Leveling Up Alone

Chapter 175: I Hate Anyone that Uses a Bow (1)

The atmosphere in the hall suddenly changed when a person holding a microphone appeared in the center.

"A clown...?" Han-Yeol muttered.

Strangely enough, the individual was indeed a clown.

Beeeeeeep!

The microphone’s feedback reverberated throughout the hall.

[Ah-ah… Hello! I am Joker, the trickster of the Hunter Assembly! I'm certain that all of you are weary from the mundane year you've had, constantly hunting and enduring the repugnant stench of those monsters! Without wasting any more time, we shall now commence the annual tradition of the Hunter Assembly. A small "game" will be initiated to put our abilities to the test. Let the Fight Match BEGIN!]

Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap!?

Whistle!

"Hoho! I wonder who's going up against whom this time?"

"Hahaha! I've been eagerly anticipating this!"

"I thought I was going to die of boredom!"

The atmosphere immediately became lively as the 'principal' was done with his speech.

[We will adhere to our tradition and invite our new joiner, Lee Han-Yeol Hunter-nim, to the stage!]

Thud!

"What...?" Han-Yeol was flabbergasted by the sudden turn of events. He had been lost in his own thoughts, never expecting his name to be called out so abruptly.

“Booooo!”

“Get up and go to the center!”

“You better accept the challenge!”

All sorts of jeers came flying at him from all directions.

‘Haa… What the hell is this…?’?

Han-Yeol disliked how the assembly abruptly attempted to thrust him into a fight without providing any explanations. However, after having traveled all the way there, he couldn't simply walk away. They said, "Do as the Romans do when in Rome," so he concluded that the best course of action at the moment was to make the most of this event and try to gain as much as possible from it.

Seuk…

Han-Yeol stood up from his seat and walked toward the center.

“Woooo!”

“Now that’s a man!”

“Bwahahaha!”

“Good job!”

Han-Yeol stretched his neck and muscles. Although taken aback by the unexpected turn of events, he was not the kind of person to sit there in a daze while others jeered at him.

‘Just do the best I can at all times, confidently,’ he vowed to himself, never to back down from a challenge, a conviction he held since his childhood days growing up in poverty.

[Now, now, please calm down, everyone. We are all aware that Lee Han-Yeol Hunter-nim possesses more than three skills. Though he may be categorized as a B Rank Hunter, his displayed combat prowess was so remarkable that the Hunters' Association promoted him to S Rank! Therefore, we shall only permit S Rank Hunters to engage in combat with Lee Han-Yeol Hunter-nim. Now, who among our brave Hunters wishes to step forward and challenge our esteemed newcomer? This marks the first instance in our assembly's history where an S Rank Hunter joins as a newcomer!]

Silence ensued for a moment before…

“I’ll do it.”

“Waaaaah!”

“Hahaha! He’s as hot-tempered as ever!”

[Oh! As expected, Jung Woo-Hyun Hunter-nim has volunteered!]

The one who volunteered to fight against Han-Yeol was none other than the Hunter with whom he had an issue outside the building, the Bow Master, Jung Woo-Hyun.

A loud cheer erupted throughout the hall when the Bow Master stepped forward. After all, a clash between two S Rank Hunters was guaranteed to be an enthralling spectacle. With most of the Hunters joining the assembly being A Rank, this would mark the first duel between S Rank Hunters in its history.

[Allow me to provide a brief explanation of the rules for this special event. First and foremost, this is not a death match, and it's crucial to bear in mind that causing the death of your opponent, even unintentionally, will subject you to legal consequences. The objective of this duel is to incapacitate your opponent or make them surrender in order to emerge victorious. Lastly, let's acknowledge that this is far from a simple match, isn't it?]

“Keke! Let’s have some fun!”

[Normally, we collect money from all of you to allocate as the prize money for the winner of the duel. However, considering that this is a battle between S Rank Hunters, it would be inappropriate to offer them a meager sum, wouldn't it? Hence, the assembly has prepared something truly exceptional for this occasion!]

Flash!

“Wooooo!”

“T-That’s a unique item?!”

“Whoa!”

A spotlight illuminated a glass pedestal on the second floor, revealing a bow adorned with an intricately engraved dragon.

