I Became a Mythical Hunter After Killing the Golden Goblin - Chapter 33

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 33. Dungeon Blackhole (3)
The burrow connected by corridors lived up to its name as the Ant Burrow—it stretched long and deep, with passages far more intricate than any ordinary labyrinth.
“Item: Returning Turtle deployed.”
Thus, just before setting out, I extracted a single item shaped like a turtle from my inventory. Though it was an E-rank item of superior quality requiring a deployment opportunity, I didn’t begrudge the cost. It was an item renowned among low-rank Hunters as offering exceptional value when exploring labyrinth-type dungeons or the Abyss.
Once—just once—I needed only to imprint a desired location in its memory, and no matter what happened, it would stretch its head toward that remembered place. In other words, no matter where I ventured, I would never lose my way back.
After imprinting the cavern’s location, I tucked the turtle into the front pocket of my hospital gown, grasped the flame blade, and advanced without hesitation.
-Kee-kee-kee?!
How far had I traveled? After passing two forks and descending three cliff-like slides, the first scout finally appeared before me—the same type of creature that had emerged in the first wave.
My decision came swiftly. From the previous battle, I had mastered the most effective and reliable strategy against these creatures, and I executed it without deviation.
-Kee-kee-kee!!
The creature shrieked and charged toward me with threatening mandibles clicking frantically. I evaded its assault with a light slide, then immediately swung my blade toward its only weak point.
The blade moved exactly six times, and as I slipped from beneath the creature, its legs gave way and it collapsed.
Sensing its own death, the creature wailed mournfully. I severed its neck and immediately fled the spot.
Ants never communicate through such cries. Especially when an intruder is present—rather than such vocalizations, they emit warning pheromones throughout their bodies to alert the colony.
This creature had undoubtedly disturbed me with its cry while releasing massive pheromones throughout the entire Ant Burrow.
‘Now it truly begins.’
I had two objectives. First, to discover why these creatures coveted the queen’s eggs—treasures worthy of reverence beyond measure. Second, to identify who currently commanded these ants.
Now that the ants had detected the presence of the mouse that had infiltrated their home, they would certainly heighten their vigilance.
‘Since it’s come to this, I might as well level up thoroughly.’
As expected, less than thirty seconds after killing that creature, I heard the sound of more creatures rushing from all directions.
I hastily gulped down a sensory expansion potion and used my heightened perception to locate escape routes.
‘Five at once is my absolute limit.’
Five was the maximum, and that came with conditions. If I fought defensively, three would be the best I could handle simultaneously.
Even with optimal tactics, these were terrifyingly powerful monsters of [Unique-E+] rank.
A single mistake—just one—would mean my defeat. Their overwhelming massive frames and the incredible strength inherent to their ant species were insurmountable regardless of my methods.
With my heightened senses, I detected the total number of creatures emerging from six passages surrounding me and immediately hurled myself into the third tunnel.
The only passage where four creatures appeared; the rest had eight to ten charging frantically.
I calmly awakened the Sun’s mana from within my body, and the flame blade absorbed its radiance.
‘No mistakes.’
No matter how vast and wide this ant tunnel was, it wasn’t large enough for more than two creatures to squeeze through simultaneously. In other words, they were advancing in single file toward me.
‘Theoretically, I face only one opponent at a time.’
Of course, reality rarely unfolds as perfectly as theory. But at minimum, I wouldn’t be forced to engage multiple enemies simultaneously.
The instant my heightened senses clearly registered their presence, my feet accelerated. I crouched low, rounded the corner, and cleanly severed the legs of the creature emerging before me.
I didn’t merely sever the joints to disable them. The creature’s charging momentum combined with my strength completely tore away three of its left leg joints.
-Kee-kee-kee!!!
I passed the falling creature and slid beneath the next one to emerge.
Though it was a sudden ambush, ants possessed a remarkable 360-degree field of vision. The creature instantly detected me sliding beneath it and, with agility belying its massive frame, reflexively leaped upward to evade my blade.
My strike, aimed at its joints, had struck its carapace instead, dealing negligible damage and failing to connect.
‘Damn!’
But there was no time to lament failure. Three more creatures, now aware of my presence, began to regard me as an enemy.
What’s more, these creatures were intelligent. The first Strong Giant Ant at the front, having witnessed the ambush through the corner’s line of sight, realized I was targeting their legs and immediately began to guard against it.
〚Unique-Rank [D-] LV 20: Strong Giant Ant Elite has appeared!〛
As expected, these were elite soldiers, entirely different from the scouts. The letter grade itself had changed, and their level was genuinely different.
They had schemes, harder shells, greater strength, and larger bodies.
“Damn it, this is going to be tough.”
I had no choice. Facing three of them in my current state was impossible. I activated Equivalent Exchange, one of my trump cards. My Limitless stat surged to its maximum in an instant, and through the effect of the Titan’s Heart, my Sun stat also shot to its limit.
