Ch.120EP.29 – King Kong and the Hybrid Clash (8)

I already knew it.

That the power of Level 8 heroes was truly transcendental.

However….

‘Knowing something and actually seeing it are completely different things….’

Crack! Boom!!

The floor began to break apart, and the ceiling was on the verge of collapse.

No, it had already crumbled more than 90%, and it wouldn’t be surprising if everything shattered completely at any moment.

I felt dizzy at the fact that this phenomenon was created simply by the collision of two people.

Is this really the power that humans can display…?

“Hmm, I really do have a good eye for people. You’re strong indeed, though I didn’t expect you to block my ‘Lightning Strike.'”

“What’s with that childish name?”

“W-What? Isn’t it a good name?”

“Not really…?”

“Hmm….”

However, the two knights continued to thrust their blades at each other, barely paying attention to the natural disaster they had artificially created.

Because they had no ‘trust’ in each other.

“Let’s stop this. Our objectives seem similar, don’t they?”

“I can see the similarities, but that doesn’t mean I should look kindly on someone who threw the first punch.”

“…Well, I have nothing to say to that.”

Ihan was right.

Regardless of the reason, Maximus was the one who first showed hostility and revealed his aggression.

So Ihan also took a fighting stance and delivered a full-power strike, and if Maximus hadn’t responded, he would have been quite hurt.

“But I must make an excuse. Lahan, the aura you emit is so fierce that I honestly mistook you for a monster. So how about showing some understanding at this point?”

“I admit I was feeling a bit angry so my aura became fierce, but… that’s not my name.”

“Right, Rihan.”

“…This is driving me crazy.”

More difficult to deal with than someone who doesn’t listen is ‘a person without malice.’

In that sense, he truly didn’t feel any malice from the man.

Just a calm, snow-white innocence with a hint of competitive spirit.

But.

Zap!

‘This hurts like hell.’

Not just his arm that clashed with the man, but even his shoulder was aching, causing Ihan to furrow his brow.

‘This human gorilla, no, King Kong-like bastard…!’

Ihan wore a disgusted expression.

* * *

Maximus.

The first time he saw him was during the Academy’s midterm evaluation period, and all he did was briefly see his face along with Grand Duke Lionel.

And even then, he vaguely felt that this knight named Maximus was…

‘How can someone like this exist?’

Incredibly threatening.

Perhaps because he himself had gone through many growing pains?

Ihan could now glimpse Maximus’s strength that he hadn’t seen the day before.

‘What an incredible physique.’

A massive body whose outline alone was impressive.

It had perfect proportions that would be believable if someone said it was carved by a master sculptor.

As a physical knight himself, he knew.

To build such a body required not just effort, but also ‘being born different.’

‘Well, isn’t he just a living textbook on life’s unfairness?’

For someone born with a physical disadvantage, he couldn’t help but envy him.

Not that it made him feel resentful or inferior.

Rather, it inspired admiration and a desire to work toward building such a body himself.

But….

‘He’s not the type I want to get close to.’

As he thought yesterday, this was truly someone he wanted to avoid.

Just look at him now.

“I wish you would understand. After dealing with only weaklings, I was so delighted to find a worthy strong opponent that I impulsively attacked. I won’t make such a mistake again, haha!”

His tone made it unclear whether he was apologizing or picking a fight.

If this man had many enemies, it was probably all his own doing.

He was the type to easily create grudges.

Ihan…

“…Sigh.”

Felt that this quarrel was meaningless.

Talking with him would only cause frustration.

“Let’s stop this.”

“Huh?”

“I’m already in a hurry, so what’s the point of fighting with you? Let’s just go our separate ways.”

“Hmm, how cold of you.”

When Ihan put down his axe, the other man looked visibly disappointed, suggesting he had been eager for a fight.

‘What a cultist…’

It reminded him once again that this was someone to stay away from.

Just then.

“Hmm, but I should still make amends. How can a knight of the North let this pass with just words? Let’s see… Ah, I know!”

Whoosh!

“I’ll handle these ones for you.”

No sooner had Maximus finished speaking than shadows surged around them.

Swoosh!

The black-clad figures, revealing their murderous intent, immediately threw daggers at Ihan upon spotting him.

So many daggers flew through the air threateningly toward Ihan, it was impossible to tell where they had been hiding them.

And those daggers…

Slash!

“How dare assassins target an honorable knight!”

A strong gust of wind generated from Maximus’s sword as he swung it without hesitation, causing all the daggers to lose their momentum and fall to the ground.

He hadn’t used any special technique—he had simply swung with such force that he deflected all the throwing knives!

Terrifying strength.

Boom!

Then Maximus launched himself forward, leaving footprints in the ground, and in an instant, his figure disappeared.

Slash!

“One down.”

“!!!?”

When he reappeared, the black-clad figures were shocked.

One of their comrades had been separated at the waist and legs.

It happened in the blink of an eye, with a swing and movement too fast to follow with the naked eye.

But what was even more astonishing was…

“As I thought, using a sword is inconvenient.”

Crack.

The sword that Maximus had presumably picked up from the tunnel was already at its limit of durability, about to break.

It couldn’t withstand his monstrous strength.

To this…

“Hmm, fighting with bare hands would be more comfortable.”

