CHAPTER 141: 141 - LABYRINTH OF THE NURTURER [11]

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[Hell’s Prisoner]

Rank:C++

Strength:C+

Agility:D+

Stamina:C+

Intelligence:C

[Skills]

Self Destruct

Fire Manipulation

Flame of Hell

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"Ugh, it’s hideous..."

Raven mumbled after seeing the appearance of the Hell’s Prisoner, his voice filled with disgust and a faint trace of annoyance.

He and the others were still standing in front of the massive, now-opened gate that served as the entrance to the last floor. The hot air spilling from inside made their clothes cling uncomfortably to their skin, and yet their eyes were fixed on the monster resting within.

And seeing Raven muttering to himself like that, the others naturally grew curious. They followed his gaze to the inside of the chamber.

And there...

"What the hell is that?" -Curtis

"It’s creepy." -Aoi

"It’s looking at us..." -Adelle

"No it’s not." -Blake

"But it looks like it is, Blake." -Alec

"Shhh, don’t argue now, it might hear us." -Eve

The group stared wide-eyed at a towering, 25-meter-tall humanoid monster. It wasn’t as massive as the Giant Squid they had fought before, but the aura it exuded and its terrifying features made it far more frightening.

The Hell’s Prisoner had three enormous eyes. But instead of whites, every part of them was jet black, like deep pits that could swallow light.

It also had four twisted horns curling menacingly atop its head, and rows of razor-sharp yellow teeth that gleamed even under the dim glow of the lava chamber.

Its body was covered in a coat of red fur that bristled like needles, and its exposed skin beneath was a dark crimson shade. The creature’s sheer size and muscular build made Raven instinctively think that even a single casual strike from it could shatter his bones.

Right now, the Hell’s Prisoner was sleeping inside something akin to a magma chamber.

The entire floor carried a theme that could only be described as hell itself.

Or at least, what mortals would expect hell to look like...

Everywhere, crimson flames burned endlessly. Lava flowed like rivers and streams, while waves of suffocating hot air made each breath feel heavy and scorching.

It was an unlivable land. A place where even getting close for just a few seconds would mean certain death for any ordinary human.

...

*****

"Let’s ambush it."

Eve suddenly broke the silence as her eyes fixed on the Hell’s Prisoner. Her tone was calm, but her intent was sharp.

"?!"

Her words instantly drew everyone’s attention.

"It’s a good idea."

Aoi voiced her agreement only moments later, her sharp gaze never leaving the monster.

"Except that monster, there’s nothing else alive on this floor."

She clarified, her voice steady and confident.

"I don’t detect any traps too."

Adelle quickly added after her.

(Aoi and Adelle both used their detection skills...)

Normally, one might think their senses could be wrong. And technically, that was possible.

But when it came to Aoi and Adelle, their senses were the sharpest among the entire group.

And considering how much stronger they had grown while making their way down the labyrinth...

Their words carried significant weight to the others.

"Then we should probably go now."

Raven suggested almost immediately after hearing their confirmation. His voice was casual, but his eyes showed determination.

"Aren’t you being hasty?"

Curtis frowned and questioned him.

Raven glanced at him, then shifted his gaze to the rest of the group.

And then he spoke.

"Well, if you guys wouldn’t go..."

"I can just do it alone."

"It’s not like I can’t do it without you guys."

He declared confidently, not an ounce of hesitation in his tone.

Before the others could even process what he just said—

SWOOSH~

Black wings suddenly sprouted from Raven’s back with a powerful force!

BAM-

FWISH!

And in the next instant, he shot into the air, flying directly toward the slumbering boss monster without hesitation, leaving the rest of the team momentarily stunned!

"Wha?! That bastard...!"

Curtis cursed, his voice filled with frustration.

He then turned to Eve.

"We should go too. I don’t think he’s joking when he said he can do it alone."

Eve’s expression was complicated. She clenched her fists and nodded reluctantly.

"But what’s the plan?"

Alec asked, concern in his voice.

Eve looked at him, then shook her head slowly.

"None. We just need to do what we always do. Be versatile, and always keep our teammates in mind..."

She bit her lower lip as she spoke, irritation building inside her.

’That man... what is he thinking, rushing in without a plan..?’

She thought, though she knew Raven well enough to realize he would never back down once he decided something.

"Let’s go!"

She ordered firmly.

And as soon as her words left her mouth...

BAM-!

BAM-!

SWOOSH—!!!

Alec, Adelle, Curtis, and Aoi dashed inside the last floor, immediately moving to positions where they believed they could contribute the most.

"Huh? Where’s Blake?"

Alec asked after noticing Blake wasn’t with them again...

*****

Meanwhile, Raven had already closed the distance and reached the monstrous face of Hell’s Prisoner.

And as soon as he did...

-Graa..?

The Hell’s Prisoner stirred and opened its eyes, its black pupils staring right at him!

"..."

But Raven didn’t falter in the slightest.

With [Emmeranne] firmly gripped in his right hand...

