Ch.36Rescue Operation Is Dangerous (7)

As the boss monster revealed itself, an undeniable tension spread among the hunters.

“…Everyone, gather together!”

As if not wanting to give it another chance to mimic, the hunters responded to the man’s shout by forming a defensive formation in one place.

It was certainly not a bad decision.

“How annoying.”

Whoosh.

Crack!

Crunch!

The boss, who had been lying down holding the Skeleton Masher’s weapon, rose from its position with a simple recoil and instantly split the masher’s skull.

‘…This won’t be easy.’

The boss was definitely strong. It made sense why the advance team of hunters had been helplessly defeated.

“W-what do we do now?”

“What else? We fight!”

“But if that’s really a doppelganger…”

A monster designated as B5 rank. Moreover, the doppelganger was a special entity that could grow even stronger depending on the situation due to its unique properties.

“It’s already devoured three hunters. We might as well consider the enemy to have mid-tier B-rank power.”

That was certainly devastating news.

No matter how talented they might be, those gathered here were at most C-rank.

Against a mid-tier B-rank monster, the difference in level was obvious.

Breaking through the silence, Jeon Intaek, who had somehow joined the hunters, spoke up.

“However, if it were overwhelmingly powerful, it wouldn’t engage in this kind of war of attrition. At the very least, it’s clear that it feels threatened by us.”

In other words, from the doppelganger’s perspective, our side was also a formidable force.

Hearing those words, a small measure of confidence appeared on the hunters’ faces.

But watching us, the doppelganger smiled.

“…These are more foolish creatures than I expected.”

Then it continued speaking.

“As soon as we are born, we instinctively seek a subject to mimic. It’s instinct, there is no will in that action.”

Whoosh!

Crack!

The doppelganger threw aside the now powerless Skeleton Masher’s corpse and stepped forward.

“I absorbed knowledge and established my sense of self just five minutes ago. Do you know what my first thought was at that moment?”

“What are you talking about…?”

“It was satisfaction. About the fact that food was scattered all around me.”

Facing the doppelganger with its grotesque smile, Yoon Sola quickly chanted a spell.

“Wind Cutter!”

Swoosh!

Slash!

However, what unfolded next was shocking.

“I-impossible.”

The doppelganger didn’t even defend itself. It simply received the attack with its bare body.

The damage it sustained was merely a scratch less than a handspan in length.

Everyone present was completely intimidated.

“Now it seems you’re beginning to understand.”

“What the fuck. Why is something like this in a C-rank dungeon…”

Having established dominance, the doppelganger, in the form of an old man, turned its head and began staring at me.

“We have unfinished business.”

“……”

Looking at the situation, it seemed the debuff totems behind me would be of no help.

The doppelganger didn’t even give me time to think and immediately rushed toward me.

Thud.

“I’ll take your knowledge and body first.”

Whoosh!

Slash!

The sword I had thrown earlier was now in the doppelganger’s hand, aiming for my neck.

In desperation, I sent the remaining Skeleton Masher and the monster corpses I had brought along charging forward.

[Kieek!]

[Kak!]

Slash!

Crunch!

Crack!

There were quite a number of them, but the doppelganger crushed them one by one with its amazing physical abilities.

‘I-I can’t move properly.’

Though there was some distance between us, there were too many people around.

With all those gazes directed at me, I couldn’t control my body properly.

In the end, I failed to block the doppelganger’s approach and allowed its attack.

Thwack!

Crash!

Thud!

A powerful kick hit my abdomen, and with the sound of something breaking, I flew several meters and fell face-down on the ground.

Thanks to the protective artifact Seoha had prepared, the impact was lessened, but that would only work once. If I allowed another attack, I wouldn’t be safe.

‘…This is real.’

To suffer such humiliation from a mere pseudo-intelligent life form was unacceptable.

But I had no other options. Even now, my stomach was churning and my head was spinning to the point of madness.

‘Ugh. These useless vermin…’

If only I could get rid of those useless debuff totems.

With that desperate wish, I looked intently at Kim Seungmin.

Meeting my gaze, Kim Seungmin made a puzzled expression before seeming to realize something. He raised his shield and spoke.

“I’ll block the front! Everyone fall back!”

“What? We can’t even get out of here, what are you talking about?”

“There’s a way! We need to create as much distance as possible from the enemy!”

Perhaps our time playing games together hadn’t been in vain, as Kim Seungmin quickly assessed the situation and understood my intention.

