We are now in the golden era of hunters.
Across the capital of Sylvean, dungeons and relics defined power, and countless adventurers rose and fell chasing glory. Among these rising stars stood one man who, despite his odd reputation, outshone them all.
His name was Hiro Ludin, the Lazy Trickster.
This is the tale of how the weakest man somehow became the leader of the top-ranked clan Blazing Dawn—and the party that shook the capital.
[Chapter 18 Begins]
"No," the Great Zalag said, his deep voice rumbling through the hall. "You've done well, humans… better than most."
He leaned back against his bone-carved throne. "But I don't think I need to intervene yet."
With a flick of his wrist, the floor shook.
From every tunnel and shadow, more orcs began to pour into the chamber, stomping their crude weapons on the ground in a rhythmic, terrifying beat.
"What the hell there's more of them?" Billy said, his eyes wide.
The echo of steel and bone filled the cavern as dozens of orcs surrounded them. Their snarls reverberated like thunder.
"Humans…" Zalag's golden eyes gleamed behind his skull mask. "Do you fear me?"
He raised one hand and slowly removed his mask. The instant it fell, a massive surge of mana burst outward. The air distorted, vibrating with pressure. The torches flickered violently, nearly extinguished.
"W-What is this this magic power!?" Ruby gasped. Her knees buckled, her knives slipping from her hands. "It's… unbelievable!"
She fell to the ground, panting as a suffocating weight pressed down on her chest. Billy dropped to one knee beside her, his sword trembling.
Even George, the strongest among them, clenched his teeth as veins bulged in his arms, struggling to stay upright.
Only Mia managed to hold on, though her body shook violently.
"W-why… why haven't you told your men to attack us?" Mia shouted, her voice trembling.
Zalag chuckled deeply, his voice echoing off the stone walls."As I said before… for entertainment." His grin widened, revealing rows of sharp teeth. "It's been so long since I've had guests capable of surviving this long."
Mia took a shaky breath. "Then I'll make sure you regret ever calling us entertainment!"
Before anyone could stop her, she dashed forward, her daggers glinting in the pale light.
She moved faster than the eye could follow, slicing through several lesser orcs on her way toward Zalag's throne.
But before she could reach him A massive hammer struck her from the side.
BOOM!
The impact sent her flying across the room, smashing into the stone floor beside her team.Dust and blood scattered as she coughed violently, her body crumpling.
"MIA!!" Ruby screamed, rushing toward her.
Mia lay broken ribs shattered, one arm bent unnaturally, blood pouring from her mouth and ears. She tried to speak, but only a faint whisper escaped. "M-Master… where are you…"
Mr. George clenched his teeth, his knuckles white around his sword. "We can't even move… we can't even.."
The high orc soldier raised its hammer again, aiming to crush them all.
And then...
BANG!
A massive shockwave tore through the chamber, sending the orc flying backward dead before it hit the ground.
Smoke and dust filled the air.
Out of the haze, a single figure emerged wearing a tattered cloak, cape fluttering, his expression calm but his eyes burning with rage.
It was none other than Hiro Ludin, the Lazy Trickster himself.
HIRO LUDIN POV
"Argh… that fucking hurt…" I muttered, brushing dust off my clothes.I glanced around, realizing where I had crashed. "Great… I just fell into a boss room, didn't I?"
The smell of blood hit me next.
Then I saw her Mia collapsed, covered in wounds. My cheerful smile vanished. Something inside me snapped.
My rage surged.
"Hey…" I said quietly, my voice low. "Who did this?"
Zalag tilted his head. "So you're another punny human who has entered my domain? Interesting. You don't look like much."
Before I could respond, I saw Ruby kneeling beside Mia, trying to stop the bleeding. The others looked beaten, their weapons broken, their hope gone.
"Mia," I said, kneeling beside her. Her eyes barely opened. "I told you to wait for me before doing anything reckless."
"M-master…" she whispered, tears mixing with blood. "I told them… you'd come…"
I took a deep breath, forcing a smile. "Yeah, yeah. I came."
I reached into my pocket and snapped my fingers. "System. One advanced healing potion now."
A bright flash. A glass vial appeared in my hand. I poured the shimmering liquid into Mia's mouth.
Within seconds, her wounds began to close, bones cracking back into place. She gasped, air rushing back into her lungs.
Her eyes fluttered open. "Master…"
"Don't talk," I said softly. "You did enough."
I stood, turning to face the Great Zalag. My usual relaxed grin was gone. In its place was something sharper colder.
"I didn't want to get involved," I said, rolling my shoulders. "But I guess you left me no choice."
The great bZalag laughed, his mana flaring again. "And what do you plan to do, weakling?"
I smirked, raising one hand.
"System. Slime-chan."
A familiar voice echoed in my mind.
"Yesss, Master~ It's time to eat, isn't it?"
A swirling mass of translucent slime burst from the ground beside me, expanding rapidly until it towered over the battlefield—shifting shapes, sharp teeth glimmering like blades.
"Slime-chan," I said, eyes locked on Zalag. "Let's begin the hunt."
---
The Great Zalag's grin faded slightly as the air trembled once more. For the first time, he felt a pressure not from mana but from pure intent.
Hiro cracked his neck and whispered to himself.
The great Zalag released his Aura, trying to suppress the humans. It washed over them again, forcing everyone to their knees everyone except Hiro, who remained standing.
"As expected of Master," Mai said.
"So this is the power of an 8-star… this is the lazy trickster," Billy muttered to himself.
George and Ruby were in awe. How is Hiro still standing against that mana pressure coming from the great Zalag?
"Hm… is that guy doing something?" Hiro muttered to himself. "I can't feel anything from him. Why? Because I don't have any mana in my body nor can I even use it in the first place."