NOVEL NEXT Chapter 117: ART OF BLOOD
"Well… that's going to be a problem," Raito said with a sigh.
"But Boss," Daichi continued, "if you want to enter a dungeon, can't you? I mean… it's okay, you just have to show them your card. But you're still C-rank. They won't let a C-rank enter an A-rank or S-rank dungeon alone."
Haruya nodded quickly. "Yes, Boss. They'll never allow it. It's illegal. Too dangerous. They won't even let you near the gate."
Raito stretched his neck and cracked it.
"Well, just don't ask me too many questions," Raito said. "It's not illegal if I'm strong enough. And someone high up already knows. So they're going to let me in. No more questions. You can stay back or keep quiet and follow. I'm not going to sit down and explain everything."
He turned and continued walking. Daichi and Haruya followed right behind him.
Raito adjusted his jacket, fixed his trousers, and put on his face mask. After walking for about twenty minutes, they finally reached the dungeon.
There were dozens of A-rank and S-rank Hunters gathered around the enormous portal. Reporters were everywhere, cameras flashing nonstop.
Raito immediately lowered his head.
"Great… the news is here. I should've brought a cap," he muttered.
Just then, a young boy passed by. Raito moved fast, lightning quick, and snatched the boy's cap gently, dropping money into the kid's pocket at the same time without him noticing. He put the cap on and bent the brim low.
He shook his hair back under it and kept his face down.
The nearest camera turned, pointing right at him.
Hunters were approaching the giant dungeon. It was huge, so huge that earlier goblins, ogres, and other monsters had overflowed from it into the city streets, causing a massive outbreak before Hunters finally cleared them.
The newscaster was still talking loudly:
"Because this dungeon is extremely full, monsters escaped—a goblin horde, ogres, and even high-tier beasts. This caused the outbreak that spread through the city, but our Hunters have defeated them all…"
Raito clicked his tongue.
"I need to get away from the cameras. No one can see my face."
He looked forward and walked straight to the dungeon entrance.
Three A-rank Hunters were guarding it, checking every party going in. Because of how dangerous the dungeon was, they were letting multiple parties enter, but only if their formation was large enough.
Raito stepped forward with Daichi and Haruya behind him.
One of the A-rank Hunters stretched out his arm.
"Hey. Where do you think you're going? With this tiny party? Show me your Hunter card. Unless you're S-rank, you're not entering with just three people. Even if you are S-rank, you still need more members."
Raito didn't speak.
"I can't show them my Hunter card… I'm C-rank. I'm gonna have to call Jiro," he muttered in his mind.
He slid his hand into his pocket and dialed Jiro.
"Hello. I'm about to enter a dungeon but they're not allowing me. Please talk to them," Raito said.
As he spoke, the A-rank Hunters looked irritated.
"I don't know who you are or why you're covering your face," one of them said. "And those two behind you? Rookies. It's impossible for you to go in with this tiny group and come out alive."
Raito said nothing.
He simply stepped forward straight into the portal.
Daichi froze for one second, then yelled,
"B-Boss!"
He and Haruya rushed after him, jumping into the portal right behind him.
In an instant, they appeared inside a gloomy cave-like dungeon, the air thick and heavy with mana.
"Let's go," Raito said as two daggers materialized in his hands, blue energy flickering across the blades.
Daichi and Haruya looked at him once again, swallowing hard.
Both of them wore light armor, gripping their swords tightly as they stepped forward beside him.
The first floor was massive, a huge, wide cavern stretching so far the torches barely reached the end.
And in that darkness…
246 Goblins.
156 Orcs.
All packed together like a small army.
Haruya's eyes widened.
"W-Why are Goblins and Orcs even together…? They usually fight each other on sight…"
"Yeah… that's strange," Raito said calmly. His daggers spun once in his hands before he stopped them. "How do you hold Goblins and Orcs in the same place without them tearing each other apart?"
Daichi and Haruya automatically backed up a little.
"W-We're doomed…" Daichi muttered. "That many monsters… there's no way. This is definitely an S-Rank dungeon."
"Well, yeah. It is an S-Rank dungeon."
Raito didn't even glance back.
"You two should stay here. Don't get in my way. It won't take a minute."
He stepped forward.
Just a single step and all the Orcs and Goblins noticed him.
Dozens of eyes snapped toward his direction.
Raito bent his knees.
and jumped.
He dropped from the ledge and landed right in the middle of the monster horde, dust rising around his feet.
Every Goblin.
Every Orc.
All of them turned their heads toward him at once.
Raito lifted one dagger.
Then the blade shimmered
and vanished from his hand.
A smile spread across his face.
"Now…" Raito said softly.
"…it's time to try my new skill."
Raito opened his Status Box. His vision scanned the interface like a hunter reading the battlefield.
He tapped Blood Manipulation and equipped it.
[Notification]: Blood Manipulation Skill Equipped.
Effect: You can now control opponents' blood with thoughts.
The Orcs charged. The Goblins swarmed from all sides, weapons raised, screeching.
Raito slid his hand into his pocket. Calm. Collected.
"Your blood… obeys me."
The moment the words left his mouth, every Orc and Goblin on the floor stiffened. Blood obeyed his will. Bones cracked, veins ruptured, and muscle tore itself apart from the inside.
[System]: Blood Control Activated.
[System]: 347 targets affected. Estimated fatalities: 100%.
[System]: Target blood manipulated successfully.
In less than ten seconds, the hall that had been swarming with monsters fell silent. Every body lay shattered, mangled beyond recognition. Blood splattered across the walls and floor.