Chapter 60
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 60
Chapter Title: 최후의 거인족이 되었다-60화
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 60
Chapter Title: Doppelganger Deception
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The air trembled.
The earth shook in response.
Kukukuku!
It was unbelievable that this phenomenon stemmed from the aura emanating from a single human body.
The hunters nearby gaped in shock.
"K-Kang Hyuk!"
"No!"
"You have to hold back!"
No good could come from that energy coalescing in the current situation, no matter what happened.
They tried to dissuade him, but the man at the center showed no intention of reining it in.
Kukukukung!
Instead, he strode forward, unleashing the aura even more boldly as if to flaunt it.
Unable to bear it any longer, the hunters moved to block his path.
But...
'Wh-what...!'
Their arms and legs froze as if confronting a superior monster.
As the hunters' eyes widened in alarm, Kang Hyuk muttered,
"Some idiots mistake their duty for a right."
With that, he casually drew his arm back.
The citizens who had been clamoring moments ago fell silent, mouths agape.
"What...?"
In that instant, as they trembled without any resistance...
Bam!
A explosive sound rang out, followed by a spray of blood.
"......"
And several heads vanished.
The surreal sight left high schooler Lee Hee-jin and everyone else on site horrified.
"H-he killed people?"
A heavy silence descended.
"......"
In that uncomfortable quiet, no one dared speak—until the corpses of those pulverized by Kang Hyuk's fist suddenly decomposed.
"......?"
In their place, a translucent glow shimmered.
"......Huh?"
As everyone closed their gaping mouths, a message appeared.
[Sudden Quest: Access Restriction]
[Labyrinth Progress: 33%]
[Contribution Rank 1: Kang Hyuk]
The space lit up brilliantly at the same time.
Those still reeling from the apparent murder began questioning it.
'Why...'
'Did the labyrinth progress go up?'
'He killed people inside?'
'And why did the bodies turn into that silver liquid?'
The hunters were just as baffled, tilting their heads—
"......Doppelganger?"
Tusinjeon Team Leader Na Jae-min muttered in surprise.
"No way... a doppelganger was here?"
The surrounding hunters snapped out of their daze, eyes widening.
"Doppelganger means..."
"Isn't it super dangerous?"
"It's only E-rank, but it copies a person's appearance and personality perfectly... so you have to be extra careful despite the rank..."
And slowly, realization dawned.
Why the labyrinth progress had increased.
Why Kang Hyuk, the Association hunter with S-rank talent, had swung his fist.
"That seems right."
"Look, there's weird liquid instead of bodies!"
"That's the telltale sign when a doppelganger dies!"
As they relaxed their tense expressions and exclaimed in relief...
A man spoke up.
"I have a duty to save you all."
It was Kang Hyuk, the S-rank talent.
"But if you think that's your right, you're mistaken."
His lips curled into a smirk.
At that eerie smile, the citizens duped by the doppelganger moments ago backed away uneasily.
"All situations and decisions on site are made by hunters. With that in mind..."
Kang Hyuk issued a warning.
His fist still clenched tight.
"Anyone acting against those decisions will be dealt with decisively. Do you understand?"
The citizens nodded frantically.
Kang Na-eun and the hunters guarding the duped citizens watched in admiration.
No matter how much they shouted and reasoned, some civilians wouldn't listen.
Even accounting for the doppelganger's manipulation, some had crossed the line.
Yet now, those same people trembled in fear, speechless.
'That's why he handled it aggressively.'
'To show this warning isn't a bluff.'
Realizing Kang Hyuk's hidden intent, they couldn't hide their surprise.
Meanwhile, Kang Hyuk turned away.
"Then I'll leave it to you."
The hunters who'd followed him snapped to attention.
"Don't worry!"
"We'll hold the line!"
Kang Hyuk nodded and vanished into the darkness.
At the same time, the space reverted from labyrinth to Seoul Station's true form. The civilians who'd followed Kang Hyuk glared at those Na-eun had been protecting and sneered.
"Tch, shameless bastards."
"People like that cause trouble for everyone else."
"Kang Hyuk's right. Protection's a right? Big deal?"
At the blatant mockery, the citizens who'd yelled at Kang Hyuk earlier clamped their mouths shut.
"......"
The shame made it hard to breathe.
Kang Na-eun gasped for breath.
"Hah... huff."
Cold sweat trickled down her jawline, sending chills down her spine.
But her mind sharpened, calmly assessing the situation and seeking a way out.
'That bulldog that appeared out of nowhere... no, a half-beastman.'
Right after ending her call with Team Leader Kang, a grotesque bulldog had emerged as if waiting.
At first, she thought it was a lost dog amid Seoul Station's gate transformation.
But when it shifted to human form—like a B-rank monster, the werewolf—it beast-manified, and Na-eun's instincts kicked in.
'A player. A hunter with half-human, half-beast powers.'
The mysterious hunter beast-manified and suddenly attacked the civilians and her.
Na-eun couldn't comprehend it.
There was no motive for a sneak attack.
'Even a villain... a Red Player... it doesn't add up. Red Players want out of this labyrinth too.'
But she had no time for deep thought.
The beast-manified hunter was fast and strong.
