Chapter 42: First Strike, Sure Victory

I turned my attention to the dungeon map.

The icon representing Duke Duas had changed. It had transformed from a green dot, indicating a neutral NPC, into a crimson crown, signifying a boss monster.

So, the knight-like monsters outside weren’t invaders at all. They were heroes who had come to seal away a great evil. And the Lord who had given us the quest was actually the dungeon’s final boss—the very evil we were supposed to defeat.

This dungeon is twisted beyond belief.

Fortunately, I had managed to evade the surprise attack from the NPC-turned-boss.

But there was no time to relax.

Clang!

Suddenly, the sound of polearms clattering to the floor pierced the air.

Turning around, I saw my teammates behind me, one by one, dropping their weapons.

“Seonah…”

Caught off guard, I almost called out to Lee Seonah, but quickly clamped my mouth shut.

She was among them.

The hunters’ eyes had lost their focus.

“Didn’t I tell you? It’s already too late.”

In that state, the great evil revealed its true nature. The Duke smirked and gestured.

“Bring me the Relic.”

Clomp.

The Expedition Members began moving toward him stiffly, like marionettes, their movements unnatural and jerky.

Brainwashing.

I still didn’t know the Duke’s true identity, but I quickly understood what he had done. In that brief moment, he had cast a brainwashing skill with omnidirectional range—a skill so potent it instantly shattered the mental fortitude of even A-Rank Hunters.

So, why was I unaffected?

Only one explanation came to mind: I had activated one of the Status Window’s core functions.

Just as I suspected.

An endless stream of modifiers continued to appear.

Suddenly, another notification window popped up, overlaying the previous ones:

A passive skill with a low probability of neutralizing mental corruption skills had been triggered.

The calculator finished analyzing the technique and displayed its results.

As a wave of relief washed over me, information about the neutralized skill appeared before my eyes:

Even Lee Seonah had been completely helpless against it.

I had already anticipated that it would be S-rank or higher.

The problem lay in the Duke’s true identity: a vampire. These heteromorphic monsters were not to be underestimated, even by S-Rank Hunters, especially high-ranking nobles like him, possessing exceptional intelligence and mastery over mental manipulation magic and blood magic. His threat level likely rivaled or exceeded A+.

Even if I could break free from this mind control, the situation remained precarious. Hunting a high-ranking vampire of that caliber required specialized skills or specialized equipment.

“Yes, come here. Come here…”

Leaning on his cane, Duke Duas beckoned, his appearance already undergoing a visible transformation. His once-kind eyes now flashed with dilated, jet-black pupils, and his deeply wrinkled face smoothed out, regaining its youthful tautness.

“It seems he’s absorbing energy from these relics.”

I stared at the diamonds inside the wooden chest. Within the transparent gems, a crimson liquid writhed and pulsed. The liquid seeped out and was absorbed by Duas.

If that’s the case…

Manager Mi’s chat window vibrated incessantly. She must have misunderstood, thinking I’d fallen under the Duke’s hypnosis.

“Don’t worry. I’m perfectly fine.”

Is that even possible?

Regardless, that wasn’t the immediate problem.

“Hmm.”

I stared at my teammates as they staggered toward Duke Duas like zombies. My gaze fixated on the wooden chest in Lee Seonah and Kim Jihoon’s hands, tracing the crimson energy that radiated from it like a galaxy. At its edge, my vision settled on the vampire, reveling in the energy permeating his body and laughing maniacally.

“Heh, hahahaha! Yes, my strength is returning! I can feel my authority surging back!”

He gazed in rapturous fascination at his rapidly transforming body. His arms and legs elongated, and his snow-white hair regained its raven hue.

The hunched figure, previously cowering like a hunchback, began to straighten.

Normally, in a situation this unpredictable, scouting the terrain and waiting for an opportunity would be the wisest course of action.

With a series of cracks, the vampire began to straighten his hunched back.

Extending my hand toward the creature, I declared, “Manager Mi, a true man of action like me…”

Aiming the fiercely burning fireball at the vampire, I recited the sixth virtue of a man of action:

“Never wait for your opponent to finish transforming.”

