Chapter 103 – Black King Centipede

An Cho-hee couldn’t remember his name in the sudden situation.

That’s how unexpected it was that this person was holding her.

“D-Do-jun!”

“Ah…!”

Only after hearing Kim Ji-hoon’s cry did she recall the name.

‘Right. His name was Min Do-jun… wasn’t it?’

The quiet level 1,700 hunter.

That was Min Do-jun as An Cho-hee remembered him.

‘We thought he ran away using the bathroom as an excuse…’

Seeing him reappear, that wasn’t the case.

He appeared at the perfect moment to save her.

‘Though I’m grateful…’

The situation hadn’t changed.

Kim Ji-hoon, their core fighting strength, was already injured and unable to fight.

Plus, she couldn’t provide any meaningful help.

And it wasn’t possible for Hunter Min Do-jun to fight alone.

Though they’d briefly prolonged their lives, the end was clear as day.

‘If only he’d come earlier…’

If he’d appeared when Kim Ji-hoon was still fine…

If he’d helped with the fight then…

Things might have been different.

But they couldn’t turn back time that had already passed.

“Thank you for saving me but… Hunter, you should quickly escape…”

Min Do-jun set An Cho-hee down and turned his head indifferently.

His gaze was fixed on the boss.

*Swoosh*

The ghost sword appeared in Min Do-jun’s grip.

His actions made his intentions clear.

“Surely you’re not planning to fight…”

“Don’t do anything.”

Though he indirectly expressed not to interfere, An Cho-hee was too shocked to understand his meaning.

Someone saying they were going to commit suicide was right in front of her.

“W-what are you trying to do! At least your life…”

“I’ll handle my own life.”

An Cho-hee looked at him like she was seeing a madman.

What could he do alone when even Kim Ji-hoon couldn’t help?

She tried to stop him again, but Min Do-jun was already charging toward the boss.

“Ah…”

Just as she sighed in regret.

“Huh…?”

An Cho-hee’s pupils dilated in disbelief.

Min Do-jun was pressuring the King Centipede.

*Slash! Slash!*

Wounds appeared all over the King Centipede’s head.

“H-how…?”

Something completely unexpected was happening.

Kim Ji-hoon was equally surprised.

He realized this was when the phrase “seeing is believing” truly applied.

‘H-how can he move like that…?’

The King Centipede was fast despite its size.

There was a reason Kim Ji-hoon had trouble dodging.

Yet Min Do-jun was moving even faster.

He was moving away before the King Centipede could even attack.

‘Is he reading the attacks? No. He’s seeing and dodging them.’

He was catching the attack movements and quickly moving away before landing his next strike.

‘I could barely dodge with 1,000 agility, but he moves so effortlessly… Wait! Then how high is Do-jun’s agility?’

It wasn’t just agility.

His strength must be incredibly high too, as he kept leaving meaningful wounds on the King Centipede’s head.

*Slash! Cut!*

The sound was different from when Kim Ji-hoon attacked.

‘I couldn’t even leave a mark…’

Though he wondered how high the strength must be, Min Do-jun’s effective hits weren’t just due to strength.

‘The invincibility time will return soon.’

He was attacking when it wasn’t invincible.

Indeed, the creature was applying invincibility to each segment of its body at intervals.

This was why Kim Ji-hoon’s attacks hadn’t worked.

*Clang!*

Sure enough.

The ghost sword that had been penetrating until just now bounced off with a hard sound.

The invincibility had returned.

But Min Do-jun wasn’t troubled at all.

‘Just need to target parts that aren’t invincible.’

*Crash!*

Dodging its poison sting attack, he moved under its head and slashed at the next body segment.

*Slash!*

Unlike the head, it cut easily.

Of course, Min Do-jun’s high strength helped.

‘As expected, it’s this easy with Avatar of the Battlefield at full stack.’

Currently, Min Do-jun had all stats increased by 50%.

His strength, health, and agility were all approaching 3,000.

Originally around 1,300, they were boosted by Avatar of the Battlefield and then boosted again by the Magic Swordsman trait.

He hadn’t even used Berserk yet.

He wasn’t using magic or skills either.

Just buffs on his weapon.

‘Yet it’s this overwhelming.’

At this level, he could already be considered S-rank.

‘Should I finish this?’

Min Do-jun used Berserk.

*Groooowl*

[Using Berserk.]

[Strength and Agility increased by 1.5x.]

[Strength +1448 Agility +1424]

[Time remaining: 2 minutes 59 seconds]

His strength and agility instantly shot up to 4,300.

But there was no visible effect.

Others wouldn’t even know he’d used a buff.

*Crash! Crash!*

The King Centipede, enraged at missing its prey, slammed its head even faster.

But Min Do-jun, now even faster, dodged around while swinging his sword.

*Slash- Slaaash*

With higher strength, the wounds were deeper than before.

The King Centipede’s body was covered in wounds everywhere.

‘Being a boss, it’s quite tenacious.’

But seeing the visibly increasing wounds, the victor was clear.

That’s when the change occurred.

The breathing holes in the centipede’s skin opened wide.

“Do-jun! Get away! It’s poison!”

