'From behind…!'
It was a ranged attack!
Jin-hyuk reflexively moved his body as a red flash of light appeared.
Kwang!
A large crater appeared at the spot where Jin-hyuk had just been.
"How dare you…! You make Do-hyun like that? Do you know how much work I put into this day?"
Hong Deok-pyo shouted from his seat in the audience. His cherished young talent was supposed to be the hero of the day. Instead, he had lost his hidden card and was made to kneel in front of a newbie.
Hong Deok-pyo, whose face had turned white, grunted.
At the same time, terrifying energy rose from his body.
Kukuku!
Magic caused the entire floor to shake.
Ho.
After all, an S rank was still an S rank.
However, unlike other players, his magic management was quite good. There was noticeably less waste of magic.
Although he lacked real combat sense, he was someone who could grow significantly if he trained for three years.
Jin-hyuk activated the Eye of Truth again.
Name: Hong Deok-pyo
Gender: Male
Age: 41
Level: 34
Strength: 38
Agility: 33
Stamina: 20
Magic: 15
Stat Points: 1
Coins: 25,850
Occupation: Berserker
Unique Ability: Blood Demon Qi
Skills:
Lv.5 Frenzy
Lv.5 Blood Coagulation
Lv.4 Strengthen Whole Body
Lv.4 Identify Enemy
Lv.4 Decapitate
[Copy Condition: Take away what Hong Deok-pyo values the most. If you do that, you can copy the unique ability.]
After reading the copy conditions, Jin-hyuk felt his heart beat rapidly.
Ba-dump! Ba-dump!
That's right—this excitement came from the sensation of Fusion. Using abilities that others had worked so hard to obtain.
'If it's his most precious thing…'
The answer was obvious.
Jin-hyuk opened his mouth.
"I know you're angry, but shouldn't we put the fight aside?"
"Why? Are you afraid now?"
"No. I'm worried that if a Guild Master gets smashed in front of so many people, it might be offensive."
"T-this fucking bastard! I'll crush you down to your bones!"
Hong Deok-pyo kicked off the ground.
Kwang!
The chairs he had been sitting on shattered as he instantly appeared in front of Jin-hyuk. A two-meter-long sword was wrapped in swirling red energy.
This was a different sword technique—Blood Demon Qi.
A heterogenous ability fueled by bloodlust.
[Unique Ability 'Sword Grave' is activated!]
Jin-hyuk infused magic into his sword as well.
Psss!
Sword energy erupted from the blade as he lowered his center of gravity.
And at that very moment—
Kwang!
The two energies collided.
Dark red sparks flew in all directions.
Kwakwakwang!
The ground cracked, spreading like spider webs.
"Oh!"
"As expected of Guild Master Hong! Just looking at that magic gives me chills."
"Look at that sword energy. I've only seen it in videos. Who knew we'd witness it in person?"
The reporters were stunned. But as the battle continued, a strange feeling settled in.
Something felt off.
A female reporter noticed it first.
"If Guild Master Hong is using this much magic… how is that man holding up on the other side?"
Her question triggered realization among the others.
It really was strange.
Even though Hong Deok-pyo was using his signature skills—
"I-is that so?"
"I was so focused I didn't even notice!"
"Oh my. I knew he was strong, but on par with an S class?"
To them, Jin-hyuk appeared evenly matched.
But—
The two fighters were not on the same level.
At least, that was clear to those clashing swords.
"Kuak!"
Hong Deok-pyo frowned.
He was being pushed back.
One-sidedly.
'No… he's stronger than me?'
Impossible.
He was the man who had stopped the Colossus on the second floor. The proud leader of the tower's right-wing raid team.
Being overwhelmed by an F-rank newbie?
Impossible.
But—
The sharp pain in his shoulder and wrist proved otherwise.
"Is it already hard? If it's that tough, should I go easy?"
Jin-hyuk adjusted his sword path lightly.
"Don't make me laugh. I haven't even used all my skills yet."
"Then why is your voice trembling?"
"…"
Hong Deok-pyo shut his mouth tightly.
He knew how this would end if it continued.
But backing down now would disgrace him in front of everyone.
That humiliation could never be undone.
At that moment—
Kiik!
The door to the room opened.
[Han Sang-jin Lv.4 'Arbitration' activated.]
A calming force spread across the area.
It was the skill of Han Sang-jin, President of the Korea Awakened Association.
"President!"
"What? I thought he wasn't attending!"
"Look!"
A middle-aged man in a black suit stood at the entrance.
Jin-hyuk frowned.
'So this is the man who leads the awakened.'
A sharp-bearded man with a genuine presence.
An air of responsibility surrounded him.
"President Han Sang-jin! You came! This man turned one of our guild's players into rags! A prospective AAA-rank!"
Hong Deok-pyo shouted.
But Han Sang-jin responded with a relaxed smile.
"Haha. That happens in competition. Guild Master Hong, please understand."
"Uh?"
"This isn't a child's quarrel. Ah, I'm a bit busy, so please excuse me."
"W-wait…!"
Hong Deok-pyo tried to protest, but the man ignored him and walked toward Jin-hyuk.
"Nice to meet you, Mr. Kang Jin-hyuk. I'm Han Sang-jin, President of the Korea Awakened Association."
"You know me?"
"I didn't—until twenty minutes ago. Manager Park urgently called and insisted I come see this myself."
Naturally, news of the chaos had reached him.
"So we conducted an investigation… and discovered something interesting about your past ranking."
The reporters swallowed nervously.
The truth was about to be revealed.
"Congratulations. You are Korea's 16th S class. And I apologize for the incorrect rank assigned to you due to our mistake."
Silence.
Then—
"Huh?!"
"S… S rank?"
"A new S class?!"
"No wonder A ranks stood no chance!"
The room exploded.
In a country of six million test-takers, only fifteen S classes existed—until now.
Camera flashes filled the air.
"Kang Jin-hyuk!"
"Call the editors!"
"Forget the Black Cloud interview—this is history!"
All attention centered on Jin-hyuk.
Cheers erupted.
"T-this… what the fuck…"
Hong Deok-pyo's face twisted.
"Kua… Kuak!"
Jong Do-hyun trembled with hatred.
Within hours, headlines flooded the media.
[Korea's 16th S Class Appears]
[Association President Personally Announces New S Rank]
[Top Guilds Rush to Recruit Kang Jin-hyuk]
Jin-hyuk smiled at the uploaded videos.
[True Education of Those Ignorant of an S Class]
The video of Jong Do-hyun being smashed trended wildly.
The comments exploded.
Illumination: Isn't coughing blood from one hit a bit much?
pplmost1124: A regular soldier could tank that.
Wasabitfavlortoothpaste: I tested it. Asked my nuna to punch me. Woke up the next day.
YasuoCarry: Then your nuna must be S rank lol.
The reaction was intense.
The Black Cloud Guild had suffered a fatal blow.
'You reap what you sow.'
Jin-hyuk leaned back into a soft chair.
Puak…!
A satisfied smile formed.
Being first-class really was great.
And then—
[The man in front of you… be careful.]
Elise, who had been silent until now, finally spoke.
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