Chapter 27 …
Kugugugugung—!!!!
A tremendous vibration suddenly exploded through the entire building. The pressure was overwhelming.
What the hell?
What just happened?
“Ghk…!”
Baek Hyun-ho grimaced and dropped to one knee. I wasn’t any different.
“Ugh….”
An oppressive force strong enough to shake the building itself. And where had Irene disappeared to this time?
“……Chairman…!”
“……This is….”
Baek Hyun-ho bit his lip. Then his body moved.
Kugung.
Pushing through the pressure, Baek Hyun-ho began to rise.
“…The barrier shouldn’t have reacted. How is this even possible…?”
The suit he was wearing tore apart, revealing tightly packed muscles beneath. From his rigid body, an immense aura poured out.
…A spear mage.
Baek Hyun-ho the Spear Mage. Once again, I was reminded that he was an S-rank superhuman.
The problem was—
…Still.
The pressure wasn’t easing at all.
What is this?
Sweat formed at my trembling fingertips. I clenched my lips, barely enduring the force.
“That’s unexpected.”
A voice rang out—from the direction of the window.
Creeeak.
The window opened, and someone entered.
A hulking man wearing a mask.
Even compared to Baek Hyun-ho, his massive frame didn’t fall short.
Who the hell is that?
Wait.
That mask—
A memory surfaced. The terrorist who used flames in Yeouido. The mask he wore felt eerily similar.
Don’t tell me…
Same organization?
As that thought crossed my mind—
“They said you were just an old man, so I figured you wouldn’t be able to use much strength. But you can still move in this state…”
“…You bastard.”
A terrifying aura erupted from Baek Hyun-ho.
“Pretty murderous, huh?”
Despite the pressure, the giant only smiled, amused.
“What did you do to Irene?”
At Baek Hyun-ho’s question, the giant tapped his mask lightly.
“Who knows. That field isn’t really my specialty. Honestly, it’s a shame. They said she was a monster—I wanted to meet her.”
Then he turned his head.
“Now then.”
His gaze landed on me.
“That guy? Is it you—Lee Jin-woo?”
“…!”
He knew my name?
“Tch.”
The giant scanned me from head to toe and scoffed.
“You’re nothing special. Why did that firestarter cling to you like that?”
“…What did you say?”
“Ah, I don’t like stealing someone else’s prey… but it can’t be helped. Try to understand.”
Step.
He walked toward me. Something slowly formed around his massive fist—a dark-colored gauntlet.
“This is work for me too.”
“…That’s far enough.”
Whooong—!!
The air split as something flew in.
“Oh?”
Kwa-ga-ga-gak—!!!
A storm crashed through the shattered window frame.
It was Baek Hyun-ho.
Gripping his spear, he lunged at the giant.
“This old man’s still alive? You’re even attacking in this state?”
“…You bastard…”
“But that’s unfortunate.”
Crack—!!
The giant swung his fist.
His heavy blow collided with Baek Hyun-ho’s spear. It looked like he barely blocked it—
“But today’s target isn’t you.”
And—
“You need to stay alive.”
Thoom—!! Kwaaang—!!!
With that single punch, Baek Hyun-ho was blasted backward.
Kwa-ga-ga-gang—!!!
He smashed through the wall and was sent flying far away.
“Hm.”
The giant brushed off his hands and looked back at me.
“Alright. Let’s try again. I don’t have much time, so I should finish this quickly.”
“…!”
“So don’t bother with pointless resistance.”
I’m the target?
Judging by his words, he was definitely after me.
I clenched my teeth.
My body wouldn’t move.
What do I do?
How was I supposed to break out of this situation?
“Kid. Seriously.”
The giant spoke as I desperately tried to think.
“Why’d you have to stand out like this? Pitiful.”
Move.
I had to move somehow.
And then—
[■ Corca’s Projection resists the condition.]
[■ The power of the Four Guardian Gods, Corca, is confirmed.]
[■ This is the power of the true body. Resistance is granted.]
The crushing pressure vanished instantly.
“…!”
A fist flew toward my face.
I threw myself aside.
Kwaaang—!!!!
The floor collapsed, leaving a gaping hole.
“Huh?”
The giant turned to look back.
“How did you dodge that?”
“….”
I exhaled shakily.
That was close.
I almost died.
Cold sweat soaked my back as my heart raced violently.
I’ll die.
Just like before—one mistake and it was over.
“Hey, rookie. How are you moving in here?”
The giant tilted his head, shaking his fist.
“Even that spear mage can’t move properly. What are you?”
“….”
I didn’t answer.
Now wasn’t the time for words.
My eyes darted around, tracking him frantically.
[■ Killing intent detected.]
[■ Killing intent detected.]
[■ Killing intent detected.]
[■ Killing intent detected.]
The warnings screamed inside my head.
“No answer? Hm.”
[■ Hero’s Hyper-Senses activated.]
“Well, whatever.”
His fist came again.
I dodged.
“Huh?”
The giant sounded surprised.
“Twice isn’t a coincidence.”
My senses screamed warnings at every movement.
My entire body tingled as killing intent and hyper-senses overlapped, pushing me into extreme tension.
“Oh?”
Excitement crept into his voice.
“This is fun.”
A chill ran down my spine.
[■ Killing intent detected.]
[■ Killing intent detected.]
[■ Killing intent detected.]
The killing intent was even stronger than before.
Damn it.
What do I do?
As I struggled—
…Breaking Heaven Strike.
I should use the skill.
But—
[■ Conditions for casting Breaking Heaven Martial Art are not met.]