[The victor of this match will be bestowed with the honor of owning the unique item, the Dragon Bow! The assembly has spared no effort in arranging such a magnificent prize to inspire our participants. So, what are your thoughts? Isn't this becoming quite intriguing~?!]

“Bwahahaha!”

“This is the best!”

The atmosphere grew even more vibrant as the unique item was revealed as the prize for this match. The crowd appeared eager to immerse themselves in the excitement and place bets on the upcoming battle between the S Rank Hunters.

[It is now time to place your bets on your mobile application! Who will emerge victorious from this match?!]

"I'm looking forward to the fight between two S Rank Hunters," someone said. The assembly executives at the VIP corner appeared to be enjoying the special event as well. They might have been the ones to plan it, but even they were betting on the match. After all, there was no better match to bet on than a fight between Hunters.

"Who do you think is going to win?"

"It's Woo-Hyun without a doubt."

"But they're still the same rank, so won't Lee Han-Yeol be at an advantage? I mean, he has more skills, right?"

Everyone started to try and guess who was going to emerge victorious in this special event, and everyone seemed to have their own opinion on the matter.

"Hoho... A Hunter's skill and ability are important, but don't forget that Woo-Hyun is not an ordinary S Rank Hunter. He is almost at the cusp of becoming a Master Rank Hunter, and he makes up for his lack of skills with his mana and combat sense."

"Oh right, there was that incident... I forgot..."

The executives smirked and nodded at those words.

The skills were probably the lifeline of most Hunters, but Woo-Hyun was one of those that did not possess a great set of skills among S Rank Hunters. However, both he and his brother, Soo-Hyun, were undoubtedly one of the strongest S Rank Hunters in the country.

In lieu of that, this matchup was personally fixed by Kim Tae-San as he was confident that there was no way the newbie S Rank Hunter, Lee Han-Yeol, was going to win against someone like Jung Woo-Hyun.

"That is probably the reason that the chairman tasked Woo-Hyun with teaching that newcomer a lesson. That newcomer scratched our chairman's pride after all."

"Tsk tsk... Why did he have to get on the chairman's bad side of all people? He really should know his place."

"Yeah, what a pitiful lad."

All of this was a ploy devised by Kim Tae-San. He had spent months concocting this scheme to teach Han-Yeol a lesson, knowing well that it was against the law for Hunters to engage in fights or kill each other.

It was precisely what Han-Yeol had anticipated. Behind Kim Tae-San's smiling facade lay a malicious individual.

‘Did you really think someone like you could loiter around that bitch, Tayarana, when she rejected me?’?Kim Tae-San gritted his teeth.

Hallasan Monster had a reputation for his insatiable lust. He had been married and divorced ten times, fathering a total of twenty-two children. While most high-ranking Hunters were aware of his scandalous lifestyle, the general public remained oblivious as he skillfully kept it under wraps.

Kim Tae-San was the kind of man who would wake from his slumber at the mere hint of a beautiful woman nearby. This was precisely why he had attempted to make advances toward Tayarana, hoping to "embrace" her at least once. He had been consumed by curiosity, yearning to experience the allure of someone as exquisite as her.

To his astonishment, Tayarana had flatly rejected his advances, dealing a significant blow to Kim Tae-San. Being accustomed to never being turned down by any woman he pursued since awakening as a Hunter, this rejection shook him to the core.

Adding insult to injury, an apparently insignificant individual suddenly emerged and began hovering around Tayarana, further fueling Kim Tae-San's animosity toward this weakling.

Tayarana embodied the beauty that Kim Tae-San desperately coveted for himself. Even his own wife, who had once ranked among the top one hundred models in the country, now paled in comparison to Tayarana's allure. The encounter with the Egyptian goddess had left an indelible mark on him, forever etched in his memory.

It was precisely for these reasons that he harbored an unforgiving grudge toward the weakling, Lee Han-Yeol.

***

The chatter of the crowd and VIPs held little significance to the two competitors, Han-Yeol and Woo-Hyun.

"I have been waiting for this moment, you arrogant bastard," Jung Woo-Hyun said, his face adorned with an arrogant smirk. He was eager to teach Han-Yeol a lesson for his perceived arrogance.

Meanwhile, Han-Yeol was determined to crush Woo-Hyun in retaliation for instigating the fight. He aimed to show everyone that he was not someone to be trifled with.

