The worst day of his life. Gu Geon-yi thought that day was today. If a day more miserable and infuriating than this ever came, he might just tear out his own heart.
Normally, for a Knight of Gu Geon-yi's caliber, emotions no longer held sway over the body. This was because any significant emotional turmoil would be diluted and dissipated by his refined Ether.
But today.
For the first time in his life, Gu Geon-yi experienced anger wielding his Ether.
Fwoooosh.
A sharp aura, as if it could cut through anything, swirled around his entire body, and the ground trembled with every step he took.
“……!!”
‘He’s completely lost it.’
Glory Guild's strongest Esper, Yeon Ji-seon, swallowed dryly as she watched Gu Geon-yi. He hadn't been this intense even when she entered an 8-star dungeon with him. As if intending to trample everything in his path that annoyed him, Gu Geon-yi strode forward without hesitation.
Naturally, the crowd backed away from his menacing presence. As if the Red Sea were parting, the path Gu Geon-yi was taking became wide open. And at the end of it was Cheon Hae-seon.
“What’s with that guy? Does he think we’re Monsters or something?”
As Bi-soo asked with a trembling voice, Cheon Hae-seon shrugged his shoulders.
“How should I know? It's not like he's ever given me a single coin.”
Of course, he did bring something more important than money. With that thought, Cheon Hae-seon took a step forward to meet him. At that, Kang Jeong-hyeon’s small pupils filled with a strange light.
‘I would think he wouldn’t be able to lift a finger, yet he’s stepping forward instead…….’
Even among S-rankers, the difference in power was clear. He himself was barely managing to stand under Gu Geon-yi's pressure, yet he couldn't even begin to guess the extent of the Ether Cheon Hae-seon possessed.
Thump. Thump.
The distance between Gu Geon-yi and Cheon Hae-seon was now only a few steps. The people around them held their breath, looking back and forth between the two. Normally, Association officials would have stepped in to stop this.
However, seeing the murderous intent filling Gu Geon-yi’s eyes, Baek Jeong-dae was only worried that the sparks might fly his way. It was a chilling atmosphere that not even the Vice Chairman of the Association could control. The only remaining mediator spoke with difficulty.
“Representative Gu.”
Maria.
It wasn't the usual colorless, odorless tone she used when addressing Gu Geon-yi. Her voice was filled with a desperate plea, asking him not to cause trouble here. But seeing her like this only made Gu Geon-yi’s anger surge even higher.
“You stay out of it.”
“……!!”
“This is something I must do as the Representative of Glory.”
As if he had transplanted the cold winds of Siberia, Gu Geon-yi’s face was utterly frigid. However, judging by the words he spoke, it seemed he had not yet given up on Maria. How could he give up on her?
The power of Glory Guild. The image of Glory Guild. The honor of Glory Guild.
Maria was a figure who symbolized all of it. Perhaps even more so than himself, the Representative. Because of the long years they had spent together, Maria's betrayal felt all the more painful.
There was only one way to erase all this suffering. To bring her back.
“Um... could it be that you’ve come to the wrong place?”
Cheon Hae-seon asked, picking at his ear.
“You look like you’re about to smash something to bits, but there are no dungeons in this direction.”
“……”
Gu Geon-yi didn't answer. He had learned from experience that the more he exchanged words with Cheon Hae-seon, the fouler his own mood would become. And right now, there was no more room for his anger to grow.
“Do you think you are qualified to lead Maria?”
“Qualified?”
“Yes. Qualified.”
Ga Yeol-chan, who had been listening to their conversation, pressed his lips together firmly.
‘It seems this won’t end quietly today.’
Gu Geon-yi’s intention was obvious to Ga Yeol-chan. If he said, ‘I am qualified,’ Gu Geon-yi would surely start a brawl, demanding, ‘Prove it.’ What if he said, ‘I am not qualified’?
He would try to take Maria away right then and there, so a clash would be unavoidable in that case as well.
‘Cheon Hae-seon……. What is your answer?’
Ga Yeol-chan’s worried gaze was fixed on Cheon Hae-seon’s lips. And soon, an unexpected answer flowed from Cheon Hae-seon.
“At least I’m not the kind of idiot who loses the person in his care.”
“……!!!!!”
Ga Yeol-chan squeezed his eyes shut without realizing it. He had been foolish. Why had he thought Cheon Hae-seon was the type to avoid conflict with Gu Geon-yi?
