Chapter 38
Episode 4: Fate Rides the Wind (13)
A bear with a much larger size than the previous enhanced experimental subjects blocked the stairs.
It was an A-rank, the highest grade seen so far.
Though it was stronger than the enemies Han Sangwoo had faced before, he wasn’t worried.
Before coming here, he had fought an S-rank monster, Hwang Daegun.
[Slay the monsters that have become Enhanced Experimental Subjects (966/976)]
By the time he reached this point, Taeseng GilgeoI and Jejangi had taken down the remaining monsters, leaving only ten to complete the quest.
‘If I take down this one, it should be nearly over.’
Seeing the end in sight, his exhausted energy seemed to rejuvenate.
However, the Enhanced Experimental Bear in front of him was an A-rank. It would likely be difficult to finish it off in one hit as he had with previous enemies.
And Hansangwoo’s expectation proved correct.
Hansangwoo quickly closed the distance and used [Crescent Slash] to finish the fight, but.
**Bang~!!**
The Volcanic Sword failed to penetrate the bear’s hide and bounced off.
“Roar!!”
After the blocked attack, the Enhanced Bear’s front paw lunged at him.
Hansangwoo swiftly rolled on the ground to dodge the paw. He then got up and assessed the situation.
Before charging, the bear had seemed like an ordinary bear, but after one clash, its hide had become as tough as steel.
During the brief moment when Hansangwoo used [Crescent Slash], the bear had used a skill to reinforce its hide like steel.
It seemed like it would take a bit more time to defeat it. Otherwise, he could call Taeseng GilgeoI from a distance.
‘Still, I should handle this myself.’
Although time was of the essence, it seemed better to finish off the last monster personally.
Just as he thought of a way to defeat it, Hansangwoo readied himself and charged at the bear again.
Then.
“Roar!!”
The Enhanced Bear roared and swung its front paw.
**Swish! Swish!**
Sharp, fast-moving aura claws flew from a distance.
Hansangwoo twisted his body to evade while using the Volcanic Shield to block the bear’s skill.
Some of the claws grazed his skin, but he didn’t pay much attention.
Holding the Volcanic Sword, he manifested aura at the blade’s tip. Similar to the [Crescent Slash] of the Imperial Knights’ swordsmanship, but not exactly the same.
As he approached the bear, instead of drawing a line with the sword, he stopped and thrust directly toward the bear.
The reason was simple.
What Hansangwoo used wasn’t [Crescent Slash], but.
[Imperial Knights’ Swordsmanship, First Style: Vital Point Stab]
The basic technique of the Imperial Knights’ swordsmanship.
Unlike [Crescent Slash], which disperses the surface area, this technique focuses the aura at the sword’s tip, making it narrower but sharper and more piercing. It reached the bear’s belly.
Hansangwoo’s judgment was correct.
When swinging the sword, the surface area was dispersed and couldn’t cut through the steel-like hide, but thrusting with the sword’s tip concentrated the force and penetrated the tough hide.
Of course, the bear retaliated with its front paw during this time, but Hansangwoo was quick.
He withdrew his sword, rolled on the ground, and evaded the attack slightly faster than the bear’s subsequent strike.
As he stood up, he used [Vital Point Stab] once more toward the bear’s side.
Then he switched to [Crescent Slash] and slashed diagonally upwards.
As the Volcanic Sword pierced through the steel hide,
The tactic was successful.
“Roar…”
Boom!!
[You have slain the Giant Enhanced Experimental Bear (A).]
[Experience points increased by 10 times.]
The Enhanced Bear, split in half, crumpled to the ground.
Then,
“Congratulations on the conquest, my lord.”
“Congratulations, Lord!”
Taeseng GilgeoI and Jejangi, who had returned after finishing their hunting, knelt before Hansangwoo.
Moreover,
[Emergency Quest Completed]
[Slay the monsters that have become Enhanced Experimental Subjects (976/976)]
The system also congratulated Hansangwoo by notifying him of the success of the emergency quest.
