Chapter 16
As mentioned earlier, gates connected to different worlds, but they were generally classified into two types:
Those frequently visited by hunters, like the F-rank gate from before, and those showing no traces of human presence, like the current gate.
Naturally, there were reasons why hunters didn't frequent certain dungeons.
While there could be various reasons, the primary one was, unsurprisingly, safety.
Given that a moment's mistake could cost one's life, if the gate's internal environment was unfavorable or if the resident monsters were difficult to hunt, it would inevitably become a place to avoid.
That's why this E-rank gate showed no traces of human presence.
Due to the densely grown trees blocking light, visibility was poor, and the swampy terrain significantly restricted movement - hardly ideal conditions.
Moreover, the monsters appearing here were the worst.
'Super Monkey.'
As the name suggests, it was a primate monster about 2 meters long, larger than an adult male.
With its long arms and legs, it had excellent jumping ability, freely traversing the surrounding terrain.
Fortunately, due to its large body, its movements weren't particularly fast.
However, this was a swamp, a place conducive to mobility.
Moreover, trees for jumping were abundant everywhere.
It was no exaggeration to say this was a stage set for Super Monkeys.
'Except for accessibility, this is truly the worst hunting ground.'
Just as Lee Sungjun finished organizing in his mind the information about Super Monkeys he had read on the taxi ride and the situation inside the gate, Choi Gyujin, who had entered the gate a step behind, spoke up.
"Fortunately, there don't seem to be any monkeys near the entrance..."
"Shh."
Lee Sungjun cut off Choi Gyujin's words.
At the same time, Lee Sungjun's eyes narrowed.
He sensed multiple presences not far away.
"Duck."
Choi Gyujin didn't even have time to question it.
His body was moving reflexively due to the pressure and authority emanating from Lee Sungjun.
And this movement became the greatest luck in Choi Gyujin's life.
Whoosh-!
Though he didn't see it directly, he could sense from the strong wind sound that some blunt object had grazed over his head.
'If I had reacted even a little later...'
Choi Gyujin felt a chill run down his spine.
At the same time, a question arose.
'...How did he know?'
Although he had been careless, it was a sharp surprise attack that even he, an E-rank hunter, couldn't perceive.
Yet Lee Sungjun not only detected the attack but perfectly predicted its path.
'Is this really F-rank?'
It didn't make sense.
'He must have some hidden power.'
It didn't take long for Choi Gyujin to become convinced of his thoughts.
"It could be dangerous, so please stay here."
As Lee Sungjun stepped forward after finishing his words, once again a blunt object came flying through the air.
It was fast and threatening, but the limitations of thrown weapons were clearly revealed.
'It's too linear.'
Lee Sungjun avoided the flying object with a light twisting motion of his waist and rushed forward.
Perhaps realizing its attack wouldn't work, the Super Monkey that had thrown the projectile at Lee Sungjun hastily jumped, attempting to leave the battlefield.
It was a good judgment.
Considering the swampy ground, even a fairly competent E-rank hunter could have easily been shaken off.
However, this time the opponent was not favorable.
'Chosangbi (Walking on Grass).'
A light footwork technique that allows one to walk even on weak, thin blades of grass unfolded through Lee Sungjun's feet.
Normally, this isn't a technique that a second-rate martial artist could perform.
It's a martial art that requires at least a first-rate martial artist to execute.
But Lee Sungjun was able to perform it through his experience and knowledge accumulated as a demon god, and with the help of the Gwiyeongbo footwork.
Of course, it wasn't perfectly executed, merely an imitation.
But that was enough.
Lee Sungjun lightly stepped on the branches scattered on the swampy ground, leaped up, and quickly closed the distance with the Super Monkey.
Naturally, the beast's characteristic pungent odor reached his nostrils.
"Keeeeek-!"
The Super Monkey in front of him let out a shriek, exuding intense killing intent.
Then, to knock Lee Sungjun, who had suddenly approached, off the tree, it swung the wooden club in its hand.
'Gwiyeongbo.'
Lee Sungjun's form, which had been standing right in front, blurred and suddenly reached close quarters with the Super Monkey.
'Hyeolganggwon, Cheolgyeok (Iron Strike)'
This is a fist technique that can only be learned after becoming a second-rate martial artist and being officially recognized as a member of the Blood School. It's a martial art that uses internal blood energy to strengthen specific body parts.
Indeed, the human body could evolve to the point of being able to dent and shatter even thick iron.
Of course, this evolution could only be achieved through constant training.
However, the Iron Strike technique of Hyeolganggwon, although temporary, allows one to wield a fist strong enough to break even thick iron.
Bang-!
The Super Monkey's waist bent in a 'ㄱ' shape.
"Keeeeek-!"
The Super Monkey, letting out a pain-filled scream, grimaced and stretched out its fist once more in a final struggle.
But it was a meaningless struggle.
