Curse Tower Conquest 1
"By any chance, did those guys make some kind of mistake? They're Kang Taejun and his crew, leading Daehan Guild now that Kang Daehan's gone to Japan," Team Leader Gu Kang-cheol asked me in a worried tone.
"Ah... so it's Daehan Guild. That explains it."
"Kang Taejun, Kang Minho, Park Sungtae... They're all A-rank hunters closing in on S-rank. They'd be a huge help to our country's hunter forces too..."
"Hold on a sec." I raised my hand to cut off Team Leader Gu Kang-cheol.
"Team Leader, let me play their whispering for you directly."
I amplified their conversation with mana and let Gu Kang-cheol hear it. The bastards were plotting how to kill me, how to sell my pneuma on the black market afterward, and even discussing raping and killing Ieliya if she came along.
Gu Kang-cheol's brow furrowed as he listened to their horrific chatter firsthand.
"The nerve of them?"
Just as furious Ieliya was about to charge in, I urgently grabbed her hand to stop her.
"No. Not now. Not here."
"Hiiing..."
"You wanna go into the Curse Tower with those assholes, just like they want?"
"For real!?!?"
Ieliya clasped her hands together with a blissful smile, while Team Leader Gu Kang-cheol just shook his head.
"Choosing death themselves. What a pity..."
Gu Kang-cheol rubbed his dry face and let out a long sigh.
"Hunter Park Woojin, once you clear the 56th floor, we'll remeasure your hunter rank and announce it publicly. I hope you'll bear with us until then."
"Screw the measurement—it's a hassle. Just announce me as S-rank. At least that'll scare off the moths."
"Can we hand over the bodies to their families?"
"No." I replied coldly and headed toward the Curse Tower.
Ieliya giggled behind me like it was the funniest thing ever and followed along.
"Finallygettokillpeoplewithoutanyonearoundsohappyeyeballsorripheartortongueorcutdickandgrilliteatthatbitchbig titsmakemeyesorebutmypussystartsthrobbingfeelsgoodcametoseemastertodayloveyouloveyouloveyouloveyou."
Ieliya was muttering behind me like it was a chant while constantly healing me. Her healing felt like a thorough kneading massage—better than any top Thai parlor. With her easing every ache in my muscles, my mood lifted considerably.
"Alright, you five in the back. Time to enter the Curse Tower. I'll go in first with Ieliya."
At my shout, the five from Daehan Guild smirked and followed. They were still casually chatting about how to kill me and Ieliya without a shred of guilt.
"Can't wait to see their faces when they realize the Curse Tower is actually a hunter graveyard."
"Kekeke. They'll whine and beg to live, just like the other guild trash we killed."
"I'll fuck Ieliya first. Park Sungtae, you gonna bang Park Woojin before killing him?"
Their leader Kang Taejun's filthy talk gave me a twinge of acid reflux.
# # #
Passing through the massive black door triggered a holographic warning.
56th Floor Entry - Recommended Level: A-rank or higher
Warning: Extreme high temperatures and fire-attribute monsters
Survival Rate: A-rank hunters 30%, S-rank hunters 50%
"A-rank survival rate at 30%?" Kang Taejun laughed at the warning. Kang Minho, Park Sungtae, and the female hunters Lee Soo-jin and Han Ye-rin wore similar smirks behind him.
"Bro, why'd the Association Chairman ask that Park Woojin punk to clear it?"
Kang Minho leered at Ieliya's ass as she walked behind me, grinning sleazily.
"Heard he has high fire resistance? Look at that fucker. We're dying of heat and stripping down, but not a drop of sweat on him."
I strode ahead briskly, looking as casual as if I were on a stroll. Park Sungtae, Kang Taejun, and Kang Minho's eyes were glued to Ieliya trailing me.
"Saintess Ieliya's as fucking hot as the rumors. Damn... can't hold back. Bro! Should we do the deed right here?"
"We're near the entrance—let's go deeper. Shove the bodies in the lava, no traces."
That's when it happened. My cold gaze turned to Kang Taejun. He flinched and yelled.
"Hey, Park Woojin! You really gonna keep going? No survival rate listed for B-ranks. You'll die."
Kang Taejun's mocking, rhythmic taunt made me grin whitely.
"No need to worry."
My calm reply sounded even more chilling. Ieliya followed beside me with an excited flush.
"Master, when do we kill 'em? I can't wait!"
Ieliya was overflowing with dopamine and oxytocin at the thought of killing freely. Her body trembled faintly—she was loving this.
I glanced back. The Daehan Guild members' cortisol levels were spiking; they looked ready to bail. Now that they were actually inside the Curse Tower, the scorching heat and dread were overwhelming. If I left them, they'd probably quit and head out.
"Not too late to turn back. Wouldn't want you getting hurt on the 56th floor out of stupid pride."
My provocation lit their venom. They stomped after me, their killing intent toward me surging.
As we delved deeper into the 56th floor, the rubber soles of our sneakers started sticking to the ground. It began as gravel with moss, but the moss and plants vanished, replaced by thickening steam like a sauna that obscured vision. The women had stripped to bras; heat-exhausted Kang Taejun gritted his teeth.
Suddenly, hot air blasted from above. The Daehan Guild faces twisted.
"Argh! So hot!"
Lead walker Han Ye-rin screamed first. Her clothes were scorching, exposed skin reddening.
"Oppa Sungtae, shield again."
"Got it... everyone, to me."
While Park Sungtae buffed a barrier, we paused.
"What? Park Woojin's fine alone? Real fire immunity?"
Kang Minho spat jealously. Park Sungtae was shielding the guild. The translucent barrier seemed to block flames, but extreme heat drained mana fast.
