Chapter 104: Time of Massacre

A battle of many versus one.

In such a situation, the one who is outnumbered is inevitably at a severe disadvantage. Especially if it’s just a single person, it’s only natural for the odds to be heavily against them.

However, being outnumbered doesn’t always mean being at a disadvantage. The smaller side also has a unique advantage.

They can freely choose their target.

When a team has multiple members, even if they are aware that an enemy is nearby, they can’t help but let their guard down.

Why?

Because they think, Surely, the attack won’t be aimed at me.

Does that sound like foolish thinking? Like they’re being reckless and lowering their guard?

Not at all.

Imagine a group of over twenty people—if only one of them is attacked, that’s a mere 5% chance. Who would ever think that the preemptive strike would land on them?

That’s why people let their guard down.

The more people there are around them, the safer they feel.

In other words, being outnumbered can actually be an advantage if one uses the enemy’s overconfidence against them.

Lee Hyun-seung understood this perfectly.

That’s why, even though there were many members of Hilleon nearby, he tried not to let himself get nervous. On the contrary, he saw it as an ideal opportunity to eliminate someone.

-Tremble

His hands were shaking.

To be honest, claiming he wasn’t nervous would be a lie. No matter how much stronger he’d gotten, even if he was strong enough to single-handedly take down an executive like Shim Jae-wook, facing a criminal organization of over twenty people alone was no easy feat.

‘Stay calm.’

The target was Son Him-gyeol.

He had only one shot.

If he could kill Son Him-gyeol—or at least deal a critical blow—then the entire structure of Hilleon’s forces at this site would fall into disarray.

From what Lee Hyun-seung had analyzed, Son Him-gyeol was the only executive present at this location.

Hilleon’s chain of command was extremely hierarchical. Orders from the upper ranks had to be followed exactly by those below.

If the upper ranks were suddenly removed from the equation, chaos would surely follow.

-Creak

With that in mind, Lee Hyun-seung pulled the trigger.

Of course, he made full use of the skills available to him.

[Last Bullet]

-BANG!-

The gunshot rang out across the area.

At the same time, the bullet raced toward Son Him-gyeol.

-Whoosh!-

The Hilleon Numbering Guild members in the hall, including executive Son Him-gyeol, reacted quickly. As soon as the gunshot echoed, they all turned their heads toward Lee Hyun-seung’s direction.

However, their reflexes were not faster than the bullet.

-Thud!-

The bullet struck Son Him-gyeol directly.

‘F*ck. He dodged it.’

Originally, Lee Hyun-seung had aimed precisely for his heart.

When firing from a distance, especially when it’s necessary to kill the target in one shot, it’s more effective to aim for the heart rather than the smaller, easier-to-dodge head.

The reason was simple.

The torso had a wider frame. So even if the shot barely missed the heart, there was still a high chance it would hit a vital organ nearby and inflict critical damage.

“Ugh…!”

The bullet didn’t hit Son Him-gyeol’s heart, but struck the area beside it—around his ribcage.

The bullet either pierced through the flesh and cracked his ribs or was blocked somewhat by mana, in which case it likely caused a fracture at the very least.

Clutching his ribs, Son Him-gyeol shouted.

“Ki—kill him… now…! He’s nearby…”

Even though he couldn’t speak clearly from the pain, the nearby Numbering Guild members immediately sprang into action.

-Dash dash dash dash-

Lee Hyun-seung started sprinting in the opposite direction.

It would be sheer stupidity to face twenty or so opponents head-on all by himself.

Lee Hyun-seung was a student of Broad Academy.

That meant he was thoroughly familiar with the surrounding terrain. Even though the assassination had failed, he had already thought through how to use the terrain to his advantage during his escape.

Moreover, he had preemptively activated the skill [Agile Footwork of the Gunslinger], allowing him to move at an incredible speed.

–Tatatatat–

Lee Hyun-seung ran, and kept running.

Behind him, the Numbering Guild members, armed with guns and mana staffs, began chasing after him like they meant to kill.

“Fire! I said, shoot your magic!”

It seemed Son Him-gyeol had recovered from his injury to some extent, as he shouted while chasing from behind.

Despite being hit while off guard, he had already recovered enough to run and yell like that—it was hard to think of him as anything other than a damn monster.

When Son Him-gyeol shouted, several of the magic-using Numbering Guild members must have started casting spells, as a massive mass of mana began to form behind him.

–Whooooom–

He could feel the clump of mana approaching from behind.

Immediately, Lee Hyun-seung equipped [Magazine of Magic Nullification].

While still sprinting forward, he twisted only his upper body slightly back and fired at the incoming magic.

–Taaang–!

Before the orb-shaped mass of mana could take on another form, Lee Hyun-seung had already neutralized it.

–Fwoooosh–

The mana vanished into thin air.

Though he had blocked the urgent attack, the process of twisting his torso to aim had allowed the Numbering Guild members to close the gap even more.

Now, the distance between them was roughly 20 meters.

At a glance, that might seem far, but with the speed they were running at, if Lee Hyun-seung stopped even for a moment, he could be caught instantly.

‘Think. You have to think.’

If it were five, maybe ten enemies, he could’ve just killed them all.

