Chapter 13
Ever since the last portal clearing, Han felt unsatisfied. Every beast had fallen too easily—even the Rat King posed no real challenge. He came to a simple conclusion: if he wanted a real fight, he'd have to enter a higher-tier portal. A Green-tier at the very least. Yellow would be ideal, but Green was safer... for now.
But to qualify for such challenges, he needed to raise his hero class—and that meant defeating stronger threats.
As if answering his silent wish, a jolt surged through his senses. His Danger Sense, a high-ranking B-rank skill with over a kilometer of range, suddenly triggered.
"Looks like my prayers were answered," Han muttered.
Without hesitation, he began walking toward the direction of the disturbance, deep within the forest. It was odd—whatever it was, it wasn't moving. It lingered, like a predator waiting.
Han glanced back briefly. He could still sense the fool tailing him, likely hoping to kill him and steal his beast cores.
"Tch. He's going to die if he keeps this up," Han thought.
And yet, the stalker didn't turn back.
The scene quickly changed.
Mada—the tailing fool—was now frozen in place, trembling in the shadow of a monstrous figure before him. The creature loomed over him, an unnatural hybrid of spider and human, easily an A-rank. Mada was only C-class—a hopeless mismatch.
Desperate, Mada launched four small fireballs. The creature swatted them aside effortlessly with a single limb.
Panic overtook Mada. He turned and ran.
The creature screeched, its mouth splitting open unnaturally wide. Thick webs shot forward, entangling Mada's legs. With a powerful yank, it reeled him in like a fish on a hook. Mada screamed, begging for mercy.
Han didn't move an inch.
Why would he? Saving someone who intended to rob and possibly kill him wasn't just foolish—it was suicide.
As Mada was dragged closer to the monster's maw, his eyes reddened with madness.
"I know I'm going to die… but you stupid E-ranker will join me soon!" he howled.
The creature bit off Mada's head in one savage snap, then tossed the lifeless body aside like garbage.
Now it turned to Han, its next prey.
Han locked eyes with the monster.
"Done playing?" he asked calmly.
With a screech, it lunged at him, firing webs. But Han wasn't Mada.
He leapt sideways, the webs missing him by inches. The monster's limbs lashed out—razor-sharp, fast enough to split stone.
Han weaved and ducked, narrowly avoiding each deadly strike.
"This thing's a problem," he muttered, somersaulting away from another web attack.
With no time to waste, Han extended his hand, clawed beside him.
"Fourth Jungle Art: Cheetah Stride."
In a blur, he vanished from sight, reappearing right in front of the monster.
Close-range will give me the edge, he thought.
That hope was shattered the moment their fists clashed.
Han was sent flying, tumbling through dirt before skidding to a stop. He groaned, wiping blood from his mouth.
"Damn... This is the kind of fight I was looking for."
The spider-human shrieked again and launched another barrage of webs. Han caught the strands mid-air, quickly molding them into one mass.
"First Jungle Art: Wolf Clutch!" he roared, yanking the web in a massive pull to throw the beast off-balance.
For a moment, it worked. But the monster severed its own web, regaining stability. All six of its limbs now surged toward Han.
"Shit—no time to dodge!"
Han crossed his arms, planting his legs firmly.
"Twelfth Jungle Art: Turtle Shield!"
A soft, circular shield of swirling air erupted in front of him. Since upgrading it to B-rank, the technique had evolved dramatically.
The limbs struck the shield, and Han was sent flying again—crashing through trees, his back smashing against a trunk. Blood dripped from his lips as he groaned.
> You have lost 40 HP.
260 / 300 HP remains.
Han coughed, trying to catch his breath.
"To think I lost that much, even with all that defense... If I hadn't used Turtle Shield, I'd be dead."
He stared at the creature closing in.
"Don't think you've won yet. I've still got more to show."
His hand glowed white. When the light faded, White Fang, his enchanted blade, was in his grip.
"Now it's a fair fight."
He leapt forward, hands gripping the sword tightly.
"Gorilla Smash!"
The blade crashed down. The monster reacted instantly, all limbs raised to counter. The shockwave flung Han backward, but he landed on his feet.
The beast was wounded—but still dangerous.
"Tch. Those limbs are a nightmare…"
It lunged again, claws slicing the air. Han blocked with White Fang, but the pressure was immense.
He was giving as much as he was taking.
> -20 HP.
180 / 300 HP remains.
Han staggered back, blood dripping from his lips, chest heaving as he glared at the wounded spider-like monster still poised for battle. His HP was down to 140/300, and his limbs ached with fatigue.
"Tch... if only I could track its movements better..." Han muttered, frustration gnawing at him. Then his eyes widened. Wait...!
He clenched his fist. "Analyzer Eye—activate."
A sharp glow flashed across his iris. The world shifted. Every twitch of the monster, every micro-movement, every fracture in its exoskeleton—became visible. Han smirked. "Perfect. Let's end this."
He dropped into a crouch, fingers clawed at his sides.
