Chapter 20 : Queen of the Insects

“Do Yoon-ah! Don’t get surrounded, fall back!”

“Yes!”

At Han Ji Hyuk’s shout, Do Yoon, who was dealing with one insect, recklessly pulled back.

He could have succeeded in hunting it with a little more pressure, but the high-ranking Hunter’s orders were a higher priority.

Even without deliberately turning to check, intense heat could be felt from behind.

Behind that,

He could see a swarm of bugs being roasted golden brown by the Fireball Cha Yoon Ha had activated.

“There are too many of these b*stards!”

“We need to crush the leader! These things are a hive mind!”

The bugs surged relentlessly, like a bursting dam.

Beyond the swarm, he looked at a giant insect whose developed mouthparts were busily twitching.

“See the biggest one among them?!”

“Yes!”

“We have to take that one down!”

Do Yoon gripped the Goblin Warlord’s curved sword tightly.

He wanted to rush in and fight it immediately, but the swarm was indeed the problem.

“When Yoon Ha opens a path, we charge in then!”

“What if we get surrounded?!”

“It’s okay because Ha Rin is here!”

“Leave the rear to me.”

Right behind Han Ji Hyuk and Do Yoon.

Jo Ha Rin was lightly warming up, holding daggers in both hands.

‘Is she okay?’

Doubts arose, but Do Yoon trusted Jo Ha Rin.

A Hunter of a higher level than himself, who had always reliably guarded his back.

If anything, she would display greater power than Do Yoon; she would never disappoint.

Trampling over the ashen remains of their fallen (insect) comrades, the next wave of insects rushed towards Do Yoon.

“Hoo!”

“We’ll hold them here for a moment!”

“Yep!”

They decided to buy time until Cha Yoon Ha’s next skill was ready.

“It won’t take long! Just a little bit!”

“Do Yoon oppa, receive a heal!”

Cha Yoon Ha and Jeong Ahyeon encouraged Han Ji Hyuk and Do Yoon, respectively.

Feeling a warm energy settle upon his body, he felt a tingling sensation from his minor wounds.

[Lesser Heal].

Thanks to Jeong Ahyeon’s support skill, the bothersome pain lessened significantly.

Against the insect swinging its scythe-like foreleg, Do Yoon lowered his stance.

‘Blocking won’t work.’

Not only was it doubtful if the old shield could withstand the attack, but he also wouldn’t be able to endure the size difference.

Therefore.

-Swish!

Twisting his body as much as possible to deflect the attack, Do Yoon roughly swung his curved sword upwards from beneath the insect.

The sharp edge dug into the insect’s chest.

As a deep wound spread from a thin line, Do Yoon immediately followed up with another attack.

‘I’m used to this.’

He was confident in linking attacks one after another.

The various pieces of feedback he received during the battle with the Goblin Warlord.

Each of those experiences was playing a crucial role in the current moment.

‘Keruk! Can you see my movements! There must be no openings after an attack! Especially when you’ve caused the opponent to falter, it’s

important to continue with the next technique without stopping!’

‘Chomoti.’

Feeling grateful to the boss mob who was likely living a new life somewhere, Do Yoon swung his curved sword, attacking the bug’s head area.

Roughly pulling out the partially embedded curved sword, he swung it again as if chopping firewood.

With the second strike, the insect’s grotesque head detached from its body.

-Thump…

The body, larger than a human, collapsed helplessly.

It seemed to have a different structure from Earth’s insects, which could still move even if their heads were severed.

“Do Yoon-ah! To your side!”

But there was no time to savor the victory.

He immediately confronted a wasp-like insect attacking from the side.

Blocking the suddenly thrusting stinger with his shield, he immediately plunged his curved sword in a straight line.

‘The durability is insane.’

Usually, by this point, the blade would dull and not penetrate properly, but the Goblin Warlord’s curved sword still maintained its smooth

cutting feel.

“Kiek!”

“Get lost.”

After kicking down the wasp whose abdomen was half-severed, he surveyed the situation again.

Han Ji Hyuk was blocking a multitude of insects with his giant shield.

“Hyungnim!”

“It’s alright, so fall back when you’re done there, it’s coming soon!”

“Do Yoon oppa! We’re all ready!”

Do Yoon looked at the team’s rear.

An innumerable swarm of insects was rushing in.

A single method to bring it down was shimmering in Cha Yoon Ha’s hand.

“Everyone, get out of the way!”

For that moment, Cha Yoon Ha’s voice came through clearly.

With the signal, Do Yoon and Han Ji Hyuk simultaneously moved to either side.

Like a beast exhaling a rough breath before pouncing, small flames erupted from her hand.

The magic circle engraved on her hand was the image of disaster, a signal flare to send enemies to hell.

“Unni! Kill ’em all!”

Excited, Jeong Ahyeon shouted, openly expressing her disgust for the bugs.

“I’ll just open the path.”

“Okay…!”

It shouldn’t reach the 3rd-floor boss monster.

