Alec hurried toward the site where the dungeon break had occurred. Monsters were pouring out of the gate, but strangely, his mood was elated.

‘Louise…’

“Louise likes me.”

Alec stifled a laugh as he quickened his pace. Even if he owned the world, it wouldn’t make him feel this euphoric. Was he dreaming? Maybe the gate, the monsters, the system, his magic, and even Louise herself were all just figments of his imagination.

But even if that were true, he would still fight with all his might in the final battle. He had to return to her.

“Louise…”

Grinning broadly, Alec nearly tripped on a stone, barely regaining his balance. The system window that had just popped up started to fade.

[Congratulations!]

[Your magic has grown to Circle 1!]

“Circle 1… all of a sudden?”

All he had done was send Louise back, yet his magic had leveled up. It left him bewildered. How had Louise even ended up here? He was relieved that he had been able to return her safely. He could die a thousand times, but Louise deserved to live happily for a long time. And it was only now, far too late, that he realized he needed to be by her side for that to happen.

“But what happens if I lose my memory again…” he muttered, letting out a dry sigh. He had to save people first.

Ogres from the gate were wreaking havoc, trying to kill everyone in sight.

*Screams echoed.*

“Run!”

“Thank you!”

Even the screens in the city center were broadcasting frantic updates:

“Breaking! First S-Class Gate Dungeon Break in 7 Years!”

“Hunter Association and Special Forces are risking everything to evacuate civilians.”

Alec swung his sword, cutting down monsters. There were so many that it was impossible to count them all—thousands, maybe tens of thousands. This kind of chaos was something you’d only see inside a gate, yet it was happening in the middle of a crowded city. It didn’t feel real.

The powerless would be slaughtered in seconds.

The monsters were smashing into buildings, hunting down anyone trying to hide.

*Slash!*

*Thud.*

Alec felt his body becoming lighter as he cut down another monster.

[You gained 500 experience points!]

Whether it was from leveling up or from Louise’s confession, his strength surged. Knowing that Louise needed him made him feel valuable for the first time in his life.

Alec felt like he could fly. His only thought was to grow stronger and end the final battle.

“If the boss monster shows up now, we’re in real trouble.”

Breathing heavily, Alec reassured himself. The elite hunters had already entered the gate to deal with the boss. The worst-case scenario of the boss monster escaping to the surface shouldn’t happen. Alec needed to focus on killing as many surface monsters as possible. He had to pull his weight as a hunter.

Just as he felled another ogre and turned to leave, a familiar sound rang in his ears.

Ding!

[A boss monster has appeared!]

[Prince Ogre ‘Minty’]

“…?”

A chill ran down his spine as confusion swept over him. Where had this boss monster come from? Alec glanced around, moving only his eyes. The power had gone out, leaving the underground parking lot in darkness. Aside from the bodies of the ogres he had already killed, there didn’t seem to be any other threats.

But then, an ominous presence crept up from behind him.

He could feel the overwhelming power of something far beyond ordinary. Slowly, Alec turned around.

Standing before him was a hulking figure with impossibly long, muscular arms and legs. Its towering height almost touched the ceiling, and its glowing yellow eyes gleamed with malice. The murderous intent radiating from the creature was suffocating.

Behind it, a group of smaller ogres lined up, seemingly guarding the behemoth.

“…!”

Alec’s eyes widened as he instantly recognized what it was.

“Boss monster!”

Even without the system’s notification, he knew. The presence of this creature alone was enough to suffocate him. It was clear that this was the boss of the S-Class gate. Compared to its sheer size and aura, the lesser ogres seemed almost insignificant.

But why had the boss appeared here?

Ding!

[Quest Generated!]

[Inflict a Critical Hit on the Boss Monster ‘Minty’!]

[Quest Reward: Level Up by 30 Stages!]

The quest window flashed before him, and Alec clenched his fists tightly. This was the S-Class gate boss.

Alec stood frozen, knowing full well he couldn’t land a critical blow on this monstrous entity. Yet, as he stared intently at the boss monster, an unexpected thing happened—Minty, the prince ogre, spoke.

“Yes, this human is the strongest one.”

