Leveling Up Alone

Chapter 193: Mavros Flying Above the Snowman (4)

“Mavros!”

Han-Yeol was extremely worried that the black dragon would be hurt, but what happened next completely erased those worries from his mind.

Whoosh!

“Kwuok?!”?

The Yeti was startled when its vision turned pitch-black, and it was pulled by a powerful force. Mavros easily dodged the Yeti's fist, bit its leg, and dragged it up into the sky.

“Kwuooooook!”

The Yeti screamed in agony as it ‘flew’ for the first time in its life, but there was no way that Mavros was going to let go of it just yet.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!?

“M-Mavros…!” Han-Yeol was speechless.

Mavros was spinning in the air with the Yeti in tow, and the Yeti appeared to be losing its mind from being taken on a ride by the black dragon. The sight was so absurd that the remaining Yeti on the ground halted its run and gazed at the bizarre spectacle of its companion being flailed around.

“K-Kwuok…?!”?

The Yeti on the ground appeared to be concerned that it might also be dragged into the sky, so it cautiously edged closer to Mujahid, attempting to avoid the black dragon.

All monsters possessed an uncontrollable bloodlust toward humans, and while the Yeti was slightly wary of the black dragon, its instinct as a monster urged it to continue pursuing the humans.

Mavros flew to Han-Yeol's side and hurled the Yeti toward him, prompting Han-Yeol to instantly grasp Mavros' intentions.

“Oh! Aren’t you too perfect, Mavros?”

“Kiek!”

Tak! Shiiiing!

Han-Yeol propelled himself off the ground and leaped toward the oncoming Yeti. With his sword ablaze from Sword Breath, he swung it with precision.

Sukeok!

“Kwuooooooh!”?The dazed Yeti cried in agony after it felt something hot slash its waist.

But that was not the end of it.

“Kieeeeeeek!”?The Yeti let out another shriek as the wound on its waist grew hotter and hotter. However, screaming at the top of its lungs wouldn't make the pain subside in any way.

‘Ex…plosion!’?

Kaboom!

An explosion was triggered on the Yeti's waist where it had been wounded moments before, causing the monster to collapse lifeless on the ground.

Han-Yeol had managed to hunt down one of the primary monsters in the Cheolwon hunting ground with a single slash. In reality, Mavros had done eighty percent of the work, and Han-Yeol simply delivered the final blow. He was only able to land a clean hit on the Yeti because his black dragon had completely incapacitated the monster.

“Kiek!”?

Seuk… Seuk…

After the Yeti was defeated, Mavros nudged his head toward Han-Yeol, requesting pats on his head. It was as if the black dragon was asking, "I did well, didn't I?" through his gestures. Han-Yeol responded by affectionately patting Mavros on the head.

[Hey, Mujahid. What’s taking so long?]

[Ah… That’s cheating, hyung-nim… You would’ve made a fool out of me if I agreed to the wager!]

[Who knows?]

[You’re mean!]

[Hahaha! You should try cooperating with Furion as well.]

[I was about to do that, hyung-nim! Let’s go! Furion!]

“Kyaoh!”

Furion finally unleashed the ferocity it had been concealing. The black panther appeared quite docile when it was with Mujahid, but in reality, it was a cruel and vicious beast, much like its owner.

One could say they were a perfect match, as Mujahid also transformed into a completely different person once a fight commenced.

Mujahid unchained Furion, and the black panther began to unleash its primal mana.

‘Oh? That’s quite impressive?’?Han-Yeol thought while observing Mujahid and Furion.

Han-Yeol had fought alongside Mujahid in the Thousand Armed Bodhisattva raid, but he hadn't had the chance to observe him in combat as he was preoccupied at the time. This presented him with the perfect opportunity to witness Mujahid's fighting style and learn more about it.

Han-Yeol had already discovered that the Cheolwon hunting ground was sparsely populated with scattered monsters. As they delved deeper, only the types of monsters changed, while the density of mana remained constant.

The current hunting party consisted of only two damage dealers: Han-Yeol and Mujahid. Venturing deeper into the hunting ground with such a composition was undeniably risky, but that didn't mean they would refrain from exploring further.

[Furion!]

“Kyaoh!”

Both Mujahid and Furion were melee fighters. Han-Yeol may not have been aware of it, but Mujahid and Furion had diligently hunted together even after the black panther reached its first evolution stage. They had even trained to cooperate seamlessly in battles, moving in perfect unison as if they were a single entity.

“Kieeeek!”?The Yeti cried out in agony after Furion scratched its face with its powerful claws.

Mujahid seized the opportunity and swiftly dashed behind the Yeti, driving both of his claws deep into the monster's neck.

Puuuk!

“Kieeeeek!”?

The Yeti became completely disoriented after being attacked from both the front and back. Hunting down the towering, upright primate-like monster was certainly no easy task. However, Mujahid and Furion's combined assault swiftly put an end to it, preventing the duo from even having the opportunity to showcase the full extent of their abilities.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!?

The Yeti continued to put up a fight, flailing its arms around even with both claws deeply embedded in its neck. While subdued and no longer a direct threat, its stubborn tenacity prevented it from succumbing quickly.

Mujahid let out a sigh of relief while watching the Yeti trying to cling to life. ‘This monster… If it didn’t die from this and it’s immune to striking damage, then… Would I have been able to kill it without using that skill?’

Mujahid primarily relied on his fists in combat, but he possessed one skill that differed from his striking techniques: a peculiar pressure shockwave he used against the zodiac monsters.

However, this skill required him to have at least two embers on his back, and it consumed an exorbitant amount of mana. Consequently, using it on a single monster proved highly inefficient.

