Dragonfication Clash – Ascension to S-Rank
Thud... thud...
Kang Hamchan approached me for the S-rank showdown. He came straight at me, eyes locked on mine.
"Your skeletal frame is impressive."
The old man eyed me up and down.
Ugh, gives me the creeps.
I had zero interest in a guy's sticky gaze.
"You don't look very muscular, but that's not the case. It's all densely compressed."
Kang Hamchan could see right through my condition just by looking. Experience? Or some ability tied to his eyes?
Whatever it was, I couldn't stop him from sizing me up.
"Hahaha, sorry about that. Analyzing's become a habit!"
He slapped my back with a hearty pat as he apologized, saying years on the front lines had drilled it into him.
"That imaginary hobgoblin was lame, right?"
Kang Hamchan pointed at the half-vanished hobgoblin.
"For something they bragged about being tough, it's pretty squishy."
"Hey now, are you insulting the pinnacle of the Awakening Bureau's tech?"
If that's their pinnacle...
It's way below par.
Or have I just gotten too strong? My opponents have always been protagonists or demon kings, so I never had a proper gauge on my power.
Coming to the Awakening Bureau was the right call.
I could aim for S-rank. Build a guild. And finally measure my strength properly.
"Alright, this old man's gonna step in for that hobgoblin."
Kang Hamchan took some distance and assumed a stance.
"It's just a simple test, so no need to worry."
The director's voice came over the speakers. As Kang Hamchan settled into position, he unleashed his mana.
Oh...
Worth the veteran rep? The quality of his mana was on another level.
Then I will too...
I channeled my Thunder God Energy and took my stance. We locked eyes and grinned.
How strong am I, really?
Not him—I was curious about myself. Beating him was a given...
"Sparring starts now!"
At the director's signal, we leaped at each other. Kang Hamchan's body began to transform.
Muscles bulged until he looked nothing like an old man. His face shifted too.
Lizard eyes. Razor-sharp teeth.
And two horns sprouting from his forehead.
That's Dragonfication...
The poster child for transformation abilities. Kang Hamchan activated it mid-change and swung a fist.
I threw mine at the same time.
Crackle—!
Thunder King Fist. I condensed blue lightning into my fist and unleashed it. When our fists collided, the pent-up lightning exploded forward.
Like a railgun, the blast engulfed Kang Hamchan.
"Zappy!"
He shrugged it off unscathed.
"As expected of Dragonfication. You're tough."
"You bet! Hit me harder!"
Kang Hamchan bared his teeth and came at me. Wild, formless strikes—no set patterns.
Front-line savagery poured out of every blow.
Raw attacks, sure, but...
What's this feeling? It's not strong.
Way below protagonists or demon kings.
Right, that's it.
It grated on me. He kept probing my weaknesses.
Heroes and demon kings overwhelmed with brute force. But Kang Hamchan zeroed in on weak points relentlessly.
The underdog's playbook—from a powerhouse.
I figured out why it pissed me off.
Is this the S-rank fighting style I dreamed of?
No flash, no flair. Petty. Persistent.
Nothing like the epic battles I'd imagined. Irritation boiled into rage.
Just a childish tantrum, probably. I clenched my fist tight.
Tight enough to draw blood.
I get why you fight like that.
Survival on the front lines turned you petty and obsessive. But that didn't erase my anger at him crushing my dreams.
If I swallowed it now, I'd never see him in a good light. So I'd vent here.
Childish or not, better to get it out. We were sparring anyway—no harm in unleashing.
"Huuu—!"
Lightning infused my breath. It coiled around my body.
Thunder God Style, Heavenly Thunder Man—!
Blue lightning cloaked my body for enhancement. A mad technique—if your flesh couldn't take it, agony and ashes awaited.
My battle-evolved physique handled the recoil effortlessly. Weaknesses vanished one by one.
Kang Hamchan's hits dwindled. Mine ramped up.
He'd been pushing forward; now he fell back.
"Hahaha—! Fun, kid!"
