Chapter 64
Chapter 64
After clearing a training dungeon that had unexpectedly spawned Werewolves, Hyunseok responded calmly to Sunghyung’s call.
“Wait, you’re saying it attacked even though its shell was still intact?”
― Yeah. The death toll’s already well over a hundred. It hasn’t been officially announced yet, but estimates put it past five hundred.
“I see… If its shell’s still intact, that means there’s no weapon capable of breaching it. Not even compared to a Cyclops’ shield.”
― Exactly. But you don’t sound all that surprised. It’s gone berserk while still covered in its shell…
“Well, I’ve seen that form a few times in training dungeons.”
Modern weapons couldn’t even break through a Cyclops’ shield. Only the United States had managed to successfully hunt one, and even that couldn’t really be called a “success.”
Because by now, the theory that monsters killed by modern weapons will eventually respawn had become almost accepted as fact.
It wasn’t officially called a “law,” but as time went on, the evidence supporting it only grew stronger.
And if, sometime later, another Cyclops were to appear in the U.S., that theory would gain undeniable weight.
In any case, it was impossible for Japan’s Self-Defense Force to neutralize a Giant Turtle, a monster with an even stronger defensive shell than the Cyclops.
So in the end… the only solution is slaying.
Even the Ichigo Union of Japan was in a full-blown crisis. But there was nothing they could do about it.
The last time they tried to slay a Cyclops, more than a hundred high-rank Slayers had died.
Granted, the seventy-person Eradication Squad formed at the time hadn’t been composed of top-tier Slayers.
The true upper echelon, those aware of Hyunseok’s power, wouldn’t risk their lives just for pride’s sake.
Anyone who had would’ve died long before reaching that level.
Still, that didn’t mean Japan’s overall Slayer capability was weak.
They’re still a Slaying powerhouse… but they don’t have the strength to take down a Giant Turtle.
The only saving grace was that the Giant Turtle’s range of activity wasn’t very wide.
A narrow range meant it wasn’t too dangerous, as long as one didn’t get close.
Still, even at its slow pace, it’s steadily moving toward the city.
Hyunseok judged the Giant Turtle as a monster ranked higher than the Werewolf.
The difference in species made direct comparison meaningless, but in terms of difficulty, the Giant Turtle far surpassed it.
Japan was breaking out in cold sweat.
Putting aside the turtle itself, the international backlash was enormous, especially from China, which strongly condemned Japan.
Dozens of Chinese tourists had been killed. It wasn’t surprising that outrage had erupted, and even a boycott of Japanese products had begun within China.
“A tragedy caused by greed for profit without ensuring proper safety!”
“A short-sighted decision that led to catastrophic consequences!”
Strictly speaking, China had no right to criticize, they were often guiltier of short-sightedness themselves.
Still, in this case, Japan was clearly at fault.
The only thing they could do now was offer compensation and eliminate the Giant Turtle.
Compensation, sure, that was possible. But slaying it? Impossible.
Eventually, Japan requested help from Hyunseok.
The Japanese government and Ichigo Union jointly offered 100 billion won, but the Korean Union refused.
Their reasoning was simple, Hyunseok was the only one capable of slaying the Giant Turtle.
A mere 100 billion was far too cheap.
Of course, none of this was made public.
Sunghyung explained,
“They settled on paying the Korean Union three hundred billion won. It won’t go to the Union, it’ll be paid directly to you. We could’ve pushed for more, but if we extort too much, it’ll look bad politically.”
And so, Hyunseok’s trip to Japan was finalized.
Soon, he boarded a private jet arranged by Japan and took off.
❋ ❋ ❋
There were two Giant Turtles.
So… the penalty gets lifted after ninety days, huh.
In training dungeons, the Giant Turtle appeared as a boss monster, but when Hyunseok entered, the penalty suppression lifted, making its attacks more natural and its behavior far more violent.
Apparently, in the open field, there was some kind of time restriction at play.
The Giant Turtle was recognized as an Achievement Monster, so Hyunseok brought the entire Inha Guild along.
They’d already fought plenty of Giant Turtles during training sessions, so everyone took up their assigned positions without panic.
That’s when Hong Seyoung spoke up.
“Hyunseok.”
“Yeah?”
“Doesn’t something feel… off?”
“What do you mean?”
“Wait a sec.”
Seyoung was a top-tier Slayer.
Physically, she might not have Hyunseok’s raw strength, but in every other aspect, she surpassed him, especially in speed and agility.
Because of that, she was rarely ever hit. But if she was, the damage was catastrophic.
That also made her far better at sensing danger.
“That Giant Turtle… It’s way stronger than the one we fought in Korea.”
“Stronger? You used your skill to check?”
