Suho's gaze swept his surroundings.
The miners, frozen in terror. These were the people he'd been laughing and chatting with, swinging pickaxes alongside, the entire day.
That man over there had offered him water, saying he's working hard for a young man.
And that man here had personally demonstrated how to swing a pickaxe for him.
"And I'm supposed to leave these people behind and run away alone?"
Beru spoke resolutely. [Young Master, the lives of those humans are of no concern to me. I have a duty.]
Suho's life, as the son of the Shadow Monarch, was more precious to him than the lives of everyone else on Earth. His duty was to ensure Suho's survival and return, even if every human here perished.
"I'm not just saying this out of a sense of justice." Suho glanced around.
"The escape routes are all blocked anyway."
Growl!
By now, countless wolves had formed a blockade at the passage leading out of the dungeon. To escape, they had no choice but to defeat the enemy.
"And… I don't think it's entirely impossible."
Suho smiled faintly as he looked at Kim Yongjun, who was leading the numerous wolves. Seeing that, Beru felt something strange. For a moment, he saw the image of Sung Jinwoo from long ago overlapping with Suho, who he had thought was still immature.
* * *
The 'ghost' of the Fang Monarch was feeling a sense of exhilaration. He had awakened from a long slumber to find his master gone and only a handful of insignificant humans.
'How laughable. That weak, pathetic vermin.' Just by leaking a bit of his aura, he had them trembling, overwhelmed by fear.
'Ah, how fragile these creatures are.' They should be devoured. This world was built on the logic that the weak are eaten, and the strong take everything. The body of Kim Yongjun, controlled by the ghost, licked its lips, looking at those creatures.
"Weak vermin, you are not worthy of life. It would be far more valuable for you to die and become food for the wolves." At that moment, Kim Yongjun's hand moved on its own. And he swung the sword, which was the body of the ghost, at the humans.
"Die."
Swish—!
But his wish was not granted. Suddenly, a Shadow Goblin jumped in between, taking the attack instead.
[Keruk!]
The goblin, split in two, wore an expression of utter bewilderment. As if it wasn't his intention to sacrifice himself.
"…What is this, you fools?" The ghost looked at the goblins blocking his way with a puzzled expression.
[Keruk Keruk!]
"How do you not recognize a superior being? If you are a magical beast, you should have that basic survival instinct." These insignificant creatures were losing their nerve and attacking him.
Swish—!
He mercilessly swung his sword, cutting down the goblins. But to his surprise, the bodies of the horribly killed creatures were instantly restored, and they rose again.
[Kereruruk!]
"Hmph?"
The ghost wore an annoyed expression at their persistent attacks. Then, the wolves he controlled simultaneously rushed in, tearing the goblins' bodies to pieces. He now ignored the insignificant vermin and turned his attention back to the humans. They were running away.
"That's funny. Are those little bugs struggling to survive?" But unfortunately for them, the direction they were heading was not an escape route, but a passage leading deeper into the dungeon.
"Chase them."
Grrrr!
At his command, countless wolves pursued them. The ghost turned his gaze in the opposite direction. There lay the Gate leading out of the dungeon, to Earth.
'What is that place?'
Numerous lives were pulsating from beyond. Each one was weak, but that only made his appetite all the more intense.
'The weak must be devoured.'
The ghost suddenly looked down at himself. Kim Yongjun, a Hunter. This human's body was already dead, but from now on, it would be greatly used as his own. Ah, what an honor for this insignificant being!
'I will eat my fill in your stead, deceased one. I will personally devour all the living beings in that world beyond.' The ghost's eyes gleamed with greed. He led the numerous wolves, slowly advancing towards the outside. But just then…
Swish—!
"Ah."
Suddenly, a stone axe flew towards the back of the ghost's head. Sensing its approach, the ghost, with a look of disdain, swung his sword, deflecting the attack.
"Oh, too bad! I almost got you!"
"…'Almost'?" The ghost looked at the human who had thrown the stone axe with an incredulous expression. But then, another stone axe flew from Suho's hand.
"The struggles of the weak."
Thud.
The ghost raised his sword again, deflecting the attack. But as soon as he blocked it, another axe flew.
Swish—!
"No." He deflected it again.
But then another one flew.
"Hey." He deflected it again.
Then again...
"Just how many axes do you have!" The ghost finally lost his temper, roaring.
Meanwhile, more axes were flying.
"Kill that one first!"
Growl!
At the ghost's command, the wolves that had been about to exit through the Gate simultaneously turned, chasing Suho.
[Young Master! Now you must flee!]
"Yes, let's flee!"
"Stop right there, you!"
Growl! Kyao!
Suho fled back into the cave, avoiding the wolves. But there were too many, and their speed was too great; he was quickly surrounded.
"Tsk. In the end, the weak are always devoured." The ghost sneered at Suho, pronouncing his death sentence.
