The decision was swift, without room for hesitation. The raid party pressed forward, wasting no time in lingering on doubts or fears. Though some, like Kim Hye-young with her caution and Lee Dong-ju with his injuries, voiced concerns, their words carried little weight. From the start, the course was already decided. For Lee Seong-jun, delay was nothing but irritation.
The meeting had not been meant to sway opinions. It was simply to sharpen awareness, to ensure the earlier accident would not repeat. The effect was clear—every hunter moved with heightened caution. Even as dark elves launched sudden strikes from the shadows, no one faltered. No fatal wounds followed, aside from Lee Dong-ju's earlier injury.
The truth was obvious: their strength was overwhelming. Each hunter, though a rookie, had the potential to unleash power rivaling S-rank hunters when pushed to their limits. Against B+ ranked dark elves, even their elite forms, this group was far too strong. What should have been deadly enemies fell quickly, and the raid pressed on at breakneck pace.
Barely thirty minutes into their renewed assault, the hunters arrived before a gate marked with a silver crescent moon. The sight alone made hearts pound. From behind the gate, a power pulsed—immense, suffocating. It was the unmistakable aura of a boss monster.
With a heavy rumble, the sealed doors opened. Torches flared to life along the vast interior, casting long shadows across towering pillars and a silver throne at the far end. The meaning was clear. The master of this place awaited.
The hunters entered warily, the heavy doors slamming shut behind them. From between the pillars, a figure emerged—a knight clad in black armor, his dual daggers gleaming with lethal sharpness. Above his head, a name appeared like a curse: Knight Commander Eliorus.
A named monster. Such beings bore individuality and power beyond the norm. No creature below A+ rank had ever been named. By that truth alone, Eliorus' strength was confirmed—an A+ boss, the pinnacle of what the Green Gate could produce.
The threat did not end with him. At his signal, twenty dark elves stepped forth, each armed with different weapons—bows, blades, and curved daggers—creating an encircling wall of death. The fight erupted in chaos. Arrows rained down, blades flashed, and the hunters braced themselves.
Jung Yun-ho directed the defense while Kim Hye-young focused her energy. Even amidst danger, discipline held. Yet Eliorus himself struck like a storm, rushing straight toward the magician. Only the combined interception of Lee Seong-jun and Song Seung-jun halted his advance.
Still, tragedy came swiftly. In a sudden feint, Eliorus' dagger pierced Lee Dong-ju's heart. He collapsed lifeless, his death not mourned deeply by those who resented him, yet still a bitter reminder of the cost of battle.
At last, Kim Hye-young unleashed her power. Flames of an S+ rank spell roared across the chamber, incinerating half the dark elf horde. The way to the boss lay open. Seizing the moment, Lee Seong-jun and Song Seung-jun charged Eliorus, their combined assault pounding through his armor. Fists and steel clashed, forcing the dark knight back. Each blow shook his form, denting black plates once thought unbreakable. Victory seemed near.
Yet something was wrong. Eliorus showed no fear, no desperation. His cold eyes gleamed with hidden malice. In the next instant, his body erupted with black energy, an explosion that ripped apart the chamber. The shockwave hurled Song Seung-jun into a pillar, blood spilling from his lips.
When the dust cleared, Eliorus was gone. No sound, no scent, no trace. It was not mere stealth—it was total erasure of presence. An ability reserved for the most terrifying of boss monsters.
The battle had only begun.