๐๐ก๐๐ฉ๐ญ๐๐ซ ๐๐๐: ๐ ๐ ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐ฅ๐๐ง 2
Lo-an erected a magic shield as soon as his opponent’s demonic energy gathered in one place.
Although not as sturdy as his Master’s, it was enough to block minor attacks.
‘๐๐ช๐ด ๐ค๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฃ๐ข๐ต ๐ด๐ต๐ณ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐จ๐ต๐ฉ ๐ฅ๐ฐ๐ฆ๐ด๐ฏ’๐ต ๐ด๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฎ ๐ฉ๐ช๐จ๐ฉ, ๐ฃ๐ถ๐ต ๐ฉ๐ฆ’๐ด ๐ง๐ญ๐ถ๐ช๐ฅ ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐ฑ๐ณ๐ฐ๐ง๐ช๐ค๐ช๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ต ๐ช๐ฏ ๐ถ๐ด๐ช๐ฏ๐จ ๐ฉ๐ช๐ด ๐ด๐ฌ๐ช๐ญ๐ญ๐ด.’
If judged by strength alone, Crowel would have definitely been unable to fight against Lo-an.
However, he was narrowly surpassing all of Lo-an’s attacks.
In addition, half-demons, who could use both magic and demonic energy, were difficult to deal with due to their large energy capacity.
Pajijijik. . .!
The developed magic and the gathered demonic energy responded and ran wild in Crowel’s hands.
Blackish energy soared into the sky.
Lo-an’s eyes narrowed thinly as his gaze turned upwards.
<Mars: Falling Gems>
At that instant, a torrential downpour poured down from the sky toward the spot where Lo-an was located.
Clack, clack, clack! Clackety, clackety!!
“Eek?!”
The raindrops, sharp as needles, pierced the ground and everything they hit.
Holes were made in the rocks decorating the hotel landscape, and the willow tree that Crowel was holding onto instantly became a beehive and collapsed.
“Damn ability.”
As the rain poured, the clones of the Monkey King were torn to pieces into units of magic particles.
Lo-an drew up a large amount of magic energy from his dantian.
[Monkey King: Asura: Hundredfold Heavenly Spear Whirlwind]
A brilliant white light flashed, and Lo-an’s body was enveloped in white armor.
It was as if a heavenly general from mythology had materialized.
“Lengthen, Ruyi Jingu Bang.”
Whiiingโโ!
At his command, the Ruyi Jingu Bang extended greatly and pierced through Crowel’s giant sword in one breath.
Crowel’s expression crumpled as five giant swords turned back into magic particles with one attack.
“It’s not a skill that can be defeated that easily! Do you know how much magic energy it took to make those things?”
“It’s all the same.”
Lo-an retorted as he swung the Ruyi Jingu Bang violently.
Clangโโ!
The ground shook, and gravel scattered noisily.
Crowel moved his hand, trying to focus the range of his magic on Lo-an.
After all, over time, even a rock can be pierced if raindrops gather.
However, the Monkey King’s white armor was thicker than he thought, and above all, Lo-an’s agility surpassed Crowel’s control over his magic energy.
“Ugh!!”
Crowel bit his lip tightly at the recklessness of his opponent, who charged forward like lightning.
A moment’s carelessness could lead to a fatal blow, so he focused all his senses on Lo-an’s movements.
‘๐ ๐ธ๐ข๐ฏ๐ต๐ฆ๐ฅ ๐ต๐ฐ ๐ฅ๐ฐ ๐ข ๐ญ๐ช๐ต๐ต๐ญ๐ฆ ๐ฅ๐ข๐ฎ๐ข๐จ๐ฆ ๐ธ๐ช๐ต๐ฉ [๐๐ข๐ญ๐ญ๐ช๐ฏ๐จ ๐๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ด].’
It was a skill that was relatively strong among the skills he had, but because the white armor was so sturdy, it only managed to make a scratch.
Lo-an’s attacks poured in one after another.
Clang!! Clang, clang, clang!!
The giant swords moved forward to block his consecutive attacks, but two or three swords turned into particles every time the staff swung.
