The Genius Assassin Who Takes it All

“I’ve heard of dual dungeons before, but experiencing it firsthand, the EXP gain is insane. How about you, hyung?”

“I’ve leveled up quite a bit too.”

“Wow… this is absolutely crazy.”

As Park Dong-jae mentioned, the experience points earned here were incomparable to those from regular dungeons.

In a situation where even gaining one level was tough, he had leveled up three times. His current level was now 248.

Future hunters coming to the 13th dungeon wouldn’t enjoy this privilege.

This is because once an outsider enters a dual dungeon, its instability resolves, and it vanishes.

It’s not for nothing that hunters regard entering a dual dungeon as a stroke of destiny. After all, it’s a rare occurrence.

While moving forward, Kang-hoo and Park Dong-jae encountered no significant events.

In the original storyline, Jang Si-hwan and Chae Gwan-hyeong had fallen into traps or taken wrong turns, narrowly avoiding death more than once.

This was deliberate, as the dual dungeon was designed to offer great rewards while being ruthlessly challenging.

However, by recalling the original narrative and carefully choosing only the safe routes, Kang-hoo ensured a smooth journey.

This allowed him to continue strategizing and training with Park Dong-jae in buff synergy and mobility coordination.

Kang-hoo focused intensively on coaching Park Dong-jae to create diverse scenarios during battles:

Casting acceleration buffs on both Kang-hoo and the monsters to catch them off guard with unexpected attacks.

Overloading magical monsters with excessive concentration buffs to disrupt their focus.

Intentionally withholding buffs for Kang-hoo until a counterattack, then applying them at the last moment.

Through such diverse scenarios, Park Dong-jae improved his adaptability and practical application skills.

With Kang-hoo’s guidance, Park Dong-jae learned quickly and efficiently.

Most importantly, Park Dong-jae thoroughly enjoyed the training, as his synergy with Kang-hoo was optimized.

This progress motivated him. He wanted to become an even better buffer so that Kang-hoo would always choose him first.

The continuous training eventually brought them to the main boss monster’s area.

The boss monster was named Deseo.

It had a humanoid form resembling a boxer, complete with gloves whose colors shifted like LED lights depending on the situation.

Defeating Deseo was essential to unlocking the opportunity Jang Si-hwan and Chae Gwan-hyeong had received in the original storyline.

“Deseo’s first pattern involves selecting a challenger. I can handle that, so it’s not a problem.”

Deseo would start by designating one target as the challenger, focusing all its aggression and attention solely on them.

In the original, Jang Si-hwan had been chosen, struggling in close combat during the early phase.

Since all patterns were focused on the challenger, non-challenger hunters were relatively safe.

“Red gloves mean instant death. Yellow gloves, complete mana depletion. Green gloves, accumulated EXP upon impact.”

Kang-hoo recalled the so-called traffic light gloves—red, yellow, and green.

The red gloves were lethal upon contact, making them the most dangerous. Avoidance was non-negotiable.

The yellow gloves depleted all mana upon impact. While threatening, they could be endured strategically.

Due to Kang-hoo’s ultra-fast mana recovery mechanism, stemming from hypersensitivity, losing all his mana wouldn’t incapacitate him.

Green gloves, if handled smartly, could yield significant rewards in terms of accumulated EXP.

“Hyung, are you sure about this?”

“We’ll find out once we start. Let’s go.”

“I’ll maintain maximum distance to avoid drawing aggro.”

“Sounds like a plan.”

Kang-hoo nodded.

As the designated challenger, he didn’t worry about aggro.

But for Park Dong-jae, who was unaware of this mechanic, his cautious positioning was sensible.

Kang-hoo took out a Mad Solarkium from his pouch and consumed it. Remaining: 12 units—still sufficient.

“Dong-jae.”

“Yes?”

“Relax your shoulders. Let’s do this.”

He tapped Park Dong-jae’s tense shoulders lightly and charged forward.

Deseo, as if waiting, rushed to meet Kang-hoo, extending its glowing fists.

【Deseo of the Gale has designated you as the "Challenger."

Until your death, Deseo's entire focus will remain solely on you.】

The message was long, but its meaning was simple: Deseo would only target Kang-hoo.

This assurance of Park Dong-jae’s safety made Kang-hoo feel at ease.

ROAR!

Deseo’s ferocious roar reverberated.

From the surrounding forest, shaped like a circular battlefield, a horde of monsters emerged.

They resembled smaller versions of Deseo—aptly nicknamed “Mini Deseos.”

Each Mini Deseo bore yellow gloves, which would deplete mana upon impact.

In the original, Chae Gwan-hyeong had taken on the Mini Deseos, but this time, Kang-hoo intended to handle both sides.