"Fourth Jungle Art: Cheetah Stride."
With a burst of explosive speed, Han vanished. The spider monster lashed out instinctively with its razor limbs, but Han weaved through the assault like wind in a storm. He leapt high into the air, spinning downward in a violent spiral.
"Tenth Jungle Art:Falcon Dive!"
He descended like a drill, White Fang gleaming in his hand. Two limbs rose to defend—but they were cleaved clean off. The monster shrieked, stunned.
Han's boots hit the ground. In a single breath, he twisted and slashed, severing two more limbs.
Four down.
The beast howled, its balance disrupted. Han hurled White Fang into the sky, then surged forward.
"First Jungle Art: Wolf Clutch!"
He gripped the remaining limbs and pulled, drawing the monster into a trap. The sword, now descending from above, came screaming through the air and cut off two more limbs, spraying black ichor.
But the spider lashed out, a final desperate attack—piercing Han's chest with one of its jagged limbs.
–40 HP HP: 100/300
Han grunted, blood pooling at the corners of his lips.
"Damn… this is just like that battle in Velmora City," he thought grimly. Laura would lose it if she saw me like this.
The monster, now reduced to two limbs, ripped them off itself—a calculated sacrifice. Han's breath caught. Smart… it's adapting.
"This'll be easy," Han thought—
—but then he stopped.
Something felt wrong.
The air shifted, the wind stilled, and then—BAM!
A flash of movement. Before he could even react, the spider monster was already there—its grotesque limb slamming into his face.
"Too fast!" Han's thoughts screamed as he was sent flying through the dense forest, smashing through bark and stone. His body tumbled before he dug his heels into the earth, skidding to a stop in a crouch.
Breathing hard, he wiped the blood off his lip.
"Tch... strong too."
The monster lunged again, shooting webs that exploded outward like nets. They wrapped around Han's body, constricting tightly, yanking him forward. He knew what was coming next—those fangs. That gaping, venomous mouth.
"Seventh Jungle Art: Mantis Slice!"
His fingers extended like blades, glowing faintly. With effort, he tore through the sticky webbing. The moment he broke free, he leapt high into the air.
His body twisted mid-air, one leg rising above the spider's head, the other sweeping in from below.
"Ninth Jungle Art: Crocodile Clamp!"
The air vibrated as his powerful legs clamped around the monster's skull, jaws slamming shut with force. With a burst of momentum, Han spun and delivered a crushing kick, sending the monster crashing into a boulder, shattering it.
Han landed, panting heavily.
Using the Jungle Arts took a toll—and he had used several already.
His muscles ached. His breath was shallow.
"I need to end this…" he muttered, exhaling.
The monster growled, rising once more. Wounded—but not defeated.
It charged.
Han stood firm, feet positioned—one forward, one angled back. His right arm coiled at his side, energy building.
The spider beast hurled its fist.
"Fourteenth Jungle Art: Tiger Punch." Han said.
His arm shot forward. The punch struck the monster dead center—a thunderous boom echoed as the air trembled.
When the dust cleared, Han stood firm, arm still extended.
The monster.
Half of its body was simply… gone. Obliterated.
He breathed heavily. "It's over..." he whispered. Or so he thought.
Suddenly, the remaining half of the beast twitched... then spoke.
"Th… thank you…" it rasped.
Han's eyes widened. Before him, the monster morphed, its monstrous body peeling away to reveal the mangled torso of a man.
A man Han recognized.
"No way… Webmaster?!"
An A-rank hero, although low ranking was known across the world. Han's breath caught in his throat.
Black lines pulsed across the dying man's body. Corruption. Mutation.
"How... how did you end up like this?" Han asked, though deep down, he already knew.
The purple-haired man.
The Webmaster gave a broken smile... then collapsed. Lifeless.
Han clenched his fists. Rain began to fall, soaking his tattered clothes. He tilted his head to the sky, eyes burning with silent rage.
"I'll find you… and I'll end this."
His voice trembled. Not with fear. But purpose.
"I'm still too weak."
"I need to get stronger."
---
Elsewhere...
Deep in the heart of a dark underground lab, green energy swirled inside a glowing containment tube. A figure floated within, suspended by wires and fluids. Tubes snaked from its body, siphoning a shimmering emerald essence.
A man stood watching.
Black and red coat. Purple hair. Cold, calculating eyes.
Behind him, a door hissed open. A second figure entered—tall, wearing a black suit. Fiery red hair.
"Drake. The Hero Association is starting to catch wind of the Cursed Serum."
Drake didn't flinch. His eyes remained on the tube. "Let them," he said coolly. "Awareness changes nothing. They're too late."
He turned. Behind him, dozens of other containment pods shimmered in the darkness. Each filled with swirling black-green liquid that twisted like it was alive.
"What's the next move?" the red-haired man asked.
Drake adjusted his glasses, a smile curving on his lips.
"It's time. Initiate... Project: Ultimate."
To be continued.