NOVEL NEXT #011
#011
[Warning!
The power of ■■ ■■■■■■ is taking effect.]
[Warning!
The boss monster’s rank is increasing.
A-rank → S-rank]
“S-shit, what the hell is this?”
The tension that was about to ease suddenly became taut again, as if it was about to snap. The hunters’ exclamations of bewilderment echoed through the cavern where they stood.
The scene of everyone frowning while looking up at the air slowly entered Yoon Pa-ran’s field of vision.
Something had gone wrong.
“Why are the letters…”
The hunters expressed confusion at the incomplete letters in the status window. While Yoon Pa-ran was familiar with this phenomenon, it didn’t help alleviate the tension of the current situation.
The unreadable letters swelled to an ominous size, making his vision blur. As he reflexively gripped his sword and tried to summon the power of his skill, a bright white light struck down from the air like thunder.
“Dodge!”
The nearby hunters frantically moved their bodies as if they were under attack.
However, the strange white light forcefully struck the broken statue at the edge of the safe zone and disappeared without a trace.
“…”
Yoon Pa-ran hesitated again after witnessing this scene.
The light he had just seen… Wasn’t it too similar to the Sacred Energy skill?
“Everyone, get a grip!”
As everyone was in disarray due to the unexpected situation, someone shouted. Yoon Pa-ran deliberately pushed aside the fleeting sensation.
After the white light passed, the status window in front of him writhed and undulated even more intensely. Then, letters finally arranged themselves in the air and spat out a meaning.
[Warning!
The power of ■■ ■■■■■■ is taking effect.]
[Warning!
The boss monster’s rank is increasing.
A-rank → S-rank]
“Does this mean… the boss has become S-rank…?”
A hunter’s despairing voice dissolved faintly into the air.
As soon as the letter S appeared, everyone held their breath. It felt as if all the oxygen had suddenly been sucked out, making it hard to breathe. Even the wide cavern of this indoor terrain with its sealed ceiling felt suffocating.
Without realizing it, everyone’s gaze turned to one place.
Yoon Pa-ran reflexively looked at Dan Joo-hyuk.
“…”
He was staring far beyond the safe zone, seemingly unconcerned with the gazes fixed upon him.
Just as Yoon Pa-ran thought the direction of his gaze was a bit strange to be looking at the status window…
“Prepare for battle.”
Dan Joo-hyuk’s lips curved into a deep smile.
Following that curve, a cold shiver ran through Yoon Pa-ran’s entire body.
“The, the boss monster…!”
“What? What are you saying now?”
Only after a few more seconds had passed did one of the A-rank hunters cry out as if having a seizure. When those around him pressed him, he drew his sword convulsively and shouted.
“The boss monster is coming! Shit! Everyone, get into formation!”
Yoon Pa-ran didn’t understand these words at first. Originally, boss monsters couldn’t move beyond a certain range from the end of the gate.
But that thought soon scattered like the wind.
Were there any rules in this gate that still followed the original pattern?
“It’s, it’s real.”
“Shit, why is the boss coming all the way here…!”
The color drained from the hunters’ faces in order of their ability to sense the approaching presence. The sound of swords being drawn resonated through the space like the swell of waves.
Yoon Pa-ran forcibly turned his stiffened neck towards the front.
The boss, which should have been fixed far away, was now running towards them with thunderous steps.
Kieeeeee…!
Towards the safe zone that had lost its effect.
“The light from earlier! That!”
One of the hunters, gripping his sword tightly with tension, looked around desperately. Yoon Pa-ran opened his ears in that direction while carefully gauging the distance to the approaching boss.
“What about the light!”
“The safe zone! Didn’t its effect return?”
“Shit, I don’t think so.”
The tentative hope was completely shattered when the boss approached right up to the edge of the safe zone.
Kiiek!
As soon as it got close to the safe zone, the monster brought down both of its hands heavily.
The statue that had been there completely lost its form and turned to dust.
[Warning!
Boss ■■■■ ■■■ increa…]
At the same time, the status window flickered again. No matter how much they stared at it, the status window with its ominous noise didn’t display proper letters.
Moreover, the second status window faded away before it could fully appear. It was as sudden as if someone had deliberately shut off the power.
However, this time they could roughly guess the content of the obscured status window. Yoon Pa-ran wasn’t sure if this was fortunate or not.
If the boss monster’s level had risen again like before.
Was it a rank beyond S-rank?
“Ugh…”
“Shit, this is fucked up…”
Some seemed to have reached the same conclusion as Yoon Pa-ran. Lamentations resembling despair spread ominously around them.
The gap between hunter ranks widened as they went up. If there was a canyon-like difference between A-rank and B-rank, then there was a mountain range-like difference between S-rank and A-rank.
Still, until just now, they believed they could defeat an S-rank boss monster. After all, they had Dan Joo-hyuk, and there were quite a number of A-rank hunters.
But what about a boss monster ranked higher than S?
As everyone was inhaling despair like oxygen…
There was a light sound of someone kicking off the ground.
“…”
It was Dan Joo-hyuk who ran out before the boss monster could get any closer.
“Wake up, you bastards. Are you going to die together nicely?”
“Get into formation! Long-range attackers, fire everything you’ve got! Before Dan Joo-hyuk engages!”
Those who snapped back to their senses shouted. Yoon Pa-ran also gritted his teeth and drew his sword.
