Chapter 2

Alone with S-Rank Summoner Chapter 2

Obtaining an S-Rank Summoner

"Krrr. Impressive, to push me, Demolition, to this extent."

A bloody battle fought using his comrades as stepping stones.

The Master had poured all his strength into the final battle with the creature for about a month.

However, the result was...

'Dreadful.'

The two A-rank summoners he possessed had been annihilated, and only Phoenix continued to make weak flapping motions.

Indeed, the creature was strong.

Terrifyingly resilient.

'Is this truly an S-rank monster?'

No matter how skilled a Summoner Master he was, he couldn't overcome the overwhelming gap in power.

"Keh!"

Suddenly, a deep red blood spurted from the corner of his mouth.

The internal damage caused by the destruction of his summoners had already taken its toll.

'...Yuria. Jeffrey.'

Jin Doyun turned his pale face to look behind him.

His comrades, who had fallen to the creature's skills, were already frozen solid along with their summoners.

Yuria had turned to stone, and Jeffrey to ice.

'Is this the result of 100 years of relentless effort?'

A sense of futility escaped in a sigh.

He felt guilty towards his comrades who had risked their lives.

For failing to meet their expectations.

"......"

He turned his gaze back to the front.

The massive dragon before him.

The creature's body was covered in large wounds, burns, and yellowish pus.

The marks of a fierce battle.

"Good fight."

Jin Doyun muttered.

He had to acknowledge it.

Hatred towards the monster in front of him?

He had none.

In fact, he was exhausted.

A journey of 100 years.

It was a remarkable feat of willpower to have endured this long.

"You too..."

Demolition, who had been quietly observing the Master, smiled.

"A rare opponent I enjoyed."

"Keh, damn. I enjoyed it too."

Thud!

He knelt down.

His entire body ached, and his consciousness was gradually fading.

"Keeeee."

Phoenix approached and enveloped its master.

Its mournful cries seemed to lament its master's defeat.

Sssss-

The sound of a flame extinguishing.

Phoenix, too, seemed to be at the end of its life, its flames weakening.

Even the bird that never dies had been pushed to its limits by Demolition.

He reached out and gently embraced Phoenix.

"Sorry, Phoenix. And Ellaim, Deathknight. For meeting such a poor master."

Keeeee...

Feathers scattered into the air, accompanied by sparks from his eyes.

Thus, the bird that had protected its master for 100 years slowly faded away.

"Alright, finish me off. I want to rest now."

With all his summoners dead, there was nothing the Master could do.

Nothing but sit and wait for death.

"Very well. It was somewhat entertaining, human."

Demolition did not refuse.

He lifted his heavy foot and extended his sharp claws.

Just as he was about to end his life with blood, something happened.

"Hmm...?"

The Master raised his head at the sound in his ear.

Come to think of it, his sensitivity had increased when Ellaim and Deathknight died.

"......This?"

Jin Doyun's pupils dilated slightly.

An S-rank, unknown to humanity.

Could he tame it?

"Kkkk."

A hollow laugh escaped Jin Doyun's lips.

Jin Doyun, who had the highest sensitivity in human history.

Before entering the labyrinth, his sensitivity was 130.

After 100 years of fighting and growth, it had finally reached 200.

And here was the secret of the S-rank monster.

'If only I had done this sooner.'

Would it have made a difference?

Could he have saved his comrades?

Jin Doyun shook his head.

Their sacrifices were necessary to bring the creature to a 'weakened' state.

'The probability is 30%.'

He closed his eyes gently.

A life he was already prepared to give up.

Whether he succeeded or failed, he had no regrets.

"Yes."

So he took a bold step.

There was no other option.

Whoosh!

Energy swirled around him.

The sticky aura emanating from the Master began to envelop the Destroyer Dragon.

"......What is this?"

Demolition's face turned to one of confusion as he was about to strike with his claws.

And then—

The massive dragon disappeared in a flash of light.

"Kkkk, damn, life."

Soon, a powerful aura began to settle in Jin Doyun's heart.

The aura of Demolition.

"An S-rank summoner obtained through the sacrifice of my comrades."

It was disheartening.

He felt no joy.

"Cough, cough!"