“Hah…!”
Along with an unforgettable sense of fulfillment, the Strong Giant Ants attacked first. Intelligently recognizing that their massive bodies were at a disadvantage in this confined space, they coordinated precisely—attacking from front and back, targeting above and below simultaneously.
If I jumped to dodge, the front Strong Giant Ant’s jaws would cleave my body in half. If I dropped down instead, the rear Strong Giant Ant’s massive head would slam me straight into the wall.
‘A direct confrontation is impossible.’
Even with my stats boosted by Equivalent Exchange, to cleanly defeat creatures rated [D-] by the system, I would need my mythic-grade stats to reach at least [F+] rank.
I had only one way to evade this attack.
“Wings of Arrogance!”
I had to complete that technique I couldn’t finish yesterday with all my power. The moment I unfurled one of the sacred wings, my full strength poured forth.
〚The first wing is now operational!〛
〚With the wing operational, the rare stat Holiness temporarily manifests!〛
〚With the wing operational, all stats receive an additional bonus of +10!〛
〚Due to low proficiency, operational time is limited to 10 minutes!〛
〚The Limitless stat has temporarily transcended its grade!〛
-Screeeech!!!
-Shrieeeek!!!
From above and below, an unavoidable attack came hurtling down, driven by the absolute intent to kill me.
But with a calm mind, I suppressed my fear and timed the creatures’ approach, lifting my body just slightly.
-Screech!
As if dismissing the notion, overwhelming jaws from above and below rushed forward to crush me.
But I hadn’t lost my reason. Lifting my body wasn’t to dodge the attack.
I laid my airborne body completely horizontal and spun it.
‘I will…redirect the attack!’
With the Limitless stat enhanced by buffs, it would grant me the talent to complete that technique.
My countless blades became a single sword, and I pressed it against the jaws of the Strong Giant Ant rising from below. Then the fire blade also met the jaws descending from above.
I continued spinning my body.
In less than three seconds, I executed every movement, and my Limitless stat, transcending its grade and now distinctly different from before, granted me success in the redirection technique.
As my body rotated, my blades redirected the creatures’ attack trajectories from me to each other.
Their attacks flowed exactly as my blades guided them. Their destination: each other’s necks!
When the overwhelming jaw strength the Strong Giant Ants possessed combined with the physical power the redirection technique granted me, the two jaws easily shattered their hard shells and locked onto each other’s necks.
Crack!
With a brutal sound, the two Strong Giant Ants’ jaws closed with tremendous force, and both creatures died without understanding what had happened.
〚You perfectly redirected a force several times more powerful than yourself along an optimal path.〛
〚You have flawlessly mastered a technique containing a level far beyond your current realm!〛
〚The system marvels at your astounding performance and enhances your reward!〛
〚Skill: Gentle Mastery (柔能制剛) [Unique-SS+] has awakened!〛
As the skill awakened, something beyond that perfect deflection I had just executed was imprinted into my very being.
A martial art that steals an enemy’s attack through my breathing and redirects it along whatever trajectory I desire—that was Gentle Mastery.
〚Skill: Gentle Mastery (柔能制剛)
Grade: Unique
Rank: SS+
LV 1
Description: The soft subdues the strong.
Abilities
-Can [redirect] all attacks below a certain threshold.
-Unlocks at LV 5〛
A smile bloomed across my face as I read the description. Redirect all attacks. Yes, I had transcended mere deflection—now I could guide them exactly where I wished.
I drove my blade straight through the jaw of the last remaining Giant Armored Ant charging toward me, slamming it into the ground.
Crash!
With a tremendous boom, the final Giant Armored Ant met its end, bewildered by what had befallen it, and only then did a genuine smile bloom across my face.
“Excellent. Truly excellent.”
I finished off even the first Giant Armored Ant that had collapsed, having witnessed all its companions fall.
〚Unique-Rank [D-] LV 20: Giant Armored Ant (强巨蟻) Elite×4 defeated!〛
〚Contribution: 100%〛
〚Rewards: Navy Coins×100, Unique-[D-] Magic Stone×4, Giant Armored Ant’s Steel Mandible×2, Giant Armored Ant’s Steel Carapace×1, Giant Armored Ant’s Steel Helm×1〛
〚Experience: 10,000〛
〚LEVEL UP!〛
〚Gained 1 Free Point!〛
This was my second level-up since entering the dungeon. I distributed my free point to Limitless Stats, then collapsed onto the ground where I stood.
I pulled a health potion from my inventory and drank it in one gulp, feeling the exhaustion wash away as the buffs faded in an instant.
‘Time remaining….’
Over fourteen hours remained until the next wave. Accounting for the return journey, I needed to depart at least ten hours from now, leaving me with roughly four hours. Still in a comfortable position, I rose and walked slowly, continuing my search for enemies and information.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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