Chapter 233: A Hero For The Little Things (3)

“What the...?” Namgung Hui looked down in utter disbelief at Kwon Oh-Jin in the current.

As far as he knew, the Stigma of Lyra had the power to control lightning. It couldn't allow Kwon Oh-Jin to move so effortlessly in water like that.

“Just how?”

How was Kwon Oh-Jin easily swimming through the water like someone lounging in a heated pool, completely unbothered?

“What the hell are you...?”

It felt like reeling in a fish only for it to suddenly grow legs and start walking on land like no big deal.

Namgung Hui stared down in confusion at Kwon Oh-Jin. Sure, a high-ranking Awakener like himself with a superhuman physique could swim in currents like that, but still not with the relaxed grace Kwon Oh-Jin was showing.

A horde of monsters swam through the current and began to encircle Kwon Oh-Jin underwater.

“

Krrrrrk!

”

Kwon Oh-Jin dove deeper and spread out both his arms.

Explosive Lightning.

Crackle!

Blue lightning exploded from him and ripped through the incoming monsters. He didn’t need to precisely aim at the charging monsters because lightning reached its peak potential in water.

Even just randomly attacking will take them down.

Zap! Zzzt!

He recklessly unleashed lightning.

“

Krurgh! Kkek!

”

The monsters hit by the electrical surge rolled their eyes back, floating lifelessly to the surface.

Ring!

[Kwon Oh-Jin has defeated a green-ranked monster.]

[Kwon Oh-Jin has defeated a blue-ranked monster.]

[Kwon Oh-Jin has defeated a blue-ranked monster.]

[Kwon Oh-Jin has defeated a green-ranked monster.]

Points began to rack up rapidly.

Sweet!

Kwon Oh-Jin looked down at the silver bracelet on his wrist and smiled. Then, he glanced up at Namgung Hui, still floating in the air and staring down at him.

Namgung Hui likely couldn’t clearly see the underwater Kwon Oh-Jin.

It’d be rude to just receive this wonderful gift without giving something back.

He grabbed a monster covered in razor-sharp scales like knives.

Lightning Charge.

Zap! Zzzt!

He funneled lightning directly into the monster’s body. As it absorbed the lightning, the monster swelled up like a balloon, resembling a pufferfish.

Now!

Just before it exploded, Kwon Oh-Jin hurled it with all his might.

Splash!

The monster shot up at an incredible speed like a cannonball.

Namgung Hui, looking down into the water, quickly raised his fan in alarm.

“

Ugh?!

”

Crackle!

The lightning-infused monster detonated in midair. Its sharp scales flew out like shrapnel from a claymore mine. He opened his fan, and a whirlwind formed to deflect the deadly scales.

“Oh, wind!” Namgung Hui fended off the scales.

Splash!

Kwon Oh-Jin leaped out of the water like a dolphin and appeared right in front of him. Then, he landed a solid punch squarely on Namgung Hui’s philtrum.

Wham!

“

Kugh!

”

Along with the sound of leather being beaten with a log, Namgung Hui fell from the air and slammed straight into the raging waters.

“

Cough! Cough! Kghh!

”

Even though he had been hit hard and swept into the current, Namgung Hui was still a ten-star Awakener. He quickly summoned wind again and lifted himself back into the air.

“W-What the hell do you think you’re doing?!”

“Didn’t you say that unfortunate accidents just happen sometimes?” Kwon Oh-Jin casually dusted off his knuckles and smiled. “Like, I dunno, my fist just happened to smack an annoying fly buzzing around in the air.”

Namgung Hui’s eyes furiously flared as he glared at Kwon Oh-Jin. “You...!”

He began to release killing intent and prepared to open his fan when a square-shaped radio clipped to his waist turned on.

Zzzzt! Zzzt!

—Mr. Namgung Hui! We found the black-ranked monster!

Namgung Hui immediately turned the radio off before the voice could say any more. “Unfortunately, I’ll have to get going now.”

A fierce gust of wind swirled around him.

Shoosh!

Enveloped in wind, he soared high into the air.

“It’s pointless even if you try using a tracking skill like before.”

Namgung Hui perfectly wrapped himself in a wind barrier to prevent his scent from leaking. He wouldn't leave any footprints or traces from flying, so tracking him would be impossible.

“I’ll get back to you once I become one of the Seven Stars.” Namgung Hui sharply glared at Kwon Oh-Jin before turning around and vanishing into the distance.

Kwon Oh-Jin snorted as he watched him disappear. “Did that bastard run his mouth all the way to ten stars or something?”

