Chapter 128
Chapter 128
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 128
Chapter Title: The Championship Clash
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[Korea’s match against Germany ended in an overwhelming victory for Korea. As soon as the field is prepared, the match between France and Canada will begin!]
In the second match, the Canadian players threw themselves into an all-out assault, trusting in the World Tree and the Damage Counters’ shields. The French players faltered under the momentum, and the tide fully turned to Canada. France couldn’t mount a comeback and lost.
India was renowned for its solid Hunter base drawn from the world’s largest population and its diverse Hunter classes. In this match too, Hunters with unique skills shone, securing victory over Italy.
Finally, the fourth match everyone had been waiting for—between the United States and the United Kingdom—began.
The U.S. started with an unusual formation: four players defending the base while Peter went on the offensive alone.
British Hunters Brian and Asher encountered Peter.
“Wandering alone? Overconfidence much. Asher, we’ve got this game in the bag, right?”
“Don’t get cocky. That guy’s tough.”
“Cover me properly.”
Brian charged with his sword swinging, while Asher supported from behind with Fire Arrows.
Peter extended one hand to absorb the incoming flaming arrows, then thrust out his other hand to fire them back. The returned arrows were larger than the ones Asher had shot.
Even as Asher’s attack suddenly flew back at him, Brian didn’t panic. He ducked low to evade, then swung his sword horizontally at Peter.
Peter blocked the incoming blade with his bare palm, which held no items.
“What?”
The sword stopped dead as if blocked by an invisible barrier, without any impact. Peter then pressed his hand against Brian’s Damage Counter and released the absorbed energy.
Boom!
The powerful shock sent Brian flying, and his counter turned red in one hit.
[British player Brian is out.]
“You’re next?”
Peter slowly approached Asher.
As the situation turned dire, British Hunter Asher turned tail and fled without looking back. But Peter’s superior physical abilities allowed him to catch up in an instant.
Peter pinned Asher’s back and hammered down with his fist. The counter’s shield absorbed the impacts, but after several blows, it turned red.
[British player Asher is out.]
With Brian and Asher eliminated, the UK crumbled helplessly under Peter’s relentless assault.
[The UK vs. U.S. match felt just like watching Korea vs. Germany. We expected Korea and the U.S. to be the strongest among the eight participating nations, but the gap was overwhelming!]
[Especially impressive was U.S. player Peter. His absorption ability, backed by exceptional physical prowess. He’s top-tier among A-Rank Hunters. That makes the upcoming match against Jeongmi player all the more anticipated!]
The assistant commentator excitedly chimed in. The main commentator was a civilian, but the assistant was an active Hunter, so he could follow Peter’s movements better and was even more amazed.
[Looking at the bracket, Korea and the U.S. will meet in the finals. With no team able to stop them, a finals clash is all but certain. That’s all for today’s broadcast—we’ll see you tomorrow for the semifinals!]
* * *
Morning of the semifinals dawned.
[Korea vs. Canada! Canada vs. Korea! Canada’s players are famous for their aggressive style. We can’t wait to see how the Korean team performs against them. And right as I say that—the match has begun!]
Once again, Rose and Jinwoo dashed out, while the other three guarded the base.
The silver lining was that this time, Rose matched Jinwoo’s pace.
“2-1-2 stock check!”
“Huh? What are those guys saying?”
“It’s a Canadian ice hockey tactic. Apparently, all Canadians are huge ice hockey fans.”
“Oh….”
All five Canadian players focused on defense, positioning themselves in a 2-1-2 formation like the number five on a die.
Canada planned to concentrate on defense, catch the recklessly charging Rose, and strike the Korean base. And just as planned, Rose and her entourage came rushing in.
“Come at us!”
The Canadian players, larger than average, stood like an iron wall.
“Then I won’t hold back!”
Rose spewed flames from her feet and zigzagged left and right as she closed in.
“Guard!”
The front two, struggling to track Rose’s movements with their eyes, thrust out massive kite shields and activated their skills. From behind the wall they formed, arrows and clumps of earth flew out.
Tweet!
Jinwoo’s eagle dove to block the arrows, and the bear summon blocked the earth clumps with its body.
Rose zigzagged right up to the kite shields and threw a punch.
Boom!
The two-meter giant flew back from the punch of Rose, who was on the smaller side.
“If you just stand there like that, it makes it too easy for me to get close.”
Rose’s magic grew stronger the closer the distance. Now that the shield protected her body too, she could unleash spells in close quarters without worrying about friendly fire. And at point-blank range, Rose’s magic dealt top-tier A-Rank damage.
Tweet!
[Canadian player Alfred is out.]
“What?! I’m still fine!”
Alfred shot up from his seat, protesting to the drone.
“Hey, mister, you idiot? The counter’s fixed damage. It doesn’t care about your actual toughness.”
The other Canadian players stared blankly at Alfred’s now-red counter. Toughness helped in real battles, but not much in this game.
“I’m the same age as you!”
“...Sorry?”
