Chapter 46
KURRRRRRRR!
A thunderous roar like a barrage of shells.
Shaaak! Shaaaaaak!
Severed tentacles scattered into the air.
Dozens of eyeballs covering the creature’s body burst one after another, spraying sticky fluid.
Thud.
The grotesque form of the High Watcher, unable to withstand the relentless sword strikes, crashed onto the ground.
“If you’re dead, then stay dead.”
Kicking the corpse aside, Yoon Se-ha swung her blade toward the next Watcher.
Her long, jet-black hair whipped in the air.
Her eyes were even deeper, darker than that.
Her face was cold and beautiful, like carved ice.
The Demon Sword, Yoon Se-ha.
She was the awakened being who was single-handedly clearing Room 4 of the Uijeongbu Dungeon.
SPLAAAASH!
She finally lowered her sword after slicing down the last Watcher in the area.
Sweat beaded across her forehead.
She was catching her breath, still ragged from the aftermath of battle, when—
“…!”
Her will meant nothing.
From deep within her, a dangerous sensation stirred.
‘So, I’m nearing my limit.’
Without hesitation, she turned on her heel and stepped into the heavy passageway.
Stone-turned beams rained down like arrows from Watchers hidden in the toxic mist.
Room 3 was still a mess.
Guild members coughed on the poison fog as they hid behind cover.
‘Hmph, and they call these clowns elites.’
Casting them a disdainful glance, Yoon Se-ha walked into the chaos as though she were strolling through her own living room.
She opened the steel door leading to Room 2—
“…?!”
And only then did she realize.
Compared to this, Room 3 had been paradise.
Guild members lay smashed and scattered.
At the center of it all stood a man, calm as ever.
“You’ve got to be kidding me…”
As Yoon Se-ha’s gaze turned icy, the surrounding air grew heavy with a faint chill.
“Did you all apply for the ‘Most Pathetic Guild Members of the Year Award’ or something?”
At her frosty voice, the guild members of Shingeom flinched to their feet.
“L-Lady Yoon Se-ha!”
“H-How did you come all the way here…?”
Though broken, bruised, and battered all over, they scrambled to straighten their backs and stammer out words.
The fact that <Shingeom> was one of Korea’s top three guilds was largely thanks to Yoon Se-ha. Everyone knew it.
But their trembling wasn’t just due to the difference in strength.
It was something deeper—instinctive awe, and fear.
“Explain. What happened here?”
“T-The thing is… that guy suddenly crossed the control line and then… uh, what happened after that?”
Not just Shingeom, but members of Myeolsuhoe and Heugya guilds wore dazed, haunted expressions.
“We couldn’t even follow his movements. One flash, and in the blink of an eye—”
“When we came to, everyone was already sprawled on the floor…”
Yoon Se-ha’s gaze shifted toward the cause of the commotion: the man standing in the center of the cavern.
“What the…”
As she focused her inner sight, a subtle tremor flickered across her eyes.
“…The Monster Hunter?”
“M-Monster Hunter?”
“Yes, Hyun Do-yoon. Don’t you even watch current affairs programs? How did you not recognize him sooner?”
“It… it was dark inside the cave…”
Yoon Se-ha’s lips tightened into a frown.
He was one of the most famous awakened in Korea.
And now, such a man was openly challenging the coalition of the top three guilds? For what reason?
Holding her doubts, she stepped toward Do-yoon.
“I heard you’ve been basically in seclusion since the Tunnel Vanishing incident.”
“Had personal matters to deal with.”
Do-yoon’s indifferent reply made her raise an eyebrow.
“And yet here you are, in a mess like this. Wouldn’t it be better to take it easy and stay hidden?”
“Phew… I’m satisfied now.”
“So you’re the type who doesn’t catch hints, huh?”
Her voice chilled over.
“The Uijeongbu Dungeon is ours. We’ll overlook this incident, so kindly leave.”
“Hm.”
Do-yoon turned to his companions.
“What do you think?”
“This is absurd!”
Seo Hye-jin burst out, unable to hold it in any longer.
“No one has the right to claim ownership over a dungeon! Awakened exist to cooperate for safety and order—”
“What a clueless little brat.”
