Chapter 55: The Reincarnated One Does It All

Bang!

Ryu Eun-ha landed on the ground along with the shattered rocks and quickly surveyed her surroundings.

The cave was hemispherical, about 500 meters wide and 100 meters high from the center where they had entered. The carved-out appearance suggested a significant artificial element.

'The marks look like they were made by something sharp. Judging by the shape, it’s highly likely they were created using claws.'

After gathering all the basic information, Ryu Eun-ha glanced down at Lee Se-hoon, who was in her arms, and spoke quietly.

"It seems like a dungeon artificially created by a beast-type monster. There are no signs of corruption by mana, and considering the D-level danger rating of Eunwolsan, it’s likely a C-level monster, but…"

Ryu Eun-ha, who had been scrutinizing the dark cave, muttered softly.

"Considering that it wasn’t discovered during the preliminary investigation, there’s a possibility it’s A-level or higher."

Eunwolsan was one of the candidate sites for the upcoming first-year extermination class, and professors had been regularly visiting and inspecting it.

Yet, a dungeon of this scale had never been discovered? It couldn’t be an ordinary dungeon.

'I couldn’t figure it out until Lee Se-hoon pointed it out. We can’t underestimate it.'

For a moment, she wondered how Lee Se-hoon had identified this place so quickly, but now she needed to focus.

Ryu Eun-ha was contemplating whether to continue the investigation or retreat when Lee Se-hoon, who was in her arms, looked into the darkness.

Rustle—

As soon as he spoke, the surrounding darkness rippled, and giant beasts emerged from within.

They were black wolves, about 2 meters tall, with unfocused red eyes. A sticky, black substance continuously dripped from their bodies, seeping into the ground.

Seeing the wolves, which were clearly not ordinary, Ryu Eun-ha narrowed her eyes.

"They’re undead. They seem to be at least B-level."

Even one of these wolves could turn Eunwolsan into a sea of blood. Over 200 of these monsters had surrounded them.

Grr—

The wolves bared their teeth, showing hostility.

The murderous intent emitted by hundreds of B-level monsters was like a weapon in itself, but the two people surrounded by them showed no change in expression.

"It seems they’ve all come out."

It didn’t matter how many came out.

"Stay focused; they’ll stick to you."

She trusted the other person’s strength.

Rumble—

A heavy rumbling sound echoed from within Ryu Eun-ha’s body. The blood she had absorbed from the weapons she had consumed surged through her body, amplifying her mana several times over.

Pushing all the mana into her right leg, Ryu Eun-ha slowly scraped her right foot against the ground.

Crack—

The rock was easily broken, as if digging through soil.

Pulling her right foot back in a half-circle, Ryu Eun-ha crouched slightly and looked at the wolves surrounding her.

Swish—

As she kicked the ground, a red line swept through the cave.

Ryu Eun-ha landed as if nothing had happened, and a heavy silence fell over the cave.

"Ugh…"

Just as Lee Se-hoon, who was in her arms, covered his mouth with a queasy expression,

Thud—

The hundreds of wolves surrounding them were suddenly cut in half and began to burn.

Sizzle—

The red flames burned gently, gradually consuming the bodies of the wolves. Lee Se-hoon, who had been feeling queasy, smiled as he calmed his stomach.

'This is what an S-rank hero should be like.'

For the heroes operating in Eunwolsan, B-level monsters would be a disaster, but for an S-rank hero like Ryu Eun-ha, they were not much different from D-level monsters like the silver wolves.

Seeing Ryu Eun-ha clear the dungeon with a single roundhouse kick, Lee Se-hoon confirmed that his choice was right and spoke.

"Head of the department, can you put me down now?"

"It’s still dangerous; the investigation isn’t over yet…"

"We can’t investigate in this state. And my stomach is queasy."

After glancing around, Ryu Eun-ha nodded.

"Alright. But don’t stray from me."

Lee Se-hoon, who had been put down, steadied himself and carefully examined the cave.

'According to the interview before the regression, after defeating the monsters, Wergen Kruger’s item suddenly appeared.'

Since no other monsters had appeared besides these undead wolves, this was likely the end.

However, as he examined the interior, a doubt arose.

'Can such a place be created by just one item?'

Lee Se-hun remembered this interview among countless incidents because of this doubt.

Wergen Kruger’s lost item, a dungeon hidden in a D-level danger zone.

Individually, they might not be significant, but together, they were too unusual to be ordinary.

'Before the regression, there was no special story, but that’s impossible.'

No matter how extraordinary Wergen Kruger’s item was, it couldn’t have the ability to create such a secret place.

Especially if the item was what he knew, it would be even more impossible.