She apologized, but Rose showed no mercy in her strikes. As if proving her S-Rank Hunter father’s bloodline, she dismantled the Canadian team almost single-handedly.
The U.S. team easily crushed India too. No one could stop Peter rampaging on the battlefield.
And so the finals arrived swiftly. Jiseok gathered everyone.
“You’ve all done great so far. But the U.S. team isn’t a pushover. Stay sharp.”
“Yes!”
After reviewing each opponent’s traits one more time, they headed to the field.
[Finally! The finals are here! Rising star Korea vs. powerhouse USA! With such skilled players, expect straightforward, exhilarating clashes without fancy strategies. Let’s watch together!]
[Rose and Peter are charging straight for the enemy base without looking back. No hiding or detours—just the shortest route east across the field!]
“I’ve been waiting for this day!”
Rose swung her fist at Peter.
“I’ll smash you again, you dumb bitch.”
Peter raised his right hand to absorb Rose’s incoming attack, but she didn’t fire magic—instead, she pulled back her fist, closed in further, and unleashed a left low kick.
“Hmph!”
Peter leaped back with surprisingly agile movement for his size, evading the flaming low kick. As he did, he slammed his right and left fists together with a loud clang.
The moment Rose’s leg sliced through empty air, Peter kicked off the ground and closed in.
Peter thrust his charged right hand—powered by the clash of his own fists—toward Rose’s neck. Regular punches needed space to generate power, but this right hook could release force without distance restriction once it connected. Enhanced by absorbed energy, its power was undoubtedly immense.
“Ugh!”
Rose flexibly backflipped, kicking up at Peter with her foot.
Boom!
Peter’s condensed destructive force collided with Rose’s flames.
Rose had her shield, and the magic erupted from her foot just before impact, creating some distance. But for Peter, the impact point was close, and he had no shield.
‘If I keep this up, I can win….’
Rose, imagining premature victory, had to rethink. In that brief moment, Peter released with one hand while absorbing the oncoming flames with the other.
She thrust her fist at the advancing Peter, feeding him flames. But instead of unleashing the previously absorbed fire, Peter absorbed this attack too.
“What… How much are you planning to stockpile?”
Rose knew her attacks were powerful, but seeing him hoard them like that felt ominous.
Roooar!
Several meters of thick flames erupted from Peter’s hand toward the fleeing Rose. She veered off, rolling across the ground to dodge her own blaze.
“Whoa… Is my fire really that intense?”
Rose paused in admiration while fleeing, then snapped back and charged again.
I have to stop his absorption. She recalled Jiseok’s words. For a guy like this…
Rose scattered multiple Fireballs in all directions in rapid succession. Not concentrated on one spot, and at range so weaker, but spread wide to make absorption difficult.
The Fireballs flew at Peter and exploded around him, turning the area into a sea of fire. He could only absorb near his hands, so the heat whittled away at his counter’s shield.
“Ice Spear!”
While Peter was engulfed in flames, an ice lance shot from Rose’s fist and embedded in his thigh.
Thud!
It left a small hole in the counter’s shield before the ice lance melted away.
“Surrender.”
That last hit had nearly drained the green from his counter.
One more attack with the same method, and it’s over.
“You think I’d lose to a bitch like you? Me, Peter Anderson?! America’s top prospect?! I’m destined to become an S-Rank Hunter!”
Peter’s eyes bulged red with burst veins as he roared insanely.
“Hey… It’s just a game. Why get so worked up?”
To Rose, this Peter clearly had anger issues. Was it worth raging over something so minor?
Peter pulled a potion from his belt and dumped the blue liquid into his mouth.
“Gah… Graaak!”
Peter writhed in agony.
“Hey… You okay??”
No matter how much she disliked Peter, he wasn’t a real enemy. Jiseok had said they were rivals who’d need to cooperate someday.
Worried by Peter’s deteriorating state, Rose approached.
“Graaaaaah!!!”
Peter’s skin turned green, and his muscles swelled like they’d burst. Like a human transforming into an orc.
“You crazy bastard! You overdosed!”
Tyler, who’d been fighting Jinwoo nearby, pulled back.
“Peter! Snap out of it!”
Tyler tackled Peter and tried to restrain him with both arms.
Peter withstood the tackle through sheer strength and slapped Tyler’s ears.
Thud!
“Gah!!”
Blood streamed from Tyler’s ears as he froze.
Peter then hammered fists into Tyler’s body in rapid succession.
“Guh!”
Tyler collapsed, and Peter turned toward Rose.
“P… Please calm down. You’re game over! The game’s done!”
Peter’s counter was already red.
“Rose, get away!”
Rose fled, Peter pursued, and Jinwoo followed behind.
“Stop!”
The bear summon charged on all fours and rammed Peter.
The bear tumbled forward with Peter but pinned him with its front paws. Peter pressed down from above and pried the bear’s front legs apart.
The bear summon’s strength was no joke, but Peter flung its paws aside like twisting a child’s arm.
“Just pass out already!”
Rose delivered a soccer kick to Peter’s head, and flames burst from it.