Yoon Se-ha cut her off with a derisive snort.
“Save the naive talk for after you finish your milk, kid. The world we live in now doesn’t run on those fluffy ideals. The only truth is this: power is justice.”
“M-Milk? Kid?”
Seo Hye-jin froze like someone had hit pause.
Her jaw dropped at the nonsense.
“…Anyone can see I’m the older one here!”
Meanwhile, Cha Si-woo could barely keep from screaming.
‘T-The Demon Sword Yoon Se-ha! An S-rank…! And he’s the Monster Hunter too?! What the hell is going on?!’
His mind was ready to explode.
‘Why in the world is the Monster Hunter in a party with me?!’
Ignoring all that, Yoon Se-ha continued.
“We are strong. That is why we are one of the top three guilds. Therefore, we are entitled to take everything. The strong dominate the weak. That is the only rule in this chaotic world.”
“That’s nothing but an excuse for those who’ve abandoned morality!”
Seo Hye-jin’s anger burst out.
“True strength doesn’t trample the weak! Helping others and moving forward together—that’s the power that really matters!”
“Pathetic.”
Yoon Se-ha still sneered.
“And even if that were true, what’s wrong with it? The stronger the strong become, the more scraps of shelter the powerless will get under their umbrella.”
“Such twisted logic…!”
Just then, Do-yoon slowly spoke.
“And yet, all those so-called strong ones were wiped out by me. Guess you’re next?”
A blatant provocation.
Undeniable, open mockery.
“…You’re kind of interesting.”
Yoon Se-ha’s eyes turned colder than ever, silver light gleaming deep within them.
“Fine. If you defeat me, then I’ll hand over control of Room 2 to you.”
Claaang!
Before her words had even faded, her treasured sword, Hanwol (Cold Moon), flashed from her waist.
[‘Moonlight Phantom Swordsmanship (AAA)’ is activated.]
As she adjusted her grip, a silver-white aura flared from the blade.
It was a clear, cool glow, like condensed moonlight.
“Haaap!”
With a short cry, she swung.
Dozens of crescent-shaped sword auras streaked forward, alive and unpredictable, aiming for Do-yoon’s front and sides.
FWOOSH—!
Sharpness, speed, and unpredictability united into a flawless assault.
Before such sword energy, a human body was no more than paper.
To be cut was to be shredded instantly.
But Do-yoon showed no panic.
Klang! Klanng! Kagangagang!
He summoned his flame sword, carving red arcs in the air, deflecting only the real sword energy while letting the illusions pass harmlessly.
“…Not bad.”
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
But that was all.
Instead of dismay, her lips curved with the cruel smile of a predator who had found a toy.
“Then how about this?”
Her hand blurred as she swung Hanwol, even faster than before.
The crescents multiplied wildly—two, four, a dozen, dozens—until the air was filled with shards of moonlight, surrounding Do-yoon.
KWOooooosh—!
A raging storm of moonlight threatened to swallow him whole.
From every direction it poured in.
No one could tell which were real and which were fake.
It was so dazzling, it made the eyes spin.
BOOOOM!
CRAAASH!
Walls and floor of the cavern were ripped and shredded, debris flying everywhere.
Seo Hye-jin gasped, chills crawling up her spine.
“…S-She won’t lose, will she?”
“I hope with all my heart for Mr. Hyun Do-yoon’s victory…”
Cha Si-woo licked his dry lips.
“But remember, the Monster Hunter earned his fame for being the first to subjugate a monster. Demon Sword Yoon Se-ha, though, is in the absolute top tier for pure combat ability. Do you know his rank?”
Seo Hye-jin’s mouth went dry.
“I heard… AAA-rank.”
“Then the answer is obvious. AAA cannot beat S-rank. It’s not just one rank apart—it’s an insurmountable wall of quality.”
As Cha Si-woo said, it looked like Do-yoon would be swept away by the storm any second.
Even a single slip would see him torn apart.
Yet he endured inside that maelstrom for one reason.
‘Wait… he’s reading all of the real and fake strikes?’
For the first time, Yoon Se-ha’s brow furrowed.