Crowel felt the magic energy draining away and chewed on his lips.
He personally experienced how difficult it was to endure against a high ranker.
“Become longer, Ruyi Jingu Bang.”
At that moment, Lo-an’s incantation activated again, and the Ruyi Jingu Bang shot out like an arrow and pierced Crowel’s body.
Whiiingโโ!
Crowel and the Ruyi Jingu Bang flew as far as the hotel wall, which was a short distance away.
“Cough!”
Crowel grabbed the Ruyi Jingu Bang that had hit him directly in the stomach and coughed up blood.
Fortunately, he had wrapped himself in layers of magic energy, so it did not lead to an injury where his stomach was pierced.
He glared at Lo-an, who was approaching him with blood dripping down.
“Surrender quietly. I will spare your life.”
“Cough! No. . . After killing everyone, you’re going to spare my life. . . Are you planning on taking me as a prisoner of war?”
“I haven’t killed you yet.”
“Shouldn’t you treat a valuable hostage a little more gently?”
“You’re not weak enough to be treated that way.”
Lo-an’s blunt reply.
Crowel shook his head.
Although it had not pierced him, the shock to his abdomen was so great that he felt like his organs were turning over.
“Withdraw your demonic energy.”
“To prison. . . Am I going?”
“I don’t know about that.”
“Cough! I don’t really like being locked up. . .”
Lo-an, who was about to answer, suddenly turned his head at the energy coming from beneath his feet.
A reactive counterattack device set up like a trap.
<Mars: Underwater Prison>
Gurglingโโ!
As Lo-an quickly tried to get out of the way, a giant water droplet formed, binding his body.
It was difficult to move his body due to the pressure of the water surrounding him.
Lo-an clenched his jaw and tried to swim out of the prison.
However, the water moved in the direction he moved and he was unable to get out.
“It’s no use. . . Cough! My [Underwater Prison] is a perfect solitary cell. It doesn’t last that long. . . But at least it will give me time to escape.”
Crowel waved his hand at Lo-an with a grin.
“Don’t glare at me like that. You can still breathe in there, right?”
He patted the water prison and slowly walked away.
He had quickly set up the device when he was launched and sent flying, so he was worried that it wouldn’t activate.
Crowel thought about his future plans, clutching his stomach.
‘๐๐ช๐ข๐ฌ๐ข๐ฏ ๐ฑ๐ณ๐ฐ๐ฃ๐ข๐ฃ๐ญ๐บ ๐ธ๐ฐ๐ฏ’๐ต ๐ฌ๐ช๐ค๐ฌ ๐ฎ๐ฆ ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ต. . . ๐๐ถ๐ต ๐’๐ญ๐ญ ๐ด๐ต๐ช๐ญ๐ญ ๐ฃ๐ฆ ๐ฆ๐น๐ค๐ญ๐ถ๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ฅ ๐ง๐ณ๐ฐ๐ฎ ๐ข๐ญ๐ญ ๐ฑ๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐ด ๐ง๐ฐ๐ณ ๐ข ๐ธ๐ฉ๐ช๐ญ๐ฆ. ๐๐ฉ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ญ๐ฅ ๐ ๐ซ๐ฐ๐ช๐ฏ ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ณ 3๐ณ๐ฅ ๐๐ช๐ฆ๐ณ๐ข๐ณ๐ค๐ฉ๐บ ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐ธ๐ฐ๐ณ๐ฌ ๐ต๐ฐ๐จ๐ฆ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ณ ๐ธ๐ฉ๐ช๐ญ๐ฆ ๐’๐ฎ ๐ข๐ต ๐ช๐ต?’
It was a plan, so he would have to take responsibility for failing.
‘๐๐ฆ๐ต’๐ด ๐ฏ๐ฐ๐ต ๐ด๐ต๐ข๐บ ๐ช๐ฏ ๐๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ณ๐ช๐ค๐ข ๐ง๐ฐ๐ณ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐ต๐ช๐ฎ๐ฆ ๐ฃ๐ฆ๐ช๐ฏ๐จ. ๐๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฑ๐ณ๐ฐ๐ฃ๐ข๐ฃ๐ญ๐บ ๐ฃ๐ฆ ๐ญ๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ฌ๐ช๐ฏ๐จ. . . ๐๐ถ๐ฉ?’
