Transmigrated into a villain, I personally tore apart the shackles of fate.

Chapter 34 The Singer

After resting for a while and getting some sleep, I'm ready to set off again.

"The first phase has been completed, but it will take at least two and a half days for the monsters in the dungeon to respawn."

This is usually how things work.

If killing monsters reduces the mana concentration in a certain area of ​​the dungeon, the dungeon will attempt to replenish the cleared area by cutting off mana from other areas.

"So, all that's left is to keep moving forward."

I have at least 6 hours left to use, so I want to make the most of that time.

"Considering the number of kobolds I hunted, I earned about 40,000 walers."

I did the math. This was roughly the amount I had borrowed from the college.

"However, the cost of coming here must be deducted."

After a quick calculation of my expenses, my final earnings were approximately 35,000 watts.

Although I have a bracelet that can evade any type of detection, I still need to show off some trophies, otherwise it would seem suspicious.

A small hunter like me can kill a maximum of 10 kobolds in this period of time. If that happens, they will deduct between 1,000 and 1,500 valers from my loot.

That's not a problem. However, besides that, I also need to buy bullets, potions, clothing, and so on. That's why being a hunter isn't a free profession.

Hunters are highly rewarded, but the costs are also high. They constantly risk their lives, so they never skimp on their equipment to protect themselves.

"Besides, I can't just use the arrows issued by the academy; arrows are much more expensive than bullets."

Making arrows requires materials with good magical conductivity, which is very expensive in itself.

I still had some time, so I began to explore deeper into the forest.

The rain has stopped, and the air is filled with a fresh scent.

The dense thicket grew even denser, and the tall trees cast long shadows on the ground. My footsteps were absorbed by the soft moss covering the ground, making almost no sound.

'Shh shh shh'

As I cautiously proceeded, I noticed a change in the atmosphere. The entire forest seemed to hold its breath. The birdsong and rustling of leaves vanished, replaced by an unsettling silence.

Then I heard a deep, rhythmic sound, almost like a gentle melody. I had never heard such a sound before, and I listened intently. The sound seemed to be coming from deep within the forest.

I immediately understood the source of the sound.

"I didn't expect them to try to lure me there."

"The chanter".

As I mentioned before, they are a type of monkey-based monster, classified as a mid-tier second-order monster.

Despite their weak physical strength, they possess a distinctly different kind of power.

"Sonic magic."

They are renowned for their mastery of sound, and their musical abilities are said to have a strange effect on listeners. Some hunters have mentioned being mesmerized by their sounds, losing their sense of time, and gradually venturing deeper into the forest, never to return.

However, I decided to investigate the source of this strange sound anyway. As I got closer, the sound became louder and clearer.

"Judging from the marks, I wasn't their target. I think their attention was focused elsewhere."

Judging from the subtle traces on the ground and the markings on the trees, I speculate that this area is a patrol zone frequently used by these monkey-like monsters.

"But this is clearly not their nest."

Since the traces are relatively faint, I can infer that they were not always active here.

'Melody Sound'

The melody continued to whisper in my ear, gently trying to disturb my mind. If I were exposed to this sound for too long, I too would be bewitched.

So I focused my magic on my ears and blocked the sound wave magic.

"Roar!"

The sound transformed into the hideous screams of the monsters themselves. I finally saw their true forms.

"Hmm... but they're making louder noises. They're obviously trying to get someone's attention."

I am very confident in my ability to hide, which means there may be another group of people nearby.

I approached the source of the sound cautiously, avoiding stepping on any branches or making any noise that might give me away.

As I got closer, I saw a clearing in the forest, and the sound was coming from there.

Through the dense bushes, I saw five people standing in the middle of the clearing.

They were well-equipped and looked like experienced hunters.

Before them stood the chanters. They swayed to the melody, and the hunters seemed mesmerized by the sound.

"Hmm? Are they pretending to be fooled by those monsters?"

I deduced from their subtle body language that a confused person would never grip a weapon tightly or tense their muscles.

“A wise choice.” Judging from their appearance, it’s difficult to accurately assess their strength, but in this place teeming with criminals and thugs, unnecessary conflict could be fatal.

'Roar! '

As the chanters drew closer, their swaying and melodies intensified. The hunters, clearly prepared, began using their respective skills to counter the monsters' attacks.

One hunter charged forward, using his swift swordsmanship to strike the chanter with lightning speed. Another activated a defensive stance, using a skill to summon an impenetrable barrier to protect himself and his teammates.

Despite the monster's agility and sonic attacks being very troublesome, the hunters managed to withstand most of the attacks thanks to their skills.

Their teamwork was quite good, effectively compensating for each other's weaknesses and precisely exploiting the singer's shortcomings.

The hunter leader used an amplification skill, temporarily enhancing his perception. With this heightened senses, he was able to better predict the chanter's movements and plan counterattacks more effectively.

"Amplification Zone".

This is a skill I'm familiar with; it enhances the agility and perception of the user and their teammates.

As the battle continued, the hunters constantly adjusted their strategies based on the monster's behavior. They used their unique skills to disrupt the chanters' attacks and create opportunities to launch powerful strikes.

