Chapter 39
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 39
Chapter Title: Titan Ursus
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The only fight still ongoing was on Han So-yul's side.
Even that wouldn't take long, though, since Choi Yeon-ah and Lee Ha-na had rushed over to join her.
'No major injuries.'
Ida-hye had taken a small cut from a sudden attack, but it had already healed cleanly thanks to the potion she'd drunk.
Yeon Sung-hun turned to Yun Ga-ram.
"Any other presences nearby?"
Yun Ga-ram, with his detection skill, could sense farther and more precisely than just scanning with mana.
After closing his eyes and concentrating for a moment, Yun Ga-ram shook his head.
"None."
"Then let's take a short break. That side should be wrapping up soon... Yeah, looks like they're done. We'll gather the corpses separately and rest right after."
The raid members nodded at his words as he glanced around at them.
As the raid members scattered to collect the corpses strewn haphazardly around, Yeon Sung-hun headed toward the fallen troll in the distance.
Troll blood was one of the well-known ingredients for potions.
It was a precious material that couldn't easily be found even on the Black Market, so he hurried over.
'Did Yeon-ah take it down? Clean cut.'
Choi Yeon-ah lived up to her reputation.
She had sliced it neatly to preserve the heart, which was just as valuable as the blood.
Not only was her skill impeccable, but she also hadn't forgotten what Yeon Sung-hun had once mentioned. A model student among model students.
With that, Yeon Sung-hun crouched beside the massive troll corpse and harvested its blood and heart.
After gathering and organizing the corpses in one spot, the raid members took a brief rest before resuming their exploration.
This rift spanned a vast mountain range, so it was home to a wide variety of monsters.
In addition to the Silent Wolves and High Orcs they'd fought earlier, there were bear- and wild boar-like monsters, avian types, some insects, and even plant-based ones like ents disguised as trees.
They handled them one by one without much trouble, but sometimes two or more groups of different monsters appeared at once.
Thankfully, they'd built up teamwork and camaraderie over time. If they'd charged in blindly without that, they would've faced serious setbacks.
"Just like the report said, the deeper we go, the stronger the monsters get."
"The mana feels thicker too. I didn't notice during the fights, but now it's kinda stuffy!"
"Isn't that just from the altitude? Like altitude sickness or something...?"
"Shut it, Jin-su Uncle! I was talking to my oppa, not you!"
"Why's the raid leader your oppa? I heard you have a real little sister. And why am I 'Uncle' again?"
"Hae-eun and I are besties! And we call you Uncle 'cause you keep acting like one, Uncle!"
How many times had "Uncle" been thrown around in that short exchange?
Seo Jin-su grabbed Kim Jun-su nearby with a shocked look, asking if it was true.
Kim Jun-su averted his eyes, dodging the seriously prodding man.
A small ripple of laughter spread through the raid members.
"So far, it's matching the report perfectly. Still, let's not get too complacent."
"Of course. It's the Association, after all. Can't trust 'em completely."
"Mm."
As they moved, the raid members exchanged light banter.
Yeon Sung-hun, who had chimed in occasionally, suddenly furrowed his brow.
Choi Yeon-ah noticed and asked quietly.
"Something up? Ga-ram, anything?"
She asked Yeon Sung-hun while also checking with Yun Ga-ram.
Yun Ga-ram shook his head.
At least his skill detected no immediate threats nearby.
And for good reason.
What Yeon Sung-hun had spotted wasn't a monster presence so much as traces of one.
Yeon Sung-hun approached a tree extending from one side of the forest.
On the sizable trunk was a large claw mark.
A vivid gash, like something from a massive beast.
Choi Yeon-ah, spotting it next, frowned slightly.
"That's a big mark. Looks like a bear... "
"Just the spacing between claws is over 1-2 meters. The body must be much larger."
"Any bear-type monsters that size?"
Choi Yeon-ah narrowed her eyes thoughtfully, then glanced back.
Those nearby examining the mark with her shook their heads at her inquiring look.
"No bear-types that size in the report."
"Excluding the report?"
"Even without it, nothing discovered that size so far... "
Choi Yeon-ah frowned at Seo Jin-su trailing off.
"A new species?"
The word "new species" drew groans from everyone.
New species monsters were dangerous regardless of rank, except maybe the lowest ones.
Because nothing was known about them.
Han So-yul and Choi Yeon-ah's expressions hardened instantly.
Han So-yul had first met Yeon Sung-hun because of a new species, and Choi Yeon-ah had lost everything once due to one.
As the top fighters' faces stiffened, so did everyone else's.
Unlike the raid members, Yeon Sung-hun calmly continued examining the traces without batting an eye.
Assuming a connection between rifts and his past life, he had a good guess what this was.
"The mountain's devil?"
"Pardon? Sung-hun-ssi, what was that...?"
Ignoring Choi Yeon-ah's puzzled question, Yeon Sung-hun stood.
The monster he'd recalled was one he knew well.
Not from some distant continent—it lived on the Western Continent where his empire had been.
Common folk, adventurers, and mercenaries knew it as the "mountain's devil" or "mountain's lord."
Even Faust, operating in a mountain range during the continental wars, had encountered it a few times.
Its massive size, ferocity, and special abilities gave even veteran knights trouble.
Finding some stiff, thorn-like fur nearby—its signature—Yeon Sung-hun clicked his tongue in confirmation.
