Lv.99 Princess of Dark Flames (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 3

[Monsters have been cleared!] [Exit has been activated.]

….

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[Warning. An unknown error has occurred.] [Resetting the gate.]

Again. Exactly the third time already.

The cause was unknown, but somehow—.

‘I’m trapped.’

Eun Ha calmly accepted the fact. She had long since noticed that this gate was somehow different from all the gates she had cleared so far.

In a typical gate, after defeating a certain number of monsters, a boss monster would appear. Obtaining the core held by the boss monster would then close the gate. That was the standard strategy for clearing gates.

But this gate was different.

No matter how many monsters she killed, the boss monster never appeared. Instead, the slain monsters respawned—regenerated anew.

There was no strategy to speak of.

‘Is it saying, “If you don’t want to die, then die”?’

It was as if the gate itself were speaking those words.

Eun Ha shuffled forward, deciding to find somewhere she could rest, even briefly. She figured she’d have a little time before the next battle.

Her left rib area, scratched by sharp claws, throbbed painfully. She needed to stop the bleeding quickly.

Settling in a suitable spot, Eun Ha examined the backpack slung over her shoulder. It was the one Lee Jun had dropped before leaving. Surely, there’d be something useful inside.

Lee Jun had always been meticulous and thoughtful. He’d pack not only a water bottle and emergency rations but even spare shoes and underwear, often earning gentle teasing from Eun Ha like, “Are you going camping or something?”

“…Figures.”

Eun Ha let out a soft chuckle as she rummaged through the bag and found an emergency medical kit.

Inside were not only the famed “red medicine,” touted as a cure-all, but also sterile gauze, bandages, physiological saline, tweezers, scissors, and other essential first-aid supplies, all neatly packed.

His thoughtfulness proved immensely helpful in critical moments—like right now.

After disinfecting her wound, Eun Ha began stitching the opening shut with medical thread and a needle.

She wasn’t as skilled as a professional, but her hands moved with considerable expertise—something only possible for a hunter who’d narrowly escaped death countless times over three years.

“Ugh.”

Eun Ha bit down hard on her lower lip. This particular pain—the kind that made every hair on her body stand on end—was one she still hadn’t grown used to, even after three years.

Having finished her makeshift first aid, Eun Ha looked around.

‘…Thirsty.’

The interior of the gate closely resembled an ordinary cave.

Stalactites hung from the ceiling like icicles, and clear droplets could be seen falling steadily from their tips.

Eun Ha opened her water bottle and placed it beneath the dripping spot.

As for food, assuming it wasn’t poisonous, anything could be eaten as long as it was thoroughly cooked.

But water was different. If she got sick from drinking contaminated water, it’d be game over. First, she needed to check whether the water changed color over time.

‘Food is a problem too.’

Lee Jun’s backpack contained only two packs of emergency rations—an absurdly small amount.

Setting the water bottle down, Eun Ha checked the other backpacks—those belonging to her fallen comrades. Most had been torn apart by monsters along with their flesh; only three or four remained relatively intact.

As she searched through them one by one, her fingertips brushed against a piece of paper.

‘My girlfriend. Isn’t she pretty?’

It was a photo of the girlfriend her comrade had proudly shown off—the one he’d been dating since middle school.

In the photograph, stained with brownish blood smeared like paint, his girlfriend still smiled sweetly.

“…”

Eun Ha put the photo back into the backpack and began rummaging through another bag.

A talisman her comrade claimed his father had handed him just before conscription—belonging to the one who always talked so much about his father.

An almost empty tube of sunscreen—this must have been Hye Ju’s. She’d been such a kind girl, always carefully squeezing sunscreen onto her comrades’ hands before training.

Lastly, Eun Ha found a TOEIC practice book—the one carried constantly by the comrade who’d once said he’d quit being a hunter someday and start a new life.

“Bringing even this to the mission site…”

If she’d known earlier he’d brought such useless things, she would’ve scolded him without hesitation.

But now, she couldn’t do that anymore.

Even if she tried, they wouldn’t hear her.

With a deeply somber expression, Eun Ha slowly rose from her seat.

Dying in a desperate battle against monsters was what she’d wished for—but starving to death pathetically was out of the question.

Here, where her comrades had lost their lives, she had to tear those tigers apart proudly, right before their eyes.

To do that, she first needed to eat.

And she needed to survive.

‘If it’s a cave, there should be mushrooms, or at the very least, some moss.’

She couldn’t wait for her wounds to heal. This wasn’t a hospital—it was literally a death trap.

Eun Ha stood up and decided to explore the surroundings. Unfortunately, she found nothing that could serve as food.

Ding!

The notification chime, silent for a while, rang out again. Soon, a blue message window appeared before her eyes.

[Gate reset complete.] [ Loading ] [Lv.30 ‘Red-Eyed Black Tiger’ attacks you!]

What? The moment she sharply turned her head, Eun Ha locked eyes with glowing red orbs in the darkness.

