Previous Chapter Reminder = In the previous chapter, we saw Manu barely survive after defeating a lizard monster. While running through the desert to save his life, he suddenly ran into two mysterious girls…
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NARRATOR VOICE = Just like a computer becomes faster after upgrading its processor… Manu's breathing had completely lost control.
His heartbeat was racing wildly.
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Manu (cracked voice) = O-Ok… help me…
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Unknown Voice = Captain, I don't think we should trust him.
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Manu (thought) = According to my plans… a wolf stays patient… and attacks only at the right moment…
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Unknown Voice = Team Leader Lyra, don't trust him. This is a test. What if he betrays us?
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Lyra = Aria… stop overthinking.
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Aria (concerned) = But Captain—
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Lyra = Fine. Give me one reason why we should keep you with us.
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Manu = First… I won't betray you.
I surrender.
You can take all my items.
And second… I can help you gain points.
I have information.
Let's trade.
Information in exchange for protection.
Deal?
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Lyra = What kind of information?
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Aria = If you betray Captain… I won't let you leave alive.
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Manu = Whether it's useful or not… see it with your own eyes.
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NARRATOR VOICE = Suddenly—
The ground stones began vibrating violently.
The sand started sinking.
Those mysterious eyes that had been watching Manu from afar… were finally moving to attack.
Manu instantly jumped backward.
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Aria = Captain Lyra! That's a Dune Stalker! They usually never come to the surface… then why now?!
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Lyra = Unless someone killed its baby…
…Wait.
Now everything makes sense.
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THE LATE SYSTEM
C-RANK MONSTER DETECTED
"DUNE STALKER"
Territorial Hunter Type
Survival Probability: 20%
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Lyra = Aria, formation!
And everyone stay away from its tail! Its poison is deadly!
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Lyra = Boy, help if you can.
But don't interfere in the middle of the battle.
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NARRATOR VOICE = The Dune Stalker looked like a giant desert scorpion.
It was even larger than the Dungeon Bull monster.
And far more intelligent.
Manu immediately hid behind a stone.
Lyra was a swordswoman.
And Aria—
A magician.
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NARRATOR VOICE = Aria cast a support spell.
A transparent shield wrapped around Lyra's body.
The moment the shield activated, Lyra dashed forward and unleashed a powerful Wind Slash at the Dune Stalker.
But—
The Dune Stalker was an intelligent dungeon species.
It sensed the danger instantly.
It burrowed beneath the sand before the attack could land.
Lyra's attack completely missed.
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Lyra = Be careful! It can attack from anywhere!
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NARRATOR VOICE = Suddenly—
The Dune Stalker burst out from beneath the sand and attacked Lyra with its poisonous stinger tail.
The strike landed directly on her shoulder.
As the poison spread, her shoulder slowly turned blueberry blue.
Blood started flowing out.
The burning pain felt like salt being rubbed into an open wound.
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NARRATOR VOICE = Aria immediately cast a healing spell.
Lyra's injury slowly recovered.
Her breathing stabilized.
But Aria didn't stop there.
She cast a poison resistance spell as well.
The moment the spell completed, half of her spirit power was consumed.
Because of the rapid mana consumption, she wouldn't be able to use magic for the next minute.
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NARRATOR VOICE = The Dune Stalker instantly exploited Aria's blind spot.
A brutal tail swipe—
Aria was thrown through the air and crashed beside Manu onto a stone.
The impact was so violent that the clothes around her stomach area tore apart.
Deep scratches appeared across her belly.
Blood poured out rapidly.
Her level simply wasn't high enough yet.
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NARRATOR VOICE = The Dune Stalker slowly approached her…
Preparing for the final kill.
But—
Manu just stared silently.
No reaction.
His body had entered complete fear-induced freeze mode.
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Lyra = Hey boy! Get Aria behind the stone!
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NARRATOR VOICE = That distraction finally gave Lyra an opening.
She landed a powerful Wind Slash directly onto the Dune Stalker's vital area.
Three out of its six legs were cut off instantly.
Now the monster could barely move properly.
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NARRATOR VOICE = But the Dune Stalker was still dangerous.
It picked up nearby stones into its mouth—
And began firing acid-coated stone bullets like a machine gun.
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NARRATOR VOICE = Lyra desperately dodged the attacks.
Some shots grazed her body as they passed by.
Thanks to the poison resistance spell, she managed to survive…
But the spell's duration was almost over.
