abcnovels
Chapter 141
Chapter 141
Chapter 141
“What…? How are you still alive?”
Lee Hwa-Rang’s eyes trembled wildly.
His Bow Slash had landed cleanly.
With the opponent’s defense, he shouldn’t have been able to withstand it and should have died and disappeared.
But Jeong-Hoon was standing right there in front of him.
Completely unharmed.
“Jeong-Hoon! Are you okay?!”
Yeo Min-Ji hurriedly checked on Jeong-Hoon’s condition.
“Yes, I’m fine.”
Jeong-Hoon replied casually, but it had been a truly dangerous situation.
If he hadn’t used Block in time, he would have died instantly from the damage.
[Blackfield activated.]
[All stats are increased by 1.2 times.]
[Due to the effect of Blackfield, all stats of monsters that enter the area are decreased by 3%.]
Blackfield.
[All stats are increased by 15%.]
[Damage reduction of 20% is applied.]
[Time limit: 1 hour.]
And the stat-boosting ring.
Jeong-Hoon signaled to Yeo Min-Ji.
A signal to step aside.
‘…Alright.’
Yeo Min-Ji tactfully moved to the side.
Although the opponent was a Bow Master class, currently called the Divine Archer, strictly speaking, he wasn’t yet at the level to be called a ‘Divine Archer’.
And the Underworld King’s Fist Technique, which he should have originally taken.
Without it, he hadn’t completely overcome his weakness in close combat.
Jeong-Hoon used the Underworld King’s Fist Technique and threw a punch.
“You won’t!”
Lee Hwa-Rang tried to dodge the punch and create distance.
But it was an evasion route that Jeong-Hoon had already anticipated.
Jeong-Hoon used his movement technique and struck the opponent’s abdomen.
“Ugh!”
The opponent let out a short scream and swung the bow he was holding.
It was a speed that Jeong-Hoon couldn’t read at his current level.
However, Jeong-Hoon had learned Lee Hwa-Rang’s archery over his shoulder in his previous life and remembered even his subtle habits.
Jeong-Hoon used his movement technique again, creating some distance and twisting his body to the right.
Whoosh!
Lee Hwa-Rang’s bow sliced through the air.
“Both of you, stop!”
Park Jin-Hyeok hurriedly tried to intervene.
But Yeo Min-Ji grabbed his shoulder.
“If you interfere here, I won’t let you off easy.”
“What…?”
Park Jin-Hyeok was bewildered.
Even though Lee Hwa-Rang, who had initiated the attack, was clearly in the wrong, was she telling him to just watch their fight?
Lee Hwa-Rang’s level was a whopping 347.
And this user was a mere level 203 Martial Artist who had just barely crossed 200.
Normally, the Ho-Yeong side should be the ones trying to stop the fight, but since Yeo Min-Ji, an executive, was the one stopping Park Jin-Hyeok, the other members didn’t intervene either.
“You bastard! Take this!”
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Lee Hwa-Rang swung his bow frantically at Jeong-Hoon.
With each swing, Bow Slash activated, unleashing explosive mana.
But all of his attacks missed.
“Hwa-Rang, your attacks are too crude.”
Jeong-Hoon scoffed, and Lee Hwa-Rang’s face turned red.
“This bastard…”
Thud!
An opening!
Jeong-Hoon used his movement technique to close in and landed a precise blow to Lee Hwa-Rang’s face and abdomen with the Underworld King’s Fist Technique.
Underworld King’s Fist Technique, 2nd Form.
The Underworld King’s energy surrounding his fist grew denser.
“Ugh! Damn it!”
“Hwa-Rang! What are you doing?!”
Finally, Park Jin-Hyeok shouted Lee Hwa-Rang’s name.
Lee Hwa-Rang was also bewildered.
‘He’s not getting hit… He’s not getting hit!’
Eagle Eye.
A skill that allowed him to grasp every single movement of his target without missing a beat.
He had planned to read the opponent’s attack path and finish him off with Bow Slash in one go.
Thud!
But Jeong-Hoon’s attacks were all messy.
At first, his attacks seemed easy to read, making it seem like a counterattack would be possible, but he would instantly change his path and strike at hard-to-defend spots.
As a result, Lee Hwa-Rang had to allow Jeong-Hoon’s attacks to land, and when he tried to counterattack by swinging his bow, Jeong-Hoon had already created distance, out of reach of Bow Slash.
‘Damn it! If only there was more distance!’
He had to admit it.
Regardless of their levels, the opponent was superior to him in close combat.
He didn’t know how he had closed the gap of over 100 levels, but to beat him, he needed to get out of this confined space.
Thud!
Underworld King’s Fist Technique, 3rd Form.
Jeong-Hoon had already unleashed the 3rd Form of the Underworld King’s Fist Technique.
