.
“Guild master, there’s nothing around here.”
“Nothing came our way either.”
But unlike the other two…
“Guild master, down below… there’s a Flame Gargoyle.”
“Flame Gargoyle?”
Jang Won-sik’s expression hardened at Isejin’s words.
It was because the single-level Gargoyle was around 150.
But what was more important than its level…
“…Is this its nest?”
“No way, a real dragon…?”
At Jang-hoon’s words, Isejin gave an awkward smile.
It was the expression of someone scared at that moment.
But it was easy to assume so.
Because Gargoyles were always related to dragon races.
If it was a Flame Gargoyle coming from this flame territory…
“It might be a dungeon related to a Red Dragon. Everyone, stay alert.”
Clearing it would be impossible if there was a real Red Dragon.
But…
“A dungeon with a 130,000 mana reaction having a real dragon?”
“Yeah. 130,000 is high, but I don’t think there’s a real dragon.”
Dragons were almost apocalyptic by themselves.
Even excluding Arcale that appeared in America, all dungeons with dragons had around 300,000 mana reactions.
At that, Jang-hoon nodded.
“Of course, the possibility is low, but it’s always good to be prepared. First, we’ll hold this position until all members gather.”
Jang-hoon looked at Won-sik.
“Fire a signal flare every 30 minutes. And find a place to avoid this heat in the meantime.”
It was a Red Gate dungeon with vast terrain.
Combat with monsters was threatening, but above all, surviving this hot terrain was necessary.
Jang-hoon said.
“Hurry up. Soon the monsters will smell us and come running.”
He would never let them off easy here.
“Understood!”
At that moment when the atmosphere was tense…
Who would gather their team members and move first was the most important thing.
* * *
“Flame Gargoyle, huh.”
The moment he saw the Gargoyle, Dojin was certain his prediction was correct.
It was because of the characteristics of the Gargoyle monster.
“First… move to a position where I can observe them without being spotted.”
Dojin moved quickly, heading toward the spot where the purple signal flare had shot up.
There would probably be people like him moving while watching the signal flares.
And…
“Found them.”
Four attack team members gathered with Jang-hoon.
Originally, it was lucky that five of them were separated.
Then now…
“The remaining five are coming here.”
Far away, he spotted a white signal flare launched from the alliance team’s attack squad.
Dojin ignored it.
If they didn’t join, they would get scolded, but there were more important things now.
Dojin hid his body in a place not visible to the enemies’ sight.
If he hid here…
He didn’t know how they found this place, but Jang-hoon’s judgment was quite good.
With only three entrances, they could create a favorable formation in case monsters attacked.
“Truly, he deserves to be called the leader of the Red Circle’s first attack team.”
The bastards were everywhere, but among them, these were the skilled ones.
Dojin lowered his stance to monitor the path they would take to reach here.
He considered killing one or two of the ones joining first, but…
“Not yet.”
He had to check where they would move after everyone gathered.
And after they activated the Cartel Crystal and moved elsewhere…
“That’s when it begins.”
Soon, the enemies gathered one by one after spotting the signal flares.
And when nine of them—excluding Hao Chen—had assembled…
“Those damned bastards. In the end, they’re doing unilateral action.”
“It doesn’t matter. We have all the Cartel Crystals. Once the signal flare is fired before the operation, we’ll move.”
Of the four Cartel Crystals received from Hao Chen, activating them at key mana-strong points would complete the mission.
Jang-hoon looked at the attack team members.
“Then find the points and move.”
“Understood.”
Won-sik pulled a small machine from his pocket.
It was about the size of a smartphone, and something was spinning like a radar, telling the location.
It was a machine to find places with strong mana reactions inside the dungeon.
“Nothing nearby. Let’s move to the next point first.”
Jang-hoon nodded and moved. And…
Creak.
Dojin hid his body in the shadows and followed their backs.
* * *
Kbang!
The moment the Flame Gargoyle’s fist shot out, Jeong Woo-hyun’s shield shook violently.
An A-grade tank from the Gangseol Wing Guild, Jeong Woo-hyun.
Leading the alliance attack team that entered the Red Gate.
Having blocked the attack, Woo-hyun said.
