Chapter 66
Chapter 66
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 68
Chapter Title: Dead Zone (1)
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Hunters and Helpers from Center 1 and Center 5 stood facing each other. They were familiar with one another from crossing paths at the Association or on the field, but none were close friends or shared any special bonds.
Except for An Ji-young and Scarlett.
As the leader of Center 1, An Ji-young introduced the members standing behind her.
An Ji-young then turned her gaze to the Helpers.
Jacob muttered under his breath, and Eun-woo's hand instinctively reached for his sword.
"What did you say?"
Jacob flinched at the mad glint in Eun-woo's eyes and waved his hands frantically.
"Eun-woo, calm down. It's just a compliment."
Even as An Ji-young spoke, Eun-woo's hand lingered on his sword hilt. Ayrin gently took hold of it.
"Eun-woooo."
An Ji-young pressed a hand to her forehead in exasperation as Eun-woo immediately pulled Ayrin into his arms at her coquettish tone.
An Ji-young's gaze shifted to Cha Su-ho.
Helper or Hunter—it was impossible to pin Cha Su-ho down to just one. He'd said from the start he'd do both.
Perhaps out of consideration for that, An Ji-young had tacked his name on at the very end.
The moment An Ji-young finished, Clark opened his mouth as if it were his turn.
Kai Qing muttered in disbelief behind Clark's swaggering words.
Kai Qing flashed a purely businesslike smile.
Scarlett stepped in front of the bristling Clark, and An Ji-young shot Kai Qing a look to quiet down. No need for pointless friction between branches.
Scarlett stepped forward and continued.
Takahiro asked cautiously.
Scarlett lowered her gaze.
"As you know, all the Zones are currently saturated with monsters. Ones descending from the Last Zone flood the Dead Zone, and those from the Dead Zone pour into the Evil Zone."
No one had expected it to be this bad. Jin Seong-hyeok had been handling everything until now, so the Association, government, and even Hunters had grown complacent.
Takahiro finally let out a short gasp.
It had happened barely past the entrance.
Full extermination was out of the question. Everyone knew that. Even if every Center banded together for the Last Zone, clearing it was impossible.
No SS-grade Hunter or A-grade Helper had ever faced the Last Zone's boss.
Jin Seong-hyeok was the only one.
Scarlett shook her head at Takahiro's polite apology.
Liu Xian spoke up in agreement.
Scarlett smiled and nodded at Clark.
Clark strode toward the Teleport Gate, Center 5 following behind. While Center 5 teleported ahead to the Dead Zone, Kai Qing unleashed the words he'd been holding back.
Liu Xian nodded silently, and Kai Qing raised his voice even more indignantly.
Kai Qing paused at An Ji-young's words and flashed a grin.
He started clinging to An Ji-young again, but the spinning rings of the Teleport Gate began to slow to a halt.
Center 5 had arrived in the Dead Zone.
An Ji-young stepped into the Teleport Zone first, followed by the Center 1 Hunters and Helpers in a rush.
Cha Su-ho entered last. Staring at the slowly moving rings, he spoke up.
"Just in case."
Everyone held their breath at his voice.
"If something dangerous happens... I mean, you're all so incredible that it probably won't, but."
Cha Su-ho turned slowly, meeting the eyes of Center 1 staring back at him.
"As a Hunter, not a Helper, I'll save you all."
Center 1 already knew, so there was no hesitation. As the trailing group, they wouldn't meet Center 5—the vanguard—unless a support request came in or before any monster fights.
An Ji-young watched Cha Su-ho's resolute face and replied.
"Sounds good. I've been curious anyway."
Everyone felt the same.
Masa spat sharply behind Liu Xian's quiet murmur.
'Who is he to judge?'
Cha Su-ho let out a small chuckle at the silent Jin Seong-hyeok's words. At least that was reassuring—knowing Jin Seong-hyeok was on his side.
'Just gotta surprise them, right.'
'Crush him so he never crawls back up.'
'Got it.'
A mechanical chime signaled arrival as the Teleport Gate opened. Everyone stepped toward the Dead Zone with tense faces—all except Cha Su-ho, who remained utterly relaxed.
Confidence surged. Pubkils and Sterions were easy prey for him now.
The Helpers clustered in the middle at An Ji-young's command, surrounded protectively by the Hunters.
Ding- An alarm blared from watches—not just Cha Su-ho's, but everyone's in Center 1.
A message from the vanguard, Center 5.
When no one answered, An Ji-young turned to Kwon Oh.
"Kwon Oh, didn't you see it tagging along with Jin Seong-hyeok?"
"He never brought Helpers when going after bosses—said we'd get in the way."
"Ah... that guy, really."
An Ji-young muttered thoughtfully.
"Pubkils are manageable, but a Dead Zone boss won't be ordinary..."
Cha Su-ho spoke up as she grumbled about wishing they knew even a little.
"I think I know something..."
'How would you know? Don't blab.'
Cha Su-ho responded to Jin Seong-hyeok's incredulous question.
'You know, hyung.'
'What, you want me to tell you?'
'Weren't you gonna hold back even though you know? We need at least some info to prepare.'
'Hah.'
Jin Seong-hyeok sighed in disbelief.
"Huh? Su-ho, how do you know?"
"Well... Jin Seong-hyeok told me before."
"Jin Seong-hyeok did?"
An Ji-young asked again, face full of doubt. Cha Su-ho nodded.
"Not in detail, but I was curious, so he gave a rough rundown of the boss monsters."
"Really? That doesn't sound like him at all."
"Guess I looked pitiful. He just told me."
Cha Su-ho smiled awkwardly at Jin Seong-hyeok.
'So, what's the Pubkil leader like?'
'You don't even know what Pubkils look like? The leader bursts out of its own body.'
'...Pardon?'
Cha Su-ho wondered if he'd misheard.
'The Pubkil leader's body is grotesque. Multiple heads, twin torsos fused like Siamese twins, not four legs.'
The entire Center 1 was staring at Cha Su-ho. But he couldn't speak just yet.
'It looks like a mutant forced into existence in a lab.'
"Su-ho?"
An Ji-young called, and Cha Su-ho slowly began.
"So... the Pubkil leader."
'It regenerates endlessly, spawning more Pubkils. Plus, it fashions bones, blood, and muscles from its body into weapons. Tricky stuff.'
"Not only does it regenerate—it constantly spawns Pubkils from its body,"
Cha Su-ho recited Jin Seong-hyeok's words verbatim.
"And it uses bones, blood, muscles... as weapons."
"What?"
The whole Center 1 buzzed.
As murmurs of disbelief spread, An Ji-young spoke gravely.
Her gaze swept over Center 1.
Barrages of bones, muscles whipped like lashes, poisoned blood. Just knowing it used them offered no clue how to fight it.
"Su-ho, anything else you heard?"
"Ah..."
Before Cha Su-ho could respond, Jin Seong-hyeok cut in.
'Tell him everything and it's no fun.'
'...Since you're telling, just a bit more...'
'Best lessons come from clashing head-on. I've said enough—gave you the key traits.'
Cha Su-ho shook his head at Jin Seong-hyeok's firm stance.
"Nothing else."
"Okay... thanks."
And then—ding- Another alarm. From Center 5.