As other hunters concentrated their fire on the boss, he too shot out a stream of water. Colorful skills flew towards the boss monster’s massive body.
The monster staggered for a moment and glared in their direction. Taking advantage of this opening, Dan Joo-hyuk, who had approached the front, used a provocation skill to lock the monster’s gaze on him.
The boss monster swung its arm, which looked like a pillar covered in blisters. The sound of its arm, mere fabric, clashing with Dan Joo-hyuk’s sword rang out louder than thunder.
Whether the monster’s rank had indeed surpassed S-rank or not, Dan Joo-hyuk’s body was pushed back significantly as their swords met.
“Anyone with buffs, cast them all!”
“Turn around and aim for its back! Quickly!”
This time, various buffs flew towards Dan Joo-hyuk. Yoon Pa-ran wanted to apply Sacred Energy as well, but regrettably, it couldn’t be applied to others.
The burst of light that momentarily obscured their vision soon subsided. Most of the hunters specializing in buffs hadn’t survived to make it this far.
“Kuheok!”
The hunters who had turned to aim for the boss monster’s back were suddenly flung away. Despite being bipedal, the boss monster also had an animal-like tail.
As the tail, as thick as a person’s torso, moved, hunters were sent flying in all directions. The pillars of the safe zone that had barely been maintaining their shape all crumbled.
Still, taking advantage of that moment, Dan Joo-hyuk managed to force the monster to step back this time.
That fleeting hope was shattered again when the boss monster stomped the ground as it retreated.
“Damn it, even skills…!”
“Higher species…!”
The smooth stone floor of the corridor rose with a thunderous sound. A wave-like force, as if made of earth, engulfed Dan Joo-hyuk.
“Argh!”
The hunters who had barely avoided the tail attack were now flung away by the violent earth attack. Those who were completely buried in the ground turned into a handful of blood without even being able to scream.
“Shit.”
Yoon Pa-ran, who had been aiming for the boss monster’s back along with the other hunters, muttered in despair. Of all things, the monster’s skill was earth-based.
It was a terrible match-up for Dan Joo-hyuk, who used fire. It was even worse for Yoon Pa-ran, who used water. With such a large gap in ranks, he doubted if his attacks would even be effective.
“Watch out! It’s attacking!”
The monster’s tail burrowed into the ground as if it were alive.
Then, like a snake, it traveled underground and suddenly erupted where the hunters were waiting for an opportunity.
“Aaaagh!”
Five hunters right in front of Yoon Pa-ran collapsed at once. He felt the pressure of the air being cut with a whoosh. Following that, the ominous sound of bones breaking echoed repeatedly.
At this rate, they’re going to die.
His chest had been tight from excessive breathing for a while now. At the crossroads of life and death, Yoon Pa-ran’s heart screamed with the desire to live.
From where Dan Joo-hyuk was, only thunderous sounds had been echoing. In a situation too fast to follow with the eyes, the monster’s tail suddenly rose in front of Yoon Pa-ran.
Reflexively, Yoon Pa-ran blocked it while fully deploying Sacred Energy. It was the first time since his awakening that he had exerted himself to this extent.
A bright white light, so intense it felt like it might burn his retinas, blazed on his sword. However, even as he exerted himself, he didn’t believe he could actually block this.
“Ugh!”
But surprisingly, Yoon Pa-ran’s sword didn’t break.
It even managed to slightly penetrate the dark, stained skin of the boss’s tail.
However, that was the limit. Unable to withstand that enormous power, Yoon Pa-ran was flung into the air.
“Kuhek!”
A great impact hit his back. Yoon Pa-ran, roughly colliding with the wall, collapsed to the floor without even a chance to use a falling technique.
I have to get up.
I can’t die like this.
Trembling, he planted his hands on the ground and lifted his head. An unbelievable sight met his eyes.
In that short time, Dan Joo-hyuk was the only one still standing on two legs.
“Sh…it…”
So this is how I die.
“Cough…”
As soon as he moved his body, a violent cough erupted. Judging by the chest pain that felt like it was being torn apart, it seemed his ribs were broken.
He managed to lift his head that had been bent.
His gaze met squarely with Dan Joo-hyuk, who was still blocking the boss’s attacks.
What’s this?
A strange sensation was felt from his gaze. Reflexively blinking, Dan Joo-hyuk swung his sword widely, spreading a curtain of fire in front of the boss monster.
Then he quickly approached Yoon Pa-ran.
Kieeeeeeek!
The dark interior suddenly brightened. A red flame, high enough to reach the ceiling, flickered like a curtain.
“Why… Cough.”
In the short moment it took to utter those words, the monster’s dark hand had already reached right in front of Yoon Pa-ran’s face. A sinister feeling sent chills down his spine.
Is this bastard trying to use me as bait?
As soon as he felt the danger, Yoon Pa-ran wanted to run away. However, in a state where he could barely move, he couldn’t escape the grasp of the S-rank monster.
His collar was suddenly grabbed. As his body bent, a sharp pain shot through his waist. Just as he thought he was going to be helplessly thrown in front of the boss monster, everything went dark before his eyes.
What happened next was even more terrifying than Yoon Pa-ran had anticipated.
“Mmph…!”
Dan Joo-hyuk’s tongue, hot enough to burn, invaded Yoon Pa-ran’s lips.