Rise from Zero

11

The foul stench of bloody flesh grew increasingly pungent as they ventured deeper into the cavern hall. The flashlights mounted on the seniors' helmets illuminated a mound of dark flesh in the corner of the room.

​"Wait, Captain," the dual-axe wielder whispered, kicking a severed wolf leg lying on the ground. "This is a lycan carcass. It's fresh."

​Gatot narrowed his eyes, examining the torn remains of the carcass. The wounds consisted of massive bite marks that had crushed bone in a single chew. He immediately recalled the pack of lycans they had slaughtered in the corridor earlier. No wonder their movements had been slow and their blood was already draining before they were slashed. They were not weak monsters. They were the remaining fugitives, already dying from an attack by the ruler of this place.

​"Look at the center of the cave," the leader whispered, signaling one of his members to dim the magical illumination they had been using. "It's sleeping."

​In the center of the hall, a colossal mound of dark gray fur with rocky protrusions along its spine rose and fell rhythmically. It was a Spotted Cave Behemoth. The giant bear monster snored loudly, burying its head amidst a pile of lycan bones that had been chewed clean.

​Above the head of the sleeping monster, a circular symbol hovered slowly. Its color was red.

​"Captain, do we attack now?" Gery asked in a highly tense whisper, his hand tightly gripping the hilt of his silver sword.

​The leader did not answer right away. He turned toward his two subordinates in the rear row and gave a very suspicious, subtle nod.

​"Yes, but we need a diversionary formation," the leader said, turning around to face Gery and Gatot with a smile that suddenly felt remarkably warm. "Gery, you're a C-rank. You and Gatot take positions on the right flank near the main entrance path to draw its attention if it wakes up. We will attack from the blind spot on the left."

​Gery immediately nodded upright, looking proud to be given such a major responsibility. "Understood, Captain. Leave it to me."

​Gatot did not move. His sense of smell picked up a strange spike of heat from the bodies of the five seniors. It was not the aura of preparation for battle, but rather the tense energy of people planning something foul.

​"Come on, Brother Gatot, let's head to the right side," Gery urged, gently pulling the sleeve of Gatot's t-shirt.

​Gatot was forced to step forward, following Gery toward the right corner of the cave, which was filled with stalagmite pillars. However, the moment they took their positions, the five senior hunters behind them retreated with incredible speed. They did not head toward the left side of the boss. Instead, they ran back toward the narrow corridor through which they had entered.

​"Eh? Captain? Where are you going?" Gery shouted in confusion, watching the bizarre movement.

​"Hahaha. Sorry, young man," the dual-axe wielder shouted from a distance, a satisfied smirk on his face under the dim cavern lights. "Thank you for completing the association's seven-man quota. Without the two of you, we wouldn't have been able to activate the entry permit for this valuable gate."

​"What do you mean?!" Gery screamed, his voice rising an octave in pure panic.

​The group leader stood at the mouth of the corridor, holding a round magic stone that emitted a red glow. "It means the two of you make excellent bait to keep that bear busy in here while we go loot the entire hidden treasure chest storage room in the west path of the cave. Enjoy your time."

​"Bastards. You can't do this. We're teammates," Gery roared, running with all his might to chase after them.

​"Teammates? Don't make me laugh, spoiled C-rank," the archer interrupted with a mocking laugh. "You and Total Failure were destined to die here anyway."

​Buzz.

​The large man slammed the magic stone in his hand against the cavern wall. Instantly, an ancient barrier magic activated. A massive stone wall rumbled down from the cavern ceiling at high speed, completely sealing off the only exit from the main hall.

​Thud.

​A loud impact vibrated heavily, causing dust and pebbles to rain down from the ceiling. The cavern corridor was now tightly closed by a stone wall a meter thick. Gery threw his body against the stone wall, pounding its surface desperately with his bare hands.

​"Open up. Open the door, you bastards. Help," Gery cried hysterically, tears beginning to stream down his cheeks. He turned to Gatot with a pale face. "Brother... we're locked in... they trapped us."

​Gatot stood quietly in place, his face showing absolutely no sign of panic. He had suspected this from the very beginning when he noticed the absence of a healer. They never intended to engage in a risky, long-term battle. They only wanted to enter, throw in the bait, lock the boss room, and harvest as much profit as possible from the side route before the gate collapsed.

​"Gery, be quiet," Gatot said in a very calm, deep tone.

​"How can you be so calm, Brother? We're going to die here. My weapon... my weapon won't be enough to fight that monster alone," Gery shouted in frustration, his entire body trembling so violently that the sword in his hand clattered unevenly.

​"I said be quiet, Gery," Gatot repeated, his eyes now fixed straight on the center of the room.

​The violent vibration from the falling stone door brought a far more lethal consequence. The snoring from the Spotted Cave Behemoth suddenly stopped. The colossal mound of fur began to stir, stretching muscles that were as large as a shelter house.

​Roar.

​A heavy, irritated grunt echoed, shaking every corner of the enclosed cave. Two pairs of deep yellow vertical eyes opened slowly from behind folds of rocky skin, staring sharply at the two humans standing near the entrance.

​The monster felt disturbed from its deep slumber after engorging itself on prey.

​Gery instantly cut off his hysterical crying. He froze, leaning against the stone wall behind him with weak knees. The terrifying aura radiating from the gate boss completely locked his movements.

​"Brother... it... it's awake," Gery whispered in a voice that was barely audible, consumed by absolute terror.

​Gatot stepped forward, passing Gery's helpless form. He lowered his stance slightly, loosening the muscles in his arms, which were now flooded with the new strength points from the system. There was no fear on Gatot's face. The experience of being betrayed and discarded like garbage was nothing new to him. The hunter world was indeed filled with demonic humans like the five outside.

​You think I'm weak bait? Gatot thought, staring straight into the dual jaws of the stone bear, which were beginning to open wide, showcasing rows of fangs ready to tear his flesh.

​Gatot clenched his bare fists tightly, letting his combat instincts take over completely. The life-or-death battle inside this enclosed space had just begun.

​"You don't even make me feel a shred of fear." Gatot began to leap toward the monster.