Chapter 33
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 33
Chapter Title: Became the Last of the Giant Clan
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Chwiik!
The distinctive cry.
And then their stench wafted over.
Chwiik!
From within the bushes, ten orcs burst forth, parting the foliage.
Watching them from a withered tree on the opposite side, Kang Hyuk muttered to himself.
'Red-patterned orcs. Among all the orc variants, these are top-tier specimens.'
Not all monsters of the same type received the same rank.
Especially for social species like orcs, differences in power—and even rank—varied greatly depending on the tribe.
And right now.
The orcs that had appeared at his newly established campsite were a prime example.
'Orcs whose strength and ferocity rival trolls. That's why even D-rank hunters struggle to hunt them.'
With that thought, Kang Hyuk picked up his mithril spear.
'But that doesn't mean they're beyond my current level.'
He unleashed his power.
At that moment.
Power of the Last Giant Clan activates.
Partial Giantization activates!
Giantization assimilation rate: 1.5%
Duration: 25 seconds
Power of the Last Giant Clan activates.
You acquire Giant's Grip.
Power of the Last Giant Clan: 6%
The Power of the Last Giant Clan, which had leaped forward after slaying the ogre, activated.
Thanks to it, a surge of strength made him forget the weight of the massive spear, and Kang Hyuk aimed it at the lead orc.
'Take out the leader first.'
With his decision made, he hurled the spear.
At that instant, the air tore with a screech as the spear vanished from Kang Hyuk's hand.
Chwiik?
The orcs sensed something amiss and halted abruptly.
Then, as they glanced at each other in confusion, blood and flesh exploded outward.
It was from the leader of this scouting party.
Chwiiiik!!
The startled orcs recoiled.
The head of their comrade—who they'd just been chattering with—had been pulverized, replaced by the enormous spear. It was only natural.
Whoosh!
Seizing their panic, Kang Hyuk charged into their formation.
At the same time, his fist erupted in flames.
Magical flames born from the red mandrake leather.
The moment they flashed, another orc lost its head.
Chwiiiik!!!
Realizing the catastrophe wasn't a dream, the red-patterned orcs belatedly ignited their fury.
They reformed their lines and began pressuring Kang Hyuk.
But it was already too late.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Every time the flames streaked by, a comrade's head exploded.
Their afterimages were barely visible amid the scattering embers, and in that chaos, the orcs died without even realizing it.
Absorbing Red-Patterned Orc's soul stone!
Physical abilities rise exponentially!
Physical abilities rise exponentially!
...
In the midst of it, Kang Hyuk's fists grew faster.
By the time even the scattering embers were invisible, the last surviving orc screamed.
Discarding all its orcish pride and battle spirit, it turned tail and fled.
Chwiiiik!!
For the famously valiant red-patterned orcs to show such cowardice was truly astonishing.
That didn't mean Kang Hyuk planned to let it escape.
'Finish it off. If I let it run, their tribe will raid us tonight.'
He drew back his fist.
His bulging muscles tensed in sync, unleashing a colossal surge of pure physical might—not mana or magic.
Chwiik!
Sensing the aura, the orc shrieked in terror.
As it madly thrashed through the bushes to survive, another predator's cry echoed from somewhere, and a wound tore open on its shoulder.
Mewoooo!!
"Black?"
Kang Hyuk murmured in surprise.
In that interval, the black wyvern fiercely pressed the red-patterned orc.
Chwiiiik!!!
Black, who had started puppy-sized.
Now grown to the size of a golden retriever, the baby wyvern flapped its wings, attacking the orc with uncanny intelligence.
Already terrified by Kang Hyuk, the orc couldn't regain its wits.
Chwiiiik!!!
Behind it: the human who slaughtered its comrades in an instant.
Ahead: the black wyvern, an overwhelmingly superior being no orc could surpass.
No escape anywhere—a death trap.
Mewoooooo!!!
Amid it, Black let out a savage roar.
That cry soon became the wyvern's signature magic, slamming into the orc's chest.
Chwiik!
The orc collapsed with a final cry.
Black's razor-sharp talons raked past, finally slitting its throat.
At the same time.
Mewoooooo!!!
Realizing victory, Black roared triumphantly.
It became enveloped in brilliant light.
Kang Hyuk's eyes gleamed at the otherworldly glow, snapping him alert.
'Right. I'd forgotten until now, but Black's a monster too. Meaning it's a beast driven by that innate ferocity and instinct.'
