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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Wjin
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It wasn’t a wrong statement. She had personally witnessed Lee Seong-joon’s information and grasped his capabilities, so the situation was, in her eyes, favorable. But that didn’t quell her rising irritation.
“Are you suggesting I should forgive the worms who have tarnished my name and that of Sosumun, just for that?”
“Of course not. To restore Sosumun’s honor, we must punish the incompetent. But for now, to achieve our objective, it is better to wait.”
“…”
Kang Yi-ryung bit her lower lip, contemplating, and then nodded.
“Alright, Xiao Zhan, I’ll accept your suggestion. However, I will be the one to decide the punishment.”
Just as she made her declaration, the image of Liu Zixu collapsing appeared on the TV screen. It was now the turn of the fifth and final fighter, Kang Yi-ryung.
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“He continues his winning streak without a single scratch! An overwhelming difference! Hunter Lee Seong-joon is literally dominating the Sosumun hunters!”
The announcer’s voice was filled with excitement, as if drunk on the joy of consecutive victories. It wasn’t just him. The spectators were also breathless with excitement.
The entire arena was a cauldron of exhilaration. But Lee Seong-joon’s eyes were colder than ever.
‘The real fight starts now.’
Thud. Thud.
The fifth fighter, Sosumun’s leader, Kang Yi-ryung, walked onto the arena with light steps. She was completely different from the small fries before her. Her presence was overwhelming, and her internal energy was well-contained.
‘…So this is the leader of a sect.’
Even if the four executives he had defeated were to attack her together, they wouldn’t be able to handle her. As Lee Seong-joon was assessing her with narrowed eyes, Kang Yi-ryung was also sizing him up.
“The more I look at you… the more I like you.”
Kang Yi-ryung purred, shaking her head.
“I’ve been thinking, and this isn’t right. I’d be too upset if you got hurt. So, why don’t you just quietly join Sosumun? If you want, I can declare you as my successor and even pass on all my martial arts to you. How about it?”
“I refuse.”
Kang Yi-ryung’s brow twitched at his firm refusal.
“You should answer carefully instead of being so arrogant. My patience is not that great.”
Naturally, Lee Seong-joon’s mind wouldn’t change. He had reigned as the Blood Demon and Demon God, the ruler of the Thousand Continents, and knew martial arts that even the gods of the Celestial Realm feared.
Was he supposed to covet the position of a mere sect leader and her martial arts? Of course, he had no intention of explaining his past to her.
‘Even if I did, she wouldn’t believe me.’
No, even if she did, he wouldn’t want to. The emotions in her eyes were quite unpleasant.
‘Greed, no… it’s an obsession bordering on madness.’
He could understand greed, given the circumstances of the diplomatic exchange and the recruitment offer. But this obsession, bordering on madness, was something he couldn’t tolerate.
‘…If I leave her be, she’ll definitely cause trouble.’
Having encountered people with similar personalities in the Thousand Continents, he could instantly grasp her character.
‘A madwoman.’
The desire and greed in her eyes, her selfish personality, and her unpredictable, strange behavior. The woman before him was a perfect madwoman.
‘If things don’t go her way… that mad obsession will turn into killing intent.’
This fight would turn from a friendly spar into a life-or-death battle. Seeing this bleak future, his words could only turn cold.
“You’d be wise not to harbor futile ambitions… a wolf will not be tamed by a dog.”
Although somewhat blunt, it was, in a way, advice. But unfortunately, the obsession in her eyes didn’t waver.
“Your arrogance is too much. I have no choice but to teach you a lesson… Tsk.”
Kang Yi-ryung clicked her tongue and took a stance. A blue aura, like a heat haze, began to rise from her body.
“You brought this upon yourself, so don’t blame me.”
“Blame you…? You’re planning on killing me?”
“Who knows? That depends on when and what you answer… So, you should decide quickly. Even a cherished toy is thrown away when it’s broken, right?”
A cold sneer on her lips, a ferocious aura emanating from her body, enveloped the arena. As the suffocating pressure tightened, Lee Seong-joon felt his earlier premonition becoming a reality.
“…”
The gazes of Lee Seong-joon and Kang Yi-ryung, their faces hardened, met in mid-air.
Whoosh—!
