Chapter 181: A Night of Respite

As the sun gradually dipped behind the buildings, the horde of monsters swarming across the city began to retreat.

They didn’t vanish all at once. Individual clusters of monsters roaring down the thoroughfares abruptly halted, pivoting to face the black rifts of the Dungeons. Some abandoned their prey right before their eyes, others lingered to let out frustrated, unresigned roars, but ultimately, all of them withdrew back into the shadows one after another.

The deafening roars gradually subsided.

The clashing din of claws and weapons likewise faded away.

The hunters who remained standing didn’t immediately celebrate. Maintaining their formation, they watched the final monsters dissolve into the black rifts before finally lowering their weapons. A few collapsed straight onto the pavement, gasping for air so violently they couldn’t even speak. Others propped their backs against cracked walls, allowing medical healers to inspect their wounds.

The city plunged into an exhausted silence.

Only the distant wail of sirens, the hurried footsteps of rescue crews, and the low groans of the injured remained. No one dared view this as a sign that the danger had passed. They could only seize the brief window to rest while the sun was down, for come dawn, the battle would resume all over again.

No one understood the exact mechanics governing a Dungeon Break.

The monsters during a Dungeon Break flooded out to attack exclusively during daylight hours. Once the sun set, they retreated wholesale back into the Dungeon rifts, only to resurface the moment dawn broke.

Why did they behave in such a manner? Not a single person possessed the answer.

Kei sat beside a makeshift wooden table in the logistics sector.

The tabletop was coated in a layer of dust, one corner stained with a dried streak of blood. The bowl of hot soup in his hands emitted a wispy steam. Taking a small sip, he savored the warmth trickling down his throat before looking up to meet Clark’s gaze sitting directly across from him.

"So when exactly will the Dungeon Break come to an end?"

Clark didn’t answer immediately.

Setting his bowl down, he lifted his gaze toward the pitch-black sky framed outside the window. The indoor lighting cast its glow across his weathered features, sharpening the profound exhaustion etched deep into his face after a long day.

"Until the very last monster is wiped out," Clark sighed softly. "By then, the Dungeon rift will exhaust its energy and vanish forever."

Kei lowered his gaze to the bowl of soup in his hands.

If that was the case, a Dungeon Break was ironically an efficient method to permanently exterminate a Dungeon.

The moment that thought flickered across Kei’s mind, Clark chuckled. He glanced at Kei, his expression as though he had just read his thoughts.

"Indeed. I know what you’re thinking."

Kei blinked softly.

"After this ordeal, the defensive pressure weighing down upon Ji-pong City will drop by more than half." Clark lifted his bowl, though he refrained from drinking just yet. "At least, assuming we manage to slaughter every last monster and survive until then."

The remark sounded like a dark joke, yet no one around the table laughed; until the black rifts completely vanished, absolutely no one could guarantee they’d stay alive until the bitter end.

"Major guilds still prefer maintaining the stability of their Dungeons, though."

Lucas’s voice echoed from behind Kei.

He pivoted to look back.

Lucas was carrying a food tray, his arm still wrapped in white bandages. Exhaustion was stamped heavily across his face, yet his stride remained firm. Pulling up a chair, he seated himself beside the table, set his tray down, and continued:

"The resources Dungeons provide are undeniable. Monsters, raw materials, items, and all the tools hunters require to elevate their capabilities... everything relies upon Dungeons."

Lucas glanced out the window, where the flashing lights of rescue vehicles flickered amidst darkened streets completely devoid of electric illumination, as the power grid had been thoroughly wrecked during the monster assaults.

"Losing three high-rank Dungeons will give us severe headaches for a long, long time. We’ll likely have to wait for several new Dungeons to spawn within city limits before the supply deficit is offset."

Kei nodded.

He understood that much. Dungeons brought peril, but they also represented this world’s vital economic lifeblood.

When a Dungeon vanished, the blow didn’t just impact the guilds. Hunters who earned their livelihoods harvesting Dungeons, Craftsmen requiring raw materials to fabricate items, and even logistics personnel would all be dragged down in the fallout.

"Regardless, we have to weather this crisis first," Clark said. He finally took a sip of his soup, wincing slightly as he realized it had grown a fraction lukewarm.

Kei was just about to resume eating when unhurried footsteps approached.

Kai dragged a chair over, seating himself right beside him. In his hands rested a plate heaped with grilled meat slices, while he continued chewing contentedly on a strip of jerky. He slid the plate directly before Kei, wearing an expression as delighted as someone who had just unearthed the greatest treasure on earth.

"Kei, try this. The serpent meat is exceptionally savory."

Kei was about to pick up his spoon when he froze. His mouth twitched slightly.

"Serpent meat?"

Kai grinned broadly, looking immensely pleased with himself. He nudged the plate closer, as though operating under the certainty that the mere aroma would instantly make Kei understand why he was so thrilled.

"I brought down that colossal S-rank serpent myself today. Harvested a metric ton of meat from it!" Kai announced, his voice overflowing with pride. "The chefs are busy whipping it up into every conceivable dish. Grilled meat, stew, even soup. I specifically instructed them to set aside a portion for you."

Kei stared down at the glistening, grease-coated slices of meat on the plate, then slowly lifted his gaze to look at Kai.

He had just heard Lucas mention that six S-rank hunters had struggled fiercely just to keep that Boss pinned down. Those hunters had risked their lives to hold it in place, while Kai had charged in single-handedly to put it down. And yet right here he was, seated beside Kei, cheerfully urging him to sample a piece as though he had merely caught a large fish.