Episode 352
Small population and small territory.
Even so, the citizens were tired of the dangers of dungeons and portals that appeared too frequently.
Larger-than-human locusts caused pests and diseases in farmland where grain was to be grown, and monsters that appeared in the city center frequently destroyed buildings.
Now, in order to train hunters, we have a complete system from childhood to elite education to the academy, but that was history written by someone’s noble sacrifice.
The rules of society have already collapsed in front of the power of monsters.
Even if he had a gun, it was difficult to survive against a level 2 monster, and level 3 was an area that was difficult to eradicate except for the city guard and the military.
The vast expanse was occupied by rogue birds, and the expansive sea of Metro City, where marine ships passed, was stolen by the 6th-level boss, the King.
Humanity’s longing for a peaceful daily life was so desperate. Too many died to save the world.
But even so, humanity continued to fight for survival and prosperity, looking forward to the emergence of a ‘hero’ who would save the world with hope.
While honing and polishing the power of the ‘characteristic’ of blessings bestowed on mankind, he raided dungeons and fought against monsters that appeared in the city.
However, in difficult times, heroes are born.
[My training is to find answers to my own questions.]
The hero erased his thoughts while being hit by a waterfall, and threw out his fist, wishing to become stronger than yesterday’s self.
The hand that broke the tree broke the rock and the hero threw himself a question every time he defeated the monsters of Mt. Musin that even the hunter had given up on.
[What do I need to change this world?]
The answer was clear. The answer to save humanity from the dangers of dungeons and monsters and regain the city that was taken away by the boss has always been a powerful force.
That is the truth and law that the hero has never doubted.
The hero was more strict with himself than anyone else. There was no satisfaction in the training of cutting bones and vomiting blood. I tasted my limits every day and surpassed myself every moment.
Even in the hot summer when the flowers started to bloom, in the hot summer when the sun was shining, in the autumn when the leaves were falling, and in the winter when Musin Mountain was all white, the heroic training continued.
The hero was not satisfied even though a year had passed and he had grown so much that his former self was colorless.
After three years, the hero was not satisfied even though he single-handedly defeated the 5th-level boss, Sangun, who was called the owner of Mt. Musin.
Even on rainy days and snowy days, the hero’s training continued.
In the training that kept breaking his limits, the hero could not feel loneliness or boredom.
The life of getting to know oneself in the name of training was new every day.
The hero
always felt that the day given to him was not enough. No matter how hard I tried, there was never a day when I was satisfied.
10 years like that.
The hero was aware of his change.
His blades cut huge rocks like tofu, and his sharp senses caught all the variables in battle without having to erase his thoughts.
Every action of a hero entering battle always had a reason. Even the action of exhaling was contained in the extreme for victory.
[My appearance is ridiculous. Even though I’ve become so strong, I haven’t changed anything in the world yet. What is this power for?]
Now, all that remains is to find an answer to the first question. Taking a long deep breath, the hero clenched his fists. It was a fist that I wielded countless times for change and growth.
[Determination is what you need to change the world.]
If you don’t make a decision, nothing happens. Without any danger, without any trials, they just die lukewarmly.
It has been 10 years since I climbed Mt. Musin alone. The hero found the answer and that day the hero descended to save the world.
[…It’s a chaotic world.]
He defeated a huge 5th grade monster that gnawed at buildings in the city center with one blow, and he jumped into the sea of Metro City, which was called the tomb of hunters, and tore the sea king’s body apart with his bare hands.
It was very funny.
The hero’s training was an extreme repetition that exceeded the limit at every moment, but the hero’s battle was too simple.
Any formidable enemy would kneel before the hero’s forged fist.
After that, he just kept going as usual with the newly acquired name ‘Kwonwang’.
He was praised for reaching the 8th level for the first time in history, and gained trustworthy colleagues to conquer the 60th floor of the tower. A hero really saved the world. He left a mark as a legendary hunter.
Gooh –
Shin Yooseong and Lorelai were now facing such a hero as a legend. I was overwhelmed with momentum just by making eye contact.
‘…No matter how much a 7th level boss is, I can’t dare to embody the master’s combat power.’
Shin Yuseong’s rationality pursued a cold judgment, but the moment he faced his teacher, he could not help but feel the fear leaking out from within.
“It’s already late, but you seem to know the types of magic to some extent. Fear… has no form. That’s why the spell Lewis carved into the path of the stars relies on the memory and imagination of the challenger.”
Lorelai recalled the moment the spider hatched from the egg. Lewis’s spell was a formless egg, but Lorelai woke up the moment Lorelei remembered the hairy legs of a spider and the spider’s eyes emitting red light. It took shape because of Lorelai’s imagination.
“My memory and imagination?”
“yes. The behavior of the clone body is the memory directly seen by the subject. So it’s based on what you know. You can’t do anything you don’t know about.”
Now, Yuwonhak’s alter ego is still at a standstill. Yooseong Shin looked at Yuwonhak again based on Lorelai’s hint.
“I know… Master’s appearance…”
As Lorelai said, Yu Won-Hak’s actions before going into battle were the same as Shin Yu-seong’s memories of seeing him one day.
“If you search your memory, you will surely get a hint. I’m your back-up…”
Lorelai, who continued speaking, shrank at the cool sensation. Hwaaak! The wind blew towards his cheek.
In her mind, Lorelai wanted to turn her head right away and confirm the identity of the intimidation.
