"Ugh!"
However, Kang Changho's next attempt ended in failure. He tried to take advantage of the opening in the enemy's balance, grabbing the blonde's hair to land another strike. But before his large hand could even touch the hair, someone stepped in with all their strength to block the move.
"Wait a minute!"
It was Jung Haseong's intervention. Moreover, since this hero was also an S-rank hunter, just grabbing the arm was enough to create an immense amount of resistance.
"Please stop it."
"Stop it?"
Kang Changho's mouth remained curled into a smirk. He laughed loudly a few times as if he was dumbfounded, and then spoke calmly.
"Hunter Jung Haseong. You're misunderstanding something. You heard everything we were talking about right next to us. Just let go for a moment. This isn't something for others to interfere with..."
"Please calm down."
"Haha. No, calm down and all that, but I'm the one who got scammed here, you know?"
The black-haired young man looked flustered but still didn't let go of his arm, causing Kang Changho's laughter to grow louder and louder.
"You're really making this difficult. What's wrong with you? A renowned Hunter, someone who's supposed to set an example, openly taking the side of a scumbag like this?"
"What did you say?"
"On this side, I'm the victim. The victim. If you're going to arrest someone, you should catch the one who shamelessly exploited others, not me—"
The S-rank Hunter with the Dragon's Eye lightly struggled with his opponent, exchanging heated words—And at that moment, someone threw fire into a pot already boiling with oil.
"Victim, my ass. Say that loud enough and people might actually think you didn't do a damn thing wrong."
"Hunter Kim?"
"Oh, this son of a b*tch—what, did you ever ask or follow me around? It's a damn good thing I voluntarily agreed to the contract halfway through. Otherwise, you were ready to set up all kinds of traps to make me your sacrifice candidate however you wanted. And now you're acting like the victim?"
"Haha."
"Changho, just because you beat up a reporter, it doesn't mean all that shitty stuff just disappears. Do you think people's actions can be divided into simple addition and subtraction?"
A rough tone, typical of someone under both stress and life-threatening danger. Despite having a mere 15Aw of base magic power, Kim Giryeo had the audacity to provoke his opponent.
Jung Haseong, at least on the surface, is continuously taken aback by the argument between beings that are no different from monsters.
"Hey, Hunter Jung. Over there, he's insulting me with such low-class expressions. Is it really right for me to just sit here and listen quietly?"
However, the hand that was restraining Kang Changho didn't let go.
"..."
"Judging from the conversation so far... Hunter Kang Changho, it really seems like there's a very high chance you possess a skill like [Plunder] or something similar."
"Go on."
"In hospitals, compensatory organ donations are never approved. That's just how the world works. No matter what kind of compensation is promised, contracts involving human lives should never be valid in the first place."
The number one-ranked Hunter carefully continues speaking, trying to resolve the situation as best as he can.
"However, it does seem like Hunter Kim has broken some promises as well. In my opinion, it might be best if the two of you calmly continue the conversation... Ugh!"
Tak.
However, the young man's voice was soon interrupted by a dull, thudding noise. Kang Changho forcefully freed his arm from the grip and turned his head to focus on the troublesome swindler. The enormous innate magic running through the S-rank body began to grow heavier, taking on a more ominous and menacing tone. It was certainly a sacrifice left alive with the goal of breaking the monotony of life, but who could have expected such a strong, unexpected stimulus to emerge, like being struck by lightning?
No matter how much of an S-rank Hunter someone was, violating the [Knight's Oath] was impossible. Kang Changho had already directly "proven" this point. Though there weren't many instances, and no control group to compare it with, it was hard to say whether one could blindly trust the few experiences he had gone through. However, thinking about it logically, this situation seemed...
"It's strange."
No matter how much one exaggerated and called them monsters or something else, in the end, S-rank Hunters were just people who were a few steps ahead of others. Evolution is supposed to happen gradually and gently. But how likely was it that, within such a short time since the emergence of the S-rank tier, a mutation for surpassing them—a truly extraordinary anomaly—would occur?
"Siren, the Knight's Oath..."
Kang Changho started to list words with no apparent meaning.
"Even though the Guild Master of the Korean Tower is clearly present, you had the nerve to wander around the A-rank Twin Red Gate... and then there's [Nameless Cave]."
He soon realizes something. The characteristic of Kim Giryeo, who ignored the Knight's Oath.
If Kang Changho had truly been someone with a lack of knowledge, as one great mage had once said, he would have let it be. Dismissed it, thinking that perhaps the opponent had simply been lucky and had awakened in an extraordinarily superior way. But Kang Changho knew of far more probable scenarios than that flimsy assumption.
"... This isn't something to get angry about just getting hit in the back of the head."
A rare face that completely lost its smile.
"Something is strange about the whole thing. Huh? Kim Giryeo. Even if you think about it, don't you think this situation is too strange...?"
