The spacious underground area was surrounded on all sides by soundproof walls.
In the center of it all, Go Kyungseok walked in with deliberate steps.
Behind him, Kang Hyunsoo followed and spoke up.
“This place...”
“This is the Hunter Bureau’s secret training ground. It’s provided only to high-level hunters, and it’s a place where various skills can be tested. There’s a transparent barrier inside the soundproof walls, so even if you use S-rank skills, nothing will break. In short, no matter how much force you use, no information will leak outside.”
The space had a ceiling that easily exceeded 10 meters in height.
Powerful mana with a high density could be felt around the soundproof walls, resembling egg cartons.
It definitely felt like it could withstand even S-rank skills.
However...
As Kang Hyunsoo looked around, something caught his eye.
There were CCTV cameras installed on the ceiling and the walls near the corners.
Kang Hyunsoo slightly furrowed his brow and asked, “Are the sparring scenes recorded?”
“Usually, yes, but this time I’ve instructed them to turn them off. If you’re still worried...”
Go Kyungseok briefly trailed off and suddenly summoned a longsword, swinging it in several directions.
The rapid blade cut through the air.
In that instant...
Crack-! Clank-! Crash-!
The CCTV cameras in the training ground were all destroyed.
“I’ll have them reinstalled later.”
“...Thank you for the consideration.”
“However, please understand that there are observers. This isn’t an official procedure, so we need other people to act as witnesses. But rest assured, they are all people you can trust. If anything leaks about today, I’ll take full responsibility.”
Go Kyungseok looked at the large glass near the exit.
A black mirror reflected both him and Kang Hyunsoo.
Inside it, Park Seongjun, Choi Seunghyun, and Choi Jiwoo stood, watching the two of them.
The mirror was a one-way mirror — the inside couldn’t see out, but the outside could see in.
“So, trying to hurt the Director even once... this is both easy and hard, I guess. Deputy Choi, what do you think will happen?”
“Well, I think the Director will win, right? No matter how much he defeated Babylon, he’s only level 200.”
“That’s the usual guess, it seems. Manager Choi Jiwoo, what do you think?”
“Well... I’m not sure. The Director is known as the Guardian of the Iron Wall, and his defensive abilities are exceptional... but for some reason, I feel like if it’s Hunter Kang Hyunsoo, he might be able to do something.”
“You think Hunter Kang Hyunsoo has a chance?”
“Yes. If... what I saw is correct.”
“......?”
Doubt appeared in Park Seongjun and Choi Seunghyun’s eyes, but Manager Choi Jiwoo looked at the training ground with a look of certainty.
It seemed like the sparring match was about to begin.
Go Kyungseok, wearing a watch with a blue jewel inlaid, handed a similar watch to Kang Hyunsoo.
“It’s an item that generates a one-time shield for the whole body. It has the property of blocking any shock once. If you break my shield, you win.”
“Is ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) there a time limit?”
“3 minutes. I’ll focus on defense, but if you leave too many openings, I’ll counterattack. If your shield breaks during the match, we’ll just put it back on and continue.”
“Hmm... You’re being a bit lenient, aren’t you? Are you sure about this?”
“Haha, it’s fine. There’s a difference in level and experience, but this much is nothing.”
At Kang Hyunsoo’s question, Go Kyungseok chuckled.
Worrying about whether he’s fine to go easy was something he should be saying, yet it was Kang Hyunsoo who said it first.
In a good sense, it showed he cared for others, but in a bad sense, it could mean he didn’t know his own limits.
‘Well, at that level, it’s understandable. No matter what abilities he has gained, when someone outshines others, they might start to think they’re invincible.’
Go Kyungseok laughed quietly as he finished putting on his watch, then summoned a shield in the shape of an inverted triangle, following with the sword.
It’s said that the period when adolescents’ egos grow too large is called the “middle school syndrome,” but even hunters go through a phase like that.
Living as an ordinary person, then awakening, and surpassing other hunters with superior talents, all that power inevitably leads to them becoming cocky.
However, Kang Hyunsoo’s words and actions couldn’t be dismissed as mere arrogance.
After all, he had defeated Babylon’s hunters and won the hunter tournament with a new record, achieving many great feats.
How strong was the power of the hunter who defeated Babylon?
