Chapter 166
Chapter 166
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 166
Chapter Title: Dungeon Survival
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The blade sliced from top to bottom across Kang Seok-su's body.
"Krgh?!"
Kang Seok-su dropped to his knees. His Energy Protect turned red.
At the same time, the ice sword flying toward me vanished. What bullshit about it breaking or disappearing if I fell. It disappeared because the user's concentration wavered. The ice sword was just magic powered by mana.
"We won!! Senior, you did it!"
I made a huge fuss while searching for Han Ha-rin. To pretend I didn't know about the treasure 'Revival' that Kang Seok-su possessed.
If I didn't show joy here and stayed wary of Kang Seok-su instead, he'd definitely suspect me.
"...Senior?"
Han Ha-rin had collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath. She really seemed at her limit.
'This is bad. If Kang Seok-su revives, I'll have to face him alone without Han Ha-rin's help. Damn it. I only have one Fleeting Moment left.'
My expression hardened. It was a mistake, but it didn't seem like a problem. Situationally, it just looked like I was worried about my teammate Han Ha-rin.
'I overdid it earlier to twist the sword's trajectory. The burden went to the Energy Protect, but... I can't pull off an attack like that again.'
I could tell instinctively. My Energy Protect was at its limit now. It wasn't like I had gone through all this without taking any damage while ambushing hunters. Among the hunters I'd attacked so far, some had counterattacked me.
'I can't even take a proper hit from Kang Seok-su's fist. My Energy Protect will turn red instantly.'
Fleeting Moment once. I had to take him down without getting hit even once. A nauseating condition.
An Association staff member came running from the right. Without a word, he started swapping out the Energy Protect on Kang Seok-su's shoulder.
I feigned panic and asked the staff member.
"W-Wait a minute. What the hell are you doing? The match is already over!"
"Hunter Kang Seok-su possesses the treasure 'Revival.' Even if his Energy Protect turns red, he doesn't get eliminated and can swap it for a new one."
"...By any chance, is the swapped Energy Protect at 100% charge?"
"Yes. That's correct."
"Son of a..."
I was making an indignant face when Kang Seok-su spoke to me.
"Wasn't your ability lightning? The movements you showed earlier can't be explained without calling it an ability."
"Do I have any reason to tell you?"
"You don't have to tell me. Since the Association is staying quiet... you must have gone through a second awakening or something."
"..."
My mind was a mess. I had no idea how to deal with this guy. Use Fleeting Moment right as the fight starts and attack?
'If he's using Sensory Maximization, it probably won't work...'
I stared intently at Kang Seok-su. Looking closely, he seemed far more exhausted than before.
'...He definitely can't maintain Sensory Maximization for long. He must have used it back when things got chaotic too.'
The Association staff member who swapped the Energy Protect stood between me and Kang Seok-su.
"I'll count down. Start fighting the moment I say 1. Get ready. 5. 4."
Kang Seok-su and I faced each other.
It was sword range. One swing away.
"3. 2."
I gripped the sword hilt again. The mana I had left was enough for two or three Thunderbolts.
Pull back first? No. That would be too disadvantageous for me.
I couldn't give Kang Seok-su any breathing room. I had to stick close and overwhelm him with relentless attacks. I took my ready stance.
"1."
I charged at Kang Seok-su. He thrust out his right hand. A magic circle formed in his palm. But the hand he extended wasn't toward me—it was toward Han Ha-rin.
Yeongcheonryu Practical Technique: Lightning Flash.
Lightning sparked along the blade.
Kang Seok-su twisted his body to dodge what was probably my fastest thrust. He didn't fully evade it, but it only grazed his shoulder at best.
A conical rock flew toward Han Ha-rin.
"Senior Ha-rin!!"
I shouted urgently.
Han Ha-rin glared at the conical rock and created a gravity shield in front of her. Even from this distance, I could see it was an unstable, wavering shield.
The conical rock shattered the gravity shield and struck Han Ha-rin's body. She rolled across the ground a few times. The Energy Protect on her shoulder turned red.
The Association staff member took Han Ha-rin and withdrew.
'You bastard...!'
I knew Han Ha-rin was fine. But seeing my woman get hit right in front of my eyes ignited a surge of rage. If not for the Energy Protect, broadcast or not, I might have tried every means to kill Kang Seok-su.
Wriggle.
Something writhed inside me.
The mana in my body stirred as if transforming into something.
It was a familiar sensation. I had a feeling I knew what it was.
'...Heavenly Demon Qi! Shit. The Heavenly Demon Divine Art is reacting here?'
I had planned to use the Heavenly Demon Divine Art to take down Kang Seok-su anyway, but the sensation of the Heavenly Demon Qi vanished without a trace.
'This is a problem. For real.'
I pushed aside thoughts of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art issue. Now wasn't the time.
Kang Seok-su nimbly dodged my sword while heading toward the rest area.
'This bastard... he's planning to hole up in the rest area.'
He'd eliminated Han Ha-rin early to remove any potential variables. I bit my lip.
"Kang Seok-su! Planning to run to the rest area?!"
If he got away, it was his win. He had a massive amount of survival points. Hold out until 3 p.m. tomorrow, and he'd win.
"I have more than enough confidence to beat you head-on. But my condition isn't great right now. Let's fight again this evening."
If what Kang Seok-su said was true, I couldn't let this chance slip.
"Fight again this evening? That's a joke not even a dog would laugh at. Fight now!"
I swung my sword. Unlike before when he'd perfectly evaded, this time the blade nicked his left arm slightly. His condition really wasn't good.
"For the sake of my team, I must pursue a sure victory."
