The Rise Of The No. 1 Hunter-Chapter 146: NO MATCH FOR ME
A dungeon confirmed to surpass S-rank.
"The fame would be unbearable."
Reporters. Cameras. Governments.
"…Too much trouble."
He shook his head.
"I don't want that."
To him, attention wasn't power—it was restraint.
The undead army remained motionless, awaiting his will.
Raito placed a hand against his chin.
"…So what's the best move?"
A notification suddenly popped up in front of Raito.
[USER LP DRAINING DRASTICALLY ]
[-5,000 LP]
Raito blinked.
"What the hell?"
His body felt heavy, stiff, as if every movement cost him effort. The air here was wrong. Staying in this Domain was draining his life.
I shouldn't stay long.
He opened his Status Window.
[Status: Infection Active]
[-5,000 LP / Turn]
Effects: Physical fatigue ↑, Mana regeneration ↓
That confirmed it. Time to go back.
Raito focused, and in an instant, his figure blurred.
Moments later, he reappeared on the city street, just outside the Domain.
Any watchers? Already lost him. Their screens showed nothing.
Raito smirked and switched off his phone.
No traces. Perfect.
He walked toward the dungeon entrance. Ten minutes later, he reached it.
A new dungeon. Low rank, probably B-rank. Not much, but still a check worth doing.
A shimmer ran across his arm as his dagger materialized. Ready.
The portal glowed—a blue rift hovering above the street. Raito stepped inside.
The dungeon's interior opened before him: hollow stone, pure white soil underfoot, the air tinged with dampness.
Damn… this place is weird.
The dungeon lit itself as he walked. And then he saw them: 100 undead soldiers, standing motionless, waiting.
[System Notification]
Objective: Dungeon Defense Activated
100 Undead Spawned
Cost: [-600 LP]
Raito raised an eyebrow. A hundred undead… should be enough.
He assessed them. I won't waste time on weaklings. Slimes, red wolves… these undead can handle them. What I want is something stronger. Something that can challenge me. That's when it gets fun.
The undead warriors surged forward, spreading through the dungeon, patrolling and hunting.
Raito smirked faintly, watching them move. Let's see what this dungeon hides…
Raito slid both of his hands into his pockets as he watched his undead army flood the dungeon.
The ground trembled under the sheer number of footsteps. The dungeon itself seemed to shake as the undead swarmed every corridor, spreading like a tide of death.
"Ah… good," Raito muttered calmly.
"Let them crush everything weak. Anything strong… I'm sure it won't get past them without a fight."
He continued walking.
Soon, the path split into two—left and right.
Raito stopped.
Undead had already gone both ways. Then—
He felt it.
Something was wrong.
Undead presences were disappearing. Not slowly. Brutally.
Raito's eyes sharpened.
"…So that's it."
He activated his shared vision.
[Skill Activated: Undead Vision]
The scene appeared before him.
A massive beast—three heads, wings, claws, and scales fused together unnaturally.
"A chimera," Raito said quietly.
He turned left.
As he walked, a grin tugged at his lips.
"This was supposed to be a C… maybe B-rank dungeon. Even A-rank would've been pushing it."
He exhaled slowly.
"A chimera on the third floor… and not even the final boss?"
His eyes gleamed.
"This might actually be S-rank."
He entered a massive chamber.
The chimera was already tearing through undead. Bones shattered. Bodies collapsed. Several undead merged together, forming a massive composite giant, raising its arms to strike.
The chimera leaped back, all three mouths opening at once.
Flames gathered.
BOOOOM!
Fire engulfed the undead mass. Bones scattered across the chamber like dust.
Raito observed calmly.
"…Impressive."
Then he lifted his hand.
"All summons—return."
[Command Executed]
All Undead Dismissed
Every remaining undead vanished instantly, bones dissolving into particles of mana.
Silence fell.
The chimera turned.
Its three sets of eyes locked onto Raito.
Raito smiled.
"Hey," he said casually.
"Come at me. I'm your next challenger."
His dagger materialized in his hand.
At that moment—
Purple aura surged around his body.
The air distorted.
The chimera froze.
Then—
It flapped its wings and fled.
Raito blinked.
"…What?"
He frowned slightly.
"Since when do monsters run away from me?"
He broke into a sprint. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎
The chimera fired a blast of flame backward.
Raito raised one hand.
SMACK.
He slapped the attack aside.
The redirected blast smashed into the ceiling—
CRASH!
Massive stone collapsed behind them as Raito continued running side by side with the chimera.
"Hey," Raito said calmly while matching its speed.
"At least explain yourself."
A notification appeared.
[System Identification]
Warning: User's Presence Exceeds Threat Threshold
After the defeat of a World-Eater Dragon, monsters instinctively recognize the user as an absolute predator.
