The Banquet Clash
The banquet hall stood in San Francisco.
The Association President approached the main entrance and held out his invitation to the World Hunter Association staff member waiting there.
"Welcome, Association President."
"Charles. It's been a while."
President Kim Hee-jae greeted the hunter checking his invitation with genuine warmth. The man was an A-rank hunter like himself, and a high-level administrator in the World Hunter Association.
"Is that gentleman by any chance…?"
Charles's eyes flicked toward Do-ha. Just as the rumors claimed, the man was wearing a mask.
"Yes, that's him. Korea's Cheonwaecheon."
"A pleasure to meet you. I'm Charles Aind of the World Hunter Association."
"Likewise. Call me A."
"Hunter Kang Ji-hwan and Hunter Han Se-ah have joined us this time as well."
Charles smiled smoothly and began guiding them inside. Accustomed to dealing with countless people, his voice, tone, and every small gesture put others at ease.
Creak.
"Please enjoy yourselves."
When Charles opened the banquet hall doors, a vast and beautiful garden spread out before them. The grass looked ordinary enough, yet it felt soft and springy underfoot. The surrounding statues, crafted with painstaking care by dwarves, seemed ready to spring to life at any moment. Beyond the garden, the ocean stretched to the horizon.
Hmm. Not bad.
Do-ha glanced around the banquet grounds and gave a small nod. The people gathering here were no ordinary folk, and it showed—every detail had been attended to with care.
While Association President Kim Hee-jae, Han Se-ah, and Kang Ji-hwan struck up conversations with their acquaintances, Do-ha slipped away toward an empty corner.
"Canteas, come here. Conjure, canteas."
Whoosh.
Pop.
At the quiet incantation, Canteas materialized at Do-ha's side. The venue was layered with every kind of defensive magic and coordinate-scrambling device imaginable, yet Canteas appeared without the slightest trouble. A being who could cross dimensions was hardly going to be stopped by something so trivial.
"Use illusion magic and change into something ordinary. Not the face you showed at that café."
That appearance drew far too many eyes. An unknown hunter appearing here would attract endless attention.
"Got it."
Zaaang.
Canteas, now able to cast magic through the Nameless Spear, shifted into a suitably unremarkable form—an average Western face that could belong to anyone. He checked himself over.
"Wander around and look for anything on the hunters' bodies."
"Ah, you mean the marks?"
Canteas nodded at the words. Members of the Demon God Cult always carried the cult's mark as a tattoo. Some outsiders had mocked them as branded cattle, but to the cultists the mark was a badge of pure glory.
Just then—
"Hello, Mr. A. What are you doing over there?"
Someone approached from behind Do-ha. No particular aura could be felt, yet it was like a finely honed blade drawing near.
"Ah, you're…"
"A pleasure. My name is Henry."
The British hunter, the first SSS-rank awakener and the world's number-one ranked hunter, smiled as he greeted Do-ha.
"I'm A."
"It's good to finally meet you like this. And the gentleman behind you…?"
Henry's gaze shifted to Canteas.
"I was just exchanging greetings with this gentleman. He said he's an American hunter. Nice meeting you."
"Likewise. A pleasure to make your acquaintance."
Canteas put on a passable performance and moved away. He hadn't expected Rank One to approach, but from the look on the man's face, Henry's interest lay solely with Do-ha.
"Might we have a word as well?"
"Of course."
Do-ha nodded at Henry's request. Truthfully, he was curious about the current Rank One's level himself.
Oh? Now this is interesting.
The corner of Do-ha's mouth twitched. Up close, Henry controlled his power with remarkable precision. He kept his strength carefully restrained, yet wisps of his presence still leaked out.
I want to fight him.
Wei Chen, whom he had faced earlier, had been trash—utterly worthless. Looking at Henry felt like a purification. He had never seen an awakener of this caliber before. No—someone of this level would be strong even in the world of Belhart.
Tszzt.
—Do-ha, that guy just now is Rank One, right?
Canteas, equally curious, sent a telepathic message.
—Yeah, that's him.
—First person I've seen who's trained to that degree since we came to Earth.
—Same here. That's why I'm curious.
—…You're going to fight him?
Hearing Do-ha's words, Canteas blurted out in sudden alarm. That mad emperor who wanted to fight every strong opponent he laid eyes on! His mouth had been twitching from the start! Canteas had sent the telepathy out of pure unease, and of course he was right.
"You look deep in thought."
"Yes. Looking at you, Mr. Henry, makes me want to fight."
"…"
Henry, champagne glass in hand, went blank for a moment. Even Al Hashir, the Rank Two hunter right beneath him, never said something so blunt. Yet this newly risen Cheonwaecheon named A was saying it outright.
"Puhahahaha!"
Amused, Henry finally burst out laughing. In all his time as an awakener, no one had ever spoken to him like this.
"Funny—it seems our hearts are in the same place."
A subtle presence began to flow from Henry. The truth was, the moment Do-ha had entered the banquet hall, Henry had wanted to fight him. His ability to read people was exceptional. Calling it mere instinct did not do justice to his eye. Every hunter he had ever observed possessed exactly the power he sensed, and the same held true for monsters. But the hunter called A was… ambiguous.
It feels like shallow water—yet if I step in, I'll drown.
What was this strange sensation? He was so curious he wanted to confirm it right now.
"Have you eaten yet?"
"No, not yet. Why do you ask?"
