Chapter 53 - New Martial Arts 2 (3)
Flames scattered in the air.
Like petals drifting down, they fluttered every which way before settling on the ground.
Kim Sun-woo, his brows furrowed deeply, gazed down at his two hands gathered in front of his chest.
Tssszzz.
The idea of infusing flames into the Plum Blossom Sword Technique had been a good one.
But in the midst of combining the two, he realized there was no need to cling to the form of a 'sword technique.'
As long as a plausible result emerged, he could just plug it into sword arts, saber techniques, fist or kick methods—whatever worked.
But a problem arose.
He had the concept, but no clue how to advance from here.
'Martial arts are too damn hard.'
Kim Sun-woo let out a sigh.
Even after devouring countless books from the Mugung Guild's database, martial arts still felt alien to him.
If someone demonstrated or taught him, he could probably mimic it easily.
But choosing the easy path meant he likely wouldn't get the results he wanted.
'Guess I have no choice but to keep banging my head against it like always.'
Kim Sun-woo steeled his resolve.
This was a talent others would kill for.
He couldn't complain now that fate had handed it to him.
Tssszzz.
More embers scattered.
If vampires or zombies had been nearby, it would've been like a bombing run.
Swoosh.
Flames spread through the air along the slow sweep of his fingertips.
The trajectory was as graceful and beautiful as Baek San-hu's Plum Blossom Sword Technique.
But that was it.
There was no flash of brilliance like when he'd first created Flying Thunder Flash.
Even trying not to compare, his inner voice tormented him: Is this all you're satisfied with?
Thwack!
This time, he clenched his fist and thrust roughly into the empty air.
No.
It was flashy but empty.
Kicks were the same, as were mindless palm strikes.
Swinging the Black Flow Sword yielded little, and the spear propped nearby did no better.
"......"
Kim Sun-woo sighed and came to a halt.
Where the hell was he supposed to use this?
At this point, his whole approach must be wrong.
As he clicked his tongue to shake off the flames, Robert—now recovered—asked with a startled look.
"Sun-woo, what is that?"
"Huh? Oh. Flames from Blazing Peak. The ones that took down the vampire......"
"No, not that."
Glancing around briefly, Robert jabbed the spear tip in his hand straight at Kim Sun-woo's forearm.
"......"
Kim Sun-woo flinched.
Even so, thrusting a spear at him bare-handed......?
"Huh?"
Suddenly, a faint resistance rippled through his forearm.
Looking down, he saw the glowing red spear tip halted, unable to advance further.
Heat haze shimmered between the spear and his skin.
As if an invisible barrier blocked it.
Shaaak!
Robert swung the spear wildly, and flames bloomed in the air.
Like sparks from striking flint.
Retracting the spear, Robert tilted his head.
"Protective Sword Gang?"
"Not quite gang......"
Kim Sun-woo stared wide-eyed at his own body.
It wasn't just his forearm—the same energy enveloped his entire form.
Protective Aura, if he had to name it.
Flustered by this unintended manifestation, Kim Sun-woo wore a bewildered expression.
"Team leader. Mind attacking me once?"
"...Pardon? Even so, hitting you bare-handed is—"
"No. I'll block with my sword."
He had no intention of over-relying on untested ability.
Much less trusting some unproven protective aura to tank hits bare.
As Kim Sun-woo stood ready with sword in hand, Robert kicked off like lightning, thrusting his spear.
—Krreeeeeng!
The aftermath echoed far differently through the training hall—proof of some progress.
Robert smirked, satisfied.
Of course, the thrust did zero damage to Kim Sun-woo.
"Feels different from before. In sparring, it was like batting away my spear. Now it's like hitting a wall—rebounding force."
"Hm......"
Kim Sun-woo was equally puzzled.
Without much effort, he'd effortlessly blocked Robert's near-full-power strike.
The flashy effects were a downside, but coating himself in flames skyrocketed his defense.
"I wanted something a bit different."
"Still, good is good. You've got a sturdy shield now."
Robert eyed him with wonder.
While he'd agonized over Aster family spear arts, Sun-woo pulled out yet another marvel.
The guy was like an onion—layers of surprises.
