Episode 237 – It’s a Hunt (4)
One of the key rules of this world.
When a user reaches 3-star, a small number of individuals awaken a Trait.
Fortunately, I was one of the chosen ‘Trait Awakeners’, and my Trait only activated before the Master of Divine Nas.
Trait: Divine Hunter.
The mont I awakened as a Hunter, my abilities increased dramatically.
In particular, effects related to combat within my list of Divine Nas were enhanced:
[Third ntal Barrier]
[Siren’s Hymn]
[Heart of Retonicalus (Assimilation Rate 40%)]
ntal, Sacred Power, and physical abilities all increased according to the list’s effects. These are the Divine Nas I acquired in the Ordor Forest this ti:
[Witch’s Friend]
[Natasha’s Spirit Arts]
Among these two, [Natasha’s Spirit Arts] exhibited power surpassing the original Spirit Arts when awakened.
“That’s the reason I can stand against a 5-star."
The Trait ‘Divine Na Hunter’, which grows stronger as the list of Divine Nas increases.
I didn’t realize it when the list was small, but as it piled up, I began to understand just how ridiculously overpowered this Trait was.
‘Should I call it a growth-type Trait?’
Perhaps because of the flashy impact of my Awakening, Wiley approached cautiously.
I didn’t miss the opportunity and activated my Mystic Eye, summoning the ‘Divine Arrow.’
The Divine Na letters embedded in Wiley’s halo engraved themselves onto my pupils.
[Wiley Gris – Sword of Support (Wind)]
[Comradeship]
[Beast’s Roar]
[Instinct to Guard]
It was no different from the Divine Na list I already knew.
Swoosh—
I aid my bow at Wiley.
There was only one reason I pulled out the Divine Arrow from the beginning.
‘Because if I don’t use it now, I won’t get another chance.’
My prediction was correct.
Kwaaang—!
Wiley surged forward at a mad pace, radiating aura.
Once we closed in, there wouldn’t even be ti to summon a bow.
I bounced backward and released the arrow.
The arrow pierced through the air like a ray of light.
Though Wiley struck the arrow with his aura sword, the arrow slipped past like a shadow and struck his halo.
He paused briefly in surprise at the strange phenonon, then resud his charge with fierce eyes, letting out a roar.
Kuaaaang—!
[Beast’s Roar]
This ability doesn’t work on those at the sa 5-star level, but against lower levels, it causes stiffness.
No weakling could escape the stiffness caused by the roar, so Wiley twisted his body and swung his sword upward.
When close, even a mont of stiffness was enough.
I behead him.
Puuck!
“Kuhugh!"
Just as I was about to look at the face of the decapitated guy, a heavy shock struck my chest.
Wiley was slamd disgustingly into the ground, then wiped his mouth.
A trail of blood.
With an absurd expression, I turned my gaze and saw soone with both fists extended forward.
“...What did you do?"
“Yelling doesn’t an you win."
“Who the hell are you?"
“? The poster boy of Hunt."
As I looked at the sealed list from the Divine Arrow, [Beast’s Roar], I assud the basic stance of Quanru.
Glump—
Reto’s Spirit Form softly enveloped my entire body like a liquid.
A gentle golden halo flowed through the fluid form.
I felt a deep sense of calm in the unity of fighting together with Reto.
[Nine bullets remaining.]
“With so many bullets, I feel secure.”
Since I compared Burst to bullets, she picked it up and used it well.
As my Divine Na list grew, the number of Bursts also increased to eleven.
So far, I had used two.
‘Nine shots.’
Recalling the remaining number, I pushed off the ground.
It started with light footwork, but the propelled Divine Form shot forward like lightning.
Boom—!
Third Burst.
Wiley’s distorted face, twisted like a demon, ca into my vision, and his eyes opened wide in shock.
Faster than you expected, huh?
As he opened his mouth to speak—
Kwajak!
My knee smashed into his face and passed through.
A dull impact hit my knee.
Did I hit properly?
[It was shallow.]
“Damn it…!?”
So this is what it ans to be 5-star.
Just as his head was about to break, he twisted his face to deflect the impact.
“Kuaaaagh!”
It went in shallowly, but it seed the blow wasn’t fully absorbed. He clutched his face and scread in pain.
[Don’t give him ti.]
“I know!"
I twisted my face and contracted every muscle.
I lowered my posture and planted my body into the ground like a root.
How much force is needed to change the direction of a flying bullet?
I had tested it during my battle with Natasha. If there were no enemies nearby, it was possible regardless of posture.
“Kuaaaah!"
Of course, that didn’t an it was easy.
I poured all my energy into my muscles. The intense pressure twisted my entire body with pain, but gritting my teeth, I turned toward Wiley.
He was staggering.
Though I wanted to collapse from the intense fatigue, I knew better than anyone that this was my chance.
KWAANG!
Fourth Burst.
My turned body shot forward like a bullet.
As my spirit-powered fist poured out with murderous intent, Wiley clenched his teeth and raised one eye.
One side of his face had caved in, and he seed to have lost an eye.
As I threw the punch, Wiley twisted his head and thrust his sword.