As expected, a true Challenger’s judgment was different. I nodded vigorously with a look of relief.

“What a pointless effort.”

Whoosh!

As the doppelganger waved its arm, a massive fireball began forming above its hand. It was the skill of Park Younggil, who had been a fire mage.

Hiss!

Boom!

Crash!

Kim Seungmin blocked the fireball with his shield but was pushed back, leaving marks on the ground.

“I can’t hold out for long!”

“We don’t have any other options anyway! Let’s follow the plan!”

“Damn it, fine!”

Finally reaching an agreement, Yoon Sola, who had been watching carefully, cast a buff to increase the party’s speed.

“Wind Fairy’s Breath!”

The action was swift. The party maintained their formation and quickly moved away from the doppelganger.

“…Worthless insects making futile efforts.”

In this situation, Kim Seungmin naturally became the target. The doppelganger charged at him with almost invisible speed, and a collision soon occurred.

Crash!

“If that’s how it is, you’ll die first.”

Swoosh!

Just as the blade was about to pierce Kim Seungmin’s neck, he shifted his gaze toward me and activated his skill.

“Counter Shock!”

Boom!

With an intense impact, the doppelganger was sent flying a great distance. From what I could tell, it seemed to have reflected the damage from both the earlier fireball and this strike.

“Such a cheap trick…”

“Was that enough?”

Ignoring the doppelganger, Kim Seungmin asked, and I nodded as I got to my feet.

Only then did the doppelganger notice me.

But it was already too late.

I uttered a command filled with deception.

“Book of Death.”

Poof!

As it happened, I had a minion perfectly suited for such a disrespectful creature.

Two levels gained from the plant battle, and one level from advancing to the boss room.

Having reached level 22, I grabbed the book and opened a new page.

Rustle!

“Extraction.”

The page was the eleventh.

Inscribed there was the skull of Hans, a headless knight and undying immortal.

“Materialization.”

Poof!

Slide.

Thud.

Black mist flowed from my outstretched right hand, and soon a cracked and split skull appeared.

“Futile effort!”

Slash!

Stab!

Sensing danger, the doppelganger immediately swung its sword, but an undead that had appeared out of nowhere barely blocked it.

An undead completely covered in armor with an empty head—it was the sentry that had been guarding the plant earlier.

At that moment, I placed the heavy skull in my right hand onto the sentry’s neck and chanted a spell.

Whoosh.

“Undead Call.”

The zombie of Durahans from the nameless castle, long considered a mystery in the Teheron region.

“Hans.”

Poof!

His soul instantly possessed the sentry’s body.

“Guh, gak, guk.”

Black mist flowed through the cracks in the skull, and as it became covered with flesh, a human form took shape.

Flicker.

Flicker.

Eyeballs formed in the sockets, scanning the surroundings incessantly, and the half-formed mouth twitched repeatedly, announcing its existence.

What was completed was a handsome face with faded hair and pale skin.

Crack.

Finally summoned, Hans turned his head to look at me. Then he made a puzzled expression, as if seeing something strange.

“Eh?”

“……”

Feeling somehow irritated, I pointed forward with my finger.

Only then did Hans look at the bewildered doppelganger and moved his lips.

“Mind putting that sword away?”

Grab.

Crunch!

“Argh!”

The doppelganger, whose face was seized by Hans, screamed in pain and swung its hand.

Slash!

Splat!

The attack severed Hans’s arm, and the doppelganger jumped back to begin healing its wounds.

Hiss.

“What on earth are you…?”

“Hmm.”

Hans looked at the doppelganger as if appraising it, then drew the sword at his waist with his remaining hand.

Swoosh!

Then, as if completely uninterested, he ignored it and turned around to stare at me.

“…Why, why?”

“Huh, judging by your reaction, it’s definitely you.”

“……”

Somehow, I felt an ominous sensation.

Hans strode over, leaned in, looked down at me, and smiled mockingly.

“…My Lord, you’ve become quite weak, haven’t you?”

What is this pathetic guy saying?

I rolled my eyes in disbelief and said to Hans.

“Stop talking nonsense and go take care of that thing.”

Ignoring my words, Hans stared into my eyes as if measuring something, then spoke.

“…Right now.”

“What?”

“With just this one hand, I think I could crush your entire body.”

From that gaze, a chilling aura that couldn’t be completely concealed was flowing out.