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 19 Begins]
"For a measly human, you know some interesting skills, don't you?"
The Great Zalag leaned forward on his throne of bones, his crimson eyes glinting with cruel amusement. The pressure alone from his gaze felt like it could crush stone. The High Orcs surrounding him stomped their feet in crude rhythm, their guttural growls echoing through the chamber like a war drum that demanded blood.
The boss raised one finger, lazily, almost bored, and his soldiers began to encircle Hiro, their shadows stretching long and distorted over the cracked dungeon floor.
"However," Zalag said, smirking, his tusks gleaming beneath the torchlight, "just how far do you think your little tricks will get you?"
Hiro's glare hardened. For a moment, his face lost its usual laziness and took on a sharp, dangerous stillness. The air grew heavier, colder—like the dungeon itself was holding its breath. Even the flickering blue torches dimmed as a strange aura leaked from his body, coiling through the air like a predator awakening.
He didn't care about monsters—not really. They were just targets, obstacles to clear.
But this… this one felt different.
This wasn't a fight for points or rewards.
This one felt personal.
"I'll take care of you last," Hiro muttered quietly, his voice flat but carrying unmistakable killing intent that even the High Orcs flinched at.
If Zalag knew the meaning of entertainment, then Hiro was about to show him what fear really looked like.
"...My slime."
A faint tremor rippled through the chamber.
A sword materialized in Hiro's right hand, its surface glowing faintly with pulsing blue energy alive, almost breathing. The temperature dropped as the weapon hummed with power.
"Come out and eat."
Another artifact appeared in his left hand sleek, glowing firearm-like relic with intricate runes etched along the barrel. The moment it solidified, a surge of mana exploded outward, rattling bones, walls, and the lesser monsters alike.
"Hoh?" The Great Zalag chuckled, leaning back. "A relic weapon? Fine. I'll give you a chance. Come at me, human. Show me your.."
Before he could finish, a bright blue flash tore across the dungeon.
BANG!
BOOM!
The sound cracked through the cavern like thunder. The shockwave alone blew back several lesser Orcs, sending them crashing against the walls. A smoking crater appeared right in front of the Great Zalag's throne, dust and debris rising like fog.
"So this… is the power of an 8-star hunter," George whispered in awe, gripping his sword tighter.
"Wh-what was that?" Billy stammered, his eyes wide, his voice shaking more than his hands.
"Master…" Mia breathed, her voice trembling with shock and relief. The healing potion had closed her wounds, but her hands shook from the residual energy radiating from Hiro's attack. She had never seen this side of him raw, merciless, absolute.
"I didn't really want to use Slime-chan for this," Hiro muttered, lowering the artifact gun slightly. "But this situation doesn't make sense. Why are High Orcs even here? Isn't this dungeon supposed to be a 3-star one?"
He sighed deeply a tone too casual for someone standing at the center of chaos. A flicker of blue light danced across his eyes, cold and sharp.
Then, in the blink of an eye...
The Great Zalag's chest exploded.
There was no build-up. No dramatic scream. No final speech. His upper body simply disintegrated in a violent burst of energy, leaving only his lower half sitting on the shattered throne like a grotesque decoration.
Silence swallowed the room.
No echo. No roar.
Just the fading crackle of dying mana.
The High Orcs froze, disbelief etched on their faces. For a moment, none of them moved.
Then one by one they crumbled into ash, their bodies collapsing like burned paper.
Only three wolf-like monsters remained, freed from Zalag's control. Their glowing eyes locked onto Hiro, hatred and confusion mixing in their snarls. They reached for their crude weapons with trembling hands.
"So," Hiro muttered, brushing dust from his coat, his tone annoyingly calm, "you're still standing."
The monsters circled him slowly, claws scraping against stone. That alone irritated him.
"Since when do monsters carry weapons?" he mumbled under his breath. "What is this, Monster Hunter?"
He sighed again a soft, tired sound that felt almost out of place amid the carnage. "Fine. Make it quick."
[Warning: Energy levels dropping. Artifact output unstable.]
[Slime-chan's defensive field can only activate 18 more times.]
"Yeah, yeah, I know," Hiro grumbled at the system. "Just hold together a little longer."
His thoughts drifted, heavy and unguarded.
I don't care about the association quests… or the points. I just want to get Mia out of here alive.
He tightened his grip on his sword and slowly raised his left hand. The wolves tensed, their eyes narrowing, claws digging into the ground.
"Goodbye," Hiro said flatly.
"I hope we never see each other again."
He flicked a small glass bottle forward.
It shattered instantly, and thick gray smoke exploded outward, engulfing the entire area. Visibility vanished. The wolves howled, stumbling blindly.
"Wh-what is this?!" one of them snarled. "Coward! Come out and fight!"
But Hiro was already gone.
His footsteps faded into the mist quiet, fading, ghostlike.
When the smoke cleared, only silence remained.
The Great Zalag's throne was split down the middle. The once-roaring dungeon was now eerily quiet, the air thick with the smell of mana burn and dust. Even the dripping water sounded louder than before.
George looked around, his mouth open. "Did he… just leave? Like that?"
Mia smiled faintly, her eyes soft and proud. "That's Master for you."
Billy crossed his arms, still trembling. "He's not human. He's something else entirely."
Mia glanced toward the lingering mist, her voice low, almost affectionate.
"No. He's just… Hiro Ludin."
And deep in the shadows, Hiro coughed weakly, one hand gripping his side where blood trickled down.
His system chimed faintly in his ear.
[Warning: Artifact overload detected. Relic durability -87%.]
"Figures," Hiro muttered weakly. "Guess… I overdid it again."
He leaned back against the wall, struggling to steady his breathing. His hands shook, the aftereffects of channeling power his body wasn't built to handle.
Even though he won, his body could barely contain the strength he unleashed.
The weakest extra was still… too weak to handle his own power.