Misunderstandings Keep Piling Up 3
The battle with the three hunters unfolded in a way utterly different from fighting monsters. One might call it obvious when comparing hunters to monsters, but at a more fundamental level, the key difference lay in the skills they employed.
Against monsters, high-damage skills were the mainstay. But against fellow hunters, raw power was irrelevant. Skills that consumed minimal mana took priority—ones tied to speed rather than one-shot bursts. That's why hunter-vs-hunter fights were quieter than you'd expect. No explosions like in monster brawls.
Hunters accustomed to fighting each other preferred even more concise combat. Heo Jinhyuk wasn't just accustomed; he was addicted to it.
As he charged toward the ninjas, Heo Jinhyuk drew two daggers from his waist, gripping one in each hand. Both were double-edged blades about 30cm long, uniquely engraved with magic patterns on their flats. These were his hunter-specific daggers, the patterns etched with Sharpness.
Sharpness made blades razor-keen, but it was useless against monsters' thick hides and had fallen into obscurity. Against hunters, though? Invaluable. And Heo Jinhyuk maximized its potential.
The frontrunner closed to within 10 meters before activating Swiftness, exploding forward in a burst of speed.
The gap vanished in an instant. Before the enemy could react, Heo Jinhyuk's daggers gleamed. The Sharpness-activated blades pierced the lead ninja's throat. As the dagger sank fully, he twisted it 180 degrees with wrist strength and yanked it free.
The wound tore wide. The ninja's neck snapped back, momentum sending him tumbling forward.
The trailing ninja startled at the sudden crumple but had no time for more. Heo Jinhyuk's blade had already struck and withdrawn from his throat too.
No mercy, no waste. Heo Jinhyuk targeted only weak points—throat, jaw, eyes—that could drop a foe in one hit. The Baekya Gate members followed suit, methodically felling ninjas by vital strikes alone.
Early momentum swung to Baekya Gate. They placed their strongest up front, while the ninjas led with cannon fodder. No real resistance; they dropped like flies.
Then the battlefield shifted. Flames erupted from the ground, licking up ankles. Heo Jinhyuk barked as he leaped back.
"Fall back!"
Baekya Gate members retreated in perfect unison. Heo Jinhyuk eyed the fire climbing past his calves toward his knees, channeled mana into his legs, and stomped hard.
The blaze that had threatened to consume him guttered out.
"These are the bastards. Everyone, stay sharp."
The scary part about Japanese ninjas was exactly this: facing both Koga and Iga clans together. They rarely cooperated due to bad blood, so their joint appearance confirmed it.
That seals it—100% certain.
He didn't know what delay had held them up, but Kim Suho was clearly vital enough to warrant both clans' protection.
As the flames died, Heo Jinhyuk kicked off the ground and leaped. Left dagger dispatched the lead ninja; he thrust right toward the next—
Wind whistled. Clang.
He parried the flying shuriken with his right dagger, then extended left for the kill. More shurikens rained.
"Hmph! Think this'll stop me?"
Parrying with right while left struck true, he plunged straight into the ninja cluster. Surrounded, shuriken fire ceased. Like a fish in water, he carved through them relentlessly.
"Kuso na yatsu!"
Japanese hissed in his ear as a katana slashed for his head. No room to dodge amid the press, Heo Jinhyuk crossed daggers in an X to block.
Boom.
The clash boomed, the foe no pushover. Blades locked in a test of strength before repelling each other, both stepping back.
Normally, you'd exchange glares, words, then clash for real. The ninja expected that, addressing him.
"Kimi ga..."
But Heo Jinhyuk knew better—pure idiocy. This wasn't a blind date.
He activated Swiftness again and lunged. The startled ninja raised his blade mid-sentence, but Heo Jinhyuk was faster. A short, sharp swing.
Left dagger feinted at the throat; as it blocked, right stabbed the right armpit. The unexpected hit slackened his guard—fate sealed.
Left blade, halted by the katana, slid down and pierced the jaw from below.
"Thanks."
One exchange, but this wasn't an easy mark. He'd have taken time otherwise—not a sure loss, just a delay. In a race against the clock, even seconds mattered; he'd planned a skill. The fool's chatter saved him the effort.
As Heo Jinhyuk turned back to the pack, a massive fireball hurtled in. It clipped his ankle.
He twisted aside, dodging—but shurikens followed.
Clang. Clang.
Trivial for him, no damage. But his expression darkened.
They'd appeared up front. Their aura alone matched his—masters recognized masters. No openings in their stance.
