Chapter 4
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 4
Chapter Title: Became the Last of the Giant Clan
-----------------------------------------------------------------
You have successfully awakened!
The message floated before his eyes.
Kang Hyuk could tell from the 'status window'—visible only to awakened hunters—that his uncertain gamble had paid off.
'What?'
But it wasn't a perfect success.
You have obtained the Power of the Last Giant Clan!
A miraculous power seeps into your body!
Power of the Last Giant Clan: 0%
The ability he'd gained upon awakening was subtly different from before.
Of course, the core framework hadn't changed much—just the addition of those two words, "Last." Still, it was enough to make him tilt his head in puzzlement.
'Even ability users who wield the same fire can differ—like flames versus magma. Tiny nuances can drastically alter efficiency.'
In that sense, it was impossible to predict how this small change would play out.
'Doesn't feel like it's gone in a bad direction. When I tapped into the power just now, something had definitely shifted... So why the "Last"?'
He was lost in thought, forgetting his surroundings for a moment.
Then the little girl trembling in his arms caught his eye.
Snapping back to reality, Kang Hyuk moved.
"Th-thank you."
"Mommyyy!"
He watched the tearful family reunite, a smile tugging at his lips.
Then he spoke quickly.
"Get to safety. I'll block the path behind you."
The child's parents nodded.
As they turned to flee, they glanced back.
"You're a hunter, right!?"
In response, Kang Hyuk simply smiled again.
That smile instilled a strange trust. They nodded and ran off.
Left alone, Kang Hyuk surveyed his surroundings.
Crackle! Pop!
Sparks flew from every electrical line nearby, disrupted by the gate's electromagnetic interference.
'CCTV's probably out.'
Nodding, his eyes gleamed.
Whatever happened next wouldn't be good if it went public.
Kiruruk!
That vicious steel goblin wouldn't let the killer of its comrade escape easily.
'Meaning I have no choice but to fight.'
The blocked visibility was a silver lining.
'A fresh awakener one-shotting a steel goblin? That'd raise all sorts of suspicions.'
Muttering to himself, he turned his gaze.
The steel goblins that had lost a comrade howled as they formed an encirclement.
Kirururuk!
Kang Hyuk's lips curled upward.
'The name's a bit different, but the power feels just like the giant's strength I remember.'
Proof? He'd crushed that goblin's skull with raw grip strength moments ago.
'No reason to fear a fight, then.'
With that thought, he beckoned with his hand.
"Come on."
He hadn't anticipated awakening right then and clashing head-on with a steel goblin.
Kieeeek!
But he didn't panic.
The familiar power surging through his body filled him with more than confidence—it granted the cool rationality to control the situation.
Kieeeek!
Suddenly, a leaping steel goblin vanished from his sight.
The goblins' signature nimble footwork had kicked in.
The Power of the Last Giant Clan activates.
You obtain Giant's Vision.
Power of the Last Giant Clan: 0.2%
The vanished goblins reappeared in his vision as the message popped up.
'Giant's Vision. Imbues the eyes with giant power, granting sight beyond human limits.'
Muttering, he scanned around.
'Three on the right. One behind me. The last one's slyly hiding behind the other three.'
Using that intel, he leaped forward.
The Power of the Last Giant Clan activates.
You obtain Giant's Footwork.
Power of the Last Giant Clan: 0.2%
The asphalt where he'd stood cracked under a goblin's club.
Their first strike missed.
But rage-blinded, the goblins charged again.
Kang Hyuk's eyes flashed.
'Upper right. Just watch the one hiding among its comrades.'
Clubs rained down from all sides.
But with his awakened body and Giant's Vision, he dodged every one.
Kiek?
The steel goblins hesitated.
One even scratched its head, as if it hadn't expected all those attacks to miss.
They quickly refocused, tightening the encirclement.
Kieeeek!
The fast human dodged everything, but numbers were on their side.
Savvy hunters themselves, they slashed with claws and swung clubs relentlessly.
Boom!
The air rippled.
Giant power surged from Kang Hyuk's fist.
The Power of the Last Giant Clan activates.
You obtain Giant's Strike.
Power of the Last Giant Clan: 0.2%
Eyes flashing, he thrust his clenched fist forward.
Sensing danger, the goblin tried to retreat—but too late.
Bang!
