𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟎𝟎: 𝐁𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐤 𝟐
God of War and Lightning.
[Takemikazuchi: Root of Lightning]
A bright yellow lightning bolt shot out from the bracelet, wrapping around Siwoo’s body like a vine and releasing a numbing shock to the surroundings.
He looked like a living bolt of lightning himself, his form seemingly embedded in the ground from the lightning that had struck.
『Ɗํҽ. . . հօա. . . ժɑɾҽ. . . ყօմ. . . 』
The monster spoke in a guttural voice, its large tongue lolling out.
Its left foot twitched violently as if it were about to kick the Hunters away.
“These days, all sorts of things come out of Gates.”
Siwoo’s body disappeared, a single golden flash of light shooting towards the enemy.
Paaasssshhhhoom—
A thousandth of a second.
A moment of such speed that even the experienced Hwang Jeong-gu couldn’t fully grasp the movement.
A flash of light that made even the grains of sand dancing in the wind seem slow in comparison.
As the blinding light passed, black cinders fell like rain.
“W-What?”
The Hunters looked as if they were dreaming, their eyes wide at the sight of the monsters that had vanished in an instant.
They even wondered if it was Siwoo who had eliminated them, or if they had simply vanished.
“S-Senior?”
Hwang Jeong-gu called out, his expression a mixture of shock and awe.
【𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐭. 𝐇𝐞’𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐩𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧.】
Pre clicked her tongue and looked down at Hwang Jeong-gu.
“Surely you didn’t just kill all of them at once. . . ?”
Siwoo clicked his tongue as he looked at him.
“To think that I went to America trusting these guys. How am I supposed to enjoy my trip with any peace of mind?”
“H-Hey, this isn’t some neighborhood playground. This is an S-Rank Gate.”
“It would only be S-Rank to a weakling like you.”
“. . . . . . .”
As the speechless Hwang Jeong-gu trailed off, Siwoo approached the injured.
Then, he activated his skill on those who were truly in critical condition, healing their wounds.
“The rest of you, go outside and heal.”
It was good to save lives, but he had to conserve his magic power from now on.
“Senior, this S-Rank Gate is really dangerous. We cleared out the Minotaur and gathered the critically injured to leave immediately. . . but the energy of a truly monstrous being flew by.”
“How monstrous?”
“It was beyond anything I’ve ever seen before.”
“Hmm.”
Siwoo’s expression turned interested.
“I’m not joking. Please be careful.”
“Yeah, yeah. Hurry up and get out of here.”
Hwang Jeong-gu led the injured out of the Gate.
Siwoo cracked his neck and set off in the direction Hwang Jeong-gu had pointed.
🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷
𝙖𝙬𝐞𝚋𝔰𝔱𝚘𝙧𝚒𝐞𝕤.ᴄ𝚘𝙢
The Hunters were scattered in all directions.
Balok was about to reform when Felix’s Explosion Point reduced his body to dust, giving everyone a chance to escape.
However, the situation had been so sudden that no one had thought to organize themselves into ranks or teams.
All the Hunters could do was attack until the very end, with only the Guild Leader-level Hunters managing to escape at the last moment.
“What the hell is that monster?”
Layla asked, panting.
“If the American report is correct. . . it’s probably Balok.”
“Balok? The Demon of Strength, Balok?”
Felix exclaimed in surprise at Kang Yeo-hwa’s answer.
Some countries in Europe were skeptical of the S-Rank Gate records written by the United States.
Not only were there no eyewitnesses, but the existence of a ‘demon’ was questionable above all else.
Felix felt the same way.
He thought it was probably just a gargoyle-like monster or a humanoid demon that had been misidentified.
He believed that while monsters or demons might exist, demons were more in the realm of fantasy.
‘𝙄𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙙𝙚𝙢𝙤𝙣𝙨, 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙢𝙚𝙖𝙣. . . 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮’𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙢 𝙤𝙛 𝙜𝙤𝙙𝙨.’
Those who were religious feared that fact.
The fear that there might be unknown beings beyond the Gates that they couldn’t handle.
“Are you sure it’s Balok?”
“If you’re asking me if I’m sure. . . this is the first time I’ve seen it in person.”
Felix frowned at the invisible enemy.
According to Kang Yeo-hwa, the monster had come back to life even after its neck had been cut and its heart had been pierced.
Even Felix himself had reduced its body to dust with his [Explosion Point].
“What kind of ability do we need to kill it. . . . Does it even have a weakness?”
“Well, it’s definitely not the heart or the neck.”
Kang Yeo-hwa made a bitter joke.
What would Master have done in this situation?
‘𝙃𝙚 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙗𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙮 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙗𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙣 𝙞𝙩 𝙪𝙥.’
