Su-ho smirked to himself.

    “So this was a Hidden Gate.”

    Hidden Gates weren’t exclusively those concealed in obscure locations like the Blood Tower hidden within the Seoul Blood Bank.

    Gates with multiple, unorthodox conquest methods could also qualify as Hidden Gates.

    Initially, Su-ho hadn’t realized this place was one.

    He had chosen it merely because it was close to the Daehyun Association, had been conquered in his previous life, and was manageable given his current abilities.

    Who would have thought this gate would turn out to be a Hidden Gate?@@@@

    Even the presence of Parasites hadn’t tipped him off.

    Parasites were relatively common in gates with internal body themes like this one.

    But discovering the desiccated corpse of the Body Worm had changed everything.

    As Su-ho ran his hand over the trembling, fleshy walls of the Mega Worm’s intestines, he murmured,

    “Sorry, I didn’t realize.”

    In his previous life, the players who had cleared this gate endured countless waves of stomach acid and swarms of Parasites for hours. They were eventually swept away by a massive acid surge and expelled through the Mega Worm’s anus.

    Su-ho had assumed he would have to take the same approach.

    That’s why he had been heading toward the intestines rather than the esophagus—filthy as it was, he wasn’t going to give up on conquering the gate just because it was disgusting.

    But who would have thought there was a hidden method of clearing it?

    “I guess it’s time to change tactics.”

    Su-ho reshaped the sharp spikes on his shoe soles into flat surfaces.

    Walking on sharp soles had been a convenient way to irritate the Mega Worm—it allowed him to harm it just by walking.

    But that approach was no longer necessary.

    If his understanding of similar Parasite-based gates was correct, continuous assaults on the smaller creatures would eventually draw out the boss.

    He wanted to keep tormenting the intestines—every stab caused the Mega Worm to tremble and release more Parasites.

    However, if he continued, he would likely get expelled through the anus before reaching the real target.

    And Su-ho had no intention of enduring that indignity when the hidden rewards were within reach.

    Gripping his blood sword tightly, Su-ho broke into a sprint.

    [ Mana Detection Activated. ]

    Regretting the time he had wasted stabbing random internal walls, Su-ho focused his mana senses and began systematically exterminating the Parasites hiding throughout the Mega Worm’s body.

    [ You have defeated a Parasite. ]

    [ You have defeated a Parasite. ]

    [ You have defeated a Parasite. ]

    [ You have defeated a Parasite. ]

    Each one fell effortlessly under Su-ho’s blade.

    The Parasites were not difficult to deal with—they were nothing more than Mini Worm-level creatures with soft, fleshy bodies that made them satisfying to cut.

    Even in groups, their levels—hovering around the low 100s—were no match for Su-ho’s strength.

    An idea suddenly struck him.

    “This might turn into a prolonged battle...”

    Acting on his thought, Su-ho summoned Bulgasari, his loyal summon.

    “Bulgasari.”

    “Bulbul!”

    The small creature, about the size of a Maltese dog, responded to Su-ho’s call.

    “Grow bigger,” Su-ho commanded.

    “Bulbul.”

    Bulgasari began to grow, swelling to the size of a pony.

    Mounting it, Su-ho asked, “Am I too heavy?”

    “Bulbul,” the creature shook its head.

    “Good,” Su-ho replied. “Let’s run.”

    “Bulbul!”

    With Su-ho riding atop it, Bulgasari charged forward.

    Su-ho shifted his weapon from the usual longsword to a whip-like flexible blade.

    As Parasites swarmed toward him, he swung the weapon like a flail.

    [ You have defeated a Parasite. ]

    [ You have defeated a Parasite. ]

    [ You have defeated a Parasite. ]

    [ You have defeated a Parasite. ]

    The momentum from the galloping mount made his strikes even sharper.

    The whip-blade, a weapon Su-ho occasionally used for variety, synergized perfectly with his mounted combat style.

    Level: 99Class: HealerTraits: New Blood, Candidate of HerculesStrength (O): 25Stamina (O): 1Mana (R): 63Perception (R): 61Bonus Stat: 0

    Gripping the blood sword in a reverse hold, he drove it toward the creature’s forehead.

    CLANG!

    The strike was precise, but the blade skidded off the creature’s impenetrable hide, sparks flying.

    “What the...?”

    Even as he thrust repeatedly at the monster’s face, his attacks failed to penetrate its skin.

    “How is this not cutting through?”

    The awkward angle was part of the problem.

    This wasn’t a proper battlefield—Su-ho was clinging to the nose of a rampaging monster, unable to use his full strength or body mechanics.

    “If only I had solid footing, I’d use my Steel Cutter skill...”

    An idea suddenly struck him.

    Switching the blood sword to his left hand, Su-ho extended his right hand.

    From the shadow beneath his palm, a dark weapon materialized, coalescing into his hand—Guiyeong Spear.

    “Let’s see if you can handle this.”

    The conditions were perfect.

    The creature’s massive body filled the passage, casting thick shadows.

    Using the darkness enveloping the Parasite’s head as a foundation, Su-ho drove the Guiyeong Spear straight into its face.

    BOOM!

    [ Shadow Penetration activates. ]

    A notification appeared, and Su-ho’s grin widened.

    “No matter how tough your hide is, it’s no match for shadow-based attacks.”

    The spear pierced cleanly through the Parasite’s forehead, emerging on the other side.

    ROOOOAR!!

    The Mega Parasite howled in pain, thrashing violently.

    [ Shadow Bleed activates. ]

    Although the conditions weren’t met for Shadow Shackles, the Shadow Bleed effect began inflicting steady damage, leaving the creature in agony.

    Su-ho didn’t let up.

    Gripping the Guiyeong Spear in a reverse hold, he relentlessly stabbed the Parasite’s face.

    ROOOOAR!! ROOOOAR!!

    The Mega Parasite’s howls grew louder, its speed slowing as it staggered under Su-ho’s onslaught.

    The creature writhed in pain, its body twisting violently.

    Even the Mega Worm itself began to roar in anguish, affected by the Parasite’s thrashing.

    Su-ho smirked as he raised the spear for another strike.

    “Both of you are making quite a racket.”

    CRUNCH!

    He drove the Guiyeong Spear deep into the Parasite’s forehead one last time.

    The monster finally stopped its charge, convulsing in place.

    Su-ho leapt off the creature’s face, landing some distance away.

    Drawing his blood sword, he lowered it to his hip, adopting a ready stance.

    Hoo...

    Taking a deep breath, Su-ho steadied himself.

    He had taken a solid hit earlier and wasn’t about to let the battle drag on any longer.

    In a single, explosive movement, Su-ho unleashed his strike.

    [ Cloud Slash activates. ]

    SWOOSH!

    A crimson arc split the air, bisecting everything in its path.

    The Mega Parasite’s head and body were cleaved cleanly in two, along with the intestinal walls of the Mega Worm.

    SPLATTER!

    Blood and viscera sprayed as the creature collapsed, utterly defeated.

    “That’s one way to end it.”

    Su-ho surveyed the aftermath, his blood sword still humming with residual energy.