Chapter 3
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: Violent Lizard Hunt
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Amid the vibrant green undergrowth lay thick pools of bright red blood.
And a severed arm, its owner unknown.
Yeon Sung-hun impassively took in the gruesome scene.
He had vaguely anticipated something like this, so there was no great shock.
"...It's already gone far away."
Having finished its hunt unscathed, the beast wouldn't move for a while at least.
"Tch..."
Yeon Sung-hun clicked his tongue without thinking and calmly surveyed the site.
The blood splattered everywhere was far beyond a lethal dose.
"The arm's owner..."
Shin Jae-jun.
A man of few words, but one who always quietly fulfilled his role and steadied the group.
Yeon Sung-hun let out a low breath.
It had been nearly two years since he started entering rifts, but this was the first time he'd witnessed someone's death.
And that made sense—every rift he'd cleared so far had been low-rank.
There had been injuries, but nothing worse.
He seemed calm on the surface, but inside, turmoil quietly brewed.
'He wasn't someone who should have died like this...'
Separate from his regret, his body continued scanning the area.
"Did the raid members flee this way?"
The place was such a mess that he couldn't tell their conditions, but it seemed all three had escaped safely.
Having gathered the needed information, Yeon Sung-hun glanced back over the site.
It might be his first time, but for Faust, it was all too familiar.
Back when Faust first joined the war, he was still inexperienced, and because of that, he'd lost many comrades.
Shin Jae-jun's death was just one among countless others.
There was no time to grieve.
With that, Yeon Sung-hun hurried onward.
Rejoining the other raid members wasn't difficult for Yeon Sung-hun.
Park Kwang-yeol, Kim Jun-su, Lee Ha-na.
Yeon Sung-hun appeared before the three, who radiated a grim silence without a word between them.
"Sung-hun?"
"Oh my god! Sung-hun-ssi?"
"You're safe, hyung?!"
The three were stunned by his arrival.
A comrade they'd thought dead had returned hale and hearty.
In their desperate situation, the presence of a teammate who'd somehow made it back gave them strength.
"So, Sung-hun-ssi awakened too, finally?"
Yeon Sung-hun nodded coolly at Lee Ha-na's question, affirming it.
To be precise, it wasn't an awakening so much as recalling his past life's memories, but it amounted to much the same thing.
Even if he couldn't yet use the 'Status Window' that was exclusive to the awakened.
His appearance and the news of his awakening lifted the gloomy mood considerably.
A lingering melancholy remained, but now a faint thread of hope flowed through.
Still, that alone wouldn't suffice against the overwhelmingly powerful foe they had to face.
"So, what should we do now?"
Raid Leader Park Kwang-yeol asked for everyone's input.
This was par for the course.
The difference was the absence of Shin Jae-jun, who usually offered crucial advice in moments like these.
Feeling his void anew, no one could easily speak amid the impasse.
"......"
As no one ventured to speak first, Yeon Sung-hun broke the silence.
"Does anyone have a potion?"
His question drew puzzled tilts of the head from the others.
"Why? You hurt somewhere?"
Park Kwang-yeol quickly scanned Yeon Sung-hun.
He hadn't noticed before, but the young man was a mess—covered in dirt from rolling around heavily.
Yet astonishingly, not a single scratch marred him.
He looked as if he'd tumbled on soft soil.
Yeon Sung-hun didn't explain at Park Kwang-yeol's question.
He simply repeated his request for a potion.
"I have one."
Lee Ha-na pulled out a single potion.
Clear, vivid red liquid sloshed inside.
"Could you give it to me? I'll pay you properly once we're out."
"No need. If you're hurt, use it without hesitation."
Lee Ha-na smiled brightly and handed it over.
Hers might not be top-grade, but to hunters, potions were like extra lives.
Handing one over without strings attached wasn't easy, even for comrades.
Perhaps surprised that she'd given it up so readily despite his request?
