Chapter 9 – Win
—
Whoooosh──!
The massive axe swung toward my side, as if intending to slice me in half.
‘Hup.’
I instinctively leaned back.
The axe brushed past my abdomen, narrowly missing me.
Tap-tap-tap.
As soon as the axe passed by, I leapt back, placed my hand on the ground, and spun to regain my stance.
“Not bad.”
Yong Tae-soo spat out a compliment.
It wasn’t pleasing at all.
“Phew.”
I calmed my breathing and drew the Everfrost Sword.
“Finally decided to fight for real, huh? This should be interesting.”
Yong Tae-soo couldn’t contain his excitement.
He looked like a true battle maniac.
【He’s insane! Totally crazy about fighting!】
‘Prill.’
【And you, Yujin, are crazy about surviving! Crazy versus crazy, this is going to be fun!】
‘…Calm down a bit, will you?’
I tried to calm Prill down, who seemed overly stimulated.
‘Be on standby. I might need your help.’
【Got it!!】
Once again, I was facing off against Yong Tae-soo.
I had already felt the pressure back then, but now the situation was much worse.
Unlike before, when he fought unarmed, he now wielded his main weapon—the axe.
“If you’re ready, let’s continue.”
“…I’ve been waiting?”
“Of course.”
“Why?”
“Well, there’s no fun in killing you by surprise, is there?”
With that, Yong Tae-soo charged at me energetically.
Immediately, his massive presence engulfed me.
‘Insane.’
There was no other way to describe it.
The sheer mass coming toward me.
The first attack had been intimidating enough, but I guess that was just him holding back?
This one felt like a runaway 8-ton truck heading straight at me.
I barely dodged to the side at the last moment.
BANG!
Yong Tae-soo crashed through the wall and into the adjacent room.
“Wh-what the hell!?”
“Huh! Team Leader Yong?!”
There was some commotion, but he soon returned.
“You dodged that? You’re definitely not ordinary.”
“…Was I supposed to just take it?”
“Most people freeze in fear and can’t even move.”
“Ah.”
I had to admit, that was true.
I almost pissed myself in fear too.
And as much as I wanted to speak informally to him, I found it difficult to muster the courage to do so.
Somehow, this encounter made me feel like I was suppressing my own anger.
At that moment, Ma Gwang-jin, who had witnessed Yong Tae-soo’s intense charge, spoke up.
“T-team leader, I’d appreciate it if you didn’t destroy the building too much….”
“HR Officer.”
“Yes.”
“Shut up.”
“…….”
Yong Tae-soo clearly didn’t care about the guild’s interests.
After silencing Ma Gwang-jin, he turned to me with a smirk.
“How dare you mess with our HR Officer. You’re going to have to pay for that with your life.”
It was absurd.
Who was the one who told that HR Officer to shut up just a second ago?
“Isn’t that excuse a bit too weak?”
“Does it matter?”
“Besides, it wasn’t the HR Officer who told you to kill me… Ugh!”
Whoosh─!
The massive axe sliced diagonally through the air.
“Too much talking.”
“…….”
I see.
I had a bit of lingering hope left.
That maybe I could resolve this without fighting.
‘Honestly, I didn’t want to fight an experienced 4-star Hunter.’
It hasn’t even been a full day since I regained my powers.
I didn’t want to face such a major crisis right off the bat, so I tried to avoid it as much as possible, but I’ve come to accept the reality.
“You’ve finally got the right look in your eyes.”
“…….”
I now understood that we couldn’t resolve this with words.
Clack.
I adjusted my grip on the Everfrost Sword, holding it in reverse.
“Phew.”
To be honest, I wasn’t confident in using a sword.
But I couldn’t afford not to use it either.
“Then, let’s see you struggle!”
BOOM─!
Yong Tae-soo’s massive frame charged at me again.
And the massive axe came down.
Clang!
I angled the Everfrost Sword to deflect the giant axe.
‘I can’t just dodge everything.’
There’s no way I can fight him barehanded.
I can’t block that massive axe with my body alone, which means I’d have to dodge every single attack—a strategy that would only lead to my demise.
Swoosh─!
The massive axe swung down again, barely after I deflected it, followed by a left hook.
‘Not using the sword, but using it like a shield.’
I raised the Everfrost Sword to block this attack as well.
Given my lack of skill with swordsmanship, using ordinary sword techniques was a detriment to me.
Just like when bunting in baseball, I held the sword in a reverse grip, using it as a shield.
This was one of the solutions I came up with in the short time I had to think.
“A good choice. You’re compensating for your lack of strength, huh?”
Whether it was fortunate or unfortunate, Yong Tae-soo misinterpreted my decision.
Honestly, I didn’t care.
I calmly circulated my mana.
Sssss-
From our previous clash, I realized that ordinary attacks wouldn’t work.
Against Yong Tae-soo, I’d need to use at least the Everfrost Sword, or attacks infused with mana.
