Chapter 17

Give back as much as you receive.

"......"

Kang Jaeho stared ahead with a blank expression.

Unbelievable.

The two powerful members of the Shadow Breaker running away at the mere mention of 'Kisoyul'.

"Ugh..."

His Stomach hurt.

His skin was swollen.

A skeleton with a Sword stood in front of him.

Was it called bone 1?

It felt like a fracture in the area where that damn bone kicked.

"Damn it."

Tsk.

Kang Jaeho, who cursed, also spat out dark red blood.

Then he thought.

'How did it end up like this?'

It was definitely a plan without variables.

Even if he cleared an extraordinary dungeon, he was still just a Grade E mercenary.

However, on his side, there were two Grade A Hunter and five Grade D or higher Hunter.

But.

'Impossible.'

He faced all five of us alone.

That's right.

To be honest, it went wrong from then on.

"Hehehe."

Laughter burst out.

Reluctantly, he had to admit it. 

He was wrong in his judgment. 

He underestimated a hunter named Joo Dong hoon. 

He trusted the criminal organization known as the Shadow Breaker too much. 

What made it even more miserable for him was the fact that even after five minutes had passed since the the brother ran away, there was still no sign of Kisoyul.

'I got what I deserved.'

He acknowledged it cleanly. 

His own mistakes and shortcomings. 

That's why he assessed the situation even more objectively. 

As long as his life remain, the fight wasn't over.

'For now, if I face that guy head-on, I'm bound to lose.'

Certainly, Joo Dong hoon was strong. 

He seemed to absorb the power of the mysterious 'reward' faster than he expected.

'But he does have a foolish sense of justice.'

He definitely reacted to the Grade F porter. 

When he pressured the porter, he stepped forward without a word. 

Innocence that Still untainted by this rotting society, 

Kang Jaeho blinked and shouted.

"What are you all doing? Move!!!! send those damn skeletons back to their graves!"

"But! ,The skeletons are too powerful!"

Someone retorted. 

Kang Jaeho was dumbfounded.

"Quiet! Are you just going to stand there and die quietly? If you want to live, move! Otherwise, I'll personally send you to your graves!"

"Ah, understood!"

"There's no choice! Let's keep fighting!"

They were hunters whose minds and bodies were exhausted by the overwhelming power difference, but they didn't give up. 

They realized.

If they gave up here, they would die.

'And I'll take advantage in the chaos.'

The corners of Kang Jaeho's mouth lifted slightly. 

In his sight were the two porter siblings standing haphazardly.

'Take them as hostages.'

The only means of escape for the terrorist whose life was at stake. 

Kang Jaeho contemplated staging a hostage situation.

* * *

"Oh.., they're really struggling."

I controlled the skeleton and looked ahead. 

Swung! Swish! Swish!

The strikes from Kang Jaeho's group rained down on the five skeleton. 

Their attacks were desperate. 

They clearly put their all into it, and each strike was filled with murderous intent. 

They must be fighting for their lives.

"......"

It was bitter. 

Why can't humans cooperate instead of devouring each other?

A 'hunter' appearance. 

it's the tragedy of this era, that is directly revealed as humans have gained a more primal 'power'.

It was pitiful. 

Just ten years ago, it seemed so peaceful...

Or not.

Was the world originally rotten? 

Now that I think about it, even back then.

there were people making a living off of others' lives... 

Anyway.

"Bone 1."

I called out to Bone 1. 

Creak! 

He nodded his head instead of answering. 

Truthfully, I've been aware since earlier. 

Where Kang Jaeho's gaze directed. 

What kind of idea he's brewing. 

It's really pitiful.

With five of my troops, can a hostage situation really work?

"Deal with it."

Thud!

Bone 1 raised his foot and blocked Kang Jaeho path, simultaneously swinging indiscriminately towards him.

"Whoa?"

Kang Jaeho raised his arm reflexively in alarm. 

It was an unconscious defense. 

Splat! 

The guy's arm was cut off, and a massive amount of blood spilled onto the ground.

"Aaaarrghhh!"

He was shaking and screaming

I look at with emotionless face

Sympathy?

There's no way i Will give him something like that.

This guy was clearly trying to kill me.

So, he have to pay the price.

What if i was weak?

What if i didn't meet the old man or wasn't awakened?

Will they spare me?

'impossible'

This is just a self defense.

'and the same goes for them.'

I give the command toward the skeleton.

['Bone 5' Uses the skill, Fire ball(LV.1).]

Swoosh!

Bone 5 summoned a fire ball again.

I still have enough energy.

"Dodge it!"

"Don't block it!, Get as far as possible!"

"W-what about the party leader?"

"Who cares? For now Find a way to survive!"

'really...'

A sudden emotion filled me.

I can't belive the day Will come when 5 strong Hunter can't do anything in front of my skeleton.

"Shall we finish this soon?"

With precision, the skeletons followed my commands, striking with calculated force. 

Bone 2 pierced the spear, Bone 3 shoot an Arrow, and Bone 4 uses His Shield to do a body slam .

"Aaaaah!"

"Ughhh!"

The hunters, who kept their distance, couldn't withstand the concentrated assault from my skeletons. 

Bone 2 spear was relentless, while Bone 3 arrows were precise.

"It hurts! It hurts!"

"Damn it!"

One by one, they suffered fatal wounds, and collapsed while clutching their injured areas.

The battle came to an end.

Swoosh!

