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A-rank awakener Kwak Su-hyeon. He had been born with an exceptionally high affinity for mana. His control over it was equally superb. That's why, during his rank assessment, he'd manipulated his own mana output to masquerade as a B-rank.
Sensitive to the flow of mana, he could detect an opponent's movements early and exploit any openings, making him the perfect assassin. He'd joined the Hwarang Guild early on and enrolled in the Magic Officer Academy this year to carry out their orders. Of course, with a proper identity wash, he'd infiltrated without raising any suspicions.
In fact, aside from him, there were quite a few plants from various major guilds here. Their target was the S-rank dungeon Lycan's Nest beneath the school plaza. The Guild Alliance's leadership believed the government had built this sloppily run academy here because of that dungeon.
Naturally, Kwak Su-hyeon's goal was to sneak into the dungeon and gather intel. But the security was so tight that he'd failed every time. It didn't make sense from the start—how could a dungeon supposedly fully cleared have its rank fluctuating like that?
The only official time he could enter and collect info was during dungeon practice class. Even then, with so many eyes around, openly scouting was tricky in every way.
In that situation, he'd recently learned that three low-rank rat bastards had beaten him to it and successfully infiltrated. His pride was badly bruised.
Then, a new order had come down to him recently.
[Irregular awakener Kang Min-ho]
His current mission: gather intel on him and assassinate.
Now that he knew some professors were taking an interest, rash moves were off the table.
'But it's getting more interesting,' he thought.
He'd started noticing unexpected things about his target, Kang Min-ho. It piqued his curiosity, so he'd observed even more closely.
Pretending to leave with his team just moments ago, he'd immediately activated his stealth skill, hidden himself, and doubled back. That's when he witnessed Kang Min-ho approaching the dead monster. And he felt mana flowing from the ogre's body into Kang Min-ho.
'Definitely absorbing mana.'
It was hard to believe, but that's exactly what he'd sensed.
His gaze shifted to Kang Min-ho, running beside him.
"Why?"
"Nah, nothing. Just handsome."
"Male bastard's got no spice."
Kwak Su-hyeon smiled softly at Kang Min-ho's gruff retort.
Killing him could happen anytime. But he wanted to see the true face of this guy who kept stoking his curiosity.
'Fun. Real fun.'
His eyes curved into gentle arcs.
Just then, as a massive new S-rank monster boasting a gigantic frame came into view in the distance, Professor Kim Yo-han appeared before the group.
"Everyone, halt!"
"Huh? P-Professor?"
"What happened to him?"
"Gasp!"
The man who'd looked pristine moments ago was now a wretched mess.
"Anyone got a radio I can borrow?"
"Y-yes. Use this."
Jeong Hyeon-gu handed over his radio at the request. Kim Yo-han donned it immediately and broadcast his name and affiliation.
Updating estimated rank of new monster: Twin Head Ogre to SS-rank.
It's growing stronger over time—could be even higher.
Declaring Uijeongbu area an emergency disaster zone effective immediately.
All hunters: retreat to perimeter, prevent secondary casualties from other monsters. Hold until reinforcements arrive.
Over.
The team members, hearing it all right beside him, went pale as dirt.
Most were B-rank hunters. S-rank was tough enough; SS-rank was unthinkable. Against SS-rank, B-rank awakeners were no different from civilians.
"You heard. Retreat to the perimeter fast."
"B-but..."
Jeong Hyeon-gu reacted, face drained white. But he trailed off, lips just trembling.
Professor Kim Yo-han nodded understandingly at him.
"I get the urge to fight alongside me, but this isn't your battlefield."
Shadows fell over the cadets' faces. Kim Yo-han chuckled wryly and continued.
"And above all, what I need right now isn't numbers—it's someone fast enough to dodge that thing's attacks."
He soothed their egos by calling them "reinforcements" instead of "useless."
Silence fell naturally after his words.
Frankly, the bit after his comforting remark meant volunteering as bait to buy time until real help arrived.
As Professor Kim Yo-han's gaze swept the surroundings, cadets meeting his eyes flinched and bowed their heads. He smiled lightly, understanding.
No one wanted to die. And even if they were eager, no one was dumb enough to ignore his mangled left arm, shaking badly.
Should I step up or back off quietly?
If not for the new ability I'd just gained, I'd have chosen retreat. But now was different.
I turned to the hazy silhouette of the Twin Head Ogre.
'What I can gain from that thing will be huge.'
Staring at the beast, I felt not fear, but thrilling excitement.
Mind made up, I stepped forward.
"I can handle that role."
"Hesitate even a little, and you're dead."
Professor Kim Yo-han eyed me like he was warning against bravado. But I met his gaze steadily.
I had my reasons to go there.
"Just drawing its attention and dodging? Yeah, I can do that."
"Hmm. Is that so?"
As I held his eyes and stated my case, a flicker of interest lit his pupils, then vanished.
He'd just amped up his presence to pressure me. A cocky kid would've been crushed, choking for breath. The gap between S and B was that vast.
Plus, this student had just joined B-class but was actually C-rank, right?
Yet, unbelievably, the kid wasn't flinching—brushing off his aura like nothing.
'Hiding his strength even now?'