There was no way I could dodge.
I ignored the aura sword and hurled myself at Wiley.
A body loaded with Burst is a deadly weapon. Though I’d take damage from the collision, I had Spirit Arts as my shield.
I trusted in my Spirit Arts.
Body Smashing!
He dodged my punch, but my chest collided fiercely with Wiley’s chest.
Crunch!
“…Kuhugh!"
The armor crumpled, and I heard bones breaking.
We tangled together and were hurled fiercely into a large building.
The wall collapsed, everything inside was smashed, and we bounced through the opposite wall.
“Gguuuuugh!"
Clutching my chest, I curled up in excruciating pain.
Even with Spirit Arts protecting , my chest bones were completely shattered. Without it, my organs would’ve burst open.
“Gguuh… Reto??”
[Not yet. Finish him before he moves.]
“Fuck, what a stubborn bastard.”
If we both suffered fatal wounds, the advantage was mine.
A maple-colored light glowed between the fingers I pressed to the floor.
The Ring of Desire exhaled a deep light and poured strength into my body.
I staggered to my feet, but the pain in my side knocked the wind out of .
Looking down, I saw a hole big enough to fit a fist.
I’d been stabbed by the sword without even realizing it, due to the tension and hyper-focus.
It had gone in deep.
I pressed it with my palm, but since it contained aura, it wouldn’t heal easily.
Blood dripping, I looked for Wiley.
“I have to kill him for sure this ti…”
The reason I was able to overwhelm him now was because I perfectly exploited the gap caused by his underestimation.
I had completely analyzed Wiley’s abilities. He hadn’t done the sa to .
If we fought again, I wouldn’t win as easily.
“Kuhack!"
I saw him coughing up blood.
He barely rose, using his sword as a cane.
Though I wanted to rush over and twist his neck, I never rushed.
Even if he looked near death on the outside, he was still a 5-star.
Letting your guard down is sothing the strong can afford, but for the weak, it’s just a plea to be killed.
“Thee-thee-thee.”
Wiley spotted and burst into hollow laughter.
It must’ve been disbelief at the result.
He slowly stepped back, pointing his sword at .
The hole in my side clearly hadn’t been made by chance.
A straight-line breakthrough.
With a single clash, he had figured out the weakness of Burst.
A brief standoff.
Then—Wiley’s figure blurred.
I clicked my tongue and chased after him.
He wasn’t heading toward , but toward the collapsed wall.
Over the wall, I could hear the neighing of horses and the sounds of cavalry pushing the defensive line.
Close distance.
I had to stop him from getting near the cavalry.
[Comradeship]
If he activated one of his abilities, [Comradeship], the morale of the cavalry would surge.
In this tense standoff, it could fatally tip the balance for the defenders. If he reached them, I wouldn’t be able to use Burst anymore.
[Now!]
The mont Reto signaled, I let go of my side and slamd the ground with full force.
KWAANG!
Fifth Burst.
As my vision blurred, a groan escaped. The hole in my body and loss of balance multiplied the pressure’s pain.
‘This ends now!’
Gritting my teeth at the thought of finishing it, Wiley sensed my explosive montum and twisted like lightning, taking a defensive stance.
His hardened expression and burst of energy showed he wouldn’t fall for the sa move.
At the mont we locked eyes up close—
“Haaap!”
Wiley’s sword flashed through the wind like a lightning strike.
So fast it was barely visible.
But—
[The heart!]
I had Reto.
Unlike before, when her warning ca, I cursed and drove my foot into the ground.
My sprinting body staggered from resistance.
Quanru’s secret: The rotation axis.
My weight shifted to one leg, and I attempted a spin.
Using it mid-Burst ant the pressure would shatter my body.
Crack! Crack!
From the rotating leg up to my pelvis, every bone twisted like wrung laundry.
“Ggeaaahhhh!"
Pain turned my mind white.
But it was better than dying from a pierced heart.
Puhk!
“Kuh!"
Wiley’s sword pierced into my chest.
A blade as fast as wind, impossible to fully dodge.
But since it missed my heart, I ignored the blade cutting through my chest and clenched my fist tightly.
His chest was wide open.
A perfect gap.
[Channel your energy!]
“Kuaaaagh!"
With a roar, the Spirit Arts in my fist exploded in blue energy.
Enchant: Penetration!
Puhk!
“...!”
My fist shattered Wiley’s broken armor and pierced through his chest.
Ti seed to stop.
Drip—
A hot drop of blood fell on my forehead, then a stream flowed down across my brow.
The tallic scent snapped back.
I slowly raised my head.
Wiley, coughing up blood, glared at in disbelief, his face distorted.
As he tried to move, I noticed the sword still embedded in my chest.
[Be careful. It’s close to the heart.]
I grabbed the sword’s hilt and bit into Wiley’s wrist.
“Kuhugh!"
As he let go of the sword, he collapsed before .
I don’t know if it was rage or a plea for rcy.
As he reached out toward , blood gushing from his mouth—I reached out too.
And seized his throat.
“Wiley Gris.”
Crack!
“Farewell.”
The mont the hunt ended.
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