Chapter 23 - Chapter 23 (1/2)

Jin-Woo swept his gaze at Hwang Dong-Seok and his group like a predator eyeing his prey.

Hwang Dong-Seok swallowed his saliva. He was already pretty surprised by the dagger appearing in that man's hands, but more importantly, Park Joon-Tae's death shook him to the core rather greatly.

'How did an E-rank Hunter kill a D rank in one hit?!'

He had no idea what kind of a trick the other guy used, but from now on, underestimating his opponent was definitely forbidden. No, he had to be very meticulous here. Hwang Dong-Seok gave a signal with his eyes to his side.

'Gyu-Hwan-ah, hit him one more time.'

Joh Gyu-Hwan lightly nodded his head.

This time, he wouldn't make the same mistake again!

Joh Gyu-Hwan told himself such as lights began gathering in his hands again. But, even before the arrows of light could leave his fingertips, Jin-Woo appeared right in front of Joh Gyu-Hwan first.

"Uh? Huh?!"

Joh Gyu-Hwan's jaw hit the floor.

The light in Jin-Woo's eyes gleamed coldly.

'You first, the magic-type Hunter who possesses strong firepower but a weak body.'

Jin-Woo had finished his calculations already.

The dagger stabbed straight through Joh Gyu-Hwan's neck.

Stab!

"Keo-heok!!"

Joh Gyu-Hwan tried to cover the hole in his neck and collapsed to the floor.

Plop.

"Kill him!!"

"Uwaaahhh!!"

With that as a signal, the Hunters around him rushed towards Jin-Woo at once. Jin-Woo raised all his senses to the maximum and calmly focused on the movements of his enemies.

All sounds disappeared and time slowed down. The Agility Stat and its 38 points had begun displaying its worth. He then blocked or evaded swords, spears and arrows being thrust at him from the very short distance.

The eyes of the Hunters became incredibly large.

'H-how can an E rank move like this?!'

'Too fast!!'

'I can't hit him at all!'

The complexions of the Hunters became ashen.

Indeed, speed was a subjective thing. To their eyes, Jin-Woo's movement was absurdly fast. Meanwhile, Jin-Woo waded in among the Hunters and calmly cut into their vital spots, one at the time.

['Effect: Paralysis' has been activated.]

['Effect: Bleeding' has been activated.]

['Effect: Paralysis' has been activated.]

The special effects of the Poison Fang of Kasaka continued to activate and the Hunters all fell into a quagmire of confusion.

"I-I can't move my body!! Uwaah?!"

"Magic?! Was that magic?!!"

"You son of a b*tch!!"

['Effect: Bleeding' has been activated.]

['Effect: Paralysis' has been activated.]

['Effect: Paralysis' has been activated.]

"Keok!!"

"Wha-what the hell is this guy's real identity?!"

"Uwaaahk!!"

Screams resounded out without a break from here and there. Five Hunters surrounding Jin-Woo all crumpled down to the floor in no time at all.

Plop.

Plop.

Tti-ring.

[The number of enemies left to kill: 1]

[The number of killed enemies: 7]

Jin-Woo shifted his gaze over to the last remaining survivor.

And that was none other the big bearded man, Hwang Dong-Seok. He discarded his shield as an expression of determination formed on his face.

He then loudly roared out.

"Uuuhhhhhhhaaaa!!"

Hwang Dong-Seok the kicked the ground and rushed forward.

Thump, thump, thump, thump!!!

His mind raced as he ran forward. He was a Tanker, and was considered one of the top even within the C rank.

His opponent most likely was a damage dealer.

Although that man seemed to be very agile, judged from his quick movements, there was no way he'd possess enough power to penetrate past Hwang Dong-Seok's 'Reinforcement' skill.

'You can't fatally wound me with a measly little dagger!'

The one to be crushed when they collide would be Seong Jin-Woo, instead!

Their distance closed up in the blink of an eye, and Hwang Dong-Seok tackled with his shoulder.

"Reinforcement!!"

But then, his entire world seemed to spin around, and before he realised how, he was staring at the ceiling of the dungeon.

SLAM!!

His brain shook hard and a strong impact force was transmitted into his entire body.

He wanted to get up, but his body didn't listen to his commands. Hwang Dong-Seok tried very hard, but eventually gave up and lay sprawled on the ground.

"Cough!!"

He coughed out a mouthful of blood.

'Did he... Did he throw me down to the floor?!'

Did Hwang Dong-Seok really lose in the contest of strength?

In a battle of physical strength?!

"How can a measly rank E...."

He was now so sure that something had gone terribly awry somewhere.

Five rank Cs and three rank Ds were knocked down in the blink of an eye. There was no way this b*stard was a rank E.

Jin-Woo stood next to Hwang Dong-Seok.

The bearded man couldn't even properly move his body. His fate was quite obvious now.

If this was a sports match or a spar, then this battle would've ended right here. Too bad for the bearded man, though, Jin-Woo wasn't planning to stop there.

"W-wait a minute."

Hwang Dong-Seok raised his hand first.

"Le-let me go! If you, you want m-money, I'll give it to ya. As long as you spare me...."

"Three times."

Jin-Woo's voice remained cold.

"Aren't you a bit shameless, asking to be spared by someone you tried to kill three times already?"

First, by blocking the exit of the boss room.

Second, ordering Yu Jin-Ho to kill him.

And finally, Joh Gyu-Hwan's magic.

Hwang Dong-Seok tried to kill Jin-Woo these three times – even after excluding the battle just now.

'Give and take'.

When he returned alive from the underground temple, Jin-Woo resolved himself to return as much as he had received.

….Whether it was kindness or hostility.

He'd repay the acts of ill intents with an equal amount of malice. There would be no room for negotiation.

Realising that begging for his life wouldn't work, Hwang Dong-Seok's eyes shot wide open and foam bubbled around his mouth.

"You, you!! You think you'll be okay after you laid your hands on me like this?! Do you have any idea who my younger brother is....."

Shatter!

Hwang Dong-Seok could no longer continue with his words after his neck was broken.

"Keok."

The whites of the bearded man's eyes were showing now.

Tti-ring.

[The number of enemies left to kill: 0]

[The number of killed enemies: 8]

Finally, this quest had come to an end.

"Whew-woo...."

Jin-Woo spat out a long sigh containing a myriad of emotions and lifted his hand away from Hwang Dong-Seok's head.