Chapter 67
Chapter 67
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 67
Chapter Title: Guild War Escalation
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Lee Jun-cheol, who had been evacuating people, was startled when flames erupted right nearby.
He had thought he’d fled far enough to relax, but it seemed it was still too early to let his guard down.
“They’re fighting like it’s life or death…”
Even out here on the outskirts, it was this intense, so the city center where the battle was raging must be hell itself.
If the evacuation had been even a little slower, the casualties would have been beyond counting.
“Boss, the association says they’ll distribute relief supplies.”
“What took them so long? The incident started ages ago.”
The association’s job was mostly already done by Lee Jun-cheol and his men.
For those guys who’d just watched from across the river like it was a show to step in now, their intentions were obvious.
“Damn, they’re filthy…”
That said, refusing the aid here wouldn’t benefit them at all.
The supplies weren’t cheap, and getting on the association’s bad side already wouldn’t do them any good.
“Tell those bastards I said thanks a ton.”
“Got it, boss.”
“Don’t repeat the profanity part.”
“Heh, do I look like an idiot?”
Jo Hyeong-il took a few men and headed off to meet the association reps.
While waiting for the relief supplies, Lee Jun-cheol pondered whether to move farther out or hold position here.
Theoretically, the damage shouldn’t spread this far.
But that fireball that just landed nearby proved how flimsy that theory was—the situation had changed.
“It’ll take a good while to pack up all the tents and facilities we’ve set up…”
With manpower pulled for transporting supplies, they were short-handed.
Even starting to move now offered no guarantee they’d make it in time.
“Ugh.”
Lee Jun-cheol racked his brains in this no-win situation.
“Why are you groaning all by yourself?”
Lee Jun-cheol turned at the voice from behind him.
Spotting the owner, he felt an unfamiliar vibe from him.
It was someone he knew well, yet it felt like seeing a stranger.
“Kang Jin-hyuk… right?”
“What kind of question is that? We’re not strangers.”
“Haha, yeah, you’re right…”
He laughed it off, but Lee Jun-cheol couldn’t shake the odd feeling.
In just the few hours since they’d last met, Kang Jin-hyuk exuded a completely different aura.
It was like he was a whole other person.
‘Why does it feel this way?’
They hadn’t talked much before, so it was weird to get this impression from just seeing his face.
Was he reading the guy’s presence like some martial arts master?
Or had Kang Jin-hyuk undergone such a massive change that even an ordinary guy like him instinctively noticed?
Lee Jun-cheol, harboring some hope, confided his worries to Kang Jin-hyuk.
“If the war between Titan and Tyrant drags on like this, the civilians here could be in danger too.”
“Hmm, and?”
“Could you possibly hold them back so the damage doesn’t spread?”
Lee Jun-cheol knew full well how reckless a request this was.
Asking one person to stop a fight involving guilds with S-rank Hunters—it was basically suicide.
He knew it didn’t make sense, yet he still voiced the plea.
From Kang Jin-hyuk’s perspective, a scolding with some curses was the expected response.
But his reply defied common sense too.
“I’ll give it a shot.”
“Huh?”
“You asked me to block them, so why act surprised?”
Chuckling at the weirdness, Kang Jin-hyuk started loosening up.
He stretched his limbs, then pulled out a baseball bat.
In the blink of an eye, he vanished from in front of Lee Jun-cheol.
Lee Jun-cheol saw deep footprints where he’d just stood.
“Jeez… not like this is a movie.”
He recalled Kang Jin-hyuk’s expression right before leaving.
Heading into the battlefield, he brimmed with overflowing confidence and anticipation.
Even though he might run into two S-rank Hunters, there wasn’t a trace of fear.
“He’s bound for greatness.”
Lee Jun-cheol hoped his gut feeling was right.
* * *
The clash between Titan and Tyrant was tilting toward the latter as time passed.
Even as a fallen guild, Tyrant had once vied for supremacy with Altron as a top-tier force.
On top of that, Tyrant’s members burned with revenge against those who’d toppled them, boosting their morale.
In contrast, Titan’s cohesion was as hollow as a paper tiger.
In the worsening situation, Han Young-seok vented his frustration.
“I should’ve finished off Seo Sang-ho right there…!”
If he’d killed Seo Sang-ho decisively, the enemy would’ve lost their rallying point and crumbled.
Because he hadn’t wrapped it up cleanly, Han Young-seok failed to prevent Titan’s internal fractures.
Fighting a war where no one trusted each other meant they couldn’t bring their full strength to bear.
Even a fight that would’ve ended in a draw at full power became dire when fought amid chaos, putting Titan on the brink fast.
“Guild Master Han! Get out of here quick! Tyrant guys are already closing in from this side…!”
Baek Jin-woong, who’d come to escort Han Young-seok, couldn’t finish as he engaged pursuing Hunters.