With a gust of wind, Lee Seong-joon’s figure vanished. At that moment, Kang Yi-ryung twisted her body and threw a punch. It seemed to be aimed at empty air, but it was precisely aimed at Lee Seong-joon’s figure.
She hadn’t missed a single moment of Taeseon Sprint’s superhuman speed. But Lee Seong-joon, a veteran of countless battles, wouldn’t be flustered by this.
Whoosh—!
Another strong wind blew, and Lee Seong-joon’s afterimage scattered. The Body Displacement Technique played with her eyes. But a leisurely smile appeared on her lips.
“Cute trick.”
In an instant, she spun like a top and extended her open palm towards the air.
Kaboom—!
An explosion erupted, pushing back Lee Seong-joon, who had been approaching from behind. Her eyes curved into crescents.
Whoosh—!
Her hand, snaking like a viper, reached for his collar. He hurriedly twisted his waist, trying to dodge.
Woong—
The resonating sound of her blue energy filled his vision. He narrowed his eyes, stomped on the ground, and leaped into the air.
Kaboom—!
A massive explosion erupted around her, engulfing more than half the arena. It was more powerful than he had expected. It wasn’t an attack he could have dodged just by being in the air. Having quickly assessed the situation, he immediately activated a skill.
‘Star’s Protection.’
He confirmed the barrier and quickly layered his Aura Shield over it. An impenetrable defense that even peak-level martial artists would struggle to break through.
Even if it was a technique unleashed by the SSS-rank hunter Kang Yi-ryung, if it was a wide-area explosion rather than a concentrated force, he could withstand it.
Kabooom—!
Indeed, the explosion, which had shaken the arena, didn’t inflict any damage on him. As the dust settled, Kang Yi-ryung could see that he was unharmed, but she smiled.
“Technique, speed, power, ability – all quite impressive… but too predictable.”
Lee Seong-joon smiled at her arrogant gaze, as if she were looking down on him from above.
“Interesting.”
Kang Yi-ryung wasn’t just bluffing. Her response had been perfect. She had read his movements perfectly, as if she knew what was coming.
“…You’ve prepared thoroughly, haven’t you.”
“Why? Is the gap finally sinking in? It’s too late for regrets now.”
Her mouth stretched into a wide, ear-to-ear grin.
“You were too arrogant. I can’t just let it go.”
Despite her maniacal appearance, Lee Seong-joon’s face remained calm. In fact, his smile deepened.
“A prepared SSS-rank hunter, I wonder… how much can she withstand.”
He murmured to himself, and a golden aura enveloped his body.
Ding—!
> Using Star’s Favor, Earth’s Blessing, Wind’s Protection, Strength Enhancement, Stamina Enhancement, and Agility Enhancement on user ‘Lee Seong-joon‘.
> Due to the effect of the Amplification skill, the effects of enhancement skills are increased by 50%.
> Physical durability significantly increased due to the buff skill Earth’s Blessing.
> Agility stat increased by 45.
> Strength and Stamina stats increased by 37 each.
If it had been the usual Kang Yi-ryung, she would have dismissed it as an absurd bluff and scoffed. But now, the Lee Seong-joon before her was different.
“What…?”
Her martial artist’s instinct, honed through years of training, sent out a strong warning.
‘This is no bluff.’
Indeed, the aura emanating from him had changed. Sensing the instinctive danger from his sudden transformation, she immediately drew on her internal energy to its limit and prepared to defend.
It was an excellent judgment. The Lee Seong-joon who had been in front of her was now inside her guard.
‘When?!’
At his swift movement, her pupils trembled. But her surprise was brief.
‘If he’s just gotten faster, it’s not a problem.’
A fight wasn’t decided solely by strength and speed. A true martial artist had to anticipate the next move. By carefully observing and predicting the opponent’s intentions and movements, she could gain the upper hand.
Having already analyzed his martial arts and attack patterns through the previous duels, she was confident that she wouldn’t be defeated.
‘I’ll counterattack after defending against his attacks as I’ve analyzed.’
She frantically moved her hands and feet, trying to block his attacks and create distance. But he wouldn’t allow it. His eyes gleaming, he relentlessly pursued her.
Crack—!
Their hands and feet tangled in a rapid exchange, and then he vanished.
‘Next… behind!’
She quickly spun around, her eyes wide.
“He’s not there?”
A bewildered sound escaped her lips, and she felt a sharp pain in her side.
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