Go Kyungseok raised his sword and shield, readying his stance.
Then...
“Alright, I’m ready. Hunter Kang Hyunsoo.”
“Yes, I’m ready as well. Let’s start right away, Director.”
The sparring match began immediately.
After Go Kyungseok’s declaration, Kang Hyunsoo summoned his dual swords and launched himself forward, kicking off the ground.
Whoosh—! Swoosh—! Slash—!!
Kang Hyunsoo disappeared in an instant, cutting through the still air of the training ground.
“Wha...!”
“He’s fast!”
Park Seongjun and Choi Seunghyun, watching from the control room, were stunned.
But...
‘Slow.’
Go Kyungseok, standing in the training ground, was indifferent.
He saw everything.
Kang Hyunsoo, rushing forward and then ducking to the side while swinging his dual swords, was fully visible.
After confirming the attack route, Go Kyungseok slightly adjusted the position of his shield with his left hand.
He didn’t even have to move much.
Just adjusting the shield’s position a little to the side was enough.
The effect was overwhelmingly effective.
Though Go Kyungseok had barely moved, the shield blocked all of Kang Hyunsoo’s dual swords.
“For a level 200, you’re fast, but I can see everything.”
“Ugh...!”
Whoosh—!!
Go Kyungseok swung his sword toward Kang Hyunsoo’s position, but Kang Hyunsoo quickly retreated.
He could have pressed the attack, but once the first attack was blocked, he recognized that breaking through would be impossible and tactically retreated.
And that was a wise decision.
Even if he could break the shield, it wouldn’t even leave a scratch.
Especially since Go Kyungseok’s talent was protection.
He had skills not only to protect others but also to shield himself.
That’s why, honestly, it was enough to just stand still.
No matter how strong Kang Hyunsoo was.
[Skill Activation]
[Ultimate Defense (S)]
[Gaze Shield (S)]
[Skill: Ultimate Defense (S) – Increases the defense of equipped armor by 20 times. 10 mana consumed per second.]
[Skill: Gaze Shield (S) – Creates a translucent aura shield at the point the user’s gaze touches. Mana consumption depends on the shield’s size and duration.]
There was no way to break through two S-rank defense skills at once.
‘2 minutes and 50 seconds left. Now, what will you do, Hunter Kang Hyunsoo?’
Go Kyungseok watched Kang Hyunsoo, who had stepped back with dual swords raised, from a distance.
Normally, he would have chased the momentum and counterattacked, but since this was a chance to observe Kang Hyunsoo’s hidden abilities, he needed to watch closely.
What kind of power would Kang Hyunsoo use to harm him?
Kang Hyunsoo lowered his stance and crossed his dual swords over his head, then swung them down.
It was an attack from a distance so far that the swords wouldn’t even reach.
However, the moment Go Kyungseok saw Kang Hyunsoo’s movement...
Shing—!
Go Kyungseok raised his shield above his head.
The reason was simple.
The moment Kang Hyunsoo swung his dual swords down...
[Skill Activation]
[Sky Cleave (S)]
He felt the translucent aura surge from the two blades.
The destructive power was also immense.
Boom—! Crash—!!
“......!!”
Despite being enhanced with an S-rank skill, the moment Kang Hyunsoo’s attack was blocked, cracks appeared on Go Kyungseok's shield.
And it wasn’t just the shield.
“Gasp! The Director’s shield is breaking...!”
“Whew, even the training ground’s protective barrier has cracked!”
The wall behind Go Kyungseok was also hit by the aura, leaving a crack.
To think a shield capable of withstanding SS-rank attack skills would be scratched...
‘It’s clear he’s getting cocky.’
It was unexpected.
According to the data Go Kyungseok had accumulated, an S-rank skill alone shouldn’t have been able to produce such destructive power.
It was certain that there was some special power at play here, something that the precision measurement device couldn’t pick up.
However...
‘He’s getting reckless because I’m going easy on him... I need to teach him a lesson.’
It seemed necessary to show him his place.
First of all, by standing still, Kang Hyunsoo had exposed his openings and made large movements. Even though the attack was strong, it was still impressive only by the standards of a mid-tier or lower-level fighter.
It was time to remind him of reality.
Go Kyungseok corrected his stance and aimed his sword at Kang Hyunsoo.