Hansangwoo wiped the sweat from his chin and said.
“Thank you. But it’s still too early to celebrate. We need to fight a bit more, so rest for now.”
“Understood, my lord.”
“Call on us anytime, my lord!”
Although it was good to have defeated the Enhanced Experimental Subjects, it wasn’t yet time to celebrate.
It would be nice if Kang cheolman had taken down all the Luminous Hunters, but judging by the loud sounds coming from upstairs, it seemed the battle wasn’t over yet.
[Character: Taeseng GilgeoI’s summoning has been cancelled.]
[Character: Jejangi’s summoning has been cancelled.]
To reduce mana consumption, Hansangwoo dismissed the two characters’ summons, drank a potion, and prepared to go upstairs.
Just as he was about to step onto the stairs, he noticed something that might be helpful.
[Emergency Quest Completed]
[Touch the message to receive rewards.]
It was the reward for the emergency quest.
Although he didn’t know exactly what the reward would be, it was certain that it would help against the Luminous Hunters.
Additionally.
Aside from the emergency quest completion reward, there was more to claim.
[You have cleared the fifth achievement.]
[Fifth Achievement – Clear the Unresolved Dungeon (1/1)]
[Touch the message to receive rewards.]
It was the reward for the fifth achievement that had been postponed due to accompanying Kang cheolman.
‘It’s better to gather all the help I can before going up.’
Hansangwoo touched the messages to claim both quest rewards simultaneously.
“Pant, pant…”
In the vast underground chamber, Kang cheolman knelt on one knee, breathing heavily while his large sword lay on the floor.
Blood and sweat ran down his face, and his exhaustion was evident from his appearance alone.
In contrast, the Luminous Hunters surrounding Kang cheolman appeared unharmed.
“Heh, even Kang cheolman isn’t so impressive.”
“Is he really an SS-rank Hunter? He hasn’t even laid a hand on the Deputy Chief.”
“Well, Deputy Chief’s psychic power is no joke.”
Laughter and scorn poured out from the crowd.
Among them were those who had fled when Hwang Daegun was abandoned at the desert dungeon entrance. With the situation now favorable to them, they were surrounding Kang cheolman and rejoicing.
This change was due to the Deputy Chief Hong Jinsung’s intervention.
Hong Jinsung, who could manipulate invisible psychic power freely, was easily nullifying Kang cheolman’s attacks and defenses.
Moreover, with Hong Jinsung’s decisive leadership, using the Luminous Hunters to pressure Kang cheolman, victory was practically assured.
Kang cheolman had broken through the corridor traps and entered the vast underground chamber, but the energy spent in the process was considerable. Furthermore, the chamber was thoroughly prepared to face a group, leaving him in a dire situation.
The first support team leader, Min Suah, was impressed.
“Remarkable. Deputy Chief, your psychic power is always awe-inspiring.”
“Where did that come from? First Support Team Leader, didn’t you used to look down on me?”
“Lo, look down? Deputy Chief, it’s just that I have a habit of not making eye contact with those I truly respect. Hoho.”
“Hong, if you can’t say anything…”
Min Suah smoothly deflected the sudden inquiry and quickly scanned Hong Jinsung.
Bloodshot eyes.
Although it seemed he had consumed a strengthening potion, the Deputy Chief’s strength exceeded expectations.
As Hong Jinsung himself had said, people had thought he was merely a branch manager’s subordinate, holding the position of Deputy Chief with mismatched strength, but that was not the case.
‘Indeed, the perception has changed.’
To cement this new perception, Hong Jinsung floated into the air. He looked down at the exhausted Kang cheolman in the spacious underground chamber and spoke.
“Haha, disappointing, Kang cheolman. Is this all an illustrious Hunter from Korea can do?”
“Yap yap yap, so much chatter. Just come at me, you short and stout bastard.”
“Short and stout!? How dare you speak to me like that!”
At Kang cheolman’s provocation, Hong Jinsung was enraged and raised his staff.