In a peculiar way, Han-Yeol saw this as an opportunity, despite his disdain for becoming a public spectacle akin to a circus monkey.

‘When would I ever get the chance to fight against real Hunters?’?he thought as he stretched his muscles.

Fighting against fellow Hunters was strictly prohibited by law, and there were no organized sports or competitions that pitted Hunters against each other. In essence, this event was the only opportunity for Han-Yeol to engage in a battle against another Hunter.

‘I guess they used their influence to make this possible,’?Han-Yeol thought as he was quite curious how they managed to do it.

As he unsheathed his sword, a wild vibration coursed through the blade, causing it to tremble uncontrollably.

Wooooong!

It was undeniable that the Hunters present in the hall could feel the intense vibration emanating from Han-Yeol's sword. Being highly-ranked Hunters in the country, they immediately recognized the extraordinary power possessed by his weapon.

"W-What kind of sword is that?!"

"The mana emanating from it is extraordinary... It carries a gentle yet destructive aura. Who could have crafted such a sword?"

"Hmm... I must get my hands on that sword."

This sword was distinct from the one Han-Yeol had previously used. It had been specially forged two months ago using rare materials obtained from the body of the Thousand Armed Bodhisattva.

When Han-Yeol had approached the Dwarf's Workshop with the unique metal, they agreed to craft a new sword for him. Excitement coursed through him as he received the finished sword from the Dwarf's Workshop. As he examined it, he couldn't help but tremble with anticipation.

The owner of the workshop even praised the exceptional quality of the material he had brought, remarking, "This is the first time I've encountered such astonishing metal."

[Sword of the Thousand Armed Bodhisattva]

[Rating: Unique]

[Type: Sword]

[Mana Amplification: 5,000 to 6,000]

[The user’s concentration will increase by 15% thanks to the Thousand Armed Bodhisattva’s mana.]

[The user’s mana regeneration will increase by 3%.]

[The chances of seeing invisible things will increase.]

[This sword possesses the skill ‘Mana Slash’ (M).]

[Mana Slash (M)]

[Type: Active]

[Description: Allows the user to channel their mana into the sword and send out a wave of mana. The strength of the skill depends on how much mana was channeled into the sword.]

The sword in Han-Yeol's possession was undoubtedly a top-tier unique item, ranking among the finest swords available. It stood as a testament to his status as the first person to create an item using materials derived from the corpses of the Thousand Armed Bodhisattva.

While the Horus raid party had acquired most of the Thousand Armed Bodhisattva's remains, it was anticipated that a few items crafted from these materials would soon appear in the market. However, they would undoubtedly come with a hefty price tag. Furthermore, harnessing the full potential of these materials required an exceptionally skilled blacksmith, a rarity to find in present times.

‘Haha… That blacksmith really did it this time,’?Han-Yeol thought with a smile.

The Dwarf's Workshop had shuttered its doors for nearly six weeks to complete the sword commissioned by Han-Yeol, a venture that cost him a staggering one trillion won. However, the veteran blacksmith's decision to temporarily close his shop was not solely motivated by the payment he received from Han-Yeol. It was his burning desire to fully immerse himself in working with the precious and rare special metal that fueled his dedication.

Aware that the reappearance of the Thousand Armed Bodhisattva was uncertain, the scarcity of the special metal in the world became evident. This realization alone ignited a fervor within the veteran blacksmith's heart. With unwavering passion, he poured his heart and soul into the crafting of Han-Yeol's unique sword, resulting in the remarkable weapon now in his hands.

The Sword of the Thousand Armed Bodhisattva emitted a formidable aura of mana, leaving Jung Woo-Hyun feeling somewhat intimidated. However, his pride refused to allow him to back down.

"Ha! How intriguing. You seek to intimidate me with your item because you lack confidence in your own skill?" Woo-Hyun sneered.

‘Huh? What the hell is he talking about…?’?Han-Yeol tilted his head in confusion as he had no plans to intimidate anyone with his sword.

The sole reason Han-Yeol had drawn his sword was quite obvious - he intended to engage in combat.

Tak…!

Then, a man clad in a referee uniform leaped into the space between the two Hunters. "Get ready! It's time to commence the Fight Match, where everything is permitted except for killing. Are you both prepared? Are you ready?!"

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