[Using the skill ‘Demon Flash.’]
─SLASH—!
I shot forward like a bullet and severed the defenseless monster’s neck. Before the cold ring of metal could even cut through the air, the worn blade had already traced its intended path perfectly.
─WHOOSH—!
The wind followed a beat late, brushing past the back of my neck.
When I looked down, the result finally appeared, as if the laws of physics had only just caught up.
─Tap. Roll, roll……!
The monster’s head rolled across the floor, as though it had not even realized death was coming.
A moment later, its enormous body twisted grotesquely and began to collapse. The lifeless flesh melted into black liquid, giving off a fishy stench, and soon announced the end of the battle.
─FWOOSH……!
A white, smoke-like aura touched my arm. It was no mere remnant dispersing into the air.
I felt its strange warmth go beyond my fingertips and gradually seep deep beneath my skin as I gasped heavily, utterly winded.
[Monster eliminated.]
[You have acquired experience.]
[Experience has accumulated for the skill ‘Trained Body (F+).’]
[‘Trained Body (F+)’ proficiency has reached 40%.]
My proficiency was steadily rising.
Once it filled completely, the skill’s grade would probably rise and make me stronger, just as I had seen before.
That only made it worse.
“Ha. Is this what Hunters have been feeling all this time?”
It felt fucking awful.
Hunters grew stronger by hunting monsters.
I had never understood what that meant.
No, why would killing monsters make someone stronger?
But Hunters had never given me an answer. They had merely brushed me off, saying that was just how it worked.
Only now did I finally understand.
It was not merely a matter of gaining experience.
‘So all those monstrous abilities came from skills.’
I was beginning to understand where the superhuman strength and speed that surpassed human limits came from.
They had monopolized something like this while looking down on me.
─Clench.
It was unfair, but I shook my head and slowly moved on.
I had finally reached the same starting line as them.
As a latecomer, I simply had to work harder.
“I need to grow stronger. Faster.”
Impatience boiled up from the bottom of my heart.
I could not spend the rest of my life hiding in this damp, dark Tower.
But I had nowhere near enough time to grow stronger the orthodox way, hunting monsters one painstaking kill at a time.
There were the limits of my stamina, and more than anything, the disadvantages I had been born with were holding me back.
‘It takes too long to kill them one at a time.’
Since I lacked the overwhelming physical abilities others possessed, killing even a single monster took longer than I expected.
More than anything, my current strategy was closer to that of an assassin.
And a lone assassin at that. I had to secure as much safety as possible, lure the monsters away one at a time, target their vital points, and finish them off.
As a result, killing even one monster took too much concentration and energy.
“Isn’t there…… some clever way around this?”
Just as I was about to lose myself in thought, the sound of rhythmic footsteps from beyond the passage made me hide on instinct.
─DASH—!
[Using the skill ‘Shadow Step (A).’]
A translucent veil wrapped around my entire body, melting me into the surrounding scenery.
“Ah, I want to go home. Boss, how late are we staying today?”
“Our guild’s a little short on funds lately, so we’ll probably have to keep going until around eleven.”
“Ah…… damn. Understood. Looks like we’re in for a long day.”
“Once we meet this quota, we’ll be able to rest for a while, so hang in there a little longer.”
‘A party?’
They were Hunters who had formed an organized team, unlike a solo player like me. Judging from the intricate crests engraved on their armor, they appeared to be an elite team from a guild rather than a group of casual companions.
There were two shield-bearers holding the front line and another Hunter in the rear, watching the surroundings with sharp eyes. Even at a glance, their teamwork looked polished.
Unlike me, they would probably use an efficient formation to wipe out entire groups of monsters.
Damn. If I were not in this situation, I could have joined a proper party and gone on proper mob hunts too.
My murderous intent toward those unidentified men in white suits who had driven me into this situation began to stir.
Fuck. Why did I have to suffer this much in the first place……?
‘Wait. Do I really have to hunt them honestly?’
Watching their retreating backs, a brilliant idea flashed through my mind.
I might not have teammates to watch my back, but I had skills that could take their place.
“……What the hell. Might as well give it a try.”
The moment my plan took shape, I followed them without hesitation.
I maintained my concealment and silenced my footsteps as much as possible so they would not notice me.
***
“They’re coming! Hold the front line!”
─KREEK!
─KISHAAAA—!!
As a horde of monsters poured out from the end of the passage, the Hunters established their battle formation as though by prior agreement.
The men carrying massive tower shields blocked the passage, while arrows and magical flames traced arcs through the gaps between them.
A killing zone formed naturally.
The monsters charging without order were trapped against the enormous wall of shields and crushed helplessly.
“Urgh! Hold them just a little longer!”
“I’m holding them! So hurry up and kill them already!”
─CLANG! CLANG!
The Hunters shoved back the monsters’ heads as they slammed into the shields, then thrust their swords through the openings.
They could not overwhelm the monsters in a direct contest of strength, but humans had tactics.
Pin them with shields and stab them with spears. It was the most efficient method of hunting, proven throughout ancient warfare.
I sensed frigid Magic Power gathering behind them.