He muttered quickly under his breath in a low voice, his demeanor almost showing a hint of irritation. Kang Changho tried to charge at the problematic contractor again.
"Calm down!"
"Thud!"
However, Jung Haseong had been watching his opponent's actions closely, so he stepped in first to stop the violence. It was a poor choice. What kind of speed is Kang Changho? Although he generally maintains a decent attitude in most situations, being a mammal of modern society, he would inevitably reveal his true nature as soon as things went wrong, even just slightly.
"Ha, anyway..."
A remark that sounded far too dull to be considered a warning.
"I let you live all this time because your abilities were utterly useless..."
Immediately after, a rapid attack begins—one that is beyond what an F-rank body could even comprehend. With a twisted smile, Kang Changho switches targets and attacks Jung Haseong. In response, Kim Giryeo is startled and hastily uses his magic to enhance his vision.
Boom!
Within the dynamic vision he had forced himself to enhance, what Kim Giryeo saw was the two S-ranks exchanging fierce blows in just a few seconds. Jung Haseong, unlike a certain someone, had overall excellent physical functions and was able to respond safely to Kang Changho's first attack.
Boom!
The fist that had been flying straight toward the upright face was blocked by the sword wave of a legendary weapon that Haseong had, and it slid off into the air.
As he had learned from the Beast incident, unlike when dealing with low-intelligence dungeon creatures, there was no time to analyze when it came to combat between awakened individuals.
Whoosh!
Soon, the heat rises. He never imagined he would have to use it in such a situation, but thanks to the training implanted by some alien in advance, Jung Haseong was able to execute a counterattack without leaving a significant opening. The red flame, somewhat incomplete in color, was the result of hastily igniting it.
But for some reason, when watching the battle from a distance, the entire sandy beach was undoubtedly covered in a dazzling blaze of overwhelming flames. It was strange. Kim Giryeo, who had been observing their fight, was greatly taken aback and shook his gaze.
"Keugh!"
Indeed, Kang Changho had pierced through the flames without a scratch. Jung Haseong, unable to avoid the high kick that came through the wall of fire, ended up immediately under the dead air and arms they both feel. Thus, in terms of Earth, but the impact wasn't fully absorbed, and soon after, sharp pain spread to his jaw and cheekbones.
Dam. The sea. Or a truck loaded with an enormous weight. When talking about awakened individuals with massive innate power, grabbing the blonde's hair and landing another strike. He raised his shoulders and arms to block with haste, though the earlier analogies, the energy that is heavy and abundant inevitably becomes difficult to control with precision.
If you imagine a 1-ton truck suddenly slamming on the brakes while traveling at high speed, the massive weight of the cargo in the back spilling out, you can immediately understand the danger and anxiety they feel. Thus, in terms of Earth's primitive standards, having an overwhelming amount of magical energy wasn't necessarily a good blessing.
Here, in this very place, there is a sorcerer with characteristics that are in direct contrast to Jung Haseong. Kang Changho came through the wall of fire, and ending one slightly below the S-rank average. However, despite his large and imposing physique, the most outstanding ability he possesses is ironically restraint and precision. According to the latest PIXY test results, his awakening value is the lowest among South Korea's S-rank hunters, marked as Aw (Awakening).
Could it be because the energy he carries in his body is relatively light? The quarter-blooded awakener named Kang Changho seems completely free from the problems faced by those like Jung Haseong or Brooklyn, who were born with "massive" talents. There is no wasted energy when activating skills, often referred to as 'spread,' which is typically discarded during such processes.
If he sets his mind to it, he can apply the range of his enhancement magic down to a single finger's width. Moreover, it's an innate technique. In short, it means that if there isn't a specific priority range, his unique attribute, which is quite common among Earthlings, awakens. Body enhancement, in particular, belongs to a category that requires relatively little magical consumption.
In simple terms, it means economical.
The total body mana capacity is at an S-rank level, which is sufficient for utilization. Additionally, the sorcerer's inherent body is blue flame, nothing changed. The speed at which the modern-age, the localized spells exhibit higher destructive power compared to other categories.
It's a bad turn of events. Despite being nothing more than a lower-ranked underachiever according to the numbers written on the documents, Kang Changho, thanks to a few fortuitous circumstances that enhanced his strengths, was able to maintain his arrogance with confidence.
Boom!
The deafening sound didn't seem like a collision of bones and skin. Kang Changho reinforced his entire body to the extreme, ignoring the shallow flames most fragile heroes wield. Even when he finally focused and released the customer now someone else's voice. He simply listened to Kim Giryeo's advice and followed it with his body. Since the opponent dozens of times beyond normal, moved was so fast that even an S-rank could hardly keep up. Just as the shadow of something flashed by, the next strike was already closing in.
Boom!
"Jung Haseong!"
However, just three or four seconds after they began fighting, a desperate cry suddenly echoed from one side of the sandy beach...