'Makes me even more excited.'
For what he'd unveil next to shock him.
The Night Team mobilized again three days after the first dungeon break.
This time, not their sector—but supporting a failed zone.
"What the hell were you doing letting it get this bad? You guys in charge!"
Night Team's sub-leader Seong Ha-rin scowled at the monsters pouring from the portal.
Lucky it was city outskirts—not a bustling street or residential area, or it'd be catastrophe.
The Association staffer here, sweating bullets, explained to the hunters.
"They entered to clear it before a full break, like Daehangno. E-rank dungeon, thought it'd be fine......"
"You didn't stop them? We issued official memos banning preemptive raids!"
Seong Ha-rin shot back incredulously.
Dungeon breaks usually upped difficulty one or two ranks.
But as Daehangno showed, it could spike insanely.
Several guilds tried similar post-Daehangno, took heavy losses—Association banned pre-raids officially.
"...They insisted it was fine. What could powerless staff do?"
The staffer slumped, sighing deeply.
Fair enough—hard to stop insistent hunters.
Now, just contain the mess fast.
"Other guilds arriving. Mugung takes west. Tell support guilds to move ASAP."
"...Yes, please."
The staffer nodded, retreating rearward.
Fighting was hunters' job.
"Pushing front! Sun-woo, free role."
"Got it."
Kim Sun-woo nodded.
Just yesterday, Association notified his B-rank promotion.
Thanks to hunter testimonies of him soloing a B-rank equivalent boss, plus merits—exceptional leap.
Normally, it'd be headlines: fastest F-to-B new star.
With national alert, just a blip news item.
'Suits me fine.'
No spotlight, no phone blowing up.
Calls still trickled, but better than post-Gangwon awakening frenzy.
"Charge!"
Led by Robert and sub-leader Seong Ha-rin, Night Team stormed the monster-flooded streets.
Support hunters appeared from other sides.
Leaping atop a utility pole, Kim Sun-woo scouted the portal.
"Already spilling out."
This was an orc-and-troll themed dungeon—standard fare.
Elites: trolls and ogres.
Trolls famed for regen; ogres terrifying specs alone.
Them out front meant a separate boss inside......
"Handle what's out first."
Trolls/ogres hitting other hunters? Disaster.
Better preempt.
"......"
Watching Night Team mulch orc hordes, Kim Sun-woo rose slowly.
Three days since first break.
30 more till Mage Tower et al. solutions—could hunters hold?
Thwack!
Kicking off the pole, he bounded across orc heads toward the portal.
Stepped skulls exploded, bodies crumpling.
-Squeak.
Yellowish body, bloated gut, piggish face, thick manacles on arms.
Unlike textbook trolls, the ogre's look drew eyes.
Tssszzz.
Dark mana flowed ominously over its black hide—marking it above troll tier.
Gripping a trunk-thick club, it glared at Kim Sun-woo with yellow eyes.
"You guys talk too?"
He asked the troll and ogre.
Troll looked dumb—ogre plausible for human speech.
To cross-check vampire claims, worth trying dialogue.
—Kwaaaang!!
Ogre answered by swinging its club wildly.
Paved road shattered, earth quaking.
Shockwaves blasted outward from sheer power.
Kim Sun-woo evaded lightly with Illusion Flow Step, Black Flow Sword on shoulder.
Crackle.
Simultaneously, the troll beside ogre sliced apart, chunks tumbling.
Regen kicked in—or so......
Chiiik!
Flames from cuts blocked regen, searing flesh.
"Not vampire-level dominance, but hot enough."
Regen failed; troll died as elite, mere charred chunks.
-......
Ogre, unmoved by ally's death, gripped club, glaring fixedly.
Like one-track mind.
Thud!
It charged another direction—not at strong Kim Sun-woo, but weak hunter clusters.
Kim Sun-woo read intent, shadowing its back instantly.
Flash—!
Sunset just past.
Dusk sky through clouds—blinding white burst, lightning striking ground.
—Kwaaaang!
As mangled ogre corpse slammed earth.
"Huh?"
Landing lightly beside, Kim Sun-woo spotted a familiar face—eyes widening.