Chapter 109
Chapter 109
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 109
Chapter Title: 20. Showcase (4)
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Im Chan-young couldn't pull himself together.
With red eyes flashing from all directions, rather than reacting on instinct, the thought that he was in danger dominated his mind. He needed help from his comrades. Not just Kang San alone—he believed everyone up there had to come down to protect him.
He opened his mouth.
The moment he tried to raise his voice, a rough hand grabbed and yanked him.
Thud.
"Snap out of it!"
Something flew by and embedded itself.
Looking up in shock, he saw a corroded spear—likely thrown by one of the undead—stuck in the wall.
Kang San's face came into view.
He was frowning in irritation, but there was no trace of fear from the sudden crisis.
"From now on, trust only me and focus on your magic. Once you start casting, no one will touch you."
"N-No!"
He didn't get to respond.
The undead surged in.
Kang San pushed Im Chan-young behind him and stepped forward to confront them.
It was always the same thought, but Guardian's Will was a paradox that brought both despair and hope.
A 116% boost was an enormous buff, but conversely, it also meant 58 monsters were swarming this cramped space.
Kyaaak!
Crunch.
The undead lunged with their heads first.
Even as he bashed and shoved back a few, they came rushing from right, left, front, everywhere, filling his vision relentlessly. Some wielded corroded steel weapons. Kang San blocked the dangerous strikes with his shield while never missing the momentary gaps in the undead's assaults.
"Blood Demon Sword Art, First Form: Blade Kill."
Flash.
Splat.
He decapitated one.
There was no enhancement effect from the Blood Demon Sword Art.
Since it targeted living beings, it seemed undead didn't qualify.
'This is tricky.'
He'd lost his weapon.
But that was it.
He didn't panic.
In the space tangled with killing intent, Kang San stepped forward without hesitation.
Kyaaak!
Crunch, crunch, crunch.
An undead bit at his forearm from the right.
Kang San dodged and severed its head, but now others leaped to chomp his leg. He stomped one's head first. Squish—it burst open, and ignoring the sticky sensation, he parried the frontal assault from the undead horde.
The more risk he took on himself...
The safer the rear became.
That was Kang San's judgment.
In this confined space, blocking one side meant securing safety on the other.
He turned his back to Im Chan-young.
Not a single undead crossed behind him as Kang San faced them with his whole body. These undead were around D-Rank. Blocking countless attacks alone in this narrow area was impossible, and his forearms and legs got bitten. Yet he didn't groan. If an arm was bitten, he'd ram his sword into the undead's face; if a leg, he'd crush its head. The boosted Defense and HP Regeneration from Guardian's Will healed the damage quickly, and this level of pain wouldn't make him groan.
The massive tidal wave...
Was halted by the breakwater called Kang San.
Kang San didn't look back.
He didn't urge Im Chan-young either.
If prodding would snap him out of it, he'd have finished casting and joined the fight already.
What Im Chan-young needed now wasn't a cold whip, but faith in what Kang San was.
'Azmun.'
The god's intent was blatant.
But absolutely...
"Shield of Trials."
Crunch—!
Kang San had no intention of crumbling here.
Right after the test began.
Outside, the test proceedings were broadcast live.
For B-Rank and higher tests, participants could opt in or out of real-time streaming with their consent.
All agreed.
People like Im Chan-young had no reason to refuse a broadcast that could boost their value, and Kang San didn't buck the trend. In fact, a broadcast only happens if everyone consents. The old Kang San might have refused due to his unformed views on trials, but now, deliberately seeking the spotlight, he accepted.
He embraced exposing himself.
Thanks to that, the on-site crowd could watch the test footage.
Drones attached to the testers relayed the scene vividly, and as combat began, everyone wore serious expressions.
"...He's doing pretty well."
"He was D-Rank just recently, right?"
Managers.
Or scouts.
They spotted the details in Kang San's performance instantly.
Truth be told, the push to recruit him stemmed more from Yu Jung-young's words than his personal value. But now Kang San was showing solid skill. Not just stable tanking—he was syncing with strangers, dictating the flow. It drew admiration. That changed things. Amid the buzz about him, proven talent justified a high valuation.
Then.
The situation shifted.
The ground collapsed.
Those who knew Kang San well, like Jung Hye-mi, nodded knowingly—he always prepared for variables.
They admired but weren't surprised.
Others were different.
"Whoa."
"He protected the mage in that split second?"
From then on, their eyes changed.
Right after the fall.
Kang San held off the undead alone.
Even D-Rank, facing 58 in a tangle and enduring—it made them swallow hard. Entertaining sight. The crowd around Kang San's actions fell silent like they'd been doused with cold water. Sounds of scribbling notes, whispers into phones from corners, all eyes glued to the screen with eager gazes.
