The familiar yet new Monsters Yoo Seongwoon encountered did not appear only in the ‘Underground Four-Legged Rainforest.’
Clatter.
“…What is that?”
“…A bird…?”
At some point, Monsters began appearing unpredictably in numerous Dungeons.
“No. Is that water?”
They were living water shaped like birds.
Perhaps they possessed no vocal cords, for they did not cry. Instead, they produced faint sounds using the plants or minerals held within their transparent bodies—usually ripe fruit, fallen leaves, jewels, and the like.
“What? If it is water, can’t we drink it?”
“We don’t even know what kind of creature it is. Treating it so carelessly….”
“Hey, wait. It might be some kind of living elixir.”
“No….”
Grab.
“…….”
“…Huh?”
The Hunter stared at his companion trapped inside the transparent body. Their eyes met. Only belatedly understanding where he was, the companion opened and closed his mouth as though trying to scream, but not even a common air bubble emerged.
Then he dissolved in an instant.
“…H-Huaaaagh!!!”
Information about these unusual Monsters became another subject of discussion among Hunters.
Their victims were primarily humans harboring malice. Even when that malice was not directed toward the Monster itself, impure thoughts provoked an attack. Hearing about the creatures’ distinctive behavior, Hunters felt something strangely familiar.
“…Isn’t that Black Cloak?”
“Ah, right. Well said. That resolves the sense of déjà vu.”
“I wondered why it felt familiar. It was Black Cloak….”