Chapter 100

Chapter 100
Chapter: 100

Chapter Title: End of Endless Torment

The prolonged season of agony had finally reached its conclusion. I cast a weary gaze over my frame, which was drenched in a mixture of perspiration and gore, before reaching out with unsteady fingers to retrieve my phone and verify the hour.

“A total of three days has passed.”

Sinking back onto the floor, I drew a heavy breath. The endeavor had been fraught with extreme peril. So many points of failure had emerged during the process that I found it difficult to categorize which specific moment had been the most life-threatening.

The entire experience had been a singular, unrelenting disaster. A solitary lapse in concentration would have resulted in my physical form detonating. Had that happened, the cleanup crews from the Association would have spent an eternity scrubbing my remains off every inch of the room like spilled condiment.

“Ugh.”

I forced my body upward, eliciting a chorus of groans from my frame. My joints felt as though they were on the verge of dislocation, and my musculature felt utterly shredded. Nevertheless, a brief visit to a medical facility for a high-grade Hunter restoration injection would rectify the damage.

“I wonder… how are my pupils faring?”

I briefly entertained the notion that they might have abandoned their post by now. With that thought in mind, I shoved the door open.

The instant the door swung wide, Han Sang-ah and Jeong O-hun—who were currently locked in a fierce exchange involving blades and firearms—simultaneously shifted their focus toward me.

“It appears you two have been diligent.”

Jeong O-hun was the first to provide a retort.

“We have indeed put in the effort. However, looking at you now, it feels as though our hard work was a complete exercise in futility.”

Han Sang-ah contributed her own observation.

“The mana radiating from you is far beyond the scope of a standard Partner Hunter. To possess such a massive density is staggering.”

In contrast to typical Hunters, my internal mana capacity remained relatively low, yet it possessed a constant nature, never truly running dry.

Effectively, this meant that every basic blow I struck now carried the destructive weight of a standard Partner Hunter’s ultimate technique.

“I might actually stand a chance against Se-eun noona at this point.”

I shifted my attention to Lee Se-eun, who was observing the conversation with a smirk.

“Is that so?”

Her presence didn’t catch me off guard; I had detected her signature the moment I breached the room. But then it hit me—wait, what was this?

“No, for real, how did you manage to get even more powerful in such a short window?”

“I crossed paths with what seemed to be a commander of Dangun’s Heirs during that logistics mission. I felt my current prowess was lacking, so…”

She got annoyed and simply decided to become stronger? The reasoning was absurd. Regardless, she presented herself as the ideal opponent for a test of my new limits.

“Care for a duel?”

“We might actually level this entire facility.”

Lee Se-eun let out a vibrant laugh at my remark and gestured toward the exit with her chin.

“Let’s relocate then. I’ve been anticipating this for an entire day.”

“My, you’re quite the busy professional to be waiting around.”

She gave a small nod, acknowledging the jab.

As we traversed the hallway, Lee Se-eun and I exchanged updates on the current state of affairs.

“The opening of the rail system has significantly increased the flow of resources toward Europe. It’s positive news, though it has doubled my workload. I’ve also had several private commissions pile up. So, what is your upcoming objective?”

I provided a succinct answer.

“The top spot.”

She let out a soft exclamation and gave me a thorough once-over.

“You could certainly hold your own against any Hunter in the top twenty. It seems that particular nuisance has finally met a legitimate rival.”

“What’s your take on Choi Yeoreum?”

Lee Se-eun halted abruptly, her eyes boring into mine.

“Are you referring to the Choi Yeoreum I’m thinking of?”

“The very one. Choi Yeoreum of Wonder Club. She’s currently sitting at rank three, isn’t she? I had an encounter with her shortly after the business at Jaun Valley.”

Lee Se-eun hummed thoughtfully for a moment before delivering her verdict.

“You’ll need to push your training further. As you are now, I don’t believe you could claim a victory against her.”

“I still have plenty of time on the clock.”

She gave a slow nod of agreement.

“Just keep in mind that while fatalities are rare during the selection trials, career-ending injuries are quite common. Are you planning to play nice with Choi Yeoreum? Knowing your temperament, I find that highly unlikely.”

“We shared a lengthy dialogue. A very extensive conversation where we practically flayed each other’s patience.”

Lee Se-eun merely sighed in response.

“Choi Yeoreum is the third strongest in the world. If you topple her, only two individuals globally would remain above you.”

“There are more groups than I can count who despise my habit of shattering Erosion Cores.”

Dangun’s Heirs, the national government, Taebaek LLC, and Wonder Club. If this continued, the Korea Hunter Association would likely add themselves to the list of people who found me inconvenient.

I had far too many adversaries. Aside from Dangun’s Heirs, the others were currently restrained by my public reputation and achievements, but the moment I showed a single vulnerability, they would descend upon me like starving predators.

That was the primary motivation.

“I require that rank.”

The individual occupying the first position on Hope’s List was essentially a figurehead who stayed out of the fray. For all intents and purposes, the second-ranked Hunter was the true pinnacle of the active field.

If I challenged Choi Yeoreum at the gathering, secured the win, and took her rank, I would effectively be the world’s number two.

Furthermore, Choi Yeoreum seemed pathologically attached to her status and possessed an ego to match. After the way I had provoked her during our chat, there was no way she would let the slight go unpunished.

Therefore, I intended to preempt her.

“Truthfully, the skill gap between the second and tenth ranks doesn’t feel insurmountable.”

Hunters dueled to trade positions, but those in the top ten rarely fought because the potential for catastrophic loss was too high.

The sanctioned ranking bouts utilized standardized equipment rather than personal gear to ensure the outcome was based purely on fundamental capability.

Even so, that only minimized the risk of death; it didn’t stop people from getting broken.

Lee Se-eun nodded.