Clangโโ!
However, Crowel’s footsteps could not continue.
An overwhelming energy that fell from the sky crushed his body and turned it bloody.
The man who stepped on Crowel grabbed him by the scruff of his neck and lifted him up with a bewildered expression.
“Is this the right time to attack?”
Choi Kang-yul asked Lo-an, standing unsteadily.
Lo-an smiled broadly and nodded at him.
๐ท๐ท๐ท๐ท๐ท๐ท
The ‘World Hunter Comprehensive Ability Measurement Competition’, an international friendly evaluation among Hunters held about once every two years.
The score given here and the comprehensive evaluation through the ‘Gaia System’ became the final ranking of that Hunter.
Of course, not all Hunters around the world gathered in one place.
The evaluation was conducted with about 200 people, including Hunters currently ranked within the top 100 and those recommended by each organization.
“Don’t you dislike being ranked like this?”
Edward, who had heard the opinion, asked with a worried expression.
Min Siwoo, whom he knew, was a person who hated that kind of evaluation where people were lined up.
“I have to do it regardless of my likes or dislikes.”
“It doesn’t matter if you go. . . But I’m worried that you’ll turn it upside down again.”
“Am I crazy? I’m just going to check if there are any criminals. What if the president acts weak?”
“Iโm not the president yet, though. . .”
“Your willingness to take risks is admirable. The hunters from HSIU will also go with you to prepare for any eventuality.”
Harold nodded as if he was impressed by Siwoo’s sense of sacrifice.
“Well, that may be true, but. . . Is it really possible. . .?”
Edward’s face darkened as he read the list again.
No matter how he thought about it, it was reckless.
“The rankers on this list are not ordinary. There’s even a monster in the top 10. How many of those guys can you handle in ‘one place’, even if it’s you, Min Siwoo. . .?”
“However, that’s the only way. If you try to catch them all in different places, the manpower and scale of the operation will increase, and it will only leak information.”
“I think so too. Gather them in a place where they can be seen and take them all down at once to increase the probability. And I’m not the only one doing it.”
Even if there were many rankers who had colluded with ใPandemoniumใ, they would only be a small number within that place.
Moreover, the other high rankers would not just watch.
“Edwin, can you form it with Hunters who are as trustworthy as possible so that information is not leaked? With Hunters above the upper level.”
“Harold here will take care of that.”
“I’ll have to pick those who have been with me for a long time from among my subordinates.”
And even if it was called a ‘competition’, it wouldn’t be strange to see many HSIU Hunters there.
Siwoo nodded with satisfaction.
It would be impossible to pull out all of ใPandemoniumใ’s hands that had taken root in each country.
Regardless of whether it was politics or finance, they would be spread out like spider webs here and there.
However, it was possible to narrow down the scope and just cut out the buds among the high rankers.
If they resisted with force, they would just be suppressed with force.
‘๐๐ฆ๐ต’๐ด ๐ซ๐ถ๐ด๐ต ๐ฅ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฃ๐ญ๐ฆ-๐ค๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ค๐ฌ ๐ธ๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ณ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐จ๐ถ๐บ๐ด ๐ฐ๐ฏ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ช๐ด ๐ญ๐ช๐ด๐ต ๐ข๐ณ๐ฆ ๐ณ๐ฆ๐ข๐ญ๐ญ๐บ ๐ค๐ฐ๐ญ๐ญ๐ถ๐ฅ๐ช๐ฏ๐จ ๐ธ๐ช๐ต๐ฉ ใ๐๐ข๐ฏ๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ช๐ถ๐ฎใ.’