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NARRATOR VOICE = Lyra quickly cast Strength and Speed enhancement spells on herself.
Those were basic spells Aria had taught her earlier.
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Lyra (thought) = Thanks… Aria…
At least for teaching me basic spells…
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NARRATOR VOICE = The Dune Stalker realized Lyra was only distracting it.
Suddenly, it changed targets.
The speed of the acid bullets increased—
And the next volley was fired directly toward Manu and Aria.
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NARRATOR VOICE = Manu's survival instincts activated instantly.
Without thinking, he threw his shoes into the air.
The acid struck the shoes directly.
Within seconds, the shoes melted completely.
The melted material fell onto the sand and hardened into a dagger-like shape.
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Lyra (shouting) = Focus on me!
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NARRATOR VOICE = Using that opportunity, Lyra cut off another one of the Dune Stalker's legs.
In pain and instinct, the monster swung its tail violently and threw Lyra far away.
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NARRATOR VOICE = Meanwhile—
Manu quickly tried cooling the melted object using saliva and water.
The improvised dagger wasn't perfect…
But it was enough.
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Manu (thought) = Yeah… I was getting bored hiding behind stones… so I started drawing dagger designs in the sand…
Looks like that coincidence finally became useful…
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NARRATOR VOICE = The Dune Stalker completely focused on Manu now.
It charged forward for the final kill.
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Manu = Big Bro… I know weak people become food…
But spare me!
I don't even have enough meat on me!
You won't enjoy eating me!
Eat this girl instead!
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Lyra = Keep distracting it like that!
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NARRATOR VOICE = The Dune Stalker fired another acid shot.
This time, Manu had no proper counter.
But desperation forced his brain to work faster.
He instantly threw his empty steel water bottle.
As expected—
The bottle melted from the acid.
And in that exact opening—
Manu used all his strength to stab the improvised dagger directly into the monster's eye.
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NARRATOR VOICE = The Dune Stalker screamed in agony.
And at that exact moment—
Lyra pierced her sword straight through its chest from behind.
As if she had stolen its heart.
A massive hole exploded open in the monster's chest.
And finally—
The Dune Stalker collapsed.
Dead.
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THE LATE SYSTEM
Shocking…
Host actually defeated a C-Rank monster.
Honestly, I thought host's funeral was already prepared.
Reward: +5 Attribute Points
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NARRATOR VOICE = But the moment the battle ended—
An unknown team approached them.
The same team that had been secretly observing everything from the beginning.
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Unknown Team = Aww… babies.
Hand over all your loot and points.
Otherwise, none of you are leaving this place alive.
Do you even know who our leader is?
The son of this town's king.
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Lyra = Tell that spoiled prince…
I don't care.
Leave now.
Or I'll kill all of you myself.
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Unknown Team Leader = Interesting…
I like arrogant girls.
Become my queen.
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NARRATOR VOICE = Lyra saliva throw directly onto the ground.
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Lyra (angry) = No.
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NARRATOR VOICE = The atmosphere instantly turned dangerous.
But unexpectedly—
Manu surrendered.
He handed over all his items.
Even Lyra's sword.
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NARRATOR VOICE = The unknown team relaxed after collecting the loot.
They thought the fight was already over.
But—
A few minutes later…
Their bodies slowly began weakening one by one.
Their breathing became unstable.
Their vision blurred.
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NARRATOR VOICE = Poison.
Because of the intense battle and blood circulation, the poison spread rapidly throughout their bodies.
All ten members of the unknown team slowly collapsed.
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Manu (happy) = Yes…
The plan finally worked.
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Lyra (confused) = How…?
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Manu = I sprayed poison on all my items.
The battle made the poison spread faster through blood circulation.
In this test…
You shouldn't trust anyone except yourself.
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Manu = And honestly…
I would've used the same trick on you too…
If you had betrayed me.
But…
You turned out to be kind people.
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NARRATOR VOICE = Suddenly—
A mechanical clicking sound echoed through the desert.
The entire desert was silent.
So even that tiny sound was clearly audible.
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CLICK.
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NARRATOR VOICE = The next second—
BOOM!!
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NARRATOR VOICE = The ground beneath Manu and Lyra suddenly collapsed.
A massive sand landslide erupted beneath them.
And sand landslides…
Were far more terrifying than normal ones.
Because there was nothing to hold onto.
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NARRATOR VOICE = Falcon Team…
And Manu…
Fell directly into the depths of the desert valley.
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COMING SOON…
Which part did you find the most interesting?
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