Because the star of this stage was someone else.

“Do Yoon-ssi.”

Just before Cha Yoon Ha launched the magic, she quietly called Do Yoon’s name.

Meeting his questioning expression, Cha Yoon Ha showed a confident smile.

“You can do it, right?”

Knowing what that question meant, Do Yoon nodded with a serious face.

“Let’s go.”

With those words.

[Fireball].

A conflagration that incinerates malice began to swallow the swarm of bugs.

“Kishit….!”

Devouring even the screams of the bugs wailing in pain, it advanced—

Further still, it began to create an ashen road with lingering embers.

“Do Yoon-ah!”

Han Ji Hyuk, sensing the time had come, called out to Do Yoon.

“Stay focused until the very end.”

Jo Ha Rin, gripping daggers in both hands, rushed towards the swarm of bugs narrowing the path.

A speed difficult to follow with the eyes.

“Kiek!”

The insects Do Yoon had struggled to catch, one, then two, and more, were sliced apart at second-long intervals.

‘I’m still a long way off.’

Leaving behind the sense of futility, he immediately dashed down the center of the path Cha Yoon Ha had created.

“Don’t look back, just keep running!”

“…Yes!”

-Thump! Thump!

Like a drum beating in the midst of war, his heart pounded, heated.

A sense of exhilaration, starting from the center of his chest and spreading to his limbs.

‘I have to get as close to the boss mob as possible.’

He couldn’t miss this opportunity.

Do Yoon, using everyone’s chance as a stepping stone, approached the monster controlling the swarm.

“Kiek!”

An insect that rushed to protect its monarch was knocked away by Han Ji Hyuk’s shield from the side.

-Kwaang!

Averting his gaze from the insect that flew off with a tremendous sound.

Do Yoon glared at an insect coming from another direction.

After responding with his curved sword, he aimed for its exposed neck and delivered a blow.

The insect, its head instantly gone, drooped like a puppet with cut strings.

‘There are too many.’

Do Yoon regulated his rising breath and looked into the distance.

The distance to the boss monster was still considerable.

If he faltered here, the path might really get blocked again.

‘Faster.’

He had to prioritize approaching the boss monster, not eliminating its minions.

Do Yoon, having corrected his course of action, began to pick up speed.

“Kirik!”

He moved forward, dodging the attacks of the repulsively swarming insects.

“Don’t look back!”

Han Ji Hyuk’s rough voice echoed behind Do Yoon.

Do Yoon didn’t bother to reply and continued towards the creature.

And so.

[Defeat the Boss Monster, ‘Brutalstag’, to pass the trial.]

He was able to face the boss monster with an obviously unusual name.

“Hoo.”

[Attempting to resonate with the Boss Monster, ‘Brutalstag’.]

[Failed.]

He had roughly expected it, but the news still felt disappointing.

‘It doesn’t matter.’

The goal doesn’t change.

Even for the sake of the Hunters who were currently, in real-time, fending off the insect monsters coming for him.

Do Yoon had to take that boss monster’s head.

-Grip.

Gripping the handle of the curved sword as if to crush it, he moved at the maximum speed he could muster.

Only then did the giant insect called Brutalstag begin to move.

An overwhelming presence, greater than any insect-type monster he had encountered so far.

A weight class that would make it difficult to guarantee his life if even one blow landed pressed down on Do Yoon.

‘Blocking is for fools.’

He immediately dove to the ground and rolled.

-Kwaaaang!!

The ground rumbled; feeling the sensation of scattering debris, he kept moving.

The target was the leg joint.

Being massive, its weaknesses were also prone to exposure.

-Kwaduk!

However, the swung curved sword got stuck in the gap of the joint for the first time.

Had the curved sword’s performance reached its limit?

‘No.’

What was weak was his own physical strength.

Even holding an S-rank weapon personally bestowed by Green Ugly, it couldn’t display its full performance due to the user’s limitations.

‘One more time.’

This time, he coated the curved sword’s blade with [Acidic Digestive Fluid] and attacked the joint again.

At the sensation of its carapace melting and being permeated, Brutalstag raged and thrashed.

“Sh*t!”

If he had just a little more, he would have cut it!

Do Yoon temporarily retreated to avoid the thrashing, giant body.

Missing the immediate strike was regrettable, but he thought he knew what its weakness was.

‘Its center of gravity is precarious.’

It had an overwhelmingly large physique, but it seemed its balance wasn’t perfected.

In conclusion, if it lost one supporting leg, its weakness would likely be exposed immediately.

‘Let’s get this over with quickly.’

There were still too many mountains to climb.

There was no time to hesitate here.

However.

[Attempting to resonate.]

“….Ugh!”

Frequent headaches assaulted him due to the skill arbitrarily trying to create a connection with the boss monster.

Last time, with Chomoti, his mana resistance had successfully worked.

‘Should I have looked at more memes?’

But this boss mob’s resistance was quite strong.

But it didn’t matter.