"Kill him. Tear him limb from limb and chew on his bones."
Clatter!
The wolves lunged at Suho all at once. But he just grinned, inserting the key into his shadow.
Click!
[Will you enter the Shadow Dungeon?] (Y/N)
"Enter Shadow Dungeon!"
[Entering the Shadow Dungeon.]
Whoosh—!
At that moment, Suho's shadow swallowed him.
"What?"
The ghost looked around in confusion. The prey that had been right in front of him had vanished without a trace.
"What is this? Where did he hide? Find him!" At his words, the wolves sniffed the ground, tracking Suho's scent.
Grrr?
Of course, they couldn't find him.
"Wh-what? How can he hide without even leaving a scent?" The ghost led the wolves, searching for Suho's whereabouts.
And then, from the place where Suho had disappeared, Beru peered out, surveying the area. And when the wolves were a little farther away, he whispered towards the shadow.
[…You may emerge now.]
Whoosh—!
[Exiting the Shadow Dungeon.]
Then, Suho reappeared from within the shadow. And as soon as he emerged, he immediately hurled a stone axe at the back of the ghost's head.
"Wh-what!"
The ghost whirled around in surprise.
Swish— Clang!
He barely deflected the stone axe, his expression hardening as he saw Suho's sudden appearance.
"You were there, you! You should have remained hidden…!"
Swish—!
"Aaargh! Cease your throwing!" The ghost lost his composure at Suho's continuous stone axe attacks, thrown whenever he had an opening.
"Kill him! Kill that one!"
Growl!
And so, the chase began anew. But if the wolves surrounded him, Suho would invariably hide in the Shadow Dungeon.
Whoosh—!
"Where did he go again, damn it!" The ghost was furious, utterly frustrated. And in the meantime, another stone axe flew towards the back of his head.
Swish—!
"I said it wouldn't work!"
Simultaneously, the miners, watching Suho's exploits from afar, were speechless.
"What the…"
"What manner of skill is that…?"
They knew that Suho was an E-rank Hunter. And they also knew that E-ranks were completely useless in combat. But what was that display?
"I don't know whether he's weak or strong…"
"Something's strange…"
"Yet, he fights well."
"Nay, can that be even considered fighting…?"
But at least one thing was clear. Suho's skill was highly specialized in taunting people. And it wasn't just his skill. The sight of him provoking that being, exuding such a murderous aura without any sign of shrinking back…
"Is it not a skill, but an innate bravery?"
"Or perhaps he's simply insane…"
In the current desperate situation, Suho was the only hope.
"But wasn't that newcomer a summoner?"
"Ah, that's so. He's not using his summoning skill at all in the midst of this."
"You saw it earlier. The summons were slain in a single bite."
"This is why I say summoning skills are no good…"
"If only he possessed some combat skills…"
The miners, who had directly witnessed Suho's prowess, sighed in disappointment. That combat sense, and the art gallery incident a few days ago… He had an innate talent as a Hunter. How many had awakened with high abilities but perished, frozen in actual combat, because they lacked that combat sense? It was truly regrettable. If only Suho weren't a summoner…
'He would have become a truly great Hunter.'
Beru, who was listening to their conversation from afar, fumed.
[Kieek! To think the Shadow Power would be treated like that!]
But it wasn't the time yet. At Suho's current level, the Shadow Soldiers couldn't display their true abilities. Moreover, Suho's low mana capacity was also a problem. The true essence of the Shadow Soldiers was an immortal legion that revived endlessly. But that was only possible when Suho's mana supported them from behind. His mana was already nearly depleted from the earlier battle. Because of that, the Shadow Goblins, who had worked so diligently wielding pickaxes today, had already vanished a while ago.
[But.] Beru's eyes gleamed ominously.
At the same time, Suho grinned too, muttering. "Creating Shadow Soldiers themselves doesn't consume any mana at all."
It was then. Among the numerous wolves following the ghost, who was chasing Suho, a suspicious presence was felt.
[Shadow Wolf Lv.1]
[Normal Grade]
[Shadow Wolf Lv.1]
[Normal Grade]
[Shadow Wolf Lv.1]
[Normal Grade]
Their true identities were none other than Suho's new soldiers, disguised under the wolf pelts the collection team had dismantled.
Clatter!
"What?!"
The Shadow Wolves bit the leg of the ghost, who had been distracted by the constantly flying stone axes. Who slashed at them with his sword in surprise. Then, the wolf pelts they wore were cut away, revealing the forms of the Shadow Wolves, writhing with black energy.
[Grrrr!]
"You insignificant things dare!"
The thoroughly enraged ghost swung his sword, instantly butchering the Shadow Wolves. Suho's depleted mana could not revive them again. But…
"Checkmate."
Suho, who had approached within striking distance of the ghost, mercilessly brought down the stone axes held in both hands.
Crack.