PHUCK!

He stabbed the middle eye of the monster without hesitation!

"[Lightning Strike]"

Raven shouted as he simultaneously invoked a fourth-tier magic.

BZZZT-

Electricity coursed down his sword...

B O O M—!

And exploded violently inside the monster’s eye!

-GRAAAAA?!!

The Hell’s Prisoner roared in agony, the sound shaking the entire chamber.

SWOOSH-

In response, the monster immediately raised both of its massive hands to counterattack!

FWOOSH~

Blazing fire engulfed its palms...

BAM!

And then it clapped them together with terrifying force, aiming to crush Raven like an insect!

S W A A H~!!

The shockwave of fire that erupted spread in every direction.

The monster’s attack, though simple, was enough to obliterate most students of the Lunar Academy if they were unfortunate enough to face it.

But not far from its clasped hands—

"That’s it?"

Raven spoke with clear disappointment.

He had easily evaded the monster’s attempt to crush him!

As soon as he noticed the hands moving toward him, Raven instantly activated Thought Acceleration, slowing the world around him.

With that, he flew effortlessly above the creature’s head!

"It’s slow..."

He muttered, visibly underwhelmed.

[It’s not slow, you’re just fast as fuck.]

Sariel responded bluntly inside his head.

But Raven ignored the comment and focused instead.

Bzzzt-

CRACKLE- CRACKLE-

Black lightning continued to cover his body and blade.

SWOOSH-

He shot downward in a dive, aiming at the monster’s unprotected head.

PHUCK-

He stabbed his sword deep into the skull without hesitation.

F W I S H-!

But just then, a massive hand made entirely of fire rushed at him from behind!

"!!"

Raven’s eyes widened. He hadn’t sensed it, as the fiery construct contained no mana or life force.

It was the Hell’s Prisoner’s skill— Fire Manipulation!

Raven prepared to evade, wings spreading—

SWOOSH-

When suddenly, someone appeared between him and the attack.

"I knew you would rush things and make a mistake!"

It was Blake.

"That’s why I ran in too, right after you rushed ahead!"

Blake shouted as he raised his shield, a grin on his face.

"[ABSOLUTE DEFENSE!]"

BOOM!!!

The fire hand collided with his barrier and was completely stopped!

"Well, you have my gratitude."

Raven muttered with a small smile.

Then he glanced at his sword, still buried deep in the monster’s skull.

"As thanks, I’ll give you a show."

He declared.

"You’re too close, so you might get caught up."

"But you have ridiculous defense, so... here it goes!"

"[LIGHTNING FURY!]"

He exclaimed.

Swaaah–

A colossal magic circle formed above the Hell’s Prisoner’s head.

"Uwaah... Are you trying to kill me too?"

Blake asked nervously as he glanced up at the ominous spell.

*****

Meanwhile...

"That crazy bastard!" -Curtis

"Ugh, sucks to be that monster, being bullied by Raven..." -Alec

The others, just nearing the battlefield, had noticed the giant magic circle as well.

They knew instantly that it was Raven’s doing.

And moments later...

BZZOOOM–

BZOOOM-!

Bolts of black lightning rained down, each one homing in on [Emmeranne] where it was lodged!

BOOM!

BAAM!

-GRAAAAHHHHHH?!

The Hell’s Prisoner shrieked in agony, thrashing violently as explosions rocked its head.

-GRAAAAWLLL!!

BAM! BAM! BAM!

It burst out of the magma chamber and stumbled across the floor, but the storm of lightning continued to follow relentlessly.

BZOOOM!

"Uwaahh... Raven seems scarier than the monster itself now."

Adelle muttered in awe as she watched from a distance with Aoi.

"Well, Raven did say before that he’d rather face a monster three ranks higher than him than deal with a group of weaker ones."

Aoi calmly explained.

"Because in one-on-one fights, he’s basically a monster himself."

She added without hesitation.

"But we’re here too."

She reminded herself.

"Huuu..."

Taking a breath, Aoi raised her bow. Though it wasn’t loaded, her movements were steady.

Fwip-

She drew the string as if arrows were already nocked.

"[Mana Arrows]"

She whispered.

Ziing- Ziing- Ziing-

Three purple arrows of mana manifested instantly on her bowstring.

"[Bullseye]"

She invoked her next skill.

SWIIISH–

The string snapped forward as she released.

SHHHHHH—!

The arrows shot out with terrifying speed, cutting through the heat-filled air.

PHUCK- PHUCK-

Two arrows pierced deep into the Hell’s Prisoner’s ankles!

PHUCK-

The last arrow struck its damaged middle eye, right where Raven had already injured it.

BOOM!

Then each arrow exploded violently upon impact!

-GRAAAAAHHH!

The monster screamed as its ankles shattered, and its head cracked open so badly that its skull was visible.

"Oh, it did more damage than I expected..."

Aoi muttered in quiet surprise as the Hell’s Prisoner began collapsing forward.