Chapter 17: My clones can level up

Lee Seung's eyes flared with a fierce, almost feral light as he gripped Jinhu's fist with an ironclad hold. Jinhu's muscles bulged as he tried to wrench his hand free, but it was like trying to pry loose a steel vice.

Seung's voice was calm, but there was a cold edge to it. "I didn't know you really wanted to fight," he said, his gaze unwavering. "If you give me the go-ahead, I'll do you the favor of breaking your arms."

He watched Jinhu intently, waiting for his reaction, his grip tightening just enough to make his point. Jinhu cursed under his breath as pain shot through his arm. "Aish, d*mn it! Let go of me, you jerk!"

Seung's expression didn't change. With a quick twist of Jinhu's arm, a cry of pain escaped his lips. Seung then shoved him backward with a force that sent him sprawling onto the ground.

Jinhu glared up at Seung, fury contorting his face. "Take him down," he barked at his lackeys, anger dripping from every word.

In an instant, Seung moved, a blur of motion. He kicked the first two attackers away as if they were weightless, then ducked under the clumsy swing of another, using his momentum to bring down three more in a matter of seconds. Each movement was precise, economical, and devastatingly effective.

Jinhu, still on the ground, watched in disbelief as his followers crumpled one after another. 'Is it possible that the dungeon guy is him? Is that even possible?'

The thought hit him like a sledgehammer, his eyes widening in shock as the realization settled in.

Thunk!

The last of Jinhu's lackeys hit the ground with a resounding thud. The entire group lay groaning in pain, nursing broken limbs and bruised egos.

"Ahh! My arm... it seems to be broken," one of them muttered, cradling his injured limb.

"D*mn it, how did he get this strong? We couldn't lay a hand on him," another groaned in disbelief.

Seung walked slowly toward Jinhu, each step deliberate and unhurried. When he reached him, he bent down until they were eye-level, his voice low but firm. "I know it's been fun for you, bullying me all this time. But that ends now."

He straightened up, adjusting his backpack as he did so. For the first time in a long while, he felt a sense of lightness, a burden lifted from his shoulders. He'd always wanted to say this.

"I'm still weak compared to a lot of people out there," he continued, "but I'm strong enough to make you pay for taunting me all this while. See you around."

With a faint smile, he turned and walked away, heading toward the school gate. Jinhu watched him go, seething. How could someone like Lee Seung—someone he had always considered beneath him—finally overpower him?

But then, as Seung disappeared from view, Jinhu smirked. 'He must have won because none of us took him seriously. Next time, I won't let him get a chance. Ptt, I got myself worried for nothing.'

---

Inside the school, Seung entered the examination room along with the other students. The tension in the air was palpable as everyone prepared for the exam. Seung took his seat and pulled out his notes, quickly reviewing the key points.

He hadn't studied the night before; there was no need. His memory retention was excellent—anything he read once stayed with him for months. He ran through the facts in his mind:

'Sulfur is used in the vulcanization of rubber to...'

The door to the examination room creaked open, interrupting his thoughts. A man in a black suit walked in, his shoes making a soft, authoritative tap on the floor. He was one of the teachers and today's exam invigilator.

Seung glanced at him briefly, then back to his notes. 'Well, I don't think I forgot anything,' he thought, shrugging off the slight tension in his chest.

The invigilator, Yoo Hyunjae, stepped to the front of the room and addressed the students with a friendly, yet firm tone. "Hello everyone, I am Yoo Hyunjae, and I will be your invigilator for today's exam. Let's get started, please."

Seung took a deep breath and sat up straighter, ready to do his best. As he glanced around the room, he noticed Jinhu glaring at him from across the room, but he ignored him.

'I don't have time for a staring contest right now,' he thought, focusing on the exam ahead.

---

Meanwhile, in the meeting room of the World Hunter Association, the atmosphere was heavy with anticipation. The President sat at the head of the table, facing a dozen Guildmasters, each representing a different guild. The silence was thick as they awaited the reason for this sudden meeting.

The President finally broke the silence, his voice grave. "Good morning, everyone. I've called this meeting to inform you of a problem that could have far-reaching consequences if not addressed properly."

The Guildmasters exchanged curious glances, each wondering what could be so urgent. A man with long bluish hair and earrings leaned forward, his voice tinged with skepticism. "A problem? Is there anything more dangerous than the monster invasion we've already contained?"

"It could become more dangerous very soon," the President replied, his tone leaving no room for doubt. The tension in the room escalated as each Guildmaster contemplated the implications.