“Yeah. Much stronger.”
Seyoung’s special skill, Intuition, didn’t give exact numbers, it only told her whether something was strong or weak.
“So, you’re saying its defenses might have increased drastically?”
“Most likely, yeah. But if the acid range has expanded or its damage output has gone up too… everyone except you could be in serious danger.”
Myunghoon groaned theatrically.
“I guess I’ll just run far away, then. Don’t count on me in battle, okay, Hyunseok?”
Then Ha Jongwon, the officially ranked No. 1 in Strength worldwide, added with mock sincerity,
“I’m fragile too. I’ll sit this one out. Take care of one first, Hyunseok.”
Minseo scowled.
“Oppa! You’re super strong, so why make my brother do everything? You do it!”
“Hey! That’s so unfair!”
He had a point. His strength might be top-tier, but compared to Hyunseok, it was nothing.
Still, Minseo changed tactics, now buttering him up.
“Aww, but you’re really strong, right? You’re officially the number one Strength Slayer! Hm? Hm?”
Pleased, Jongwon puffed out his chest and lifted his chin smugly.
“Well, yeah. I am kinda strong.”
Kang Pyeonghwa chuckled quietly at the sight.
Even with a Giant Turtle looming ahead, the Inha Guild members seemed relaxed.
Seyoung’s warning was taken seriously, but they still didn’t seem too tense.
After all, they were keeping their distance, and Hyunseok was taking the lead.
Once he tested the monster, the others would step in if possible.
None of them imagined Hyunseok would ever be in danger.
Only a guild that had fought countless Giant Turtles, and had witnessed Hyunseok’s power firsthand, could afford this kind of composure.
Meanwhile, the Ichigo Union guides, Yuji and Kenji, couldn’t believe what they were seeing.
They’re standing that close to a Giant Turtle, and they’re this relaxed?
They’re not even all Platinum-ranked Slayers!
If they were, that’d at least make sense. But this confidence looked insane.
Yuji spoke up nervously,
“We’re almost within the Giant Turtle’s attack range. Our job ends here.”
Meaning, “We’re out before it gets dangerous. You guys got paid three hundred billion, so good luck!”
Hyunseok nodded.
“Stay here and wait.”
❋ ❋ ❋
Hyunseok started running.
The Giant Turtle spotted him and spewed acidic liquid in response.
Fast!
Hyunseok sprinted in a zigzag pattern, dodging the jets of acid.
Fssst—!
Wherever the green acid splattered onto the grass, it hissed, melted, and turned into dark sludge, leaving thirty-centimeter craters in the ground.
The Giant Turtle’s acid was far faster than any Hyunseok had seen in training dungeons, and speed likely meant higher damage.
He managed to dodge most of it, but a few splashes hit him.
It wasn’t a direct hit, just droplets from the spray.
Still, the system flared to life:
[You have been exposed to the Giant Turtle’s Acidic Venom.]
[You have been poisoned.]
[Damage: -200]
[Damage: -200]
[Damage: -200]
[Damage: -200]
The alerts kept ringing, ten times in total.
That’s two thousand damage… from just splashes?
For anyone other than Hyunseok, this would be fatal.
He had assumed the monster merely became more violent after ninety days, but now he realized—
No. It didn’t just go berserk… it evolved.
Still, it wasn’t unbeatable.
The 2,000 damage was alarming, sure, but not truly threatening to Hyunseok.
Then, as soon as the Giant Turtle entered his Combat Field, another notification appeared:
[The Giant Turtle — (Enhanced) — has been promoted in rank.]
Immediately, its attacks grew even stronger.
The green acid turned a glimmering blue, spraying like a high-pressure mist.
There was nowhere to dodge.
Hyunseok retreated, but even then, a few drops grazed him.
This time, his HP dropped by over 4,000.
It hit me lighter than before… yet the damage doubled?
4,000 wasn’t much to him, but it wasn’t the number that scared him.
This was still spread damage, not a direct hit.
If he took a critical shot at point-blank range, the cumulative acid ticks could become genuinely dangerous.
Because with this poison, every time it touches skin, a critical hit automatically triggers.
And since Hyunseok couldn’t wear armor, that was a major disadvantage.
Guess I’ll have to take some risks this time.
Worse still, the Giant Turtle was known more for defense than offense.
If its attack power had jumped this much, its defense must’ve skyrocketed too.
If the offense is this high… the defense must be even higher.
Which meant it would take longer, and many more hits, to break through.
And every second spent attacking would also increase his exposure to the acid.
Slaying, after all, assumes you don’t let your HP drop.
There was no reason to take reckless risks here.
(End of Chapter 64)
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— Translated by Prime Works —