Chapter 16
Blood pooled in my mouth.
Even as Regeneration worked, the wounds were too severe to heal instantly.
But I stood up.
And the monster lunged.
My legs trembled.
I rolled.
Its massive paw slammed into the earth.
Missed by an inch.
But I couldn’t dodge the next one.
CRUNCH.
The beast’s fangs sank deep into my side.
It was trying to rip me in half.
I clenched my teeth.
Both hands grabbed its upper and lower jaws.
I fought back.
But it was stronger.
My arms strained.
And my ribs began to crack.
The beast whipped its head, shaking me like a ragdoll.
My vision blurred.
My muscles screamed.
My bones groaned.
[Regeneration has leveled up! (E → D)]
[Reinforced Body has leveled up! (F → D)]
[Strength +5]
Power flooded my body.
I stopped getting weaker.
I started getting stronger.
My grip tightened.
The beast’s mouth… was opening.
The newly regenerated muscle tissue was denser.
Its fangs could no longer pierce my skin.
The wolf’s eyes widened in panic.
I grabbed its muzzle.
And squeezed.
The fire inside its throat ignited.
No time to dodge.
I locked its jaw shut.
BOOM.
Flames burst from its nostrils.
It burned itself.
But I needed more power.
I focused.
My Regeneration skill—
It could be controlled.
My body… could grow.
It did.
Muscle expanded.
Bones stretched.
Height increased.
My arms wrapped completely around its snout.
And I crushed it.
The Hellhound king howled in pain, thrashing.
I held on.
And struck its skull.
Again.
Again.
Again.
[Level Up!]
Its body went limp.
The other Hellhounds hesitated.
Then, as if following orders from the dead,
They attacked anyway.
But it was different now.
I was stronger.
I was faster.
I was unbreakable.
I ripped through them.
And by sunrise—
I stood atop a hill of corpses.
The cleanup team arrived.
They saw the bloodied battlefield and my casual posture.
“D-Did you kill them all… alone?”
“Yeah. Can I go now?”
“Y-Yes, sir. We’ll handle the rest.”
I climbed into their transport vehicle.
And finally… rested.
For a moment.
Shower.
Change.
Food.
Lots of food.
I was eating through an entire buffet when Sang-heon appeared.
“Hyung! I was worried!”
“I’m fine.”
“Fine?! You killed hundreds of those things!”
“Yeah, so?”
“So?! That’s insane!”
“Worked out, didn’t it?”
A man approached.
Serious face. Sharp suit.
Bureaucrat.
Hunter Bureau Chief Baek Young-shin.
He bowed.
“On behalf of the Bureau, thank you.”
“Huh?”
“If you hadn’t stopped them, civilians would’ve died.”
“Oh. Yeah. No problem.”
“Because of you, we’re promoting you to E-Rank immediately.”
“Already?”
“Frankly, you deserve D-Rank. But red tape exists.”
“Figures.”
“And your bounty cut? Forget it. You get full payment.”
“Sweet.”
More money. More recognition.
Not bad.
I was eating my third plate of steak when—
A certain someone tried to sneak past.
“Hey, Choi Cheol-min.”
He froze.
Turned.
Looked like he’d seen a ghost.
“You owe me money.”
His face twisted.
“How the hell did you win?!”
“I hunted more.”
“That’s bullshit! You barely killed three the first day!”
“I improved.”
“You cheated!”
“You mad?”
His face turned red.
“You want a fight?”
“Nah, just the money.”
“I should—”
“Should what?”
“….”
“Exactly.”
He gritted his teeth.
But he transferred the money.
1 billion won.
Jackpot.
Sang-heon chuckled.
“Damn, hyung. That was smooth.”
“What can I say?”
But then—
Cheol-min lost it.
“YOU THINK THIS IS FUNNY?!”
He punched.
Fast.
Strong.
But not enough.
I caught his fist.
Effortlessly.
His eyes widened.
“That all?”
I squeezed.
He dropped to his knees.
“You’re weak.”
“GHHH!!”
“Pathetic.”
CRACK.
I let go.
He collapsed.
Sang-heon whistled.
“Damn, hyung. That was smooth too.”
“What can I say?”
I was richer.
I was stronger.
I was officially an E-Rank Hunter.
Not bad for a week’s work.