**Whoooosh!**
The staff’s jewel began to glow.
However, the light soon faded as Hong Jinsung withdrew his mana.
‘I’ve shown enough strength. Now I need to demonstrate my leadership and persuasion.’
Hong Jinsung’s ultimate goal was to surpass Branch Chief Ma k
angjin.
Strength was important, but he also needed to showcase other abilities.
If he could recruit kang cheolman to the Luminous?
It was clear that the headquarters would evaluate him even higher than before.
Of course, it wasn’t going to be easy.
“Hmm, I’d love to tear you apart right now, but I’ll give you one chance. Kang cheolman, the leader of the Asin Guild, join me.”
“What kind of nonsense is this? Just stick to what you were doing before.”
“Nonsense? Can’t you see that I’m extending a courtesy because your talent is wasted on death?”
“Courtesy? I have no intention of accepting anything from you. Just come at me.”
Although he proposed recruitment while suppressing his murderous intent, Kang cheolman merely chuckled derisively.
**Crunch**
Hong Jinsung clenched his teeth and lifted his staff, then hesitated.
He decided to show patience and make one last attempt to recruit Kang cheolman, this time with more reasoning.
“Kang cheolman, don’t you want to see a new world?”
“A new world?”
“Yes, think about it. The world has changed. Since ten years ago, dungeons have appeared, and awakened Hunters have emerged. Now, the world can’t guarantee safety without Hunters. But how are Hunters treated?”
Hong Jinsung’s speech was the standard rhetoric used to recruit Hunters into Luminous.
Hong Jinsung descended to eye level with Kang cheolman and continued.
“Surveillance, forced conscription, exorbitant taxes—people admire Hunters, but it’s nothing but lip service. Hunters are forced to reveal their stats and skills, taxed over 50%, and during emergencies, they are exploited under the guise of patriotism and humanity. When sacrifices are made, they are sometimes even branded as murderers. Do you think this reality is right?”
Hong Jinsung’s speech continued. This time, Kang cheolman didn’t respond.
It seemed he was silently contemplating the irrationalities being pointed out.
Hong Jinsung took a step forward and continued.
“We are the new humanity. We have no reason to sacrifice ourselves for insignificant humans! We are chosen beings. We should develop our given abilities to rule over humans and be revered as great beings!”
Hong Jinsung’s voice grew increasingly passionate.
The Luminous Hunters seemed impressed, clenching their fists as they listened to the speech.
“So, Kang cheolman, why not join us in creating a new world? A world where awakened ones are treated as they deserve!”
Hong Jinsung approached Kang cheolman, who was kneeling, and extended his hand.
A stillness descended over the scene.
Kang cheolman looked at Hong Jinsung’s hand without responding, then slowly spoke.
“Impressive, new humanity… I didn’t quite understand why you were so extreme, but now I get it.”
Using his great sword as support, Kang cheolman stood up.
“Yes, it’s true. The obligations placed on Hunters are heavy, but the treatment is inadequate. Sometimes, you see people you don’t want to save at all.”
Hong Jinsung’s words were accurate.
Although he had represented Korea as a Hunter for the past ten years, there had been many moments of disillusionment.
At times, the surveillance disguised as spotlight suffocated him, and there were times when the public criticized him harshly for failing to produce results, despite barely surviving dungeons.
But.
“That doesn’t mean we should view people as mere tools, you bastards!”
That could never be a justification for someone ruling over others.
**Whooooosh!!**
Kang cheolman drew his great sword from the ground and swung it at Hong Jinsung.
However.
“Foolish one, you’re bringing about your own death!”
As if already knowing, Hong Jinsung leaped back to evade the attack.
The negotiation was over.
Hong Jinsung was readying his skills, channeling mana through his staff.
Just then, as he was about to attack Kang cheolman,
**Boom! Boom Boom Boom!**
With a thunderous noise, the ceiling of the underground chamber collapsed.
**[Judgment of the Meteor]**
Countless meteors fell from the sky.
