Chapter 21 – Armored Mantis

Despite Min Do-jun’s scolding, Hyun Su-ah couldn’t say anything.

She was in a state of shock as if she had just seen the boss.

‘Did, did they really come? Reinforcements?’

When she fled from the boss, she realized by looking at the activated help request button.

That the brothers who tried to protect her had ultimately died.

The button only activates when all party members except oneself have died.

So she pressed the button with tears in her eyes.

In fact, she didn’t press it expecting help.

She just pressed it reflexively according to the crisis situation manual.

‘But to think they really came…’

Although she sent a help request, she didn’t really expect anyone to come.

It was high risk, low return, so even she would have hesitated to help.

Su-ah first bowed her head to the man in front of her.

“Th-thank you. I survived thanks to you.”

“Why on earth did you do that?”

Min Do-jun frowned as if he didn’t understand.

“Losing focus during battle is like offering your neck. Did you want to die?”

“Ah, no, that’s not it…”

“You froze from shock. You couldn’t think due to helplessness. If you’re going to say something like that, turn in your registration card and quit being a hunter right now. It means you’re unqualified.”

Min Do-jun spat out harsh words unlike his usual self.

It wasn’t an act.

He was speaking out of genuine anger and frustration.

‘If you decided to become a hunter, you should at least think about taking down one of the monster’s arms.’

As someone with considerable vengeance against monsters, he didn’t like Su-ah’s weak mental state.

“I-I’m sorry.”

Flustered, Su-ah apologized reflexively.

“Never mind that, are you the guild member who requested help?”

“Ah, yes! I’m Hyun Su-ah from the Platinum Guild. Your name is…?”

“Min Do-jun.”

“Ah, Mr. Min Do-jun. Thank you so much for helping.”

“So how did this happen?”

“Ah, well…”

Min Do-jun was able to hear the detailed circumstances.

‘As expected, it was because of the Armored Mantis.’

This disaster occurred because that thing appeared.

“Where is it?”

“Huh? Which…”

“The Armored Mantis.”

“Ah, I don’t know. I ran without looking back…”

“But you must know the general location.”

“Hmm…”

Su-ah looked around and pointed to one side.

“I think it’s that way.”

“I see. Follow me.”

As Min Do-jun started walking, Su-ah followed reflexively.

“Um, where are you going?”

“Where else? We’re going to hunt the boss, of course.”

“What?”

At those words, Su-ah stopped in her tracks.

Min Do-jun turned around.

“You’re not coming?”

“Hunt the boss… You’re joking, right?”

“I’m not joking.”

“We can’t defeat the boss. It’s absolutely impossible.”

“We can defeat it.”

“No! Mr. Min Do-jun, you don’t know. That thing is unimaginably strong!”

Su-ah’s face was filled with fear.

“If you think it’s an ordinary boss, you’ll be in big trouble. At least a C-rank hunter needs to come. Let alone…”

“Then I’ll go by myself. Stay here. I’ve taken care of all the nearby mantises, so it should be safe.”

Min Do-jun, not wanting to argue further, turned around.

Su-ah’s face showed clear signs of bewilderment.

“No, why on earth?”

She hurriedly followed, unable to just watch someone walk into danger.

“I understand that you’re strong, Mr. Min Do-jun. You took down two mantises in an instant. But the boss is different. It’s definitely not an easy opponent…”

“I never said it was easy.”

“…”

“I said we can defeat it.”

The Armored Mantis wasn’t an easy opponent for Min Do-jun either.

But it wasn’t an unbeatable opponent either.

He had figured out all of its attack patterns through physical confrontation before his regression.

“You don’t have to follow if you’re scared.”

Saying that, Min Do-jun ignored Su-ah and strode forward.

“Haa… What kind of confidence is this…”

She wanted to stop him by any means necessary.

But she didn’t.

Min Do-jun’s stubbornness seemed formidable as well.

“I’m coming with you!”

Now she chased after Min Do-jun who was running.

She couldn’t just let her savior go like this.

‘I’ll have to help if necessary.’

She decided to think about it when the time came, even if she wasn’t sure she could be of help.

‘Surely the boss won’t still be there?’

She didn’t think they would encounter the boss again.

As expected, it was as she thought.

“Is this the place?”

“Yes…”

When they arrived at the location where they supposedly encountered the boss, there was no one there.

Only bloodstains and some pieces of flesh were visible.

‘It seems to have eaten the party members here.’

All monsters feed on humans by default.

That’s why there’s nothing more miserable than dying in a dungeon.

“…”

Su-ah’s eyes trembled uneasily as she saw the bloodstains and flesh.

Scenes she wanted to forget tormented her.

“Don’t forget.”

“…!”

At that moment, Min Do-jun approached and spoke in a low tone.

“Remember. Their deaths. Recall how miserably they died every time you fight monsters. That will make you stronger. Vengeance is good fuel.”

“…”

Min Do-jun’s advice made her think a lot.

Su-ah, who had only tried to avoid reality, stared at the flesh for a while.

She recalled the image of her brothers shouting at her to run away even as their limbs were being torn apart.

‘I couldn’t be of any help. To the point of being foolish.’

Remembering her brothers’ sacrifice, vengeance burned in her chest.

‘I need to become stronger. At least so I won’t be a hindrance to anyone.’

As she changed her mindset, her eyes changed first.