For some reason, whenever she thought of Siwoo, she couldn’t imagine him losing or being defeated.
He was a person whose very existence was a symbol of victory.
If the master had been in Korea, would he have come in with them?
No, it would be much better for him to stay in America since it’s dangerous.
He had even shrugged off the combined force of Choi Dae-soo, him, and Do Kyung-hoo, who were known as the Three Venerables.
That calamity wasn’t something that could be defeated by the power of a single person. It would require a national-level alliance to overcome.
They might be able to win if they gathered national-level artifacts and fought together.
Of course, someone like Master would have to be there to fight with them.
‘𝙄𝙛 𝙄 𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙣, 𝙄 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙤𝙡𝙙 𝙝𝙞𝙢 𝙄 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚𝙙 𝙝𝙞𝙢 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙩 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚. 𝙄 𝙬𝙤𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙝𝙤𝙬 𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙙. 𝘾𝙧𝙖𝙯𝙮, 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙥𝙪𝙣𝙠? 𝙎𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩.’
“Kang Hunter, why are you suddenly laughing?”
Layla asked curiously, tilting her head as Kang Yeo-hwa chuckled to herself.
“Oh, no. I just thought of someone.”
Kang Yeo-hwa replied, her face flushed as she tried to hide her embarrassment.
“I see. Actually, I had forgotten for a moment because of everything that’s been going on, but as I collect my thoughts, I’m reminded of my original purpose for coming here.”
“The reason you came in?”
“Guild Leader Layla came here because of a man she likes.”
“W-Wait, Vice-President Felix! H-He likes me!”
Felix interjected and answered, but Layla hurriedly stopped him.
“Wow, Hunter Layla, you’re amazing.”
“N-No! Kang Yeo-hwa Hunter, don’t look at me like that!”
Layla’s face turned as red as an apple.
At that sight, the other Hunters who had been resting chuckled, the atmosphere lightening momentarily.
“But where did that guy go?”
“I hope he went far away. . . but I don’t want him to run into other Hunters.”
Kang Yeo-hwa answered Felix’s question and then quickly corrected himself.
“Vice-President, it seems quiet. Should we head out? We can’t stay here forever.”
“Let’s do that. We need to find Guild Leader Layla’s boyfriend as soon as possible.”
“I’m not his girlfriend!”
Layla exclaimed, getting up from her seat.
She carefully stroked the sword at her waist, then took a deep breath.
“If we happen to run into him. . . . First, the support Hunters should use their buffs and debuffs right away, and the tanker Hunters should hold out for just 3 seconds. I’ll pour all my magic into my skill within that time.”
The other Hunters each responded to Felix’s words.
“First, it would be good to find our allies. . . .”
『Ⱳհɑե ɑƖƖํҽsssssss.』
Both of Felix’s arms were torn off like sheets of paper.
“Kyaaaaah!!!”
『Ӏ հմɾե եօօ, ყօմ ƙղօաաաաա.』
Balok casually tossed aside the two arms he had torn off.
Kang Yeo-hwa was the first to move, her body moving swiftly as she kicked Balok in the face.
However, Balok easily blocked the attack with his fingers.
“Keuk!!”
Layla grabbed Felix’s body in that moment.
He had already fainted from the pain.
“Damn you!”
Hundreds of characters and formulas were inscribed under her feet, and magic power spread like wildfire along the circuit.
[Wood Creation: Shackles of Binding]
Vivid green lightning flashed as thick, sturdy vines instantly wrapped around Balok’s body.
Ka-chack. . . .
The sound of something being crushed could be heard from the pile of vines that had been tightened to the point where they could not be tightened any further.
『Ƭհํs հմɾեs, ყօմ ƙղօաաաաա.』
Balok’s face, which was squeezed between the thick vines, swelled up as if it were about to burst, and he spoke with a strange expression.
In the meantime, the healers focused on feeding Felix potions and reattaching his arms, while the buffers and debuffers began to use their skills.
As many buffs were stacked on Kang Yeo-hwa and Layla, debuffs were also stacked on Balok.
“What the hell are you, you bastard!”
Layla shouted at him, glancing at Felix, who was lying there covered in blood.
Balok met Layla’s gaze with his jet-black eyes, unblinking.
“What the hell are you!”
『Ⱳհɑե ɑɾҽ ყօմմմմմմմմ.』
Balok rolled his eyes separately, observing the Hunters.
It was then that one of the Hunters spoke up.
It was to gauge his intelligence.
“We are a race called humans. . . .”