Yeon Sung-hun accepted the potion quietly with a low murmur of admiration.
He examined it closely.
Shaking the vial to check the contents, he drew curious stares from the raid members, question marks practically floating above their heads.
Unable to hold back, Kim Jun-su called out.
"Hyung, what are you doing?"
"...Tch. Lowest grade. Not utterly useless, but... well, beggars can't be choosers right now."
Ignoring the question, Yeon Sung-hun muttered to himself and plopped down on the dirt.
Before the others could react, he began drawing something on the ground.
A simple alchemy circle, just like before.
The raid members' eyes followed his busily moving fingers.
Various runes and symbols formed rapidly with each stroke.
It resembled the previous one but with a few added runes and sigils.
Once again, he completed it in mere breaths.
Even the clueless raid members gasped involuntarily at the finished circle.
But Yeon Sung-hun's expression wasn't satisfied.
"This'll cause some deviation again."
Tsking briefly, he placed the potion and materials gathered on the way atop the completed circle.
To the others, it looked like a pile of weird weeds, but each was useful in this situation.
Some, like Poison Chest Grass, were near-poisonous, but alchemy could neutralize the toxicity easily enough.
Whiiiing—
As before, pouring mana into the circle twisted his face from the screaming mana circuits.
Yet he didn't stop.
Unlike last time, a flash like lightning erupted.
The others instinctively squeezed their eyes shut, but Yeon Sung-hun kept his gaze fixed.
As the glare faded, a deep indigo liquid sloshed quietly in his view.
A dark smile crept onto his lips.
"Sung-hun-ah? What the heck is...?"
Ignoring the bewildered Park Kwang-yeol and the others, he inspected the potion.
The color indicated clear success, but what of the contents?
Pop—
He uncorked it and sniffed.
A foul, indescribable stench hit him.
"...Success."
The smell was off, but it matched the potion from Faust's memories.
And using the existing potion boosted the effect beyond initial calculations—around 20 to 30 percent.
This result held real promise.
For taking down that lizard bastard.
The raid members remained baffled at his grinning face, but he had no time to cater to their reactions.
More preparations were needed.
After finishing the additional preparations, Yeon Sung-hun and the raid members set off immediately.
During his absence, they'd learned the rift's clear condition: defeat the Violent Lizard.
Impossible for a normal E-Rank rift, but they had no choice.
Failing to clear it meant the exit stayed sealed until they all died.
To survive, they had to fight.
But the Violent Lizard was C-Rank.
No matter how hard mere E-Rank hunters tried, it was hopeless.
Yet Yeon Sung-hun brimmed with confidence.
He had Faust's memories and experience.
"So, Sung-hun-ah... this potion really has those effects?"
Park Kwang-yeol eyed the indigo potion dubiously.
The other two staring alongside shared his skepticism.
Yeon Sung-hun explained his creation.
'Body Enhancement Potion'.
True to its name, it evenly boosted overall physical abilities.
Less potent than single-stat potions, but balanced.
And he'd made it—Faust himself.
Its effects far surpassed commercial ones, he was certain.
If sold, it'd fetch a king's ransom.
Yet the raid members weren't convinced.
Probably because their non-awakened comrade had suddenly produced it.
Facing their distrust in his potion, Yeon Sung-hun declared boldly.
"You can look forward to it. You'll experience a whole new world unlike anything before."
"Hm... how much does it boost stats?"
"Enough for the four of us to handle the Violent Lizard."
Park Kwang-yeol let out a low whistle.
If true, it was an extraordinary potion.
Four E-Ranks downing a C-Rank? Reporting to the Association would mean rank-ups all around.
Unlike the impressed leader, Yeon Sung-hun found his potion lacking.
With proper materials and a perfect circle, one person could solo it.
Plus, it had a minor 'side effect.'
"Anyway, it's that amazing, right?"
"Yes. Split four ways, effects last about 20 minutes."
"Eugh. Short."
