Chapter 36: The Demons' Maze (3)
Chapter 36: The Demons' Maze (3)
For Seraphina, Hunter's move was more significant than his victory over her.
It was just more meaningful in many fields...
After all, he didn't cower in the presence of the monster: a type of monster she would need preparation and days to hunt. He seized all the best opportunities and sacrificed his leg to give her a chance to hunt the brown lizard down.
In fact, that move to bring the monster down to expose the tail was so astute and keen that Seraphina had already looked at Hunter differently from all other men. Perhaps it could have been just a coincidence that Hunter had gone up to force the lizard down... but Seraphina had an inkling that Hunter had seen through her intent.
In this atmosphere and perilous circumstances, it was more than extraordinary to be so cool-headed to see through her intention.
In a different way than Aimee, Seraphina learned about Hunter's best quality — adaptation.
She rushed to the dead monster and used one of her remarkable skills — Size Adjustment.
Her mana invisibly rippled across the lizard's steel armor for a long minute, and then the entire equipment shrank to the size of a little finger, giving Seraphina an easy way to store it inside her pocket.
Having done that, the crimson-haired beauty turned her eyes to Hunter and jogged toward him. Extending her hands toward his wounded body, she picked him up and lent him her shoulder.
"Thanks," Hunter appreciated the care, for he now felt like they both became teammates for real.
Well, just the fact that Seraphina kept an eye on him for more than to learn about his secret was enough. It was an opportunity he had seized alongside his freedom, for a loss against the brown lizard meant becoming its slave, as Hunter was Deathless...
Still, he wasn't inwardly screaming from excitement like he would've done if he were up in the woodlands doing the exam.
"This is suspicious."
"That book."
"Yes. Beast Domination Guild had sent it to me... I'm worried about the timing, you see... it could have been a coincidence... but if it wasn't, then it'd mean they could see me," Hunter and Seraphina instinctively looked around as they limped their way to one of the two corridors.
They found... nothing.
"We're meant to work with everyone... but even if the timing was that convenient for them, I won't let this matter go. I'll stay true to myself and hunt down anyone from the Beast Domination Guild. Anyone that wants to join them... will also get hunted down by me."
Hunter's blue eyes seemed to be a portal to the underworld as he openly threatened to kill humans.
As he was already one of the killers... and he felt respite and thrill from killing others... he was more than eager to kill those bastards scheming against him during this invasion!
In this world, if he allowed everyone to spit at him, he would become a man he never wanted to be.
Which meant that... Hunter turned toward the darker side.
Luck was on his side, however.
"I want them dead, too," Seraphina shared his killing intent.
Hunter smiled, "That black slash... was one time only, right?"
"Yes. Another brawl with C Ranked Monster will be harder," Seraphina didn't hide the truth.
"Give me some time... I'll heal this leg in at least fifteen minutes..."
With the Strength Origin dwelling in his broken leg, Hunter could guide more of his blood here, meaning he somewhat controlled his high regeneration. That had given him more confidence to survive this dangerous event...
...and to kill those meant to be killed.
-
Going down the corridor was only safe for a few minutes... but less than fifteen.
Soon, other monsters barred Hunter and Seraphina's way. Their strength was far lower from the C Ranked Brown Lizard they had defeated before, which was both relieving and fishy.
Of course, these two had no say in this demons' invasion and could only face whatever was thrown at them.
BANG!
Throwing her trump card in this abundant darkness, Seraphina flashed the eyes of the four-legged monsters before her, stripping them of their convenient sense. Their eyes used to darkness burned from the white flash, further immobilizing their movements for a few seconds.
Which only broadened the gap between them and the crimson-haired swordsman.
Wielding her sword like a dangerous but mesmerizing dancer, Seraphina weaved her dangerous slashes around the monsters' necks, ending their lives with intricate and skillful swordsmanship making bestial heads roll down the ground.
'What are the odds of C Ranked Monster stumbling upon us?' Hunter inwardly analyzed every piece of new information he gleaned on his way to the unknown.
His team hadn't gone to the corridor from which the brown lizard had come out. That would have been too stupid.
Still, the fact that such weak monsters lingered here... had given more than enough thought to Deathless. He was growing more and more confident in his theory that someone had specifically sent the brown lizard at them.
But wouldn't that mean that... there was a traitor in the First Hunter Union?
A traitor in Beast Domination Guild?
'I don't know what the demons are here for... I can only guess something precious is held in the spirit's domain that they want... it's too implausible for them to invade to kill aspiring hunters. Well, aspiring hunters shouldn't be able to kill C Ranked Monster, either. The monsters we fight on our way are enough to kill most of them... right! Those monsters are enough to give a challenge to the participants and kill them! They are here to buy time! The demons need the participants to be in danger to distract guilds and their people from them. That... has to be it.'
Hunter's thoughts finished when his eyes landed on a group of participants battling against monsters.
Having weaker equipment and innate skills, their struggle was heart-drenching to look at...
'Numbers is what we need here...' Hunter whispered, ready to assist those people.
But then, one of the participants' shouts bounced off the walls, reaching Hunter's side.
"Miss Aza must be protected at all costs!"
Hunter's heart stopped for a second... and chilling coldness brimmed from him.
Affected by it, Seraphina turned her eyes to him...
Their gazes met in a tacit understanding.
"Aza sent me that book."
"A woman so close to us... sent you a book at the most convenient timing..."
"Yeah..."
Killing intent rippled in their eyes...