Far from defusing the conflict, he was returning the provocation twofold.
Goooooooh.
A formless energy began to rise from Gu Geon-yi’s entire body. It had reached a point where even an ordinary person could perceive its unsettling aura.
“What in the……!!”
Seeing the clear battle stance, a few nearby Hunters’ eyes widened as they shouted. But not a single person stepped forward. They knew instinctively that anyone who stood in Gu Geon-yi’s way now would be turned into a hundred percent dried squid.
‘What kind of monstrous behavior is this?’
An old veteran Hunter from the Blue Sword Guild watched the scene with a face full of concern. No matter how mighty Glory Guild was, to cause such a scene at a Hunter license ceremony was unbelievable. What was astounding was that no one was trying to control the situation.
Various laws and systems were in place to prevent conflicts between Hunters, but Gu Geon-yi was running wild without a care.
[Because we can get away with it.]
In this age where power was law and everything else, the leader of Glory could transcend the law anytime he pleased.
“The kind of idiot who loses someone in his care……”
Gu Geon-yi slowly mulled over Cheon Hae-seon’s words. An ordinary person, faced with that murderous look, would have backtracked, saying, ‘No, that’s not what I meant.’ But Cheon Hae-seon just stood there, completely unfazed.
“Then, how about this.”
Squeeze.
The hazy masses of energy swirling around Gu Geon-yi’s body rapidly condensed onto his right shoulder. Simultaneously, a danger warning was triggered by his V1.
[#Destruction Tackle will be activated.]
It was one of the few offensive skills the Tanker Gu Geon-yi possessed. Gu Geon-yi specialized in defense, but he didn't really need a variety of offensive skills.
‘Destruction Tackle’ alone was enough to pulverize most Monsters.
The Ether, condensed into one spot, possessed a hardness that rivaled Pranium.
“If the person she chose to follow were to die, it seems likely she would return.”
“……!!”
Maria’s eyes widened to twice their size as she tried to step in front of Gu Geon-yi. But Cheon Hae-seon stopped her with one arm.
“Get back. You could really die……!!”
“……”
Judging by her desperate expression, she seemed to be serious. But instead of feeling a sense of crisis, Cheon Hae-seon had another thought. It seemed that Maria had shown more expressions today than he had ever seen from her before.
“It's fine. In fact, this is great.”
“What……?”
“It’s a chance to prove it, isn’t it? Whether the Irregulars have that much power.”
“But you are……”
“Trust me, just this once. I’m capable enough for this.”
“……!!”
Cheon Hae-seon knew well. He knew what was most necessary to lead a group. In fact, it was related to the question Gu Geon-yi had first asked.
The leader's strength. To smoothly operate a super-legal group like the Irregulars, he had to make people accept it. With pure, raw power.
‘If it were up to me, I’d just kill him, but…….’
Cheon Hae-seon slowly activated the Black Ether in his body. His publicly confirmed types were healer and Esper. But that wasn't all the abilities Cheon Hae-seon possessed.
A skill he had obtained after absorbing the core of the Giant Treasure. Body Protection Aura. Although his physical attack power was only at a C-rank level, his durability at least had reached a level comparable to an S-rank Knight.
‘Of course……. that doesn’t make this any less lethal.’
It looked as if Gu Geon-yi, having finished condensing his Ether, was about to charge at any moment. Cheon Hae-seon infused strength into his entire body and widened his stance.
‘Reckless……!!’
Ga Yeol-chan let out a low groan. He felt like jumping up and down in frustration. He had thought that Cheon Hae-seon and Gu Geon-yi would be evenly matched.
After all, Cheon Hae-seon had taken down Kang Hyeon, who used to beat Gu Geon-yi like a dog on a hot day. But that was a fight between a ‘Knight’ and an ‘Esper,’ and this was different. Judging by Cheon Hae-seon’s stance, he clearly intended to engage in a ‘physical’ confrontation.
‘Is he planning on a shoulder tackle? Against that Gu Geon-yi?’
Ga Yeol-chan couldn't understand for the life of him why he would insist on such a disadvantageous method. However, ‘A method like this is perfect for making him feel despair.’ To fight on the opponent's advantageous ground and achieve an equal result.
Doing so would inflict a deeper sense of defeat than simply knocking the opponent down. That was precisely Cheon Hae-seon’s goal.
Ssk.
Cheon Hae-seon raised his right arm. And then, beckoned with his fingers. As if to say, come at me if you dare.