People say it.
A truly skilled tanker is worth a fortune.
Seeing Kang San's inexpressible potential, they no longer hid their greed.
If it ended there...
Kang San's showcase would have wrapped up successfully.
But then.
Team Leader Jung Hye-mi showed shaken eyes.
"...This is going south."
On screen.
An aberrant entity appeared.
That was a sign.
Things were going very wrong.
Clank, clank.
The sound of metal clashing rang out.
Slow footsteps.
The being moving leisurely wore black armor—aside from that, its skin was pale enough for "ghostly white." It halted. Below its gaze, Nam Tae-ju led the testers in fierce combat.
That being.
The vampire bared sharp fangs.
[Children. Surrender to the frenzy.]
Whoosh.
Red energy rose.
As the aura emanating from the vampire spread, the hellhounds it touched went berserk.
Kyaaak!
Woof woof woof woof!
Hellhounds charged madly.
Even slashed by human blades, their gnashing teeth didn't stop; lower bodies severed, they dragged upper torsos to bite humans in madness. Not just that—undead rose from the ground one by one. Vision filled with them, impossible to know how so many lurked.
"...Damn."
Nam Tae-ju's face paled.
Something was off.
No matter B-Rank test, he'd never heard vampires had such power.
This test's goal: eliminate the vampire group in Vampire Castle, not just one boss.
Yet one vampire created this absurdity.
The vampire raised a finger.
Its white, slender finger passed Nam Tae-ju, pointing to a space.
[Perish yourselves before letting that being prevail.]
Woof!
Woof woof woof!
Hellhounds rushed out.
Undead swarmed, and Nam Tae-ju's testers yelled, holding the line.
"Form up!"
"Don't fall back... What the?"
Suddenly.
Nam Tae-ju's eyes widened.
He thought crisis.
Monster wave without a tanker—unblockable.
But the scene defied expectations.
Hellhound pack and undead.
Some attacked Nam Tae-ju's group; the rest bypassed toward somewhere.
He turned.
Then he saw.
Whoosh.
Whoosh whoosh—!
The sunken underground space.
Monsters leaping into it—Nam Tae-ju realized things were very wrong.
Near the site.
Examiners were present.
The A-Rank team leader's team received an outside comm.
[Code Red activated. Testers in danger. Respond immediately.]
"Roger."
Click.
He pocketed the radio.
A variable.
This test-managed site: known vampires vanished, unknown one appeared—report received. Annoying for examiners. Such variables meant they'd shoulder blame for poor oversight.
And if casualties... Unthinkable aftermath.
"Move fast."
"...Team leader. Look over there."
He halted.
Lifting his head, he saw a group.
Clank.
Clank, clank.
All of them.
Similar to the vampire attacking testers: armored, but not ghostly white skin—pure white bones exposed.
"...Death Knights?"
"How are those here?"
No time to think.
Whoosh.
Thud thud thud.
Death Knights charged.
B-Rank monsters.
But individually, top-tier B-Rank.
Not one or two such monsters.
"Attack!"
Examiner shouted.
Combat erupted instantly.
Entwined clashes boomed.
Death Knights were strong.
Slashes healed in seconds; they burned mana to kill humans.
Boom—!
Scraaaape.
Examiner pushed back.
He spoke into the radio.
"We won't reach the site in time. So..."
Whoosh.
Boom!
Blocked the attack.
Examiner glared, activating the skill that made him A-Rank.
"Request additional support."
Boom—!
Rumble rumble rumble.
Surface and underground.
Information cut off.
Kang San, unable to confirm the situation, spotted something raining from the sky like hail.
Whoosh.
Whoosh whoosh—!
Monsters.
Hellhounds and undead.
They kept falling endlessly.
"...W-What is this."
A terrified voice came from behind.
What a ridiculous situation.
Years ago.
Kang San saw a 13-year-old kid as greater than anyone.
He knew the kid was human trash, but that young age's acknowledged talent was genuinely envied. Inferiority too. While one got F-Rank post-20 in acquired awakening test, no proper skills, drifting as arrow sponge.
Now those two.
Positions swapped.
Im Chan-young's trembling voice was just a death-fearing boy.
Kang San was different.
Before trials, after—more than anyone.
He'd crossed death lines countless times.
Kang San turned back.
"Hey."
"...Yes?"
"You're Korea's top talent, right?"
He turned forward again.
Eyes fixed on monsters.
"Make it happen somehow. Until I die, I won't let a scratch touch you."
His eyes changed.
World dyed red.
Amid the red aura pouring like a downpour, Kang San's expression turned icy cold.