You’ve got to be kidding me.
Same as last time.
[■ Killing intent detected.]
[■ Hero’s Hyper-Senses activated.]
“…!”
Another attack.
I twisted my head to dodge the fist.
Then—
“Then how about the side?”
Damn—!
The punch was a feint.
A knee strike followed.
Block it?
[■ Killing intent detected.]
[■ Hero’s Hyper-Senses.]
The skill warned me—block it and I’d die.
Then what?
Something—anything to block—!
Clink.
A sound rang out.
“Ha!”
The giant threw his punch.
Kkaaang—!!!
A clear ringing echoed.
“Huh? Metal?”
He stared ahead.
“What is that?”
“….”
I had drawn the Heavenly Demon Divine Sword, blocking his fist.
“A sword? You used a sword?”
My hand throbbed painfully.
I barely blocked it with the heavy blade.
Luckily, I had something to block with.
But—
Now what?
I blocked it, sure.
But what do I do with a sword?
This just makes it a shield.
I didn’t know how to use a sword.
That was the biggest problem.
[■ Heavenly Demon Divine Sword activated.]
[■ Skills are granted to the user according to the sword’s abilities.]
[■ Martial Art: Heavenly Demon Energy manifests while wielding the Heavenly Demon Divine Sword.]
[■ Duration: 60 seconds.]
[■ Would you like to—]
Ding—!
[■ Corca’s Projection activates. The true form of Heavenly Demon Energy is revealed.]
[■ Heavenly Demon Energy (A) evolves.]
[■ Heavenly Demon Divine Art (SS) acquired.]
[■ The overlaid Heavenly Demon (A) reveals its hidden power.]
[■ Rank changes from Heavenly Demon (A) to Heavenly Demon (SS).]
[■ User’s understanding is critically low.]
[■ Stats are reduced.]
[■ Duration decreased.]
[■ Duration: 15 seconds.]
Grrrk—!!
The sword suddenly felt far lighter than before.
“Hm?”
[■ Heavenly Demon Divine Art conditions met.]
[■ Activating Heavenly Demon Divine Sword.]
Fwoooosh—!!!
“Huh?”
Dark navy flames burst from the blade, wrapping around it.
Thump—!
My feet moved on their own.
I stepped forward, twisting my waist.
My movements felt light—yet perfectly balanced.
Then—
[■ Heavenly Demon Divine Sword]
[■ Heavenly Demon Pseudo-Fang Severance (天魔擬牙絶)]
The sword cut through the giant.
Shraaaak—!!!
The slash carved straight across the wall.
A thin line appeared on the building—
Pshhk—!!!
“Ghk!?”
I cut into his upper body.
Not clean through—but blood sprayed everywhere.
He must have dodged at the last instant.
“Well, would you look at that…?”
The giant grinned, heat rising in his eyes as he looked at the blood flowing from his chest.
“You’re way more useful than I thought.”
“….”
I frowned.
[■ Excessive power used relative to stats.]
[■ Recoil incoming.]
[■ Warning.]
[■ Recoil incoming.]
The warning came too late.
Kooong—!!
“Cough!”
Blood spilled from my mouth.
Pain wracked my body, forcing me to hunch over.
“What’s wrong with this guy?”
The giant frowned as he watched me stagger.
No.
I had to endure.
I tried to move, forcing strength into my legs—but my body wouldn’t listen.
If I collapsed, I’d die.
Even as I desperately tried to hold on—
…Damn it.
My body was already falling.
✦ ✦ ✦
Thud—!
Lee Jin-woo collapsed.
“…What?”
The giant’s voice wavered as he stared at the fallen body.
“Hey. Rookie. Hey!”
No response.
“Tch.”
So he’d exhausted himself.
The giant clicked his tongue.
“Figures.”
Blood trickled down his torso as he wiped it off carelessly.
“They said A-rank, but he was strangely strong.”
Probably a burst-type skill.
Or something that poured everything into a single strike.
That explained why the firestarter ended up like that.
Now it made sense.
But—
“…It was just getting fun.”
His body had finally warmed up.
Now the excitement died instantly.
There were things he wanted to ask, too.
Like how—
How did he escape the leader’s pressure?
The pressure blanketing this entire area.
No ordinary superhuman could escape it.
In this country—
Only one.
That child monster named Yujin.
So how did this guy do it?
Strange…
But now wasn’t the time.
He stepped closer, clenching his fist.
“Too bad.”
Left alone, this kid would’ve grown strong.
And then—
…I could’ve killed him in a much more entertaining way.
As the giant raised his fist to crush Lee Jin-woo’s head—
Kiiiiiiiiiik—!!!!
“…!”
Space itself began to tear.
What the hell?
The giant froze.
“…Disgusting.”
Someone stepped out of the torn space.
White hair. Blue eyes—
No, golden eyes.
Hale Irene.
She walked out calmly.
“…Ha!”
The giant let out a hollow laugh.
“Damn human.”
He recalled his leader’s confident words.
“‘I’ll keep her restrained for an hour,’ he said.”
An hour?
Ridiculous.
It hadn’t even taken five minutes.
The giant twisted his body.
He had to kill Lee Jin-woo now.
Just as that thought crossed his mind—
“…I’m annoyed.”
Stop.
The giant’s body froze solid.
“…If you saw me.”
Irene gestured lightly.
“You should’ve run.”
Her face was filled with irritation.
“…Pathetic.”
Then—
Woooong—!
Golden light poured forth—
KWAAAAAAANG—!!!
Half of the Association building vanished.
