The One Who Slays the Minotaur

“Are you out of your mind? I admit you’re strong, but that’s a Minotaur!”

“I know. If you’re scared, you can stay back. I can fight alone.”

“Damn it!”

Cursing, Yang Jihwan stepped up beside me.

Even while saying that, he still chose to fight with me.

‘At least he’s got loyalty.’

Seeing that, my irritation toward him softened a little.

“GROOOOAR!”

Perhaps sensing our hostility—

the Minotaur at the far end of the boss room began to move.

Every step made its muscles and veins bulge grotesquely.

Watching it, Yang Jihwan swallowed hard.

“So… what’s the plan?”

“What plan? We fight head-on.”

“Damn it, you’re insane.”

Why was the Minotaur considered the strongest among E-rank monsters?

Simple.

It had no weakness.

Even the trickiest monsters could be defeated if you exploited their weak points.

Take elemental spirits, for example.

They were immune to most physical attacks—

but struck with opposing elements, they took massive damage.

With preparation, they were actually easier to handle.

But the Minotaur?

A purely physical monster with no magic—

yet no critical weakness.

And its strength and endurance were absurdly high.

That’s why it was ranked E+.

“First, we test it. Learn its patterns.”

“Fine. But if it looks bad, we run. I didn’t come this far to fail.”

“Same here.”

After forming a barely passable “plan,”

the Minotaur swung its axe.

A speed that didn’t match its size.

Since I focused only on dodging, I barely avoided the first strike.

BOOM!!

“Insane…”

“Yeah… blocking is not an option.”

The axe slammed into the ground, creating a massive crater.

Overwhelming strength.

Even blocking it would shatter bones.

“GROOOOAR!”

Thankfully, its pattern was simple.

Just instinctive swings.

But every dodge came with crushing pressure.

One hit meant death.

The wind from its swings alone was terrifying.

“This is impossible! We should wait for other teams—”

“Just a little more!”

After observing, I began closing the distance.

I had noticed one thing.

‘Its attack height is high.’

Because of its size,

most attacks were above the waist.

Except for downward strikes.

Still difficult to avoid—

but I still had the dimensional stone’s power.

Whoosh!

The axe passed over my head.

Lowering my body like a hunting dog, I rushed in.

With both hands on the axe, it couldn’t react instantly at close range.

“GROOOOAR!”

BOOM!!

As I closed in—

it stopped swinging and stomped.

A crushing attack using its weight.

The ground cracked beneath it.

“I expected this!”

Its axe stopped.

Its foot planted.

This was the opening.

Buzz—

I gripped my sword tightly, channeling mana.

Not efficient without enhancement skills—

but enough to boost my attack.

Clang!

“…Clang?”

My full-powered strike pierced its chest.

But the sound—

was pathetic.

“This is ridiculous.”

My strongest attack—

barely scratched its skin.

And my sword bent like it struck rock.

“Woohyuk! Move!”

“GROOOOAR!”

Before I could even process it—

its elbow was already in front of my face.

If not for Jihwan’s warning,

my neck would’ve snapped.

“I told you! We can’t do this alone!”

I didn’t expect this.

At least the skin—

I thought I could pierce that much.

“One more time.”

“What are you saying?! Your sword is already ruined!”

“Please. Buy me time.”

“…Damn it!”

Cursing, Yang Jihwan charged forward.

Despite his complaints,

he followed my lead perfectly.

I couldn’t waste this time.

“Monas.”

-This is the perfect opponent to showcase my stones. Shall I show the cheaper ones first?

“No.”

Even my strongest attack failed.

Cheap stones wouldn’t work.

“Show me the most expensive ones I can afford.”

-Understood.

His voice sounded… pleased.

-At last, I can show you the true value of dimensional stones.

“Fireball.”

BOOOOM!

“Skreeee…”

Near the boss room,

flames engulfed bats mid-flight.

Far too powerful for a student spell.

It was Won Jonghyo.

“Amazing! As expected of Jonghyo!”

“Of course. We’re almost there.”

“We’ll definitely be first!”

He nodded confidently.

“Let’s go. We may not solo the boss, but we must arrive first.”

“Right!”

He moved faster.

In his mind, professors were already praising him.

‘Arrive first, wait for Cha Seoyeon, then defeat the boss together.’

That was his plan.

With her, victory was certain.

But—

BOOM! BOOOOM!!

“…Jonghyo, isn’t that from the boss room?”

The sound meant only one thing.

“Cha Seoyeon?”

Someone had already reached the boss.

He rushed forward.

Then—

he sensed someone approaching from behind.

Turning, he saw blue hair rushing toward him.

“…Cha Seoyeon? Why are you here?”

“That sound helped me speed up.”

Confusion hit him.

Then who—?

Who got there first?

And started fighting alone?

“…No way.”

A man came to mind.

The one who had recently surpassed him.

BOOM!!

The sound grew louder.

He reached the door—

and flung it open.

BOOOOOM!!

“Jung… Woohyuk…”

Before him—

Woohyuk stood over the fallen Minotaur.

“Huff… huff…”

My breathing was ragged.

Just one attack.

That single strike had drained everything.

“This is insane… You killed it? Barehanded? In one hit?”

Jihwan muttered in disbelief.

Yes.

I had defeated it.

The Minotaur that my blade couldn’t pierce—

with a single punch.

‘This is the power of the dimensional shop…’

I looked at my fist, recalling that moment.

[The power of the dimensional stone flows into your body.]

[Theseus – Greatest hero of Athens, conqueror of the Labyrinth of Crete]

-The son of Aegeus who killed the Minotaur with his bare hands.

[User stats insufficient. Power greatly reduced.]

I had spent all 200,000 points.

Even the system warned me.

The power was overwhelming—

but I only had one chance.

And that was enough.

“That’s impossible!”

A voice echoed from the entrance.

Turning, I saw Cha Seoyeon and Won Jonghyo.

“Two people defeated the Minotaur? Even together, we couldn’t—!”

Jonghyo shouted.

Seoyeon nodded silently.

They knew its strength.

“Sorry. You’re too late.”

[The power of ‘Theseus’ has faded.]

[Strength, Agility, and Stamina +10 from surpassing limits.]

Zap—

As the power vanished,

pain consumed my body.

My body couldn’t handle that power.

“Damn… this hurts…”

My legs gave out.

The world tilted.

I saw Yang Jihwan rushing toward me.

“I did it.”

Thud—

As I lost consciousness—

I heard Monas’ voice faintly.

-Excellent.

[Hidden Quest ‘Tonight’s Dinner is Ox Head Soup!’ completed.]

[Reward: 1,000,000 points acquired.]