“Everyone, move!”
“Fire support incoming! Two steps back!”
─BOOM—!
The humans did not miss the moment the monsters wasted struggling against the shields.
A massive fireball flew in from the rear and exploded in the middle of the horde.
Screams erupted, followed by a bolt of lightning that swept horizontally across the ground and pierced the monsters through their vitals.
Even then, the battle did not end easily.
The monsters on the ninth floor were tenacious. The Hunters charged in themselves to make sure they severed the necks of those still staggering after surviving the spell.
“Yeah, this is what I’m talking about! One more!”
“Damn it…… Boss! Leave some for us, please! You took them all last time too!”
“First come, first served. Since when do I have to save any for you? All right, next…… Huh?”
The Hunter’s sword cut through empty air.
The monster had definitely still been alive. He had tried to bring his sword down for the finishing blow, but it was already rolling across the floor with its neck broken.
Why was this thing already dead?
Confusion flickered in the Hunter’s eyes. But he dismissed it as the sort of mistake that often happened on a battlefield and threw himself toward another target.
“What? What’s wrong with this one too?”
But it kept happening. Before their blades could touch them, the monsters breathed their last one after another and dissolved into black liquid.
It was a bizarre sight, as though an invisible grim reaper were sweeping across the battlefield.
“Come on, Boss. I told you to leave some for us. What the hell is this? Not a single one of our stats went up.”
“That’s…… No, something’s strange.”
“What? Forget it. Let’s settle the loot. There should at least be Mana Stones or dropped items.”
At the irritated shout, the party leader came to his senses and scanned the floor.
“Fine, forget the last hits. At least divide the Mana Stones properly. Open your pockets, Boss.”
“There’s…… nothing.”
“What do you mean, there’s nothing?”
“I said there’s nothing! Look at the floor! Do you see even one thing lying there?”
At those words, everyone froze and looked down.
When monsters died, they were absorbed into the Tower. Yet not a single piece of loot or even one Mana Stone remained where they had fallen.
Only the cold stone floor gleamed smoothly, as if mocking them.
At that moment, a chilling suspicion entered the party members’ eyes.
Invisible cracks began to spread across the glass window of their once-solid trust.
“Ha…… Boss. Cut the crap. You lied last time too, said there was nothing, and sold it all to a fence.”
“No, I really didn’t kill them this time! I only got two of them myself!”
“Stop talking nonsense! We only got one each, so who killed the other ten? This is enough to make even a ghost wail!”
The atmosphere turned hostile in an instant. Comradeship was a luxury when opportunities for growth and money were at stake.
“I’m not lying! You saw it too! They fell before I could even attack!”
“Ha, fuck…….”
“What? Did you just say ‘fuck’ to me?”
“Boss, I can let it slide once or twice, but this crosses the line. You know the Guild Master said he wouldn’t overlook it this time, right?”
“No, no! I really didn’t do anything this time…….”
“Enough! Save the rest for downstairs. We’re not letting this go this time.”
“No. Seriously…….”
As curses flew back and forth, the female Hunter who had been providing magical support from the rear muttered with a hollow expression.
“Ha. What the hell just happened……?”
There was no one there to answer her question. The invisible culprit had already left the scene long ago.
***
[A great deal of experience has accumulated.]
[A great deal of experience has accumulated for the skill ‘Trained Body (F+).’]
[The skill ‘Trained Body (F+)’ is about to change.]
[The skill ‘Light Footwork (F)’ has changed to ‘Light Footwork (F+).’]
“See? This is why people need to use their heads.”
After moving to a safe area, I cheered as I read the messages floating before me. The plan had been more than perfect.
There was an ironclad unwritten rule among Hunters. Since fighting one another only caused losses, everyone was expected to observe at least a minimum level of professional courtesy.
The most strictly condemned offense among them was kill stealing—taking a monster someone else was hunting. It was such a serious offense that getting caught could cost you an arm or a leg.
‘But none of that matters if I don’t get caught.’
To hell with rules. I was about to die, so what would I not do to survive?
Besides, judging from what I had seen, that party leader had already skimmed plenty for himself…… Was that not simply his own doing?
Their party looked like an abscess that was going to burst anyway. I had simply drained it cleanly before it could fester any further.
In a way, I had voluntarily taken on the role of the villain for everyone’s sake.
“Anyway, I’m starting to hit my limit even on the eighth floor. Should I head higher?”
To achieve more, I had to take risks.
I had gained plenty today and was just about to call it a day when it happened.
─KABOOOM—!!
A deafening explosion struck my eardrums as though the entire stratum had been overturned. Goosebumps covered my body, and every hair stood on end.
That was no ordinary sound of battle.
What was that? What happened?
My instinct as a Scavenger moved before my fear could.
A massive explosion meant there had to be prey just as massive.
As if bewitched, I headed toward the sound.
[Using the skill ‘Shadow Step (A).’]
Once again, I slipped into the shadows.
When I carefully rounded the corner, the sight before me was beyond overwhelming.
‘Is that…… a Boss Monster?’
It exerted pressure on an entirely different level from anything I had seen before.
