Author Note:
For the Anime only watchers-> Cha Hae-in is a student of Mr. Song. Sung Jinwoo barely defeated that Assassin class B-rank hunter Kang Taemin. Lee Joohee hadn't gone to see Jinwoo in the hospital since she was herself mentally ill at the time. And She hasn't seen Jinwoo since back then.
♦♦♦♦
Jin Woo was looking at the back of the hunters in admiration.
Although he feels that he is just a little less strong than them right now and could become like them or even more in the future due to the system.
But, he still is amazed by their coordination. It was an A-Rank dungeon, yet they were making it feel like a walk in the park.
(A/N: Not to mention, in Manhwa canon, Jinwoo used every skill and managed to defeat the B-rank assassin)
'And Miss Gina and Yao-Yi are really powerful...'
As the squad continued making their way through the swampland, dispatching further waves of lizardmen with ease, Azaroth casually strolled over to where Jinwoo walked near the back.
"Enjoying the view from back here? Mr. Sung" Azaroth grinned knowingly.
Jinwoo was caught off guard by the Leading hunter addressing him directly. That too when he was looking at Miss Gina's back!
He flushed in embarrassment at being caught staring...
"Y-Yes, it's certainly educational to watch high-ranking hunters of this caliber in action," Jinwoo managed to reply.
"Wow, Mr Azaroth, you two know each other?" Miss Lee asked who was walking beside Jinwoo.
"Yeah, our Jin Woo has a cute sister who is my classmate," Azaroth said with a sly grin.
Jinwoo's steps slightly staggered.
"She is a good friend of mine and always says good things about her Oppa" Azaroth continued.
Listening to that, Jinwoo blushed a little.
"T.. That..."
Azaroth chuckled. "And how have you been faring lately? Settling into our guild's life alright since your joining?"
Jinwoo felt grateful for the kindness in asking after him. "Things are going quite well, thanks to the job security and resources the guild provides. I'm able to provide for my sister and Mom's health...."
Nodding approval, Azaroth said, "Glad to hear that. You have a good heart, Mr. Sung," 'and a hot sister' Azarot thought.
"Feel free to tell me if you have any problems." He patted Jinwoo's back a few times then walked towards the front of the squad.
As the dungeon's depths drew them further in, the squad began encountering monsters of greater tenacity.
Having led the charge at the front lines for some time, Kihoon was growing fatigued. Sweat dotted his brow from the exertion of holding back each new assault.
Seizing a lull when the path widened, he dropped back through the ranks now coming to the middle. "Let me catch my breath a moment," Kihoon said between heaving breaths.
The gap he left at the front was swiftly filled.
Gina took point with her signature smile, backed up by the glasses-wearing mage girl raining spells.
"Why are they all coming so eagerly..?" Gina voiced her inner thoughts.
The tanker replied, "Yeah, they are not behaving like the monsters of other dungeons... they look like—"
"Like they are running towards us, not to attack but to escape something..." The mage girl completed his sentence.
"Yeah.. Ugh, now the monsters are coming without caring for their lives, they are destroying the golems too quickly not minding the injuries.."
Beside her, the earth mage boy summoned stone golems to bolster their defenses.
He was only able to summon two golems which the strong lizardmen were quickly destroying without even caring of the heavy blows the golemns were inflecting.
As the squad plowed deeper, signs of fatigue began to show in the hunters' movements. Reaction times slowing ever so slightly, blows lacking their previous intensity.
Azaroth observed this with a keen eye.
The golem which was fighting at the mage girl's back suddenly crumbled and a large lizardmen lept toward the girl who was casting fireballs towards the monsters in front.
"Shit! Behind you!" Dae-Yi (Gauntlet girl) shouted but it was too late.
The monster was just about to pierce her back with his long sharp nails only inches away.
*Snap!*
A crimson spark came from Dae-Yi's left side as she watched it hitting the monster as flames burst out all over its body, turning it to dust in less than a second, without harming the mage girl in the slightest.
"Don't worry guys, I've got your back."
She and the mage girl looked at the source of the voice only to find their team leader looking at them with a reassuring smile.
"Let me help~"
He leapt forward with swift grace.
Crimson flames engulfed the surrounding Lizardmen as he unleashed a torrent of fire sparks. The monsters never stood a chance, instantly reducing to ashes under Azaroth's onslaught.
"Woo Mr. Azaroth sure is dependable," Miss Lee said while healing the fatigue of Kihoon.
The squad couldn't help but stare in awe at such overwhelming magical prowess. Their formidable leader had chosen now to reveal but a fraction of his true might.
"Yes... his skills are great.." Kihoon nodded. While Jinwoo looked at Kihoon with suspicion,
Why did Hunter Kihoon always acted somewhat reserved when talking about Azaroth..?
Jinwoo didn't know that Kihoon was originally going to become the leader and misunderstood.
"Mr. Azaroth, I think that spot is good."
Spotting a sheltered alcove, the mage shorty called for a brief respite.
"Yup, we should take a short rest, anyone who needs water or snacks can ask Mr. Sung!"
Azaroth ordered then looked at the mage shorty and said "Good work" while patting her head and then walking away.
The shorty slightly blushed looking at her shoes.
"Wait! Did you guys see that!? Yum-Na just blushed!" Many members said in disbelief.
They were shocked at the rude and cold mage girl who always had a bored expression on her face behaving like that.
"I.. I need to know the ways!" One guy shouted.
"Yeah, I also need to know how our leader tamed such a girl!" Another said with an otaku expression.
"Shut up assholes, leader can do it since he is powerful and handsome" Gina scoffed from the side and a small bickering started.
But no sooner had the hunters begun to rest than a frenzied horde crashed through the trees towards them.
Azaroth's eyes narrowed. Something wasn't right.
Normally, monsters would be found in their territory as the party goes further - but these attacked with a relentless, unnatural fervor.
As if pursuing prey...or fleeing something even greater lurking in the shadows behind.
As Kihoon pushed himself back to his feet, restored vigor evident in his stance, the others rose reluctantly around him.
They had only just begun to replenish their strength, many of them hadn't even drank water, and an enormous pack of lizardmen poured into the clearing.
Gina grit her teeth. "Back to it, everyone! We'll rest once we're clear of this blasted place."
Reinvigorated by her shout, the squad leapt back into battle formations, weapons raised against the monsters. But exhaustion still weighed heavily on them all.
"Sigh, what a hassle.." Yum-Na said with lazy eyes.
"Yeah, quite a hassle"
Azaroth noticed the hunter's fatigued state and decided to help from the start.
Without a word, he waded directly into the monster horde's center alone.
He summoned his Katana in his right hand and flames swirled from his left hand, violently killing the monsters around him like a vortex.
With efficient, effortless strikes, he cut a swath through the press of bodies. Lizardmen were rent limb from limb as if caught in a whirlwind of destruction.
Within moments, none remained. But the squad's relief was short-lived, as answering roars echoed from farther down the path.
"We're done here for now," Azaroth declared. "Follow me and keep up the pace - I'll lead you to safer ground until you've had a chance to fully recover."
With that, he set off at a punishing speed, leaving the hunters no choice but to hurry in his wake.
Azaroth could spam his reversal: red and other skills, clearing this dungeon like a breeze, but he wanted to see his team fight.
And it has only been 39 minutes since they entered the dungeon.
They are pretty fast in clearing the dungeon quickly not because they want to, but due to the nonstop influx of monsters coming to them.
♦♦♦♦
Give stone if you want Bois.
Support and read ahead at
Patreon.com/MilkLoverFanfics
No matter which date you become member, you'll get it for 30 days.