‘Impossible.’
But it was possible.
Because Do-yoon had the [Great Library of Memory].
<“Guidebook to Moonlight Phantom Swordsmanship: 108 Patterns and Their Counters” – by Demon Sword Yoon Se-ha>
Every variation, every weakness—even blind spots she herself had yet to realize.
He had peeked, and now it was all laid bare before him.
If one could see through the illusions and endless changes…
‘…There’s nothing easier to deal with than phantom swords.’
Swaaaash!
His flame sword pierced the storm, grazing dangerously close to Yoon Se-ha’s chest.
Sniip—
Her clothes tore, fluttering like a butterfly.
‘I’m… being pushed? By some rookie?’
Flames of anger sparked in her eyes.
From her grip, a crimson aura began to seep out like mist.
A dreadful energy cloaked the blade.
Shapes of twisted souls rose from the sword like heat haze.
Cha Si-woo groaned.
“The Demon Sword…!”
CLAAAAANG!
The flame sword and Hanwol clashed fiercely.
For the first time in this battle, their blades truly collided.
The ghostly aura around her sword was on another level.
KYAAAAAAHHHH!
Each swing of Hanwol was accompanied by ghostly wails.
The sword itself screamed like a vengeful spirit.
The crimson sword aura wasn’t just energy.
It was a concentration of resentment and murderous will.
It corroded Do-yoon’s transformed flame sword, slowly eating it away.
Zzzziiing!
Even his sharp sword rings faltered.
Ssssssh—
Even the radial sword aura he unleashed—
CRACKLEEEE—
It all melted away helplessly.
Amid the one-sided clash—
“…!”
Cha Si-woo suddenly felt Do-yoon’s eyes on him.
That look seemed to ask: “Do you still think your judgment was right?”
A startling realization flashed in Si-woo’s mind.
‘…Could the Monster Hunter actually defeat the Demon Sword?’
If Do-yoon used full equipment and even black mana, defeating her wouldn’t be too hard.
But strangely, now, he wanted to fight her with nothing but the sword.
To test his limits in this pure clash of blades.
To grasp a new possibility.
Then—
SLASH!
Her sword sliced across his shoulder, faster than human reflexes.
“Khk!”
He checked his status screen in a fleeting glance.
[‘Qi’ 18 → 20]
[75,000P will be consumed. Strengthen ability? Y/N]
‘Strengthen.’
The more cornered he became, the sharper his Wave Perception grew.
Her intent, the shift in currents, the flow of her assault—it all became crystal clear.
“You’ve lasted long enough. But this is the end.”
FWOOOM!
Her aura exploded, crimson energy peaking as pure destructive force poured down on him.
[Critical danger detected!]
[‘Limit Break (Beyond Rank)’ is activated.]
[All stats +1]
Do-yoon raised his head.
His eyes glowed with sharpened sword will.
[Heavenly Fortune Sword Arts (Legendary)]
└ [Fourth Move: Severing Clouds]
This strike did not merely cut flesh and bone.
It cut the very universe that was Demon Sword Yoon Se-ha.
The world of phantom blades and deadly aura she created.
He traced every line, every vein in that world—
And severed them mercilessly.
SLAASSSH—!
‘…The true beginning of Heavenly Fortune.’
[‘Heavenly Fortune Sword Arts – 5 Stars’ achieved!]
For a moment, Yoon Se-ha froze.
Shock and sheer terror filled her eyes, as if something fundamental and precious had been severed.
“Khk…”
Blood trickled from her lips.
She staggered and collapsed to the ground.
“Lady Yoon Se-ha!”
“Are you all right?!”
“You bastard, Hyun Do-yoon…!”
The horrified Shingeom members raised their weapons to rush him.
But Yoon Se-ha weakly lifted her hand, waving them back.
“…I lost. Hyun Do-yoon.”
Her exhausted voice followed, drained of all strength.
“I’m… hungry…”
The strange sensation that had stirred back in Room 4 was nothing but the onset of ravenous hunger.
Now, with even her last ounce of energy spent, she felt like an empty shell.
“…I can’t fight anymore. I need… something to eat…”