"A shame. After I hit you, your mouth will be swollen and raw. Eating will be difficult."
"Pff. I had no idea you were such an entertaining hunter, Mr. A."
Whoosh.
Responding to Henry's energy, power began to stir slowly within Do-ha's body as well.
And then—
Grab.
Someone seized Henry's shoulder.
"Hey, Henry. You've talked enough. Move aside, yeah?"
It was Heracles. Two hundred ten centimeters of towering height, arms thick as a grown man's head, and golden hair cascading to his shoulders—he looked exactly like the Heracles of myth.
"…"
The moment Heracles gripped his shoulder, Henry's expression hardened for the briefest instant. It lasted only a fraction of a second, but Do-ha saw it clearly.
"I suppose I've been a bit too greedy."
Henry's face smoothed over as if nothing had happened, and he turned away.
"You two should talk. I'll take my leave."
As he stepped back, Henry glanced at Heracles.
"Listen, Heracles. Touch me one more time… and I might actually get angry. Remember that."
"Hmph."
Heracles snorted at the mild warning. Acting high and mighty just because he was a Cheonwaecheon.
"If you're that mad, why not come at me right now?"
"…There'll be a good day for it."
"Tsk tsk. All talk… Are you that scared of fighting me?"
Heracles shrugged as Henry walked away. Every time he proposed a fight, the man ran off like this. Because of that, they had never properly clashed even once.
"Hey. You the one called A? I'm Heracl—"
"Hey."
"Hey?"
"What the hell do you think you're doing?"
Do-ha stared at Heracles with a face gone ice-cold. The perfect moment to test himself against Henry had just been ruined by some brainless bastard barging in. The fool couldn't even tell whether the other man was running away or simply ignoring him, yet he kept flapping his mouth. Henry had ignored him because he wasn't worth the effort. And this idiot called it fear?
"Do you even understand what you've just done?"
For the first time since returning to Earth, Do-ha had met an opponent who made his heart race. He had been on the verge of facing that opponent.
"Oh boy."
Canteas covered his forehead. Do-ha's fury was only natural. Had he fought Henry, the clash might have granted him new insight. Martial artists often achieved breakthroughs by battling those stronger than themselves. That was why Do-ha had wanted the fight—the hunger to face a powerful foe, and the enlightenment that might come with it. Heracles had robbed him of both.
"Aww, our Mr. A is angry. Don't know why, but you want to fight me, right? Perfect. I've been wondering when and how to pick a fight with you myself."
Crack.
Heracles loosened his fists. He had only just arrived at the banquet and had planned to kill some time with a little provocation. This worked out even better.
Kuuuuuuu.
"Fight? A piece of trash like you?"
Killing intent flooded from Do-ha as a colossal surge of power erupted.
Baek-bo Myeol-hwang Gong
Second Step: Muje-gak
Whoosh!
Thud.
Do-ha's leg shot upward in a single, clean, lightning-straight line. As noted, Heracles stood two hundred ten centimeters tall.
KRAAAAAAANG!
"Guhk!"
Struck by Muje-gak, Heracles's jaw snapped upward as his body rocketed into the sky. In the same instant Do-ha launched himself after him.
Baek-bo Myeol-hwang Gong
Third Step: Cheonhyeon Geumgang
Two enormous arms formed behind Do-ha's back. Then—
Kugung!
Swaaaaaaash!
The giant hands clasped together and smashed straight down onto Heracles.
KRAAAAAAANG!
"Kyaaak!"
"Kh!"
Hunters who had scrambled clear the moment they felt the sudden surge of power threw up their arms to shield their faces. Fights between hunters were not unheard of at these gatherings, so they had moved at once—yet the shockwave still spread far wider than expected.
"You dog of a bastard, how dare you interfere—"
Thud.
"Guhk… You… you son of a—"
Blood-soaked, Heracles staggered up from the deep crater. He had felt the massive power and protected himself, yet he had still lost track of Do-ha's movements for a critical instant.
"You cowardly bastard—you dare ambush me?"
"What kind of nonsense is that? You're the one who walked up and started the fight. And now you call it an ambush? Even a passing dog would laugh."
"If… if I'd faced you properly, I never would have—"
"Oh, is that so?"
Swoosh.
Zaaang.
Normal Heal
Blip-blip.
"Huh…?"
As the healing magic erased every wound on his body, Heracles froze in shock. Had that bastard just cast magic?
"Hey. I'm coming."
"…"
"Hey. I'm attacking."
Do-ha announced it outright and drew his power up once more.
"You dare look down on me!"
Being told the attack was coming wounded Heracles's pride; he too gathered his strength.
Wooooong!
Crack.
Crackle-crackle-crackle!
Baek-bo Myeol-hwang Gong
Fourth Step: Geukma Noegwon
Flash!
BOOOOOM!
"This… this much—!!"
In the same flash of light, Heracles crossed both arms and blocked Do-ha's fist. Once again he had lost the movement, yet his beast-like instincts had reacted in time.
Creak.
Creak-creak.
"If I just… block this…"
Once he blocked it, he would seize the man's throat and rip it out.
Crack.
"Huh?"
Heracles, grinning inwardly, froze at the sound of something breaking.
"Worthless piece of trash."
Flash!
KRAAAAAAAAAAANG!
With Do-ha's curse, his fist became a single bolt of lightning that punched clean through Heracles.