"Ieliya too—looks unaffected."
Lee Soo-jin muttered enviously. Seeing us unscathed pissed them off more; we just kept walking casually.
"Heard Ieliya dumped Kwon Si-hyuk for Hunter Park Woojin."
"Think they're dating? Clinging like that."
Ieliya's lips curved up as she gripped my arm tighter.
The 56th floor was pure hellfire. Black rock floor bubbled with lava pools. The ceiling vanished into height, red light dyeing everything. Distant monster growls echoed.
"Hunter Park Woojin, must be nice with fire immunity. We're barely holding with mana..."
Lee Soo-jin forced a smile, but she was sweat-soaked, breathing ragged.
"No wonder the Chairman asked him..."
Han Ye-rin's words irked Kang Taejun.
"Shut it. Fire immunity's useless alone. We'll fight while he tanks."
I smirked at Kang Taejun.
"You sure about that?"
That's when it happened.
"Over there..."
Park Sungtae pointed shakily ahead. A massive shadow stirred far off—a Magma Golem. The 5-ton truck-sized lava-clad behemoth shocked everyone.
"Grraaaahhh!"
The golem's roar shook the space. Winged shadows dove from the sky—Shadow Stalkers.
"Showtime."
I said calmly. The Daehan Guild faces twisted in terror. They'd planned to backstab me amid monsters, but these were horrors they'd never seen.
"Th-that golem's huge... Hunter Park Woojin! What do we do?"
Kang Taejun asked desperately, but his eyes hid schemes.
"I'll handle the Magma Golem. You block the Shadow Stalkers from behind."
Kang Minho despaired.
"What?! How?!"
A Shadow Stalker folded wings and dove at him. As I leaped to intercept—
"Now!"
Kang Taejun's sudden shout unleashed their group assault on me.
"Die, Park Woojin!"
Kang Taejun's sword flew at my neck. Kang Minho and Park Sungtae flanked. Lee Soo-jin and Han Ye-rin sealed retreat with magic. Chaos from monsters was their chance for ambush.
But I'd seen through it. Their hormone surges let me predict the timing perfectly. Adrenaline peaks signaled the attack.
"Right on cue."
I twisted lightly, dodging Kang Taejun's blade. Then unleashed massive mana.
"What?!"
Whooooosh!! Explosive mana burst from me like a bomb. The diving Shadow Stalker veered skyward; Magma Golems fled. Kang Taejun regripped his sword, glaring tensely. His strike should've hit dead-on but whiffed pathetically.
"Hiding... your power."
Kang Taejun muttered low as he, Kang Minho, and Park Sungtae charged together.
"Ieliya, you take the two bitches."
I tossed the annoying spellcasters her way.
"Yes, Master!"
Ieliya's eyes turned vicious. Her innocent face vanished, replaced by a cruel grin.
"Oh, sisters~ wanna play with me~?"
Ieliya extended a hand; Lee Soo-jin and Han Ye-rin's bodies froze—her mana at work.
"Wh-what? Isn't Hunter Ieliya a healer?"
Lee Soo-jin screamed in terror, overwhelmed by Ieliya's mana.
"My power's divine force! God's grace heals wounds, but God's punishment worsens them. Oh, but you're all burned~?"
Ieliya wagged a finger; their burns festered. Yellow pus bubbled under skin.
"Kyaaaah!! It hurts... hurts hurts!!"
Lee Soo-jin clawed pus, writhing as yellow goo oozed. Higher-mana Han Ye-rin swung a dagger at Ieliya.
Shiiik! Whoosh! Ieliya dodged effortlessly and pointed.
Sssseeeeaaaack!! Shadow Stalkers swarmed Han Ye-rin.
"What? Demons obey the saintess?!"
Han Ye-rin couldn't know Ieliya was high-tier demon Aluca—this her home turf. Low-tier Shadow Stalkers now heeded her.
Riiip!
"Kyaaak!!"
Han Ye-rin's clothes shredded by blade-wings; cuts multiplied.
"You fucking... leave Han Ye-rin alone!!"
Kang Taejun charged blindly to help.
"You're all so mistaken."
I slipped Park Sungtae's punch, weaving through Kang Taejun's blade to block him. Assassin-type Kang Minho hid in shadows, stabbing at my ankle.
"Hiding in shadows? I'm better."
I slammed my fist into the dirt. Seemed like a miss, but Kang Minho couldn't dodge my eyes. Red blood fountained from nowhere.
In my hand, Kang Minho's heart fluttered.
"Th-this... from a B-rank?!"
Kang Taejun gaped in disbelief. His swings all missed or blocked.
"Ah... I'm not a B-rank hunter."
I casually caught Park Sungtae's fist.
"SSS-rank? Or higher."
"Lies... lies!"
Kang Taejun swung again; I twisted his wrist.
"Kraaak!"
Bone snapped; he screamed, sword dropping.
"Oh, one more thing."
I grabbed Park Sungtae's throat.
"To kill someone, be ready to die. Got it?"
"Killing Kang Minho... do you know who you just—?!"
Park Sungtae shrieked.
"Shut up, bug."
I picked up Kang Taejun's sword and slowly pierced from under his chin to crown.
"You... know who I a—gurk."
Kang Taejun's words cut off. Finally, I hurled stunned Park Sungtae into lava by nape.
"Kwaaaaaah!!"
His belated scream echoed the 56th floor.
In seconds, I'd wiped Daehan Guild's elites. I looked to Ieliya. Under her command, Lee Soo-jin and Han Ye-rin puppet-danced nude. Their burns charred them chicken-like, then healed pristine—repeating hellish torment like sinners in inferno.
Ieliya cackled gleefully. I smiled satisfied.
Self-inflicted karma.