Lee Sungjun, having used Gwiyeongbo again, was now behind the Super Monkey, which was groaning in pain.
"Iron Strike."
Once again, Hyeolganggwon unfolded from the fist stretched forward.
Crack-!
With the sound of a spine breaking, the Super Monkey's eyes rolled back, showing the whites.
"Keek-!"
As white foam rose from the Super Monkey's mouth, its 2-meter-tall massive body collapsed to the ground like a puppet with cut strings.
Lee Sungjun, looking at it with indifferent eyes, immediately turned his gaze to Choi Gyujin and spoke.
"Let's move."
* * *
Afterwards, the hunting continued without a hitch.
It was a completely different picture from what Choi Gyujin had initially imagined.
'...I was the one who couldn't grasp the situation.'
Choi Gyujin let out self-deprecating words inwardly.
It was literally overwhelming.
Despite the continuous battles that should have been tiring, Lee Sungjun was hunting even more easily than at the beginning.
'How is this even possible?'
Choi Gyujin felt confused.
Although he was hastily dispatched, he wasn't actually a recognized talented individual within the association.
Therefore, even while watching Lee Sungjun's battles with his own eyes, he couldn't quite understand.
Still, if he were to understand what he saw at face value, it seemed it could be defined in a single word.
'Somehow... I'm not sure, but it feels incredibly efficient.'
It's not dazzling like the flashy ability users.
There were many returnees who hunted monsters almost like a slaughter, wielding overwhelmingly powerful strength or special abilities.
But he had never seen anyone hunt in this way.
"...Amazing."
He was demonstrating such high-level combat that it was incomprehensible even now.
However, the most surprising point was that Lee Sungjun had just taken his first steps.
'It's been barely a week, right? Oh, wait! If by any chance Lee Sungjun dies here or suffers an irreparable fatal injury...'
It would certainly cause trouble.
Choi Gyujin's brow furrowed.
'Not good.'
It wasn't for nothing that he had become an association hunter, essentially a civil servant.
Choi Gyujin's life motto was to live a long and steady life.
But now, with the involvement of this individual named Lee Sungjun, that life motto could potentially be shaken.
Naturally, Choi Gyujin's mind started working busily.
'Can Lee Sungjun defeat the D-rank boss monster?'
According to the gate report, the boss monster here was a Super Gorilla.
Its general abilities were listed as on par with other D-rank monsters, but as a boss, it certainly had special aspects.
'With just the toughness of its skin, muscles, and skeletal structure, its pure defense power is D+ rank...'
In the worst case, if fully armed, its defense could go up to C- rank.
Although showing efficient movements, Lee Sungjun, who didn't seem to have particularly powerful destructive force, appeared to have no way to inflict a fatal wound to seize victory.
'Ugh... Should I stop the test even now?'
He wanted to do so if he could.
But there were also too many concerning points here.
The pride of a returnee who had high renown in another world, and the fact that higher-ups might consider it an overstepping of authority to make such a judgment on his own.
It meant the path of a civil servant would become arduous.
Although his goal was to live a long and steady life, he didn't want to live painfully.
'How can I get through this smoothly without any backlash on me...'
As his worries deepened and Choi Gyujin's brow furrowed, it happened.
"Kraaang-!"
Choi Gyujin's eyes widened at the thunderous sound that couldn't be from a Super Monkey.
'T-This sound...!'
As he turned his head, the sight of a Super Gorilla, a monster with a huge build and burly muscles, came into view.
However, it wasn't the appearance of a typical Super Gorilla.
It was covered in full plate armor from head to toe.
'...Damn. With that, its defense power is definitely C- rank!'
It was the worst-case scenario.
Far from inflicting a fatal wound to seize victory, it seemed attacks wouldn't even be effective at all.
In this truly worst situation, Choi Gyujin's face turned pale.
"It's dangerous! You need to run...!"
As Choi Gyujin shouted, Lee Sungjun's form was already brushing past him.
"This is my prey."
Of course, it wasn't that he was blinded by greed.
It was simply that what had been mere expectations and hypotheses had turned into certainty after hunting the Super Monkeys earlier, which is why he confidently claimed ownership.
'I can hunt even a D-rank boss monster alone.'
Full of confidence, there was not a trace of hesitation in Lee Sungjun's steps.
'Enhance.'
Ding-!
[Strength enhancement is used on user 'Lee Sungjun', Strength stat increases by 5 for 10 minutes.]
[Agility...]
[Health...]
As the green hologram message window appeared, he felt strength surging throughout his body.
'Excellent.'
Looking at the numbers alone, he had become about 30% stronger.
However, Lee Sungjun's actual combat power had more than doubled, and that's no exaggeration.
The reason was simple.
Lee Sungjun had the experience and skills to efficiently use this strengthened body.
It meant he could utilize the increased stats better than anyone else, and that he could certainly hunt the Super Gorilla in front of him.