[Beat him up! Beat him up!]
‘Crush him thoroughly so he never dares to challenge you again!’
Mukho and Anima cheered Jeong-Hoon on enthusiastically.
He had to beat Lee Hwa-Rang here to repay their support.
Jeong-Hoon extended his fist.
Lee Hwa-Rang twisted his body, trying to dodge the punch.
‘Too predictable.’
He had seen the opponent engage in close combat countless times in his past life.
Jeong-Hoon changed the trajectory of his fist and struck the opponent’s face.
“Ugh!”
It was the Legendary-grade Underworld King’s Fist Technique.
It would be quite painful, regardless of level, as it had an option to ignore defense.
“Does it hurt? I’ll make sure you die in the most agonizing way possible.”
A chilling voice escaped Jeong-Hoon’s lips.
Lee Hwa-Rang flinched.
“S-Stop… Let’s talk this out!”
He hurriedly raised both hands.
As if to signal that he had no intention of fighting.
Jeong-Hoon simply ignored it and punched him in the face again.
‘Damn it! How can this be the damage of a level 203?!’
His level was 347.
A whopping 144 levels difference.
So no matter what he did, it should be impossible for him to deal damage.
[HP is rapidly decreasing!]
But what was this damage?!
His health was rapidly depleting, with additional poison damage on top of it.
‘Jin-Hyeok!’
Even while being beaten, Lee Hwa-Rang looked towards Park Jin-Hyeok.
He was watching the fight with a dumbfounded expression.
‘You bastard! Do something!’
Couldn’t he see his friend getting beaten up?!
Contrary to his wishes, Park Jin-Hyeok could do nothing but watch.
Everyone in Ho-Yeong was keeping an eye on him.
Their eyes all said the same thing: if he moved, they wouldn’t let him off easy.
‘How dare you attack Hoon within Ho-Yeong?’
‘If you step in, you’re dead.’
All Park Jin-Hyeok could do was stay put.
Thud!
The 4th Form of the Underworld King’s Fist Technique was unleashed, and soon after, the 5th Form followed in succession.
“Ugh!”
‘I’m dying. I’m really going to die!’
If this continued, he would suffer the disgrace of being killed by a level 203 Martial Artist who hadn’t even reached 3rd advancement.
“P-Please stop… I lost. I lost!”
Only after repeatedly declaring his surrender did Jeong-Hoon’s fists finally stop.
He said with a grim smile,
“I’m telling you one last time. I don’t have the Red Dragon Bone Bow.”
“A-Alright…”
“That’s informal speech.”
“Alright…”
‘This fucking bastard!’
‘If only I could use my bow…!’
If it were a bow instead of close combat, the situation would have been reversed!
Why did he have to suffer this humiliation from this bastard?
Lee Hwa-Rang glared at Jeong-Hoon with bloodshot eyes.
A grim smile appeared on Jeong-Hoon’s lips.
“Hwa-Rang, do you think things would be different with a bow?”
“…!”
“Get lost for now.”
Jeong-Hoon’s fist struck his chest.
Thud!
With a different kind of impact than before, Lee Hwa-Rang died.
Jeong-Hoon’s fist was enveloped in a dark aura.
Underworld King’s Fist Technique, 6th Form.
It was the first time he had unleashed the 6th Form since acquiring the Underworld King’s Fist Technique.
* * *
‘Hoon defeated Lee Hwa-Rang!’
‘A level 203 defeating a level 347?!’
After Lee Hwa-Rang’s death, the Ho-Yeong Guild’s reception room was in an uproar.
However, the situation was temporarily calmed down when Yeo Sunwoo entered.
The Ho-Yeong Guild members who had witnessed the fight, including Jeong-Hoon and Park Jin-Hyeok, were summoned to the guild leader’s office.
“…So you’re saying Hoon was suddenly attacked and had to subdue him?”
“Yes. He demanded to see an item I didn’t have. We went back and forth, and that’s what happened.”
Jeong-Hoon looked at Park Jin-Hyeok.
It was a silent challenge, daring him to refute the statement.
Before meeting Lee Hwa-Rang, Jeong-Hoon had been recording with a camera, so he was confident he could counter any rebuttal.
“…Yes, that’s correct. It was entirely Hwa-Rang’s fault.”
But Park Jin-Hyeok readily admitted Lee Hwa-Rang’s wrongdoing.
It was an undeniable issue in the first place.
Jeong-Hoon had intended to reveal the video if Park Jin-Hyeok denied it.
The video had been recording from the moment Jeong-Hoon, Park Jin-Hyeok, and Lee Hwa-Rang sat down.
Therefore, everything that had happened was clearly documented.
“I see… Myth will have to take responsibility for today’s incident.”