Furthermore, any idiot who transforms in front of their enemies deserves a merciless beating, regardless of allegiance. If they’re an ally, they’re a fool revealing all their cards. If they’re an enemy, they’re simply a thoughtless imbecile.

The raging fireball in my hand shot forward like a cannonball.

Vampire-type monsters inherently possess high elemental resistance. Duke Duas, being a high-ranking noble among them, would naturally be impervious to most ordinary attribute magic, let alone a basic skill like Fireball, which he might even have laughed off.

Yet the moment the fireball left my hand and streaked across the Lord’s Chamber toward his face, he froze.

“W-what…?”

Was it the suddenness of the attack? Or did his instincts warn him that this surging fireball was anything but ordinary? Whatever the reason, the vampire hastily raised his arm to shield his face.

A deafening explosion tore through the air as crimson fireballs scattered wildly.

“Kaaaaaah!”

Amidst the pitch-black smoke and searing heat that filled the Lord’s Chamber, the Duke’s ferocious scream echoed thunderously.

“Gah… what… what is this…?”

As the smoke gradually cleared, the vampire emerged, one arm scorched crimson. His youthful face, now restored, was contorted with shock that bordered on terror. Even for a high-ranking vampire noble, a Fireball charged to 50% clearly inflicted significant damage. Worse still, he had been ambushed while actively absorbing energy to regain his strength—essentially, caught mid-transformation.

No wonder he’s so disoriented.

The vampire’s eyes darted wildly, his pupils rolling back and forth. The moment our gazes met, his pupils dilated sharply, and he snarled, “What are you? How did you resist my Demonic Eyes?”

Normally, I wouldn’t have bothered with a conversation. I would have exploited his confusion to press my attack. But I stood quietly. In this situation, a full-blown confrontation would be futile. There was no need to waste my strength or Mana.

Now was the time to wait.

“Doesn’t this body warrant an answer? Why don’t my Demonic Eyes work on you…!”

Still, no answer came.

Instead, with a nonchalant expression, the vampire picked at his ear, flicked something off, and delivered a simple provocation.

”…Insignificant creature.”

The vampire’s face contorted violently. Though now a handsome man with a bewitching smile, he bared his fangs and snarled like a beast, his refined appearance utterly betrayed by primal rage.

“I was so close to regaining my perfect form…”

He glared at the Hunters rooted to the spot. Perhaps the sudden ambush had broken their concentration, but they no longer obeyed his commands. Still reeling from the mental contamination, they stood dazed and helpless.

The crimson energy flowing from the wooden box and being absorbed by the vampire had also been abruptly severed, leaving a thin, dangling thread.

It seemed my surprise attack had prevented him from fully regaining his power as a high-ranking noble.

Attacking during transformation—classic move.

As I nodded to myself, the vampire roared, his eyes blazing with fury, “It doesn’t matter. I’ve recovered enough power to subdue a lowly human like you.”

“I’ll find out why my powers don’t work on you after I tear you limb from limb,” he snarled.

Suddenly, a jet-black aura erupted from his entire body. His form blurred, leaving afterimages in its wake.

Then—

Pop.

The vampire’s pale face materialized inches from mine. His speed rivaled that of a top-tier S-Rank Hunter.

Whoosh!

His hand, now tipped with razor-sharp claws, shot toward my throat with terrifying speed.

This is on a completely different level from any monster I’ve faced before.

Even though he hadn’t fully recovered his power.

The creature was a high-ranking vampire, said to give even multiple A-Rank Hunters a run for their money.

Its movements were like silent lightning.

Its outstretched arm was as cunning as a snake constricting its prey.

As I followed its attack pattern with my eyes, Duke Duas’s gaze lifted mockingly, as if to say, It’s too late to dodge now.

And he was right.

By the time I’d visually confirmed the attack, it was too late to evade it through my own physical reflexes.

That’s why I used…

I effortlessly evaded the attack with a Skill.

My waist flexed fluidly, like a willow branch swaying in a gentle breeze.

My feet, rooted to the ground, traced a swift semicircle, retreating precisely half a step.