“Aim for its joints from both sides! Magicians, prepare follow-up attacks!”
Green recovery magic enveloped his body, with the resounding voice.
The assistant tank on the side covered him, and soon the dealers moved to both sides, charging at the Flame Gargoyle.
Kwakik! Kwaduk!
In an instant, one was destroyed, and the alliance attack team immediately spotted another Flame Gargoyle.
They had struggled a bit, but after defeating all six Flame Gargoyles, Woo-hyun exhaled deeply.
“Hoo… tough ones.”
Without special abilities, Gargoyles had high basic attack power and defense.
Everyone was slightly tired, breathing small sighs while panting.
Woo-hyun looked at Hye-jin and said.
“Where did the Dojin Hunter go? If it’s like this, he probably isn’t joining on purpose.”
“Maybe he fell far away and couldn’t see the signal flare.”
In response to Woo-hyun’s complaint, Hye-jin answered calmly.
She had expected him not to join, after all.
There was no need to feel emotional and fight with the others here.
But Woo-hyun…
“I’ll definitely hold someone responsible for this.”
“Ha… a nameless failure starting from the beginning.”
“I don’t like it from the start because assassins are involved.”
The atmosphere was a bit awkward, but Hye-jin ignored their complaints.
Clearly, as Hye-jin said, he might truly be unable to join because he was alone far away.
But rather than that…
“Originally, there was another purpose, huh.”
He didn’t know what it was, but it was definitely something he had to do.
So far, Dojin had always done that.
“Then until then…
“It looks like the thorn is still there, but this is no problem.”
“Battle preparation!”
Soon, following Woo-hyun’s shout, Hye-jin charged at the Flame Gargoyle.
* * *
Kwung! Kwarrururung!
In an instant, the body of one Flame Gargoyle collapsed.
It was truly perfect coordination.
The Red Circle’s first attack team instantly defeated eight Flame Gargoyles and arrived at the point.
Won-sik, holding the radar, said.
“This is it.”
“It’s definitely hotter than the others.”
“We need to install it quickly and move…?”
“Install it here right away, Isejin, Jang Bohyeon. You two, confirm the mana reaction rising from the Cartel Crystal and quickly join.”
“Understood.”
Isejin and Bohyeon were 185-level hunters.
Even ordinary hunters entering here would find it hard to fight against the two.
Even if conflict arose and a crowd rushed them, as long as the two were together, it was no big deal to back off.
They were the most suitable to guard the first Cartel Crystal installed.
Soon, Jang-hoon carefully took out the Cartel Crystal from the box and placed it carefully on the point.
And…
Uuuuung!
As Jang-hoon injected mana, the Cartel Crystal spewed out intense purple light.
Paat!
Soon, the Cartel Crystal rose into the air with intense light.
And as it coordinated with the surrounding mana and amplified even stronger, the corners of Jang-hoon’s mouth lifted slightly.
“Perfect.”
This completed the installation of the first Cartel Crystal.
Three more to go.
“Then… the dungeon will explode.”
At this speed, it seemed it could be finished in two or three days at latest.
Jang-hoon looked at Isejin and Bohyeon.
“Just watch for about 12 hours. The next point will be marked on the radar, so you can join quickly.”
“Understood.”
“Don’t worry. Aside from monsters, the others here won’t be much of a threat.”
Bohyeon smiled widely.
At that, Jang-hoon nodded.
“Moving to the second point.”
“Yes!”
As fast as possible.
The attack team members excluding Isejin and Bohyeon hurriedly moved to another location.
And the three left behind—Isejin and Bohyeon—looked at the Cartel Crystal floating in the air.
The shining light seemed to lift them to even higher places.
Money and honor.
The corners of their mouths rose long.
But at that moment…
“…Two.”
Isejin, Jang Bohyeon.
Just by being in the first attack team, one could know the level of their skill.
“One step above the hunting dogs.”
If the Red Knights were wanderers operating in the shadows, the first attack team were hunters whose skills were publicly recognized.
Even if one looked at individual skills, they could be said to be stronger than Red Knights.
“Only two.”
Dojin’s gaze fixed on the enemies.
Now…
“I’ll pull you down to the floor.”
Dojin’s figure melted into the shadow of the tall rock and disappeared.