Its puppy-like behavior around him had made him forget, but Black was an A-rank monster.
A ferocious beast incomparable to some puny orc.
'And that beast grows through hunting and combat. In that sense...'
Having just completed its first successful hunt, Black had grown just like him.
Mewoooooo!!!
Finishing its evolution, Black soared into the sky, larger than before.
It flew to Kang Hyuk's side, proudly flapping its wings.
Kang Hyuk's lips curved up at the sight.
"How was your first hunt, Black?"
Mewoo!
"Too easy? Don't get cocky. You're not an adult yet—you could still lose to orcs."
Mewoooooo!
"Not looking down on you? Then grow faster so no one looks down on you."
Black's eyes sparkled at his words.
"If you grow strong enough to burn me..."
It took to the skies again.
"Then I'll acknowledge you, Black."
At the same time, the cry echoed.
Mewoo!
The roar of the sky's dominating monster.
Lately, the red-patterned orcs were gripped by fear.
Chwiik!!!
Chwiik!
Chwiik!
A few days ago.
An intruder had invaded their peaceful territory.
Chwiik-
Chwiik!
Normally, they would have dispatched the interloper invading their domain in short order.
Considering the honor and courage of the red-patterned orcs—who even united to hunt ogres—it was only natural.
Chwiik...
But they couldn't do it now.
The reason was simple.
The intruder was far too strong.
Chwiik...!
After their scouting party was wiped out, they formed new combat units and assaulted the intruder's territory multiple times.
But their valiant warriors achieved nothing and were annihilated.
Unwilling to believe it, the First Chieftain led an army personally—yet the result was the same.
Ch, chwiik!
The black wyvern called the ruler of the skies.
And its human master defeated the First Chieftain in single combat, claiming overwhelming victory.
As a result, most of the First Chieftain's territory in the area fell to that human.
Chwiik!
Forced to flee to the foothills' bushes to evade the human.
Because that human who bested the First Chieftain was a voracious "predator."
Krawrraaa!!!
The predator didn't stop, relentlessly advancing.
While hunting the nearby ogre lord.
Chwiik!!!
At this rate, total annihilation of the red-patterned orcs wasn't a distant dream.
Unable to endure, one orc declared.
Chwiik! (We must summon Him!)
All eyes turned to it in shock.
Chwiiiik! (He will surely slay this arrogant intruder!)
They swallowed dryly.
The one mentioned was the overlord ruling this entire domain.
The king.
Chwiik! (Why hesitate? He already slew that fearless human trying to cross the mountains, just like the intruder!)
The orc who invoked the king urged them on.
Exchanging glances, the orcs finally steeled themselves and roared.
Chwiik! (The King!)
Chwiiiik! (Chief of the great red-patterned orcs!)
Chwiiiiiik! (The time for His grace has come!)
And they set off.
To find the orc king who would punish the intruder.
The Warlord.
Hunters in the modern world were humanity's guardians.
Science and armies—the sturdy shields of mankind—had been rendered useless by gates and monster waves.
Thus, hunting paid well.
Mana stones from gates, soul stones, artifacts.
They alone could harvest the resources dominating the global economy.
This sparked a revolution in another field.
The media.
Did you guys see that?
Japan's Hundred Swords?
Yeah, heard he cleared a B-rank gate solo.
LOL national-level hunter?
News, broadcast TV, the internet.
Everywhere buzzed with talk of hunters.
A-ranks clashing in the Middle East apparently.
For real? War?
Yeah, video's up on NutTube, go check.
That endless attention brought hunters not just money, but fame and popularity.
Wtf is with the war?
Stock market's gonna tank again fml
Korean market already crashed ㅠㅠ got rekt
This influence began permeating every global flow.
Outstanding hunter feats.
They shook economies, spiked markets, drew new capital.
The world's systems now revolved around hunters—no exaggeration.
And now.
Among them, the most standout presence came not from hunter powerhouses like America or China, but Korea.
He's finally here?
Gazua~ Let's go!
This is his fourth time, right?
The S-rank talent hunter who appeared six months ago.
Kang Hyuk.
And now, his fourth battle streamed live.
"H-He's here!"
Lee Hyun-min, now a million-sub NutTuber.
Through his camera.
"Korea's pride, the S-rank talent hunter!"
The viewers' cheers and donations poured in.
Fueled by the response, Lee Hyun-min shouted at the top of his lungs.
"Hunter Association 1st Team Leader! The Giant, Kang Hyuk!!! He's arrived!"