Chapter 65
Chapter 65
It’s better to pull back for now.
Even in its current state, the creature had become terrifyingly stronger. The problem was that the Giant Turtle would grow even more dangerous once its shell cracked. No one could predict what would happen after that.
Although Hyunseok was the only Slayer capable of soloing a Cyclops, he never let pride cloud his judgment. If anything, he was the cautious type. When it came to life-or-death battles, there was no such thing as being too careful.
If continuing the fight became too dangerous, there was no shame in retreating.
The 300 billion won promised by Japan? He could live without it. His life was worth more than any amount of money.
Minseo stomped her foot anxiously.
“What are you doing? You’re taking damage, Oppa!”
Pyeonghwa’s legs trembled violently.
W-What should we do…?
In truth, Hyunseok’s HP had only dropped by about six thousand, which, for him, was barely a scratch. Minseo and Pyeonghwa were simply overreacting out of worry.
Meanwhile, Yuji and Kenji, who were acting as guides, feigned concern but snickered inwardly.
What are they panicking for? He’s barely hurt.
They had no idea how massive Hyunseok’s health pool was, nor how significant it was that even a fraction of it had been reduced.
The Platinum Slayer’s achievements must have been exaggerated.
They assumed the Giant Turtle’s strength was that of a typical one. Though its venom’s color had changed, they never imagined that its rank had increased due to Hyunseok’s power.
They made mental notes to report it later.
Platinum Slayer, not as strong as rumored!
His abilities were clearly overblown!
Ultimately, Hyunseok decided to retreat. The Inha Guild didn’t want to take unnecessary risks. Though it was a withdrawal, he had another plan in mind.
When he rejoined the guild members, his HP was already full again.
“Let’s pull back for now.”
Whether he was hiding another intention or not, this marked Hyunseok’s first failed Slaying.
He didn’t take it personally. His pride wasn’t wounded in the least.
But the world didn’t see it that way.
News of the Platinum Slayer’s first failure exploded across the globe. Rumors even spread that he had been gravely injured and was hospitalized.
The Japanese government faced public outrage for letting the situation spiral so far out of control.
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Hyunseok had previously succeeded in slaying a Cyclops in China, a monster far beyond the standard Normal Mode classification. That victory had earned him a Red Stone, one of only two in existence: one held by the Korean government, the other by Hyunseok himself.
At the Polynet Item Enhancement Store in Hongdae, the three artisans who remembered his appearance vividly dropped everything, even their reserved customers, to greet him in person. Their hospitality bordered on worship.
Hyunseok asked,
“Would it be possible to enhance a Skill Book using a Red Stone?”
He wasn’t actually planning to do it, just curious whether it could be done.
Jungsik, one of the three, now knew exactly who Hyunseok was. Although the man had never outright said I’m the Platinum Slayer, Jungsik was certain.
When the topic of Red Stones came up, his guess turned to conviction.
So I was right. There are only two Red Stones in the world. One belongs to the Korean government, and the other…
The other was in the hands of the Platinum Slayer himself. Though the government had appraised it at 15 billion won, its true worth was beyond measure, an artifact priceless by every standard.
Hyunseok repeated his question.
“So, can a Skill Book be enhanced using a Red Stone?”
“Ah, yes… wait, what did you say?” Jungsik stammered, momentarily losing composure. Focus, Jungsik! He collected himself.
Hyunseok cleared his throat softly. “I’m not saying I’ll actually try it. I’m just asking if it’s possible.”
Jungsik hesitated. “That’s… I’m sorry, sir. It’s impossible.”
It wasn’t a matter of effort, the technique itself simply didn’t exist.
So, Hyunseok instead used a Yellow Stone to enhance the Advanced Martial Arts skill book he’d earned from slaying the Werewolf.
Each enhancement raised its level:
He had originally planned to replace it with a superior martial skill later, but for now, he was satisfied strengthening what he already had.
Using nearly 200 Yellow Stones, Polynet achieved the triple enhancement, a contract that made the company wealthy enough to expand into a multinational corporation.
Afterwards, Hyunseok re-entered Japan.
❋ ❋ ❋
The Platinum Slayer’s Retreat — Japan’s Next Move?
