Test Stage
"Lee Chang-hyun……."
Just thinking of the name made her teeth grind. The Mini Hunters League game was one event she was confident in.
"Yoo Hye-ju. What're you thinking so hard about?"
"What else? How you got your ass handed to you by that Lee Chang-hyun."
Yoon Han-gyeol's eyes widened slightly before he deflated, unable to continue. Even so, she figured a guy without this kind of backbone still had solid skills…….
And it wasn't even a 1v1—it was 2v1. Sure, there had been an ambush, but getting taken out in one shot? No matter how she sliced it, it felt more like their side's screw-up than the opponent's brilliance.
"Don't mope. Get in here. Just don't mess up this time."
"……I know. But that guy's not as easy as you think."
"You think I don't know that? I've got plans for it. For now, we'll stick close and double-team him."
Yoo Hye-ju steeled her resolve. A poor showing in this mission meant instant elimination, so she had no choice.
I came out here thinking I'd snag some prize money, and now this……
Elimination missions, no less. She just couldn't get in the groove.
They were academy students, sure, but skill levels varied wildly. She was already pro-level, no question. This wasn't the time to get tripped up.
So this round, she planned to unleash her full potential without holding back.
If I hadn't hidden my skills in the Mini Hunters League, I could've taken out four and still survived……
Whether she could've soloed Lee Chang-hyun's remaining A Team was another story.
I'll throw everything at him, every skill I can use. No cocky plays that get me eliminated. Objectively, we've got the edge in firepower. Plus…… they still don't know my skills.
It was the one silver lining in this grim situation.
Pros had their skills all mapped out, but against amateur hunters, knowing your opponent's abilities made all the difference. And Yoo Hye-ju's skill was near-invincible in close quarters.
Let's see if you can handle this.
She was certain he couldn't.
Their strategy. Skill synergy. Intel on the enemy. It all pointed to victory.
"Looks like he's a mid-range dealer. We'll close in together and finish him quick—that's our base plan."
Yoon Han-gyeol grimaced slightly but nodded at her words.
"Still far?"
"You're the one going too fast."
Kim Do-jun grumbled through the earpiece.
"I've secured a good spot first. Keep them pinned, and once you're here, we rush the capture point."
"You'll eat fire from every other team at once. You cool with that?"
"I've got it covered. Oh, and you're late anyway—walk the rest. No Air Beats or Air Anchors. Don't fly around flashing your position and tipping off the others."
Right now, Kim Do-jun joining up took a backseat to Lee Chang-hyun making moves solo.
The moment he finished speaking, a bite.
From his perch on the second floor of the hiding building, he spotted a two-man team on the road outside the window. No memory of them meant they weren't standouts.
Perfect test dummies.
Lee Chang-hyun's Magic Engineering Weapon Conversion muzzle gleamed, freshly infused with enhanced Ether.
Bang—!
…….
The sound was shockingly loud. Probably because, unlike pre-regression, this was Ether ammo, not mana rounds. Mana bullets synergized broadly with Magic Engineering Weapon Conversion, so no such issues there.
But the real shocker was the power.
[F Team Lee Hyun-jin: Death by Combat]
One shot.
Headshot, yeah, but this level…… matches the Ether I got as a hidden piece in the survival game……
The destructive force exceeded expectations. Not quite pre-regression mana rounds, but lethal enough.
Lee Chang-hyun was storming an era of melee brawlers with modern firearms.
Like Ethan. No—surpassing the old me who surpassed Ethan.
One more fled, abandoning his eliminated teammate after the surprise strike. Turning your back on a sniper? Prey.
Bang—!
[F Team Bae Su-hyun: Death by Combat]
Just testing the upgraded skill, but the power was terrifying.
"Heard that big bang up ahead? Someone fighting? This the right way?"
"……That was me. Shut up and keep coming this direction."
"What? You fought?"
Kim Do-jun kept yapping through the earpiece, but Lee Chang-hyun had no time.
Stealth was key—no noise if possible.
That dream last night? Keeps bringing back pre-regression memories.
Back then, with the title "Legendary Sniper," he'd played rear-guard, long-range dealer.
The textbook moves for a ranged dealer guided him now. Memories, tactics, feats resurfacing.
Sniper rule one: Relocate after every shot.
The blast was huge—melee dealers might close in. But Lee Chang-hyun wouldn't move far. Just sweep kills around the capture point.
So he circled to the 9 o'clock position, scouting another building for his next nest.
"From your original path, hang a right three blocks at 9 o'clock. Blue glass building, second floor. Head there."
"No way……."
Jo Ah-ra could no longer trust her eyes.
This wasn't the probing shots from before. It was pure lethality—kill-securing power. A true "gun" user.
But the forum buzz and what she'd seen confirmed it; she wasn't hallucinating.
"What'd I tell you? Could be real gun-related skills, right?"
Lee Min-seok was pumped. He'd never dreamed it was legit.
If it was real, why hold back until now…… or did the ability just power up?
Jo Ah-ra had reviewed every match and spar where Lee Chang-hyun appeared, as a watchlist prospect. She knew he hadn't had this before.
"Probably…… just my take, but that skill likely awakened recently."
"He handled guns like a pro during document review."
That part baffled even her. But…….
"If so, no need to hunt hidden pieces in survival…… spars were just probes…… never went full throttle like this. So now……."
"You mean it hit a trigger condition and bloomed? Hm…… possible. But does it matter? What matters is if he can be the 'outstanding hunter' you told the applicants about."
Jo Ah-ra bowed her head.
Then a voice snapped her from her thoughts—Jin Su-hyeok.
"Huh…… President?"
Behind her lifted gaze stood the Hunter Association President, Lee Geun-taek.
"Tsk tsk…… What is this old man to deserve such a welcome."
His words were humble, but his eyes gleamed like he eyed a fascinating gem.
"You're coveting him too, Association President."
Lee Min-seok smirked cynically.
"No…… not at all…… Already rejected once. Quite the spirited lad."
"……."
Rejected? Lee Min-seok looked shocked. A first-gen legend and Association President wouldn't offer lightly. Whatever it was, worth double a Hunters Next Generation win.
"Knew this'd happen—should've upped the ante……."
"Regretting it?"
"No, don't dwell on the past. Just find ways forward."
"Meaning?"
"Slot me into your future programs."
It was a bombshell. Unprecedented.
Guaranteed hype, sure, but no precedent.
"Haha…… too sudden? But I'm serious."
"……We'll review positively."
Even if Lee Min-seok disliked Lee Geun-taek, business was business. Huge for the show and applicants.
Slippery old fox…… what's he scheming……
Lee Geun-taek's affable, chuckling face lingered.
Kim Do-jun finally reached the blue building's second floor as instructed.
"Here. Where you at?"
"Room 201. Get in."
Inside, Lee Chang-hyun crouched low, peeking just his eyes over the window.
Following suit, Kim Do-jun spotted the glowing zone—the capture point.
As expected…… empty.
Likely tons lurking nearby, playing chicken.
Rushing now meant casualties.
Thus, not smart. Lee Chang-hyun already had two kills—low rank unlikely.
"So, plan? Still not spilling?"
"Ignore the rest. Yoon Han-gyeol or Yoo Hye-ju. Who's easier?"
"Me stalling one?"
"Just for a bit."
Untrustworthy, but this was Lee Chang-hyun—consistent results. Kim Do-jun bought in.
"While I stall?"
"I'll capture."
"……That's it?"
Lee Chang-hyun nodded. Kim Do-jun could only gape.
Internally: How the hell with all those others……
But another thought: Hidden ace up his sleeve?
That easy two-kill opener hinted at something big.