The Rise Of The No. 1 Hunter

Raito stood there, untouched, shield shimmering faintly.

Daichi and Haruya froze.

"What just happened?" Daichi whispered.

"They didn't even fight, he just destroyed them," Haruya said, eyes wide. "He's not a C Rank. He's something else."

From above, a pile of Orcs leapt, hoping to strike him.

Raito smiled faintly, tapping the edge of his Status Box.

[Notification]: Skill Cooldown: Blood Manipulation – Ready.

[Notification]: Enemies Detected: 56 remaining.

"This is just the beginning."

"Boss, are you not tired? Don't you want to rest?" Daichi asked, still panting.

"No, I'm fine. We should keep going," Raito replied calmly.

Haruya stepped forward. "Wait, let me and Daichi pick the cores. It's too much for you to do alone. We can handle it."

Raito shook his head slightly. "No need. Leave it to me."

He raised his hand. Instantly, every monster core on the floor—hundreds of them—began to rise into the air, glowing faintly.

[System]: Monster Cores Detected — 347 units.

[System]: Auto Loot Activated.

[System]: Transferring items to Inventory… Complete.

Haruya's eyes widened. "He really did that, all at once?"

Daichi swallowed hard. "He might actually be an S Rank hunter, or maybe one of those low profile types. The ones even stronger than S Rank even if their rank is S."

Haruya nodded slowly, still stunned. "He's way beyond us."

Raito turned around, expression calm, almost bored.

"Lets move to the next floor."

They all continued moving, staying close behind Haruya, who kept a tight formation with Daichi beside him. Both of them were staring at Raito's back as he walked ahead.

Daichi whispered, voice shaky:

"We, we might've just discovered the third low profile S Rank hunter."

Haruya nodded slowly. "Yeah. That's exactly what I was thinking."

Raito walked with complete calmness, hands still tucked in his pockets, showing no exhaustion at all. Not a drop of sweat. Not even a sign of strain after killing an entire floor in seconds.

"A low profile hunter who avoids fame," Haruya murmured. "Someone who can wipe out S Rank monsters but doesn't want the recognition, that kind of man is dangerous."

Daichi let out a slow breath.

"It has to be him. All S Rank hunters are known publicly. So if he's not famous, but has this much power, he's way above average S Rank."

He swallowed hard.

"As far as I'm concerned, he's S Rank. Maybe even higher."

Haruya's eyes widened slightly as the memory replayed in his head.

"He didn't even fight," Haruya said. "Both of his hands were in his pockets. And still—"

He could still hear it, those sickening wet pops echoing through the cavern.

"All those goblins and orcs just exploded," Haruya whispered. "Just because he thought it."

Daichi clenched his fists.

"We're walking behind a Low Profile hunter," he muttered.

Both men looked at Raito again: calm, silent, expression unreadable, walking deeper into the dungeon as if the earlier massacre meant nothing.

A low profile hunter.

A man stronger than the whole dungeon.

And they were following him into the next floor.

As they continued walking behind Raito, they finally reached the staircase. They descended, and the moment they reached the bottom, the entire environment shifted into a cold, solid stone chamber. A massive stone door, about fifteen feet tall, stood firmly closed in front of them.

"Wow, this is the first time I'm seeing a door like this. Completely made of rock," Raito said, stepping toward it and preparing to push it open.

Daichi and Haruya quickly rushed forward.

"Master, boss, leave it to us! Let us open it," Daichi said.

"Yes, you can count on us. We can't let you do everything," Haruya added.

Raito shrugged. "Okay, fine. Suit yourselves."

The two planted their feet, grabbed the massive stone, and pushed with everything they had. Their muscles strained. Their teeth clenched.

The door didn't even shake.

Not even a millimeter.

Both of them were panting and sweating heavily.

"We're, we're C Rank, but still, we can't even move this thing. What the hell?" Daichi said breathlessly.

"This really isn't a dungeon meant for C Rank hunters like us," Haruya muttered.

"Both of you, step away," Raito said calmly.

They moved back.

Raito walked toward the door with both hands in his pockets. Without lowering them, he lifted his right leg casually—

BOOM!

He kicked the pure rock door.

The entire stone slab shot off its hinges like it weighed nothing, flying at insane speed. It crashed deep inside the room and smashed directly into a baby golem, instantly killing it.

Daichi and Haruya's jaws dropped.

Raito stepped inside the second floor, with the other two following behind.

Right then, they all froze.

Staring back at them were nine King Golems, together in one chamber.

And two baby golems remaining, since Raito had already crushed one with the door.

"What the hell, nine King Golems?" Raito muttered.

"Boss, this isn't right!" Daichi shouted. "King Golems aren't supposed to stay together. A king rules a territory alone! This is like they've formed a group!"

"Yes, they shouldn't be bonding. This is unnatural," Haruya added.

Raito exhaled. "Well, I don't care what's happening. I just need to kill them."

He took a step forward.

"Both of you wait here."

"Boss, no!" Haruya said quickly. "We can't fight a King Golem. We'll die instantly. But at least let us take on the baby golems. C Rank hunters like us can handle those!"

"Yes! At least give us that!" Daichi added.

Raito looked back at them.

"Oh? That's good. I'll give that to you."

The King Golems all turned their massive stone heads toward Raito and the others the moment they noticed one of their children crushed beneath the fallen door.

A low, grinding roar rumbled through the chamber.

One of the King Golems bent down, grabbed a huge boulder, and hurled it at Raito with incredible force.

Raito didn't flinch.

With a single thought, he activated Telekinesis—the rock froze in mid air, completely motionless.

Raito tilted his head slightly.

FWOOM!