Kim Seijin, who had been seated beside the President, stood up and walked slowly to the front of the room, his every movement commanding attention.

Step… Step…

When he reached the front, he faced the long table, ensuring every Guildmaster could see him clearly.

"A few weeks ago," he began, "an alien ship crashed, and I had one of my men investigate the accident. Their mission was to retrieve an advanced piece of war technology and deliver it to our headquarters. However, it got lost during the crash."

A ripple of unease spread through the room. The blue-haired Guildmaster spoke up again, this time with urgency. "What kind of tech are we talking about?"

"It's a Power System tech," Kim Seijin said. "This technology has the potential to grant immense power to billions of people. From what I've gathered, it's already in someone's possession."

Murmurs erupted around the table. The idea of a single individual holding the strength of billions was terrifying. How powerful would such a person become?

"This is bad! What if the person who found it turns out to be evil?" Guildmaster Hwang exclaimed, his eyes wide with alarm.

"Exactly my point," the President said. "What do you think we can do about it?"

Silence fell as the Guildmasters considered the question. Finally, one of them raised his hand.

"Uh, Mr. Gu, please go ahead," Kim Seijin said, nodding toward the Guildmaster.

Mr. Gu adjusted his tie and cleared his throat before speaking. "The person who found it is likely a Hunter. I suggest we conduct a thorough stats check of all the Hunters in our guilds. Anyone with irregular or extraordinary strength should be flagged..."

"...as a potential suspect," another Guildmaster interjected, completing the thought.

Mr. Gu nodded in agreement. "Yes, exactly. That's what I propose."

The President looked around the room. "Are there any other suggestions?" he asked, but the room remained silent.

"Then we will proceed with Mr. Gu's suggestion. This meeting is adjourned."

---

Yawn...

Seung stretched as he exited the examination room, feeling a mix of relief and fatigue. As he made his way to the school gate, a familiar voice called out his name.

"Who...?" he muttered, turning around to see Mr. Song's granddaughter approaching him. He was surprised but managed to hide it. 'What's her name again? Uhm... I don't remember.'

"Hello," Jiwon greeted him with a warm smile.

"Hey," Seung replied with a wry smile of his own. "Uh, how was the exam?"

"Gosh, it was a bit horrible," Jiwon admitted, her expression a mix of frustration and exhaustion.

Seung nodded in agreement. "Yeah, it wasn't... no, it was... horrible, like you said." He hesitated, not wanting to come off as arrogant. 'I can't tell her I left no question unsolved. That'll just sound like showing off.'

Jiwon invited him to join her for noodles, and though Seung was initially hesitant, he couldn't refuse. As they sat down to eat, he found himself staring at the untouched food in front of him, while Jiwon had already begun eating.

"Aren't you going to eat?" she asked, her words slightly muffled by a mouthful of noodles.

"Don't mind me," Seung replied with a polite smile, still feeling out of place. His eyes wandered around the restaurant, and then he saw it—a bluish platform hovering just within his line of sight. It was unmistakably the system screen.

'What is it now?'

[Subject's clones have leveled up.]

[.....]

Seung's eyes widened, shock freezing him in place. Then, slowly, a grin spread across his face as he read the message.

"Yahoo! I am—!" he began to shout in excitement, but quickly stopped himself when he noticed the startled stares from other diners. Embarrassed, he grabbed his bag and bolted out of the restaurant, leaving Jiwon behind with her meal.

He hailed a taxi and rushed home, where he found his clones waiting in the living room. As soon as he entered, they stood up in unison.

"Welcome, Master."

Seung was panting slightly from the rush, but the grin never left his face. "Finally, I've gained the ability to keep you from disappearing. I... I now have full control over your existence. I can decide when you live or... not."

His voice trembled slightly with a mix of excitement and awe. This power, this ability—it was his key to saving his sister and avenging his parents' deaths.

The system screen reappeared before him, displaying the latest stats and new abilities.

[Lee Seung]

[Your clones have leveled up and you have received bonus points.]

[All stats have increased by five points each.]

[Strength: 5.12]

[Reflex: 5.10]

[Mana content: 7.03]

[Endurance: 5.06]

[Stamina: 5.01]

[New skill: Mana Reservoir Fusion]

[This skill allows the Subject to absorb external mana into his clones to prevent them from running out of energy.]

Seung clenched his fists, feeling the surge of power coursing through him. He looked at his clones, pride swelling in his chest. "Good work, First and Second. You guys make me stronger."