Chapter 57

Chapter 57

Rock gargoyles were winged demons stronger than rock chameleons. It possessed strong pain tolerance, immense offensive power, and a camouflage ability that allowed it to blend into rocks. It didn’t have the rock chameleons’ poison, but its claws could easily cut off limbs.

Moreover, they were extremely sturdy. Compared to the rock chameleons, which bullets could pierce, their defense was unparalleled! They had to use magic with great penetrative power to get through it.

“... That’s about it.”

“That’s both amazing and surprising, but can you give us some instructions?! What should we do?”

Elisabeth stiffened with tension as she looked around. She had no idea when and where the attacks would come from. She didn’t even know what their opponents were. The other hunters appeared nervous to be up against a monster they had only ever seen now.

“Don’t worry. They’re cowards and are quick to run away. They’ve already left.”

Choi Yeonseung had kicked the rock to intimidate the gargoyles into retreating. A strong enough attack would frighten them, making them slip back into the rock wall and run away.

“Really?”

“If you don’t believe me, check it with magic.”

“... No. I believe you. We’re on the same team, and I have to save my magic power.”

She’d consume huge amounts of magic power if she had to keep checking their surroundings. Elisabeth wasn’t so stupid that she’d doubt her teammates. Wasn’t trusting one’s teammates the most basic foundation of all?

***

“What...?”

The analysts watching the situation were all taken aback. Antony was the type of person who would rather choose death than cooperate with others during a raid. What he was doing was a bit different from cooperation, but having him play as part of the team was an improvement in itself.

“That’s amazing. What is up with that man? To be able to deal with Schneider...”

“He’s an Abyss returnee, isn’t he? Is it because of accumulated experience?”

Since they knew what Antony was like, the analysts couldn’t help but admire Choi Yeonseung. Among the hunters who had done raids with Antony so far, some were stronger than Antony, while some were weaker. However, Choi Yeonseung was the first hunter to treat Antony like this. Ernest didn’t express it out loud, but he was amazed as well.

‘He has the qualities of a leader.’

Being strong alone didn’t mean one was fit to become a team leader. The leader of a raid team had to have multiple abilities. Aside from individual strength, they also had to be capable of leading and handling each hunter in the team! Like a seasoned hunter skillfully controlling a hound, Choi Yeonseung treated Antony calmly without even blinking.

Ernest began to like Choi Yeonseung, who was his favorite type of hunter, more and more.

‘The chairman was right...’

He finally believed what Hwang Gyeongryong told him in a call. Hwang Gyeongryong and Ernest were old hunters who preferred raiding dungeons over participating in sports. Instead of broadcasting, they would manage their schedule and immerse themselves in training for the next dungeon raid!

However, it was difficult to find similar people these days. Hwang Gyeongryong was fully aware of that, too. Hence, he didn’t bother asking Ernest to find like-minded hunters. He had regrets about that decision deep down, though. Ernest felt the same.

In the midst of this, a hunter of that exact type appeared! Hwang Gyeongryong wasn’t trying to take care of this hunter just because he was old friends with him. Rather, Hwang Gyeongryong was clearly expecting something more from him. Hwang Gyeongryong was an S-grade hunter, but even he needed companions.

‘His being a martial artist is a pity.’ Ernest thought.

Choi Yeonseung was obviously a great martial artist. He was one of the best even Ernest, who had come across quite a few martial artists, had ever seen. But...

The limits of martial arts were too clear, and that only became even more obvious the higher they went.The original appearance of this chapter can be found at Ñøv€lß1n.

“Ernest. Antony’s team is quickly moving inward.”

“Aren’t they too fast?”

If gargoyles popped out from all sides and attacked, at least two or three people would die here! However, what happened next broke their expectations.

-There are enemies everywhere! Prepare for battle!

“?!?!”

“What???”

Choi Yeonseung’s reaction surprised the analysts.

“How did he know? Did he use detection magic?”

“It would be difficult to notice the gargoyles even with Intermediate Health Detection...”

“Does he have an artifact?”

“No. The sword is the only thing Choi Yeonseung has with him. I’ve never heard of it having any detection features.”

“Are martial artists capable of such things, Ernest?”

Ernest shook his head at the question. The sharp senses of a martial artist transcended imagination, but detecting the gargoyles approaching from the rock wall was on a different dimension. The moment Choi Yeonseung responded to the gargoyles’ attack, the monsters panicked. Frightened, they ran away. They immediately escaped the moment their opponent seemed stronger than expected.

“They... stopped it.”

“My god. They got through that?”

The analysts muttered in surprise.

“He seems to know what gargoyles are.”

“I don’t think information about them has leaked out. Did he come across them in the Abyss?”

“I think so. Considering he displayed such a skilled response, he’s likely aware of their existence.”

“I thought it would take him some time to adjust after being in the Abyss for so long...”

The public often said mistakes like, ‘Woah, you returned from the Abyss alive? Aren’t you more amazing than the hunters who do dungeon raids, then?’

Hunters had a hard time holding out for one or two weeks in a dungeon while Abyss returnees survived for far longer in the Abyss! If so, then Abyss returnees had to have really good skills!

... But that was an illusion.

The Abyss returnees were only able to survive because they were ‘lucky.’ They, fortunately, fell into a place with no monsters. They then lived desperately avoiding being discovered by one until they finally returned to Earth! There was no case where they beat up everyone they encountered like Choi Yeonseung. Otherwise, they would’ve died a long time ago.

Knowing this, hunters didn’t tell Abyss returnees, ‘Wow, you’re really powerful!’ Rather, ‘Wow, you’re lucky,’ or ‘You probably went through so much,’ was their common response! Moreover, it was only natural for Abyss returnees to have trouble adapting immediately. Before they could escape the Abyss, they had to keep hiding from dangerous monsters. They were fortunate they didn’t go crazy.

The analysts thought so as well. However, watching Choi Yeonseung caused those thoughts to crumble. His combat senses rose with the crisis. Though one’s combat senses would become dull if one rested for a few months after a raid, Choi Yeonseung moved like he never stopped raiding at all. It was as if he had been fighting fiercely until recently. Moreover, he seemed like a seasoned veteran in dealing with the rock gargoyles. The only explanation was that he had dealt with them in the Abyss.

‘Did he spend his time in the Abyss fighting monsters? Fighting them once or twice wouldn’t be enough to justify that.’

‘This is ridiculous. If you want to survive in the Abyss, you have to avoid combat, not participate in one.’

‘Still, this is making me think he actually fought in there.’

There was no other way to explain the current situation!

The analysts became really curious about what Choi Yeonseung had been doing in the Abyss! What was it...?!