“You damn bastards!”
Unable to hold back, Baek Jin-woong activated his Berserk skill.
His eyes rolled back, reason fled, and his stats surged.
“Raaargh!”
With a beastly roar, he swung his massive axe, cleaving the waist of a Tyrant Hunter who’d charged recklessly.
The bisected Hunter died with eyes wide open.
The gruesome sight made the remaining Tyrant Hunters hesitate to rush in.
Then Jo Won-cheol, following from behind, kicked one in irritation.
“If you’re not going, get out of the way, you idiots.”
Kicked in the rear, the Tyrant Hunters wordlessly parted to the sides, clearing a path.
Jo Won-cheol strolled forward casually, one hand in his pocket, soon entering Baek Jin-woong’s view.
The berserk warrior swung his axe wildly the moment the foe entered range.
“Die!!!”
The axe whistled through the air with terrifying momentum, meeting Jo Won-cheol’s outstretched hand.
In that instant, the axe halted dead, like someone hit pause.
The shock and wind rippled Jo Won-cheol’s hair and clothes lightly.
“No decent guys in Titan? Why’s it all trash like this?”
Jo Won-cheol gradually tightened his grip on the axe.
Cracks spread one by one until the blade shattered completely.
“!?”
For the first time, reasonless Baek Jin-woong felt fear at the absurd sight.
But it was too late to back off now.
Having entered striking range himself, the enemy could attack anytime too.
Baek Jin-woong chose to strike first.
Even without the axe, his fists had pulped countless monsters with their storied prowess.
“Raaaah!!”
His roar to shake off fear boomed louder than usual.
“Kid… eat something bad? Keeps farting bullshit.”
Muttering pitifully, Jo Won-cheol slashed with his hand blade in a diagonal line.
It ran precisely from Baek Jin-woong’s left shoulder to his right side.
Baek Jin-woong spewed blood like a fountain and dropped to his knees.
His thrusting fist propped against the ground, barely holding him up.
But only for a moment.
A light kick from Jo Won-cheol sent him crumpling bonelessly.
“Heard this is Titan HQ… and you had this trash as a bodyguard?”
Jo Won-cheol snickered, flicking blood from his hand.
“If you don’t want more blood, better fetch Seo Sang-ho.”
“…….”
Han Young-seok clamped his mouth shut, face grim.
No way the man he’d tried to kill himself was here.
“What? I said bring your guild master.”
Urging impatiently, oblivious to the circumstances, Jo Won-cheol suddenly tilted his head.
A person shot past his cheek like a cannonball.
The human projectile smashed into a wall—it was a Tyrant Hunter.
“What the hell now.”
Turning, Jo Won-cheol saw his trailing Tyrant Hunters all pulped.
No need to ask who did it.
Kang Jun-tae approached step by step, iron mace dripping blood, aimed at Jo Won-cheol.
“Why’re you out here? Where’s Seo Sang-ho?”
“None of your business.”
No questions asked.
Channeling his will into the mace, Kang Jun-tae swung both arms with full force.
This time, Jo Won-cheol didn’t block with one hand.
Unlike Baek Jin-woong’s axe, Kang Jun-tae’s strike wasn’t light enough for barehanded catch.
Jo Won-cheol leaned back sharply to dodge, then thrust forward.
Facing the terrifying speed of the mace, even Jo Won-cheol couldn’t charge easily.
He twisted and ducked repeatedly, probing for openings.
“You joining Titan or what?”
“None of your business, I said.”
Kang Jun-tae swung faster, but Jo Won-cheol matched pace effortlessly, upping his speed.
“Nah, I’m curious. Why’s it you instead of the guy they told to come out?”
Jo Won-cheol couldn’t make sense of the situation.
Kang Jun-tae had merc’d briefly before, but he’d never join a guild war like this.
‘Seo Sang-ho’s nowhere despite this shitshow…’
Too weird for a guild master to vanish while his guild got wrecked.
Dodging the mace, piecing together info, Jo Won-cheol grinned.
“Ah, so that’s how it is.”
He backflipped sharply, creating distance.
With breathing room, he tested his deduction.
“You’re Titan’s guild master now, right?”
Kang Jun-tae responded with silence, neither confirming nor denying.
That reaction convinced Jo Won-cheol he was spot on.
“No way, for real? So Seo Sang-ho retired?”
Mid-sentence, Jo Won-cheol shook his head, negating his own words.
“Nah, that prick’s personality—he wouldn’t just sit back retired.”
Seo Sang-ho was the type who played nice and poked noses everywhere, the kind Jo Won-cheol despised most.
The only reason that busybody was quiet now was one thing.
“You guys took him down, huh?”
Kang Jun-tae answered the sneered words with his mace.
Jo Won-cheol dodged lightly and burst into laughter.