Then...
[Skill Activation]
[Judgment’s Mana Blast (A)]
Vwooooo—!!
With the tip of his sword, Go Kyungseok released an aura filled with explosive energy.
The blue mana blast flew towards Kang Hyunsoo and exploded upon contact.
But through the towering flames...
Shiiiii—!!
[Skill Activation]
[Charge (D)]
Kang Hyunsoo shot out.
Just before the mana blast reached him, Kang Hyunsoo fired the Heavenly Blade, exploding the attack and charging through the flames.
“Wha— he’s using his attack to counterattack!”
Choi Seunghyun was startled by the clever move.
However...
‘Pashin? Or the Heavenly Blade? Which will he use, Hunter Kang Hyunsoo...!’
Go Kyungseok didn’t panic.
He had already analyzed Kang Hyunsoo’s swordsmanship skills during the re-assessment.
Some were new to him, but skills like Pashin and Heavenly Blade were used by hunters with swordsmanship talents, so he was quite familiar with them.
And because he was familiar...
Go Kyungseok planned to counter as soon as Kang Hyunsoo used them.
But something was off.
Even though Kang Hyunsoo had broken through the flames and was near, he didn’t swing his swords.
‘Then I’ll go first.’
Go Kyungseok decided to strike at Kang Hyunsoo, but then...
Flash—!
[Skill Activation]
[Bloom (S)]
[For 30 seconds, raise latent beauty to its maximum.]
[Appearance: 999]
[Appearance Effect: All stats +1,998]
Suddenly, light flashed from Kang Hyunsoo’s body.
And when the light faded...
“...?!”
He had transformed into an unbelievably handsome man.
His pale skin, sparkling eyes, and a face that combined both masculine and feminine beauty—something Go Kyungseok had never seen in his life.
The beauty was so overwhelming that even before thinking, his instincts reacted.
According to his original plan, he should have swung his sword toward Kang Hyunsoo’s approaching shoulder.
But Go Kyungseok couldn’t complete the motion, and in a panic, he tried to regain his focus and strike.
[Skill Activation]
[Charm (D)]
It was because Go Kyungseok’s gaze was focused on Kang Hyunsoo’s face.
“Ugh, huff...!”
His pupils dilated.
For a brief moment, Kang Hyunsoo’s face, which had entered his line of sight, felt like the very center of the universe.
So noble and beautiful that it invoked a sense of awe, almost making him feel a possessive desire, an overwhelming ratio of perfection.
Go Kyungseok lost himself, engrossed in Kang Hyunsoo’s gaze.
And in that split second...
[Skill Activation]
[Pashin (C)]
Kang Hyunsoo’s dual swords passed by at high speed, leaving a powerful sword strike in their wake.
Boom—! Crash—!!
The sound of massive destruction echoed throughout the training ground.
The powerful strike that destroyed the objects ahead of them swept past Go Kyungseok.
“...!”
“...!!”
Park Seongjun, Choi Seunghyun, and Choi Jiwoo.
The hunters in the control room covered their mouths in shock.
Luckily, when Kang Hyunsoo’s dual sword strike came, Go Kyungseok had raised his shield to protect himself.
It was a close call.
However, Go Kyungseok couldn’t shake off the shock.
‘I... I just felt beauty from a man...!’
Shock, fear, and disbelief.
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Physically, he was fine, but mentally, it was a heavy blow.
Having reached an age where he thought he could resist all temptations, even approaching sixty, Go Kyungseok had learned many of life’s lessons and withstood many temptations.
He had rejected countless offers from foreign countries, even those involving the most beautiful women, yet now he felt beauty from a man.
...Could it be that his preferences had changed?
‘Ugh, ugh! But I still need to finish this test...!’
Despite the overwhelming shock, Go Kyungseok shook his head and cleared his thoughts.
For a brief moment, his values had been twisted, but now he had to focus on the test against Kang Hyunsoo.
But...
The outcome already seemed clear.
As Go Kyungseok turned to chase Kang Hyunsoo, who had disappeared after using Pashin...
“You said if I land even a scratch, I win, right?”
Kang Hyunsoo spoke, looking at the blood dripping down Go Kyungseok’s side.
“I expect you to keep your promise.”