Chapter 93
Chapter 93
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 93
Chapter Title: 18. Attribute Tutoring (1)
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Maybe around day 100?
The stats that had been rising intermittently stopped increasing altogether.
For Kang San, it was the moment he'd forgotten his original goal of the 'burning time.' Even so, he didn't think the situation he faced was meaningless. Thinking back, he'd grown so rapidly lately that he hadn't had any time to consolidate his gains. By the time he came to his senses, the next trial would hit, then the one after that—endless trials forcing him to focus solely on survival.
Therefore.
He thought positively.
He'd already surpassed the initial goal of C-rank stats, and the remaining time was the perfect opportunity to build a solid foundation.
Shing.
He drew his sword.
He could feel the werewolves approaching.
Their footsteps, the faint fishy stench—they were details he could sense without even needing to spot the monsters visually. His superhuman senses didn't just pick up on 'killing intent.' It was a sensory domain that handled intangible things, and Kang San had grown adept at wielding it.
The werewolves hadn't pinpointed Kang San's location yet, so he needed to thin their numbers first.
Thud.
He kicked off the ground.
Werewolves had keen hearing and smell.
Kang San activated his superhuman senses, spreading his killing intent like a tidal wave crashing over the area.
It threw their hearing and smell into temporary chaos. By the time they spotted him, it was too late. His sharply gleaming sword cleaved off a werewolf's head. It was the power of Blood Demon Sword Art, First Form: Blade Kill, and dispatching it in one blow earned him a voice announcing a 4% increase in attack power.
It was deliberate.
The Blood Demon Sword Art had a 5-minute cooldown.
So he needed to use it aggressively early on to secure the Blood Demon Art's attack power boost and cover for the cooldown absence.
Kyaak!
Grrrrr.
The werewolves charged.
Meeting their fierce gazes, Kang San's sword tore through the air once more.
"Blood Demon Sword Art, Third Form: Explosive Slaughter."
Whoosh.
Whoosh-whoosh-whoosh.
It was a massacre.
The moment the blazing red aura shredded the werewolves, blood erupted in chain explosions, filling the air with their screams. Explosive Slaughter lived up to its name—devastating splash damage. The destructive blasts laced with blood spray granted Kang San repeated attack power increases.
He was proficient.
Fast.
Through countless hunts, even same-level werewolves were no match for him.
'I'm not the same as when I first arrived.'
He was certain.
Surface stats might be C-rank, but he possessed more than that now.
No longer.
Flash.
Splat—!
The eleventh trial no longer felt like a trial.
Ding.
The final day dawned.
After one last sweep of werewolves, Kang San heard the voice he'd been waiting for.
He'd passed the trial.
Kang San invested all the promised stat rewards into Strength.
At the vanguard, he'd need Strength more than anything, so he judged it best to close that gap as much as possible.
The change was enough to draw genuine admiration.
When he'd first entered the stat training facility, he'd been stuck at D-rank levels. Now, his base stats exceeded the C-rank minimum of 100. He was still lacking, no doubt. Considering an S-rank outbreak, he had a long way to go. But this wasn't something he could've achieved in just six months outside.
B-rank minimum was 300.
Distant, but not impossible.
And the skills.
Along with the trial rewards, Kang San confirmed new evolutions.
First.
An absurd ability.
Marked as 3-star, but it rivaled higher grades and effects. He couldn't help but marvel. A unconditional 10% ally boost passive, plus the potential for a 30% surge to turn the tide.
Shield of Trials.
Aura of Glory.
They transcended normal standards.
900 days of effort, rewarded in one go.
Guardian's Will had grown too.
The third condition was reaching 50 Divine Power, which bumped the per-enemy boost from 1% to 2%. The low-health defense surge rose from double to triple. Jackpots kept hitting for Kang San.
Imagine it.
Trigger Guardian's Will, then activate Aura of Glory—he could temporarily wield B-rank-plus power. Meaning, even facing an A-rank Werewolf Lord alone, he'd hold his own. With skills that defied raw stats, these burst 'buffs' were a godsend.
S-rank outbreak.
Realistically, reaching S-rank stats by then was impossible.
Get as strong as possible, then bridge the gap with skills like these—that was his only path.
Now it was over.
No reason to stay in the training facility.
