Leveling Up Alone

Chapter 327 – Laboratory of Blood (5)

“Hoho~”

On the other hand, Mavros looked quite sad.

“Kyu…”

If there was one thing he hated in this world, it was seeing Han-Yeol in pain.

“Kyu! Kyu!” he cried out in anger at the creature, as if saying, ‘you would’ve been dead a long time ago if this place were wide enough for me to fly!’ or something like that.

“Grrrr…” the creature growled at Tia and Mavros.

It was now aiming for them, as the strongest of the three, Han-Yeol, was down.

Shwooong… Kaboom!

A mana shell struck the creature on its face, causing it to exclaim, “Greuk!”

Though undamaged, Han-Yeol successfully drew its aggro away from Tia and Mavros.

Crunch…!

Han-Yeol descended from the wall, emerging from the cloud of dust while stepping on the debris on the floor.

Thud… Thud…

A scratch on his forehead slightly bled, marking the first time he had bled since becoming a Master Rank Hunter.

Tak! Tak!

He dusted his clothes off and said, “Hey, muscle pig. Let’s fight properly this time.”

There was something different about his eyes now, a trait stemming from his school days when fights had been common; he would only become 'enraged' when he saw himself bleed.

“Snort!”

The creature visibly looked down on him, having defeated him once before and seeing no reason why it couldn't do so again.

Tak!

Han-Yeol kicked off the ground, initiating the first move.

Shwiiiik!

His chain flew in different directions, a departure from his usual Restrain or Chain Smite, darting around as if trying to engulf the area.

“Grwaaaah!”

Bam! Bam! Bam!

The creature slammed its chest again and charged at Han-Yeol without relenting.

Whoosh!

It attempted its signature attack—a punch.

However, Han-Yeol pivoted on his right foot, spinning to evade the creature’s familiar punch.

Bam!

“Grwuok?”

Puuuk!

The creature grew flustered after missing its target, becoming the one struck by the hammer attached to the chain's end.

Bam!

Propelled backward, it crashed into the wall.

“Now we're even,” Han-Yeol grinned, somewhat calming down after repaying the creature for making him bleed.

“Grwaaaaah!” the creature roared, charging at its prey with each step filled with rage, propelling it even faster than before.

Whoosh! Bam!

Despite its attempt, the creature's punch fell short, as Han-Yeol's Cat Walk had reached Master Rank.

Easily dodging the punch, Han-Yeol struck the creature's face with his chain and hammer, creating a comical resemblance to a sucker ‘punch’.

“Grwaaaah!”

The sucker punch only further enraged the creature, whiched swelled up its muscles further.

“Ha! I’m not gonna lose to that!” Han-Yeol exclaimed as he activated…

‘Rage Mode!’

Kwachik!

A sharp pain surged through him as his muscles swelled, enhancing his speed and strength.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Bam!

The creature swung its fist frantically, attempting to catch its agile adversary, but Han-Yeol evaded each strike, countering with his chain, hammer, or swift kicks to the creature's face.

“Gwuoh…!”

The creature's rage had now surpassed all bounds.

While many believed Han-Yeol's strength lay in his numerous skills, few knew of his adeptness as a fighter, honed through training under Kajikar. Alongside this, Kajikar had instilled in him a keen combat insight.

Though agitated upon seeing his blood, he maintained composure, analyzing the ongoing battle.

‘This guy’s skin is too tough. If I can't cut through it, I'll exhaust myself first,’ he realized, finding his current situation less than ideal.

“Grwaaah!”

The creature charged once more.

Han-Yeol dodged and swung his hammer with full force.

‘Hammer Shock!’

Bam! Kwachiiik!

“Grwuooooh!”

The impact twisted the creature's neck sharply backward, yet it showed no signs of pain, retaliating with another punch. It was seemingly scoffing at Han-Yeol's attempts.

“Oh really?” Han-Yeol responded, comprehending the creature's message and taking it to heart.

‘Cold Chain! Frozen Field!’

If most of his fire attribute skills were used with his sword, then his ice attribute skills were used with his chain.

Chwaaak!

“Gwook?”

The creature sensed a sudden chilling aura surrounding the seemingly innocuous hard chain.

“Gwuooooh!”

Yet, in its current enraged state, the creature remained unaffected, devoid of rationality.

Although the chain now held an icy mana, penetrating the creature's skin—capable of deflecting even nuclear missiles—seemed improbable.

This time, Han-Yeol fought with a composed demeanor.

‘Crowd Restrain!’

Why opt for Crowd Restrain, a skill meant to immobilize multiple targets for three seconds, instead of Restrain, more effective against a single target?

Unexpectedly, something peculiar occurred.

Chwak! Chwak! Chwak!

“Gwuoh?”

The chain abruptly fragmented into numerous pieces, darting toward the creature.

“Gwuook?!”

Swiftly, the chains ensnared the creature, binding it tightly.

Heh.

Han-Yeol smirked, pleased to see his plan unfold.

‘My abilities might mimic a game, but this isn't a game. I wield these skills as I see fit!’

He diligently honed this skill, advancing it from D to A Rank, significantly enhancing its effectiveness.

“Gwuoooooh!”

Kwachik! Kwachik!

The creature attempted to break free with its might.

‘Not so fast!’ Han-Yeol countered, yanking the chain.