Yeo Sunwoo’s voice turned cold.
This was a warning.
An executive of Myth recklessly barging into Ho-Yeong and attempting to kill a guild member was a serious matter, providing Ho-Yeong with a strong justification to declare war.
“Yes…”
Park Jin-Hyeok nodded with difficulty.
“If you have nothing more to say, please leave. I’ll contact the Myth Guild Leader directly.”
“Yes… And Hoon, I apologize on behalf of Hwa-Rang for today’s incident…”
Park Jin-Hyeok bowed his head towards Jeong-Hoon, who was sitting next to him.
A cold smile appeared on Jeong-Hoon’s lips.
“I’m sorry, but I absolutely won’t accept that apology.”
What an opportunity this was.
He was already a bit of a hothead, but how impatient must he have been to barge into Ho-Yeong without thinking?
Thanks to that, the chance to properly deal with him had come much sooner than planned.
“…”
* * *
Bam!
“Is what I just heard true?”
Sa Jae-Hyeok’s fierce gaze pierced through Park Jin-Hyeok.
Park Jin-Hyeok forced his trembling body to calm down and nodded.
“Yes…”
“Lee Hwa-Rang, that bastard, went to Ho-Yeong after finding a clue about the Red Dragon Bone Bow and tried to kill a Ho-Yeong guild member, but ended up getting killed himself?”
“…That’s correct.”
“Hahahaha!”
Sa Jae-Hyeok suddenly burst into laughter, then abruptly stopped.
In an instant, his body disappeared and reappeared in front of Park Jin-Hyeok.
“Gah! Gah!”
Park Jin-Hyeok’s neck was seized by Sa Jae-Hyeok’s hand, and he was lifted into the air.
He couldn’t breathe, and the fear of death consumed him.
“You didn’t stop him, but instead accompanied him? Are you truly insane?”
“B-But… Gah! He triggered Black Flame, a special ability unique to the Red Dragon Bone Bow… Gah!”
Park Jin-Hyeok struggled to make excuses.
“You fool. And you went to Ho-Yeong without a plan? Did you really think they would just hand over the Red Dragon Bone Bow?”
Sa Jae-Hyeok’s grip tightened slightly.
[HP is rapidly decreasing!]
Park Jin-Hyeok’s health plummeted, and he couldn’t utter a word.
40% health.
27%.
13%.
.
.
Not only was his oxygen supply cut off, but Sa Jae-Hyeok was also releasing mana to suppress Park Jin-Hyeok’s mana control.
Just then,
Sa Jae-Hyeok released his grip.
Park Jin-Hyeok collapsed to the floor, coughing painfully.
“Cough! Cough!”
“There will be an executive meeting this afternoon. Lee Hwa-Rang and Park Jin-Hyeok will be stripped of their executive positions and demoted to the lowest rank in the guild.”
“…!”
Park Jin-Hyeok’s eyes widened in shock at the bombshell announcement.
Everyone in Myth knew that Sa Jae-Hyeok cherished Lee Hwa-Rang.
Although he could be reckless when things didn’t go his way, Lee Hwa-Rang had immense potential. Stripping him of his executive position was akin to casting him out of favor.
‘I’ve been too lenient.’
Sa Jae-Hyeok’s eyes gleamed fiercely like a predator’s.
He wanted to kill him over and over again, preventing him from logging in for a year.
But considering Lee Hwa-Rang’s contribution in securing first place in the second round of the Guild War event, he would let it slide with just a demotion.
No matter how talented someone was, if they tarnished Myth’s honor, he would cut them off without hesitation.
That was Sa Jae-Hyeok’s philosophy.
‘Ho-Yeong.’
He also disliked Ho-Yeong.
Yeo Sunwoo, who had achieved level 201 and qualified to establish a guild later than him.
He had tried to recruit Yeo Sunwoo back then, but he had been immediately rejected without hesitation.
His pride had been deeply wounded.
Moreover, Yeo Sunwoo had created the Ho-Yeong Guild and achieved explosive growth.
Despite his several attempts to interfere, Yeo Sunwoo hadn’t been deterred and had instead used those obstacles as stepping stones to soar even higher, now reaching a position where he could rival Myth.
He was an unpleasant guy in many ways.
The fact that he had to bow his head to such a guy now filled him with rage.
“I don’t want to see you, so get lost.”
Sa Jae-Hyeok gestured towards the door, and Park Jin-Hyeok slammed his head on the floor.
“I-I’m sorry… Please spare me just this once! If you do, I’ll make sure never to tarnish Myth’s name again.”
“You can leave the guild if you want. But you know, right? You’ll have to pay the price for leaving after disgracing Myth.”
“…”
Park Jin-Hyeok’s body trembled.
He deeply regretted not stopping Lee Hwa-Rang.
——–