The sole irregular awakener among countless others, unbound by limits. In that instant, Professor Go Taek-hyeon's face flashed in his mind.
Unlike his surprise, I truly wasn't fazed. I was naturally absorbing the mana pouring from him.
Thump.
Far from being overwhelmed, my mana heart throbbed, hungry for more.
Unaware, Professor Kim Yo-han eyed me thoughtfully.
Then Kwak Su-hyeon stepped up beside me.
"I can do it too."
"You're Kwak Su-hyeon, right?"
"Yes, Professor."
"Stealth specialist?"
"That's right."
"Hmm. Then you should manage."
His gaze flicked between us.
"Grroooaaar!"
Boom!
Crash! Thud thud!
A colossal roar erupted, and a fairly tall building collapsed entirely. All eyes turned there.
Professor Kim Yo-han turned back with a bitter face.
"I needed help anyway, so no long speeches. One goal: keep that thing's eyes here until reinforcements. Got it?"
"Yes."
"Yep."
He nodded curtly and headed toward the noise.
"Rest of you, retreat! Block every last monster from escaping! Understood?"
"Yes, Professor!"
Jeong Hyeon-gu bellowed the loudest reply, his body trembling with frustration. With that, he leaped away.
"M-Min-ho."
Lee Jae-wook called from where he stood with the other teammates.
"Don't worry. I'm good at running away."
"Yeah. Stay safe."
"See ya later."
"Yeah."
I bumped his offered fist lightly and followed Professor Kim Yo-han.
Whoosh. Thud.
Leaping rooftop to rooftop, Kwak Su-hyeon matched my pace beside me.
"Not scared?"
"Of what?"
"That thing. Professor says minimum SS-rank."
"Just aggro and evade. Not fighting head-on."
"Hoo~ Right?"
"Yeah."
I ignored the guy grinning and chuckling like it was hilarious. We'd entered his perception range.
The ambient mana, dissolved in the air, twisted wildly under his influence. The pressure was so intense even breathing hurt.
'This the mana field from S-rank-plus monsters?'
This all-encompassing field made it hard for A-rank or lower to even approach. Exceptions had special skills, like that guy.
I glanced at Kwak Su-hyeon as his presence faded, then leaped opposite.
"Going in!"
Shouting at empty air, I charged the Twin Head Ogre.
From a high rooftop, Professor Kim Yo-han watched their moves. He wrapped his broken arm in mana to stabilize it, then rested his rifle on it like a bipod.
'Not bad. Both of 'em.'
A smile tugged his lips as they ignored the mana field's pressure and rushed the beast.
Moments later.
"Grrooo!"
"Rraaagh!"
The two zipped past its legs, striking. The Twin Head Ogre's heads bellowed in unison.
They'd drawn its gaze.
'Time for a real hit.'
His mana rifle, Akelte, greedily sucked in his mana—fast enough to kill most. But his S-rank passive Mana Control reined it in as he waited.
'Hawk Eye.'
Activating the skill zoomed the distant head into close-up.
'Veteran Marksmanship.'
'Rapid Fire.'
He stroked the trembling, mana-charged barrel.
'Fire!'
Bang! Baaang!
Two massive shots echoed across Uijeongbu's sky.
Splat! Splaaat!
Both struck one head almost simultaneously. The insane force pulverized half the right head. Chunks rained down.
"Whoa!"
Matching the beast's size, the flesh was huge.
Splat splat, thud thud.
Flesh and blood poured like rain. Circling to hold aggro, we got drenched.
'Huh?'
The blood soaking me vanished into my body like it'd never been.
Thump.
Blood was mana incarnate. Absorbing the thick mana from it—not the dilute air stuff—sent my mana heart into overdrive.
"Uwaaaah!"
A storm of mana surged from my heart through my limbs. I screamed wildly.
My white-hot mind rang with a notification.
Mana Body (S)
My mana heart extracted every drop from the absorbed Twin Head Ogre blood, incinerating the waste in one go.
Hiss!
Red steam vented from my body.
"Hah, hah."
Panting hard, I raised my hand in shock.
Thump!
Mana exploded from my pounding heart into my limbs.
'What the hell is this?'
Vortices raged through every corner of my body. It felt like even my cells were pure mana.
'This is Mana Body?'
My vision sharpened; everything snapped into crystal clarity, graspable.
Professor Kim Yo-han gasping on a distant rooftop. Kwak Su-hyeon, blood-soaked, hiding in a building corner—his breathing. The Twin Head Ogre glaring down in rage.
I realized I'd become something entirely new.
Mana wasn't something I forced anymore. It was my heartbeat, my very flesh.
Then.
The beast's mana erupted into its right arm like an explosion, cannoning toward me.
"Dodge!"
BOOM.
The ground cratered. Burst pipes flooded it instantly.
I hauled Kwak Su-hyeon out, slinging him over my shoulder.
"Cough, cough. Y-you?"
He spat water, stammering at me.
"Too dangerous. Stay back."
"Wh-what?"
I turned from his trembling, shocked face to the Twin Head Ogre.
No more rat-like dodging to hold aggro.
My pounding mana heart, the overflowing mana in my veins—they screamed to erase this twisted fucker from existence.
"What? Already awake?"