‘Why now of all times?’

Eun Ha clutched her left rib area. The sharp pain shot through her entire body.

Hunters possessed far superior self-healing abilities compared to ordinary people, but even so, healing such a deep wound required at least a full day of rest.

In other words, the situation was dire.

But hesitation would lead straight to death.

Eun Ha extended the hand that had been clutching her wound toward the monster.

A small, hot flame burst to life atop her open palm.

Kill or be killed.

That was the very first lesson ‘Hunter Cha Eun Ha’ had ever learned.

How much time had passed since then?

The cave walls were densely covered with “zheng” (正) characters carved with a sharp stone—but even those had stopped midway. With her pager’s battery dead, there was no way to tell time anymore.

Eun Ha reached out and gently traced the “zheng” marks she’d carved herself.

‘The last time I carved one was on day 320…’

She wasn’t certain, but it was likely been over a full year by now.

“…Tch.”

Eun Ha spat out the meat she’d been chewing.

Tiger meat tasted awful. That was one of the hard lessons she’d learned during her year here. Especially the tendons—they were so tough they were nearly impossible to chew.

Thanks to her innate fire ability, she could cook food even in this barren cave, but without any seasoning, plain grilled meat was hardly appetizing.

For the first week, she’d repeatedly eaten and vomited, but humans were adaptable creatures. To survive, she had no choice but to eat.

Eun Ha set down her half-filled water bottle.

She could collect drinking water from the droplets falling off the stalactites, but it was far from sufficient. Filling an entire bottle drop by drop took nearly half a day.

Thus, when desperately thirsty, she sometimes had no choice but to drink monster blood.

She’d built a crude shelter using monster bones for the frame and monster hide for the roof and canopy.

She’d also lit fires around the area using monster corpses as fuel—a surprisingly effective method to temporarily ward off sudden monster attacks.

This was how Eun Ha had managed to survive inside the gate for so long.

Each day was both grateful for passing without incident and daunting for the inevitable tomorrow—a life not so different from outside the gate.

Daily battles where a single mistake meant instant death. Through repeating such fights, Eun Ha had gradually grown stronger. It was progress bought with her life.

Ding!

[Gate reset complete.] [ Loading ] [Lv.30 ‘Red-Eyed Black Tiger’ smells blood.] [Lv.30 ‘Red-Eyed Black Tiger’ tracks your location.]

Eun Ha abruptly stood up, halting her attempt to tear into a nearly bone-only monster leg.

As she stepped out of her shelter, three monsters bared their fangs as if they’d been waiting. Their eyes blazed furiously, as though seeking vengeance for their fallen comrades.

“Come on, you little bastards.”

When Eun Ha spread her palm and summoned flames, the beast-like monsters flinched and shrank back.

They were no longer a threat to her.

The fireball Eun Ha conjured chased after them like a shooting star, trailing a fiery tail.

One monster struck by the fireball let out a sharp shriek and instantly turned into a charred lump.

Grrr…!

Another monster, enraged by its comrade’s death, roared loudly and charged straight at Eun Ha.

Eun Ha lowered the hand she’d extended toward the monster, causing the fireball to drop onto the ground instead.

Seeing the earth blacken from the heat, Eun Ha lifted her head—and the moment the tiger reached her, she kicked hard.

Whoosh!

Dust surged from the ground like a wave at the tip of Eun Ha’s shoe, and the scorched earth turned into dark ash, momentarily blinding the monster.

Seizing that brief instant, Eun Ha grabbed the monster’s head.

Boom!

With a sound like an explosion of flames, the battle ended cleanly and decisively.

As Eun Ha checked the charred corpse, she suddenly looked up.

‘Now that I think about it… There were definitely three. Did the last one run away?’

It was at that very moment of doubt—

Ding!

Along with the alert chime, multiple blue windows overlapped before her eyes.

[Warning. A massive tremor approaches.] [Lv.68 Mutant ‘Red-Eyed Black Tiger’ appears.] [Lv.68 Mutant ‘Red-Eyed Black Tiger’ has spotted you!]

—Mutant?

No, more importantly—

‘Lv.68?’

Having survived dozens of near-death experiences, she knew instantly. Her instincts were screaming a warning.

The enemy behind her was dangerous.

Slowly turning her head, she saw a monster roughly twice the size of the Lv.30 ones she’d faced until now.

An elite monster.

Undoubtedly a named monster—a sub-boss tier creature.

A low, threatening growl rumbled so deeply it seemed to shake her bones. Just hearing it was overwhelming.

‘I need to end this as quickly as possible.’

She’d already fought one battle. Prolonging this fight would only make things worse.

She slowly uncurled her clenched fist, and a tiny flame, like a candle’s wick, flickered to life in her palm.

At that moment, the impatient monster charged before she could even throw the flame.

Kwoooom!

The wall bore deep gouges where the monster’s massive claws—like elephant tusks—had passed. A direct hit would likely leave nothing of her bones to recover.