Despite taming the creature, his physical condition was dire.

His bones were shattered, and his muscles torn.

As he released his strength and fell backward.

Boom!

The labyrinth shook.

And messages began to flood his mind.

'Huh?'

In his fading vision, Jin Doyun clearly read the information.

Three survivors remained.

That meant...

'His comrades were still alive...?'

But he could no longer continue his thoughts.

He could no longer endure, mentally or physically.

Crash!

Thus, he lost consciousness as he gazed at the falling rocks.

* * *

A mountain on the outskirts of Seoul.

On a wide slope, a large mantis-like monster was roaring.

"Quick, fall back!"

A woman urgently gestured for the summoners to retreat.

"Guild Master? If we do that, the fields here will...?"

"Get a grip! That's a B-rank monster, the Great Mantis!"

"Why is a B-rank monster here?"

"We don't have time! If you want to live, follow the orders!"

"Damn! Where should we retreat to?"

"Find a place to hide at the back! We can't handle this on our own!"

The woman, who appeared to be the guild master, was controlling about ten members.

Despite having many summoners, the urgency in her actions revealed the dire situation.

Swoosh! Crunch!

"Kyaah!"

A blood-curdling scream echoed through the air.

The mantis monster was extremely ferocious.

It swung its front claws indiscriminately, slicing through both humans and summoners.

"No way. A B-rank monster...?"

"Only large guilds can handle such a creature!"

The summoners were dying quickly.

Grinding her teeth,

She felt a mix of anger and sorrow.

Three years of hard work were wiped out in an instant.

Her comrades, with whom she had built strong bonds, were cut down without a chance to fight back.

'They said they would conduct a preliminary investigation.'

When the request first came in, it was about D-rank monsters that had escaped from a dungeon.

They had checked and rechecked, ensuring safety.

So it was understandable that she felt wronged.

The Great Mantis had indeed appeared suddenly.

Sometimes, unexpected situations arise when you're unprepared.

She could only think she was unlucky.

"There's a cave here!"

Someone shouted.

"Let's take refuge there! Everyone, reverse summon your summoners!"

They had to survive, at least those who were left.

She shouted again, urging the members at the back to flee.

* * *

Inside the cave.

"Phew."

A deep sigh escaped from someone.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The Great Mantis was still rampaging outside, its wings flapping furiously.

Fortunately, the creature was too large to enter the deeper parts of the cave.

"Is this all that's left?"

The guild master of 'Fengyun,' Lee Hye-yeon, asked in a sorrowful voice.

"Including the guild master, just three of us... survived. This is... terrible."

Lee Chung-soo, a muscular man setting up defenses, replied bitterly.

"......It's all my fault. I should have investigated more thoroughly."

"What are you talking about? This was an accident."

"Still..."

"Even if you feel that way, now is not the time for self-blame. We need to think about how to get out of here."

"......"

Lee Hye-yeon nodded quietly at Lee Chung-soo's words.

He was right.

There was no point in dwelling on what had already happened.

"Any mistakes are all that damn guy's fault."

The man suddenly cursed someone.

"If that guy hadn't spread the false rumor that the source of the monsters was in the final labyrinth... ."

June 2020.

It had been five and a half years since the three heroes entered the final labyrinth.

The labyrinth collapsed exactly five years after they entered.

People rejoiced.

The collapse of the dungeon meant it had been cleared.

They cheered with raised hands, relieved that they no longer had to fight.

However, people soon fell into despair again.

The heroes did not return.

The dungeons and monsters scattered around the world did not disappear.

The one who spread the rumor vanished without a trace.

"......Damn."

In the end, nothing had changed for humanity.

They had to keep fighting, just as they had before.

And they had to do so without the legendary genius, the Summoner Master.

"Guild Master!"

Suddenly, a member searching the cave interior shouted.

"What is it?"

Lee Hye-yeon and the muscular man quickly readied themselves.

They drew their summoners, showing their battle-hardened experience.

"Th, there's a person lying here."

The bewildered member emerged from the darkness.

Lee Hye-yeon and Lee Chung-soo looked at each other.

"A person?"

"A person in such a remote area?"

Their expressions were filled with confusion.