Result: Fear Response Activated
Raito paused mid-run.
"…Oh."
He glanced at the chimera.
"So that's the problem."
He sighed lightly.
"I really have gotten too strong."
His aura suppressed itself instantly.
"Looks like I'll need to conceal my presence more carefully."
The chimera hesitated.
Too late.
Raito slammed his foot into the ground.
The stone cratered.
He didn't fly.
He jumped.
His body shot upward like a missile.
In midair, he raised his dagger—
SLASH!
The chimera's neck split cleanly in two.
Its body froze—then shattered into light.
[Monster Defeated: Chimera]
Core Dropped
Raito caught the crystal mid-air and landed smoothly.
He stored it away.
[Item Stored in Inventory]
He dusted off his jacket.
"…Next floor."
He looked ahead, eyes calm, voice cold.
"I hope something stronger is waiting. I don't like wasting time."
As Raito continued forward, something felt wrong.
He stopped.
The undead he had dispatched earlier—the ones he sent down the other path before choosing the left—
they were gone.
Erased.
"…Destroyed?" Raito muttered.
Those undead weren't weak. Even mid-tier monsters would've struggled to wipe them out so cleanly.
"So there's another one," he said quietly.
"Another strong presence."
Or—
His eyes narrowed.
"…Someone else."
Raito resumed walking.
"If that monster is moving forward, and I'm moving forward," he said calmly,
"then we'll meet."
Five minutes later, he arrived.
A massive stone door stood before him—the entrance to the fourth floor.
That was when—
He felt it.
A sharp, disciplined aura.
Before Raito could move, a voice rang out.
"Hey."
"Who are you?"
Raito looked up.
A man stood there, blocking the path—his posture relaxed, yet dangerous.
"Leave," the man said coldly.
"This dungeon isn't for amateurs."
Raito tilted his head slightly, rubbing the back of his neck as if uninterested.
The man frowned.
For a moment earlier, he had sensed an overwhelming pressure.
Now—
Nothing.
The aura was gone.
Did he hide it?
No… that's not something normal hunters can do, he thought.
"…Strange."
Raito lifted his head.
"Whoever you are," Raito said calmly,
"turn back."
"This dungeon is mine."
The man chuckled.
"Well, well."
"I was planning to leave," he said, "but I've changed my mind."
He stepped forward.
"My name is Hayate."
Raito's eyes sharpened slightly.
"You don't recognize me?" Hayate continued.
"That figures."
He smiled, confidence radiating from him.
"I'm S-rank," Hayate said.
"And judging by you… you might be S-rank too."
His smile widened.
"But you already know this."
Hayate's aura surged—sharp, refined, overwhelming.
"And you know," he said,
"you're no match for me."
"So naturally," Hayate added, glancing at the door behind Raito,
"I'll be the one clearing this dungeon."
Raito stared at him for a moment.
Then—
He smiled faintly.
"Then stop me," Raito said, stepping aside just enough to face him directly.
"If you think you can."
The air tightened.
One dungeon.
No room for coexistence.
Hayate stepped forward, closing the distance between them.
Rowan raised a hand casually—and pushed him back.
Not hard.
Just enough.
Hayate's eyes narrowed.
That was when he noticed it—a knife strapped at Rowan's side. Not a prop. Not decoration.
A real weapon.
"Cross that line," Rowan said coldly, "and I'll smash your head into the wall."
Raito let out a quiet chuckle.
"You talk big," he said. "I don't know how famous you are, or whether you're some S Hunter or not. But from the aura I sensed earlier… you're strong."
His gaze sharpened.
"But don't let that strength go to your head."
Hayate laughed.
"Oh? Look who's giving advice," he sneered.
"Coming from someone drunk on his own reputation."
He took another step forward.
"The fame really got to you, didn't it? Acting big because everyone knows your name."
Hayate pointed at him.
"Try crossing me. Try attacking me. And I'll put you back in your place."
Raito said nothing.
Hayate frowned.
"How dare you ignore me."
A green aura exploded around his body, surging violently.
In the next instant, he threw a punch—fast, heavy, overflowing with power.
Raito stepped back.
Just a little.
The punch missed.
Hayate attacked again. Then again.
Raito dodged them all effortlessly.
"…So slow," Raito muttered.
He moved as if he were walking through falling rain.
"I can read you completely," he said calmly.
"Your aura is overflowing. Your punches have strength."
Hayate swung harder.
Raito leaned aside.
"But your speed?" Raito continued.
"It's lacking."
"You dare mock me?" Hayate roared.
"Stop running and fight back!"
Raito halted.
"…Alright," he said calmly. "You asked for it."
