The already sweltering underground cavern suddenly felt like a steam room to the assault team.
The dry, scorching air seared their lungs with every breath, as if threatening to ignite their entire bodies from within.
Thankfully, the ordeal lasted only a few seconds. As the colossal dragon vanished, the members of the assault team finally let out a collective sigh of relief.
"No way…"
A C-rank warrior stared in disbelief at the scene before him.
The once vast, open plaza had been transformed into a bottomless pit. The orc warriors, even their chieftain, had been obliterated without a trace.
"Is this… an S-rank's power?"
Another B-rank hunter swallowed hard.
He didn't belong to a major guild and had never teamed up with an S-rank before.
The attack that had reshaped the terrain in mere moments was an eye-opener, filling him with a bewildering thought: 'Are we even the same species?'
Han Song-Yi, protected by the healers, was witnessing such a scene for the first time.
As an E-rank hunter, just stabbing through a steel plate required her to muster every ounce of strength. And Castorice had caused this level of destruction… with just a casual strike?
So… so strong! And so incredibly cool!
Compared to the others, Son Kihoon's expression was the stiffest.
He knew S-ranks could take on A-rank dungeons, even solo them. That was a given.
But… was this something an S-rank could truly achieve? Even if the Orc Lord and its minions were on the weaker side for an A-rank dungeon… this was far too effortless.
And this was her very first battle…
This display, this sheer power, forced his thoughts towards Japan's Ryuji Gotō.
Another S-rank hunter, yet rumored to be in a league of his own compared to others. Though Son Kihoon had only heard the tales, never witnessed it firsthand.
As for those on an even higher plane, the national-level powerhouses like China's Liu Zhigang or America's Thomas Andre—Son Kihoon didn't even let his mind wander there.
In his understanding, Ryuji Gotō was the pinnacle.
Although he'd heard Chairman Go Gunhee had once held the title of strongest S-rank, age had caught up, and he'd long since stepped back from the front lines.
Castorice was oblivious to the assault team's internal monologues.
These orcs were the first lives she had taken in this world.
With their demise, her Underworld welcomed a fresh batch of residents.
Truth be told, souls—of humans, monsters, animals—were flowing into the Underworld constantly. While the Underworld rivaled the living world in size, it was far from complete.
Or rather, this was Polyxia's Underworld. And due to Polyxia's own willfulness, no deceased had ever been allowed entry into that realm of rest, leaving that pristine land for her to cultivate flowers.
But things couldn't stay that way.
Castorice would certainly preserve the sea of flowers, but the Underworld needed new laws.
Otherwise, those aimless souls would find neither salvation nor punishment. And humans and monsters couldn't be managed together without distinction.
As Castorice contemplated returning to the Underworld soon to lay down some groundwork, she addressed the group behind her.
"There are no other monsters here. The gate is back at the entrance. Let's leave."
"Yes, ma'am!" came the unified response from the nine.
This dungeon dive had yielded almost no material gain, but they had entered prepared for scant rewards.
None were dedicated miners, and the Gate on the bridge wouldn't allow them to linger for extensive digging.
The plan was to gather a little and go, and on the way giving the sole E-rank hunter, the high schooler Han Song-Yi, a chance at some resources.
After all, survival and earning a living were harsh for an E-rank.
Red gates were notoriously stingy with minerals despite fierce monsters; an A-rank haul here might not even surpass a typical D-rank's.
As for the dragon from earlier… no one planned to press for answers. Let the Hunter Association handle that. Having narrowly escaped death, they just wanted to rest.
"They're out!"
"It's the new S-rank hunter!"
"Make way! I'm a reporter! Let me through!"
The moment they stepped out of the Gate, a wave of shouts crashed over them, causing Han Song-Yi some discomfort.
A crowd pressed against the barricades, craning their necks for a look—specifically at Castorice.
The sea of people made Castorice frown. The assault team swiftly moved past her to the front, anxious that someone might accidentally get too close and meet their end.
"Castorice! You should leave now!" Han Song-Yi shouted, helping association staff hold back the throng.
Seeing the situation, Castorice didn't hesitate. She leaped straight up, soaring a hundred meters into the air, and once again summoned the Death Dragon.
She hadn't thought much of it before, but it seemed best to let everyone know about her abilities sooner rather than later.
Constantly having to maintain distance was exhausting… But first, a trip back to the Underworld was in order.
A purple rift tore open in mid-air, and under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Castorice flew into it.
"What was that? A purple Gate?"
"Gates are spiral-shaped, aren't they? That didn't look like one."
"Was that the new S-rank's ability? What is it? Hunter Son Kihoon, what happened inside the dungeon?"
"Hunter Son Kihoon, how was the new S-rank able to enter a red Gate? Is it related to that purple one?"
The reporters' eyes glittered with fervor. A new S-rank—this was major news that would shake Korea. They needed the inside scoop, and fast!
Son Kihoon dealt with the reporters with a strained expression, mastering the art of saying a lot while saying nothing at all.
Meanwhile, Castorice had already returned to the Underworld.
Only a few hours had passed since her departure, yet the number of souls had increased a thousandfold.
These souls wandered in confusion, worry, resentment, or regret. Those who died without regrets were few; everyone had unfinished business at life's end.
Though this world matched reality in scale, most found themselves arriving upon this sea of flowers, a setting established by Polyxia.
This flower field was akin to the Underworld's entrance.
Polyxia had lingered here, planting flowers as far as the eye could see, hoping to be the first to greet Castorice upon her return.
Thus, most humans and monsters gathered here.
Initially, humans were wary of the monsters.
But without the dominant voice in their minds commanding 'Kill the humans,' the monsters—or rather, the 'Denizens of Chaos'—were less inclined to fight to the death.
What was the point? Who wanted to risk it all? And they were already dead. What happened if you died here? No one knew.
While some Denizens of Chaos lacked higher intellect, those who possessed it issued commands, and the mindless ones followed with unwavering obedience.
The scene had settled into an eerie, tense silence.
This was what Castorice saw upon her return.
After a moment's thought, she decided to explain this world's nature to both groups. But just as she was about to move, she sensed a powerful force tugging at souls who had already become residents of the Underworld, pulling them away until they vanished completely.
Castorice: '...What in the world?'
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! Webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.