However…

“Kwehet? Kwehet?”

The Mini Deseos, who had made an impressive entrance, suddenly lunged forward uncontrollably, their bodies hurtling ahead.

They stumbled, crashing into their kin in front, failing to control their movements, with fists flying into faces.

Park Dong-jae had cast an acceleration buff on all of them.

Benefiting from this unexpected “advantage,” the Mini Deseos couldn’t handle their enhanced speed and caused chaos among themselves.

‘Nice timing.’

The stage was perfectly set.

Before Kang-hoo could step in, Park Dong-jae had already assessed the situation and made his move. It was exactly as planned.

【Shadow Clone Technique】

【Shadow Step】

Kang-hoo created a clone to engage Deseo, intending to buy some time.

He sent a shadow toward the Mini Deseos’ location and immediately switched places with it.

“Uwet! Kwehet!”

The Mini Deseos began to rise again.

Kang-hoo quickly dove into the center of the group, preparing an optimal move to strike them all at once.

【Thunder Shockwave】

A wide-area attack skill.

Kang-hoo deployed Thunder Shockwave precisely at the center of the group, ensuring it would hit every Mini Deseo.

He then returned to his shadow near Deseo, all in the blink of an eye.

Crack! Crackle! Crackle!

“Kyekekekek!”

The Thunder Shockwave unleashed a powerful surge of electricity at the group’s core, striking all of them simultaneously.

‘Not bad.’

Kang-hoo smirked with satisfaction.

Thanks to Park Dong-jae’s sharp judgment and his ability to disrupt the enemies’ movements from the start,

Kang-hoo could use Thunder Shockwave effectively.

Had it not been for this setup, Kang-hoo would’ve needed to cast Thunder Shockwave multiple times or resort to using daggers to finish some off.

‘No worries moving forward.’

Deseo occasionally activated his unique patterns during battles, often summoning reinforcements that targeted Kang-hoo exclusively.

If Park Dong-jae could continue to provide such precise support, focusing on Deseo would become significantly easier.

“Krrrr!”

Angered by the massacre of his reinforcements, Deseo changed the color of his yellow gloves to red—instant death gloves.

Bang!

Deseo sprang toward Kang-hoo with explosive force, using the ground as a launchpad like a spring.

Being nimble and wiry, Deseo was highly dangerous if underestimated even for a moment.

【Quick Dodge】

“Hup!”

Kang-hoo twisted his body dramatically to avoid the attack, letting out an involuntary gasp.

He had already planned to save the guaranteed dodge provided by Park Dong-jae’s Blessing of the Earth’s Guardian for the red gloves.

Though currently activated, Kang-hoo had no intention of intentionally letting the red gloves hit him.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Deseo launched a simple one-two punch, moving with light and agile precision. However, the instant-death result made the situation deadly serious.

Then.

To strike more effectively, Deseo pulled back his shoulders—a movement Kang-hoo couldn’t observe since he had to stay focused on Deseo.

But Kang-hoo knew Park Dong-jae would execute a variable buff at just the right moment.

It was something they had practiced consistently during their journey.

Trusting Park Dong-jae’s support, Kang-hoo advanced rapidly, even in the face of the red glove’s threat.

“…?”

Deseo tilted his head as Kang-hoo moved forward instead of retreating.

【Leap】

【Fatal Cleave】

Slash!

Combining Leap and Fatal Cleave, Kang-hoo unleashed a lightning-fast attack that tore through Deseo’s side.

“Krrgh!”

Thud, thud, thud!

Because Deseo, like Kang-hoo, was under an acceleration buff, the attack caused significant damage.

Normally, Fatal Cleave would’ve only grazed Deseo’s side, but the acceleration compounded the impact.

The wound left Deseo’s side shredded, with chunks of flesh torn out like ground meat.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Realizing the severity of the injury, Deseo swung his fists wildly to prevent another assault. It was a clever defensive move.

Kang-hoo glanced back briefly and gave Park Dong-jae a thumbs-up. The sequence of attacks had played out exactly as intended.

“Ehet!”

Deseo’s gloves shifted to green.

Though Deseo could change his glove colors at will, there was a cooldown after using red gloves for a certain duration.

He could only choose yellow or green now, and he opted for green.

Of course, Deseo had no idea that the green gloves could pre-accumulate experience points for his opponent.

For Deseo, green gloves were simply tougher and stronger than the others.

‘Time to rack up some experience points. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.’

Feeling light and ready, Kang-hoo licked his lips in anticipation.

Deseo’s fists remained threatening, but if Kang-hoo could take hits wisely, he might turn danger into opportunity.

A high-risk, high-reward scenario—it was an irresistible temptation.