It felt like she had regained the initial determination she had forgotten.

Su-ah looked at Min Do-jun.

Although they had only met a few minutes ago, she could tell.

That he was a strong person both physically and mentally.

‘It feels like I’m looking at a veteran hunter.’

Trust had already settled in her eyes.

“Mr. Min Do-jun. What do we do now? The boss isn’t here, so shouldn’t we end the raid…”

“The boss will appear if we wait.”

“What?”

A moment later.

Kiriririt-

As Min Do-jun expected, the boss appeared.

It was the Armored Mantis, its entire body made of machinery.

‘Of course it wouldn’t have left the flesh and just gone away.’

Min Do-jun had realized the moment he first saw the flesh.

That the boss had left the flesh as bait to lure other mantises.

‘It doesn’t hesitate to eat its own kind when hungry.’

Kiririrut-

The Armored Mantis that discovered Min Do-jun’s group made a bizarre sound.

As if it was happy that tastier food than its own kind had appeared.

“Ah…”

On the other hand, Su-ah’s face was filled with terror.

When actually confronted, her body wouldn’t move due to the pressure from before.

‘We, we can’t win.’

Her body trembled like an aspen tree, making her determination to become stronger seem hollow.

She belatedly realized the difference between ideals and reality.

“Step back.”

This was when Su-ah came to her senses.

“Don’t get in the way unnecessarily.”

Su-ah’s frozen body moved at Min Do-jun’s calm voice.

“Mr. Do-jun. Shouldn’t we run away together even now…”

“Ms. Su-ah.”

Min Do-jun’s voice had become cold, unlike before.

“Such a weak mindset is of no help in battle.”

Min Do-jun raised his sword.

“When facing monsters, you should fight with the determination to take at least one arm even if it costs you your life.”

Wooong-

The blade glowed faintly blue.

Pajik- Pajik-

As lightning spears formed above his shoulders, sparks flew from the blade as well.

‘Come.’

Min Do-jun pointed the tip of his sword at the boss.

Kiririrut!

As if that action was pathetic, the Armored Mantis charged.

While swinging the steel blades on its forelegs.

But nothing can be faster than lightning.

Pajijijik-!

The Lightning Spear that shot out first pierced the boss’s body.

It wasn’t particularly aimed at the body.

For the Armored Mantis whose entire body is machinery, it doesn’t matter where you hit.

The current will flow throughout its body anyway.

Kiriruk!

The charging Armored Mantis creaked from the sharp pain.

Its movements were somewhat uncomfortable.

The paralysis effect had been applied.

‘If you feed it lightning magic, it has a high chance of being paralyzed.’

This was the Armored Mantis’s first weakness.

Tat!

Min Do-jun charged while raising his sword.

Kang!

The sound of metal striking metal.

Kiri!

The creature that had been making sounds as if snorting swung the blade on its foreleg.

Huung-

Min Do-jun, who quickly dodged, swung his sword once again.

Kang!

It seemed to take no damage at all, as its entire body was steel.

Kikiki!

Now even laughing, the boss spun its forelegs like a windmill.

Blades rotating like a grinder.

It was that attack that Su-ah’s party members had helplessly fallen to.

Tadat!

But Min Do-jun had already anticipated it and retreated from the attack range.

And he fed it another Lightning Spear as the cooldown returned.

Pajijijik-!

Ki- Kiriri!

The boss walking while creaking again.

It felt slower than before.

Min Do-jun charged in again and swung his sword.

Kang!

The Armored Mantis that blocked with its foreleg counterattacked, but there was no way it could hit with its slowed movements.

Hwik-

Easily dodging and.

Kang!

Hitting any part again.

‘Next is the windmill attack.’

Min Do-jun stepped back greatly.

As expected, the boss was spinning its forelegs like a windmill.

The same pattern as before.

‘One more Lightning Spear.’

Pajijijik!

Ki- Ki- Ki!

After being hit by the lightning spear once more, the Armored Mantis noticeably slowed down.

Sensing this was his chance, Min Do-jun sprang forward without delay.

Kang-!

Kang!

Hwik-

Kang!

He pounded randomly while dodging its attacks.

Then.

[The Armored Mantis’s barrier has been destroyed.]

The desired notification was heard and.

Seogek!

Min Do-jun’s swung sword cut off the Armored Mantis’s foreleg.

Kiruruurururu-!

As if experiencing pain for the first time in its life, it went berserk swinging its remaining foreleg.

‘Once the barrier is broken, it’s no different from an ordinary mantis.’

The fact that it slows down temporarily and its barrier weakens when paralyzed.

That was the Armored Mantis’s second weakness.

Of course, when its movement returns, its barrier becomes solid again.

Therefore, when attacking it, you need to weaken it with lightning magic and then immediately strike.

You have to stubbornly hit it even if it seems to take no damage.

‘But it would take a long time to hit without lightning magic.’

Most hunters struggle because they don’t know that lightning magic is key.

Kiririk!

Min Do-jun brushed past the boss as it charged swinging its remaining foreleg.

Jurureuk-

The Armored Mantis’s belly split open and its innards spilled out.

Ki- Kiru-!

Seogek-

The head of the Armored Mantis, which was about to scream, flew into the air.

Tuk-

And the desired notification appeared.

[You have defeated the Armored Mantis!]

[A sealed emerald ring has dropped.]