Chapter 33
Chapter 33
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 33
Chapter Title: Unscathed by Bullets
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With Yong-un's appearance, the world competition heated up intensely.
The audience was captivated by his dominance and overwhelming strength, erupting in cheers, while the commentators unconsciously found themselves rooting for him.
And now, at the very climax.
The crowd and commentators alike plunged into chaos at Yong-un's acceptance of the utterly absurd proposal that followed.
"D-Did he really accept it?"
"Can't you see? Both American hunters are stepping up, guns in hand. I thought he was smart, but turns out he's just a battle-crazed lunatic."
"He's done for. Handing guns to American hunters... and to both of them, no less."
Fear swallowed the audience at the sight of the American hunters gripping their firearms.
Guns had never appeared in the world competition before, so GHO halted the duel momentarily to reinforce security around the spectator stands.
It was to prevent any stray bullets from hitting the crowd.
Once all preparations were complete, the referee raised his hand.
With the signal for the duel to begin, he shouted in a booming voice.
"For the referee's safety, the fight will start with the signal followed by the gong. The gong will sound in exactly ten seconds—everyone, get ready! Prepare!"
With the signal, the referee bolted out of the arena as fast as he could.
"Didn't expect you'd accept. But since you did, I won't kill you."
In the brief moment after the referee vanished and before the gong, the American hunters spoke to Yong-un with slightly brighter expressions.
"Sorry in advance. We have to win this too."
Yong-un said nothing in response, his eyes fixed on the pistols in their hands.
'Is that a gun? Fascinating.'
It was small and had an unusual shape.
It didn't feel threatening at all, and he wondered what kind of combat it could even be used for.
But what truly intrigued him wasn't the so-called gun itself.
It was the change in the American hunters holding it.
Just wielding that tiny weapon had made their faces light up with confidence—it was that sight that caught Yong-un's eye as peculiar.
"If you want to surrender, raise your hand. We'll stop shooting."
As the promised ten seconds drew near, the American hunters raised their pistols, muzzles trained on Yong-un.
They exuded overconfidence bordering on certainty of victory.
Yong-un finally spoke, gazing at them.
"On the contrary, I must ask you this: bring everything you've got. Here..."
He pointed to his own neck.
"Aim to sever this."
The American hunters flinched at his words.
But only for a moment.
Ding!
The gong signaling the start echoed through the arena.
All their prepared mana surged forth as both American hunters pulled their triggers.
Bang! Bang-bang-bang-bang!
Had they sensed fear in Yong-un's final stance?
Despite claiming they wouldn't kill him, the flames from their pistols didn't let up.
Bang! Bang-bang-bang-bang-bang!
The barrage of muzzle flashes pierced not just Yong-un but the arena walls, the panels beside it—everything in sight.
"Kyaaah!"
"Calm down!"
The crowd screamed amid the scattering bullets, while the GHO hunters blocking them scrambled to soothe the panic.
Bang!
And then.
As the final shot's flame faded.
Silence enveloped not just the stands but the entire arena and commentary booth—the massive dome itself.
Whoosh.
The acrid smell of gunpowder from the pistols wafted through the dome.
A faint breeze swept dust across the perforated ceiling of the quiet arena.
The only movement was the camera angle locked on Yong-un in the giant monitors.
"......What just happened?"
Someone's voice pierced the hush.
But no one could answer.
They simply held their breath, watching Yong-un's condition.
Swish.
And then, in that instant.
Yong-un, the center of all attention, stirred.
His head slowly lifted from where he'd shielded his face with outstretched arms.
A grin crept across his lips.
"So that's the principle behind it."
He straightened from his crouched stance, releasing the tension in his arms.
Then, metallic clinks began ringing out around him.
Plink. Plink-plink-plink. Plink-plink-plink-plink.
The simultaneous patter of falling pellets drew the cameras to zoom in on Yong-un.
Gasps of awe erupted from the stands.
"Hiiiik!"
"Woooah!"
"That's Yong-un for you! Insane!"
The tiny objects on the massive monitors were the bullets the American hunters had fired.
"What the hell..."
Not ordinary bullets, but mana-infused rounds they'd poured their power into.
Yet they hadn't even scratched Yong-un's skin.
"At that range... even a monster would..."
"Martin! Snap out of it and reload!"
Stunned by the shock, one hunter stared blankly at Yong-un while the other hurriedly reloaded.
"Damn it! Even I..."
Click!
The quick-thinking hunter finished loading and raised his muzzle.
But the moment he went to pull the trigger—
Yong-un was right in front of him.
"Thanks. You've taught me the workings of guns."
"Shit."
Thud! Boom!
As realization dawned too late, Yong-un's palm slammed into the hunter's gut with a shockwave.
The arena floor cracked as the American hunter dropped to both knees.
Thump.
His eyes rolled back as his head hit the ground.
"Hik!"
The other hunter finally snapped to and fumbled to load.
But before he could chamber a round or rack the slide, Yong-un was upon him.
"Ah..."
"That was fun."
"......"
Boom!
What does the term "all-time great" even exist for?
Yong-un.
His name itself embodies it.
These were the exact words a commentator uttered toward Yong-un after his final duel with the Americans.
