Chapter 55
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 55
Chapter Title: Lair of the Moon Devourer
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Thud!
Landing on the ground amid shattered rock walls, Ryu Eun-ha quickly scanned her surroundings.
The cavern formed a hemispherical shape. It spanned roughly 500 meters across, with a height of about 100 meters from the central point where they'd entered. Judging by the carved-out form, it felt distinctly artificial.
'Traces like something sharp was dug out. Given the shape, it's highly likely it was made with claws.'
Having gathered all the preliminary information, Ryu Eun-ha glanced down at Lee Se-hun cradled in her arms and quietly spoke.
"It looks like an artificially created dungeon by a beast-type monster. There's no sign of corruption by demonic energy, and considering Silver Moon Mountain's D-rank hazard level, it's probably around C-rank... but."
Her eyes pierced the dim cavern as she murmured softly.
"Given that it wasn't discovered in prior investigations, it could be A-rank or higher."
Silver Moon Mountain was one of the candidate sites for the upcoming first-year subjugation class, so professors had been regularly visiting and inspecting it.
Yet a dungeon of this scale had never been found even once? It couldn't possibly be an ordinary dungeon.
'Even I wouldn't have noticed if Cadet Lee Se-hun hadn't pointed it out directly. We can't underestimate this.'
For a fleeting moment, she wondered how Cadet Lee Se-hun had spotted such a place at a glance, but right now, she needed to focus here.
As she pondered whether to continue the investigation or pull back.
"It's coming."
Lee Se-hun, still held in her arms, stared into the cavern's darkness.
Squish─
No sooner had he spoken than the surrounding shadows rippled, and massive beasts emerged from within.
Black wolves about 2 meters tall. Their red eyes were unfocused, and a sticky black substance endlessly oozed from their bodies, seeping into the floor.
Ryu Eun-ha narrowed her eyes at the clearly unnatural wolves.
"Undead type. At least B-rank, I'd estimate."
A single one could dye the entire Silver Moon Mountain in blood. And now over 200 of such monsters had appeared, encircling them.
Grrr─
The wolves bared their fangs, radiating hostility.
The killing intent from hundreds of B-rank monsters was a weapon in itself, but the two surrounded by them showed no change in expression.
"Looks like they're all out now."
One person didn't care how many there were.
"I'll stick close, so don't worry about me."
The other trusted in that person's power.
Rumble─
A heavy mechanical hum echoed from within Ryu Eun-ha's body.
The crimson blood essence forged from the devoured armaments raced through her, amplifying her mana several times over.
She channeled all that mana into her right leg, then slowly scraped the ground with her right foot.
Crunch─
The bedrock split open as if plowed like soil.
Drawing her right foot back in an arc, she lowered slightly into stance and eyed the wolves surrounding her.
Slash─
The moment her foot slammed the ground, a red line swept through the cavern.
Ryu Eun-ha landed as if nothing had happened, and a heavy silence descended on the cavern.
"Urk..."
Lee Se-hun, still in her arms, covered his mouth with a queasy expression.
Drip─
The hundreds of wolves encircling them split in half all at once and burst into flames.
Whoosh─
Subtle red flames quietly devoured the wolves' corpses bit by bit. The sight rendered the undead trait meaningless. Lee Se-hun swallowed his nausea and smiled.
'That's what an S-rank does.'
B-rank monsters might be a disaster to the heroes operating on Silver Moon Mountain, but to the S-rank hero Ryu Eun-ha, they were no different from D-rank Silver Wolves.
Having cleared the dungeon with a single roundhouse kick, Lee Se-hun confirmed his choice was right once more and spoke up.
"Department Head. Mind putting me down now?"
"The investigation isn't over yet, so it's dangerous..."
"We can't investigate like this. And my stomach's churning."
Ryu Eun-ha swept her gaze around once more and nodded.
"Understood. But don't stray from my side."
Once down from Ryu Eun-ha's arms, Lee Se-hun steadied his body and carefully examined the cavern.
'According to the pre-regression interview, after taking down all the monsters, Jürgen Kruger's item suddenly appeared.'
He'd said no other monsters appeared besides those undead wolves, so this should be the end.
But as Lee Se-hun looked around the interior, one doubt arose.
'Can a place like this really exist just for one item?'
That was why he'd remembered this interview amid countless incidents.