‘late.’
However, there was no time to dare to confirm his identity. It was death that attacked him now.
“Χρόνοα.”
Lorelai recited the true name of Chronoa, the goddess of time. The light of the goddess spreading from Lorelai’s body had the power to stop the world.
‘But… there is a limit to stopping.’
It seems to be stationary to the eyes of the general public, but Chronoa’s power is actually ‘to make it flow slowly’.
If the fleeting moment is broken down to 1/10,000, cognition goes to the state of foreknowledge. No matter how weak Lorelei was, she was able to avoid the opponent’s attack.
However, even if they were clones, Yuwon and Lorelai were too different in class.
‘I can never avoid it.’
Whoaaah-!
Yuwonhak’s attack came too soon, and Lorelai’s ‘recognition’ came too late. Yu Won-hak’s fist was already on the verge of reaching her.
No matter how finely you split the time, it was already too late. It was a slow death that Lorelei, aware of the attack, could not avoid even if she moved her body.
‘I don’t have the option to avoid it, I have to stop this!’
Fortunately, in a slowed down world, there is plenty of time to think. Lorelai took the next best thing in the worst of circumstances.
If you use your mana as much as possible as a barrier, can you block this attack?
Saaa!
The golden barrier created by Lorelei and Yuwonhak’s fists touched. Lorelai’s barrier, which compressed mana into thin layers, boasted a tremendous shield that could block even 6th grade attacks.
‘If only I could endure it once. Enough after that…’
Kuung!
The golden barrier collided with the fist of a man called a hero. Turning her head, Lorelai despaired as she saw the barrier easily distorted like cooking foil.
What would happen to your body if you were touched by that fist that easily distorts even barriers?
Can’t stand it.
no i can’t live
The emotion surrounding Lorelai now was the fear of death.
‘I can’t stop it, I can’t avoid it. This is…’
Even if it’s an alter ego, it’s the legendary Hunter who’s aiming for Lorelei right now. Lorelai felt true despair in the face of overwhelming force.
However, Lorelai created an opportunity in the brief moment that Barrier had created.
“Lorelai!”
Shin Yoo-seong, who converted all his strength into speed to avoid Yu Won-hak’s fist, hugged Lorelai.
Lorelai, who narrowly evaded the attack, felt the wind brush her cheeks and a dizzying sensation as a huge force passed her back.
Nettle – Whoa!
The fist thrown by the king of fists created a heavy shockwave and cleanly cleared the place where Lorelei had been.
Neither huge old trees nor hard rocks were left.
The place where the shock wave passed was pierced with a round circle as if it had been swallowed by a huge black hole.
What would happen if that fist touched your body? What would happen if you got caught in that shockwave?
“Heh heh heh heh…”
Experiencing the overwhelming difference in power, Lorelai’s face turned pale with cold sweat breaking out all over her body.
However, Shin Yoo-seong hurriedly turned his body before he had time to deal with Lorelai’s condition.
‘Come again.’
The basis of combat is exchange.
If you take something, you must give up something. If he took Lorelei’s life in a battle with a stronger man than himself, Shin Yuseong had to offer something else in return.
And the person who taught this to Shin Yoo-seong was none other than Kwon Wang Yu Won-hak.
“…”
Even if it was an alter ego, there was no difference. Yu Won-hak did not forgive the opponent who turned his back on him.
The fist thrown forward by Yu Won-Hak, the throwing god-style Surah Kwon-gyeok, created a huge wind pressure that cut out the surroundings.
It was a blow aimed at Shin Yoo-seong as well as Lorelei standing behind him.
The moment of choice came to Shin Yoo-seong again.
However, Shin Yoo-seong knew why the clone was so persistently targeting Lorelai.
‘Because Lorelei’s existence is the only variable left for me to defeat Master.’
That’s why Shin Yoo-seong chose the option to confront Yuwon-hak head-on with cold reason, not stubbornness.
Yoo Won-hak has never shown his strength to Shin Yoo-seong, but Shin Yoo-seong already knew.
Even if he was a double body, he could never defeat Yu Won-hak alone.
‘So now it’s a head-to-head match.’
Shin Yoo-seong
‘s hand left a remnant of blue mana and his tail hung down like a meteor.
The wind pressure as sharp as the blade created by the throwing god’s power was threatening to cut off his hand, but Shin Yoo-seong’s hand blocked the wind pressure.
If he was his former self, could he have imagined that he would dare to block the attack of his teacher whom he feared so much, even if he was a duplicate?
Wheein!
Shin Yuseong smiled amidst the tremendous roar created by the wind pressure as if a huge blade was spinning.
“…Master. I grew up following your teachings.”
The reason he was able to have such a strong heart was thanks to his teacher Yu Won-hak.
“I have gained the strength to protect someone dear to me.”
I could feel some of the mana swirling in the wind pressure and breaking one of my arms.
However, Shin Yoo-seong did not complain at all. It would have been a cheap price to pay for just this amount of damage to block the teacher’s blow.
Dip-dip-
drip- Even though blood dripped from one arm that had become a mop, Shin Yoo-seong smiled lightly. Sure enough, Yoo Won-hak’s alter ego smiles at Shin Yoo-seong.
“And I am not alone.”
Even in a desperate situation, Shin Yoo-seong, who was fearless, took a posture, and Shin Yoo-seong’s hands were filled with golden mana, the sign of Chronoa, the goddess of time.