“…Don’t be so arrogant!”

He discarded the sword without hesitation, which the black-clad figures took as disrespect and became enraged, but…

“Arrogant? Me?”

Crunch!!

When Maximus’s hands clapped together on a black-clad figure’s head, the head crumpled like clay and the man died instantly.

Could a human skull be crushed so easily?

“…Gulp.”

The black-clad figures hesitated as they swallowed dry saliva.

The ferocity, determination, and strength of this giant-like man who had suddenly appeared were truly terrifying.

Taking steps backward was an instinct for survival.

But Maximus’s eyes were fierce.

As if he wouldn’t let a single one of them escape.

“It is you who are arrogant. How unsightly to charge in without even assessing your opponent’s abilities.”

Whoosh!

As Maximus extended his front foot again, his body vanished.

Despite his giant-like build, his ability to move his body instantaneously like flowing water resembled a cheetah or a snake.

The instantaneous acceleration of a cheetah and the elasticity to freely control his entire body’s muscles like a snake.

Was such movement even possible for a human? It truly transcended the laws of physics.

Then the next moment.

Crack!

As Maximus’s fist struck, another black-clad figure’s head exploded, and yet another had his body torn apart.

The black-clad figures were experiencing the terror of being slaughtered by a single person.

—An experience they would never have again.

“Is that thing even human?”

Ihan was dumbfounded.

He truly thought this was what would happen if you taught martial arts and techniques to a gorilla.

‘His instantaneous acceleration must easily exceed 100!’

It was like performing Gungshintanyeong in real-time.

But in Ihan’s case, he used it as a technique, while this guy seemed to have Gungshintanyeong as a passive ability.

“What an unreasonable guy, how is an ordinary person like me supposed to live…”

“……”

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Oh, no, it’s nothing….”

…The thing is, all of his comments…

‘I think these might be the same impressions others have about you, Instructor…’

Derrick couldn’t bring himself to say such words.

He had no desire to be torn in half like those black-clad figures.

* * *

Thud.

“Hmm, how unsatisfying.”

The time it took for Maximus to separate the enemies’ heads and necks was barely 10 minutes, and over thirty people lay dead.

Some might think he won easily because they were weak, but according to the status window evaluation of someone with skills, their levels were all Lv.5.

They could be considered elite knight-level.

Yet he annihilated them in an instant, which only speaks to Maximus’s overwhelming power.

However, despite facing such threatening enemies, Maximus’s expression showed little excitement.

Rather, only disappointment remained.

That’s how empty the confrontation had been.

“A proper battle should involve blood and flesh flying…”

Though an extremely psychotic statement, this was the mindset of a Northerner.

Battle should be fierce, and dying in battle is honorable.

Rather, living in a cowardly manner or fearing confrontation was more humiliating to Northerners.

‘Hmm, I finally have a satisfying strong opponent before me, but forcing a fight in this situation wouldn’t be appropriate.’

Maximus glanced at the young knight of Pendragon.

Even when they first met, he was clearly emitting an unusual aura, but now that aura had grown even larger.

Growth incomparable to yesterday.

‘I see, he has overcome the [Trial of Struggle]?’

The warriors of the North revered struggle because they believed they could grow by fighting and defeating enemies stronger than themselves, and they called such struggles trials.

And those who overcame these trials became stronger.

They accumulated ‘karma’ through victory.

But accumulating such karma is extremely difficult.

No matter how brave a warrior is, surviving a duel where life and death cannot be guaranteed is challenging.

Therefore.

‘He is remarkable.’

A champion who has seized victory.

For Maximus, he couldn’t help but find him an attractive opponent.

‘I want to fight him, truly…!’

Before, he merely stimulated his fighting spirit, but now it was different.

If he could defeat this man, he could reach an even higher level.

An endless desire for growth.

It wasn’t just talent, but this endless desire that was one of the reasons he was called the strongest warrior of the North.

Just as his longing for struggle was welling up…

[[Krrrrr!!!!]]

An intruder interrupted.

Mother Worm.

A massive sand worm, 120 meters in size, was charging with an angry roar.

“…Quite large for a mere worm.”

Even seeing the Mother Worm’s charge, Maximus was unfazed.

Such giant creatures were common in the North.

What caught his attention more was…

“That guy over there is giving you a passionate look. Are you acquainted?”

“Well, he was a former colleague.”

“Oh?”

A black-clad figure charging on the Mother Worm’s head.

Seeing No. 4, Maximus’s eyes lit up.

He could tell just by looking. This one had a higher position than the black-clad figures from before.

If that was the case…

“This former colleague of yours, may I take him?”

Maximus’s words seemed to be asking for permission, but he wasn’t really asking.

Rather…

“What if I say no?”

“Hehe…!”

“……”

It was nothing short of a silent notification.

Though his laughter came without an answer, he chuckled softly as if he had already heard a response, and Ihan shook his head with a smirk.

And so they…

Boom!!

Extended their fists toward each other without anyone taking the lead.

From the moment they couldn’t trust each other with their backs, they were already ‘enemies.’

What about the Mother Worm and No. 4, you ask?

—If they were wise enough to calculate such things, they wouldn’t be knights in the first place.