Kang Seok-su suddenly stopped. Before I could question it, his left foot slammed the ground. It was a pre-placed magic circle. It glowed for an instant.
A powerful gust blew in. The wind pushed my body back. Over 10 meters separated us. It was omnidirectional wind, so even Fleeting Moment couldn't dodge it.
'Damn. If this had been an attack spell instead of a push, I might have been eliminated.'
Kang Seok-su was getting farther away.
"...Urk."
I grimaced as if in pain, clutching my shoulder. I covered the mic on my Energy Protect with my hand.
Then, lowering my head to avoid the cameras, I mouthed silently.
-Yoo Jung-mi's pussy tasted pretty good. Tight for used goods. You know her pubes are yellow, right? Well, as her ex, of course you do. Guess we're hole-brothers-in-law now?
It was a small voice, but Kang Seok-su with Sensory Maximization would definitely hear it.
There was a chance he wouldn't react. If so, I'd cleanly give up the win.
Fight in the evening? If his Energy Protect was full, maybe, but in his current state, winning was impossible.
'If not, I'll just bang Baek Ji-eun.'
It'd be a lie to say I wasn't disappointed. But losing the championship wouldn't hurt me much.
"..."
Kang Seok-su halted and glared at me.
The atmosphere changed. Right now, he was radiating cold fury toward me.
'It worked. As expected, this guy still has feelings for Yoo Jung-mi even though he dumped her first?'
No one would ask, but Kang Seok-su wouldn't spread what I said anyway.
If my words got out, I'd get buried in hate. And Yoo Jung-mi would naturally face scandal too. For her sake, he'd stay silent.
I gripped the sword hilt tightly, stood tall, and stared confidently at Kang Seok-su.
'Whoa. That glare could kill a man.'
There was no need to kneel.
Sex with Yoo Jung-mi was consensual. Rape? Given her personality, she wouldn't stay quiet if it was. Kang Seok-su knew that too—his rage was rational even now.
And currently, he was just friends with Yoo Jung-mi.
"What? Finally in the mood to fight?"
"...I'll fight as you want."
If he'd chosen to run instead of fighting me, I might have been a bit disappointed in him.
I charged at Kang Seok-su.
A magic circle drew itself in front of him in an instant.
Kang Seok-su's Energy Protect flashed. He was overexerting.
White electricity crackled from the magic circle. I had a feeling what it was. Definitely lightning magic.
'He plans to humiliate a lightning ability user by eliminating me with lightning.'
Lightning ability users didn't take zero damage from lightning.
Something flashed in my mind. A technique from that old popular game '3kg'.
'I can do it.'
I jumped upward at the timing the lightning shot from the magic circle. I parried the threatening bolt with my sword. At the same time, I unleashed my brain lightning to dominate it. It succeeded far more easily than expected.
The lightning clung to the sword tip.
Immediately after, I swung toward Kang Seok-su.
'Lightning return!'
The lightning flew at Kang Seok-su.
He couldn't dodge it. Proof he could no longer use Sensory Maximization.
Kang Seok-su gritted his teeth against the pain and used another spell.
"Nine Energy Bolts. No matter how fast you are, you can't dodge all nine."
Nine energy bolts flew at me. One hit and it was over.
'No choice but to use Fleeting Moment.'
The world slowed as I activated Fleeting Moment.
The nine energy bolts weren't coming simultaneously.
'Dodge sideways safely? No, that'd be too slow. He's prepping his next spell.'
I chose to charge straight through. It was faster.
First, I tilted my head slightly left, then angled my body. Then I slid across the ground. I pierced right through the nine energy bolts.
I thrust my sword at Kang Seok-su right in front of me. He didn't panic at all, just lifted his shirt while watching me.
A magic circle drawn in red monster blood adorned Kang Seok-su's chiseled abs.
'Sorry, but I expected that.'
He'd hidden a magic circle in his palm.
Did I think he'd only hide it there?
It was natural to wonder. And I figured Kang Seok-su would hide one in a concealed spot.
'I win.'
I passed by Kang Seok-su.
He turned around. But he wasn't looking at me—he stared at the Thunderbolt I'd left behind. It hung in the air, slowly spinning.
"This is..."
"Discharge!"
The Thunderbolt exploded, lightning shooting everywhere. Kang Seok-su, closest, took the full brunt of the brain lightning.
"Grrraaagh! Not yet. Not...!"
Kang Seok-su didn't fall and tried to activate another magic circle.
Thwack!
The sword I threw struck his head. Kang Seok-su's body crumpled. The Energy Protect on his shoulder turned red.
Silence fell.
Kang Seok-su stared blankly at his Energy Protect, then at me, alternating.
"...It's over now?"
Association staff surrounded us.
I shouted toward the dozens of cameras.
"I won! Chicken for dinner today!"
???
"Hunter Sung Yu-jin's sword connected! Ah! Hunter Kang Seok-su's Energy Protect turns red! But that's not the end! Hunter Kang Seok-su has the treasure Revival!"
Jo Seok-hu said rapidly.
"What was that attack just now? It was so fast I couldn't see it properly. Let's check it with the super slow-mo camera!"
The main screen replayed in slow motion.
"Ah! The sword's direction suddenly changed!"
Hong Su-won began commentating once the slow-mo ended.
"...He forcibly altered the sword's trajectory using strength. Look closely—Hunter Sung Yu-jin's Energy Protect flashes. The Energy Protect absorbed the recoil from the forced change. Without it, his arm would have been immobilized."
Baek Ji-eun chimed in too.
"See how the speed surges instantly? That's Instant Acceleration, one of the techniques skilled accelerators use. Only three people in our country can use it. Ah, now four."