An explosion rang out as the goblin's head burst like a water balloon under his fist.
Kiruruk!!!
The other steel goblins leaped back in shock.
Kang Hyuk's lips curled.
'Giant's Strike. Pure power unleashed as an energy wave.'
No mana or magic—just raw talent poured out in a blow, unchanged from before.
Soul stone.
Extracted from dead monsters' hearts, these strengthening gems for hunters had been absorbed.
His body felt remarkably lighter than before.
A subtle difference, but his newly heightened senses post-giant power picked it up clearly.
'Absorbing soul stones like this? Unexpected.'
Hunters sealed gates and slew monsters to protect humanity, sure—but soul stones were the real draw.
Absorbable only by the awakened, these mysterious stones boosted hunters' abilities, bodies, mana, and magic.
'Steel goblin soul stones aren't top-tier, but in my current state? Jackpot. So...'
His eyes flashed.
'I'll kill them all here and take everything.'
He lunged forward.
The Power of the Last Giant Clan activates.
You obtain Giant's Footwork.
Power of the Last Giant Clan: 0.2%
The Power of the Last Giant Clan activates.
You obtain Giant's Skin.
Power of the Last Giant Clan: 0.2%
Weaving giant powers precisely where needed, he dove into their midst.
The steel goblins scattered rather than engage the tight assault.
Kiruruk!
Cunning predators, they'd realized from their second comrade's death that this prey wasn't ordinary.
Bang!
Another explosion, another steel goblin down.
The remaining goblins wailed in terror and fled, forgetting their encirclement—but too late.
Every punch vaporized a goblin's head.
Terror-stricken, a few bolted for the gate.
Kieeeeeek!
Monsters fleeing outside back into the gate? Unheard of.
But Kang Hyuk, having decided to hunt, wouldn't let them go.
Bang!
Chasing to the end, he burst the last goblin's skull and smirked.
A shiver ran through him at the message and the writhing changes in his body.
'...Perfect!'
An unforeseen situation.
Yet the biggest variable—awakening itself, and the ability it granted—had yielded the best possible outcome.
'Insane results... Things falling into place this early.'
Joy surged, making him laugh despite the circumstances.
Rumble!
A massive wave emanated from beyond the gate.
His smile faded as he narrowed his eyes.
Whoosh!
The gate began to churn.
Instinct told him:
'The gate's master. Or boss monster.'
It was about to emerge.
F-rank gates spawning steel goblins were common; their bosses were well-documented.
'Steel Beak Goblin. Unlike regular steel goblins, an E-rank monster boasting superior survivability and defense.'
He hesitated briefly.
He'd handled unexpected combat better than expected since returning, but gate bosses were another league.
Even an E-rank like the Steel Beak Goblin couldn't be underestimated.
'With focus, it's doable. At 1% giant power, definitely.'
In his past life, he'd taken one down at 1%.
The soul stones he'd just absorbed could push him there.
All factors considered, the Steel Beak Goblin inside was huntable.
The issue?
The Power of the Last Giant Clan activates.
You obtain Giant's Ear.
Power of the Last Giant Clan: 0.3%
The footsteps in his ears and the massive presence approaching.
"Hunters?"
He pondered.
Soloing the Steel Beak Goblin meant solid rewards—soul stones, maybe even an 'artifact.'
'Artifacts with mystical powers... Their value defies imagination.'
Even the lowest-grade ones fetched tens of millions.
Backing off now felt regrettable.
'...'
But exposure outweighed it all.
In his past life, revealing this power first as Korea's inaugural S-rank brought headaches.
'Spotlight came with annoyances.'
Guild recruitment—carrots and sticks.
Foreign assassination attempts.
Envy from the world's rare S-ranks.
He'd been dragged into ugliness beyond his control.
This time, he'd delay revealing it as long as possible.
'Reveal when I can protect myself. So...'
No reason to risk it for an E-rank soul stone and uncertain artifact.
'Regrettable, but I'll retreat. Got everything worthwhile here.'
Cold calculation made, he turned.
As he prepared to activate giant power and flee—
"Why are you running away?"
"Why abandon the enemy and retreat?"
A sudden voice.
He tried dismissing it as imagination, but no.
His eyes widened as it spoke again.
"Answer me! Why do you seek to flee, heir?!"