Chapter 32: vs Kang Minhyuk

Chapter 32

Initially, Kim Jinsung had not intended to step forward.

However, seeing the progress of the meeting, it seemed like nothing would be accomplished and time would just keep passing.

It wasn’t incomprehensible.

‘Nobody wants to reveal their abilities in front of everyone just yet.’

Unique traits are like hidden cards that could turn the tables in life-threatening situations.

But to open those hidden cards right from the first preliminaries carries too much risk.

There were still the second and third preliminaries and the revival rounds left to go.

‘But just sitting there isn’t going to solve anything…’

Sitting idle would not get them over that wall, and a great distance remained to reach the mountain summit.

Driven by frustration, Kim Jinsung was compelled to come forward.

For someone who doesn’t like taking the lead, it was a big decision.

However,

“Pfft!”

“Puhaha! I can’t believe this.”

“Are you joking in this situation?”

People sneered and jeered, mocking him.

Even the middle-aged man leading the meeting had a smirk on his face.

“Young man, I understand your enthusiasm, but don’t rashly throw your life away.”

“Don’t you believe me?”

“Of course, not. Do you think anyone here believes that? How are you going to climb that wall by yourself?”

The middle-aged man pointed towards the distant iron wall.

Is it possible for him to break through that place by himself, where not even one out of thirty people here could climb all at once? It sounded absurd.

“Let’s stop there and sit down. Let’s calmly discuss and find a good way forward.”

The middle-aged man turned away, having made up his mind without listening further, which made Kim Jinsung realize.

It would be difficult to persuade and mobilize these people.

‘What now? Should I just crazily charge in alone?’

Going in alone without consensus was definitely risky. If these people don’t follow out of panic, Kim Jinsung will end up surrounded by numerous defenders alone.

‘Maybe I should just operate individually… Hm?’

As he stepped back to ponder, Kim Jinsung suddenly felt a presence from the other side of the wall and turned his head.

“Huh? What’s that?”

Another participant also noticed and pointed towards the other side of the wall,

prompting everyone to look in that direction.

Their eyes widened simultaneously.

Something huge was charging towards them at an incredible speed.

“What’s that? A monster?!”

“No, it’s a person!”

“Wait a minute! Stop and let’s talk first..!”

“Why talk when we need to block?!”

As they panicked, unsure of what to do, the opponent had already reached their vicinity.

Now close enough to see each other’s faces,

one of the group recognized the approaching figure and shouted.

“It’s Kang Minhyuk!”

“!”

Some recognized the name and their eyes widened.

Kang Minhyuk, the son of Kang Chan, was quite well-known among those interested in hunters.

Recently, the entire nation was abuzz because he single-handedly annihilated the ‘Bang Taesan Clan’ that had slain his father.

Of course, many also knew him as one of the most promising talents in South Korea today.

“Heek…!”

“We have to fight that monster?”

Those who recognized Kang Minhyuk were seized by fear.

How could they not be terrified, knowing the monster that single-handedly wiped out the recently thriving Bang Taesan Clan was charging at them?

“Damn it!”

“I need to survive too…!”

Just as some of the group started to scatter in an attempt to prioritize their own survival,

a man stepped forward to block Kang Minhyuk’s path.

It was Kim Jinsung.

Clang!

The sound of swords clashing echoed louder through the forest than ever before.

“Kkuk…!”

Kim Jinsung stepped back two steps, his grip in pain as if it were tearing apart.

Kang Minhyuk also took a big step back.

But he quickly regained his stance and swung his greatsword again.

Kim Jinsung did not avoid and swung his sword in response.

Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!

With each collision of their swords, nearby participants had to step back,

due to the shockwaves of mana clashing from their swords.

“Euk…!”

“Such an incredible duel!”

Even as they stepped back, they couldn’t take their eyes off the pair.

Witnessing such an intense battle between strong fighters was not something they saw every day.

Some, seeing such a scene for the first time, gazed in astonishment.

Especially the middle-aged man leading the group, was deeply shocked.

‘How can that young man stand against Kang Minhyuk like this…?’

Just moments ago, the youth was the subject of ridicule, yet now he was holding his own against the renowned Kang Minhyuk.

However, the duel that captivated everyone did not last long.

Clang!

After an even louder clash of swords, both Kim Jinsung and Kang Minhyuk were forced to jump back.

Both maintained their stances, swords drawn at each other.

“Why did you block me?”

Kang Minhyuk was the first to speak.

His deep voice was met by Kim Jinsung’s clear response.

“You were charging towards us.”

“I was trying to leap over you.”

Leap over?

Kim Jinsung asked, just in case.

“Don’t tell me you were trying to jump over the wall in one go?”

Kang Minhyuk did not respond.

It was a silent affirmation.

‘Incredible.’

Kim Jinsung inwardly clicked his tongue.

To jump over that wall over 10 meters high in a single bound?

Chapter 32: vs Kang Minhyuk

But Kim Jinsung did not scoff or laugh.

“I didn’t know that. I’m sorry.”

Instead, he bowed his head sincerely in apology.

Because, based on the brief exchange they had just now, Kang Minhyuk seemed like he could actually make it.

