MHGA Chapter 155: Submit to the Hunter's Capture
"I originally thought all of your actions were within my expectations."
The Winged Lion spoke coldly, "I knew everything you did in the Dungeon."
"You brought your sister into this Dungeon. In the beginning, you were constantly worried about money and food. Later, you climbed your way to becoming a renowned adventurer… only to suddenly lose your sister."
"It was from that point on that your desire began to burn."
All five of the demon's eyes locked onto Laios. "You led your teammates and pressed onward into the Dungeon's depths. I even hid inside your sword, guiding you further."
"But at some point… you completely changed."
As the Winged Lion spoke, the scenery around them shifted—Laios's memories played out in the surroundings.
"You grew disgusted with the human world, found monsters far more interesting than humans, didn't care about the world at large—only about those few you knew. You hated humanity so much, you became obsessed with monsters…"
"That's how it was supposed to be."
The Winged Lion suddenly leapt from the bone hill and landed before Laios. "So why did you suddenly develop the desire to hunt me?"
"You and those Hunters from other worlds began to exceed my predictions. But I didn't care at the time."
"Because with their help, you could defeat Thistle and free me from the seal."
"And indeed, just as I had hoped, you succeeded."
"But… but!"
The Winged Lion slammed its paw on the ground in frustration. "Why did you all start trying to stop me?!"
"You and those Hunters—suddenly, you made me your target. You even wanted to hunt me… and the strangest thing is, I can't feel why from your desires."
The Winged Lion glared at Laios in irritation. "Laios, what exactly did you go through?"
"!"
Listening to the Winged Lion, Laios suddenly realized—
It had seen his past through his desires, but it didn't know what he had experienced as a Hunter.
And the Winged Lion's words made Laios pause for introspection.
Did it seem like he suddenly decided to hunt the Winged Lion?
Was it because he'd seen those future visions? The [manga] about "Dungeon Meals" that the Guildmaster showed him?
…That wasn't it.
The true moment he formed the desire to seriously hunt the Winged Lion—was probably…
When he personally laid eyes on an Elder Dragon.
It was what Kairo Retsu had said then, about Elder Dragons and their ecosystems.
Beings of immense physical power and supernatural abilities rivaling natural disasters—apex lifeforms in this world. They live for unimaginably long spans—some predating even the ancient era—and are extraordinarily rare existences outside the normal ecological system.
Yet even among such beings, a form of ecosystem still exists.
If left unchecked, there will eventually arise a force to regulate them.
Looking at the Winged Lion in front of him, Laios swallowed hard.
The offers the Winged Lion made were undeniably tempting.
Becoming a tremendously powerful monster, flying freely through the skies—and it would even resurrect his sister and care for his teammates…
But those were terms only appealing to someone immersed in their own situation.
Once Kairo Retsu showed him a perspective from outside this world—and once he saw his own story from beginning to end—Laios finally realized one thing.
That was… the Winged Lion wasn't as omnipotent as everyone believed.
It was infinite—but only in the sense of endless.
Its use of infinite magical energy was still limited by its human-derived imagination. It wasn't as strong as it wanted others to believe.
If it truly were omnipotent, it could've directly created the real people it imitated, rather than monsters mimicking them.
If it truly knew everything, it wouldn't have failed to realize that Laios's transformed monster form had the ability to devour desire—and defeat it, reverting it back into harmless magical energy.
Just like any Dungeon Lord—who despite wielding great magic, still had to manage it deliberately—every one of the Winged Lion's actions only solidified Laios's belief:
It could be hunted.
The Winged Lion was attracted by the Dungeon outside the Dungeon—a different kind of Dungeon Lord.
"Winged Lion, this place you're in—it's the desire you never managed to consume."
Laios looked down at the ruins beneath their feet. "Because of your power, the ancient people destroyed the world. The remaining survivors eventually rebuilt what we have today…"
"During all that time… how long were you tormented by hunger here in the Dungeon?"
"..."
The Winged Lion fell silent at Laios's words.
"How do you know all this?" The Winged Lion's frustration grew as Laios once again exceeded its expectations. "Was it those Hunters from other worlds who told you?"
"Yeah, that's right."
Laios answered plainly, "I've learned about you."
"Your appetite is bottomless. No matter what kind of desire you consume, you'll never be full. If humanity wants to coexist with you—and use magic safely…"
"We have to neutralize you."
Laios stared directly at the Winged Lion. "We must eliminate your desire. Otherwise, one day, you'll try to devour the world's desires all over again."
"That's your answer?"
The Winged Lion's fur bristled as it fixed its gaze on him. "So you believe there's no chance for us to coexist."
"What I want you to understand is this—you're not as untouchable as you think you are!"
Laios took a step forward—and grabbed the Winged Lion's head, stunning it.
"You're not that powerful!"
Laios shouted, "If you were truly omnipotent, I wouldn't be standing here right now! No matter how much support I've gotten from my companions, no one can stand before infinity!"
"Winged Lion! You, as Infinity, have already been shackled by finiteness!"
"You were once a being beyond reason—a higher-dimensional existence—but now, you've become… a creature."
"So—Winged Lion!"
Laios stared the beast down.
"Submit to our capture!"
"…Hah?"
Like this story Leave a review ; it would really help me out a lot.
Want to Read Ahead in Advance?
Join my Patreon!
+75 Chapters
Support me in
Patreon.com/BestElysium