'Who could it be?'

Who had the purpose to use Wergen Kruger’s item to create such a dungeon? As he pondered this, Lee Se-hoon examined the cave again.

Sizzle—

The shape of the cave, which was not visible at first, became clearer due to the flames burning the wolves.

The walls looked like they had been dug out by beasts. While Ryu Eun-ha couldn’t determine more, Lee Se-hoon saw a hidden 'path' within.

'Camouflage to blend with the surroundings, a mana-absorbing array, and this damp, natural-looking form that makes it seem like it was formed naturally…'

A structure different from the known technologies. Recognizing the familiar structure, Lee Se-hoon realized who had created the cave.

'The 'Shedders'…'

Madmen who researched the evolution of monsters through all sorts of bizarre methods, and a group within the Observers, like the 'Dawn' that had approached Louise.

Recalling the past enmity before the regression, Lee Se-hoon’s eyes narrowed.

Rustle—

A silver werewolf emerged from the shadow in front of him.

Whoosh—

The moment their eyes met, a giant claw slashed through the air.

The action, which took less than a second, was captured by his accelerated thoughts, but that was the end of it.

'Too fast.'

At least A-level in speed. A three-level difference in rank, but the gap was so overwhelming that it was impossible to even touch him with ordinary methods.

As Lee Se-hoon was trying to figure out a response to the approaching claw,

Bang—

A red afterimage brushed past his face.

Boom—

The werewolf’s body was slammed into the cave wall, and Ryu Eun-ha, who had reached it, clenched her fists and swung them mercilessly.

Thud, thud, thud, thud—

The werewolf’s entire body was completely shattered by the continuous red strikes. Apart from the limbs, there was no form left, only bloodstains. Even with the body gone, the werewolf seemed dead, but Ryu Eun-ha didn’t stop.

'I need to eliminate it completely.'

Given that it had appeared after hiding perfectly, it clearly had a hidden move. Just as Ryu Eun-ha was about to crush the remaining limbs,

Screech—

The blood in her body exposed the ground, and a braking sound echoed, stiffening her entire body. The unexpected appearance of the enemy created an opening.

At that moment, the werewolf’s index finger, which had been lying still, pointed at Ryu Eun-ha and, beyond her, at Lee Se-hoon.

"Feel… this…"

A black shadow shot out from the tip.

A form that couldn’t be guessed. Reacting instinctively, Ryu Eun-ha moved her body.

Swish—

The black shadow penetrated her chest and formed a black hole. A thin line appeared at the center and slowly widened, turning into an eye.

Whoosh!

Ryu Eun-ha’s body disappeared from the cave.

The cave, which had been filled with noise, suddenly became quiet, and a sticky sound emerged from the blood-stained remains.

Crack, crack, crack—

Limbs and a head regrew from the arms and legs, restoring the original form. The werewolf, who had completed regeneration as if rewinding time, muttered in a trembling voice.

"To be 90% destroyed in less than a second… Is this a monster close to perfection…?"

At first, he was extremely frustrated that his remaining evolution was interrupted, but now, knowing his opponent, he felt lucky to have survived.

If not for the 'item' implanted in his body and the idiot standing there, he wouldn’t have survived.

'But I can’t relax yet.'

He had successfully sealed the monster, but only temporarily. It would break free and chase him soon.

'So I need to create shackles to prevent it from chasing me.'

Recalling his plan, the werewolf looked at the standing Lee Se-hoon. Whipping his dying body, he kicked the ground.

Whoosh—

He rushed to Lee Se-hoon and struck his abdomen with all his strength.

Boom!!!

Lee Se-hoon, who couldn’t even counterattack, was slammed into the wall. Seeing his slumped form, the werewolf muttered in a low voice.

"Be grateful to that monster. Thanks to it, you survived."

The short battle revealed that the monster cared for the idiot. If he inflicted serious injuries, the monster wouldn’t chase him to treat the injuries.

Just as the werewolf, who had completed the final shackle, was about to leave the cave,

"I remember."

Lee Se-hoon, who had emerged from the wall, muttered.

"S-rank monster Tamwol (貪月) Polmont… Yes, that’s right."

He hadn’t seen it directly, but he remembered it from the list of monsters created by the 'Shedders'.

A monster that could regenerate perfectly from a single hair through moonlight-infused mana. Although it wasn’t in its completed state, the basic structure was similar.

"…You. How are you not injured at all?"

Seeing Lee Se-hoon standing up, Polmont looked at him in disbelief.

He had controlled his strength to avoid killing him, but there wasn’t even a small scratch? Confused by the unexpected state, Polmont’s eyes widened.