In reality, Do Yoon’s attacks were successfully landing, and with just a little more, he could shatter its center of gravity and exploit its

weakness.

Eventually. Brutalstag’s massive frame, half of its joint melted away, began to tilt.

“Well done!”

Han Ji Hyuk, who was diligently fending off the insect swarm, shouted in response.

‘Focus.’

Steeling his mind, which was about to slacken, he approached the boss mob to deliver a decisive blow in earnest.

‘…You too.’

Beyond those vicious movements, did it possess its own reason?

Daeseuri, and Chomoti too, all had the same reaction.

Losing control of their own bodies, desperately trying to kill Do Yoon under the compulsion of the system.

‘Let’s not think too deeply about it.’

Do Yoon shook his head and approached to deliver the finishing blow.

At that moment.

[Successfully resonated with the target, ‘Brutalstag’!]

“…Ah.”

At the resonance that barely connected at the very end, Do Yoon looked at the boss mob with a dismayed expression.

“This is, ah. Is that so.”

A calm female voice, unfitting for the horrifying insectoid form.

“I have seen your deeds through my children. One who wields intense, and also mysterious, power.”

“Yeah.”

While Do Yoon replied verbally, he instinctively scanned the boss mob for weaknesses.

Beyond its shattered center of gravity, a few structures that looked fragile at a glance were visible.

“You must defeat me, I suppose. That is the due karma of a Hunter. We are to stop you, and you are to overcome us to pass the trial.”

“I know that well.”

“However, this is a very special experience. From the moment I began conversing with you, I feel as if something has opened up within my

mind. It is nostalgic… and not an unpleasant sensation.”

“Can’t you just stay still?”

“That is impossible. The moment you and your companions entered my domain, I lost all control of my body.”

He knew.

He had already experienced it several times.

“But I do not feel particularly worried. You will be able to dispatch me easily. I am gravely wounded, and my body cannot rise again. All I can do is struggle.”

“It looks that way.”

“What about the other boss mobs? Did they converse with you as I am?”

This boss mob pursued a rather rational conversation.

Though its struggles were entirely different.

After fending off its thrashing legs, he cut off the remaining ones to make it easier to approach.

-Kwajik! Kwak!

“It hurts. You are cutting off my legs. Still, it is alright. My life will cycle anew and find its place within this Tower.”

“…Yeah.”

“So, can you answer my question? Did the other boss mobs too-“

“Yeah. I talked to the ones on the 1st and 2nd floors just like this.”

“…I see. Indeed, this opportunity must not be a coincidence. Is this too a mystery of the Tower?”

“Are you always this talkative?”

“I didn’t know I was this talkative either. I usually only talk to my children.”

After cutting off all six legs, only the giant, writhing torso of the boss mob remained.

He could converse more comfortably now, but he couldn’t ignore the Hunters struggling behind him.

“The weapon you carry, I sense another alien power from it. It is equipment from one like me, I see.”

“That’s right.”

“I wish to give you something in gratitude for conversing with me, but I have nothing.”

“It’s fine.”

Wasn’t its vulnerable body right here?

‘Why do I feel like the bad guy?’

Hunters were, by nature, those who ensured the world’s safety by clearing boss mobs, weren’t they?

However, Do Yoon’s actions so far had continuously evoked a strange feeling.

Suspiciously friendly boss mobs. He had kept stabbing such beings.

‘This isn’t weird, right?’

Still, he had to do what needed to be done.

Do Yoon was also a Hunter, no different from the others.

A rookie Hunter with much yet to resolve.

“I have faced countless other Hunters until now, but I sense something different from you compared to them.”

“…..”

“Those eyes, you pity me. It is a very mysterious situation, but the feeling of being pitied by someone is not bad. At least, it is far better than eyes full of killing intent.”

“Do Yoon-ah! Are you done yet?!”

Behind Brutaltask’s words, Han Ji Hyuk’s urgent shout could be heard.

In the end, Do Yoon aimed his curved sword at Brutaltask’s neck for the final blow.

“Thank you.”

“You are expressing gratitude to me. Those are not bad words, but there is no need to feel such emotions. I am, after all, meant to stop you. Still.”

The staggering monster bug’s head turned towards him.

Reflected in its numerous compound eyes was Do Yoon’s hesitating face.

“I pray that blessings be upon your kind path ahead. Above this, ah. This is beyond my authority to say.”

Those were Brutaltask’s last words.

Feeling complex emotions, Do Yoon cast Acidic Digestive Fluid on his curved sword.

The sharp Goblin Warlord’s curved sword, coated with a viscous fluid that seemed capable of melting anything.

After that, without hesitation.

-Shhwak!

Do Yoon beheaded Brutaltask.

[Challenger ‘Kim Do Yoon’ has defeated the Boss Monster ‘Brutaltask’!]

[Receiving rewards.]

[Level Up! Lv.4 → Lv.5]

[There are still unopened rewards.]

He had cleared the 3rd floor.