Worst: five of them.
The center one spoke, as if it were habit.
"So you're Baekya Gate's leader."
Heo Jinhyuk lunged for the gap anyway, first strike wins. But as his heel lifted, the ninja beside the speaker leveled his blade at him. Heo Jinhyuk lowered it.
"Impatient one."
The center spoke again—in Korean, unlike the last.
He feinted another move, but the blade-pointer twitched. Heo Jinhyuk halted, realizing ambushes were off. He answered.
"Got a dinner date."
No deeper meaning, but the reply twisted it.
"Right. Important one. Too bad—you'll never see them again. Heh."
Them? Kim Suho? Never see again? What the hell?
Questions swirled, but a masked figure—who'd blocked his moves—charged. No hesitation: Heo Jinhyuk triggered Latent Power Burst.
Latent Power Burst tripled physical stats for one minute, guzzling 100 mana. Too early normally, but instinct screamed: lose ground now, and it's over.
Chaining Swiftness, he ignored the charger and targeted the leftmost chain-sickle ninja, blurring forward.
The foe panicked at the sudden shift, hurling his weight. Heo Jinhyuk ducked lightly, thrusting for the throat.
The ninja raised his sickle to block—but against dual buffs, it failed. Half the neck sheared off.
"Kuso!"
Someone cursed; Heo Jinhyuk ignored it. Goal: one more before Swiftness ended.
He kicked the dead man's sickle haft at the adjacent foe, who parried easily—he'd seen his ally die.
But that was bait. Mid-kick, Heo Jinhyuk launched at the far-right ninja.
Expecting it, the dual-dagger foe swung. Simultaneously, a fireball flew; the first reactive ninja's blade arced for his back.
Skill-boosted to match his speed.
Heo Jinhyuk gritted teeth, twisting midair.
Slash. Thunk.
Twist dodged the fireball, killed the dual-wielder—but side grazed by the trailing blade.
Two down for a side wound. Not bad.
They wouldn't slack again. Remaining auras screamed vigilance.
"I'll tear you apart."
Three ninjas encircled him, outer ring tightening. Beyond, Jongrichu led Baekya Gate against ninjas—dead even.
Jongrichu rampaged, but ninjas outnumbered them heavily, skill unyielding. Holding parity was impressive.
But temporary. Time favored the enemy. Heo Jinhyuk had to end these three fast, consequences be damned.
Decision made, he exploded forward.
Thus began Heo Jinhyuk's duel with the trio, while Jongrichu took command against the rest.
"Tahat."
Jongrichu sliced a ninja's ankle; a trailing Baekya man cleaved the head. Jongrichu already targeted another, severing wrist. Follow-up struck—then a fireball incoming.
No dodge mid-swing; the man blocked with his free arm, trading flesh for bone.
Slash. Boom.
Ninja head flew; arm ruined.
Then a chain shot from the maimed side, aiming for his skull. He jerked back—chain snared his throat.
Free hand clawed at it, but a sickle buried in his forehead. He toppled.
Jongrichu, mid-engagement, saw and roared, charging the chain-retriever. The ninja raised sickle—too late. Jongrichu's blade sheared head and sickle alike.
"Damn it, don't fight alone! Pair up—at least two!"
As Jongrichu lunged at leads, sharp killing intent: incoming blade.
Clang.
Parried, but vibration numbed fingers. Glancing: a smirking ninja. Jongrichu recognized him instantly—the one from Kim Suho's kidnapping attempt, mutual near-death.
Ridiculous self-assurance after that fluke tie, mana tangled by Suho's rise.
His efforts kept them even, plugging gaps. Couldn't leave long.
But the foe exceeded expectations.
Slash. Slash.
Jongrichu's blade gashed side; foe's slashed his arm.
What the—?
Jongrichu startled; foe mirrored it. Equals—full effort needed.
Whew.
Deep breath, center. Pressure on him: end quick, return to field. Foe leisurely.
Proved moments ago: his aggression met retreats, probing.
Impatience meant loss. His defeat? Baekya massacre.
Win clean, minimal losses—or no return.
Hold on. I believe in you.
Calm now, Jongrichu dueled steadily.
I grabbed my participation form, double-checked my room for forgotten items. Nothing. Since I was here, I inspected the whole building floor by floor.
Starting at 7, down slowly—no abandoned gear, place empty as a ghost town.
Reached 1F. Heading to basement—blood stench hit like a punch.
"What? Sudden blood smell?"
Puzzled, I hurried down.
To be continued in the next chapter...