CHAPTER 26: CURSED ASCENT

The other hunter dropped the barrier and marched forward, face stern. "Do you even realize what you just did? Tell me, why did you attack?"

Raito glanced at him but quickly turned his eyes away. "No reason. I just wanted to enter the dungeon. You were in my way."

I can’t tell them about Greed... about my skill, Raito thought, swallowing hard.

The hunter the scowled and reached for him. "Since you’ve calmed down, we’ll have to arrest you—"

"No, it’s fine. Leave him," Jiro interrupted, stepping forward.

The hunter frowned. "Leave him? After what he—"

Jiro raised a hand. His eyes locked on Raito, sharp and curious. "I don’t know what’s going on with you, but I’ll say this... you impressed me. For someone your age, to fight me on equal footing, even for a moment—that takes strength."

Jiro exhaled, his voice dropping low so only Raito could hear.

"Yes... maybe I was holding back. When I fought you, I didn’t use my full strength. My flames would have burned through everything—including the people nearby. But even if I had gone all out..." Jiro’s gaze hardened. "I can tell. I still wouldn’t have won."

Raito’s eyes widened slightly, but he stayed silent.

"So," Jiro continued, tilting his head, "tell me. Why did you want to enter this dungeon? You’re clearly not just here by chance."

Raito’s fists tightened. "I have my reasons. But to be frank... I won’t tell you."

Jiro studied him for a moment, expression unreadable. Then, to the shock of the other hunter, he stepped aside. "Fine. If you want to go in, then go."

"What?!" the other hunter snapped. "Are you serious, Jiro? We’re not supposed to let anyone through. Our job is to guard this portal until the assigned rank B team arrives. If he goes in, he could lose his life!"

Jiro didn’t take his eyes off Raito. "I don’t think he will."

The hunter scoffed. "You can’t just—"

But before he could finish, Raito dashed forward. His body blurred as he leapt straight into the glowing blue portal.

Jiro reached out instinctively. "Wait! I don’t even know your name!"

But Raito was gone—swallowed by the dungeon’s entrance.

Raito clenched his fists, his eyes still faintly glowing red.

I don’t have time. If I lose control again and go berserk in here, it’ll be over. I need to kill monsters—fast.

He dashed deeper into the dungeon. The air grew heavier, damp stone walls echoing his hurried footsteps. Then, only a few steps in, a shadow loomed before him.

A Minotaur.

The beast was massive—fifteen feet tall, muscles bulging, its horns scraping the ceiling. In its hands it carried a colossal axe, jagged and stained. Its breath came out in hot, heavy bursts as it glared down at him.

Raito tightened his grip on his daggers. "A Rank C monster, huh? Stronger than me... but it doesn’t matter. I have to take you down."

The Minotaur roared, swinging its axe in a wide arc. The force of the swing tore through the air. Raito leapt aside just as the weapon crashed into the dungeon floor, stone shattering like glass. Dust and debris exploded upward.

The beast wrenched its axe free and immediately raised it again. Raito crossed his daggers, bracing himself. The impact thundered through his arms, the blades rattling under the monster’s weight. The sheer force flung him backward, and he slammed against the floor, sliding across the stone. His chest burned with pain.

"Damn... so much power," Raito groaned, staggering to his feet. "But I can’t stop. Not now."

The Minotaur charged again, raising the axe high. Its speed was terrifying for its size. The blade whistled down, but Raito rolled aside, the axe cracking the ground where he had stood a moment ago.

He sprinted forward, weaving past its swings, his body moving almost on instinct. His daggers flashed, striking sparks against the shaft of the axe as he deflected blow after blow. Then—an opening.

The Minotaur overextended with a downward strike. Before it could recover, Raito leapt onto the haft of the weapon, using it as a springboard. His body soared upward, and with both hands gripping his daggers, he plunged them deep into the monster’s chest.

"Die!" he roared.

The blades tore into flesh. The Minotaur bellowed, blood spraying as it staggered backward. Raito ripped his weapons free and landed lightly on the ground.

The monster clutched its wound, staggering as crimson poured from its chest. Its furious roar shook the dungeon walls.

The Minotaur roared and wrenched its massive axe from the floor, swinging it in a deadly arc toward Raito. The sheer force split the air like a storm, but Raito didn’t flinch.

In a flash, his dagger clashed against the weapon. Sparks erupted—then, impossibly, the axe split apart, cleaved clean through.

The Minotaur froze in shock. That weapon was forged from enchanted steel, yet Raito’s blade had sliced it as though it were paper.

"This dagger..." Raito muttered under his breath, his eyes narrowing. "The claw of the Speedster Inferno Demon... no wonder it can cut through metal."

The beast stumbled back, its single weapon now ruined. But Raito didn’t give it time to recover. He surged forward, leaping higher than the Minotaur expected, both daggers gleaming in his grip. With all his strength, he plunged them deep into its eyes.

The Minotaur screamed in agony. Its enormous body thrashed violently, fists smashing against the stone walls of the dungeon. The ground trembled as chunks of rock crashed down. Blinded and enraged, the creature flailed wildly, its punches leaving craters in the walls.

Raito’s crimson gaze sharpened. He darted in again, faster than before, his figure blurring as he closed the distance. With a single, precise strike, he slashed through the thick neck of the Minotaur.

The monster’s roar died instantly. Its head toppled with a heavy thud onto the floor, blood spraying before the body collapsed. Then, just as quickly, the massive corpse began to fade into particles of light, dissolving into nothingness.