“!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
He must have lost his mind, crushed by fear. Most of the people watching the scene couldn't help but think so. After all, more than one or two Monsters had been hit by Gu Geon-yi's ‘full-power attack’ and left without even a trace of their form remaining.
Squeeze.
The highly compressed Ether began to emit a tangible light. A radiance so bright it was hard to look at directly formed on his shoulder. And soon, Gu Geon-yi launched his heavy body forward with speed.
‘This is like facing Taurus.’
Cheon Hae-seon recalled the time at the train station when he had taken the charge of a herd of cattle with his body. The method was similar, but the power would be on a completely different level. No matter how strong his Body Protection Aura was, ‘Destruction Tackle’ was a tier above a normal S-rank physical attack.
That was why Cheon Hae-seon had provoked him with his right hand. Part of it was to agitate Gu Geon-yi, but also because the device on his right wrist would help him.
Pracel.
A bracelet-type device that held a brilliant halo of light. To some, it might just look like a gaudy accessory, but this little thing contained two powerful elements. Pranium, the hardest material in the world, and the technological prowess of Dr. Jin.
Usually, it was used to control ‘Poison Flame,’ but in a situation like this, it served as the ultimate shield.
‘How far have I grown?’
The first place he had met Gu Geon-yi was also at the Hunter Association headquarters. Back then, he had felt fear from the aura and voice he exuded.
But now?
He was provoking that man, preparing to face his signature technique head-on. Anyone who had watched his growth process would feel a sense of how much things had changed.
Kwaaaang.
With a sound that made one doubt if it was from a human leap, Gu Geon-yi kicked off the ground. The concrete floor shattered into pieces. His entire body was no different from a human weapon.
The shoulder, so bright it was hard to see properly, closed in on Cheon Hae-seon. Meanwhile, Cheon Hae-seon simply held up his right arm, in the same taunting posture as before. Striking a rock with an egg.
That was the image everyone, watching the battle through squinted eyes, was picturing in their minds.
BOOM!!!!!!
People had to doubt their own ears once again. It was clearly the sound of two bodies colliding, but it felt as if a missile had flown in and bombed the site. And that wasn't the only astounding thing.
The impact was so powerful that ordinary people were sent flying backward by the shockwave alone. To possess such power just by standing nearby, without even being hit. They could feel with their own skin why Gu Geon-yi was acknowledged as the greatest Tanker in the Republic of Korea.
“Hae-seon!!”
“Cheon Hae-seon!!”
“Hunter!!”
Anxious voices echoed from within the spreading halo of light. Even someone with no knowledge of Hunters could easily predict what had happened. Gu Geon-yi’s offensive skill was far stronger and more ruthless than expected.
No human could stand after taking a blow like that. That was why the voices of those looking for Cheon Hae-seon were tinged with desperation.
Ssk.
As the radiance scattered and the shockwave subsided, the scene slowly became visible to the naked eye.
“Ah……”
Judging by the force, it wouldn't have been strange at all if Cheon Hae-seon’s body had been sent flying far away or flattened into a pancake. Just looking at the thickness of their bodies, Gu Geon-yi was three times larger. But surprisingly, Cheon Hae-seon was still in the same spot.
Standing in the exact same position, with his right arm raised.
“No way……”
“I can’t believe it……”
“A… a healer blocked that attack?”
Even if you replaced the word ‘healer’ with ‘Esper,’ it wouldn't have made a difference. No matter the type, there was no human who could withstand Gu Geon-yi’s tackle.
The reason Kang Hyeon had beaten Gu Geon-yi to a pulp back in the day was because he had completely sealed his movements, not because he had taken the tackle with his body. In that sense, the fact that Cheon Hae-seon was standing firm was nothing short of a miracle. And yet, Gush.
That wasn't the only surprising thing. A mouthful of blood burst from Gu Geon-yi's mouth.
“!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
It was a phenomenon that could happen to anyone who overused their Ether. But the problem was that it was happening to Gu Geon-yi.
“Are you okay?”
A familiar voice was heard by the crowd. It sounded kind at a glance, but it was dripping with mockery.
“That can easily become a habit.”
A habit, he says.
What?
Everyone’s gaze shifted from Cheon Hae-seon to Gu Geon-yi. And soon, the onlookers' eyes filled with shock.
Dangle...
A fact that people had missed while he was spitting up blood. Gu Geon-yi's right arm was dislocated, swinging limply.