Even considering the typical physical enhancement of half-beast hunters, his speed and strength were absurd.
Five of the ten hunters fell injured; as the rest teetered on the brink, Na-eun drew her bow.
Paat!
Her third talent activated alongside the bow gifted by Team Leader Kang.
One Strike Must Kill.
Spotting the half-beast hunter's weakness, Na-eun embedded an arrow in his shoulder.
The situation flipped.
Kraaaah!
Good fortune for the group.
Bad news mixed with reversal for her.
[Shoulder Weakness Pierced]
[One Strike Must Kill Effect]
[I'll kill you, you bitch!]
With a bizarre voice, the mysterious player charged on two legs.
To evade, Na-eun had no choice but to break from the group and slip into the labyrinth's shadows.
Krwaaaah!
And now.
She hid in the darkness, evading the pursuing mystery player.
'This is the worst. With my power... I can't beat that hunter.'
Her lip bit down involuntarily.
'But... it's not hopeless.'
Her earlier strike had weakened his absurd physical prowess.
[Where are you, you damn bitch! I'll kill you!]
She had to decide now.
The distance was closing as the excited hunter spat incomprehensible Chinese.
'Hiding like this will get me caught. Better to strike first.'
It was a clash she couldn't avoid.
Hoping this mysterious Chinese-speaking player would spare her was foolish.
'I don't know why he's attacking us... but someone that skilled wouldn't leave evidence. Especially a Chinese hunter.'
Na-eun held her breath.
Erasing all presence and senses.
"......"
Now a D-rank hunter beyond E-rank, she controlled her body's sensations more precisely, blending into the shadows against the wall.
With senses suppressed, her eyes flashed.
"......!"
A blurry afterimage entered her vision: the mystery player.
The shoulder wound glowed red—marked by her One Strike Must Kill.
'The spot my arrow hit is the weakness. Strike there and...'
Even against a stronger foe, it would land a significant blow.
Na-eun bent her knees and waist.
'If we have to clash anyway, ambush is best. One chance. Can't miss.'
She killed all bodily sensations.
Gathered her power.
Waited for the perfect moment...
"......Now!"
She exploded from her spot like lightning.
Aimed her spear at the wounded shoulder.
But as it flew, Na-eun sensed it.
'......This!'
The opening she'd glimpsed was bait.
And her judgment was spot on.
[Stupid bitch.]
Mocking Chinese.
[Trying a pointless ambush against a dog's nose.]
The mystery player whirled around as if waiting.
Na-eun's eyes widened in horror—Xiao Ran's assassin, Third General Yang Chen smirked.
He dodged the spear effortlessly and seized her throat.
"Gah!"
Her airway blocked, Na-eun coughed violently.
Third General Yang Chen showed no mercy, slamming her to the ground.
"......!"
Pain surged with flying debris.
Na-eun's mouth fell open; Yang Chen muttered,
[S-rank talent bait to lure Kang Hyuk... Losing an arm to stop resistance is fine.]
As he reached for her gaping mouth in agony's right arm...
"......?"
His hand vanished.
"What?"
Blood spurted from the severed stump.
Yang Chen spun in shock—only for a massive something to clamp his throat.
"Gah!"
He gasped roughly, just like Na-eun moments ago.
'Wh-who?'
Amid panic and pain, Yang Chen barely made out his attacker.
'S-rank talent Kang Hyuk!'
His body was battered.
Bam!
Debris flew with the impact.
Yang Chen's mind reeled from the crushing pain.
Swoosh!
But battle-honed instincts from countless fights overrode it.
Bam!
He barely dodged the follow-up punch.
The massive crater where his head had been chilled him to the bone.
'If that hit, I'd be dead.'
As Yang Chen leaped back to catch his breath, Kang Hyuk glanced at the fallen Na-eun.
'No major injuries. Just unconscious from the shock.'
Confirming that, Kang Hyuk rubbed his neck.
Whoosh!
Flames erupted.
Blazing from the Red Mandrake leather gloves.
Thud!
The gauntlet from the Warlord groaned ominously.
Yang Chen gaped as Kang Hyuk's body transformed.
"What?"
His suit jacket tore; sculpted muscles contracted grotesquely, swelling to rival his own monsterized bulk.
But Yang Chen wasn't shocked by the transformation.
'Why... from that S-rank.'
Low, sunken eyes.
'Do I feel the same pressure as from my master...?'
The murderous intent in those eyes made his body quake.
He had no time to ponder.
Bam!
The S-rank talent's fist shot out.
Its speed and destructiveness beyond his vision to track, same as before.
'Not some simple C-rank hunter...'
At least B-rank.
No.
Maybe beyond—even akin to those superhumans.
Yang Chen bellowed,
"Damn Korean bastards!! Hiding this intel—!"
But his shout cut short.
Bam!
The fist smashed his jaw.
Death loomed as it closed in.
A low bass voice pierced his ear,
"......Watch your mouth."
Yang Chen's broken jaw trembled—not from pain, but fear.
"Your actions and words now..."
"Might decide how you die."
Kang Hyuk's fist rose again.
Yang Chen wailed.
That instant—
"Uwaaaah!"
Xiao Ran's 'curse' activated.
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