"Wasn't... wasn't that monster Guild Master Goto just took down a dungeon boss?"
Shimizu Akari's voice held a touch of stiffness.
Even though she was an S-Rank Healer, her mana wasn't limitless.
Especially since she was not only healing the whole team but also tossing out buffs every so often. Maintaining the party's combat intensity under these conditions was utterly exhausting.
If they had to fight a few more battles like that, the others might manage, but she'd be completely drained dry.
The combat hunters' expressions soured again. Every single one of these monsters was on par with them.
They could ask Hunter Castorice to step in, but that would feel like admitting they just wanted to be carried.
Wasn't that a bit... lacking in ambition? Would it give Hunter Castorice a bad impression?
The thought of being seen as deadweight by Castorice, even if it was the truth, churned their stomachs.
Emotionally, they didn't really care if Castorice respected them or not. But logically, they hoped Castorice would come to like Japan, to feel favorably towards it.
"There's no need for concern, everyone. Currently, only the dungeon's boss remains within this instance."
Seeing their misunderstanding, Castorice explained, "If your condition is poor, you may stay here. I can handle it alone."
"Our condition is not so poor that we must withdraw."
Goto Ryuji naturally had no intention of retreating. He wanted to witness the power of a true powerhouse, to set it as his own goal.
Castorice didn't refuse, giving a casual nod.
She had already sensed it. In truth, this dungeon only held one Monarch left, and one that seemed to be bound by some restriction at that. The threat wasn't particularly great.
Once everyone had adjusted their condition a little, they set off once more towards the depths of the corridor.
Vast, oversized structures naturally inspire awe, and in this environment, that awe transforms entirely into a sense of oppression. Even though they knew only the boss remained, the difficult fight earlier had the hunters unconsciously imagining the boss's immense power.
Until... they saw it. A massive figure, its limbs bound by several chains, kneeling powerlessly on the ground.
"This is... the boss?"
Disheveled hair and an air of utter destitution.
Compared to the giants they'd faced earlier, the being before them seemed like a decrepit old man, one who might keel over and die at any moment without surprise.
But more than their own instincts, they trusted Castorice's judgment. Even though this 'boss' looked utterly lacking in presence, they didn't let their guard down.
"Humans?"
Just as they were considering how to engage, they heard the creature speak, uttering words in a language humans couldn't comprehend.
Castorice could understand, having accessed the Monarch of Frost's memories.
But understanding or not didn't affect her intent to act. Hunting Monarchs was one of her objectives, and this situation saved her the trouble of tracking one down.
She revealed her killing intent without hesitation.
"Wait! Unknown entity!"
Seeing the other party prepare to move without even a word, the Monarch of the Beginning immediately spoke up. Seeming to know a single sentence wouldn't change its mind, he quickly added, "I suggest you send these humans out first!"
"What do you mean by that?"
"You carry the scent of Monarch blood. You've slain other Monarchs, haven't you?"
The Monarch of the Beginning asked.
Castorice remained silent, showing no sign of halting her movements. Her scythe rested soundlessly against the Monarch of the Beginning's head, ready to fall at any moment.
"Wait! I said wait! You'll regret it if you don't let me finish!"
The Monarch of the Beginning hadn't expected the other party to be so difficult to communicate with. Was he, the decoy meant to buy time, going to buy his own death instead?
Frantically searching for a topic that might capture the other's attention, the Monarch of the Beginning continued, "Have you already made a pact with the Rulers?"
It wasn't exactly a pact, as both were essentially outsiders.
However... her Underworld had already fused with this world, supplementing its rules. So, she wasn't a complete outsider.
Furthermore... when out and about, one's identity is what one makes it. An outsider Death God definitely didn't carry the same weight as a local Death God.
Therefore, Castorice's self-positioning was that of a local Death God. At least, that's what she'd tell others.
Seeing Castorice remain silent and instead raise the scythe, the Monarch of the Beginning felt like cursing. "Monarch of Destruction! What are you waiting for!?"
Monarch of Destruction?
He was already on Earth?
Castorice instinctively grew wary of her surroundings, prepared to shield the others from any attack at a moment's notice. But... there wasn't the slightest ripple of movement.
"?"
The other hunters were deeply confused.
They were surprised that Castorice could use the monster's language to communicate, and though they didn't know what was said, it clearly wasn't a pleasant conversation.
Then the monster had suddenly, inexplicably, shouted something. Immediately after, Castorice went on high alert, and they all tensed up in response.
But... after a long moment, nothing requiring their vigilance appeared.
Castorice looked at the Monarch of the Beginning, only to see his expression twist into utter ferocity, before he suddenly burst into laughter.
"Good! Very good!"
He had thought himself the decoy, luring the enemy into carelessness to buy time for the other Monarchs to deliver a fatal blow. He never imagined he was the sacrificial pawn, sold out and discarded.
Seeing his maniacal laughter, Castorice guessed the situation. Feeling a touch of something complex, she also saw no need to waste more words on a discarded piece.
Her long-prepared scythe swept down. But the instant she made her move, a faint, hidden surge of mana violently erupted within her perception.
For anyone else—even Sung Jinwoo or Cha Hae-in—the suddenness would have made it impossible to adjust in time, leaving them open to this sneak attack. But Castorice's sheer stats could completely compensate for that split-second of inattention.
A slender lance of golden flame, sharp as a silver needle, shot from behind Castorice.
As she instantly aborted her swing and dodged, it pierced straight through the body of the Monarch of the Beginning.
To the Monarch of the Beginning's massive frame, this column of fire was no thicker than a strand of hair. Yet this negligible attack cut his roaring laughter short.
A black-gray charring spread from the wound. The extreme heat caused his body to rapidly carbonize, a web of cracks crawling across his entire form.
"Antares...! You bastard!!"
The Monarch of the Beginning never imagined his end would be like this—played for a fool, used as a disposable pawn by the Monarch of Destruction, and killed by the other's own hand.
He didn't believe for a second that attack was solely aimed at the unknown entity. After piercing through it, the trajectory would inevitably run through him as well.
Yet, no matter how furious he was, the Monarch of the Beginning knew his death was upon him.
Thinking he might as well annoy the bastard one last time before dying, he mustered his final breath. "Go find... the Fragment of Bri..."
Atop a skyscraper seven hundred kilometers away, a middle-aged man with crimson hair, clad in silver armor and a red battle robe, his entire being radiating coldness and dignity, let out a cold snort.
"Has Your Majesty not yet had his fill of enjoyment, King of Dragons?"
The Monarch of Transfiguration, standing beside him, glanced at the cold-faced Monarch of Destruction and inquired respectfully.
Gazing down at the ravaged, ember-strewn, deserted city district below, the Monarch of Destruction spoke coldly.
"Choosing a human vessel yet forgoing possession was Ashborn's greatest miscalculation. However... this game doesn't seem destined to be entirely dull."
As he spoke, he looked into the distance, his gaze meeting a pair of violet eyes seven hundred kilometers away.
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! Webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.