A Goblin Champion the size of a house stood there, roaring as grotesque muscles twisted across its body.
And facing that monster was a massive raid party made up of dozens of Hunters.
─KABOOOM—!
“Hold the front line! Third unit, hit its flank! Keep channeling Magic Power so the incantation doesn’t break!”
It was like a siege waged by the elite among elites of a guild.
For a moment, I stared in awe at the magnificent spectacle, something I had only ever imagined in stories.
But my awe was short-lived. A cold calculator was already running in my head.
I wanted it. The enormous amount of soul contained within that colossal body.
And the legendary rewards supposedly granted for defeating a Boss Monster.
Countless Hunters went their entire lives without ever landing the final blow on a boss. What if I could take that one for myself?
─Gulp.
I swallowed dryly. The beast called greed, which I had buried deep inside, bared its fangs.
If I could take that, I could finally put this godforsaken life in the Tower behind me.
Not only could I escape this hellish place, I could gain enough power to smash in the skulls of those white-suited bastards who were closing in on me.
‘This is my chance.’
There was only one moment for me to strike: the instant the boss exhausted itself completely and the Hunters let down their guard, certain of victory.
“It’s exhausted! Now! Keep the pressure on!”
At the raid leader’s command, the Hunters charged as one.
The excitement swelled, and everyone swung their weapons competitively, eager to claim the final blow, but I continued to hold my breath and wait.
‘No…… Not yet.’
[Analyzing the monster.]
[Goblin Champion]
─Boss of the ninth floor. Specialized in crushing opponents with its massive body and overflowing stamina.
─Current status: Severe Bleeding.
─Warning: Currently conserving strength. A final struggle is expected.
Analysis never lied. The Goblin Champion was pretending to collapse while looking for someone to take with it.
But I was the only one who knew.
The Hunters fell for its trap and recklessly closed the distance. Then disaster struck.
“H-Hey! Its eyes just……!”
“Huh? Move!!”
─KABOOOM—!!
The ground exploded with the boss’s roar.
A single omnidirectional blow sent the raid party’s front line flying like autumn leaves in a gale. Shields shattered, and Hunters screamed as they slammed into the walls.
It was a living hell.
After unleashing that strike, the boss dropped to its knees as though it truly had exhausted every last ounce of strength.
A brief opening that everyone else had missed.
It was not a large one. A monster like that would recover quickly and slaughter the raid party.
But that future would never come to pass.
Now.
I kicked off the ground with explosive force.
[Using the skill ‘Demon Flash.’]
My perception accelerated, and the surrounding scenery receded behind me.
A surprise attack from concealment. The boss’s exposed nape stood out with perfect clarity.
I’ll cut it down. Faster than anyone, more decisively than anyone.
─SLICE—!
The chilling sensation of flesh and bone separating traveled up my wrist.
By the time the sound broke the silence of the boss room, I had already passed behind it and thrown myself into the darkness.
“Urgh…… W-What happened to the boss?”
“It looks like it’s disappearing. Did we kill it? Kang-jun, was that you?”
“N-No. It wasn’t me…… I didn’t get the reward. No system message appeared either…….”
“What? That can’t be right. Search the area carefully.”
Soon, they were searching everywhere.
But I was already running without looking back.
Leaving the noise behind me, I threw myself toward the passage between floors as fast as I could.
***
Only after returning to the hideout did I finally release the breath I had been holding.
My entire body was drenched in sweat, and my heart pounded as though it would burst.
“Whew…… Now this is what I call redistribution of wealth.”
They had been in danger anyway, so was overcoming it not reward enough?
They had the protective fence of a guild around them, so given time, they could always challenge it again.
Someone like me, on the other hand, had to create miraculous opportunities like this with my own hands.
[A vast amount of experience has been acquired for defeating the boss ‘Goblin Champion.’]
[The vast amount of accumulated experience is bringing about changes in your skills.]
[The skill ‘Trained Body (F+)’ has changed to ‘Trained Body (E+).’]
[The skill ‘Light Footwork (F+)’ has changed to ‘Light Footwork (E+).’]
“Yes! I really did grow insanely fast!”
I burst into crazed laughter as I stared at the values floating before me.
The rate of growth was unbelievable. An amount that would have taken several months of ordinary hunting had come to me all at once.
My physical abilities felt at least three times stronger than before. At this level, I felt confident that I could face that bastard in the white suit head-on without being pushed back.
“And…… this was another reward.”
The moment I ended the boss’s life, one item had been automatically acquired into my Inventory.
It was an intricately crafted brass arrow.
Its tip held a lethal sharpness, and a gem embedded in its center gave off a faint blue glow.
‘Is this a relic too?’
If so…….
I carefully gripped the arrow and focused my ability.
[The ability ‘Analysis’ has activated.]
[Analysis complete.]
[Elven Ritual Arrow]
─A special medium crafted by ancient elves to guide trials.
─Guides its holder to the location of a hidden trial.
“Elves? A trial? What’s this supposed to mean?”
These words were completely foreign to the Tower’s common knowledge. But I never got to continue that thought.
The tip of the arrow trembled faintly and pointed in a particular direction.