Riko and Kang Min stood facing the pack leader, while the wolves' corpses were scattered around them across the forest ground.
Behind them stood Do Hyun and Ryu, watching the situation cautiously. It was clear that the speed and strength of this monster exceeded what they could keep up with.
Riko said while staring at the massive wolf,
"This thing… isn't the gate boss."
Kang replied without taking his eyes off the monster,
"Yes… I came to the same conclusion."
The two spoke calmly, while Hyun and Ryu stood behind them, not fully understanding what they meant.
Riko cast a sideways glance at Kang.
'This Kang… isn't an ordinary person.'
Suddenly—
The pack leader lunged forward, its massive claw rising before slamming down toward the two of them.
But Riko and Kang disappeared from their spots at the same moment, easily avoiding the attack.
Riko said quickly,
"Fall back."
The moment he finished speaking, the pack leader attacked again.
Riko slid to the side, avoiding the claw, then rushed forward with his daggers.
The blades flashed in the air… striking the wolf's body.
But—
They didn't pierce its skin.
Riko's eyes widened slightly.
'What?'
'Could it be… like that snake?'
At the moment his thoughts distracted him—
The pack leader launched a sudden attack.
Riko barely avoided it this time.
Kang noticed while trying to pierce the monster's skin with his dagger.
He said sharply,
"Riko! Don't lose focus like that… we're in a battle."
'Yes… that's right.'
'Why am I so distracted?'
Riko tightened his grip on his daggers and charged again.
The two began delivering consecutive strikes to the wolf's body, trying to find a weak point.
In the back…
Ryu and Do Hyun watched the fight in shock.
Hyun said with a trembling voice,
"Are those two… monsters in terms of speed?"
Ryu gave a faint smile.
"Don't worry, Hyun… Riko will finish this gate."
Meanwhile, the pack leader stood almost in place, receiving the attacks without showing concern, as if it were merely playing with them.
Suddenly—
Its claw moved with lightning speed.
One strike hit Kang in the back.
His body was violently thrown until it slammed into the trunk of a massive tree.
"Kang!"
Riko shouted his name.
But the wolf didn't give him another chance, rushing forward with its claw directly toward Riko.
Riko easily avoided it and stepped back.
He said quickly,
"Ryu! Hyun! Hurry and help Kang get up."
At that moment…
Kang was leaning against the tree, slowly raising his head.
A sly smile appeared on his lips.
'The plan succeeded.'
Ryu and Hyun reached him to help, while Riko remained facing the monster.
Riko stared sharply at the pack leader.
He knew that if he wanted to kill this monster, he would have to use his raw power.
But he didn't want to reveal that power in front of Hyun and Kang.
As for Ryu… he had already seen part of it.
But Riko had not used real techniques in front of him yet.
He exhaled slowly.
Then—
He rushed forward.
This time his speed was different.
Faster… and more dangerous.
For the first time, the pack leader sensed danger.
Riko began attacking with his daggers in a rapid chain of strikes, as if the blades had turned into silver flashes in the air.
One strike… then another… then a third.
Suddenly—
One dagger pierced the thick skin.
'Finally!'
But in the next moment—
The wolf's claw surged forward with immense force.
Riko avoided it, but he noticed something shocking.
The wound he had created…
Healed.
The skin returned to how it was.
His eyes widened.
'Impossible…!'
Before he could process it—
A swift strike hit his chest.
His body was thrown backward, blood spilling from his mouth.
But he quickly regained his balance and stood again before the monster.
'As I expected… this thing possesses intelligence.'
'I need to find a way to kill it.'
Suddenly—
Riko dashed forward at lightning speed.
This time his target wasn't the body…
But the eye.
His dagger pierced the wolf's eye.
At that very moment—
[Technique Activated: "Death Poison"]
The pack leader let out a thunderous howl.
Riko began stabbing the eye repeatedly, rapid strikes like a storm.
One stab… then another… then dozens of consecutive stabs.
The wolf ran wildly in pain, crashing into trees and howling madly.
But Riko didn't stop.
He continued attacking until—
The monster finally collapsed.
Its massive body fell to the ground without movement.
Silence spread through the forest.
Riko stepped back and stood before the corpse.
Suddenly, a notification appeared before his eyes.
[Pack Leader Defeated]
[You can now devour the target's soul and technique]
Riko looked at the wolf's body.
His eyes shone with a sharp red aura.
As if something dark was awakening within him… once again.
'Time to devour.'
He raised his hand slightly, preparing to activate the technique.
But suddenly—
He stopped.
'Right…'
'I can't use the devour technique in front of others.'
His eyes narrowed slightly.
'So how will I use it?'
Before he could finish thinking—
A red window appeared before him.
[Warning: Someone has killing intent toward the player]
His body froze for a moment.
'Killing intent…?!'
His head immediately turned toward the tree where Ryu and Do Hyun were helping Kang.
At first, the scene looked normal.
But in the next moment—
Kang moved.
With terrifying speed.
He grabbed the dagger lying beside him, and in one swift motion slid the blade across Do Hyun's neck.
