154. One Step
Many people cheer for the Hunter’s League.
Almost without caring whether the suffering of those people was actually real.
It was as if it was something separate from oneself, something that was consumed as entertainment.
Of course, Kim Yu-hyeon himself couldn’t blame them.
Until last year, when I went up to the first division and started playing, I was no different from them.
The first thing I encountered when I entered Part 1 was something called the ‘Part 1 Initiation Ceremony’.
A strategy to attack rookies who have just entered the first division and are not yet fully adapted to the team.
Looking back, it was a pretty horrible memory.
Who said that? Even hard times become memories once they pass. But I just couldn’t think that way.
… … So. I went back down to Part 2. No, I ran away.
It wasn’t that I gave up on my dream, nor was it that I was disappointed or frustrated with myself.
Kim Yu-hyeon had been under the delusion that the Hunters League was like a sport like soccer or baseball, where players exchanged tactics and skills.
But what is the reality?
The first league. And then the international league. It’s like the death games that often appear in novels and dramas. I thought it wasn’t much different from those.
Awakened people, superhumans, can move normally even if they sustain injuries that would render normal people unable to move.
However, that doesn’t mean they don’t feel pain. In fact, they are more sensitive.
As their five senses were more developed, the pain they felt was greater, but by no means inferior to that of ordinary people.
‘That’s why I was reluctant to go up to Part 1… … .’
Was it a twist of fate? The situation was like this again.
A 2 vs 2 situation. I tried to persuade him to surrender, but he didn’t listen at all and was still burning with fighting spirit against his opponent.
‘Obviously, if I surrender alone and give up the match… … he’ll have to fight two people by himself.’
In that case, it was a sure defeat without a doubt. Besides, thinking about what he said, it didn’t seem like he would give up on me just because I gave up.
In other words, there is a high possibility that the opposing team, LTD, will continue the match even after being beaten 2-1.
‘Why is it like that… … .’
Kim Yu-hyeon couldn’t understand.
The game was already tilted significantly from the moment LTD’s Ahyeon appeared, so why are they trying to continue like this?
At that time, Kim Do-jun said.
“It’s good to remember. In the end, no matter what you learn, you have to start off right.”
No. No. Memories of defeat don’t help much. Even I quit Part 1 because of that initiation ceremony in the past.
If only I had the experience of victory. If I had realized more about how to win, it would have been different.
However, Kim Do-jun fearlessly ran towards Ah-hyeon, making Kim Yu-hyeon’s thoughts pale in comparison.
Not to Igaram, who had already been hurt, but to Ahyeon, who was ready to fight vigorously.
A situation where defeat is obvious even without looking further.
Kim Do-jun continued to thrust his sword, which had already been blocked once, making a loud noise, and his sword that was flashing, trying to win with his specialty, the quick sword.
But even though he attacked Ahyeon like that, the mana equipment she controlled didn’t budge at all, as if it wasn’t affected at all.
‘Perhaps, since Kim Do-jun stimulates the five senses of humans and exploits their weaknesses, it would be meaningless for the opponent to use robots… … .’
The odds were overwhelmingly against me. There was no way I could win against something like that.
But Kim Do-jun didn’t stop.
There won’t be any special equipment or preparation required.
“Junior, if it’s Mana equipment, it’s good to exploit the opponent’s weaknesses, but it needs to have a bit more sophisticated flavor.”
Ahyeon’s counterattack was fierce.
That robot, which you might think was a fraud, had the ability to shoot all kinds of projectiles and even close combat capabilities.
While I was hesitating, the opponent’s counterattack gradually became more intense.
And it wasn’t just Ahyeon.
“Tch. Okay. Then you deal with that guy. Then I… …!”
Igaram rushed to me, who had not yet decided what to do about this match.
In a separate 1v1 situation. All of the [Fortification] turrets were sniping Igaram, and I also aimed my sword at Igaram… …
Was it because I tried not to get too caught up? It only took a moment for my posture to collapse and I was in danger.
Of course. That doesn’t mean I was really hurt.
‘[Non-violent zone] creation… …!’
Igaram rushed forward, blocking only the turrets’ attacks aimed at his vital points, as if he barely cared about the attacks.
Immediately after that, he struck me with his gauntleted hand, who had created the [Non-violent Zone], but as expected, there was no damage at all.
This was because the attack was stopped as if it were blocked by an invisible, transparent glass wall.
“Huh… …? Huh? Why is this?”
Since I was the only one who could see it, Igaram couldn’t understand at all, so he continued to throw punches, but nothing changed.
‘phew…….’
“Hey! Igaram. Are you far? Why is this chaos happening because you can’t even catch one supporter properly? Are you really in pain somewhere?”
As Ahyeon pecked at Igaram from behind with a machine gun, Igaram pretended not to hear as if he was deaf, but Ahyeon did not stop.
“Oh my… … I really haven’t seen it like that before, but I guess I’ll have to watch it properly after the practice match.”
“What? What are you looking at? You always get kicked when we have 1-on-1s.”
“Ugh. You pretended not to hear, but it looks like you were listening to everything clearly?”
Even though the part that was hit by the turret wasn’t a vital spot, it must have hurt quite a bit.
