NOVEL NEXT Chapter 64
The Hunters were thrown into chaos but tried their best to remain calm as they carefully surveyed the inside of the boss room.
The cold, gray stone slabs covered the entire floor.
The walls were adorned with eerie patterns that looked like something out of an ancient tomb.
A few chandeliers softly illuminated the boss room.
It looked just like a royal audience chamber from the medieval era.
And in this place—
“Grarr…”
“Hehehe!”
Numerous Undead monsters had taken their positions, waiting for the Hunters.
Most of them could be classified as elite-level monsters.
Among them were the rescue team from the Cheongrim Guild, including Hunter Yu Byeong-jun.
There was just one member short.
Hehehe—
The ominous and chilling laughter of a woman tickled the Hunters’ ears once more.
Unconsciously, the Hunters found themselves gazing towards the back of the room.
In the center was a tall black marble throne.
Sitting there was a beautiful woman who seemed to reign as the queen of the dead.
Her dress, as dark as the abyss, clung to her body, the hem cascading down like shadows across the stone.
Her pale face, seemingly lifeless, scrutinized the Hunters with cold blue eyes.
The gaze of a predator hunting its prey.
As she slowly surveyed the Hunters, her head came to a halt at a specific point.
Frowning, she glared at the one seated in the rear.
The veiled individual also looked back at the woman.
The two locked eyes.
“……”
The woman’s expression twisted into a malevolent scowl.
Si-hyun, too, frowned deeply beneath her veil.
Since they were somewhat familiar with each other—
“…Oh my, it’s that puppet of the hero, isn’t it?”
The woman spoke in a sinister voice.
Since it was a language from another world, none of the Hunters could comprehend her words.
Only Si-hyun—
Was able to vaguely grasp the meaning of the woman’s words and gritted her teeth.
A sense of déjà vu washed over her.
Yet, she could hardly believe it.
To actually encounter her again like this.
‘No… maybe I knew all along.’
Perhaps she had been unwilling to accept it.
The fact that their past connection would resurface.
“……”
With a steely expression, Si-hyun gazed at the woman.
A member of the former hero party and one of the women who had relentlessly tormented her.
A being that had found new powers in death, a Necromancer.
She was the true master of this space and the real boss of this dungeon.
“Hmm….”
Ji-a, standing right next to Si-hyun, sensed a fierce gaze and turned her head.
Hunter Yu Byeong-jun was staring at her with burning eyes.
“Nun.”
“……?”
“That’s an Undead, right?”
Nodding, Ji-a confirmed the fact by asking Si-hyun.
She recalled a story from a previous evening over wine.
[They said simple corpses are weak and they can create something like a living corpse.]
[They bind souls through a contract or something like that.]
[Sure, they kind of retain their strength from life. But in the end, they’re still corpses.]
Ji-a instinctively sensed it.
The moment the battle began, that living corpse would become her opponent.
“…Huh?”
Someone tugged on her sleeve from the side.
Ji-a turned her head back towards Si-hyun.
Si-hyun was using her fingers to convey her intent.
Having seen Si-hyun’s body language all day, Ji-a immediately understood.
‘It’s 2:2.’
The meaning was that she shouldn’t be scared because she was in good company.
She couldn’t help but let out a small chuckle.
From the situation, it was evident that the woman sitting on the throne was indeed the Necromancer.
Yu Byeong-jun, empowered through his connection with the Necromancer.
And herself, boosted by Si-hyun’s powerful buff.
It was shaping up to be an indirect confrontation.
Ji-a steeled herself, determined that she absolutely could not lose.
Hehehe—
The Necromancer, with a chilling laugh, rose from her seat.
She grasped the ornate staff that leaned against the throne.
The Hunters, watching her movements, immediately assumed fighting stances.
A brief moment of silence.
And then—
Bang!
The moment the Necromancer slammed her staff down—
“Graaah!”
“Cack-cack-cack!”
“Hehehe!”
A massive battle erupted.
“Ha ha! Where do these Undead think they’re going?”
“Hmph…!”
Countless Undead rushed toward Kang Cheol-min and the Dawn Guild’s tank who stepped forward.
The Hunters began to calmly confront the monsters.
And, just as Ji-a had predicted—
Tatata!
“Kaah?!”
