I Became a Mythical Hunter After Killing the Golden Goblin - Chapter 93

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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 93. The Ancient Serpent Crawling Through the Abyss of Ten Thousand Years—Imoogi (2)
-KWAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!
A roar echoes from the distance. I open my eyes, which I had been keeping closed in silence.
“Right on cue.”
The Imoogi is coming. Fortunately, there were no variables—no possibility it wouldn’t show. If it hadn’t appeared, I would have been utterly humiliated.
Simultaneously, messages bloom before me. The System conveys the situation calmly yet urgently.
〚Special Hidden Stage: A Catastrophic-rank Monster Raid has occurred!〛
〚Special Hidden Boss—Ancient-Rank B—: Catastrophic-rank Monster—The Ancient Serpent Crawling Through the Abyss of Ten Thousand Years—Imoogi has appeared!〛
I rise from my seat. I place the mask back on my face and conceal my physique beneath the golden armor.
So that no one in this world knows who I am.
Outside, Hunters cry out in urgency, their voices trembling with shock and fury. They cannot believe this situation, questioning why it must happen now, but it is already too late.
There are only two ways to escape this situation: death or capturing the Imoogi.
Those eliminated from the event for failing to meet contribution requirements in the previous wave will surely clutch their chests and sigh with relief upon seeing this message.
〚From this moment forward, the zone barriers suppressing players of the nation—South Korea—will disappear!〛
The System’s restrictions dividing Zones 31 through 40 have vanished. Thousands of Hunters from ten zones must gather.
That gives them a higher chance of survival. And their thoughts align. I hear cries to gather around Dangun Ji-hyuk.
〚The Monster Wave is crashing down!〛
〚All monsters from the 5th Wave through the 10th Wave will pour forth at once!〛
〚Prepare yourselves!〛
〚Prepare yourselves!〛
〚Prepare yourselves!〛
〚Time remaining until Wave: 00 : 27 : 51〛
All remaining monsters will be drenched in the Imoogi’s immense buffs and surge forth. Up to this point, it differs little from before my regression.
Those monsters will simply flee in terror once the Imoogi dies, so I need only endure. That’s all.
Yes, merely endure. The problem is that it won’t be easy. Casualties are inevitable.
“Now it’s finished.”
The remaining messages will truly begin appearing once that creature emerges, so from now on—!
As I think this, another message blooms in my vision.
〚Furious and arrogant Misfortune draws upon power beyond its limits and curses you!〛
〚Misfortune grants its power to an arrogant insect and twists its thoughts ever so slightly!〛
It was Misfortune. That creature shows no sign of tiring, determined to obstruct me.
〚Should you overcome Misfortune’s curse, Misfortune shall receive its price!〛
〚One shell protecting the Curse of Misfortune [Legendary] granted to you shatters!〛
For the first time, a proper explanation of Misfortune emerges. It means that creature is now overextending itself. Despite expending so much power that it awakened Azazel, I did not die, and so it gnashed its teeth and blazed even brighter with fury.
It dares to cross a line it should never cross.
In return, I can now shed one layer from this damned Curse of Misfortune!
My eyes burn with longing. I must overcome this no matter what.
I never intended to die willingly anyway, but this time I will struggle all the harder.
〚Entity: The Ancient Serpent Crawling Through the Abyss of Ten Thousand Years—Imoogi has temporarily received power from Entity: ????!〛
Entity: ????. I don’t know who it is. But one thing is certain: that creature is the primary culprit behind this situation.
‘Was he like that even before the regression?’
Probably. The only difference between then and now is whether I was there or not, whether I dragged Dangun Ji-hyuk into this or not.
The butterfly effect. I grit my teeth and rise from my seat. Soon after, hearing a knock on the tent flap, I hurriedly open it to find Dangun Ji-hyuk staring at me with a hardened expression.
“It’s real. The Imoogi really is appearing.”
“Can you feel it? A variable has emerged. Someone has restored the Imoogi’s power.”
At my words, he nods as if confirming a message, his expression growing even more grim.
“I apologize, but we were far too arrogant. With merely this level of force… we cannot capture that.”
I click my tongue as well. I had suspected it wouldn’t be easy, but for Dangun Ji-hyuk to wear such an expression?
So it truly isn’t called a calamity-grade monster for nothing. I click my tongue and begin assessing the situation. What should I do? How can I overcome this predicament?
Time is running out. Less than twenty-five minutes remain. Longinus has only just reached approximately fifty percent activation. Even if that creature has recovered, a direct hit from Longinus would be fatal.
‘But what comes after?’
To kill it with certainty, I need to raise it by at least another ten percent here. That creature is of ancient rank. Even with diminished power and status, if it’s ancient, it means it was originally of legendary rank.
Then I need to raise it to at least sixty percent. Only then can I hunt it.
But to raise another ten percent in this situation, I would need to wait at least three to five more days. No one could endure that.
In the first place, this is not something a single SS-rank and a few S-ranks could capture.