Whoosh- Whoosh─!
Yong Tae-soo’s assault continued relentlessly.
The massive axe kept aiming to cleave me in half, while his solid limbs constantly sought any opening.
‘He’s not just skilled with the axe.’
An axe is a weapon known for its powerful strikes but has a long delay between attacks.
This weakness might not matter when fighting monsters, but it’s a glaring flaw in a human duel.
However, Yong Tae-soo compensated for this with his exceptional combat skills.
“How long do you plan to stay on defense?”
Every time the axe was swung, a follow-up punch or kick would ensue.
With his rock-solid body, I couldn’t afford not to block or defend against his punches and kicks.
If I took just one direct hit, it would be over.
It was hard to find an opening for a counterattack.
But still—
‘The opportunity will come.’
I focused on evasion and defense with a calm mind.
Attacking recklessly now, given my current skill level, would only put me in greater danger.
‘There it is!’
After enduring through time, I started to grasp the pattern of Yong Tae-soo’s attacks.
Whoosh─!
The massive axe came down once again.
A sense of déjà vu hit me.
‘Next is… a left hook!’
I recognized this attack pattern.
Thanks to that, I could react half a beat faster than before.
Swoosh-!
I lowered my stance, letting the left hook pass over my head.
This time, unlike before when I had to block it with the Everfrost Sword, I managed to evade it entirely.
“!?”
Yong Tae-soo’s side was exposed.
But merely striking that spot wouldn’t do much.
With his tough body, I wouldn’t be able to inflict significant damage.
‘But what if I use an attack infused with mana!’
I focused mana into my left fist…
BANG!
And slammed it into Yong Tae-soo’s side.
“Hngh!”
Yong Tae-soo grunted, hastily stepping back.
It seemed to have had an effect, as he now had to put more strength into his stance to maintain his balance.
And then—
“Oh my god, did Team Leader Yong get pushed back!?”
“Who the hell is that guy? I’ve never seen him before.”
“Isn’t that the arrogant porter from Team 8?”
“…That guy?”
Before I knew it, quite a number of onlookers had gathered.
They were other Ironclad Faction Hunters peeking through the wall that Yong Tae-soo had previously destroyed.
“What now? You got struck in front of your subordinates.”
I decided to provoke him.
If I could disrupt his composure, I might have a better chance of finding an opening.
However, Yong Tae-soo merely grinned.
“So what?”
“…You’re pretty calm about it.”
“In a true man’s fight, pride has no place. It doesn’t matter!”
It seemed that all he cared about was having a good fight.
That’s all that filled Yong Tae-soo’s mind.
The one actually flustered by my provocation was the HR Officer, Ma Gwang-jin, who was crumpled up in a corner.
“W-wait, what are you all doing? Get out of here!”
For him, having so many witnesses wasn’t a good thing.
If Yong Tae-soo really ended up killing me, it would be on him to handle the aftermath.
‘Of course, I’m not planning to die.’
Things wouldn’t turn out as he hoped.
Neither me dying nor these onlookers giving up watching would happen.
“I’ll deal with you properly.”
Yong Tae-soo readjusted his grip on the axe and steadied his breathing.
‘He’s infusing mana into the axe….’
I sensed the flow of mana.
It was clear what this meant.
“Oh, no! He’s using Aura!”
“An ability exclusive to 4-star Hunters!”
“Everyone, get out! Now!”
“What’s happening?”
“Team Leader Yong is using his Aura!”
“Wow. I can’t believe I get to witness this!”
He was going to use his Aura.
The axe blade began to shimmer as mana enveloped it like a mirage.
“I’ll give you some credit. You made me use this.”
“I mean, isn’t using Aura just for one hit a bit excessive?”
“I’ll say that one hit packed quite a punch.”
I could only shake my head in disbelief.
It’s not like I had him on the ropes or anything.
I had just barely managed to land a single hit, yet he’s already pulling out this trump card?
Aura—
In simple terms, it’s just an overwhelmingly powerful skill.
There’s even a saying that only an Aura of the same rank can block another Aura.
And of course, as a mere 3-star Hunter, I still can’t use Aura.
‘Will the Everfrost Sword be able to block it?’
I wasn’t sure.
Even though the Everfrost Sword is a unique-grade weapon, I didn’t have the confidence that it could withstand an Aura-infused attack.
Even if it managed to block the blade, it probably wouldn’t be able to completely absorb the impact.
“Then, let’s see if you can block this!”
Before I could think further, Yong Tae-soo charged forward.
It was the same kind of attack as before, but its weight was entirely different.
Whoooosh──!
The massive axe tore through the air savagely, as if trying to rip it apart.
I rolled desperately to the side.
BANG!
The massive axe struck the floor.
And then—
Crrrack-!
The ground cracked open, and the entire floor shook.
That was the power of Aura.
‘Damn, that’s terrifying.’
The only bit of relief I had was that Yong Tae-soo himself didn’t seem able to fully control that power.
