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Seeing the tremble in Jeong Cheol-min’s eyes, Su-ho smiled with confidence.
Yes.
He must be curious.
No, it was inevitable.
As a person.
As a man.
As a player.
As a Hunter.
There was no way he couldn’t be curious.
After all, no one had ever seen Su-ho in a proper battle. Not once.
‘Of course, Cheol-min saw me during the healer exam…’
But back then was different.
At that time, Su-ho had no skills, no real power—just a sword in hand, fighting to protect the injured.
This was precisely why Su-ho had baited him.
‘Cheol-min is someone with a deep yearning for combat.’
Jeong Cheol-min had been a Hunter and a player.
However, due to his age and lack of innate combat talent, he gave up on the Hunter lifestyle and joined the APA.
But that decision had been based on objective self-assessment, choosing a realistic path in life. It didn’t mean he’d given up his long-held dreams and passion.
What someone is good at and what they love are often very different things.
Su-ho broke the silence.
“Think about it this way: In the APA, as long as the result is good, nobody cares if the process isn’t perfect. That’s the kind of organization we work for. And I promise—if anything even slightly dangerous happens, I’ll leave the gate immediately.”
“…”
Jeong Cheol-min remained silent for a while.
For someone who had always followed the rules, Su-ho’s suggestion went against everything he believed in.
But curiosity was a dangerous thing. It gnawed at him, making it impossible to decide easily.
And yet.
“...Are you serious?”
In the end, Jeong Cheol-min was only human.
A man with fiery passions and dreams buried in his heart.
Seeing Jeong’s cautious yet positive reaction, Su-ho’s smile grew wider.
‘That’s the Cheol-min I know.’
After spending so much time with him, how could Su-ho not know his nature?
This was a calculated move, planned from the start.
Moreover, Su-ho had a personal reason. If there was anyone he wanted to show his combat prowess to, it was Jeong Cheol-min.
After all, seeing is believing. If Jeong witnessed his abilities firsthand, he would support Su-ho in the future during similar situations.
Su-ho spoke again, his tone reassuring.
“I’m serious. I promise.”
“…Fine. I get it. You’re pushing this so hard—how could I say no? But let me be clear: I don’t approve of this sort of thing lightly. I’m only agreeing because it’s you, Su-ho.”
“Of course. That’s why I came to you.”
Yes, of course.
Su-ho thought, That’s how you always are, hyung.
Now, the hard part was over. The first hurdle is always the toughest; the second is much easier.
With Jeong’s approval, all that remained was to conquer the Iron Valley and cement his skills in Jeong’s mind.
Su-ho crushed the empty coffee cup in his hand and stood up.
“By the way, Team Leader, what’s your class?”
“Well, I’ve transitioned into an archer class. Why?”
“Just curious. Not that it’ll happen, but if things get dangerous, you’ll need to run for your life.”
“…Ahem.”
It wasn’t wrong.
If things went south, Jeong was more at risk than Su-ho.
“And one more thing. What I’m going to show you today—my skills, items, and such—must stay a secret. Just between us.”
“That’s a given. I understand.”
“Good, then.”
[ Blood Weapon Activated ]
Su-ho summoned a crimson blade into his hand and gripped it tightly.
“I’ll go ahead and clear the area. Stay back and follow at a safe distance. Try not to draw attention.”
“What? Right now?”
“See you soon.”
With that, Su-ho dashed forward, moving with incredible speed toward the front.
Jeong could only stare, stunned, as Su-ho disappeared into the distance.
***
[ You have defeated a Valley Lion. ]
[ You have defeated a Valley Lion. ]
[ You have defeated a Valley Lion. ]
[ You have defeated a Valley Lion. ]
...
The exhilaration was intoxicating.
For the first time in a while, Su-ho felt like a fish returned to water as he roamed the field. His sword strokes were unrelenting, and the blood-soaked ground left behind by the slain Valley Lions painted a gruesome river of crimson in his wake.
[ Blood Prison Activated ]
Not a single drop of blood was wasted. Opportunities like this were rare, and Su-ho intended to take full advantage.
Watching this display, Jeong Cheol-min couldn’t help but be utterly shocked.
Was it the Blood Prison absorbing the blood?
Not at all.
‘That movement... it’s unreal.’
What captivated him was Su-ho’s fluid, almost acrobatic movements.
Although this wasn’t his first time seeing Su-ho fight—he’d watched him in action during the healer exam, battling orcs—this was on a completely different level.
Back then, Su-ho was impressive but far from this polished. Now, his movements were faster, sharper, and far more dazzling.
There were reasons for that.
This time, Su-ho had skills he hadn’t possessed then, such as the S-rank Leap Skill, which allowed a double jump.
When Su-ho vaulted into the air, stepping on nothing as if it were solid ground, Jeong’s eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets.
‘Is that… is that Air Step? No, it has to be! I just saw him fly into the air!’
But it didn’t stop there.