"Stop it! Run away!"
Jung Haseong didn't create a simple situation where he missed the enemy's attack because he turned his head to follow someone else's voice. He simply listened to Kim Giryeo's advice and followed it with his body. Since the opponent was shouting like that, he decided to create some distance, just in case there was something to it. And his adversary, Kang Changho, also momentarily stopped his actions, as if to listen to what was being said.
"I... I can't help with a fight against an S-rank."
"Yes?"
"With my current condition, I don't have the strength for that... This isn't a 2v1 situation."
After countless moments of hesitation, he finally revealed his own weakness. From the perspective of a hero, Kim Giryeo was an expert with superior skills who taught magic, while the number one ranked hunter was likely relying on the support of the blonde in the back. However, on his side, there was an F-rank hunter who was essentially useless, just solid but nothing more. Shouldn't the battle be stopped before any unnecessary trouble arises?
"Haseong-ah, I think it's best if you step out of this. Just go and call the police..."
Giryeo loudly tried to stop the fight, considering all possibilities. However, he couldn't finish his words, nor did he achieve his intended goal.
"Heuk!"
Kang Changho, as if suddenly changing his mind, switched targets and charged toward Kim Giryeo. Just before his kick shattered the last [Protection] barrier remaining around the archmage's body, the sorcerer with black hair was finally forced to go against his mentor's advice for the first time.
Whoosh!
Jung Haseong shouted as he created a fierce wall of flames between the two.
"I'm final in that case, it's actually you, Hunter Kim Giryeo, who should step back and call for support! Thanks to your help, I can now handle a 1v1 with an S-rank..."
"Can you do it?"
At the same time, the large-bodied individual with special abilities returned in the blink of an eye.
Suddenly, darkness fell. Kang Changho fully extended his hand, moving towards Jung Haseong's face as if to tear it apart. Seizing the opportunity when his opponent's vision is blocked and their reaction is sluggish, he immediately attempts a kick from the side. A roundhouse kick with a huge centrifugal force added to the center of the stepping foot. Despite blocking it properly, there was still damage.
This was the situation that Giryeo had feared. If the national hero had seemed likely to win, the archmage's side wouldn't have gone to the trouble of revealing their weaknesses so recklessly.
But, the actual situation is as you see.
"Ugh?!"
Despite his talent, Jung Haseong is once again pushed to the defensive. There was one more fatal gap between the two S-rank hunters.
"– There's nothing as healthy as sports for relieving stress, right? Actually, I've been doing kickboxing for quite a long time since my school days..."
"Damn it!"
No matter how much innate strength someone has, it's really hard to defeat a skilled martial artist who has been professionally trained, just with raw talent.
Kang Changho is a black belt. Even before awakening, he consistently trained, gaining significant experience in combat. Moreover, his skills were already at a semi-professional level, so they weren't bad at all. Knowing how to move his body to apply force and understanding where to strike to cause pain, all while possessing the combat knowledge gained from his training, his fighting ability as an S-rank awakener was naturally on an extraordinary level.
Swish.
It was a fight that wasn't supposed to happen in the first place. In fact, on the planet Alphari, close-range magicians like Kang Changho were called professional knights because they fought with their body.
However, the golden age of close-combat supremacy did not last long. Soon enough, the maximum combat powers of professional knights and wizards became nearly equal, and that's when the following from another world came into being.
[10 steps in front of the sword, 50 steps in front of the writing.]
When a magician and a professional knight face off, if the starting distance between them is less than 10 steps, the professional knight wins nine out of ten times. However, if the starting distance exceeds 50 steps, unless there's a natural disaster, the scholar has a very high chance of winning.
"_ _"
It didn't take long for the pyromancer to pay dearly for his failure to control the distance. Kang Changho released his mana as if to attack Kim Giryeo, and when Jung Haseong fell for the fake and turned his gaze, Kang Changho seized the opportunity, closing the gap by two steps and diving in further.
Whoosh.
The ominous sound of wind. Kang Changho bent his upper body and struck the torso of Jung Haseong, who had no defensive posture. More specifically, he targeted the lower ribs, which unlike other internal organs, were not well-protected by muscles like the abs. He aimed for the liver, striking a vital spot.
Bugh!
As the liver blow landed directly, Jung Haseong couldn't even catch his breath properly. He tried desperately to correct his posture, but strangely, no matter how hard he tried to exert force, his body kept leaning to one side.
"Huh...?"
The pain causes everything in front of him to turn white. The human liver is closely connected to the autonomic nervous system, so when a severe shock is applied, all the blood vessels expand temporarily. A rapid drop in blood pressure. His lower body loses control, and he collapses.
"Ugh!"
Soon, the situation became fixed. While Haseong was flustered by his body no longer moving as he wished, Earth's true cold-blooded fighter didn't let his guard down and followed up with another blow aimed at his opponent's head.