Before the regression, even after SSS-rank Hunters were born and SS-ranks became numerous, not a single calamity-grade monster—except for the weakened Imoogi among the five—was ever defeated. It was only natural.
“First, please clear out this tent. We should at least try. We can land one fatal blow, so we can buy time. If all else fails, we’ll have to wait for reinforcements to arrive.”
Participation during a wave is possible. So that’s why Dangun Ji-hyuk and Spear Emperor, who hadn’t participated in the wave before the regression, hunted the Imoogi together.
Of course, that restriction only applies to players holding citizenship from South Korea, China, and Russia.
‘Normally, Chinese players couldn’t enter Korean zones, but the System made an exceptional allowance.’
It was only natural, since the Imoogi’s very appearance deviated from the laws set by the System. After all, the System is surprisingly fair.
At that moment, a message appeared before me.
〚The System proposes to player Shin Ju-ha!〛
〚Become an administrator belonging to the System! You satisfy the conditions.〛
〚Then we shall help you escape this situation. Please make a wise choice…〛
“What?”
The System could send such direct messages?
I had known the System was showing subtle favor since the Azazel incident, but I never expected it to offer salvation in this manner.
I smile and set the proposal aside for now. There’s no point deliberating—it’s too early to choose. I needed to try everything and make my final decision last.
‘But wait, I have the qualifications to be a System administrator?’
What even is that? Could it be referring to authority?
I shake off my muddled thoughts, exhale deeply, and tap Dangun Ji-hyuk’s back with my left arm, the one not holding Longinus.
“It’s too late to regret now. Let’s at least struggle. I’m sorry. I’ve dragged you into this mess because of me.”
It’s all my fault. Everything gets twisted because of this cursed Misfortune.
For the first time in a long while, I feel the weight of immense guilt pressing down on me. I want to curse this damned fate once more.
Watching me, Dangun Ji-hyuk lets out a short laugh. As if exasperated.
“What nonsense are you spouting? I’m a Hunter. A player acknowledged by the System. This was my choice, my decision. If you think I’m standing here just because some E-rank greenhorn told me to, then that’s an arrogant delusion. Well… even speaking so grandly, the situation is indeed bleak. Thinking about death makes a person feel lighter, somehow.”
He pats my shoulder alongside me, then turns his body. Infusing mana, he shouts loudly.
“Hear me! All players, gather in Zone 35! We shall fight to the bitter end! If we fall here, those creatures will advance toward where your families are! Your friends! Your loved ones! Protect them! And fight! I, Dangun Cheonje, and the Dangun Guild shall stand with you!!!”
At the great ranker’s cry that lifts morale, fear and panic vanish from the players’ eyes, replaced by will and determination.
Dangun Cheonje soars into the air. The heavens part, illuminating him. Vast azure mana swirls and spreads, carrying his will outward.
“Let us end this here! Slay that calamity and etch our names into history! We shall become great heroes!”
“Heeding the Guild Master’s command, assemble!!!”
Team Leader 4 and Team Leader 5 were the first to step forward. With resolute eyes and voices still brimming with guild pride, they rallied their subordinates and prepared.
One by one, the players who followed began readying themselves to face the enemy.
Each guild took their positions, steeling themselves with the resolve of life and death.
Though fear spread like plague with unstoppable speed, at least they prevented the front lines from collapsing into complete chaos and disorder.
It was a result born from the charisma of a single man.
‘So that is Dangun Cheonje.’
Now I understand why so many Hunters revere and exalt him, calling him great. And now I understand the difference between him and my parents.
‘He is strong.’
Not physically strong. Mentally strong.
My parents were also S-rank Hunters. Back then, there was no SS-rank classification, so it was difficult to gauge their exact power, but I know they were the strongest in South Korea and among the world’s elite. They were called the greatest genius couple of all time.
Yet they were weak. They possessed such kindness and gentleness of spirit. They hesitated to kill monsters and preferred to walk beside others rather than lead them—to be followers rather than leaders.
They retreated. They lacked charisma. Even when betrayed and abandoned, they never once expressed proper anger.
Pitiful as they were in my eyes, they were still my parents. Unfortunate souls who possessed such tremendous power and talent.
Unlike Dangun Cheonje, who is called a king, they were called heroes and received praise from all people.
“How magnificent.”
Thinking of Dangun Cheonje and my parents, I spoke the words that tumbled from my thoughts. Both he and my parents are people from whom I have much to learn, people who are magnificent and admirable.
There was indeed a time when I dreamed while watching them—when I was very young, in those days when my dreams changed dozens of times a day.
It feels as though that old dream is awakening once more. The dream I thought I had erased while living through each agonizing, exhausting day.
“I want to save him.”
I clench my teeth. I cannot kill him. It is laughable that I, infinitely weaker than him, would even consider saving or not saving him, yet I desperately want to save him.
I search for a method. I verify everything I possess, again and again.
I seek the card that can turn this situation around. I search, and search, and search once more.
Time flows and flows until the earth trembles and roars echo as the enemy draws near.
At last, a glimmer of hope appears before my eyes.

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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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