Though Kim Ji-hoon shouted in alarm, it was too late for Min Do-jun to retreat.

Black poison sprayed from all over the centipede’s body.

Though Kim Ji-hoon and An Cho-hee weren’t hit due to distance, Min Do-jun right next to it was definitely exposed.

But.

[Exposed to paralysis poison.]

[Debuff nullified.]

As long as poison counted as a debuff, Min Do-jun had no reason to avoid it.

Instead, he drove his sword deep into the open breathing hole.

*Thrust*

The King Centipede’s body trembled and its supporting legs went limp.

*Thud*

‘This is the end.’

Min Do-jun summoned Fire Blast and shot it straight at its head while its invincibility was down.

*Boom!*

Simultaneously leaping out, he randomly slashed at its sizzling head.

[You have killed the Black King Centipede!]

[Experience +313,600] (98% contribution)

[Level up!]

[S-grade Magic Stone obtained.]

[S-grade Magic Stone obtained.]

[Moon Ring obtained.]

[S-grade Dungeon Entry Ticket obtained.]

Among the flood of messages appearing, Min Do-jun’s gaze first went to the contribution rate.

He needed to check the chance of losing rewards.

‘98% contribution?’

He’d been worried not knowing how much damage Kim Ji-hoon had done earlier, but this was fortunate.

At 2%, the chance of losing rewards was almost none.

Sure enough.

[Automatically rolling roulette according to party rules.]

[Winner is Min Do-jun.]

All rewards were stored in Min Do-jun’s inventory.

He monopolized everything as desired.

‘Great!’

Even better was that the Moon Ring he’d wanted so badly dropped.

‘Now I can get the Trinity Set effect.’

The two S-grade Magic Stones were a bonus.

But there was one more unexpected item.

[S-grade Dungeon Entry Ticket]

-Type: Consumable

-Grade: S

-Effect: Can enter S-grade dungeons regardless of level

-Usage restriction: Level 1+ (Bound)

-Description: An entry ticket allowing access to S-grade dungeons without level restrictions. Worth trying if confident in your abilities. Can be used once.

He knew S-grade dungeon tickets could drop from A-grade bosses.

But it was such a rare item that he hadn’t even hoped for it…

‘To think this would drop.’

He was already satisfied with getting the Moon Ring, but getting the ticket too made Min Do-jun smile.

Being able to enter S-grade dungeons without level restrictions was an incredible benefit.

‘Perfect timing since A-grade dungeons were getting boring.’

He could grow faster than ever in S-grade dungeons.

While Min Do-jun was rejoicing over his obtained items, Kim Ji-hoon and An Cho-hee watched the King Centipede’s disappearing corpse with unbelieving eyes.

‘To kill a boss alone…’

‘He, he really did it.’

What they’d thought impossible had actually happened.

Though they’d witnessed the entire battle right before their eyes, it was hard to believe.

‘Is he really level 1,700?’

An Cho-hee, who had dismissed him for his low level, saw Min Do-jun in a new light.

This was a boss that six A-rank hunters couldn’t handle.

Even Kim Ji-hoon over level 2,000 was driven to near death.

He defeated such a boss solo.

She couldn’t help but feel awe.

Kim Ji-hoon was equally amazed.

‘To think he’d kill it alone…’

He had originally considered Min Do-jun’s abilities equal to or slightly below his own.

But that had been arrogant thinking.

‘I was wrong. He’s absolutely not someone equal to or below me. He’s so strong there’s no comparison to someone like me!’

Min Do-jun’s demonstrated abilities were comparable even to S-rank hunters.

Though he couldn’t understand how a level 1,700 could be like this, one thing was certain.

‘He’s talent we must recruit to Emperor Guild.’

After confirming his abilities, he could understand why he was first on the recruitment list.

“Do-jun!”

Kim Ji-hoon approached Min Do-jun despite his injured body.

“You were hit by the poison, are you okay?”

“Yes, no problem. Ji-hoon seems worse off though…”

“Don’t worry about me. These injuries are nothing compared to almost dying to the boss.”

Kim Ji-hoon’s gaze toward Min Do-jun had changed.

It mixed respect, fear, and envy toward a strong one.

“By the way Do-jun, what happened? You said you were going to the bathroom, why only now…”

“I was late.”

Min Do-jun dismissed it shortly.

He couldn’t be bothered to make long excuses.

“We were so surprised when we couldn’t find you after searching, haha…”

Having escaped death, Kim Ji-hoon regained his composure.

Though he didn’t get the boss rewards, he’d perfectly accomplished his original goal of skill verification.

‘Now just need to return to the guild and vouch for his abilities. If the contract goes through, I’ll get the incentive.’

Though it felt like he’d made too big a deal just to get some extra money, he was still somewhat proud.

He’d proven Min Do-jun was genuinely skilled.

“I never thought Do-jun would kill the boss alone.”

“I just got lucky.”

“Why did you hide your abilities last time when you’re this strong?”

Kim Ji-hoon was curious.

Why Min Do-jun had pretended to be weak.

“I wasn’t hiding anything.”

“What?”

Min Do-jun made an excuse that wasn’t an excuse.

“I just wasn’t in good condition that day.”