Chapter 57
Chapter 57
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 57
Chapter Title: Versus the S-Rank Hunter
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In fact, Kang Jin-hyuk wasn't really the type to enjoy fighting.
It hadn't even been half a year since he discovered dungeons and rapidly grown stronger.
On top of that, he'd always thought being a hunter just meant hunting monsters.
He never imagined he'd end up living a life where he traded blows with other hunters like this.
*How the hell did I end up in this mess?*
Kang Jin-hyuk sank into deep disillusionment as the three A-rank Hunters encircled him.
All those stat boosts from leveling up, and the best he could do with them was jump into someone else's faction squabble for a brawl.
At this rate, he wasn't a hunter—he was just a muscle-bound thug.
The hunters surrounding him noticed his darkening expression.
They mistook his troubled, rigid face for fear at having to fight them.
*Heh, of course he's getting cold feet facing all three of us alone.*
Emboldened, one hunter suddenly grew greedy.
If he stepped up and took out Kang Jin-hyuk—the guy who'd just sent the first two rushers packing—his standing in the guild would skyrocket.
*Perfect...*
The hunter secretly signaled his comrade beside him.
*Go in first and draw his eyes?*
The comrade who caught the signal hesitated.
What if he jumped in too soon and got dropped first?
Among the hunters Kang Jin-hyuk had just taken down was Titan's highest-defense tank.
And Kang Jin-hyuk had sent that tank flying with a few baseball bat swings.
Drawing a guy's attention like that took serious guts.
The hunter took a deep breath to shake off his nerves and followed the signal.
Kang Jin-hyuk's gaze naturally shifted to the hunter approaching from the flank, weapon raised.
*Now!*
While his comrade pulled focus, the greedy hunter closed the gap alone in a flash.
"You crazy bastard...!"
The hunter left behind sighed as he watched his supposed partner charge solo.
They needed to play their three-on-one advantage right now—going rogue like that was suicidal.
Sure enough, the lone charger ate a lightning-fast twist and a solid hit from Kang Jin-hyuk.
No chance to defend.
By the time he realized his screw-up, the baseball bat had already smashed into him.
"Arrrghhh!"
As pain surged and he flew back screaming, Kang Jin-hyuk picked his next target from the remaining two.
"Damn it!"
First up: the attention-grabber who'd gotten too close.
Before his comrade could even move to help, he ate two attacks.
He barely dodged the initial bat swing, but the follow-up kick was unavoidable.
Kang Jin-hyuk's foot shot forward like punting a soccer ball, slamming the hunter's flank.
"Ugh!"
The aura-packed kick hurt worse than an iron club.
Kang Jin-hyuk finished the doubling-over hunter with another bat swing to the gut.
In under ten seconds, three hunters dwindled to one.
"What a damn mess."
The survivor had sensed doom the moment one comrade went off-script.
Pulling a reckless stunt against an opponent they couldn't afford to underestimate? Predictable outcome.
Han Young-seok, watching the fight, couldn't suppress a sigh.
Pathetic—that he'd raised trash like this as his direct subordinates.
"Uhahaha! These guys are a riot."
Suddenly, booming laughter echoed as another man strode in through the entrance.
"If the guild's so-called hotshots are this lame, it's a problem. Makes me question if I'm even fit to be guild master here."
"I was planning a full overhaul anyway, once I have the time."
Han Young-seok already hated how the guild brimmed with hotheads banking solely on their levels and ranks.
This incident would kick off a strict merit-based purge.
Guys useless when it counted had no place in Titan, period.
"The last one's just gonna crack his skull if he tries. I'll wrap it up."
"Didn't you say you'd sit it out 'cause it's a hassle?"
Kang Jun-tae chuckled at the words.
"Looked fun. Got me itching for a go."
Kang Jun-tae drew a massive mace from his inventory.
The thick iron club bristled with steel spikes—intimidating on sight alone.
He hefted the apparently heavy weapon one-handed with ease and squared off against Kang Jin-hyuk.
"You seem like a blunt-weapon basher too. Let's see same-style vs. same-style."
Kang Jin-hyuk glared wordlessly.
Kang Jun-tae radiated a vibe utterly unlike anyone he'd fought so far.