"Titan Ursus. No doubt."
"'Titan Ursus'? You know it?"
"Yeah, fortunately it's a familiar one."
The raid members visibly relaxed at Yeon Sung-hun's calm tone.
If he knew it, he knew its weaknesses and traits.
Turning to them, Yeon Sung-hun spoke steadily.
"Don't let your guard down. It's no pushover. We'll need everything we've got."
"What's its rank?"
Yeon Sung-hun pondered Choi Yeon-ah's question.
Familiar to him, but on Earth, it was an undiscovered new species.
No precise rank possible.
"...At least A-Rank. Riskier than the Sand Worm we fought. Maybe just shy of S-Rank."
Faces that had softened at "A-Rank" stiffened again at the rest.
A-Rank wasn't easy, but doable with their power.
"It's got strong physicals, but even craftier."
Yeon Sung-hun recalled knights who'd fallen victim to its traps.
Not human-level intellect, but smarter than most apes or dolphins.
That alone made it tough, but it had more strengths.
"High magic resistance, thick hide blades barely pierce, and porcupine-like quills. Plus regeneration, not quite troll-level but solid."
No one spoke easily as he explained calmly.
They could sense the danger just from the description.
"Worst, its roar induces fear. Can cause fainting or, at worst, total loss of reason."
That was all that came to mind immediately.
He didn't mention it, but it had no glaring weaknesses.
'Back then, an Aura Master handled it personally.'
To minimize casualties, top firepower moved early—meaning you needed Aura Master level to take it down cleanly.
Even that Aura Master struggled, giving a sense of its caliber.
Yeon Sung-hun stroked his chin thoughtfully.
'Dangerous, but not unbeatable.'
Objectively, their group's power was no slouch.
Choi Yeon-ah: couldn't use mana but peak form rivaled an Aura Master.
Han So-yul: skill lacking, but mana sword boosted firepower beyond Aura Master.
Just those two gave good odds.
With him and the others supporting, minimal casualties.
'The issue is variables...'
Yeon Sung-hun considered possibilities.
Titan Ursus wasn't pack-oriented, but multiples possible.
Plus other monsters intruding.
'Two we can manage. Three risky but doable. More than that...'
He shook his head no matter how he thought.
'At the first sign of extra variables, we retreat.'
Two was fine, but three-plus or other monsters? Retreat without hesitation.
One A-Rank okay, but beyond was past B-Rank rift level—no more exploring.
Protest Association again, demand compensation.
'Speaking of, reply should come soon?'
No response yet to prior complaint.
Gye Cheong-san said not ignored—preparing substantial reward.
What could take this long?
After this raid, talk to Gye Cheong-san again. Yeon Sung-hun turned to the raid members.
They awaited his decision.
A bit tense, but not fearful.
They'd steeled themselves before entering this B-Rank rift.
Yeon Sung-hun nodded slowly and spoke.
"We press on."
Yeon Sung-hun actively tracked the Titan Ursus traces.
No major battles with other monsters en route.
Spotted some low-rank weaklings, but nothing like Silent Wolves or High Orcs.
'Probably 'cause this is its territory.'
Most monsters stuck to territories.
Usually multiple per area, but Titan Ursus domains were different.
Almost no intrusions.
Exceptions existed, but only instinct-over-survival monsters dared.
Titan Ursus territory was sacrosanct.
So sparse monsters made the forest eerily quiet.
Not peaceful—unsettling.
A few swallowed hard, tension rising unconsciously.
Yun Ga-ram quietly called to Yeon Sung-hun.
"...A large presence."
"Distance?"
"Roughly thirty to forty... "
Yun Ga-ram trailed off in shock.
The target his skill tracked suddenly accelerated.
The ground rumbled loudly with it.
A low growl echoed from beyond the trees: woong-woong-
Han So-yul shuddered at the chilling sound.
"It's approaching fast!"
"Sharp nose—must've caught our scent. Battle stations, everyone."
Yeon Sung-hun downed a potion calmly.
The others followed suit immediately.
Not the usual body enhancement—awakening agents.
To counter its roar, a mental attack.
Not full sensory amp like before, but cleared the mind.
Even this didn't grant full roar immunity.
No ingredients for that.
But prevented blackout or berserking.
Thud-thud-
The massive presence shook the forest as it closed in.
Soon palpable, all stared beyond the trees.
"Main attack: Yeon-ah and So-yul. Others support. Don't charge blindly at openings—traps. Yun Ga-ram Hunter, watch for other monsters... "
Yeon Sung-hun dodged back mid-sentence.
A thick log had flown at him suddenly.
Thud-
The log rolled several times, ragged as if forcibly ripped free.
Definitely the beast's doing.
Yeon Sung-hun shouted.
"Incoming! Han So-yul! Choi Yeon-ah!"
No need—they'd sensed it from the presence.
Han So-yul swung at the massive shadow approaching through dense trees.
A blade of wind shot out as Choi Yeon-ah launched forward.
And then.
"GRROOOOAAAR─!!!"
It burst through, splintering trees.
Like a small mountain.
Smaller than the Sand Worm, but sheer intimidation dwarfed it.
Choi Yeon-ah, darting in, evaded sharply.
Swoosh- Boom!
A innocent tree took the claw meant for her, shredded.
Torn like matchsticks—grazed, and it'd be severe.
Thus, the Golden Raid Team faced the mountain's lord—or devil.