The swamp water erupted in a violent geyser of black sludge and rotting vegetation. From the center of the bog, a creature the size of a two-story house hauled itself onto the muddy bank. It was a mass of tangled, necrotic vines and obsidian-colored mud, shaped vaguely like a predatory ape. Its chest housed a glowing violet core that pulsed like a dying star, casting a sickly light over the foggy trees.
[Hidden Boss Detected: The Blighted Swamp Terror]
[Rank: High D to Low C]
Min-ho felt the air grow thin as the monster let out a sound that was less a roar and more the screech of grinding stone. He adjusted his mask and felt the Star-Forged Marrow in his bones resonate with the threat. This was the perfect test for his new limits.
The Terror moved with surprising speed for its bulk, swinging a massive arm made of compressed, petrified wood. Min-ho stood his ground and watched the limb descend. He activated Sovereign's Pressure at full output. The invisible weight of his mana slammed into the monster, forcing its massive arm to veer off course. The strike missed Min-ho and obliterated a nearby cluster of stone pillars, sending shards of rock whistling past his head.
The monster shrieked in frustration, its violet core flashing rapidly. It lunged forward, trying to crush Min-ho under its weight. Min-ho focused his mana into his legs and leaped straight toward the creature's chest. He collided with the monster mid-air. The Terror's massive claws raked across Min-ho's back, shredding his tactical jacket and leaving deep grooves in the ballistic fabric.
Min-ho felt the impact vibrate through his entire skeleton. The Star-Forged Marrow absorbed the kinetic energy instantly, turning what should have been a bone-breaking blow into a dull thud. He didn't lose momentum. He gripped the creature's wet, mossy hide and climbed toward its head.
The Terror thrashed, trying to shake him off, but Min-ho's grip was like iron. He reached the base of its neck and channeled every bit of his mana into his right hand, making his skin glow with a golden, celestial light. He drove his fist into the creature's shoulder joint, feeling the petrified wood snap and splinter under the pressure. The arm went limp, hanging by a few strands of necrotic vine.
The monster let out a final, desperate burst of energy, its core exploding with a wave of toxic mana. Min-ho took the blast head-on. The poison singed his clothes but failed to penetrate his refined skin. He pushed off the monster's shoulder and rotated in mid-air, centering his focus on the glowing violet core in its chest.
He descended like a meteor, his fist leading the way. The impact was deafening. Min-ho's hand punched straight through the layers of mud and rot, burying itself deep into the core. The violet light flickered, turned white, and then shattered. The massive body of the Swamp Terror stiffened before collapsing into a heap of lifeless debris.
Min-ho stood in the center of the wreckage, his chest heaving as the adrenaline began to recede. He was covered in black slime and his clothes were ruined, but he felt an incredible sense of accomplishment. He had soloed a boss that would have required a full team of professional D-Rank hunters.
[Hidden Boss Slain: The Blighted Swamp Terror]
[Experience Multiplied by 110x]
[Level Up! Level Up! Level Up!]
[Current Level: 14]
[Special Achievement Unlocked: Solo Predator]
[Reward: Temporary Time Dilation Upgrade]
[Notice: For your next sleep session (Duration: 24 Hours), the Slumber Realm's time dilation will be increased to 120x.]
Min-ho stared at the notification, a genuine smile spreading across his face behind the mask. A single day of rest would now grant him nearly four months of training time inside the realm. The progress he could make with that kind of window was staggering.
He looked down at his hands, which were still humming with leftover energy. He had survived the hidden boss without taking a single point of actual damage. The Star-Forged Marrow was even more powerful than he had anticipated, turning his body into a living fortress.
He quickly moved toward the exit of the Gate before the mana signature could attract any more attention. He needed to get home, clean up the mess, and prepare for the most productive sleep of his life.