『Ⱳհɑե’s եհɑեեեեեեեե. Ӏ ϲɑղ’ե sҽҽ ɑղყ ժํƒƒҽɾҽղϲҽ ҍҽեաҽҽղ ყօմ ɑղժ ցօҍƖํղs օɾ ɑղყեհํղց ҽƖsҽ.』
“What?!”
『Ƴօմ ƙํƖƖҽժ ʍყ թҽҽҽҽե, sօ Ӏ’ʍ ƙํƖƖํղց ყօմմմ.』
Layla was surprised by two facts.
One was that he was intelligent enough to communicate verbally with humans.
The other was that his logic was one-dimensional and that there would be absolutely no way to reason with him.
Balok’s jet-black eyes stared intently at Layla.
She recognized in that monster, which she had never seen before, an endless amount of hostility and desire.
This guy is a demon.
“Everyone, scatter!!!”
As she suddenly shouted, dozens of wooden shields sprang up from the ground.
[Wood Creation: Guardians of the Earth]
Hunters with defensive skills, including tanks, activated their skills one after another.
Kweeeeeeeeeeeng!!!
At the same time, Balok, who had torn through the [Shackles of Binding], howled at the sky.
『Ɲօա եհҽ հմղե ҍҽցํղs! Ƴօմ’ƖƖ հɑѵҽ եօ ɾմղ ɑաɑყ Ɩํƙҽ ɑղեs ɑցɑํղ!』
The Hunters who had heard the howl up close felt their ears being torn apart.
Some of them actually had their eardrums burst, causing blood to flow out.
“Run away, everyone!!!”
Kang Yeo-hwa shouted at the top of her lungs to those around her.
She had to admit it.
He was a monster and a demon.
And she had no idea how to kill him.
She would have to attack him once to find out his weakness, but he wasn’t the kind of opponent who would wait for that.
『Ɑհ~. . . Ƭհҽ Ɩօɾժ օƒ ժɑɾƙղҽss ϲօʍʍɑղժs ʍҽҽҽҽҽҽҽҽҽҽҽ.』
Balok’s jet-black pupils slowly stained the whites of his eyes.
He had an ecstatic expression on his face, as if he had gained a new perspective.
At his bizarre and creepy appearance, the Hunters’ lips trembled.
The suffocating pressure they had felt when he first appeared enveloped them, and then a fierce aura rose up, as if it were about to crush their very hearts.
『Ӏ ɑʍ եհҽ Ɗҽʍօղ օƒ Տեɾҽղցեհ, ƁɑƖօƙ.』
Black and hideous magic power shot out from him like thorns, piercing the surroundings.
『Ӏ աํƖƖ ҍҽ եհҽ օղҽ եօ ƙํƖƖ ყօմմմմմ.』
Balok’s body disappeared and then reappeared in front of Kang Yeo-hwa and Layla.
The shield shattered at the wave of his hand, and all the buffs were rendered useless by his arrow-like tail.
Pooshhhhhhhhhhh!
The tail that had pierced Kang Yeo-hwa’s shoulder gurgled as it drank her blood.
“Keuk. . . .”
“Hunter Kang!!”
Layla tried to use the [Wood Creation] skill again.
However, Balok’s speed overwhelmed all of her actions.
Paaang!!
Layla was kicked in the abdomen and sent flying over ten meters.
She coughed up blood and staggered to her feet.
Hans Schröder, the hero of Germany, her uncle, had said:
Never turn your back on your comrades.
‘𝙔𝙚𝙨, 𝙪𝙣𝙘𝙡𝙚.’
Layla had lived and engraved her uncle’s words as her Hunter’s creed.
If I die now, there are a few things I’ll regret.
Her uncle’s hospital bills and her gratitude to Siwoo.
She gripped the sword at her waist tightly in her hand.
『Ƴօմ’ɾҽ եօմցհ, ყօմ ƙղօաաաաա. Ӏ’ƖƖ ƙํƖƖ ყօմ ƒํɾsե, ყօմ ƙղօաաաաա.』
Balok threw Kang Yeo-hwa, who had been impaled on his tail, far away.
And he walked slowly towards Layla.
“No matter how skilled you are, no matter how strong you are. Another Hunter will come and kill you for sure.”
『Ӏղsҽϲեs ժօղ’ե հɑѵҽ եհɑե ƙํղժ օƒ թօաҽɾ, ყօմ ƙղօաաաաաաա.』
Balok grabbed Layla’s shoulder and tried to tear it off like Felix’s.
A single scream escaped her lips.
Paaaaaaaaaang!!!
At that moment, a figure like a ray of light appeared and kicked Balok, sending him flying to the edge of the forest.
Layla stared at her opponent, her eyes wide with disbelief.
“Si. . . Siwoo??”