‘For someone at his level, it isn’t impossible. Plus, he’s wearing those supply box shoes.’

Kim Jinsung’s gaze shifted to Kang Minhyuk’s shoes, which were faintly glowing.

They were surely shoes with a speed enhancement enchantment. All the shoes he had seen inside supply boxes on TV had them.

Combine the speed increase from the enchanted shoes with Kang Minhyuk’s prowess experienced firsthand in their duel?

He could definitely leap over 10 meters.

“That bag.”

Kang Minhyuk’s voice drew his attention.

His eyes were fixed precisely on the large bag Kim Jinsung was carrying.

“Where did you get it?”

From Kang Minhyuk’s perspective, doubt was reasonable.

Kim Jinsung had equipped none of the other weapons or armor from the supply box, carrying only a large backpack.

Kim Jinsung replied calmly,

“I got it from a participant.”

“Who?”

“I don’t really know their name. It’s not like the participants are wearing name tags.”

Kim Jinsung shrugged after responding.

After looking at him for a while, Kang Minhyuk seemed to run out of things to say and lowered the sword he had been pointing.

Then, he turned around quickly.

“Wait a moment.”

Kim Jinsung called out to him as he was about to leave.

“Now that it’s come to this, why not team up to break through the wall?”

Kang Minhyuk turned his head towards Kim Jinsung but didn’t respond.

Kim Jinsung continued to persuade,

“If you and I combine our strength, I think we can break through the wall much more easily. What do you think?”

Kang Minhyuk’s gaze, which had been watching him silently, soon shifted away towards the wall in the distance.

At the same time, there was a slight tremor in his eyes.

The number of defenders on top of the wall had changed from before.

“…Huh? Why does it look like there are even more defenders now?”

“What? Oh! They are indeed coming from both ends of the wall!”

“It looks like there are easily over a hundred now, doesn’t it?”

The other participants also checked the wall and had the same reaction.

Following Jang Seungwook’s instructions from earlier, the defenders from zones 1 and 3 had now joined up in zone 2.

The number of defenders had precisely increased to 150.

Kang Minhyuk’s eyes, which had been looking at the dense row of defenders on the wall, swung back to Kim Jinsung.

Kim Jinsung shrugged with a smile.

Atop the fortifications in zone 2,

The defenders, ready to shoot at any time, were vigilantly guarding the bushy area.

“Where did everyone go?”

One of them naturally voiced a question.

Until a moment ago, they could see participants all throughout the bushes, but then suddenly, not a single one was visible anymore.

A nearby defender answered,

“Isn’t it obvious? They must be gathering behind to hatch some plan.”

“Hmm…”

“Honestly, I’m not worried. How are they going to break through the wall when 150 of us are solidly holding it? Right?”

“True…”

“To be honest, I thought it wouldn’t be easy for them to break through even when we were only fifty strong.”

Now the reinforcements from areas 1 and 3 had joined, tripling the numbers to 150.

How could ordinary hunters withstand the gunfire from 150 rifles going off at once?

“Still, let’s not let down our guard. I saw on TV that the participants here have some unusual abilities.”

“Yeah! I even saw someone who could transform into insects.”

“That’s what I’m saying. They’ll definitely use all sorts of abilities to sneak over somehow.”

“Hmm… no one is going to just straight-up cross, right?”

“Eh, surely not? Unless they’ve gone mad… huh?”

The skeptical defender paused his conversation and looked ahead.

“What’s that?”

Everyone’s gaze followed to the bushes.

A man was punching through the bushes, leaping high into the sky.

He was rising high enough to clear the more than 10-meter high wall.

“Uh?!”

“Man, there really are some crazy folks out here, huh?”

“Shhh!!”

Ratatat!

The alarmed defenders reflexively fired bullets at the figure landing from above.

Though most of the bullets hit his massive body, he appeared unharmed and quickly descended toward the defending soldiers on the wall.

Crash!

“Aargh!”

“Uh, uh, aah~!”

Several defenders who collided with him plummeted down below the wall.

Kang Minhyuk, having landed, immediately drew the greatsword from his back.

“Kuhuck—!”

“Gurk..!”

With a single slash, several defenders spilled blood and fell to the ground.

Seeing this, the entire group of defenders panicked.

“He’s a strong one! Surround and attack!”

“Stop shooting, get your weapons! You’re hitting our own men!”

Soon all the defenders on the wall started to run toward Kang Minhyuk.

A few defenders who had gotten close swung their weapons at Kang Minhyuk’s exposed back.

“Haaap!”

Rushing forward with a shout,

“Aargh!”

“Hurk…!”

They nearly simultaneously cried out and fell to the ground.

All the fallen had their legs cut off more than halfway, rolling painfully on the ground.

“?!”

“What?!”

Defenders in the back cried out in surprise, looking towards Kang Minhyuk.

Sure enough, at the place Kang Minhyuk had been standing alone, a strange young man suddenly appeared, brushing blood off his sword.

It was Kim Jinsung.

“Well, getting in here was a success.”

Kim Jinsung immediately gripped his sword again and rushed toward the defenders in front of him.