Rebirth Through Flames
“Is this... a hospital or a haunted house?”
The opulent lobby of Apgujeong's Apollo Medical Center, once Korea's premier hunter hospital, had fallen eerily silent in just one week. The reservation monitor displayed a brutal [Waiting Patients: 0].
Director Choi Myungseok stared at the empty lobby, chugging whiskey straight from the bottle.
“Where the hell did they all go... All those VIPs, where'd they disappear to?!”
“D-Director, please calm down.”
“Calm down? You think I can calm down right now? Our stock's been halved!”
Choi Myungseok hurled the bottle. It shattered with a crash. Ever since Kang Jinhyeok's live stream, Apollo had plummeted into the abyss.
Framed as 'money-grubbing healers with no real skill,' hunters had fled without a backward glance to Gangnam's Zeus Medical Tower.
All that remained were a few mid-tier guilds sticking around out of obligation to the association—and even they were eyeing the exits.
“Just need an opportunity... One slip-up from that bastard, or one overwhelming success from us, and they'll come crawling back.”
Choi Myungseok gnawed at his nails. Then his secretary burst in, panting.
“D-Director! Jackpot! The opportunity's here!”
“What?”
“America's rank 3! Phoenix Guild Master James King just landed! He's here to treat his partner beast, the [Immortal Phoenix]!”
Choi Myungseok's eyes lit up. Phoenix Guild—one of the world's top five. And their phoenix was an elite among S-ranks.
“Why would a big shot like that come to Korea?”
“He was headed for Kang Jinhyeok at first. But... Jinhyeok turned him away, said he's fully booked! Told him to come back in a month!”
“That lunatic... Is he insane? Snubbing the Phoenix Guild Master?”
Choi Myungseok whooped in triumph. Kang Jinhyeok's arrogance had dug his own grave. The phoenix was in critical condition—no way it could wait a month.
“Contact them now! Tell them we'll handle it! Best medical team, hell, I'll operate myself!”
“Yes, sir!”
This was heaven-sent. Save the phoenix, and he could flip public opinion overnight. With trembling hands, Choi Myungseok donned his gown.
“Just you wait, Kang Jinhyeok. I'll show you what a real doctor looks like.”
One hour later. Apollo Hospital VIP suite.
The massive American, James King, paced anxiously outside the OR. Rejected by Kang Jinhyeok, he'd come here grasping at straws.
“Mr. Choi. Can you really fix it? Our Firebird is barely hanging on.”
“Don't worry.”
Choi Myungseok flashed a confident smile. He entered the OR with ten S-rank healers.
On the table lay a massive bird. The legendary phoenix—but now it looked like a plucked chicken. Its fiery plumage had turned to gray ash, its body temperature ice-cold.
“Life force depletion. Classic senescence.”
Choi Myungseok made his diagnosis. Phoenixes were immortal, reborn from ashes. But its cycle was broken. Pump in life force with high-level heals to reignite the flames.
“Everyone, deploy healing circle! Mana infusion—begin!”
Woooong—!
The ten S-rank healers poured mana into the phoenix. Holy light filled the room.
“Live! Burn bright!”
Choi Myungseok sweated as he channeled everything. Theoretically perfect. Enough life force to raise the dead. But...
Target's life signs decreasing.
Mana rejection reaction!
“Kieeeek!”
The phoenix shrieked in agony. Instead of flames, black smoke billowed from its ashen body.
The more they healed, the worse it got—writhing toward death.
“Wh-what? Why? Crank the mana higher!”
“Director! Patient vitals crashing! Cardiac arrest imminent!”
“No! This can't be!”
Choi Myungseok panicked. It should've worked by the book.
Why? Why isn't it working?
Then the OR door exploded open.
“Get out!!”
James King stormed in. Seeing his dying partner flipped his lid.
“You quack bastards! Trying to kill my Firebird?!”
“N-no, it's a life response! Just hold on a bit longer...!”
“Shut up!”
James King grabbed Choi Myungseok by the collar and flung him. He scooped up the limp phoenix.
“They said Korea's only got one real doctor. Guess they were right.”
James bolted from the hospital with the phoenix. Sprawled on the floor, Choi Myungseok stared blankly at the ceiling. It was over. Truly over this time.
Meanwhile. Zeus Medical Tower.
Jinhyeok slurped cup ramen in his office. Unusually slow day.
“Director, you really gonna turn him away? James King's on his way, bawling his eyes out.”
Manager Park Cheolwoo asked.
“Heard he went to Apollo first?”
“Yeah. They damn near turned the phoenix into charcoal.”
“Tsk tsk. See? Told you not to go there.”
Jinhyeok sipped his broth, clicking his tongue. Truth was, he'd rejected James on purpose—playing hard to get. He'd already diagnosed the phoenix remotely. It wasn't 'sick.'
Bam!
The first-floor lobby doors shattered. Sweat-drenched James King burst in.
“Doctor Kang! Please! Help me!”
James King dropped to his knees before Jinhyeok. World ranker's pride? Forgotten. The phoenix in his arms wasn't even breathing.
Jinhyeok slowly set down his chopsticks.
“Should've gotten in line sooner. Why mess around at the wrong place and nearly kill the poor thing?”
“Sorry... I'm so sorry... Just save it, please. I'll give you everything I own!”
Jinhyeok stood and approached the phoenix. A bird reduced to ashes.
Ordinary healers would call it 'life force depletion.' But Jinhyeok's Eyes of God saw different: a faint ember still glowed deep in its heart.
Too hot for its shell—smothering itself inside.
“This isn't illness. It's 'failed molt.'”
“Molting...?”
“Yeah. Shedding the old shell to rebirth. But low energy means it can't break free. Then those idiots piled on heals, hardening the shell further. No wonder it's suffocating.”
Jinhyeok shook his head. Ignorance is bliss—Apollo nearly buried it alive.
“So what do we do?”
“Simple. Peel the shell off. With a really strong 'fire.'”
Jinhyeok hit the intercom.
“Hey, Balakas. Get up here. Time to earn your keep.”
Moments later, Balakas poked its massive head through the office window from below. The S-rank fire dragon's arrival made James King freak.
“D-Dragon?!”
“Don't panic. It's our medical equipment.”
Jinhyeok carried the phoenix to the window and commanded Balakas.
“Gently. Very gently—one weak 'breath.'”
[Kuooo... (Such a hassle.)]
Balakas opened wide. Furnace-like flames spewed toward the phoenix.
“No! Stop!”
James King screamed. But Jinhyeok tossed the phoenix right into the blaze.
Whoosh!
Flames engulfed it instantly. Gray feathers burned away, black smoke rose. Everyone thought it was done—then.
Kieeeeeek—!
A clear cry pierced the inferno. The charred shell crumbled. Golden wings unfurled from within.
S-rank magical beast 'Immortal Phoenix' has regained its true form.
Larger, more radiant, the phoenix soared around the ceiling. Sparks from its wings glittered like blessing confetti.
“Oh... My... God.”
James King collapsed, sobbing. Jinhyeok tossed Balakas a strip of jerky and shrugged.
“See? Heals aren't everything. Sometimes fire's the cure.”
Jinhyeok handed James the bill.
“Treatment fee: market rate, 100 billion. Plus... three phoenix feathers.”
“Take it all! Even guild shares if you want!”
The incident headlined hunter news worldwide.
The game was over. No hunter on Earth didn't know Kang Jinhyeok's name.