The All-Time Best Talent was F-Class Purification - Chapter 50

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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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50
Chapter 50 – An Elite Talent Awakened as an F-Rank Purifier
The moment I saw her pallid face, it felt as though a severed fuse in my mind had suddenly reconnected.
‘Guilt? Regret? I’ll deal with that later. Right now, I need to survive. I need to save my people.’
I bit my lip until blood flowed. The metallic taste jolted my senses awake. I gripped the Queen’s white fang in a reverse grip.
‘I need to breathe. I need to clear away this filthy air.’
My mana core, expanded to C-Rank near my heart, thrashed violently. The energy I’d absorbed from Basement Level 3 surged desperately for an outlet.
“Everyone… get back!!”
I roared like a beast and drove the dagger into the ground.
Boom!
I had no thought of controlling the skill or looking impressive. Only the desperate struggle to survive. I poured every ounce of energy within me outward.
[Area Release: Holy Flame]
Whoooooosh—!!!
A pillar of pure white fire erupted from my center in an explosive burst, and the concrete floor where the dagger struck screamed. It was less light than shockwave.
Sizzzzzzle—!
The violet mist enveloping my surroundings touched the white inferno and vanished. It wasn’t being pushed back—the contaminated particles were burning away.
“Kyieeeek?!”
The hounds charging at us and the monsters mauling other Hunters in the distance were suddenly engulfed by the white wave. Their corrupted hides sizzled as they burned, and the mana circuits within their bodies overloaded and burst.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The monsters convulsed in agony and were hurled backward. Meanwhile, my comrades and the fleeing Hunters seemed to finally breathe.
The wave didn’t stop—it spread violently outward, thirty meters, fifty meters, a hundred meters. The toxic miasma that had blanketed the entire Loading Dock dissipated in an instant.
“Gasp… gasp…”
Had a single Holy Flame release consumed nearly all my mana? My vision turned white, and strength drained from my entire body.
But when I lifted my head, what I saw was a clear Loading Dock with the mist gone. And dozens of monster corpses scattered across the floor.
“What… is this?”
The surviving D-Rank Hunters stared at me with dazed expressions. Park Jae-jung and Seo Eun-ha looked around with wide, shocked eyes.
Lee Ji-young spoke to me in a trembling voice.
“What was that just now?”
I had no strength to answer. Just a desperate scream for survival. Yet that power had created the only breathable space in this hopeless Lower District.
My legs gave out. My fingertips trembled with convulsions, and a warning sound seemed to ring in my head. Though my mana pool had grown upon advancing to C-Rank, purifying such a wide area in one go was beyond my limits. I could barely stand through sheer willpower.
“Boss, are you alright?”
Park Jae-jung grabbed my arm to steady me.
“…I’m fine. Just got dizzy for a moment.”
I forced a smile and pushed myself upright. If I collapsed here, everyone would panic.
“Lee Ji-young, what’s the situation around us?”
“Not good.”
Lee Ji-young adjusted her goggles and surveyed the surroundings.
“The shockwave cleared the nearby toxins, but it’s temporary. Look—it’s creeping back in.”
She was right. Through the drainage grates and cracks in the Loading Dock floor, the violet mist that had been pushed back was slowly seeping upward again. Like persistent mold. And the monsters scattered by the impact were beginning to stir, shaking themselves off one by one.
“It’s dangerous to stay here. We need to leave before they come back.”
“But where do we go? I don’t even know the geography of this place.”
Seo Eun-ha fidgeted impatiently, shifting her weight from foot to foot.
Thud, thud.
The five-member Hunter party that had nearly been surrounded and killed by monsters moments ago approached us. Their leader, a middle-aged man, bled from a deep wound on one arm, yet his eyes remained sharp and alert.
Park Jae-jung instinctively raised his shield, wary of them. The tension hung thick in the air. But the man threw his weapon to the ground, raising both hands to show he meant no harm.
“…Thank you for saving us.”
The man bowed deeply. His companions behind him followed suit, lowering their heads.
“Without you, we’d have been those bastards’ meal. Truly… thank you.”
