Chương 5: Chapter 5
The District Hunter Guild's marble corridors echoed with the sharp clicks of polished shoes as two S-Class hunters strode through. Park Ji-hoon, a young man with neatly combed hair and sharp glasses, walked alongside the older, broader, and more muscular Min-soo. Both were dressed in elegant suits that radiated authority.
"Rumors really spread fast these days," Min-soo said, his deep voice cutting through the silence.
"I'm not sure they're just rumors," Ji-hoon replied, adjusting his glasses with a composed expression.
Min-soo scoffed. "Not rumors? Someone surviving an Archfiend and walking away unscathed? You can't be serious."
Ji-hoon's lips twitched into a slight smirk. "We've defeated plenty of Archfiends ourselves. Even those monsters fear us."
"Don't compare us to some no-name healer," Min-soo countered, his tone sharp. "Even if the Protocol chose him, there's no way he could stand against an Archfiend and live. Not without something extraordinary at play."
Ji-hoon shrugged. "Enough of this talk. It's getting boring."
"Agreed," Min-soo said, waving off the subject as they entered a massive, all-white training hall. The room was pristine yet imposing, its vast emptiness amplifying the tension between the two.
Min-soo cracked his neck and smirked. "You still think you can handle me, Ji-hoon? Remember last time—you couldn't even move."
Ji-hoon adjusted his glasses again, his calm demeanor unwavering. "Don't get ahead of yourself, old man. Just because you're the strongest doesn't mean you'll beat me this time."
Min-soo's grin widened. "Let's see, then—"
Before he could finish, Ji-hoon launched a devastating kick aimed directly at his face. The impact was immediate, sending Min-soo skidding backward across the polished floor. The sound echoed like a thunderclap.
Min-soo wiped a small trickle of blood from his lip and chuckled. "Oh, so that's how you want to play it?" His aura flared brighter, the crimson energy crackling like fire. His suit shredded as his muscles bulged, and his runed sword materialized and gleamed ominously.
"Going all out for a sparring match?" Ji-hoon asked with mock concern.
Min-soo's grin turned predatory. "With that cheap shot, you made it clear this isn't sparring. And trust me, this isn't me going all out."
Ji-hoon adjusted his glasses, their lenses flashing briefly. "Fine by me. I was hoping for a challenge."
Min-soo roared, charging forward with his massive sword raised high. The ground beneath his feet cracked with each step as he brought the blade down in a powerful arc. Ji-hoon dodged to the side at the last second, his glasses glinting as he analyzed the trajectory with uncanny precision.
The moment Ji-hoon sidestepped, Min-soo twisted his body mid-swing, bringing the flat of the blade around like a battering ram. Ji-hoon leaned back, the edge grazing his suit. He retaliated with a quick jab to Min-soo's ribs, using his enhanced speed to exploit an opening.
Min-soo grunted and stepped back. "Faster than last time," he said, his grin widening. "But speed isn't enough."
Ji-hoon adjusted his glasses, a faint pulse of blue light emanating from the frames. Suddenly, the air around him seemed to warp. "Then let's even the odds."
The glow from Ji-hoon's glasses intensified, and ghostly duplicates of himself began to appear, each one flickering like reflections in shattered glass. Min-soo's eyes narrowed as he realized there were now five Ji-hoons surrounding him, each moving with the same calculated precision.
"Tricks won't save you," Min-soo growled, swinging his blade in a wide arc. The sword's energy extended beyond its physical length, slicing through two of the illusions—but they reappeared instantly.
Ji-hoon smirked. "Who said these are tricks?"
The duplicates moved in unison, each striking at Min-soo from different angles. Though most were illusions, their movements were so synchronized that Min-soo had no choice but to block every attack, expending energy with each swing.
"You're burning out," Ji-hoon taunted as he struck with a swift uppercut, catching Min-soo off guard.
Min-soo laughed, wiping blood from his chin. "Finally making me sweat, huh?"
With a roar, Min-soo slammed his sword into the ground, creating a shockwave that obliterated the illusions and sent Ji-hoon skidding backward. The red runes on his blade glowed brighter, and the aura around him grew wild and untamed.
"Enough games," Min-soo said, charging with explosive speed. His blade clashed with Ji-hoon's raised arms, and for a moment, the room shook with the force of their collision.
Ji-hoon used the momentum to backflip away, landing gracefully. "You really are holding back," he said, his glasses pulsing again. "Guess I'll have to push you harder."
The sparring intensified, both hunters trading blows that would have reduced lesser fighters to ash. Min-soo's sword left glowing red scars across the floor, while Ji-hoon's precise movements and holographic duplicates kept him one step ahead.
Finally, Ji-hoon activated his glasses' ultimate ability: "Refracted Reality". The entire room seemed to shift, with Min-soo finding himself surrounded by countless mirrored versions of Ji-hoon, all moving in unpredictable patterns.
Min-soo laughed heartily. "Now this is a fight!" He unleashed a devastating spin attack, the energy from his sword tearing through the illusionary landscape. But Ji-hoon anticipated it, slipping through an opening and delivering a clean strike to Min-soo's chest.