Eun Ha glanced anxiously at her palm.

If she gave it her all, she could produce a slightly larger flame—but doing so would drain her stamina completely after just a few uses.

‘But I don’t have a choice.’

She had to survive first.

Resolutely, Eun Ha spread both hands. Tiny sparks, like fireflies, gathered gradually, forming a miniature sun in her palms.

The instant the small sun flew and struck the monster’s forehead—

Pwoooom!

A massive explosion erupted like dynamite detonating. Immediately after, an even fiercer roar echoed through the cave.

Thick smoke from the blast filled the cavern. Through the haze, the red eyes glowed fiercely.

‘Not enough?’

Cold sweat trickled down her jaw.

The monster rubbed its scorched forehead roughly against the ground, then bared its fangs again.

‘One more time.’

Boom!

‘Again!’

Boom! Boom!

‘Just once more…!’

Kwoom!

This time, she wouldn’t be able to stand properly. Without even catching her breath—already heaving to her chin—Eun Ha stepped forward through the smoky haze.

Grrr…

Hearing the growl through the smoke, her legs finally gave out.

She was reaching her limit. Her mana was running dry.

The monster seemed close to its limit too. Its attack stance shifted.

Without weapons or flames, a direct physical clash would obviously end in the giant monster’s victory.

‘…No.’

Eun Ha’s eyes changed. There was exactly one way to bring it down.

After a split-second of deliberation, Eun Ha decisively lifted her head. She saw the tiger’s mouth, gaping wide enough to split apart.

A monster with hide tougher than steel. Its one and only weakness.

‘The tender skin inside its mouth.’

Summoning every ounce of strength she had, Eun Ha thrust her hand forward.

“Shut your mouth.”

Her right arm plunged deep into the center of the tiger’s maw.

Crack—the moment the tiger snapped its jaws shut.

Kwooooom—!

With a deafening roar, a massive explosion erupted, fueled by Eun Ha’s right arm.

The violently bursting flames forced their way out through the tightly closed jaws, blowing the creature’s head apart like a watermelon.

Monster teeth, blood, and flesh splattered in all directions.

The headless tiger’s body collapsed limply beside Eun Ha, as frail as paper.

Ding!

[First Named monster defeated!] [Updating.] [ Loading ]

The message window appeared at the exact same moment Eun Ha collapsed heavily onto the floor.

“…Kgh.”

Lying flat on the ground, Eun Ha barely lifted her head to check her right arm. Everything below the midpoint of her forearm had been torn away, gushing blood.

Watching the fountain of blood pouring out, her mind began to blur.

Her body felt as heavy as steel rebar,

and her breath burned hot.

Amid her fading consciousness, a thought suddenly surfaced.

‘This is enough…’

She’d fought much and killed much.

This was sufficient. She’d done well enough.

Gathering her last strength, she reached for her neck. Her fingers brushed against the hard dog tag.

Just in case someone ever found her here someday, it would be needed then.

As she pulled the tag out of her shirt to make it visible, her narrowing vision caught her left arm—hanging precariously over her scarred wrist.

‘…Bracelet.’

Her mother’s wish bracelet.

So worn that the slightest tug would snap it…

Why?

The moment that bracelet entered her sight, her eyelids—slowly sinking lower and lower—abruptly stopped.

Grind.

She heard the sound of her molars grinding. Squeezing out strength she no longer had, Eun Ha lifted her upper body. Calming her trembling left arm—shaking like an aspen leaf—she spread her palm.

Flick.

A tiny flame, like a match’s spark, appeared. Following her wildly shaking hand, the feeble flame wobbled dangerously.

Without hesitation, Eun Ha pressed it against her right forearm.

“Ugh…!”

Her tightly bitten lower lip burst open, and droplets of blood trailed down her chin.

The acrid stench of burning flesh stung her nostrils.

Though a hunter’s self-healing ability far surpassed that of an ordinary person, it wouldn’t help much when her arm was severed and blood gushed like a fountain. This was the only option left to stop further bleeding.

Even as her body weakened and her torso rolled onto the floor, Eun Ha didn’t extinguish the flame.

“Aaagh!”

Who had said it? That the most excruciating pain a human could feel was burning flesh. She’d endured until her lower lip split and her veins bulged blue—but Eun Ha couldn’t suppress the scream that tore from her throat.

“Uaa… Ah…!”

In the silent, desolate gate, devoid of any human presence, only her desperate scream echoed faintly into the distance.

The pain was so unbearable that death would’ve been preferable.

Just as her flesh blackened from the burns and the bleeding slowly subsided—

Ding!

[Update complete.] [Reward granted.]

Through ears dulled by agony, a cheerful BGM mixed with ringing tinnitus reached her.

‘R…e…w…a…r…d…’

Right before losing consciousness, Eun Ha’s fingers twitched.

Something cold and sharp seemed to brush against her fingertips.

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[Congratulations! You have obtained ‘Black Flame Princess’’s ‘Elegant Parasol’!]