It was a rough but sincere gesture of gratitude. I tapped Park Jae-jung’s shoulder to ease his guard.
“No need. It’s natural for us to help one another. How badly are you hurt?”
The man smiled bitterly, glancing down at his wounded arm.
“This is nothing. In the Lower District, injuries like this happen all the time. But….”
He looked at us with concern, then back at the thickening mist rising around us.
“You seem exhausted, and you don’t appear to know your way around this area… Would you consider following us if it’s not too much trouble?”
“Where to?”
“Our team has a hideout. It’s about ten minutes from here. It’s run-down, but it’s enough to escape those creatures and block out the gas.”
It was a tempting offer. But could I trust a stranger so easily? I glanced at Lee Ji-young. She nodded slightly.
I looked back at the man. I saw no cunning or greed in his expression.
“…Very well. We’ll impose on your kindness. Please lead the way.”
“Follow me. I’m Lee Seung-ryong.”
“Lee Tae-hyun.”
We exchanged brief introductions and followed Lee Seung-ryong’s party into the alley behind the Loading Dock.
Zone 99’s alleys were a labyrinth. Makeshift shanties built without permits crowded together, and broken power lines and clotheslines tangled overhead, blocking out the sky.
[Warning: Atmospheric toxin concentration rising.]
Purple mist pooled ankle-deep within the alley. With each step, an acrid stench assaulted my nostrils.
“Cover your mouth and nose. Move in as low a crouch as possible.”
Lee Seung-ryong warned us in a hushed voice.
We covered our noses with our sleeves and followed them. As we moved, glimpses of devastation flickered past us from every corner of the alley.
“Help me… please open the door….”
People pounded on shanty doors. But those inside refused to open them. Letting in the contaminated meant risking death for everyone inside.
In one secluded corner, a woman cradling a child lay collapsed. Her legs, already corroded by the toxin, had turned black.
“Please… help me….”
She reached toward us weakly upon seeing us. Han Su-jin hesitated, about to turn toward her.
“Su-jin.”
“…I know. But….”
Tears welled in Han Su-jin’s eyes.
But stopping now would expose our position. Besides, we had neither the means to treat her nor any way to take her with us. Saving one person could endanger us all.
I bit my lip. My chest tightened with a heavy ache. I had no choice but to be ruthless in my judgment.
“…We must go.”
I wrapped my arm around Han Su-jin’s shoulders and turned her gaze away.
“Right now… there’s nothing we can do. I’m sorry.”
“Forgive us… truly, we apologize….”
Han Su-jin moved forward with a quiet apology. It likely never reached the woman’s ears, but it was like an incantation to keep herself from falling apart.
Lee Seung-ryong’s party felt the same. With familiar yet bitter expressions, they averted their eyes and pressed forward in silence. They understood it too—that surviving here sometimes meant becoming ruthless.
Kieeeek—
From far down the Main Road, the cries of monsters echoed toward us.
“They’ve caught our scent. We need to run!”
We accelerated our pace. Weaving through the tangled Alleys, we arrived behind a dilapidated Abandoned Factory building. A corner camouflaged like a garbage heap. When Lee Seung-ryong lifted an old metal sheet, a narrow Staircase descending underground came into view.
“Hurry!”
Once we were all inside, Lee Seung-ryong and his companions quickly shut the metal sheet and secured a thick iron bar from within. Then they meticulously sealed the gaps with wet cloth and tape.
Shhh… thud.
The noise and Fog from outside were cut off. A narrow, musty smell of mold filled the air, but at least it wasn’t the stench of toxic gas.
“Haa… we’re alive.”
Park Jae-jung slumped against the wall, tension draining from him. Seo Eun-ha set down her staff and collapsed onto the floor.
“This is our Hideout. It’s humble, but it should be safe.”
Lee Seung-ryong spoke as he lit an old lantern.
The Hideout was larger than expected. It appeared to be a converted Underground Warehouse from an old Factory. On one side, worn mattresses were laid out, and in the corner, emergency rations and water containers were stacked.