A lost item from Summit Climber Jürgen Kruger. A dungeon secretly hidden in a D-rank hazard zone.
One alone might be coincidence, but both together? Too suspicious to dismiss.
'There was no further mention pre-regression... but that can't be right.'
No matter how amazing a Summit Climber's item was, it couldn't create a secretive lair like this.
Especially if it was the 'thing' he knew about—it was even less possible.
'Who could it be.'
What purpose did they have in using Jürgen Kruger's item to make this dungeon? Pondering that, Lee Se-hun scanned the cavern again.
Flicker─
The cavern's shape, indistinct on entry, now stood out sharply thanks to the flames consuming the wolves.
Its walls looked randomly clawed by beasts. Ryu Eun-ha hadn't noticed more, but Lee Se-hun spotted the 'path' hidden within.
'A concealment barrier blending with the surroundings, an absorption array drawing in demonic energy, and this humid form and method to mimic natural formation...'
Techniques utterly unlike any publicly known ones. Recognizing the familiar structure, Lee Se-hun realized who made the cavern.
'The Shedding bastards...'
The lunatics researching monster evolution through bizarre methods, the same group as Dawn who approached Louise before—subordinates of the Watchers.
As Lee Se-hun's eyes narrowed recalling past grudges from before regression.
Squish─
A silver lycanthrope rose from the shadows before him.
Whoosh─
Their yellow eyes met. Instantly, massive claws tore through the air toward him.
The action unfolded in less than a second. On the brink of life and death, accelerated thought captured the enemy's identity and attack—but that was it.
'Too fast.'
Minimum A-rank by speed. A three-rank gap, but overwhelming enough that even touching it normally was impossible.
As the claws drew closer in his slowed world, Lee Se-hun weighed his responses.
Bang─
A red afterimage flashed past his face.
Boom!
The lycanthrope's body smashed into the cavern wall. Ryu Eun-ha, now in front of it, clenched her fists and unleashed merciless blows.
Pow-pow-pow─!!
Red trails scattered as endless punches pulverized the lycanthrope's body completely.
Barring limbs, nothing remained but bloodstains. The trunkless lycanthrope looked dead, yet Ryu Eun-ha didn't stop.
'Eliminate it thoroughly.'
Perfectly hidden until now, its emergence meant hidden aces. As she moved to crush the remaining limbs.
Screech─!
Her crimson blood essence depleted, brakes sounded, and her body stiffened. A gap from the unexpected foe.
That instant, the limp lycanthrope's index finger pointed at Ryu Eun-ha—and beyond her, Lee Se-hun.
"C... apture..."
Black shadow shot from its fingertip.
An unknown technique beyond guesswork. At the sight, Ryu Eun-ha moved before thinking.
Swish─
The black shadow touched her solar plexus and seeped in, forming a black hole.
A thin line etched at its center slowly parted top to bottom, becoming a single eye.
Whoosh!
Ryu Eun-ha's body vanished from the cavern.
The roaring cavern fell silent in an instant. Amid bloodstained debris, sticky sounds emerged.
Crack─ pop─ crunch─
Limbs sprouted anew, reforming body and head. Fully regenerated like rewound time, the lycanthrope muttered in a trembling voice.
"Destroyed 90% in less than a second... So this is a monster near Summit Climber level..."
Initially furious at the interruption of his near-complete evolution, now he felt fortunate just to survive upon learning his foe.
Without this 'implant' in his body and the dazed pest standing there, he wouldn't have lived.
'But I can't relax yet.'
Sealing the monster succeeded, but only temporarily. Soon it'd break free and pursue.
'So I'll forge chains to prevent that.'
Recalling his plan, the lycanthrope eyed the still Lee Se-hun. Whipping his dying flesh, he kicked off the ground.
Thump─!
He charged Lee Se-hun, slamming his abdomen with full force.
Boom!!!
Unable even to counter properly, Lee Se-hun smashed into the wall. At his limp form, the lycanthrope muttered lowly.
"Thank that monster. It saved your life."
The short fight showed the monster clearly cherished the pest. Injuring him gravely would force it to prioritize healing over pursuit.
With the final chain complete, as the lycanthrope turned to flee.
"I remember now."
Lee Se-hun pulled free from the wall and murmured softly.
"S-rank monster Moon Devourer Polmont... Yeah, that was it."
