Chapter 8
Chapter 8
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: Promotion Exam (4)
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Whoosh!
The axe sliced through the air.
Faced with an attack that made his legs tremble just looking at it, Kang San gave up on clashing head-on and took a backstep instead.
Krunch!
Dirt sprayed up.
A quick glance revealed a deep crater in the ground.
'If that hits properly, I'm done for.'
Blood Orc.
The massive muscles writhing across its body weren't just for show. Its destructive power was beyond what an F-Rank Hunter could handle. A single mistake could lead straight to death. Kang San fixed his opponent with cold, sunken eyes, watching the Blood Orc prepare its follow-up strike.
Thud.
'Right foot, left foot, right foot...'
The Blood Orc charged.
From its stepping pattern, the next attack would swing the axe toward his left head side.
Whoosh!
Just as predicted.
Kang San didn't just dodge by sight—he launched his body the instant he spotted the muscle twitch at the timing his foe expected. Even at full speed, he avoided every attack. This technique had been honed during his days as an F-Rank Arrow Sponge. With low stats and not a single skill, survival meant using his head instead of charging in blindly.
And this situation was the proof of that.
Jo Han-byeol, watching from the rear, let out an awed gasp at the sight of Kang San evading the Blood Orc's strike from point-blank range, close enough to feel its breath.
"Whoa."
It was like watching a circus act.
Kang San's waist snapped back sharply, and the axe whistled overhead.
They'd sighed in relief multiple times, thinking he'd been hit, only for Kang San to evade with near-miraculous body control every time. Prediction and flexibility beyond mere agility. Kang San was no ordinary Tanker.
Smack!
"...Urgh."
This time, his timing was off.
Kang San barely blocked with his shield, gritting his teeth against the shock that rattled his skull.
The enemy was slowly catching up.
Furious, Kang San bellowed,
The teammates in the back.
They were still out of it.
The Blood Orc's appearance had been too sudden, and they'd assumed Kim Myung-min would step in against a D-Rank monster.
But Kim Myung-min just watched.
The Team 2 members finally snapped to and joined the fray.
As Kang San stubbornly bought time against the Blood Orc, their attacks hammered into it.
Thud!
Splat!
Jo Han-byeol's arrow and Choi Si-won's thrown weapon pierced the Blood Orc's hide. It roared in agony. Suddenly, red haze billowed around the Blood Orc. Recognizing the familiar sight, Kang San spat urgently,
"Damn it, it's Berserker."
Berserker
Warrior's Skill (Monster Variant)
A warrior's skill.
The Blood Orc was a monster that possessed skills.
Monsters with skills had a chance to drop them, earning them the nickname "treasure chests," but the problem was mustering the power to take them down first. The frenzied Blood Orc's axe came straight at Kang San, tearing the air. He couldn't dodge this one.
Boom!
"Argh!"
Kang San went flying.
He rolled backward once, then sprang up, yanking his shield tight against his body.
Enemy position?
Not even a thought.
Pure instinct had him shield first. The moment he confirmed the foe charging, his body lifted off.
Thump!
Fist strike.
His body buckled.
The impact threatened to knock him out.
"Nngh."
"No way!"
"Help him, quick!"
The rear teammates scrambled.
They chipped in with support and damage, but Kang San had no attention to spare. Blood-tinged spit dripped from his mouth. He forced down the vomit rising in his throat. Falling now meant a dog's death. Golden haze rose around Kang San, swiftly mending the deep red bruises.
'Aura of Recovery.'
The aura's effect was outstanding.
A whopping 23% recovery rate.
And his stamina recovery outpaced others, so wounds healed on their own rapidly.
'This sucks so bad.'
A curse bubbled up to his throat.
The Blood Orc snorted fiercely.
Just thinking of facing that monster sent chills down his spine.
But what choice did he have?
The proctor had no intention of intervening, so to survive, he had to endure.
A Tanker's fate.
Stopping monsters cold was the path to victory.
'I'll hold out to the end.'
He steeled his resolve.
