Mind Demon's Path of Domination

The Helicopter flew through the Forest of Death, and the Hunters within looked down nervously as their destination grew closer and closer.

The pilot through small bags at them. "Those are the parachutes, wear it and jump down. When you want me to come pick you all up, just burn the fireworks."

Before the A-rankers ran into the mega-dungeon, B-rank Stealth Type Hunters had entered the place. They had scouted the area for all threats and given a clear list for the A-rankers. B-rankers were useless in direct combat but they weren’t useless in all things. Moreover, the B-rankers had also planted fireworks here and there that could be used as retreat signals for all of the people in the Forest of Death.

"We don’t need parachutes," Bale said, throwing aside the bag and clenching his hand in the air. "Grandma, heal me quickly in case I am wounded in the battle. This time, the thing won’t be allowed to live."

Reema nodded then spoke to the twins. "You two are supposed to fight the subordinate of the Boss but don’t underestimate it—that creature isn’t weak either." The twins nodded. "Don’t die," she added.

Her focus then shifted to Yuri. "My grandchild Hailen sees you fondly. You are also going to fight the Boss with me, so be wary. More wary than you are. Cautiousness never killed by the virtue of itself. You are an assasin type, so don’t try to fight anyone head on. In case you are wounded, I will heal you with priority over others.

"And do not retreat unless ordered to or it would be seen as desertion by the contract binding us. At best, be around there and don’t take any actions."

Yuri nodded.

Suddenly, one of the Twins, Leon looked down at the forest below and said in excitement, "Hunter X-Jerk and Siddique are there already. They are running behind the helicopter."

"We are close," The Pilot said, face grim and covered in a helmet. "You can all jump now. I will retreat."

Bale didn’t say anything and just jumped. The Twins walked behind him right after, holding each other’s hand tightly. "We won’t die, right?"

"This is not that high," Reema walked towards them and looked down. "You two are already A-rank Hunters with bodies even stronger than mine. Do not worry and jump."

The twins hugged each other, nodded, and then jumped. Reema also jumped down, her old face grim. Yuri was alone with the pilot now. She stood on the edge of the opened door and looked up at the spinning fans.

She looked through the forest but there was no sight of Mark.

"This height is indeed nothing much," she muttered, calculating. Then, unwrapped a lollipop she had brought and put it into her mouth. It was a lollipop high in caffeine, so it made her sharper. It was her secret sweet.

The scientist stepped foot into the empty air and began falling.

Her black, skin-fit jersey ruffled in the wind and her short hair floated up.

Her heart thumped wildly.

She could hear music from the distance. Music that seemed ripe with ardor.

"X-Jerk?" she wondered.

That guy had an ability that had something to do with sound. Was he attacking something already?

He better not alert the Boss this quick.

***

The Three Masked Hunters sat atop thick tree branches, bodies wrapped in shadows. The other Hunters—X-Jerk, Bale, Yuri, Yamuna, Hanmo, Siddique, Reema, The Twins, and Franklin—stood around the woods on their own.

"So the plan is clear, right?" asked Siddique.

"We scouted the area," said Yamuna. "Me and Hanmo arrived first but we didn’t dare to move too close to the Boss. It has a 1000 meter wide—a kilometer wide—soul sense. It can sense us from afar."

A Tier 2 Demon was fundamentally different from a Tier 1 Lower Demon. It had a much more powerful Soul Sense. Mark’s Soul Sense could only travel 100 meters, and it couldn’t see through physical objects. Even a normal wall could block his Soul Sense from entering a place if it didn’t have any cracks.

But Tier 2 Demons, their Soul Sense could see through material objects. They could watch into a fully walled room with no windows or cracks—their Soul Sense could invade such things easily.

Unless you defend the area with a Hunter Ability, it was impossible to hide from them. And sadly, there were no A-rank Hunters focused on Stealth.

"Yes, it is good that Hanmo and you didn’t go ruin everything," the Masked Woman said.

Yamuna nodded calmly. "Now. Masked Hunters, The Twins, and Franklin. You four will focus on keeping the other Tier 2 Demons away from us while the rest of us will focus on slaying the Boss itself. I will move between all of you and heal you as the battle goes on."

"Has anyone seen the Boss yet?" The Masked Woman asked.

"We have," Yamuna said. "It is currently sitting below a giant tree, and its Minotaur Servant is laying beside it. Both are preying on a Tier 1 Demon."

They all grew slightly tense.

"So the first goal is to separate the Minotaur from the Dungeon Demon," Hanmo said coldly. "You all just have to storm the Minotaur while we storm the Boss. Then keep the two fights separated till either the Boss dies or we retreat. The best outcome would be if you can kill the Minotaur and then join us to fight against the Boss."

All Hunters nodded.

Hanmo said, "Also. Lumla, use your Truth Pressure ability to try and make the Boss tell where the core of the mega-dungeon. The chance of it understanding your question itself is low but what if it ended up telling you?"

Lumla, the masked woman, flinched but nodded. "I will come near the Boss Battle and try asking it. I am rather useless in a direct battle anyway."

Hanmo nodded, and then ignored her. Nobody had much hope for putting her ability to good use—only her physical strength truly mattered. And she had a truly strong body.

"Everyone, remember two things," Yamuna said. "One. Unlike Tier-1 Demons who only have Defensive Magic Skin, the Tier 2 Demons have that all over their body. Their organs, their skull, everything is covered in the defensive aura thing and unless you can hit them with a really strong attack, it won’t break and no other power would work against them."

Not only the Soul Sense, Tier 2 Demons also had a stronger version of Defensive Magic Skin.

Yamuna said, "If you want to break it, you have to hit the Boss with something that would kill it if not for the Skin."

Bale said calmly: "My Super Strength will break its passive defenses. Just back me up. Hanmo, I am especially counting on you."

Hanmo nodded.

Yamuna continued: "And second thing to be aware of. There is a pond of Black Water and a Gate leading to the Demon World near this place. Don’t let the Boss refresh itself in the pond! For well measure, I myself will be destroying the pond the first thing. As for the Demon World’s Gate, be aware of any new Tier 2 Demons coming in."

Lumla licked her lips. Everyone’s gazes turned focused and they all scattered, moving towards the Boss, running like a blur through the forest.