He'd never seen it himself, but it was on the Shedding monster list, so he recalled it somewhat.
A monster that perfectly regenerated from a single hair via moonlight-infused demonic energy. Incomplete, so it differed slightly from records, but the frame matched.
"...You pest. How are you unscathed?"
Polmont stared incredulously at the standing Lee Se-hun.
He'd held back to avoid killing, but not even a scratch? As Polmont panicked at the unexpected state.
Rumble─
A low vibration echoed through the cavern.
Not crumbling walls—the space itself shook. Polmont's eyes widened.
'This insane monster...!'
How long since he'd sealed it? Already breaking out?
Realizing time was short, Polmont charged Lee Se-hun again without hesitation.
Bang!
Lee Se-hun, barely risen, slammed back to the ground. Polmont swung both fists with full might.
Kaboom!
Weakened from regeneration, still B-rank level. No C-rank pest could endure.
"Kuh...!"
But no matter how hard he hit, no injury showed—and Lee even steadied to withstand.
A bizarre sensation like hitting elsewhere. Drawn by it, Polmont's eyes flicked around.
Crack!
The cavern walls, shattered far beyond normal.
Bang─!
A strike exploded while Polmont was distracted. Perfect chance, but physical gap let it graze his chest.
"Tch... Attacks won't work, huh."
As Lee Se-hun clicked his tongue in regret, Polmont glanced at his regenerating chest with calm eyes.
"That armor... It redirects impact to shadows, doesn't it."
The rear walls shattered as if hit instead. Realizing late, Polmont surged with murderous rage at being toyed with.
Tricked by mere armor, not even a technique.
"You brought this on yourself."
Baring fangs, fur bristling—utterly unlike his earlier restraint. Lee Se-hun smirked.
"Scaredy-cat running its mouth with bluster—!"
Bang!!!
Before he finished, Lee Se-hun slammed into the wall again.
Seeing the attack redirected once more, Polmont's eyes gleamed as he spread his hands wide.
Splurt!
Massive claws emerged from his fingertips, ten longsword-like blades glinting silver menacingly.
Clang-clang!
They mercilessly shredded the Shadow Matter Armor encasing Lee Se-hun.
Endless slashes trailing afterimages. Just claws instead of fists, but power on another level.
Scraaape!
Redirected slashes ravaged walls and floor to rags in seconds, sparks flying from the armor.
Fist impacts spread over wide area, easier to redirect—but slender claws concentrated force was tough.
Crack!
The Shadow Matter Armor, enduring until now, couldn't fully redirect and chipped away.
Under relentless assault, the thin armor finally split.
Spurt!
A claw grazed, drawing blood.
A mere shallow scrape. But penetrating even slightly differed vastly from total immunity.
"You thought that scrap metal could match me?!"
Clang-clang!
Shadow Matter Armor could reshape, not self-repair durability.
Filling breaks still led to net degradation. Repair slowed progressively.
Snap!
It reached limit.
Shoulder shattered beyond endurance. Padded pauldrons kept wound shallow, but mana circuits damaged—repairs no longer swift.
"I'll just slice off that sluggish arm!"
Exposed right shoulder vulnerability. Claws swung there with ferocious momentum.
'Not my doing.'
Crunch─
The breastplate distorted without warning.
Clank!
Not flesh and bone—but metallic scrape. Caught off guard utterly unlike expected, Polmont forgot the fight, eyes bulging.
'What...'
A precise shoulder strike barely grazing breastplate? Pondering, he found the answer instantly.
Click─
The pest before him had reacted and dodged.
Bang─!
Five-colored flames erupted from his waist. Identical to before, Polmont reflexively evaded—but disastrously.
Sizzle─
"Krrgh...?!"
Graze burrowed deep into chest, incinerating innards. Reeling from unforeseen agony, distant Polmont clutched his chest, staring at Lee Se-hun in bewilderment.
"Hoo..."
Lee Se-hun, drawing Five-Colored Flame Blade, caught his breath.
Shadow Matter Armor fully wrecked—no more repairs, body slashed and bleeding everywhere.
No vital hits, but nowhere unscathed. Seemed killable anytime—yet body refused to move.
'Me... tense...?'
A pest he'd normally crush, now making him tense.
As Polmont froze in disbelief.
"That all?"
Lee Se-hun lightly shook out his freed body and grinned.
"My turn then."