At the Evaluation Center.
Jinwoo was surrounded - The S-ranks, Chairman Go, Woo Jinchul and Liu Zhigang. An uneasy tension hung in the air, putting Jinwoo on edge.
"What is your name, mister?" Chairman Go broke the silence, a warm and friendly smile playing on his lips.
"Jinwoo. Sung Jinwoo," He replied.
"Mm, Hunter Sung… I would say, this is all… unprecedented." Chairman Go spoke. "Having two people wielding such power, reveal themselves in one day."
Liu Zhigang gave a thin smile. "You held back at the entrance, Hunter Sung. You knew the power you wielded. You came for an announcement, rather than an evaluation."
"I came for a re-evaluation," Jinwoo replied. "The results speak for themselves." That wasn't a lie, but it also wasn't completely the truth.
Cha Hae-In finally spoke up. "Your mana density is… controlled. And…" she trailed, feeling slightly embarrassed. "You don't… smell like Mana either, just like Hunter Minho,"
Before Jinwoo could speak, Baek Yoonho jumped in. "What are you really? Another monster in human skin? First it was the Breaker, now you?"
"Baek!" Dongwook shook his head.
Choi Jong-In turned to Yoonho. "Easy Baek. Antagonizing a National Level Hunter…" he trailed, turning to the person recording the evaluation to confirm the rank, though he already know the answer. He continued after receiving a nod of approval. "in a confined space is not a strategy. It's rather a death wish." Then his gaze fell to Jinwoo. "Hunter Sung, understand our caution. The world's power balance shifted twice in the last ten minutes. Your intentions are… of some importance."
Woo Jinchul who had been quiet at the back, finally spoke. His voice calm but firm. "That presence at the Yongsan station. That was you, wasn't it? You have been hiding your power for quite the time. Why reveal yourself now?"
This was the core of it all. Jinwoo's eyes flicked to the door where Minho - Antares, as he believed - had passed.
"My reasons are my own." He replied, his voice giving no room for argument. His eyes fell directly to Chairman Go. "I will require an S-rank license, so I can't operate independently. I have no intentions of joining any guild, nor will I be managed by the association."
The audacity of the statement. He wasn't asking. He was telling them.
Liu Zhigang chuckled lightly. "Confident. I like it. It seems Korea just got two Kings." He looked between Jinwoo and the door. "I just wonder if the kingdom will be enough for both of them."
Go Gun-Hee felt a headache brewing. For years, he'd managed to maintain the fragile order of power, only to wake up one morning and have two nukes erupt at the center of his ordered world.
Chairman Go sighed. "Very well, Hunter Sung Jinwoo. You will be given the license and marked Korea's eleventh S-rank hunter, since we already know the tenth even if the world doesn't yet. You will receive the autonomy you ask of." He leaned forward, his gaze sharp. "But know that the eyes of the world and the Association are on you."
Jinwoo gave a curt nod. The license was a tool to get the freedom of a high ranking individual.
The hunt was now truly on.
Back With Minho....
Minho stood a distance from Igris and Beru, his chest heaving, breath ragged. He could've bragged of killing them or giving a fatal injury at least fifteen times, but their regeneration was insanely annoying. Thanks to the Shadow Monarch's near infinite Mana pool, these shadows ran on infinite gas.
He had taken serious blows, but Dragon's Vitality was their to cover for him. His Scale Armor didn't even seem useful against them, though he would have taken fatal wounds without it.
He noticed Igris's grip tighten around the hilt of his sword. He caught his breath, knowing they were attacking again.
The shadow knight swung at him in a blur of rapid attacks. Minho blocked them off, though he got a few tears, but Dragon's Vitality covered it. He spotted an opening and was about to go for a stab. His hand went forward, but Igris had already leapt of the ground, about to strike from the air.
Minho gritted his teeth and quickly summoned Dragon Fang. He threw the dagger behind him and with precise timing, used the momentum forward to slam the under of his shoe to its hilt, sending it for Igris's head. The knight barely dodged as it tore through the side of his eye.
Igris landed gracefully.
Minho spun around. His system had a surprise waiting though. Not a good one.
[Dragon's Vitality has been overused!
Skill is cooling down and currently unavailable!
• Cool down time: 02:59:21]
"Shit." He spat. So the skill had a limit? These shadows really had him on his toes. "Tch, three hours? Good thing is…" he trailed, lunging at Igris.
Igris lunged at him as well.
Minho stretched a hand towards the charging knight instead of his sword. "I get an extra fifty points on all stats, when it's out." He completed. "Plus, a first hit brutality."
It was a perfect timing, as Dragon Fang immediately fell into his grasp.
A thin line of crimson light followed, as Minho now stood a few feet behind Igris. The knight also stood still.
A sudden gash appeared on Minho's shoulder, blood spraying out. "Tch." He held the shoulder.
Igris on the other hand stood, sudden lines appearing on him, then his form exploded into small pieces. The shadow knight had been shredded.
Minho turned to the spot, breathing heavily. The shadows on the floor started to slowly recoil. "Nasty pests you both are." He muttered, launching Hell's Blade at the direction. The sword embedded itself on the ground and Minho snapped his fingers. A sudden flame circle formed around the recoiling shadow.
But something was wrong. Something was out of place. Beru. Beru was that something. The flying ant was suddenly missing.
Minho decided to turn, his eyes widened slightly as the ant was suddenly behind him, it's claws just a few seconds away from his face.
A sudden burst of steam erupted in front of him. Beru's claw was just inches away from his face. Its hand held by the silhouette that stood in the steam, only the burning yellow of its eyes visible.
Minho recognized it instantly. "I… didn't even summon…"
The steam cleared to reveal Rathalos's form, pure, unadulterated anger plastered on his face. He swung Beru with it's arm into a far wall.
The Dragon hybrid stood in front of Minho, aura flaring. "I need not to be summoned to protect my Liege."