Chapter 167
Chapter 167
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 167
Chapter Title: Dungeon Survival
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"See how his speed spiked in that instant? That's Instant Acceleration, one of the techniques used by skilled acceleration ability users. Only three people in our country can use it. Ah, make that four now."
Instant Acceleration is one of the techniques that puts a heavy burden on the user. The body speeds up, but the mind doesn't, making it hard to control properly. However, if you can use it right, it's incredibly helpful.
Kang Seok-su revived on screen, and the battle resumed.
"Hunter Kang Seok-su! He dodged that insane swordsmanship speed! Just a graze on the shoulder. And with the magic circle drawn on his palm, he eliminates Hunter Han Ha-rin! Now it's down to one-on-one!"
"That's Hunter Kang Seok-su's Sensory Maximization ability. It heightens not just the five senses, but also aura detection and mana sensitivity. No one else uses Sensory Maximization quite like he does."
"Targeting Hunter Han Ha-rin first... Probably to get into the rest area. The Gukcheon University Hunter team has negative survival points. They could just stall out the time in the rest area to win."
"Oh! Hunter Sung Yu-jin ducked his head. Tired? Or giving up? Hunter Kang Seok-su! He stops on his way to the rest area. He wants to finish it here. Let's focus in on the battle for a moment."
The fight ended with Sung Yu-jin's victory.
-We won! Chicken tonight!
Silence fell over the studio. Most of them had thought Kang Seok-su would win, not Sung Yu-jin. Logically, Sung Yu-jin was an E-rank hunter against a C-rank. Plus, Sung Yu-jin was a rookie who'd only been awakened for a year.
"Hunter Sung Yu-jin has become the sole survivor and the winner of Dungeon Survival Recharged!"
Jo Seok-hu shouted. He wanted to call Sung Yu-jin and Kang Seok-su in right away, but procedures made it impossible.
"Let's rewind and watch the footage again!"
The video jumped back to the battle.
Kang Seok-su fired lightning at Sung Yu-jin. Sung Yu-jin leaped into the air, blocked the lightning with his sword, and redirected it back at Kang Seok-su.
"This moment right here! Hunter Sung Yu-jin parried the lightning! Hong Su-won, is this even possible?"
"It is. A-rank fire ability users can often control flames created by other ability users, not just their own. Natural flames without ownership are even easier to dominate. The lightning from Hunter Kang Seok-su had no ownership. If he had full control over it, this wouldn't have been possible."
"Even so, Hunter Sung Yu-jin dominated it in an instant. It's something you could do with practice, but as you all know, Hunter Sung Yu-jin's career is less than a year. Water Walk, Instant Acceleration, Lightning Domination... He nailed them all. He's a genius, plain and simple."
Sung Yu-jin was a genius.
Anyone who watched Dungeon Survival Recharged from start to finish had to admit it.
Not just any genius, either. Some even thought he might be Korea's greatest.
What he'd shown wasn't something a rookie hunter of just one year could pull off.
Hong Su-won and Baek Ji-eun had different vibes.
Hong Su-won's face soured. Losing the bet was secondary; he'd failed to spot Sung Yu-jin's talent early on. He'd praised Kang Seok-su, the one his guild wanted, and even sounded a bit hostile toward Sung Yu-jin.
If Sung Yu-jin saw the broadcast, he'd think Bluebird Guild was the worst. If Sung Yu-jin were just average, fine, but the guy who beat Kang Seok-su was now Korea's top rookie talent.
'Damn it. Who knew that punk was that good? Never heard intel like this. The guild master’s gonna chew me out.'
But it wasn't too late. He needed to build a good relationship with Sung Yu-jin before the broadcast aired. Ideally, recruit him to the guild.
Unlike the fidgety Hong Su-won, Baek Ji-eun smiled happily.
'Was he always like that? When did he grow so much? In my memory... Hmm. Can't recall clearly, but not to that extent.'
Baek Ji-eun hadn't met Sung Yu-jin. As an association executive candidate, meeting him could spark rumors, so she'd avoided it on purpose. Preparing for the project had kept her swamped too.
'Next time we meet, I'll give him a blowjob and some sex...'
Dungeon Survival Recharged was over, so they'd meet soon. She felt herself getting wet down there.
"Hunter Sung Yu-jin! Dodging all nine energy bolts and breaking through! Hunter Kang Seok-su lifts his shirt. Magic circle on his abs! But Hunter Sung Yu-jin passes right by like he knew! Kang turns back, but too late! That vicious lightning and the thrown sword eliminate Hunter Kang Seok-su!!!"
"...Impressive. Hunter Sung Yu-jin used Instant Acceleration to dodge the energy bolts. Means he has full control over it."