A thin red line appeared first…
Then the blood exploded.
Hyun's eyes widened in shock as he grabbed his neck, trying to stop the bleeding.
But Kang didn't stop.
He spun his body, directing the dagger straight toward Ryu's chest.
But—
"Move back!"
Riko appeared in front of Ryu at the last moment.
The dagger struck empty air after Riko pulled Ryu back quickly.
They retreated several steps, then stood facing Kang.
Behind him…
Do Hyun staggered, pressing his neck with trembling hands.
He said in a weak voice,
"You… bastard…"
But blood poured heavily between his fingers.
Moments later—
His body collapsed onto the ground without movement.
He died.
Kang smiled as he looked at the corpse.
"It seems he died while suffering…"
Then he let out a quiet laugh.
"What a wonderful feeling."
He raised his gaze toward Riko, his eyes shining with clear madness.
"Yes… just as I expected."
"You're stronger than a C-rank hunter."
He tilted his head slightly.
"It seems you're an assassin like me."
Then he pointed at Riko's daggers.
"Your style is exactly like mine."
He stepped forward.
"Isn't it obvious? You're an assassin like me."
Riko looked at him with deadly coldness.
"What are you talking about?"
Kang laughed.
"You're strong… but you're stupid."
Then he pointed at Ryu.
"You saved someone weak like him."
Riko said slowly,
"I want to ask you something."
Kang smiled.
"Ask."
Riko said, his eyes narrowing,
"Why do you kill innocent people?"
Kang answered simply,
"Isn't it obvious?"
"He was trying to kill me."
Silence fell for a moment.
'Is he insane?'
'He told us himself he was an assassin.'
Riko's eyes narrowed further.
'This person is lying.'
'He killed him for another reason.'
'Could it be… that Sato sent this bastard?'
Riko said coldly,
"You're lying."
The moment he finished speaking—
Kang disappeared.
But Riko moved at the same instant.
His hand shot forward… grabbing the air in front of Ryu.
Then—
Kang suddenly appeared.
His wrist was trapped in Riko's grip.
He had been trying to stab Ryu from behind.
Kang looked at his captured hand in surprise.
Riko tightened his grip.
But Kang quickly jumped backward, distancing himself several meters away.
The two stood facing each other.
Behind Riko stood Ryu, still shocked by what had happened.
Riko said without turning around,
"Step back, Ryu… now."
Then he focused his gaze on Kang.
"Kang…"
His eyes glowed with deadly coldness.
"I will kill you here and now."
Kang laughed wickedly.
"You really are stupid."
Then he said confidently,
"I'm a B-rank hunter."
Ryu froze in place.
Riko asked coldly,
"Then how did you enter with us?"
Kang answered simply,
"I told them I would protect the team if the boss appeared."
Then he smiled.
"Anyway… a C-rank boss requires five C-rank hunters."
He raised a finger.
"But you were only four."
Then he laughed.
"That makes sense… you're just beginners."
But Riko smiled faintly.
"Alright."
He raised his daggers.
"Let's see who the beginner is."
In the next moment—
Riko charged forward.
He moved like a black flash, delivering a dual strike with his daggers toward Kang's neck.
But Kang easily dodged.
At the same moment—
His dagger sliced through the air.
A red line appeared on Riko's neck.
A small wound.
Riko stepped back unconsciously.
'This person… isn't ordinary.'
Before he could process—
A window appeared before him.
[Warning: The person in front of you is dangerous]
Kang said mockingly,
"Why are you so distracted?"
Then—
He vanished.
And appeared again.
Another wound opened on Riko's neck.
A shallow wound… but fast.
Riko stepped back again.
'Is he… going easy on me?'
Suddenly—
Kang rushed like a storm.
He began delivering a chain of rapid stabs with his dagger.
A stab from the left.
Another from above.
A third toward the heart.
Riko moved quickly to block the strikes with his daggers.
The sound of metal echoed in the air.
But the attacks were extremely fast.
'Could it be…?'
'Does this person have a system like mine?'
Kang continued attacking without stopping.
Meanwhile, Riko stepped back step by step while blocking the strikes with difficulty.
A new window appeared.
[Warning: Fatigue is affecting the player's speed]
'I must finish this fight quickly.'
But Kang gave him no opportunity.
The stabs continued raining down like a storm.
'This person… is even stronger than the Skeleton King.'
While blocking the attacks, an idea came to Riko.
'Show opponent status.'
A window immediately appeared before him.
[Opponent Status]
Opponent Name: Kang Min
Rank: Unknown
Specialization: Unknown
Opponent Danger: Unknown
Riko's eyes widened.
'What…?'
'Am I dreaming?'
But Kang didn't wait.
In a swift moment—
He spun his body and delivered a powerful punch toward Riko's neck.
The strike hit directly.
Riko's body was violently sent flying through the air…
Until it slammed into the trunk of a massive tree.
The tree shook violently.
Its leaves fell around him.
Meanwhile, Kang stood in place…
Smiling slowly.
End of Chapter (15)