Having transcended shock into awe at Yong-un's divine prowess, it was enough to shake the entire world.
Of course, Taiwan's upset victory over China had stunned the globe as well, but with three hunters eliminated and only Xu Chan left standing, he felt the insurmountable wall of Yong-un's might and forfeited, bringing the world competition to a close.
With South Korea claiming an unexpected championship, that is.
"We will now hold the S-Rank Hunter License awarding ceremony. Please come forward: first place South Korea and second place Taiwan's survivors up to the semifinals."
Yong-un, Sword Tiger, and the four Taiwanese hunters who made it to the semifinals stepped up to receive their S-Rank licenses in turn.
Champion Yong-un and Sword Tiger received gold licenses, while the Taiwanese hunters got silver ones.
Once the ceremony ended, Xu Chan—the rising star among the Taiwanese—approached Yong-un and extended his hand.
"I'm sorry. I just couldn't see a way to win, so I forfeited."
Exhausted to his limit, Xu Chan's outstretched hand trembled faintly.
Yong-un grasped it and said,
"If you aspire to higher realms, never choose surrender through forfeiture."
Though Yong-un spoke bluntly and condescendingly, Xu Chan bowed deeply as if receiving wisdom from a superior.
"Next time, we'll meet up there."
Looking up with a bright smile, Xu Chan pointed at the massive monitors overhead.
As if certain Yong-un would ascend there.
He clenched his fist against his chest in firm belief, then turned back to his Taiwanese comrades for a celebratory toast.
"Well then..."
As everyone showered them with blessings, Yong-un and Sword Tiger shifted their gazes to the base of the giant monitors—not with joy, but resolve.
Their goal from the start had been...
"Now it really begins."
The S-Rank top ten.
The closing ceremony signaling the end of the world competition concluded.
Yet not a single spectator left the venue.
Because.
What came after the closing could very well be the biggest highlight.
The referee stepped out, and GHO's head director approached Yong-un with a microphone.
He addressed the surrounding crowd.
"I know why all you spectators are still seated. It's been a while since so many stayed put even after the closing ceremony."
Flashing a friendly smile, the GHO director fixed his gaze on Yong-un.
Then, raising his voice to a roar, he shouted,
"Alright then! A proposal to the champion! The S-Rank top ten! Will you challenge them?"
"Woooah!"
"Yong-un! Yong-un!"
"Challenge them! Do it!"
"That's why we're still here! Yong-un! Challenge!"
The mic was passed to Yong-un.
The crowd's cheers nearly drowned it out as they chanted his name.
Yong-un scanned the audience once, then leaned into the mic.
"I challenge."
"Woooah!"
As if awaiting a new top-ten monster.
The held-back roars exploded from the stands.
"Excellent! Let's give a thunderous cheer for the new S-Rank top-ten challengers!"
"Woooah!"
That evening.
The hallway outside the hotel room where Yong-un and Sword Tiger were staying had never known a moment's peace.
Reporters and fans had somehow learned their location and swarmed to see them, but fortunately, GHO had anticipated this and assigned their own hunters as guards, handling the crowds at their level.
However.
Among those seeking Yong-un and Sword Tiger were some even GHO hunters couldn't handle.
"They're here."
Sensing the sudden hush outside, Sword Tiger tensed.
This atmosphere, this presence.
He'd experienced it once before, gripping the sword at his waist tightly.
Click.
The firmly locked hotel door swung open effortlessly without being unlocked.
Two figures—a man and a woman—strode inside.
"Sword Dragon, Golden Cat..."
Sword Dragon in a sharp blue suit and Golden Cat elegantly draped in a red dress approached Yong-un with bright smiles.
Glancing briefly at Sword Tiger, Sword Dragon seized the hilt of his waist-mounted blade.
"It was you after all."
"I warned you. Come again, and you'd die."
As Sword Dragon emanated killing intent and Golden Cat grinned while radiating yellow mana, Sword Tiger half-drew his sword.
"Sword Dragon? Should we take him out first?"
Her eyes glowed yellow, signaling the start.
Sword Dragon nodded faintly and drew his blade from his waist.
But as he coiled to launch—
The seated Yong-un rose.
"Intruders acting like they own the place."
A tsunami of demonic qi erupted from him simultaneously.
Sword Dragon halted mid-leap, and Golden Cat scowled.
Yong-un's cold gaze settled over them from his upright stance.
Their killing intent dominating the room and Golden Cat's yellow mana shattered with a pop, blown back.
In their place, pitch-black demonic qi filled the space, pressing down on them as if denying their intrusion.
"No one who touched what's mine has ever walked away unscathed."
With those quiet words from Yong-un, black light burst from his eyes.
As if facing a reaper from hell.
"Try it, if you can."
"Unexpected."
"Annoying."
Even in the world competition, they'd never sensed such potent demonic qi from Yong-un—Sword Dragon and Golden Cat showed surprise.
But they hadn't come lightly; they exchanged glances and nodded.
As if pre-planned, Golden Cat thrust her glowing yellow eyes toward Yong-un.
"Master! That's him! Be careful!"
"Experience death~"
Forewarned of the curse, Sword Tiger reached out.
But faster still, the yellow mana Golden Cat had already seeped into Yong-un's body detonated.