There are already parts that have been suffered by Kim Do-jun… …
But Igaram continued to move as if he didn’t care at all.
Is it an innate mental strength? Or is it because I am used to experiencing such pain?
I thought a lot for a moment.
That was only for a moment. The situation continued to change.
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“Should we clean that guy up first?”
I don’t know what kind of ability it was, but it seemed like they changed their strategy to deal with Kim Do-jun first, leaving me alone since I wasn’t attacking properly.
“I’m not really attracted to it… … but I can’t help it.”
Igaram glanced over here and then turned back to Kim Dojun.
To Kim Do-jun, who is still unaware of the situation due to the fierce battle with the robot controlled by Ah-hyeon.
If things continue like this, it’s obvious what will happen.
I was still struggling in that situation.
***
Looking back, I don’t think I had ever admired Austin, who was called a world-class spectator, from the beginning.
When I first came into contact with the Hunter’s League, there was something I admired. It was none other than Ethan.
Firepower so ridiculous it’ll make your eyes pop out.
I can’t believe that they are the same person.
The sight was overwhelmingly destructive.
I, like everyone else, was fascinated by the sight.
It was after I entered the Hunter’s League City Academy that I began to admire Austin.
An interview and match video I saw during the ordinary days that followed.
There was footage of Austin’s inner workings, which I had not been able to understand until then, and of the games he had won.
‘What I wanted to achieve was not simply getting the attention of netizens.
I wanted to show that the current American Hunters League is a world that is literally dismissed as a ‘talent theory’.
The ability to be born with good abilities. The ability to be born with good physical qualities. The many other talents that are arbitrarily set and defined the limits of players.
But I don’t believe that. If there is nothing, then there is nothing. I wanted to show the way of such a person. I wanted to show that it can be done. I wanted to prove it.’
Why did he win the matches with such a bang, and sometimes even ridiculed, mana equipment?
There was an enthusiasm in him that could no longer be laughed at.
I couldn’t help but be enthusiastic about his story, which proved how a hunter with mediocre talents, an awakened person who was not born with any special abilities, lived.
Kim Do-jun also entered the Seoul City Academy, which is considered an elite academy. I completely sympathized with his story because he had no outstanding talent.
And from part 3 to part 2. From part 2 to now.
At some point, the thought that Austin had thought of and wanted to prove was also present in Kim Do-jun’s mind.
He said he would not waste a single game. It was both a yearning for Austin, the city he had admired, and a proof of himself.
“Haa… … It’s not easy.”
Of course, the reality was not easy.
Kim Do-jun continued to protect and strengthen his body with mana while dealing with Ahyeon’s mana equipment.
Kim Do-jun, who only needs to use mana and has to endure shocks so great that he staggers every time he exchanges blows with an opponent who doesn’t tire.
‘If there was a talent for mana equipment, it would be just like that… … .’
Instead of developing simple, new mana equipment to patch up every match like Kim Do-jun, it is a powerful mana equipment that is linked to your own skills and that your opponents cannot easily deal with even if they know about it.
I was able to hold out until now thanks to the swordsmanship guidance of the technical coach who joined PER in the second part… …
‘I’m almost at my limit now.’
The time I could hold out was not as long as I thought.
I didn’t get to see much of the technology that Ahyeon’s robot uses. It just ended up as a grumble.
My whole body ached and I frowned in pain, but I was disappointed that I couldn’t take away any more of Ahyeon’s secrets of mana equipment.
Even though it’s right in front of you, and you have the opportunity to observe and deal with it further.
It would have been nice if Kim Yu-Hyeon had helped me out… …
After all, he’s a new team member. It can’t be helped.
‘But it’s the last moment. Let’s go with a bang.’
It’s not like there’s no mana equipment left.
I secretly inserted the hidden mana bomber into the sword.
Perhaps it was hidden by the robot from Ahyeon’s perspective.
Even if the game ends like this, I still want to take that cool robot arm with me. That’s what I thought.
But at that moment.
“Okay, I get it. Stop whining. The game is over anyway!”
I thought I had gone to Kim Yu-hyeon, but I heard the rough voice of Lee Garam, who was holding me back.
It seems that he was following me while I was dealing with Ahyeon’s robot.
Why am I only hearing this now? Is it because I have a lot on my mind? Or is it because I care about Kim Yu-hyeon?
No. It was a situation where I had to concentrate to the limit to block it, so I had no choice but to do that.
‘Ahh. Is this the end?’
Pain from the wound. Aching arms. Shaking knees. Fatigue that spreads throughout your body.
But more than that. One swing with the last mana bomber attached to the sword. Perhaps, it was the one-inch distance that could have drawn out Ahyeon’s new technique once more that I regretted.
It’s a practice match, and there will definitely be a next time.
As a player who relies to some extent on mana equipment, just like Ahyeon, I had something I wanted to prove.
… …
it’s a shame.
All sorts of ideas of better ways to go that I hadn’t chosen crossed my mind.
But interestingly enough.
One room to shatter that illusion.
He flew in, shooting at Igaram who was aiming from behind.
Kim Yu-Hyeon, who had been blocking attacks by staying inside the [fortress], had taken a step forward at some point.
fantasy,