He laughed even as he retreated. His form shifted again.
Black scales covered his scorched skin.
Second stage.
Three stages total. First: muscle boost, horns, dragon eyes.
Second: dragon scales. Third...
Crunch—!
His lower body warped. A tail sprouted from his hips.
Wings burst from his back.
Third stage: full Dragonfication. A human with every draconic trait stood before me.
Mana quality, muscle density, intimidation—all inhuman.
But...
I don't think he'll win.
I'd felt stronger pressure from the demon king. Baekgang, that dimension's hero, had denser mana.
Anyone normal—like Joo Hwayeon up top—would freeze. Below S-rank? Panic.
Not me. It ignited my fighting spirit.
Yes! This is S-rank!
His domineering aura clashed with my Thunder God Energy.
Crackle—!
I could've ended it with other abilities, but I held back.
Has Baekhyang rubbed off on me?
Battle maniac vibes. Whatever.
Not a real deathmatch—might as well enjoy. I ditched defense.
Not really—his scales blocked for him.
Thunder God Energy hammered the scales.
Clang—!
Cracks spiderwebbed them. His domineering fist pounded my body.
When it connected, lightning stabbed back. Heavenly Thunder Man—perfect offense and defense.
Awful penalties, but a national treasure once mastered. Blood sprayed.
The air turned red.
"S-Stop! That's enough! Kang Hamchan! Mr. Park Kiyong! Stop!"
The director yelled. Neither of us budged.
Bam—!
Fists met faces. We flew back hard.
"Huff... huff..."
"Hah... hah..."
We glared. Then it hit me.
Next hit's the finisher.
Not for me— for him. I'd match it.
Right hand to my waist. I twisted my hips.
Dropped Heavenly Thunder Man, focused on the next move.
Crackle—!
Thunder God Energy and mana gathered in my right hand. Final technique: Thunder God Fist.
Thunder God Style splits two ways: 'King' and 'God'.
King: basics like Thunder King Fist or Thunder King Step—repeatable.
God: ultimates. Thunder God Fist evolving Thunder King Fist, or Thunder God Step from Thunder King Step—one-shots.
It compressed. Blue lightning shifted hue.
Golden now.
What? Thunder God Fist doesn't do that.
Not just color—the quality changed.
Like the lightning from the Ring of the Thunder God... I glanced at it.
Yeah, this is better.
Power and feel—superior. Raw Thunder God Energy destroyed everything, tricky to wield.
The ring's version was refined, user-friendly.
Golden bolt compressed to silence.
Kang Hamchan finished prepping too—mouth agape. I moved.
As it yawned wide, a massive energy wave erupted. Dragon Breath.
Dragon-only one-shot—from a human's mouth.
Thud—!
I kicked off.
BOOM—!
Ground shattered; I rocketed up. Fist extended.
Unlike Thunder King Fist, the energy clung tight. Thunder God Fist vaporized the breath and pressed on.
It reached him. I halted just before contact.
That'd kill him for real.
Whoosh—!
Stopped short, but the shockwave hurled him back. Scales shattered mid-flight.
"Cough..."
Blood spewed as he looked up at me.
"Korea's got a monster now."
My victory ended the S-rank spar.
The director's office. Me, the director, and a fully recovered Kang Hamchan sat there.
Just moments ago, he'd been coughing blood on the floor.
Insane recovery.
Dragon perks? Beyond human limits.
The director handed over something small.
"Here. S-rank promotion complete."
An S-rank hunter license dangled before me.
"Oh..."
I took it with slightly trembling hands.
Finally... my dream...
The hunter life I'd craved. S-rank status.
In my grasp at last.
"S-rank perks are listed here..."
The director explained benefits, but elation drowned it out.
Oh, right.
I snapped out of it.
"Um, any support funds? My house got wrecked—repair costs..."
"Ha, hahaha! First words after hitting S-rank are about repairs! Krahaha! Hilarious!!"
Kang Hamchan's laughter shook the room.