No, even if there were twenty, if it was only the Numbering Guild members, he could have managed.

The real problem was Son Him-gyeol.

He was an Epic-grade swordsman.

On top of that, officers of his level usually carried ‘Demon Relics.’

‘Even Shin Junho, that punk student from the Class Extermination Match, was that strong just by using it. If Son Him-gyeol activates his, there’s no way I can handle it.’

Demon Relic.

The artifact Shin Junho used during the A-Class vs. F-Class Extermination Match.

It allowed the user to wield demonic energy, but in exchange, it consumed their soul.

If it was only used normally, that would be the extent of it. But if swallowed, the user’s body would transform into something close to a demon, multiplying their power severalfold—an utterly broken artifact that turned someone into a literal monster.

Of course, the Demon Relic came with fitting side effects for such a powerful buff—depending on the user’s constitution, it could allow them to use forbidden arts or other abilities, but in return, they suffered heavy consequences.

Just like how Shin Junho became vegetative after swallowing one, most users either lose their physical abilities or die when the relic’s duration ends.

‘I doubt he’d go so far as to risk his life.’

A guy like Son Him-gyeol, a top-ranking officer in Hilleon, swallowing a Demon Relic and charging in?

Unthinkable.

He already had guaranteed power and status—why would he throw away his life just to kill Lee Hyun-seung, a mere student?

But still, there was an uneasy feeling.

The look in Son Him-gyeol’s eyes as he ran from behind… it was too desperate.

It was as if he absolutely had to kill Lee Hyun-seung.

He looked urgent, like someone being chased.

‘F*ck… if only it weren’t for that damn Demon Relic.’

Assume the worst.

That’s the best way not to lose.

If the situation is unfavorable, then he’d just have to create a more optimal battlefield.

–Slaaaaash–!

Lee Hyun-seung suddenly turned a sharp corner and slipped into an alley.

The Numbering Guild members of Hilleon followed immediately after.

At that moment—

Lee Hyun-seung came to a halt.

–Click–!

[Water Round] has been loaded.

[Water Round]
▶When this magazine is used, bullets emit a powerful stream of water after traveling a set distance.
▶The power of the emitted water scales based on class grade and class level.
▶This is a magazine with special effects.
▶Special Effect [Transformation]: The shape of the bullets and magazine adapt to the gun in use.
▶Contains 33 bullets.

Lee Hyun-seung fired exactly three rounds of Water Rounds the moment Hilleon’s Numbering Guild members turned into the alley.

– Bang! Bang! Bang!

– [Water Rounds] effect has been activated.
– [Legendary] grade additional effect: Water Rounds’ power has been enhanced.

The bullets began to explode mid-air, transforming into powerful jets of water. The downpour quickly filled the interior, striking the ankles of the approaching Numbering Guild members and knocking them to the ground.

“Arghhhh!”

– Splaasshh!

Although it didn’t deal significant damage, it managed to trap their feet temporarily. The ones charging ahead were halted by the flood, and in that brief window, Lee Hyun-seung scanned his surroundings quickly.

Lightbulb-shaped magic artifacts illuminated the interior. Lee Hyun-seung shot them all down with his gun.

– Crash!
– Clang!

Then, he loaded the Mana Distortion Rounds.

[Magazine of Mana Distortion]
▶When using this magazine, the flow of mana in the surrounding space becomes distorted.

– Vrrrrrmmm!

A giant vortex of mana began swirling around him, and soon the flow of mana within the interior was thrown into complete disarray.

Then—

“You son of a b*tch. You really thought you could escape. I’ll kill you.”

Son Him-gyeol and the Numbering Guild members had already reached right in front of Lee Hyun-seung. But they were too late. His stage was already complete.

“If you were going to kill me, you should’ve moved faster.”

Finally, Lee Hyun-seung equipped the night vision goggles he had crafted himself. Son Him-gyeol laughed as he watched.

There was no such thing as night vision goggles in this world. Or rather, there was no need for them. Why wear a ridiculous, uncomfortable mask when one could simply use magic to brighten the darkness?

“What a ridiculous mask. Have you gone insane? There’s no escaping now that the distance has closed this much. You even shot me with those f*cking bullets. I’ll crush every rib in your body one by one and kill you.”

As Son Him-gyeol ranted, Lee Hyun-seung calmly swapped in the [Blackout Rounds] magazine. Then, he whispered coldly.

“You really shouldn’t have given me time.”

[Blackout Rounds]
▶When using this magazine, a blackout field is created, blocking surrounding light.
▶The size of the blackout and the level of light suppression depends on the user’s class and level.

Lee Hyun-seung raised his gun to the sky and fired in all directions.

– FWOOSHHHH!

The Blackout Rounds detonated, blanketing the interior in darkness. Nothing could be seen. Only Lee Hyun-seung, with his night vision goggles, could track their positions.

“Is this pathetic little trick all you’ve prepared? Use light magic immediately—!”
“Ma-Master! Magic isn’t activating!”

They panicked in confusion. They couldn’t see a thing, and thanks to the Mana Distortion Rounds, no magic could be cast in that area for the time being.

– Click!

The sound of a magazine clicking into place echoed throughout the interior.

A meticulously prepared stage.
The time for slaughter had come.