Chapter 15
Chapter 15
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: Chapter 15
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Cure Light.
The most basic recovery spell that could be manifested with mana.
It didn't have the extreme effect of healing all wounds in an instant.
But as Se-woon's magic took effect, the patient's condition—who might have died from blood loss or even needed his leg amputated—clearly improved.
"P-Please, this one too!"
"I can't use it much."
"Yes! We'll just pick out the ones who absolutely need treatment, right?"
Se-woon nodded lightly.
He had spun his circle to recover mana right after the battle ended, but time was short, and at the first-circle level, the number of spells he could cast was limited.
They selected only those whose conditions looked critically dire.
"Th-Thank you!"
"Once my mana recovers, I can use it one more round, so for now, just do emergency treatment as best you can."
"Got it!"
The woman who had been leading the patient treatments in Yoo Seo-ah's stead responded energetically and hurried off.
'This is more than enough—above expectations, even.'
He had braced for the worst, including casualties.
Not only were there no deaths, but even those with severe wounds had improved significantly after Se-woon's magic touched them.
They probably didn't realize it themselves yet, but they were all proper 'players' now.
If they just rested well tonight, minor wounds would heal in no time.
'First, recover mana...'
Se-woon stepped away from the busy center where patients were being treated and leaned against a tree trunk on the outskirts.
One full mana fill-up and another spin, and he could treat everyone.
At that moment, a massive shadow fell over Se-woon from above.
He looked up to see Kang Han-cheol standing before him, the man who had swung his fists at the front lines alongside Yoo Seo-ah.
"What is it?"
Having fought at the vanguard with Yoo Seo-ah, his body bore more wounds than anyone else's—impossible to compare.
Yet all those wounds appeared as mere scrapes.
It wasn't like Yoo Seo-ah, who had dodged the wolves' attacks well.
'The wolves just couldn't pierce those muscles.'
Thick muscles visible through his torn clothes.
They must have been impressive on Earth, but as a player here, they had become impossibly tough compared to any normal person's.
Of course, if the wolves had charged properly, even he couldn't have held out.
The wolves knew it too—what fate awaited if caught in those heavy palms.
So they had naturally avoided full assaults, opting for quick hit-and-runs against Kang Han-cheol.
Those countless scrapes were proof.
'Still, that must have drained his stamina quite a bit.'
Kang Han-cheol would recover faster than most, but with so many wounds, he'd need rest like everyone else.
So why seek out Se-woon?
Kang Han-cheol stared silently at Se-woon for a moment before slowly opening his mouth, as if he'd finished thinking.
"Fight me."
He shows up right after the wave ends, and the first words out of his mouth are 'fight me'—out of nowhere.
It was an utterly absurd proposal.
But.
'That's Kang Han-cheol for you.'
Se-woon couldn't help but chuckle at the sight.
Others might not understand the situation at all, but Se-woon did.
Above all, before his regression, he had cleared the tutorial alongside this player named Kang Han-cheol.
"Sure."
Se-woon stopped recovering mana and stood before Kang Han-cheol.
To even talk with this guy, he first had to indulge him and break him once with fists.
"Grab a weapon. Use your magic too."
"No need."
Crackle.
A expression appeared on Kang Han-cheol's face for the first time.
Aside from the first wave without gear, Se-woon had always relied on sword and magic as his mains, so he took Se-woon's refusal to use a sword as dismissal.
Even as Kang Han-cheol openly scowled, Se-woon's attitude didn't change.
"Want me to use a weapon? Then break me barehanded first."
"...Fine."
Thud!
The moment he finished speaking, Kang Han-cheol charged at Se-woon.
Despite witnessing Se-woon's overwhelming performance against the monsters, Kang Han-cheol showed no hesitation.
Confidence in his body. Confidence that he wouldn't lose to anyone.
Whoosh!
Kang Han-cheol's fist grazed right over Se-woon, who had ducked his waist.
The fist was large, the power immense—air itself was pushed aside with a sound.
However.
'Way too many openings.'
With that power, even a light jab could pack a punch, but Kang Han-cheol's movements showed no restraint or technique.
Incredible hardware, but the software controlling it was downright abysmal.
'Probably never felt the need for skills until now.'
A body tough from birth.
No matter how skilled in martial arts, anyone would crumple before this monster of a physique.
Thwack!
From his ducked stance, Se-woon spun his body and kicked Kang Han-cheol's ankle.
A blow that would snap a normal person's ankle. Se-woon's stats, boosted swiftly by the Authority of Gluttony, had long surpassed human limits.
Yet.
'Hardware's top-notch, at least.'
Kang Han-cheol didn't even stumble from the direct hit to his ankle—instead, Se-woon's leg throbbed with pain.
He'd struck the opening perfectly, but no damage went through.
On the contrary.
Whoosh!
Kang Han-cheol's arm came crashing down brutally over Se-woon's head.
This seemed to be his style: expose openings, endure attacks, grab the opponent.