Mujahid felt relieved that he had recently acquired the claw and modified his fighting style just before the hunt. Otherwise, he would have resorted to punching the Yeti as if it were a mere sandbag. If the monster stubbornly persisted in not yielding, Mujahid would have to rely on Han-Yeol to deliver the final blow.

‘Ugh… The thought of it alone is scary…’?Mujahid grumbled inwardly.

The infamous battle maniac couldn't help but shudder at the thought of being unable to contribute anything in the hunting ground, becoming nothing more than dead weight to others. The prospect of such a scenario sent chills down his spine, as he was certain that it would be a shock from which he would never recover.

[What are you doing? Hurry up and finish it off.]

[Ah, yes, hyung-nim.]

Mujahid ceased dwelling on the worst-case scenario and snapped back to reality upon hearing Han-Yeol's voice. Gathering his monstrous strength, he readied himself to deliver the final blow, intending to bring an end to the Yeti's life.

Shwik!

Mujahid may have appeared carefree and aloof in Han-Yeol's presence, but he was far from being a simpleton. His battle instincts alone surpassed Han-Yeol's, and he had been committed to rigorous training since childhood, never skipping a single day.

Although it was his first time using a weapon like the Psy Blade, his innate battle maniac DNA instantly made it feel familiar in his hands. As a result, he improvised a new attack on the spot.

With a powerful leap into the air, Mujahid descended upon the Yeti, both hands aimed at its vulnerable point. He executed a spin in midair, landing on the monster with remarkable precision.

Kwachiiiik!

“Kieeeeeeeeek!”?

The Yeti, despite its tenacity, stood no chance of surviving an attack that left its neck in utter disarray. Surprisingly, it still fought to cling to life, attempting to grab the human on its neck and pull him down. However, the relentless interference from the black panther prevented it from grasping hold of the human.

As a result, the Yeti's neck was gruesomely mangled by Mujahid's assault, leaving it in a dire state.

Thud!

The monster fell dead to the ground with its eyes rolled back.

Crunch… Crunch… Crunch… Crunch…?

Mujahid got off the Yeti’s back and stepped on the snow.

It was an overwhelming victory.

Some might argue that Mujahid was weaker compared to Han-Yeol, who managed to defeat the Yeti in a single strike. However, it's important to note that Han-Yeol was on par with Master Rank Hunters and possessed the formidable skill 'Explosion,' which was highly effective against a single target.

Naturally, the 'Explosion' skill consumed a significant amount of mana, making it impractical for frequent use. In fact, the mana consumption was so substantial that only a few individuals, lacking the mana-regeneration cheat-like skill possessed by Han-Yeol, would be able to employ it even once.

In contrast, Mujahid didn't use any skills at all. He didn't ignite any embers on his back, nor did he exhaust his mana in attacking the Yeti. Although it took him longer to defeat the Yeti compared to Han-Yeol, the fact that he accomplished it solely with his raw strength was truly remarkable.

While it's true that Mujahid was still weaker compared to Han-Yeol, no one would dare underestimate him simply because he took a bit more time to dispatch the Yeti.

[Nice skills you have there.]

[Haha! One Yeti is not even a warm-up for me!]

[Yeah, looks like it. Then, should we kick things up a notch?]

[I would love to! Haha!]

Tak!

In response to Han-Yeol's slight taunt, Mujahid slammed his fists together. He wasn't the type to back down simply because he was competing against a Master Rank Hunter. He possessed a competitive spirit and had great confidence in his own strength.

‘I?will grow stronger if I can beat hyung-nim…’?he thought.

Although it didn't show on his face, Mujahid had been feeling troubled recently. His sister, who held the same Osiris Rank as him, had suddenly advanced to Ra Rank and returned to Egypt. The fact that she left him behind in Korea wasn't a concern, as they didn't often travel together.

What really bothered him was the realization that Tayarana had achieved something unprecedented in the entire history of Egypt.

Mujahid wasn't foolish; in fact, he was highly intelligent. He tirelessly pondered day and night, seeking to comprehend how Tayarana had accomplished something of such magnitude. Eventually, he narrowed it down to a single reason.

‘There was only one difference my sister had compared to the other Osiris Rank Hunters, and that was the fact that she hunted alongside hyung-nim!’ This was the theory Mujahid came up with.

Han-Yeol was a growth-type Hunter, which meant that his emitted mana carried traces of his growth-type ability, whether he intended it or not. Mujahid firmly believed that hunting alongside Han-Yeol would influence his own mana and enable him to grow stronger.

‘I can become a Ra Rank Hunter, just like my sister, if I hunt alongside hyung-nim, and that means I can acquire two more skills!’ Mujahid clenched his fists.

He was already envious of Tayarana for becoming a Ra Rank Hunter, but the fact that she gained two more skills intensified his jealousy.

‘Gaining two more skills would make fighting even more enjoyable! It's frustrating to think that she can have more fun than me now…’

True to his nature, Mujahid's mind was consumed with thoughts of combat, showing little concern for becoming stronger. All he cared about was pushing his limits in battles against formidable opponents. He knew that acquiring two more skills would greatly enhance his efficiency in combat.

In short, Mujahid felt extreme jealousy that Tayarana could experience more excitement than him.

[Haa…]

Mujahid let out a sigh.

Then, the Egyptian manager suddenly approached Han-Yeo, cutting into their conversation.

[Excuse me… Han-Yeol-nim?]

[Yes?]

[I think I should report this to you, but… The corpse of the Yeti you killed with Explosion just now has lost its value, and it will be classified as F Grade and sold for almost dirt cheap… I am not telling you to stop hunting, but I just felt that you should be aware of it…]