We continued deeper into the Gate, and the atmosphere grew darker and more ominous. The Hunters behind me looked serious, as if I actually knew exactly what would happen next. Truthfully, the only plan I had was to avoid any direct confrontation at all costs.
Suddenly, a rumbling sound echoed from the left. The entire room shook, and from a dark corner emerged a monstrous figure, even larger and more terrifying than before.
It was a giant ogre with thick, gray skin, covered in scars and bulging muscles. In its hand, it held a massive hammer that looked like it could crush rocks with a single swing.
My heart pounded, nearly leaping out of my chest.
"This… this monster looks incredibly strong…" I muttered, trying to calm myself down.
The Hunters around me tensed up. They immediately prepared their weapons as the ogre glared at us with eyes full of rage.
I could feel the tension in the air, and as I took a hesitant step back, they somehow interpreted it as me analyzing the monster's movements.
"Kim Do-yun-ssi, are you analyzing the monster's weak points?" asked one of the Hunters eagerly.
I nodded awkwardly. "Y-yeah… maybe we should… be extra cautious this time."
The ogre growled and then charged toward us with unexpected speed, its massive hammer ready to strike down anyone in its way.
I froze, barely able to move from fear. Suddenly, one of the Rank A Hunters pushed me aside.
"Do-yun-ssi, be careful! We'll protect you!" he shouted, swinging his sword toward the ogre's leg.
The monster roared angrily and swung its hammer. The ground shook violently as the hammer hit, narrowly missing a few other Hunters.
I was thrown backward, landing on the ground with a sharp pain in my back as loud crashes and debris flew everywhere.
The other Hunters immediately tried to distract the monster. Some attacked from the sides, aiming for areas they hoped might be weak spots. I could only watch from a distance, praying my luck would hold out again.
Panting, I scrambled to my feet, trying to think of something anything. If I didn't act soon, they'd think I was just standing around uselessly…
Finally, with uncertainty, I shouted, "Everyone! Attack its knees!"
The Hunters paused briefly, then nodded with conviction. They all redirected their attacks toward the ogre's knees. A few managed to slash at the monster's knees, causing it to stumble and drop to one knee.
The Hunters were even more motivated.
"Kim Do-yun-ssi, you're amazing! Such a brilliant strategy!"
I could only offer a nervous smile, watching them attack with renewed vigor. The ogre seemed angrier and started thrashing around, swinging its hammer wildly in every direction.
In an instant, several large rocks around it shattered into pieces. Dust and rubble filled the air, making it even harder to see.
In that moment, I could only pray something miraculous would happen and as if the universe heard me, just as the ogre swung its hammer again, it slipped from its grasp and flew off, smashing into the cave wall.
The Hunters stared in awe at the sight. One of them whispered, "Do-yun-ssi… did you just use an invisible force to disarm it?"
I swallowed, unsure of how to respond. "Uh… yeah… maybe…"
But they only looked more amazed.
"An incredible technique! No wonder Kim Do-yun-ssi is a Rank S!"
With the monster disarmed, the Hunters launched their final attack, striking with everything they had. Within seconds, the ogre finally collapsed, and the Hunters cheered in triumph. They continued to praise me non-stop, convinced that this was all part of some brilliant strategy I'd devised.
I could only offer a small smile, feeling relieved but also burdened by their endless expectations. Maybe I really needed to study more about monsters… before my luck ran out.
After a long trek through the dark passage, we finally arrived in a larger chamber, its walls lined with deep blue crystals that cast an eerie glow. The Hunters following me were on high alert, bracing themselves for whatever would come.
I swallowed hard, feeling an intense presence within the room. Even without Hunter abilities, I could feel the strange, chilling aura that suggested something extremely dangerous lay ahead.
"Kim Do-yun-ssi, do you feel that too?" one of the Hunters asked, gripping his weapon tightly.
"Uh, yeah… I guess so," I replied, trying to stay calm.
Truthfully, I just wanted to get out of here as fast as possible. But they all seemed to be waiting for instructions from me. I took a deep breath and pointed forward.
"Maybe… we should advance slowly?"
They nodded, as if confident I had a well-thought-out plan. I tried to walk carefully, and the Hunters followed closely, alert for any threat.
Suddenly, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed through the room. From within the darkness, a massive, humanoid figure emerged, with dark, scaly skin like armor. The monster carried a huge, pitch-black sword with a razor-sharp edge.
"Gate Boss…" one of the Hunters whispered, his voice filled with tension.
The monster was a Demon Knight, a powerful creature notorious for its deadly attacks. I swallowed hard, feeling my heart race faster than ever.
"Kim Do-yun-ssi, what should we do now?" asked a Hunter beside me.
I looked at the Demon Knight, which was letting out a low growl. The only strategy running through my mind was to run, but I couldn't exactly say that in front of the Hunters here.
"Um… maybe we should attack it from a distance first?" I suggested, hoping it sounded plausible.
Several Hunters nodded right away, raising their weapons and launching ranged attacks. Arrows and magical spells rained down on the Demon Knight, filling the room with bursts of energy.
But the attacks only seemed to scratch the surface. With heavy steps, the Demon Knight started closing in.
My eyes widened, frantically trying to think of what to do next. As if my luck was kicking in again, I stumbled backward just as the Demon Knight swung its sword towards us. The blade hit the ground right in front of us, creating a massive dust explosion that temporarily obscured our view.
When the dust settled, one of the Hunters looked at me in awe.
"Kim Do-yun-ssi, you dodged that attack perfectly!"
I just nodded nervously, feeling like an actor forced to keep playing the part. The Demon Knight raised its sword again, looking even angrier after its missed strike. The Hunters around me looked increasingly tense.
"Do-yun-ssi, where should we strike now?" one of them asked seriously.
I racked my brain, trying to find a way for my luck to work in my favor again. Finally, I spoke in a hesitant voice.
"How about… we try attacking from the sides? Then maybe… hit its weak spot from behind?"
They all nodded, seeming pleased with a plan I wasn't even sure of myself. The Hunters split off to the Demon Knight's right and left, attempting to flank the monster from different angles.
The Demon Knight turned, and at that moment, one of the Hunters managed to pierce its back with a magic-infused spear. The creature let out a pained roar, but it only seemed to fuel its rage.
The monster unleashed a full-force swing of its sword, creating a dark energy wave that threw the Hunters back.
I froze, paralyzed in place. The Demon Knight advanced towards me with steady steps, its blazing red eyes piercing into me.
Inwardly, I prayed for some miracle to get me out of this situation. Acting on pure instinct, I grabbed a nearby crystal shard off the ground and threw it at the Demon Knight.
The crystal struck its right eye, causing the monster to reel back in shock. The Hunters looked at me in amazement.
"Kim Do-yun-ssi, you hit the monster's eye perfectly! Incredible!" they cheered, astonished at what they believed was a "precise strike."
I managed a nervous smile, relieved at my accidental save. Spotting the vulnerability in the monster's injured eye, the Hunters renewed their attacks, now targeting the wounded area. After a series of relentless blows, the Demon Knight finally collapsed with a resounding crash that shook the room.
The Hunters cheered, and I felt a wave of relief wash over me. One more tense moment had passed, and once again, they saw me as a hero, despite my total bewilderment at how things kept working out.
A Hunter patted me on the shoulder, smiling.
"Kim Do-yun-ssi, thank you so much. Thanks to your strategy and calmness, we managed to defeat the boss."
I nodded slowly, trying to mask my nervousness. Deep down, I could only hope my luck would hold out until we finally got out of here.