Park Kwang-yeol frowned.
20 minutes was too brief to fully defeat the Violent Lizard.
Pure skill-wise, they'd need at least double.
"That's why I made more preparations. No worries."
"...Alright. I'll trust you. We die anyway if we don't take it down."
Better to try without regrets than die passively.
Yeon Sung-hun, naturally, harbored no thoughts of death.
Soon, they confronted their target.
The beast, resting after a hunt, bared its fangs savagely at the intruders.
"Krrrrrrr..."
Its mere killing intent made the raid members shudder.
As their bodies stiffened instinctively, Yeon Sung-hun spoke calmly.
"Ha-na-ssi, take main aggro."
"...Leave it to me."
Did the potion steady her nerves?
Or his calm voice?
Either way, Lee Ha-na seemed far more composed than before.
She moved first.
Park Kwang-yeol and Kim Jun-su followed.
"Kiraaaa─!!!"
Even with Faust's potion, facing a C-Rank wasn't easy.
The effects were stellar, letting them clash head-on—but that was it.
Not enough for victory.
"Kuh...!"
As time ticked, unease crept in; their movements slowed.
Yeon Sung-hun stepped forward.
In his hand, a slender longsword.
Unfamiliar for someone used to hunter rifles, yet...
His swordplay was deft and flashy.
His past life was a Battle Alchemist who'd fought wars.
Not Aura Master level, but respectable.
'Glad I trained so hard with Mephisto.'
Back then, he'd grumbled about learning swordplay amid research, but knowledge proved useful.
Recalling his old rival's face, Yeon Sung-hun closed in on the Violent Lizard.
Despite the potion, as a non-awakener, his physicals lagged the others.
Skill compensated.
The team, centered on Lee Ha-na, shifted to support him seamlessly.
"KIAaaaaa─!!!"
The beast wailed in pain.
Yeon Sung-hun's blade pierced scales, carving deep.
But not fatal.
Far from falling, it raged and whipped its tail at him.
Bam─!
"Sung-hun hyung!"
"Sung-hun-ah!"
Yeon Sung-hun waved off their worry lightly.
But inside, he was a wreck.
'The bone I barely mended shattered again? Feels completely pulverized.'
Coughing blood suggested damaged organs too.
Back to square one after meager recovery.
Bitter smile fading, he glanced over.
Without him, they'd normally falter—but they fought better.
Had seeing him fall awakened them?
No.
The reason they pressed was the poison he'd coated his sword with.
Individually, the toxic herbs weren't potent.
Combined? Lethal.
Poison's nature shifted with mixtures.
Alchemy refined it further.
The beast's movements clearly slowed.
Yeon Sung-hun gauged the time.
About 1-2 minutes left.
Weakened, but not enough time to finish.
A decisive blow was needed.
"...Would've been nice to end it cleanly."
Sighing like an old man, he pulled a hidden item from his pocket.
A stimulant, or rather a nerve-numbing paralytic.
Raw, unrefined due to mana shortage—but necessary.
Crunch crunch—
Chewing what was more drug than potion, he surged forward.
Blasting past the team, he thrust at the beast.
Shunk─
It dodged, C-Rank reflexes holding despite weakness, but he didn't care.
That wasn't the target.
"KIAaaaa─!!!"
It lunged, jaws agape.
Yeon Sung-hun met it head-on instead of dodging.
Foolish? Suicidal?
The raid members shouted his name, rushing over.
Ignoring them, he jammed his fist into its maw.
Then swiftly retreated.
Chomp─
Barely escaping, he backed off far and observed.
The beast, about to charge, suddenly hacked and writhed in agony.
Only then did Yeon Sung-hun smile faintly.
"Instant poison based on Poison Chest Grass. No resistance? You won't last."
This ended it.
He watched the beast collapse limply.
No joy in survival or victory.
Just eyes closed, thinking of the fallen comrade.
Like Faust of old, he'd at least avenged his teammate.