Min-soo staggered, his aura dimming. He dropped his sword and raised his hands. "Alright, alright. You got me."
Ji-hoon adjusted his glasses, stepping back with a smug grin. "Told you not to underestimate me."
Min-soo chuckled. "Don't let it get to your head. Next time, I'm not holding back."
Ji-hoon smirked. "Neither am I."
The two hunters shared a hearty laugh, their rivalry only deepening their camaraderie.
Jin Tae-min walked through the brightly lit halls of the hospital, the faint scent of antiseptic in the air. His sharp features, calm demeanor, and athletic build didn't go unnoticed. Nurses stationed at their desks glanced up, whispering among themselves.
"Who is he? He's so handsome!"
"I think he comes here often. Maybe he's visiting someone."
"He's got that kind of serious, mysterious vibe… Do you think he's single?"
One of the braver nurses giggled, whispering to her friend, "If I had his number, I wouldn't let him go."
Tae-min, oblivious to the attention, kept his focus ahead. He reached his sister Ji-a's room and paused at the door. As soon as he entered, the lively chatter from the nurses outside hushed to murmurs.
Ji-a lay in the hospital bed, her frail body surrounded by beeping machines and the soft hum of medical equipment. Her face was pale, but her eyes still held a glimmer of the playful spirit Tae-min cherished. He sat by her bedside and gently took her hand in his.
"Ji-a," he began, his voice steady but warm, "I know you hate being stuck in here. It feels unfair, doesn't it?" He chuckled softly. "I mean, you've always been the strong one between us. You were the one who kept me going when things got tough, remember?"
Ji-a gave him a faint smile, her lips trembling as if she wanted to speak but couldn't find the strength. Tae-min squeezed her hand. "You don't need to say anything. Just listen, okay? These last few days have been… something else. I've been through things I can barely explain. Fought monsters, got stronger… even survived things I didn't think I could."
He hesitated, his voice growing softer. "But you know what keeps me going? It's you, Ji-a. Every time I step into danger, I think about you lying here, fighting your own battle. I'll do whatever it takes to make sure you get better. I promise, no matter how hard it gets, I won't give up on you."
Ji-a blinked, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. Tae-min smiled and leaned closer. "That sums it all up, doesn't it? I'll head off now, but trust me, you're going to get better. Just hold on a little longer, okay? I'll make sure you're up and running in no time."
He brushed a strand of hair from her face and kissed her forehead before standing up.
As Tae-min stepped out of the room, the hushed whispers turned into audible chatter among the nurses.
"There he is!"
"Gosh, look at his smile—he's even cuter up close!"
"Hey, um… excuse me," one nurse stammered, stepping forward. "Do you, uh, mind sharing your number? Maybe we could… grab coffee sometime?"
Another chimed in, "You're so sweet to your sister. You're like, the perfect guy."
Tae-min blushed, scratching the back of his head awkwardly. "Ah, thank you, but I really have to get going."
As he walked away, more voices followed him. "He's so shy! That makes him even cuter!"
"He's like a real-life knight in shining armor."
Tae-min couldn't help but smile to himself, his ears burning from the attention.
Outside the hospital, the city buzzed with life. Tae-min, now relaxed, pulled out his phone to check his messages. As he scrolled and replied, he wasn't paying attention to where he was going. Suddenly, he bumped into someone, the impact startling them both.
"I'm sorry!" Tae-min said quickly, looking up. His words faltered as he met the girl's gaze. She was breathtakingly beautiful, with long, silky black hair that shimmered in the sunlight. Her almond-shaped eyes were a captivating shade of hazel, framed by thick lashes. Her delicate features were accentuated by a soft blush on her cheeks, and her lips, a natural rosy hue, curved into a shy smile.
"It's my fault," she said, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "Clumsy me." Her voice was soft, almost musical.
Tae-min felt his face heat up. He rubbed the back of his neck and said, "Uh, no, really, it's on me. I wasn't paying attention."
The girl laughed lightly, her smile brightening. "Well, no harm done. Have a good day!"
"Y-yeah," Tae-min stammered as she walked away, disappearing into the crowd. He stood frozen for a moment, replaying the encounter in his mind. "What the hell just happened?" he muttered, his cheeks still flushed.
As he continued walking, the white glow of a system notification materialized before him.
[System Notification: Daily Task Assigned]
[Objective: Survive the Beast Tide in the Black Abyss Forest.]
[Time Limit: 24 Hours.]
[Failure Consequence: Permanent Strength Reduction (50%).]
Tae-min frowned, his heart sinking. "Beast Tide? What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
Before he could ponder further, another notification appeared.
[Transportation to Task Location in 5… 4…]
His surroundings began to blur, and the city streets dissolved into darkness.
SUY NGHĨ CỦA NGƯỜI SÁNG TẠO 
FateArchitect
FateArchitect next chapter guys. hope you all feeling it. feel free to send feedbacks.
Tình trạng nguồn điện hàng tuần
-- Xếp hạng
Quyền lực 
-- Đá
Quyền lực