“That’s accurate. People often say the outcome depends entirely on who is having a better day.”

Which suggested that if I could overcome Lee Se-eun, Choi Yeoreum’s position was within my reach.

“However, those rankings were established for a reason.”

We reached a different training hall while talking.

“Wow, this brings back memories.”

“Do you recall the Hunter licensing trial?”

This was the very location where I had first engaged in a spar with Lee Se-eun.

“Are you going to hold back like you did last time?”

“I think we’re well beyond the point of playing nice.”

She snatched a massive greatsword from the equipment rack and gave me a sharp, eager smile.

I opted for a spear. The training implements were of mediocre quality, but since we were both using the same gear, it would be a pure test of technique.

“Are you prepared?”

Lee Se-eun carved the air with her greatsword, the sheer force of the motion creating a draft that cleared the dust from the floor in a wide arc.

I tightened my hold on the spear, dropping into a low stance as our eyes locked. Our forms became a blur, vanishing from sight only to reappear as the spear and blade collided.

A thunderous shockwave rocked the air. The massive hall trembled to its foundation.

“Is this level of force acceptable?”

“This facility is funded by the Association. Why should I be concerned about the bill?”

She had a point. It wasn’t our financial burden. If the administration was unhappy, they could simply increase the construction budget.

Infinite blue streaks began to blossom like a thick fog, surrounding me. There was no longer any use in trying to count them.

This was the result of the Banshee’s Tear shard I had integrated.

“That irritating style of yours has become even more of a headache.”

Lee Se-eun shifted her greatsword. A series of fluid, interconnected strikes began to flow like a shimmering heat mirage.

I retreated and shouted back.

“Seriously, how are you moving a sword that size with that kind of agility?”

Greatswords were meant for overwhelming, tectonic impact—cleaving through mountains and creating gales.

The assault she was unleashing wasn’t traditional greatsword combat. It felt more like the erratic, high-speed strikes of a rapier or a segmented blade. The worst part was that her execution was flawless.

“I’m not falling for those feints.”

“If you did, the rhythm would change in an instant.”

She would alternate between a soft, silk-like flow and a predatory ferocity the moment you committed to a defense.

Like watching harmless white clouds suddenly turn black with a lightning strike. Getting caught in that storm would be devastating.

It was like being brushed by soft thread that suddenly hardened into iron shackles and heavy bludgeons.

“This really is…”

I generally disliked the cliché of calling a battle “top-tier,” but there was no other way to describe this.

One mistake meant immediate defeat. During a tense stalemate, Lee Se-eun sprinted along the vertical wall and swung downward at me.

The arc of her blade churned the atmosphere, launching a concentrated blast of wind pressure directly toward my position.

It wasn’t a simple projectile. A minor dodge wouldn’t suffice—the air itself was being warped.

Even a slight graze would pull me into the center of a localized cyclone.

To avoid it, I had to completely vacate the impact zone, requiring a massive expenditure of movement.

“However.”

I saw no reason to play by her rules. I swept my spear in a wide circle, commanding the blue trajectories to swirl around my body.

My own wind currents collided with hers, neutralizing the threat. The forming vortex shattered into nothingness.

“Oh, come on, just take the hit like a professional.”

“Are you trying to turn a rising star into mincemeat?”

I lunged at her while she was still near the wall. She propelled herself off the surface like a falling star, heading straight for me.

One, two…

Her greatsword and my spear, both saturated with mana, slammed together. The resulting discharge of energy blew us both backward in a violent burst.

Spiderweb fractures began to race across the ceiling, sending debris raining down.

“The gear.”

Both of our training weapons had shattered under the pressure. Grinning suddenly, Lee Se-eun abandoned the hilt and charged at me with her bare hands.

Without a second thought, we began exchanging blows. These weren’t mere taps—the power behind our punches was equivalent to heavy machinery demolishing a skyscraper.

“You’ve become quite formidable.”

“I’m well aware.”

Unarmed combat eventually forced us into a clinch. With our faces only inches apart, we continued the assault.

A dull thud echoed as we both landed heavy strikes simultaneously. An explosive sound followed, and the sheer shockwave sent our sweat flying through the air.

We swapped positions dozens of times in a matter of seconds, our limbs moving in a continuous cycle of striking and parrying.

Half an hour later, we came to a halt as if we had pre-arranged the stop. Lee Se-eun tossed a towel in my direction.

“We appear to be at a stalemate.”

“Then the final outcome would likely be decided by our actual equipment.”

She nodded in agreement, then spoke with a look of genuine surprise.

“Even so, your rate of development is terrifying. It’s almost unfair.”

It wasn’t simple development—it was the result of more time spent being tempered in a living nightmare. There was no point in explaining that; she wouldn’t grasp the reality of it. I kept the thought to myself.

“I’m looking forward to more of this.”

To ensure my training remained effective, I would need to continue these sessions with Lee Se-eun from now on.

Han Sang-ah and Jeong O-hun would surely close the gap quickly with my guidance and their own dedication.

Then—drip—a drop of liquid landed on my cheek.

“Wait, why is there water coming from the ceiling?”

Had the Hunter Association started cutting corners on their facility maintenance? I looked up and let out a realization.

“We might have overdone it.”

Lee Se-eun followed my gaze and gave an indifferent shrug.

“Tell them they should invest more in structural integrity next time.”

The ceiling was a total wreck. Beyond that, the entire training hall looked as if a giant beast had used it as a chew toy.

“It’s not our fault. These spaces are designed to be damaged during high-intensity use.”

“I certainly hope the President of the Association shares that perspective.”

It didn’t matter. The property damage was secondary to the fact that the Banshee’s Tear had proven its immense utility.

Now, I was genuinely looking forward to the upcoming convention. I wanted to see how everything would unfold.