But this is only what it appears to be on the surface.

As I observed their battle closely, I quickly discovered their weakness. Despite having a larger number of enemies, they didn't conserve their mana but instead focused all their energy on trying to end the battle quickly.

This strategy isn't bad, provided they can win quickly.

Unfortunately, they failed to do so.

To make matters worse, their formation was flawed from the start. They essentially had four front-line soldiers and one rear-line soldier, but no one attempted to protect the rear-line soldier, making it difficult for the archers in the back to find effective firing opportunities.

"Cover me!"

"Damn it, Adrian! Didn't you see those monsters?!"

When tactics and coordination begin to break down, the monster gains the upper hand.

Something is approaching...

'Roar! '

Just as the hunters were beginning to break down, the chanter suddenly unleashed a devastating sonic wave, catching them completely off guard.

"Ahhh!"

The hunters screamed in agony, the sound waves knocking them off their feet. The chanter seized this brief moment of weakness and launched a swift attack on the hunters.

"Hmm... their stats are probably between 1.7 and 2.5. In this battle, their stats are much higher than the enemy's, but they didn't coordinate well in this situation, and the team started to fall apart."

I came to this conclusion after witnessing the battle. My talent allows me to quickly see the essence of things and immediately grasp the situation, which is extremely useful in this situation.

"I'll handle this, cover me!" the hunter who looked like the captain shouted, while gathering magic power.

"Click—whoosh"

Then, an earthen wall rises from the ground. This is a skill commonly used by tank-type classes, effectively blocking enemy attacks.

As the earthen wall rose from the ground, the hunter captain shouted to his teammates, "I'll hold them off! Cover me!" He stood before the earthen wall, ready to face the chanters head-on.

The other hunters quickly followed his instructions, forming a defensive formation to protect the archer and allow her to retreat a few steps to find a better line of sight. The remaining three hunters tightened their formation, preparing to hold off the approaching monster.

However, just as they prepared to engage the enemy, I noticed that one person was missing from the group. In the chaos of the battle, one of them had hastily retreated.

“Coward,” I thought to myself. “This is a common behavior that many people exhibit when faced with danger.”

The hunter leader unleashed a powerful attack, using his Amplification Field skill to enhance his speed and strength. He charged towards the chanters, engaging them with precise skill.

His teammates also did their best to cooperate, adding a few more attacks when they were able to, while defending against the monsters' offensive. But these monsters were extremely tenacious, and their sonic attacks became even more ferocious, interfering with the hunters' movements.

"Stay focused! We can do it if we work together!" the captain shouted, encouraging his teammates.

However, the situation was not optimistic; their exhaustion was becoming increasingly apparent. The monsters were gradually draining their strength, and the advantage was slowly shifting towards the monsters.

In his moment of desperation, the archer cried out, "I can't find a clear angle to shoot! I'm going to change positions!"

The leader granted her request and ordered a retreat. The hunters retreated to the vicinity of the earthen wall he had just summoned and regrouped.

“We need to find cover and recover our strength,” the captain said, panting. “Where’s Adrian? Where did he go?”

“He got away in the chaos!” one of the hunters replied, his voice filled with frustration.

The captain gritted his teeth, clearly furious, but he knew this wasn't the time to assign blame. They had to focus on the current situation and find a way to defeat the chanter.

When they caught their breath, I noticed the weariness and fear in their eyes. They were indeed skilled hunters, but even the best can be pushed to their limits in this world full of dangerous monsters and dungeons.

"That's a real shame. Let's make a better judgment next time."

I thought to myself, I could help them, but that would only make me lose my current advantage.

"Besides, I don't care whether they live or die."

I don't care about the people here or these monsters.

I am not a hero destined to save the world. I stand on this tree only for revenge, nothing more.

The team leader clenched his fist, his eyes filled with determination: "Alright, we can do it! Stick to the plan, cover each other. We'll definitely get out of here alive!"

His teammates nodded, their fighting spirit rekindled. They gripped their weapons, ready for the next battle.

But in the end, all of this was in vain.

Their fatigue had accumulated too much, and the number of monsters had not decreased to a level they could handle.

"We can't hold on! There are too many monsters!" a hunter cried out in frustration.

"Stick to the plan! We need to regroup and develop a better strategy!" the team leader responded firmly.

Their plan seemed perfect at first, but as the battle continued, it became clear that they were at a disadvantage.

"Damn it! We can't hold on any longer!" the team leader roared, his voice filled with frustration and exhaustion.

One by one, the hunters fell. Their bodies could no longer bear the strain; their injuries and exhaustion brought them to their knees.

The archer tried her best to shoot the monster from a distance, but eventually she was surrounded and lost the ability to resist.

The team leader fought tenaciously to the last moment, but he too fell to the monster's relentless onslaught.

When the last hunter fell, the chanters ceased their attack. Their bodies swayed rhythmically, emitting an eerie sound, as if celebrating their victory.

However, their joy of victory will not last long.

"Everything is ready."

"boom!"

With a gunshot, I officially began the operation...