“Have some water first.”
One of Lee Seung-ryong’s Party members handed me a dented brass kettle filled with water.
“Thank you.”
I accepted the water and took a sip. The kettle’s spout was dented. The water tasted faintly metallic, yet sweeter than honey. As the cool liquid slid down my throat, I finally felt truly alive. I passed the cup first to the exhausted Han Su-jin and Seo Eun-ha.
“You said your name was Munglade…?”
Lee Seung-ryong asked carefully, settling onto a wooden crate across from me.
“Yes. I’m Lee Tae-hyun, the leader. These are my colleagues.”
“That white light earlier… it was truly remarkable. In all my years as a Hunter, I’ve never seen anything like it.”
He spoke with genuine admiration.
“Thanks to you, we survived. We won’t forget this debt.”
“We were just fortunate. We had nowhere to go either, so we’re grateful you’ve hidden us. Let’s call it even.”
I answered calmly, but my mind was already calculating rapidly. These people are natives of this region. They know the geography well and have quick access to information. To survive here for now, their cooperation is essential.
“Excuse me, but if I may ask one thing…”
Lee Seung-ryong opened his mouth cautiously.
“The way upward… to the Middle District, is it truly completely sealed?”
At that question, every eye in the Hideout turned toward me. His Party members stopped what they were doing and stared at my lips.
I fell silent for a moment. I couldn’t lie.
“…Yes. Dominion destroyed it. The Elevator, the emergency Staircase, the Ventilation Shaft—all of it.”
“Ah….”
They’d expected it, but hearing confirmation felt like a final death blow.
“Then we’re… truly abandoned.”
Lee Seung-ryong lowered his head. His rough hands were trembling.
The atmosphere grew heavy and oppressive. But I had no intention of giving up here.
“Lee Seung-ryong.”
I called out to him.
“Yes?”
“Just because the path is blocked doesn’t mean we’re finished.”
I opened my backpack and retrieved the tablet containing the Dominion supply inventory list I’d gathered from Basement Level 3.
“If we can’t go up, we find a way to survive here. We have strength, and you have information.”
I showed him the tablet screen.
“We plan to stay here for now and reorganize our forces. And we’ll recover everything those bastards left behind, one piece at a time.”
“This is…?”
“Food, medicine, weapons. Everything we need to survive is down here. Can you guide us to retrieve it?”
Lee Seung-ryong’s eyes widened. Not merely hiding, but actively seeking a path forward—that determination became a new spark of hope for someone drowning in despair.
“…I’ll help. No, please let me help.”
“Good. Let’s rest for a bit and talk more later.”
I leaned my back against the wall and closed my eyes. Exhaustion washed over me, but my mind felt at ease. A minimum safe zone and allies.
“…Please.”
Lee Seung-ryong handed me hardtack and strips of dried meat, their surfaces rigid and unyielding.
“Thank you.”
I accepted without complaint. My mouth felt rough, but I forced myself to chew and swallow. My body, elevated to C-Rank, was ravenous for energy. Park Jae-jung and Seo Eun-ha silently consumed their portions as well. Everyone was too exhausted to speak.
Clink. The lantern’s light wavered faintly. My question broke the silence.
“Ji-young.”
“Yes.”
Lee Ji-young looked up from the tablet she’d been fiddling with. The lantern’s glow reflected off her glasses.
“I’m curious about something. Is Dominion the strongest Guild?”
“No.”
She shook her head.
“Dominion is the largest and most influential, that’s true. Especially since they monopolize energy and resources. But they’re not the only one. We typically call them the Three Great Guilds.”
“The Three Great Guilds… where are the others?”
“The Steel Alliance, built on military might, and the Blue Tower, a collective of mages and scholars. These three divide the Upper District among themselves. They keep each other in check.”
“Then how many S-Rank Hunters does Dominion have?”
This was the most crucial information. Kang Chang-gyung was merely a branch director at best. I needed to gauge the true apex of our enemies.
Lee Ji-young paused in thought, then held up her fingers.
“Officially, seven. Including the Guild Master himself.”

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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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