Kwachik! Bam!

The creature lost its balance, tumbling backward.

It perfectly showcased Han-Yeol's combat intelligence—he leveraged the creature's strength and size to destabilize it.

As it hit the floor with a resounding 'bam!', it signaled Han-Yeol to unleash his entire arsenal against it.

‘Mana Explosion!’

Krwaaaang!

‘Frozen Hand!’

C-Craaack!

A fusion of fire and ice was a part of Han-Yeol’s plan. He intended to exploit the drastic temperature change to breach the creature's resilient skin.

C-Chwaaaak! Psshhhh…!

A dense cloud of smoke formed from the fusion of fire and ice.

'Damn it...' Han-Yeol grimaced.

Despite assaulting the creature with various attacks, it remained standing firm.

“GRWWAAAAK!”

The creature grew even more enraged, seemingly bolstering its strength akin to a barbarian or similar archetype.

Bam! Bam! Bam! Bam!

Pounding its chest, its eyes were ablaze with red fury.

“Gwuooooh!”

Bam! Crack!

The creature shrugged off Han-Yeol's assaults, unleashing an ear-splitting roar.

‘Unbelievable!’

The creature deployed a Tanker's skill, nullifying Han-Yeol's formidable combination of fire and ice—one of his most potent attacks. How could the creature shrug it off so effortlessly?

‘You really want a showdown?!’

Han-Yeol, just as infuriated as the creature, reached into his pocket.

Seuk…

Retrieving a mana stone, he prepared to employ a skill he hadn't intended to use until now.

C-Crack… Cheeeng!

Squeezing the expensive mana stone, it shattered into fragments. An ordinary person attempting such an act would trigger a small explosion or cause uncontrollable mana release. But not for Han-Yeol.

‘Enhance!’

The power of Enhance came into play. A blue energy emanated from the shattered mana stone, enveloping his body, dispelling accumulated fatigue and soothing his mood.

Enhance augmented both Han-Yeol's physical prowess and mental acuity.

‘Alright! Time for round two!’

Seuk… Tak!

Han-Yeol lowered his stance before darting forward like an arrow.

“Krwaaaaah!”

Kwachik… BOOM!

The creature roared, dropping to all fours and sprinting toward Han-Yeol, now moving at double its previous speed. The clash was imminent.

Bam!

‘Keuk…!’ Han-Yeol groaned, feeling as if every bone in his body had been shattered.

Enhance had indeed strengthened him, yet the creature seemed to have gained an unexpected surge in strength as well.

‘I won't be defeated!’

Bam! Bam! Bam!

Their collision was fierce; the creature's fists against Han-Yeol’s chain and sword wrought such violence that the surrounding furniture lay demolished.

Kwachik!

“...”

Meanwhile, Tia methodically eliminated the remaining Smiths one by one. As Han-Yeol engaged the creature, she silently navigated the ceiling, ensnaring a Smith with her web and dispatching them with fatal bites to the neck, repeating the process with each victim.

‘Hmm… They weren’t particularly appetizing initially, but it seems I’m acquiring a taste for them. Perhaps they’re an acquired flavor?’

Tia primarily hunted criminals: thieves, murderers, rapists, arsonists, etc. She understood the dangers of preying on ordinary people, which could lead to severe consequences if Han-Yeol discovered her actions. Thus, she limited her hunting to criminals, and the Smiths marked her first foray into consuming awakened beings.

‘They don't quite measure up as awakened beings…’

Arachnids like Tia had the ability to absorb knowledge and memories from their prey, yet no matter how many Smiths she consumed, she couldn’t assimilate their knowledge or memories.

However, diligently consuming them seemed to expand her maximum mana capacity. Essentially, the Smiths acted as natural supplements for Tia.

Munch!

Tia bit another Smith’s neck before looking at Mavros and asking, “Do you want some too, Mavros?”

Mavros frantically shook his head in refusal.

“Hmm… but they taste good…”

Mavros had no qualms about consuming humans, but he abstained solely because he sensed Han-Yeol might disapprove.

Additionally, unlike Tia, Mavros belonged to a race that gained nothing from devouring humans. The only instance he consumed another creature to bolster his strength was before he reached his current stage. Now, Mavros ate solely for taste, nourishment, and satisfaction.

Bam! Bam! Bam!

While Tia and Mavros were occupied with their own affairs.

“Grwuuuuoh!”

“Haaaap!”

The fierce battle between the creature and Han-Yeol raged on.

Shwak! Shwak!

Whoosh! Shwooosh!

Their clashes generated impacts and shockwaves that reduced their surroundings to ruins. Had an ordinary person passed by, the sheer pressure from their battle might have ruptured their eardrums.

The laboratory stood intact because it was constructed by specialized Hunters, and the International Hunters’ Association heavily invested in its creation.

Chwaaaak!

“Gwuaaaak!”

Bam! Bam! Bam!

As the creature rampaged, Han-Yeol hurled his chain, attempting to ensnare it. However, the creature evaded skillfully, unwilling to fall for the same trick twice.

Despite its brute nature, it demonstrated a keen awareness of Han-Yeol’s chain, prioritizing evasion above all else.

“Bring it on!”

Bam!

“Gwuok!”

Exploiting the creature’s cautiousness, Han-Yeol capitalized by delivering a knee kick to its face.

Pukeok!