Trials wouldn't allow the same luck twice; he knew he couldn't grow that way again.
'Six more months ahead.'
From here on, sink or swim.
Kang San would execute the plans he'd devised outside.
The fresh outside air felt invigorating after so long.
No time for sentiment, he headed straight somewhere after leaving the stat training facility.
Dark Moon Information Guild.
A group handling info on Korea—or beyond.
He sought their Seoul branch. Descending underground, a voice rasped from beyond iron bars like an old pawnshop.
"What brings you here?"
"I'm looking for a specific location."
Flip.
He handed over documents.
Endless long days.
Between werewolf battles, he'd scoured for candidate spots in spare moments.
"Location: Pohang City, North Gyeongsang Province. At least 30 minutes from any other region's borders. Rugged terrain shunned by hikers. At least ten anomalies in the last three years—ideally with terrain-altering incidents. Most crucially, despite those, minimal enough that the Hunter Management Bureau shows no interest. I've pre-listed suspects; prioritize these."
"Demanding conditions. Price?"
"100 million."
"Got it. We'll contact you soon."
"Yes."
100 million.
A hefty sum for current Kang San.
But to get Dark Moon moving seriously, it was necessary—and with his strength, he could earn it quickly. Commission placed, he left. Knowing an S-rank outbreak was coming, pinpointing it was paramount.
Of course, the situation remained daunting.
Even located, he couldn't handle it alone—but trials were never avoidable.
"Urgent matters settled for now."
He pulled out his phone.
Modern gear felt novel after ages.
He texted Jo Han-byeol and Jung Hye-mi.
Needed to schedule with Jo Han-byeol's group; owed Jung Hye-mi her lecture.
Thinking back, he'd inconvenienced her.
Advanced payment received, but trial variables forced a delay request. Fully his fault. No choice then, but he'd fulfill now.
Yet before pocketing it, a reply from Jung Hye-mi—like she'd been waiting.
A little earlier.
A meeting on the 'Project Team' convened at Heavenly Firmament.
"The initial intent to form a project team under Heavenly Firmament's name was good. But years later, the management division sees more funding poured than results. Plenty of ready-made hunters out there. Economically, better to recruit them than raise from scratch—squeeze every penny there. Not saying scrap the team outright; half-assing ongoing projects would tarnish our reputation. Plan's to keep just one."
"...So, disband one?"
"Yes. Project A and B teams. Fair judgment: winner gets full support."
The logic held.
But.
Jung Hye-mi, handling B Team, couldn't accept it.
"Isn't this too unfair for B Team? We're behind schedule, and pure skill eval would make it one-sided. Something more even..."
"Even? You just admitted it's disadvantageous for you. That's reason enough to cut you."
From the meeting room corner.
A man sneered.
Jung Hye-mi's brother, eldest son Jung Chan-hyeok, overseeing A Team.
Jung Chan-hyeok spoke.
"Management's hard decision. When one must go, don't expect fairness. If A beats B—late start, excuses whatever—no reason to back B over A. Hye-mi. No, Team Leader Jung Hye-mi. Want to turn it around? Skip emotions; give a solid solution."
Words cut sharp.
His reaction.
She understood.
Father always pitted the siblings, promising power to one someday.
Always rivals.
Jung Hye-mi swallowed her anger.
"Understood. Accept one must exit the project."
Meeting ended.
She stormed out, face icy.
Then, Jung Chan-hyeok's voice caught her.
"Hye-mi."
"What?"
Turning.
He leaned on the door, watching her.
The curt, affectionless brother always turned cold in competition, like no blood tied them.
"Credit where due—you've done well at Heavenly Firmament. But don't eye my spot. Stay the good little sister, content in your lane where family bonds feel real, and big bro'll look after his only sis later. So wrap this cleanly. No loose ends."
That was it.
He spat his piece, didn't wait for reply, walked off.
Always like this.
Eldest son, so heir to all.
Eldest, so never yield to second-child her.
His constant refrain.
What started as sibling banter grew dead serious with age.
Jung Hye-mi hated losing too.
Project exit.
Total defeat.
If the stage was fair, she'd prepare her utmost till then.
She walked on.
Then.
Phone buzzed.
Irritably checking, she froze at the familiar name.
Why.
Now, that name felt so welcome.