๐ท๐ท๐ท๐ท๐ท๐ท
‘๐๐๐ ๐๐ญ๐ฐ๐ณ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ค๐ฆ’, ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐ฉ๐ช๐จ๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ด๐ต ๐ด๐ฆ๐ค๐ถ๐ณ๐ช๐ต๐บ ๐ฑ๐ณ๐ช๐ด๐ฐ๐ฏ ๐ช๐ฏ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐๐ฏ๐ช๐ต๐ฆ๐ฅ ๐๐ต๐ข๐ต๐ฆ๐ด.
Among them, a new person had entered Level 5, where only Awakener prisoners with serious crimes such as terrorists, serial killers, and mafia bosses were imprisoned.
Siwoo was sitting in the visiting room, waiting for the ‘newcomer’.
A moment later.
A man limping in with thick iron chains on his ankles and wrists came into view.
He looked at Siwoo, but kept his mouth shut.
The guards looked at Siwoo as if to ask if he was okay, and Siwoo nodded and went outside the visiting room.
A quiet silence settled.
Siwoo took an apple out of the envelope he had brought and handed it to the prisoner.
“What is this?”
“What is it, it’s an apple. It’s been inspected, so eat it.”
“Hmm. . .”
Crowel scratched his cheek and grabbed the apple in his hand and bit into it.
The sweet scent of the apple filled his mouth and made his saliva gather.
“Hmm~ It’s delicious, maybe because it’s the first time I’ve had it in a while. Where did you buy it?”
“At a street fruit shop I stopped by before coming to prison.”
“Is that so? Not bad. I should buy and eat it next time.”
It had been a few days since Crowel had been caught.
Under normal procedure, he was not yet at the stage of being imprisoned, but he was imprisoned at high speed because he belonged to ใPandemoniumใ and had tried to manipulate the HSIU headquarters.
Although a formal trial would be held soon, in America, where strict punishment was the basic framework, the probability of his sentence being reduced was low.
If it hadn’t been for Siwoo, HSIU would have been played around with by Cargill Juan, and then a terrible situation would have occurred where ใPandemoniumใ controlled HSIU.
Although this was not a direct act of terrorism, it was an attempt to create a situation that was as bad as terrorism.
The leaders of each country were shocked by the fact that ใPandemoniumใ’s plan had spread this much.
The thought of whether their attempts had been limited to ‘HSIU’ alone made them uneasy.
“Is this the first time since I saw you in that gate back then? I didn’t know you would become such a world-renowned hunter.”
Crowel recalled meeting Min Siwoo at the ‘Gangwon S-Rank Gate’ in the past.
‘๐๐ง ๐ ๐ฉ๐ข๐ฅ ๐ฌ๐ช๐ญ๐ญ๐ฆ๐ฅ ๐ฉ๐ช๐ฎ ๐ฃ๐ข๐ค๐ฌ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ฏ. . . ๐๐ฐ, ๐ ๐ธ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ญ๐ฅ ๐ฉ๐ข๐ท๐ฆ ๐ฃ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฏ ๐ฐ๐ท๐ฆ๐ณ๐ฑ๐ฐ๐ธ๐ฆ๐ณ๐ฆ๐ฅ.’
He shook his head at the useless imagination.
“I don’t know if I’m a world-renowned Hunter, but I’m doing my part.”
Siwoo handed a piece of paper to Crowel.
“What is this?”
“A list of high rankers that I took from Juan.”
“So?”
“Are the people on this list colluding with ใPandemoniumใ?”
“Is there any benefit to me in telling you?”
“Well, I don’t know about a reduced sentence, but I can at least make things a little more convenient for you here.”
“Convenience. . .?”
Siwoo glanced at the apple envelope next to him.
Crowel let out a hollow laugh at the ridiculous offer.
“So you’re saying you’ll supply me with apples regularly in exchange for. . . calling the organization members on this list?”
“Apples are delicious.”
“You’re shameless.”
“We’re going to investigate according to this list anyway. How about you at least answer whether it’s true or not?”
“What if I don’t?”
“We’ll find out the results through a lie-detecting Hunter. By the way, if that happens, there will be no more convenience.”
Siwoo’s finger tapped the paper on the table.
“True or not. Speak.”
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