Rumble—

A low rumbling echoed through the cave.

Not the rocks, but the 'space' itself was shaking. Polmont’s eyes widened in shock.

'What a crazy monster…!'

How could it break free so quickly after being sealed?

Realizing he didn’t have much time, Polmont, without hesitation, charged at Lee Se-hoon again.

Boom!

Lee Se-hoon, who had just stood up, was slammed into the ground again, and Polmont swung his fists with all his might.

Crash!

Although his strength was depleted from regeneration, he was still at least B-level. The blow was far beyond what a C-level, or even a borderline C-level, could withstand.

"Ugh…!"

No matter how hard he hit, there was no sign of injury, and Lee Se-hoon even managed to stabilize his stance and withstand the attack.

A strange sensation, as if hitting something else. Confused by this, Polmont’s eyes suddenly darted around.

Crack!

The cave wall, which was unusually shattered, caught his eye.

Bang!

A sudden strike while Polmont was distracted. The opportunity was perfect, but due to the difference in physical abilities, it only grazed his chest.

"Tsk… Attacks don’t work, huh?"

As Lee Se-hoon regretted the result, Polmont, looking at his regenerating chest, narrowed his eyes.

"That armor. It can dissipate the impact into shadows, can’t it?"

The wall behind him, shattered as if he had been hit. Realizing he had been toyed with, Polmont’s murderous intent flared up.

To be deceived by just an armor.

"You brought this upon yourself."

Baring his teeth and raising his fur, Polmont’s appearance was completely different from before. Lee Se-hoon smirked.

"Scared and running away, yet still putting on a show—!"

Boom!!!

Before he could finish, Lee Se-hoon’s body was slammed into the wall again.

Seeing the attack deflected again, Polmont’s eyes gleamed as he spread his hands wide.

Rip!

Giant claws emerged from his fingertips, ten claws that shone eerily in silver.

Crash!

The shadow matter armor surrounding Lee Se-hoon’s body was mercilessly slashed.

Continuous slashes, leaving afterimages. Instead of punching, he was cutting with his claws, but the power was on a different level.

Crash!

The surrounding walls and floor were instantly shredded like rags, and sparks flew from the armor.

Punches were easier to deflect due to the larger contact area, but the concentrated slashes were more difficult.

Crack!

The shadow matter armor, which had been deflecting Polmont’s attacks, began to chip away, unable to dissipate all the impact.

And as the continuous slashes finally cut through the thin armor,

Squish!

Blood seeped out as the claws grazed him.

A shallow scratch, barely touching the skin. But the difference between an attack that didn’t connect at all and one that did, even slightly, was significant.

"Did you think you could match me with just a piece of scrap metal?!"

Crash!

The shadow matter armor could change shape but couldn’t recover its durability.

Even as it filled in the broken areas, it was gradually breaking down. This was evident as the repair speed slowed.

Crack!

Finally, it reached its limit.

The shoulder armor, unable to withstand the slashes, broke. The injury wasn’t deep due to the shoulder pad, but the mana circuit was damaged, and it couldn’t repair as quickly as before.

"I’ll just cut off your slow, useless hand!"

The exposed gap in Lee Se-hoon’s right shoulder. Polmont’s claws swung at it with terrifying force.

'It’s not me who broke it.'

Crack—

The chest armor of the shadow matter armor distorted without any warning.

Crack!

The sound was not of flesh and bone being cut but of metal being scraped. Confused by the unexpected situation, Polmont’s eyes widened, forgetting he was in battle.

'What…'

Why did the attack, which was aimed precisely at the shoulder, narrowly miss the chest armor? Polmont quickly found the answer.

Click—

The idiot in front of him had reacted to his attack and dodged.

Bang!

The multicolored flame slash that erupted from his waist. It was the same attack as before, and Polmont instinctively dodged, but the result was disastrous.

Sizzle—

"Ugh…?!"

The slash, which had only grazed him, now penetrated deep into his chest, burning his insides. Surprised by the unexpected pain, Polmont, who had been thrown back, clutched his chest and looked at Lee Se-hoon in confusion.

"Huff…"

Lee Se-hoon, holding the multicolored flame sword, caught his breath.

The shadow matter armor was completely broken and no longer repaired, and his body was cut and bleeding in many places.

He was in a state where there was no intact part, but he looked like he could be killed at any moment, yet his body didn’t move.

'I’m… tense…?'

To be tense by an idiot who would have been killed easily in a normal state.

As Polmont froze in disbelief,

"Is it over now?"

Lee Se-hoon, who had relaxed his body, which had become lighter, smiled.

"Then I’ll go."