Every slash of Su-ho’s sword seemed to cut through anything in its path. Even the most intimidating Valley Lions faltered, their resolve crumbling as they attempted to flee, only to meet their end.
Watching this one-sided slaughter, a single thought ran through Jeong’s mind.
‘A calamity… That’s what Su-ho is. He’s a living calamity unleashed upon Iron Valley.’
After who knows how many lions had been cut down, a deafening roar echoed through the valley.
The entire valley trembled with the sound.
Simultaneously, a system notification appeared before them.
[ A Boss Monster has appeared. ]
The notification was the clearest warning that the ruler of the valley had arrived.
Unlike the cries of the other lions, this roar was on a completely different scale.
Su-ho looked up to meet the gaze of the creature standing atop the highest point in the valley.
The Monster Lion.
Just as Jeong had described, its name was self-explanatory. Its level had grown even higher, now reaching 113.
“113...” Su-ho murmured to himself.
His current level was 73. A gap of 40 levels.
But it didn’t matter.
The last boss monster Su-ho faced was the Sky Wyvern Queen, who had been level 120. Compared to her, this was a 7-level difference in his favor.
‘This is manageable. No, this is actually fortunate.’
But Jeong didn’t share Su-ho’s confidence.
‘Its level has risen again?!’
The Monster Lion’s level was higher than the last time Jeong had seen it. It was only natural for him to feel uneasy.
He’d heard Su-ho hadn’t yet reached triple-digit levels.
‘How can he be so confident with that kind of level gap?’
Moreover, the Monster Lion’s hide was so resilient that even elite raid teams had failed to leave a scratch.
Still, what was done was done.
Jeong closed his eyes and muttered a silent prayer.
‘Alright. I’ll trust him this time. If things go south, we’ll just run for it.’
“Team Leader!” Su-ho called out. “Make sure to keep your distance so you don’t get caught in the boss monster’s fear aura! I won’t be able to protect you once we start!”
“Yes, understood! Don’t worry about me!” Jeong replied.
Before Su-ho’s warning had even finished, the Monster Lion let out a roar that activated its Fear Aura.
[ The Monster Lion uses Boss Monster-level Fear. ]
The overwhelming Lion’s Fear was enough to make most Hunters crumble under severe debuffs.
But Su-ho remained unfazed.
Lion’s Fear?
That’s nothing compared to a dragon.
[ Dragon Blood Activated ]
[ The Dragon Spirit Effect negates Fear. ]
The blood of the dragon coursing through Su-ho nullified the Fear Aura entirely. The effect was so cooling, it felt like a natural air conditioner.
Seeing the notification, Su-ho smirked.
“This is what I call natural air conditioning.”
Still, he wondered if Jeong was holding up okay. The Fear Aura had been a nightmare for even the most elite raiders, and Jeong’s lower level likely meant he was incapacitated.
Thankfully, Jeong had already retreated to a safe distance and was observing from afar.
‘As expected of Cheol-min-hyung’s cockroach-like survival instincts. That’s why they call him “Jeong the Survivor.” You can’t underestimate the experience it takes to be a Gate Division team leader at his level.’
Turning his attention back to the Monster Lion, Su-ho locked eyes with the beast again.
He smirked, taunting it with a subtle, mocking lift of his lips.
Come down.
Stop meowing like a kitten from up there in the valley.
The message seemed to get through.
The Monster Lion began moving, descending slowly. Its demeanor was calm and regal, like that of a true king.
‘That’s what it means to be royalty, huh?’
The Monster Lion was unlike the other lions in the valley.
While the others had tawny fur, this one had a mix of ash and black in its coat, its eyes glinting golden with an intense green hue swirling within.
More notably, the other lions, typically known for moving in packs, had vanished entirely upon its arrival.
From the start, the Monster Lion had been in a league of its own, bearing the title of boss monster alone.
Su-ho summoned his Phantom Spear, gripping it firmly as he muttered to himself.
“Let’s see just how unbreakable that famed hide of yours really is.”
It was a greeting—a formal acknowledgment of the beast’s reputation.
With all his might, Su-ho hurled the Phantom Spear at the Monster Lion.
[ Throwing Spear Activated ]
The spear surged forward, aimed directly at the lion’s forehead.
Clang!
Even with the spear enhanced by its throwing skill, it bounced harmlessly off the lion’s forehead.
But what was more impressive was the lion’s reaction.
It didn’t flinch. It didn’t even turn its head. The spear hit dead center, and the lion merely stood firm, as if it had expected the attack.
That level of confidence could only come from absolute trust in its impenetrable hide.
Watching this, Jeong squeezed his eyes shut.
‘Of course…’
He’d hoped that Su-ho could overcome the legendary Indestructible Hide, but it seemed futile.
Yet Su-ho, rather than looking frustrated, smiled, admiration gleaming in his eyes.
“Impressive. Yeah, this is what it means to be the Lion of Nemea.”
His respect was genuine.
The Monster Lion before him was no ordinary beast.
It was a mythical being—one Su-ho had always dreamed of facing: the legendary Lion of Nemea.