As the Blood Orc charged again, Kang San met it without flinching, blocking the assault. He dodged what he could. Reading timings, he moved a beat ahead; if evasion failed, the shield covered him. His body heaved wildly. Kang San bought seconds looking half-dead. Luckily, the goblins were mostly cleared, no need to watch flanks, and his stalling let wounds accumulate on the Blood Orc.
Then.
Thwack!
Raaaaagh!
Jo Han-byeol's attack landed true.
An eye-piercing shot!
Perfect strike straight to the brain. The Blood Orc staggered. Toppling this unbreakable beast was now just a matter of time. Sensing its end, perhaps? The Blood Orc mustered its last strength and hurled the axe with all its might.
Whoosh!
Whirrr!
An air-cutting strike.
At a completely unexpected timing.
And at its landing spot, dealer Choi Si-won stared pale-faced at the incoming axe.
Split-second moment.
Kang San spotted the muscle motion.
Arm wrenching back hard—a throwing motion. Side glance confirmed Choi Si-won defenseless.
'Danger.'
His mind raced.
Block the throw?
Impossible.
This desperate all-out attack from the Blood Orc was unstoppable. Choi Si-won was as good as headless. Unacceptable. Azmun's third trial demanded protecting all teammates safely.
'Damn it all.'
Time slowed.
Mind tangled in conflict, but Kang San knew he had only one choice from the start.
Kang San kicked off the ground.
Just before the Blood Orc's axe gained full power, he hurled himself into its path.
Smack!
Crash!
"Gasp!"
"K-Kang San!"
Team 2 screamed.
He'd shielded hastily, but taking a thrown attack head-on left Kang San slammed into the dirt in a gruesome heap that screamed mortal danger. Even a D-Rank like the Blood Orc might not survive a Berserk-powered one-shot.
If it were days ago.
Kang San would've died right there.
But fortunately, he had the source of confidence for this reckless dive.
"Urk."
Kang San vomited everything up.
His grotesquely twisted arm and snapped ribs had screamed in agony, but Guardian's Will reset them to normal. The gamble paid off. As long as it wasn't instant death, he could survive with this. Without hesitation, Kang San launched forward.
Right behind.
Someone collapsed with a thud.
Choi Si-won, thinking he'd died, sat trembling on the ground.
Hunters like this cropped up in raids.
Ones not ready to risk their lives.
With them, scolding harshly wouldn't mend shattered nerves—gentle handling would.
Clank.
He raised his shield.
As Kang San stepped forward, Team 2 was utterly captivated.
This moment.
The leader wasn't Jo Han-byeol.
It was Kang San.
The exam ended.
After twists and turns, subjugation success.
Team 2 pooled their strength and felled the supposedly unbeatable Blood Orc.
Back through the gate to the real world, an official approached with a pale face and bowed deeply.
The official trembled.
He had to.
If this hit the media maliciously, cushy civil servant jobs would vanish overnight.
This was clearly the exam site's fault.
Team 2's expressions softened at the earnest apology.
Once settled.
Everyone swarmed Kang San.
They showed genuine fondness for Kang San.
A skilled Tanker.
Invaluable connection.
The kind you had to befriend first.
Especially saving Choi Si-won.
The epitome of Tanker virtue.
Not just Team 2—even Team 1, who hadn't fought, sidled up.
The fight yielded loot.
The Blood Orc's skill spirit and a stat stone boosting stats. Under Jo Han-byeol's lead, unanimous vote gave them to Kang San. No objections. Rare items, but he deserved them.
As Kang San navigated the chaos.
Exam results dropped.
"Woo!"
"E-Rank now!"
Cheers erupted.
Team 2 passed everyone but Choi Si-won; Team 1 had two dropouts. Amid the roars, Kang San felt emotion swell. Talented Hunters often started at E-Rank, but he'd languished as F-Rank Arrow Sponge for years.
No more.
Azmun's trials.
They threatened his life, sure—but broke that hated F-Rank wall.
'I did it.'
Then.
Kim Myung-min, who'd announced results, approached Kang San.
Cautious request.
Post-results, Kim Myung-min's view of Kang San had flipped completely.