Hunting the Mountain Lord
Crack.
With the snap of a thick branch breaking, it emerged.
In that instant, the forest air seemed to halt. In the profound silence where even the wind held its breath, only the beast's ragged panting hammered my eardrums.
It was huge. Far bigger than I'd imagined.
Thinking of the tigers I'd seen behind zoo glass was a mistake. This one was on another level. Its shoulder height reached my chest, and its body length, tail included, looked longer than a compact car.
Its front paws, bulging with muscle, were thicker than a grown man's thigh. A mere graze from one would surely take your head clean off—no exaggeration. The glossy sheen over its golden fur and the menacing black stripes exuded the aura of a true lord of the mountains.
"Roarrr!"
The beast bellowed.
It wasn't just a cry. It was a shockwave ripping through the air.
Kuuaaaang!
My eardrums went numb, my guts vibrated. Leaves rained down like a sudden downpour. Instinctual terror surged—my legs trembled, my brain screamed to run.
This was the dread of a tiger plague. No wonder the ancients revered tigers as mountain spirits. This wasn't an animal; it was a calamity incarnate.
But.
Shut up.
My mind stayed ice-cold. Fear boiled up only to fizzle out against the absolute confidence of my Geumgang Bulgoe body.
I scratched my ear and stared it down.
"Nice pipes. But try not to spit, yeah?"
Its eyes narrowed. A human unmoved by its presence? Unheard of. It crouched low, slinking in a circle around me, probing. Its tail whipped side to side like a lash, thwacking the ground.
I pivoted slowly to match its movement, eyes locked. Lose the stare-down with a predator, and you're done.
"Grrrr..."
It bared its fangs—canines longer than my fingers. Blood crusted at its mouth, a reminder it was a man-eater.
Come on.
I spread my arms wide.
Its hind legs bunched like coiled springs.
Then—explosion.
Thud!
The ground shook as a massive golden projectile launched at me.
Fast. Unbelievably so for a 300kg behemoth. In a blink, its paw swung for my skull.
Dodge? No. Turn my back, and it'd shred my spine.
Frontal clash it was.
Instead of evading, I stepped forward with my left foot, dropping low. Centered my weight on my legs.
Kwaaang!
Impact. Its paw slammed my arms. A bone-rattling shock traveled through me. The earth cratered underfoot, dust billowing.
"Ugh...!"
A groan escaped. No pain, bones intact. But that kinetic force? All mine to absorb. Like a dump truck ramming me.
Its claws raked my forearm.
Screeech!
Chilling friction. My sleeve shredded, but the skin beneath? Just white scratches, no blood.
Its eyes flickered in confusion. Its killer paw blocked by human flesh? Claws that rent ironhide? Instinct screamed danger.
Too late.
"My turn."
I seized the opening.
Tucked its paw under my armpit—an underhook. Classic judo or wrestling control grip.
"Kraaang!"
It thrashed to escape. Immense power—my torso swayed. But my pot-lid hands clamped like vices, unyielding.
"Where you going? I got paperwork."
I burrowed into its chest.
Hot beast-stink hit me. One hand gripped its scruff, the other wrapped its waist.
Now, lift.
"Hup!"
I summoned a kiai from my core. Thighs screamed as they swelled. Full-body power unleashed.
Crunch!
Its hind paws left the ground. The massive tiger body floated skyward.
In this moment, no mountain lord—just a giant stuffed cat in my grasp.
I spun my hips. Centrifugal force hurled it down. Perfect spinning suplex!
BOOM!
The mountain shook. No crowd to cheer—pity.
Rocks split, dirt erupted like fireworks. It didn't even scream—just a choked "Kek!" and foam from its jaws.
A normal beast? Dead on impact. Spine snapped, organs ruptured. But this one was tough. It staggered up on all fours.
"Tough hide. I'll give you that."
No breather for it.
I leaped onto its back. Mounted. 110kg me pinning 300kg tiger.
"Grrrng! Kyaaak!"
It twisted, jaws gaping for my thigh. Fangs diving in.
I cocked a fist—then paused. Crush its skull, and the pelt's value tanks. Seo Baek-seol's nagging echoed.
'Damage the hide, and it's less money.'
Damn. Business is brutal.
Fist became arm.
"Hold still! You'll ruin the fur!"
Arm around its throat—rear naked choke.
Crush the carotids, cut brain bloodflow. Even apex predators black out without air or circulation.
My biceps ballooned, coiling its thick neck like iron chains.
"Grrk...!"
It went berserk. Dirt flew, hind claws shredded my back. Clothes tore, skin stung—but grip held. Without Geumgang Bulgoe, I'd be minced.
"Sleep. Just sleep already."
I gnashed my teeth, cranked the pressure.
Ten seconds felt eternal.
Resistance faded. Growls softened, limbs slackened. Rolled-back eyes showed whites.
Thud.
Its head hit dirt. Breathing steadied. Silence returned.
Done.
I gasped, releasing the hold.
"Hah... hah..."
Heart pounding. Soaked in sweat. Invincible body didn't stop stamina drain. Wrestling 300kg? Expected.
I resisted sprawling out, checked its nostrils. Faint, steady breaths. Out cold, alive.
"Phew."
Relief. Killing meant bleeding, risking pelt damage. And Seo Baek-seol? She'd nitpick "freshness." Best alive.
"Clean work."
Pelt inspection: Dusty, slimy with spit and sweat, but intact. Prime quality. Fifty seok of rice—maybe sixty for the size.
I stood. Legs wobbly.
"Now, how to haul this?"
Enormous. Six rice sacks' worth. Carryable, but cumbersome on rough trails.
Spotted thick vines.
Tore them free, bound its legs tight. Makeshift hogtie—tent-pitching skills from army days.
Slung the end over my shoulder.
"C'mon, kitty. Time to make bank."
I tugged. It slid over leaves, shattering the quiet.
Heavy. But that weight thrilled me. Pure profit—rice, powder, troop pay.
Descent faster than ascent.
Trees? Smashed through. Rocks? Kicked aside. Human bulldozer. 300kg dragged easy, steps light.
Halfway down, met a woodcutter elder.
He froze at me—and the yellow bulk trailing behind.
"H-Huh?!"
Eyes bugged, legs quaking. A mountain lord tiger, limp, dragged by some bandit-looking brute. Beyond comprehension.
"Good work, elder."
Casual nod, kept walking.
"Th-That... a t-tiger...?"
His voice trembled behind me.
"Yep. Napping, so I'm taking it home."
Grinned, picked up pace.
Village soon. Folks would faint. Brother'd clutch his neck, sister-in-law might keel over.
But Seo Baek-seol's face? Priceless. Her reaction to this massive "capital," then furiously tallying profits once she clocked my power.
A feral smirk curled my lips.
Yesterday's thugs? Warm-up. Morning's creditors? Appetizer. This hunt? Real deal.
Proof complete. Strongest in the district—no, Joseon.
I dusted off the muscles peeking through tatters.
The village edge came into view.