Minty inhaled deeply through his nose, as large as a fist, seemingly trying to gauge Alec’s presence. Could the ogre have tracked him here by sensing his mana?

Without blinking, Alec answered, “Yes. After causing this mess, you don’t seriously think you’re walking away unscathed, do you?”

While speaking, Alec discreetly pressed the emergency button on his Hunter Watch to notify the others that a boss monster had appeared. He glared at Minty as though he could kill him with his eyes alone. His intense demeanor matched the boss monster’s overwhelming presence.

“You don’t want to waste your life, do you? I’ll give you the chance to leave Earth quietly.”

Alec intended to stall for time. As long as he kept Minty occupied, others could be safe.

“Your confidence is excessive, human,” Minty replied.

“…”

“You may be the strongest among humans, but you never claimed to be stronger than Minty.”

“…”

“Let’s fight. You are strong enough to battle me, Minty.”

Alec sighed softly, wiping his face. How long could he survive alone against an S-Class gate boss? Could other hunters even defeat this monster if they arrived in time?

No matter. He had to make it possible.

He decided to avoid direct confrontation as much as possible while searching for a way to deal a critical blow. Looking at Minty, he smirked and quipped,

“Your name’s Minty? For something your size, acting like a child, are you only three or four years old?”

The moment he finished speaking, the subordinate ogres’ eyes widened as if Alec had made a grave mistake.

**Ding!**

[Prince Ogre ‘Minty’ suffered an internal wound!: Emotional Damage]

With a furious roar, Minty slammed his weapon into the ground, the force splintering the floor like broken sugar cubes.

“I’ll kill you, human!”

*Thud!*

Minty lunged at him, his fist cutting through the air with a thunderous whoosh. Alec dodged quickly, relying on his agility. The weight of Minty’s attack was terrifying. Yet, one small relief emerged—Minty seemed focused on defeating him. As long as Alec stayed alive, Minty wouldn’t attack others. It bought the civilians and hunters time.

Alec used his speed skill to disorient Minty, weaving in and out of the ogre’s line of sight. In a brief opening, he struck with his sword.

*Shing!*

*Boom!*

Minty deflected the sword with his thick arm, sending Alec crashing into a wall.

“Damn it. He’s too strong. But his movements are slow.”

It was to be expected from a boss monster of this level. Just then, Minty began chanting.

“Blessing of Father.”

*Fwoosh!*

Flames erupted around them, growing rapidly in size. The cars in the parking garage began to warp and twist under the intense heat.

“Damn…”

Alec raised his arm to cover his mouth and nose from the acrid smoke. Through squinted eyes, he stared directly at Minty and let out a mocking laugh.

“What? Are you scared? Using skills like a coward.”

“Raaagh!”

Minty, enraged further, roared as the flames grew higher, almost reaching the ceiling. From the entrance of the parking garage, Alec could hear voices—hunters had arrived.

“Ahh! What’s with all the fire?”

They couldn’t get any closer because of the heat. Alec, though feeling the intense heat as if he might burn alive at any moment, kept a defiant smile.

“What, can’t even fight a human without your father’s help? You’re just a kid.”

“Graaargh!”

Minty roared in fury, his massive fist shooting forward in an instant, smashing into Alec’s mask. A loud crack echoed as the unbreakable bobranium mask fractured. Had it been defective?

Tossing aside the broken mask, Alec seized the moment, grabbing Minty by the throat and leaping onto him. From his elevated position, he could see the other ogres rushing toward the hunters at the entrance.

Minty thrashed wildly, threatening to throw Alec off. But Alec gritted his teeth and held on, eventually driving a dagger into Minty’s neck.

“Kraaaak!”

He had to kill him. Or at the very least, survive.

But with only level 23, Alec knew that fighting an S-Class gate boss monster was like hurling an egg at a boulder.

Suddenly, Minty’s rock-hard hand closed around Alec’s waist.

*Crunch! Boom!*

Alec’s bones shattered as he was flung through the flames, slamming into the wall with a sickening thud. It had all happened so fast he hadn’t even had a chance to react.

TL NOTE: More advanced chapter of this story is already up to the site. Visit dusk blossoms for more advanced chapters and stories