Was the Platinum Slayer’s Decision Cowardly, or Calculated?
That was the global headline.
No one had the right to blame him. A Slayer wasn’t a soldier or public servant, risking his life was not an obligation.
The contract with the Japanese Union included a clause: even if he failed, he’d only need to return 1 trillion won, instead of the original 3 trillion. Japan had agreed, confident that failure was impossible.
But the Japanese public didn’t care for such logic.
“Coward! He ran away!”
“A so-called ‘Platinum’ coward!”
“His power was clearly overhyped!”
The Japanese Union and government tried desperately to suppress the growing wave of online hate. They weren’t fools, they knew how valuable Hyunseok was, even in failure.
Just as outrage peaked, Hyunseok returned to Japan, quietly.
He and the Korean Union decided to keep it secret. If word got out and he failed again, the damage to his image would be irreparable.
Still, the flames of hatred burned.
A minority of loud voices made it seem like the entire country despised him.
For Hyunseok, however, the Giant Turtle remained a target worth pursuing. Even a normal one was considered a recognized achievement, but this mutated, 90-day-strengthened version was sure to yield an even greater reward.
It might even drop a Red Stone.
Just like how the Werewolf, normally dropping Green Stones, began dropping Yellow Stones after mutation.
Jongwon asked,
“Hyunseok, you sure about this?”
“Keep your distance, stay safe.”
Jongwon smirked. “You’re so full of it.”
“What?”
“You, Mr. ‘Safety First,’ came back just three days later. And you even brought Minseo, the girl you adore, along. What does that tell me?”
“Tell you what?”
“It tells me you’re ninety-nine percent sure you’ll win this time. Am I wrong?”
Their guides, Yuji and Kenji, were noticeably colder this time, they tried to hide it, but it showed.
Why did he come back after only three days?
What could have changed in that time?
They couldn’t have known: in those three short days, Hyunseok had undergone an enormous transformation.
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Advanced Martial Arts (Passive)
Using Yellow Stones, Hyunseok had enhanced his Advanced Martial Arts skill three times, reaching High-Rank Martial Arts Lv.2.
But that wasn’t what he ended up with.
Previously, he had learned a Healing skill book, originally Green-tier, but due to his Intelligence stat, it evolved beyond its base classification. The same phenomenon occurred now: his High-Rank Martial Arts was further upgraded to Green-tier Advanced Martial Arts Lv.2.
Few Slayers even knew Green-tier skills existed. Only the Inha Guild members and Director Park Sunghyung of the Union were aware.
This, however, wasn’t just Green-tier, it was Advanced Green-tier Lv.2.
[Advanced Martial Arts (Passive) — Lv.2]
While High-Rank Martial Arts Lv.2 had only offered a 20% increase in stats, its evolution to Green-tier multiplied those effects sixfold.
A 120% boost to both offense and defense, an outrageous leap.
Ordinary Slayers dreamed of even a 10% stat gain, yet Hyunseok’s growth was exponential.
His already broken balance of power had shattered entirely, a case of full-blown power inflation.
Hyunseok charged confidently toward the Giant Turtle.
KWA-BOOM!
A thunderous explosion burst as his fist slammed into the creature’s massive leg.
My movements feel so much smoother.
That was the beauty of a passive skill, it reinforced the very foundation of one’s being.
The phrase “Assists bodily control according to mental image” wasn’t mere fluff.
Of course, picturing himself flying didn’t make him soar through the air, but every punch, every step, flowed with perfect coordination.
Good. Very good.
His entire combat ability felt sharper, stronger, more precise.
Before, he may have only used half his body’s potential, now he was unleashing every bit of it.
And with stats increased by 120%, he was operating beyond human limits.
The improvement wasn’t just physical speed or power.
Even his perception, reflexes, reaction time, combat instinct, had sharpened.
While it wasn’t a literal Sixth Sense like Hong Seyoung’s skill, it was close.
Hyunseok could feel every shift in the Giant Turtle’s motion, every pulse of danger in the air.
And that meant only one thing.
The real fight had just begun.
(End of Chapter 65)
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— Translated by Prime Works —