Whoosh!

A moment later, razor-sharp claws whistled past my nose.

“W-what?!”

The vampire’s pupils dilated in shock.

The evasive maneuver of Phantom Flash Step resembled a willow branch swaying in a gentle breeze.

The bare minimum of angle.

With the slightest movement, I deflected the enemy’s attack.

This gave them absolute confidence.

They were certain their strike would land.

Their movements grew larger in proportion to their conviction.

But when their blow missed…

Stagger!

They inevitably lost their balance.

That sliver of vulnerability was all I needed.

I seized that gap, that infinitesimal opening, and drove my strike through it.

If the Soaring Dragon Single Horn Flash was a piercing front kick that drilled straight through the center,

the Soaring Dragon Single Leg Flash was a devastating side kick that shattered defenses from the flank.

If foot techniques were sharp spears,

leg techniques were blunt iron maces.

My left leg arced through the air with lightning speed.

My shin slammed into the vampire’s side.

Thwack!

The sound of a sandbag or water-filled bladder bursting.

“Ugh…?!”

In the darkened Lord’s Chamber, the vampire’s crimson eyes scattered diagonally.

“Th-this bastard…”

Whoosh!

Staggering from the blow, Duas suddenly lashed out his hand.

Again, his strike missed by half a step, slicing through empty air.

And just as that gap reappeared…

The second strike was a fist that pierced like an awl.

It tore through the air, hurtling forward with lightning speed, until it reached its target.

Crack!

“Gah… hck!”

Duas’s chest caved inward, and a muffled scream escaped his lips.

However, befitting his status as a high-ranking noble, the vampire possessed exceptional resilience and refused to crumble completely.

“Kuaaaaah!”

With a venomous roar, he began slashing wildly with his razor-sharp claws.

My response was simple.

Whoosh!

Activating Illusory Serpent Step, I executed a swift evasive maneuver.

Ratatatatat!

“Keh, guck!”

I let him savor the profound secrets of the Soaring Dragon Divine Fist.

“Y-you rat bastard…!” the vampire snarled, his voice dripping with fury.

His face was a chaotic blend of shock, confusion, rage, and fear.

But nothing would change.

Whoosh!

I dodged his attacks with the lightness of a feather dancing in the breeze.

Whack!

“Kugh!”

I struck him with the force of a thousand-pound hammer, swinging my fist down like a club.

Immediately afterward, I planted my left foot firmly, leaning backward to brace myself.

Crack!

“Keugh!”

Using the momentum, I launched a kick at his abdomen with my right foot, sending him flying like an arrow from a bow.

“You bastard… I’ll definitely kill yo—”

I twisted slightly to dodge his claws, which curved in from the side.

Then, I swiftly retreated three steps backward.

Whoosh!

I surged forward like a bullet, slamming my fist into his chest.

“Keh… huff.”

Kwaaaang!

A deafening crash echoed through one corner of the Lord’s Chamber.

Duke Duas, struck by my fist, finally lost his grip and was sent flying through the air, slamming into the wall.

“Hoo.”

I stared at the spot where Duke Duas had crashed, catching my breath.

Each of my strikes had landed cleanly, but I held no illusions.

After all, he was a high-ranking vampire noble with a regenerative ability beyond imagination.

From the start, hunting vampires with pure martial arts was impossible for anyone but Matthew.

Still, I’m holding my own surprisingly well.

I wasn’t capable of delivering a fatal blow.

But the fact that my ‘skill-ified’ Soaring Dragon Divine Fist was effective even against high-ranking vampires was encouraging.

Especially since I wasn’t channeling Mana into each strike to maximize its power, like Matthew did.

Suddenly,

“Ugh…”

A groan came from behind.

Turning around, I saw Kim Jihoon shaking his head and staggering.

Lee Seonah, pale-faced and gasping for breath, had regained focus in her eyes.

The remaining Hunters were still frozen in place, their pupils dilated.

It seemed the two with the highest stats were the first to break free from Duke Duas’s mind control.

“You’re up early,” I greeted them with a grin, seeing their bewildered expressions.

Perfect timing.