Lighthearted words masked a terrifying aura.
*The bit about becoming guild master... this guy's the new S-rank recruit?*
If he was right, Kang Jin-hyuk was now in a one-on-one with an S-rank Hunter.
*S-rank Hunter...*
Names that once inspired pure awe.
But after powering up in dungeons and scrapping with multiple hunters, his mindset shifted.
S-rank and A-rank? Just one grade apart.
If he could smash A-rankers with ease, an S-rank should be winnable too.
"Heh heh."
Kang Jun-tae relished the sharp, piercing stare.
Liked that he wasn't shrinking like the average hunter.
"Why just glare? Come at me first."
Like some wuxia master, Kang Jun-tae yielded initiative without hesitation.
Pride pricked, Kang Jin-hyuk packed dense aura into both legs without refusal.
He coiled briefly, then sprang forward spring-loaded.
"Defense Charge!"
Skill triggered, distance vanished to point-blank.
No hesitation—bat straight for Kang Jun-tae's face, full one-shot intent.
Kang Jun-tae countered by tilting his head back—just centimeters.
That tiny shift turned the strike into a futile air swipe.
"What...?!"
First time since discovering dungeons.
He was always the dodger—now the tables turned.
"Figured it was something like that."
Kang Jun-tae's prediction panned out; he smirked.
"My turn?"
He spun like a top, accelerating arm whipping the mace at Kang Jin-hyuk's face—mirroring his attempt.
"Grk!"
Kang Jin-hyuk barely blocked with his bat.
Couldn't deflect all the force, though.
Impact launched him airborne into the living room bookshelf.
He twisted midair, landing feet-first before hitting the floor.
"Damn!"
Kang Jin-hyuk charged again.
Straight-on at first, then aura-focused left foot for a swift flank circle.
Bat whipped instantly at Kang Jun-tae's left side.
But Kang Jun-tae's eyes tracked from the swing's start.
Bat met mace.
Kang Jun-tae didn't buckle like Jin-hyuk.
Mountain-steady, he smashed the mace down.
"Argh!"
Bounced again, crashing table-top amid pained groans.
"How the...?"
Unlike the others, Kang Jun-tae tracked every move from start to finish.
As if he knew the path ahead.
*No way!*
The realization hit Kang Jin-hyuk; Kang Jun-tae smirked at his face.
"Caught on already?"
Kang Jun-tae figured it'd take two or three more hits.
Impressive he'd clocked it after merely two clashes.
"Your limbs glow red-hot on every attack—is that your skill? Got shafted with garbage."
Spot the glow, predict the vector—easy.
Granted, it took reading intensity nuances too.
Beyond most hunters, but not Kang Jun-tae.
S-ranks dwelled in talent's realm, beyond effort.
He had the experience and instincts.
"Then make it unreadable visually."
Kang Jin-hyuk aura-coated his whole body.
Red haze rose body-wide, reigniting Kang Jun-tae's intrigue.
"Kekeke, why not start with that?"
Mace slung shoulder-ward, he beckoned with his free hand.
"Come again. Show me the difference."
Asking what could possibly change. Confidence oozed.
Kang Jin-hyuk yearned to prove him wrong head-on—but couldn't.
Whole-body aura spread power thin; prior punch gone.
Hand-focus: 100 power. Now? Barely 60.
Plus, broad activation guzzled MP fast.
*As expected, S-ranks are different.*
He regretted underrating them moments ago.
*No proper hit? One option left.*
Teeth gritted, bat double-gripped tight.
Mercy: Kang Jun-tae underestimated, yielding first again.
Max the shot—he cranked aura heedless of MP drain.
All gone in five seconds? Finish before then.
Floor-kicked, bullet-forward.
Blink-reach: diagonal bat sweep.
"What, thought it'd be different? Just honest swings?"
Mace-blocked effortlessly; Kang Jun-tae showed open disappointment.
"Power's weaker too... Misjudged my expectations?"
Same tier as the strewn trash, huh.
As he concluded, Kang Jin-hyuk played his ace.
"Take this first, then talk."
He envisioned lightning ravaging the foe head-to-toe.
Imagination triggered the bat's enchanted skill.