If he could, instead of smashing the floor, he would have launched a continuous attack.
Of course, that didn’t mean there was no follow-up attack now.
It just meant there was a slight delay between his movements.
“Die!”
Yong Tae-soo swung again.
It felt like a mountain was crashing down.
And I—
‘…I’ll push through!’
Fighting against my instinct to shrink back and retreat, I moved forward with gritted teeth.
I had grown accustomed to Yong Tae-soo’s movements.
Now wasn’t the time to fall back, but the time to advance.
Overcoming my instincts, I took one step forward, then another.
Whoooosh──!
His axe swept horizontally.
I pushed off the ground.
Forward and upward.
I curled my body as tightly as I could in midair.
Swoosh─
The Aura-infused axe blade brushed past just beneath my feet.
Seeing Yong Tae-soo’s startled expression, I thrust the Everfrost Sword forward.
‘This could end the fight if I’m lucky!’
But—
Slash!
‘Damn it.’
The blade only grazed his shoulder.
Yong Tae-soo had twisted his body at the last moment.
To make matters worse—
Clang-!
Yong Tae-soo swung his arm reflexively, knocking the Everfrost Sword out of my hand.
Thud!
The sword embedded itself in the ceiling.
“Tch.”
“Impressive. I commend you.”
Yong Tae-soo spoke leisurely, looking at me.
“…….”
I had no words.
I had thrown everything into that strike, yet it wasn’t enough.
The fundamental difference in physical abilities and combat experience was just too vast.
‘Damn it. If only I had more experience wielding a sword in actual combat….’
Out of everything, what frustrated me the most was my lack of swordsmanship.
“That was a good desperate attempt. But I think the fight’s over now.”
Yong Tae-soo slowly approached me.
“You’ve got nothing else to show, right? This was fun.”
Although the Frostbite effect had activated on his shoulder, it unfortunately wasn’t severe enough to change the outcome.
“Hah.”
I let out a sigh of frustration.
‘It’s true; I’m still lacking.’
Although the specs and abilities of a 4-star Hunter were exceptional, if only I were a little more skilled.
No, honestly, if I’d just had a little more time to train after regaining my abilities.
‘Could I have won then?’
I couldn’t say for sure… but, who knows?
‘I think I could’ve.’
At least, that’s what I believe.
So, once I get out of here, I need to train myself diligently.
I made that resolve.
Then—
“You. Surrender and join me.”
Yong Tae-soo’s shadow loomed over my face.
It seemed that his goal wasn’t to kill me after all.
Maybe he just wanted a proper fight and used killing me as an excuse?
I had that thought.
“As expected! Great idea, Team Leader!”
HR Officer Ma Gwang-jin reacted with delight upon hearing Yong Tae-soo’s offer.
From his perspective, it was a far better outcome than killing me.
There’d be no need to clean up, and in this state, I wouldn’t be able to resist signing any kind of slave contract.
But—
‘They don’t even care about what I want.’
Who said it?
That I’d lost.
‘There’s no way I’m rotting away in a place like this.’
I have a goal.
A goal called ‘revenge.’
Namgung Myung, the one who killed my parents.
And the Gaiah Order, whom everyone foolishly believes to be the protectors of the world.
I will tear them apart with my own hands.
I’ve only just managed to resolve the side effects of the “Overcharged Mana” condition, and the path to revenge is finally open. There’s no way I’m going to kneel here.
So—
‘One Punch.’
I activated the trump card that would turn this situation around.
[‘Authority: One Punch’ skill is being used.]
[A small amount of mana is being consumed.]
Sssaaaa—
All the mana within my body surged into my right fist.
A considerable amount of mana moved and condensed.
Perhaps he sensed it for a split second.
“…What?!”
Yong Tae-soo, flinching, raised his axe.
And then, as if to kill me before my attack could be completed, he swung his axe down.
‘Prill!’
【I’ve been waiting!】
But I had another useful means of attack.
Something that Yong Tae-soo, who was solely focused on me, could never guard against: Prill, the Spirit of Frost I had contracted with.
Crack—
In an instant, an ice arrow formed behind Yong Tae-soo’s head.
It would’ve been nice if it was a stronger attack, but Prill lost most of her power during our contract.
Still, it was enough to catch him off guard.
“Guh!?”
Yong Tae-soo jerked his head, startled.
Naturally, the attack aimed at me was cancelled.
Whooong—
With my fist vibrating destructively from the concentration of mana, I struck forward.
Blaaaaaam──
The condensed mana exploded forward.
The “One Punch” skill landed squarely on Yong Tae-soo.
BOOOOOM─────!!!
—
Read More at – GENZNOVEL.COM!!
PLEASE JOIN OUR DISCORD AND SUBSCRIBE THE ROLE TO RECEIVE LATEST NOTIFICATIONS!!
Click here -> https://discord.gg/S8c2kGVr2g
Comment