Even Se-woon wouldn't escape easily if caught in that grip.
Fortunately, having anticipated it, Se-woon retracted his leg and swiftly created distance.
"Still no weapon?"
"Told you—break me first if you want one."
"Got it."
He realized from that exchange. Kang Han-cheol's body, tougher and stronger as a player, was beyond what Se-woon could handle barehanded now.
Even targeting vitals wouldn't change much.
In that case.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Treasure Vault of Greed has been opened. Tai Chi Fist A martial arts style developed from Southern Chinese schools, one of China's two great fist arts alongside Shaolin Fist—a representative martial technique. Just use Kang Han-cheol's power.
Swish—
Following Kang Han-cheol's movements, Se-woon spread both arms, rotating them leisurely in a circle.
A slow motion, like a tortoise crawling.
In response, Kang Han-cheol swung his fist without a care.
Snap!
But that fist never reached Se-woon.
Se-woon's leisurely hand grabbed Kang Han-cheol's sleeve, hurling him to the opposite side while preserving his power and speed.
Boom!
The tree that collided with Kang Han-cheol shook perilously. The vibration traveled up the trunk, shedding dozens of leaves.
Tai Chi Fist.
Unlike hard external styles emphasizing strength, it was a prime internal style focusing on inner power—its essence lay in wielding not just one's own strength, but the surroundings' as well.
Drawing the taiji with both arms, commanding ambient forces at will.
That was the true secret of Tai Chi Fist.
"...Not yet."
Despite the tree-shaking impact, Kang Han-cheol rose as if unharmed.
And then.
Rip!
He tore off his upper garment roughly and tossed it aside.
Recalling how Se-woon had grabbed his sleeve moments ago, he'd adjusted his thinking.
Thud!
Kang Han-cheol changed tactics. As if vowing never to be grabbed again, he clenched his own wrists tight and thrust his right shoulder forward.
Shoulder tackle.
His charging momentum seemed certain to crush Se-woon.
It resembled the reckless charge of the 'Boar Digging the Hill' from the hilltop battle.
But Se-woon didn't dodge.
He just spread his legs wide and continued rotating his arms slowly.
As Kang Han-cheol closed in to his nose, Se-woon's arms stopped.
No—not stopped. They moved so slowly it was hard to perceive with the eye.
Utmost precision.
Not just slowing his body, but making the surrounding time feel sluggish.
And the instant Kang Han-cheol entered that space.
Whoosh!
Se-woon's body moved lightly, like paper caught in the wind.
His rotating arm touched Kang Han-cheol's opposite shoulder, naturally twisting its direction fully around.
Kang Han-cheol couldn't control his grotesquely reversing motion.
Kaboom!!
Once more, he slammed into the tree.
Crack—
The tree that had ominously rustled leaves from the first hit now couldn't withstand the shock and snapped.
The thick trunk split and fell as if torn apart—a spectacular sight.
This time, Kang Han-cheol seemed truly stunned, unable to rise easily.
"Urgh..."
A groan escaped him for the first time.
Clutching his right shoulder in agony—it looked dislocated.
Even with armor-like muscles, the bone had popped out. Proof of the impact's ferocity.
Se-woon approached the suffering Kang Han-cheol.
"I lost..."
"This'll hurt a bit."
Crunch!
"Argh!"
With a blank expression, Se-woon reset Kang Han-cheol's dislocated shoulder.
Kang Han-cheol's hitherto hidden booming voice drew everyone's gazes.
Perhaps from the shock, cold sweat beaded on him as Se-woon's shadow loomed.
"No need to be so hasty. You're plenty strong already."
"..."
Haste. That was why Kang Han-cheol had sought Se-woon.
He'd never been beneath anyone his whole life—until Se-woon suddenly appeared above him.
He'd tried to catch up, but saw no results, and now Yoo Seo-ah had risen above him too.
That sparked the impatience.
Experiencing 'falling behind'—something utterly foreign—multiple times.
"Twice a day."
"...?"
"Spar with me here, twice a day."
"What..."
"Not gonna teach you. Watch, experience, and figure it out yourself."
Se-woon extended a hand to Kang Han-cheol, slumped under the broken trunk.
Se-woon aimed for his campmates to grow with their own will, but sparring Kang Han-cheol was a good experience for him too.
Besides, if Kang Han-cheol—Yoo Seo-ah's fellow top camp fighter—grew stronger, it was welcome news for Se-woon.
The stronger the camp, the more time he'd have to hunt hidden pieces freely.
Clasp.
"...Understood."
Kang Han-cheol grabbed Se-woon's hand.
And one constellation watching all this began showing interest.
Constellation 'Old Man Riding Crocodile' gazes intently at player 'Kang Han-cheol'. Old Man Riding Crocodile.
The sole grand duke of Hell among the 72 demon kings who could rival Baal's shoulders—rank 2 great demon king, 'Agares'.