Kapitel 39: Sl1
In the narrow dungeon tunnel, fear and urgency gripped Lee Joohee as she and Mr. Song raced towards the source of the anguished screams.
The memories of the double dungeon flashed through her mind, and the shadows around her seemed to deepen with every step.
As they neared the end of the middle tunnel, her thoughts turned to the ominous statue from that fateful day.
The dread it instilled in her made her heart race faster than her footsteps.
The statue's malevolence lingered in her memories, casting a long and foreboding shadow over her fearful face.
Suddenly, amid the panic and the echoes of distant cries, a glint caught her eye.
A split second before impact, her vision focused on a shining dagger mere inches from her face.
Time seemed to slow as fear constricted her chest.
At that moment, time seemed to stand still as Joohee's life flashed before her eyes.
"Appa! I also wanna help!"
"No Joohee, your dad is cleaning the rooftop, you come help Mom clean the dishes ok?"
"Boo! I wanna help Appa!"
She saw herself as a young girl, always eager to help her parents.
After some months,
"Mom! Dad! What is happening? Are you back!?"
"Hey! There is a kid inside the closet!"
She remembered about the day she was hiding inside the closet when the soldiers rescued her and remembered about her parents who tragically perished during the first dungeon gate break.
After some more time...
After growing 18 and finally coming out of the government adoption center.
The pain of their loss shaped her early years, forcing her to take on part-time jobs just to make ends meet. But then, everything changed when she awakened as a hunter.
Excitement and pride swelled within her as she discovered she had a healing talent and ranked as a B hunter.
The Knights guild took notice of her healer class and eagerly recruited her into their 3rd squad. After all, she was a B-rank healer - a valuable asset for any raid.
But soon enough, the thrill of dungeon raids wore off as each expedition brought back haunting memories.
Monster wolves lurking in the shadows triggered a chilling deja vu of the day her parents met their tragic end. And with every step, the weight of that traumatic memory weighed heavier on Joohee's shoulders.
As she continued to face formidable monsters and witness the bloodshed within dungeons, her anxiety only intensified. And in the midst of a Knights guild raid, surrounded by howls and the stench of blood, Joohee made the difficult decision to leave the guild behind.
With no affiliation to any guild, Joohee found solace in exploring lower-rank gates alongside other independent hunters.
"Oh! Good work today, miss Joohee!"
"You too Mr. Song! "
In E and D-rank dungeons, she could finally escape the relentless encounters and find peace amidst the chaos of her past.
Well, until that double dungeon incident.....
Suddenly, a calm, confident voice cut through her panic.
"Going for an instant kill on a beautiful lady, not very manly of you," it said in a charming yet righteous tone.
Snapping out of her daze, Joohee glanced over to see the dagger caught effortlessly between two fingers by a man she didn't recognize. He was tall with styled red hair, dressed in a stylish black jacket.
In a swift motion, the stranger punched her assailant hard in the gut with his free hand. The would-be killer flew backwards with a grunt, the dagger falling away.
Turning to Joohee with a kind smile, the man asked, "Are you alright, miss?" Her racing heart calmed under his gaze, filled with care and strength.
Though questions swirled, one thought rose above the rest - this mysterious newcomer had saved her life.
Mr. Song had raced ahead, focused on reaching their allies. But an ominous feeling had made him glance back.
Too late, he saw a flash of metal and a dark silowet fly past - aimed directly at Joohee.
Horror gripped him as time slowed.
But then a stranger intervened, disarming the assailant with speed and skill that defied belief.
Mr. Song skidded to a halt, watching in shock and awe. The would-be killer - The B-rank Supervisor from the Hunter Association - writhed at the end of the tunnel-
That B-rank Association member, the one who should have been with the prisoners... was clenching his stomach with coughing blood.
Why was he trying to attack JooHee..?
Azaroth calmly stepped forward, holding out his hand. Dark veins crept along his skin as a golden orb ignited above his palm, illuminating his face.
The assassin's eyes widened in shock and horror. "It can't be..." he muttered in disbelief.
Azaroth's composure and power were unmistakable
Azaroth smiled knowingly. "From the look on your face, I think you recognize me. But just in case, shall I remind you of my name?"
The veins receded as the orb floated above them, casting Azaroth's noble features in a warm glow.
(A/N: Nano tech bitch! LoL)
Trembling, the assassin stammered, "W-Why is the new S-Rank hunter.. he.. here...you shouldn't be here!"
Mr. Song and Lee Joohee gasped.
Lee Joohee looked at his face.
She has seen him!
T-This was the fabled Azaroth, the youngest ever to reach S-Rank with a record on mana density.
"Oi, that dialogue of yours looked kinda forced." Azaroth started walking towards the assassin, "And as for why I'm here..? That's none of your concern."
The assassin's look turned grim as realization struck him. His initial plan was to eliminate the healer first, leaving the fire mage defenseless, and then proceed to take down the fire mage. However, the unexpected arrival of Azaroth had completely fucked his plans.
'Haa haa... H-he is a new hunter.. he.. he should not have experience of foul play...'
In a desperate attempt to escape Azaroth's impending judgment, he grabbed a handful of mud from the tunnel floor and flung it toward Azaroth's eyes, hoping to blind him temporarily and make a quick getaway.
Seizing the opportunity, the assassin turned to flee, he was no fool, he knew that going head-to-head with an S-rank hunter was a fool's errand. But his attempt to escape was short-lived.
However, Azaroth's reactions were as swift as they were unpredictable. With a casual wave of his hand, he conjured a transparent shield in the air, like Iron Man in Infinity War, deflecting the mud harmlessly away from his face.
The mud splattered on the tunnel wall, leaving Azaroth untouched.
"What, you trying to mess my hair or something?"
With remarkable speed, he reached out and grabbed the assassin's neck, halting his escape, and then tightened his grip.
"Ack! Heok! C.. Pl.."
The assassin struggled, gasping for air, trapped within Azaroth's supernatural grip. Despite the B-rank assassin's attempts to resist, it became evident that escape was impossible. Azaroth's eyes bore into him, cold and unyielding, as he held the assassin in a vise-like grip.
Now, cornered and desperate, the B-rank assassin pleaded with Azaroth in a panic.
"Heok!... Ack!... P..l..ease...." Looking at the assassin trying to say something. Azaroth loosened his grip.
" Haa.. Huff... P-Please s..stop! Forgive me! I- I'm a B-rank assassin, don't kill me. Haa.. let... let's just kill this C-rank mage and B-rank healer, and I-I can do various dirty works for you... I promise to become your dog," he blurted out in the middle of his pants, his voice trembling with fear.
Azaroth's gaze remained cold and unforgiving as he listened to the assassin's plea.
Then he chuckled, "Pfft.. that's a nice offer"
He showed him a devious grin.
Mr. Song and Lee Joohee's face turned pale.
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein