How the Regressed Munchkin Chews Up the Tower - H.R.M.C.U.T Chapter 20 (Part 2):

“What’s wrong?” the Healer asked.

Ishia placed her palm on the ground and said, “Doesn’t it feel like the ground is trembling slightly?”

It was a faint vibration, so subtle that someone less sensitive might not notice.

“Oh, you’re right.”

“It does feel like it’s shaking a little,” the others confirmed, finally noticing it.

“Maybe it’s just a minor earthquake?” the Tank suggested.

The 1st Floor was a space so vast it was hard to believe it was inside a tower.

It had a sky, land—a world in its own right.

So an earthquake wouldn’t be all that strange.

“It feels… different,” Ishia said, frowning.

It wasn’t like an earthquake…

“It’s similar to the vibrations when a Sulfur Deer comes charging,” she added.

When a three-meter-tall giant monster approached from behind, it had caused a similar tremor.

Ishia’s expression hardened as she cautiously stood up.

She quickly scanned the surroundings, wondering if a herd of Sulfur Deer was stampeding nearby.

“Huh?”

But what caught her eye wasn’t a herd of Sulfur Deer.

It was a creature with bright red skin, something she’d never seen before.

Though small in size, the murderous aura and ferocity it exuded made it seem far more dangerous than a Sulfur Deer.

“What… what are those? Monsters?”

“They sure look like it,” the Tank replied.

At the very least, they definitely weren’t human.

“Damn…”

“We can’t take those, can we?” the others whispered, their voices tense as they slowly stood and confirmed the creatures’ presence.

“They seem way stronger than Sulfur Deer,” Ishia said.

Sulfur Deer were the monsters Mullen had recommended for them, having just arrived on the 1st Floor.

In other words, they were easy prey for beginners.

Naturally, there would be monsters with higher levels and greater strength.

Those red-skinned creatures were likely among the more dangerous ones.

And there weren’t just one or two of them—there were hundreds gathered together.

The confidence they’d felt moments ago melted away like snow.

With their current skills, they’d struggle to take down even one, let alone hundreds.

“We need to put some distance between us,” the Tank said, his voice trembling.

It was a suggestion to flee.

Everyone nodded in agreement.

“That’s probably best,” Ishia said.

If those things spotted them and turned their way?

They wouldn’t stand a chance of surviving.

“But where are they headed?” Park Jihoo asked quietly as they cautiously backed away, wary of being noticed.

“They don’t seem to be just moving aimlessly,” he added.

“Yeah, it’s like they’re heading to a fight,” the Healer chimed in.

Indeed, they were all armed, charging forward with a murderous air.

It was as if they were going to war.

“Maybe they’re fighting other monsters? Like a territorial dispute?” the spear-user suggested.

It made sense.

Even as monsters, Sulfur Deer and these creatures were different species.

If players weren’t the only ones with territories or food chains, monsters might fight among themselves too.

“…So we’ll have to fight things like that eventually,” the Healer said.

The excited atmosphere from earlier vanished completely, replaced by a heavy silence.

“Still, aren’t we among the strongest players? They might look scary now, but we’ll catch up in no time,” the Tank said, trying to rally them.

Wasn’t it like that in games?

Monsters that seemed impossible for a newbie eventually become one-shot kills.

If they kept leveling up, they’d be able to slaughter those creatures without a second thought.

“For now, they’re too much for us. Let’s focus on hunting Sulfur Deer and growing stronger,” Ishia said.

“Yeah, if we keep hunting, we won’t have to run like this forever,” the spear-user added.

As if to reclaim their lost confidence, they all repeated those words to themselves.

Then—

*Chwaaaaaaaak-!*

In the distance, a spray of red liquid shot into the air.

It was even redder than the creatures’ skin.

It didn’t take long to realize what it was.

“…Blood?” Ishia whispered.

The liquid surged like a fountain before raining down.

It was unmistakably blood.

Faced with such an unreal scene, they forgot to flee and stood frozen in place.

*Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-!*

A massive shockwave of mana followed, upheaving the surrounding bushes entirely.

“Ah—” Ishia gasped.

Her mind reeled.

The overwhelming aura was suffocating.

‘What in the world…’

What could possibly be emitting such immense power?

Could it be one of those boss monsters said to exist on each floor?

Or something as terrifying as Didaskalia?

She didn’t know.

The distance was too great to see who—or what—was slaughtering those creatures.

One thing was certain: it was dangerous.

The red-skinned monsters were terrifying enough, but whatever was tearing them apart had to be even more so.

‘We have to run!’

They needed to turn and sprint back to Terra right now.

It was their only chance of survival.

“R-run…” Ishia stammered, barely managing to open her mouth to shout to her teammates despite her trembling body.

“Die, you bastards! Die! Die and become my EXPs!”

A shout rang out.

Ishia closed her mouth and looked toward the voice.

It couldn’t be, but for some reason, the voice didn’t feel unfamiliar.

It felt like one she’d heard recently.

‘No, that’s impossible.’

When would she have ever met someone that powerful?

Aside from her teammates, she could count the people she’d spoken to on one hand.

At most, there was Mullen and that crazy murderer she’d met on the street—

“Huh?”

Her eyes widened.

“That… that lunatic?”

Dangun

I'm currently Translating the following novels: "Labyrinth Exploration 101" & "The Monarch Who Levels Up by Devouring " If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon!

•