"Hunter Sung Yu-jin knew Hunter Kang Seok-su's final trump card. If he hadn't charged straight through the Nine Energy Bolts... the outcome might've been different."
The studio lights stayed on for hours after. They had to commentate other hunters' fights too.
Of course, only parts would make the broadcast.
???
The filming didn't end when I won.
There was an after-party shoot for Dungeon Survival Recharged. Standout participants gathered in the studio for a talk show, and we had to film interview clips to insert midway through the footage.
Han Ha-rin, Eun Sang-min, and I headed to the station three days after it ended.
'Heh. I get to watch Hong Su-won grovel to Baek Ji-eun with my own eyes.'
We split the 1 billion won prize between Han Ha-rin and me. Eun Sang-min felt bad and gave his share to us.
'Not a huge sum for Eun Sang-min or us, but the sentiment matters.'
1 billion wasn't much for hunters. No one joined for the prize.
'I joined for Han Ha-rin.'
Great excuse to get close.
'And since I joined, might as well win. Kahaha. Can't wait for the broadcast. What if I become super famous and women throw themselves at me? I've only got one dick.'
I was lounging in the winner's private waiting room, dreaming of a bright future, when the door opened without a knock.
Kang Seok-su walked in.
'...Here to kill me?'
"Sung Yu-jin, I have something to say."
Thankfully not.
He closed the door.
I stared at him like, go ahead. He hesitated a bit, then asked.
"...Are you and Yoo Jung-mi lovers?"
"No."
I had her number. She gave it after sex.
We weren't in touch. I could hook up with Jin Se-young or Han Ha-rin anytime. No reason to cling to Yoo Jung-mi, who was less hot.
"You came because that comment bugged you? It was just to provoke you. Forget it. Oh, sorry, a bit late on that."
I wasn't sorry at all.
"...I admit it. I was furious back then. Impressive provocation skills."
"Here to compliment me?"
"...Did you really sleep with Yoo Jung-mi?"
"Yeah."
I answered instantly.
"..."
Kang Seok-su looked at me with conflicted eyes. He'd probably suspected.
"But so what? It's not your business. Yoo Jung-mi and I did it consensually. Just a young guy and girl having fun. You're not her boyfriend, just a friend."
Kang Seok-su was Yoo Jung-mi's ex. Now just friends. No right to interfere.
"...I know I have no right to say anything about you and Yoo Jung-mi. After that day, I thought it over and realized. I can't let go of her."
"Not my expertise in love advice. Just go."
Sex advice, maybe.
"Jung-mi is my woman. That's what I came to tell you. Don't touch her again."
"What? Getting back together?"
"I'll confess to her soon."
Kang Seok-su and Yoo Jung-mi would get back together. She still had feelings.
If she refused sex with me, I'd accept it calmly. No need to chase her.
"Got it. Got it. If that's all, get out. I wanna rest."
"One more important thing."
"What?"
"About Korea's top ten guilds. Turns out you're not in one."
I didn't think much about guilds. I had Playful Life app.
Hunters join good guilds to grow faster with support, reliable comrades, more money, etc.
'Downside is following guild rules.'
Life-or-death work, so rules are strict. Feels corporate, human relations hassle. Annoying.
'I level up via Playful Life app. Freelance, skip dangers, hunt safe monsters.'
Guild support? If I grind the app hard, it's nothing.
"No plans to join a guild. Not now, at least. And there's a contract with Yeongcheon Sword Academy... my hunter school."
Future's uncertain. If a guild has girls I like, might join to flirt.
"...Not participating to promote yourself to big guilds?"
"Nah. I was the strongest at uni, so they pushed me in."
Actually for Han Ha-rin. And aimed to win.
"Cut the sidetracks. What's your point?"
"Korea's top ten guilds are frozen solid. Old-timers clinging on, 20 to 50 years. Even you would need at least 20 years to hit exec."
Kang Seok-su exaggerated, but not wrong.
Top ten guilds packed with old hunters. Promotions hard.
Famous among hunters: With resolve, work till 70+. Age weakens slowly, not like normals. High A-rank, age irrelevant.
S-rank? Korea has one over 100, looks mid-20s. Wuxia rejuvenation real.
"...So?"
"I aimed for top ten at first. But research showed they're saturated."
"Not just top ten."
"Worst in top ten."
Korea's hunter scene is red ocean now.
Old days: Poor dungeon strategies, monster info scarce, high death rates. Many awakened but skipped hunting.
Now: Systematic manuals, info on tens of thousands monsters, advancing gear. Death rates plummeted.
'Energy Protect invention helped a lot lately. Pricey though.'
Korea's A-ranks: Around 7,000.
Tiny land, yet 7,000 A-ranks.