An Undead Yu Byeong-jun charged at Ji-a at high speed.
The shocked Ga-eul screamed as if her eardrums were about to burst.
‘It’s dangerous to fight here.’
Ji-a quickly made her decision.
To ensure the safety of the rear guards, she created distance from the Hunters.
As she dashed out, power surged through her body.
Si-hyun’s buff was beginning to stack.
It wasn’t the first time she had received Si-hyun’s buff, but today it felt more impressive than ever.
She could feel Si-hyun’s sincerity about their fight with Yu Byeong-jun.
“Thank you!”
Yelling energetically, Ji-a immediately clashed with Yu Byeong-jun.
Swish—Clang!
Every time their weapons clashed, sparks flew as if fireworks were bursting.
The clinking sound of sharp metal resonated through the air.
Both were Hunters who relied on speed.
They moved at a rate invisible to the average person, engaging in intense exchanges of attacks.
Clang! Clang! Ching!
The sounds of metal grinding repeatedly formed a rhythm for the battle.
‘…He’s definitely strong!’
Feeling her heart racing, Ji-a frowned.
She was A-rank, while her opponent was S-rank.
It was only natural for a gap to develop.
But. She absolutely, absolutely could not lose.
This wasn’t just her own fight.
It was a battle tied to Si-hyun’s pride as well.
Ji-a sharpened her gaze and cooled her head.
She raised her focus to the extreme.
“Gyaaah!”
With a sharp roar, Yu Byeong-jun thrust forward with a spear radiating the aura of death.
Boom—!
Ji-a used the same skill to counterattack.
A thunderous sound echoed as Ji-a was pushed back from the shockwave.
‘No way I can lose!’
Ji-a advanced once more.
Swiftly swinging her spear, the blade adorned with frost drew a blue arc aimed directly at Yu Byeong-jun’s neck.
But Yu Byeong-jun’s speed was even quicker.
He quickly spun his spear to deflect Ji-a’s attack.
And in that same motion, he smoothly retaliated.
Ji-a twisted her body, barely managing to dodge.
“Cough cough.”
Undead Yu Byeong-jun smirked at her.
He was absolutely convinced of his superiority.
In speed, in the force of his attacks.
He felt he outclassed her in every way.
Though he was an Undead who had nearly lost his rationality, there was a primal thrill remaining within him.
Yu Byeong-jun felt intense ecstasy as he relentlessly pursued his attacks.
Clang! Crack!
In an instant, the tip of Yu Byeong-jun’s spear grazed Ji-a’s shoulder.
Blood spurted from the long scratch, but with Si-hyun’s help, the wound healed almost immediately.
Yu Byeong-jun continued his assault.
Riding the momentum, he pressed Ji-a even harder.
Amidst the relentless exchanges, both of them sustained injuries.
Yu Byeong-jun’s wounds were replenished by the connected Necromancer’s mana.
Ji-a’s injuries were healed by Si-hyun’s blessings.
The opposing forces, each at odds, produced similar effects.
As a result, a blood-soaked battle raged on.
“Gah…!”
“Ha ha!”
Hearing Yu Byeong-jun’s laughter, Ji-a gritted her teeth.
She was certain she was falling behind.
But she had no intention of giving up.
With unwavering eyes, she waited for a chance to counterattack.
Slash—!
Drip.
Another wound marred Ji-a’s arm as blood sprayed.
But Ji-a’s movements did not cease.
She dealt Yu Byeong-jun the same wound in return.
Ji-a didn’t step back; she took another step forward.
Engaging all her strength to the limit, she kept advancing.
‘I cannot lose!’
Even while in pain, she stoked the fire of her determination.
She had to move her body faster.
She had to swing her spear with more power.
Her desire to grow stronger and her firm belief in protecting others drove Ji-a forward.
And then.
‘…I have Si-hyun on my side!’
Didn’t Si-hyun say during their dungeon adventures?
Don’t worry. I will save you.
Si-hyun had never lied to her.
“Phew!”
Ji-a made her resolve.
As long as the wounds weren’t fatal, she’d be fine.
No matter the injury, Si-hyun would heal her right away.
This wasn’t dependence. It was ‘trust.’
‘…Here I go!’
Ji-a began to change her style of fighting.