Simultaneously, Bone 1 swept his sword aside and walked towards the hunters.

 They trembled at Bone 1 fierce gaze.

"No, please don't!"

"Spare us! We were wrong! It was all ordered by Kang Jaeho!"

"Look, let's think this through again! Don't we share a bond as fellow dungeon survivors?"

The hunters yelled various pleas and excuses towards me, but my expression remained unchanged.

'If they were originally good people, they wouldn't have joined the Shadow Breaker in the first place.'

Whooong!

Bone 1 swung his sword resolutely. 

Splat! Thud!

Two hunters with their throats slashed, fell lifeless. 

They were done for.

"Gasp, urgh?"

The remaining hunters retreated, blood dripping as they stepped back. 

However, Bone 1 advance was ruthless.

Fwoosh!

"Sto-stop!"

The blade gently pierced a hunter's chest, impaling his heart like a skewer. 

He shivered, feeling the cold touch of the iron throughout his body.

"Ah, ahh... ahhuh!"

His expression was filled with tremendous pain.

Splat!

Bone 1 withdrew the blade, bestowing upon him the blessing of death.

"Are there only two left?" 

I murmured slowly. 

There were five at first, but now three has been slain, leaving only two.

"You damn bastard!"

At that moment, Kang Jaeho rose with his remaining arm, holding his sword aloft.

"You thought I'd just take it lying down?"

With all his might, he charged towards the porter.

But...

Splat!

As if anticipating it, Bone 1 greatsword swept past Kang Jaeho's leg.

"Kyaaahrghh!"

He tumbled, his legs now apart from his body. 

He writhed in agony, tears streaming down his face.

"You son of a bitch. Why! Why!... did you have to appear in front of me!"

Step by step, I slowly approached him.

Then, I seized his remaining arm.

"What do you mean? You're the one who showed up in front of me."

"Grraah!"

To my straightforward response, Kang Jaeho could only groan and couldn't muster a reply. 

There was nothing he could say. 

He revealed his intentions first and ended up receiving a blow for it.

"You damn bastard! Stop the nonsense. Just... kill me!"

"Kill you?"

I shook my head.

"Sorry, but you won't die so easily."

"What?"

"Even if you die, shouldn't you face the consequences of your actions?"

Squirm, squirm.

I dragged Kang Jaeho's arm.

"This... this bastard?"

Kang Jaeho's eyes widened. 

He understood my intentions.

[To unseal the Ancient Desert Scorpion King, a sacrifice must be made.]

[Place the offering on the two inscribed magic circles.]

[The offering must be a living hunter of Grade F or higher.]

That's right. 

I intended to use him as an offering for the dungeon. 

just as they had planned to do with the porter.

"Hehehe, you seem to understand the pleasures of killing two birds with one stone. It seems there's no need for a separate moral lesson."

The old man, who had been watching from the sidelines, laughed casually.

With a satisfied smile, he seemed very pleased with my judgment.

'Indeed, I must be certain, sir.'

"Well, well! Excellent!"

Ignoring the old man's praise, I continued to drag Kang Jaeho along.

"This crazy bastard! Just kill me! Kill me!"

"Stop making a fuss. Who would like that?"

Thud!

As I raised Kang Jaeho, light illuminated the markings on the altar.

"Ugh, ugh!"

Bone 1 lifted the remaining one onto the altar as well.

[The offering has been placed.]

[Evaluating the conditions.]

I felt conflicted.

Normally, when a dungeon of this kind appeared, I would not have cleared it and would have retreated.

The notion that a sacrifice was necessary to obtain a reward didn't sit well with me.

"But..."

To become a Ranker, I needed to set clear standards.

And the standard I set was simple and clear.

"Give back as much as you receive."

If I receive kindness, I must repay it. 

If I hold a grudge, I must seek revenge. 

If someone threatens my life, I will take theirs in return. 

It may be difficult, but to become a Ranker, I must bear this weight.

[Condition satisfied.]

[The long-sealed seal is released!]

A brilliant white column of light erupted from the two altars. 

In response, the offerings vanished without a trace.

"Bye bye. If you have a next life, be sure to live virtuously."

It was the End of a criminal who had forced someone into sacrifice. 

I wiped the blood from my hands.

"Come to think of it..."

A question arose in my mind. 

Why hasn't the Kisoyul up yet? They had clearly shouted.

"The Kisoyul is here!" and fled.

In fact, I felt indebted to her once again. 

If it hadn't been for her, I would have had to fight the two A-ranks. 

I could have been the one on the altar, not them.

"Whew."

My mind was in turmoil. 

I had decided to explain about The reward, but I hadn't figured out how yet. 

The escaped Shadow Breaker was also a headache. 

It seemed i needed a protection.

but I didn't want to belong to any group either.

'As expected, having power means there's a lot to think about.'

As I put my hand in my pocket, I took a moment to loosen the stiff muscles in my neck.

Crack!

The ground shook at that moment.

"Aaaagh!"

"N-Necromancer-nim! It's over there!"

The sibling hunters shouted with their mouths wide open.

At the same time, a message popped up.

[Ding!]

[Stage: Ancient Desert Scorpion King]

[The Ancient Desert Scorpion King has been unsealed.]

[The anger of the Scorpion King, who was forced to sleep for a long time, pierces the sky.]

[Take care of the target.]

"Oh, right... That guy."

I'll think about it later. 

For now, I had to deal with the boss right in front of me.

Previous Chapter

Home

Next Chapter