“Mister!” NT shouted as she ran up and threw herself into his arms. “A-Are you hurt anywhere, Mister?”

“I’m okay.”

Kwon Oh-Jin shrugged and gently patted NT’s head as she sniffled. She glared up at where Namgung Hui had flown off with a frustrated expression.

“How could someone like that be chosen as a Seven Star candidate?!” she said.

“My question exactly.”

Kwon Oh-Jin had met all kinds of people in his life, but it had been a while since he met someone as pitifully pathetic as Namgung Hui.

“There’s no way someone like him will ever become one of the Seven Stars! I’m sure of it! NT shouted with conviction and pounded her chest in protest.

He chuckled and nodded at her adorable expression.

“No, I’m serious! I’ll make sure he gets disqualified even if he wins first place in the tournament!”

“Sure, sure.” Kwon Oh-Jin patted her back and carried her.

He had earned a good amount of points. Now it was time to escort her to the safety zone.

“Hold on tight,” Kwon Oh-Jin said.

“

Ah!

”

He fired his wire shooter toward a boulder across the river and leaped high into the air.

Bang!

“

Kyaaaaaaa!

” NT screamed and clung tightly to Kwon Oh-Jin’s neck.

Once they crossed to the opposite side, he gently set her down.

“Wow! That was amazing, Mister!” NT jumped up and down with sparkling eyes. “Again! Let’s do it again!”

“It’s too dangerous. No can do.”

Kwon Oh-Jin turned away and began walking toward the safety zone, ignoring NT tugging on his clothes.

***

“So that’s the safety zone.”

Namgung Hui’s scent led him to a place covered in a green barrier. Kwon Oh-Jin tapped the barrier with the back of his hand.

It’s strong.

Even he would have a hard time breaking through it. With something that tough, a monster or two wouldn’t tear it down.

“

Hmm

. I guess this is goodbye.” NT scuffed her feet against some rocks, clearly disappointed at parting ways with him.

“I’ll come visit you once this contest ends.”

“

Ah!

Really, Mister?! That’s a promise, okay?” NT beamed and held out her pinky.

“Yeah, I promise.” Kwon Oh-Jin hooked his pinky with hers.

Grinning, NT pulled out a small square device from her pocket.

“Alright then! Let’s check your score. Drumroll, please!” Mimicking loud sound effects with her mouth, she raised both arms high. “

Ta-da!

Perfect score! You’ve received a perfect score!”

Ring!

[Kwon Oh-Jin has safely escorted civilian number two to the safety zone.]

[Kwon Oh-Jin has earned a thousand points.]

He had gained a thousand points all at once. This was a massive gain considering that the tricky blue-ranked monster he had fought earlier only gave thirty points.

Maybe rescuing civilians for points isn’t such a bad strategy?

Of course, he couldn’t guarantee that other civilians would give him a perfect score like NT. Still, earning that many points all at once made it incredibly tempting.

“

Hehe

. I’ll head inside now.”

“Once you’re in, don’t come back out. Stay there until it’s over.” Kwon Oh-Jin handed her another protein bar.

NT accepted it and nodded enthusiastically. “Got it! But you have to play with me after this, okay?”

“Okay.”

NT dashed into the safety zone. Inside, nine other civilians had already been rescued by other candidates.

They all have green streaks in their hair.

Maybe it was some kind of identifier. Every seated civilian had a green highlight in their hair like NT.

Kwon Oh-Jin scanned the bored civilians inside and turned around.

I have no time to waste.

The nine civilians inside meant that up to nine candidates had successfully rescued people. Of course, not all of them likely received full points like he had, but it would be hard to beat them in points if even one candidate had rescued two or more civilians.

“Maybe I do have to go after the Black-ranked monster.” Kwon Oh-Jin squinted with his arms crossed.

Even if he wanted to hunt it, he had no idea about its location.

Namgung Hui flew off in that direction, right?

According to the map, that direction led to glacial terrain.

“Guess I’ll head over there first.”

Activating the Stigma of Canes Venatici, Kwon Oh-Jin quickly headed toward the icy region.

Swoosh!

The closer he got to the glaciers, the more biting the wind became.

They really went all-out making this thing.

He had only been running for a few minutes, yet the scenery had completely transformed into a vast snowy plain.

Just then, something tickled his senses through the Stigma of Canes Venatici.

“

Hmm?

” Sniffing the icy air, Kwon Oh-Jin walked across the frozen ground. “Blood?”

He could see drops of blood on the clear ice below. He turned toward the trail of blood and spotted a massive ice cave at least fifty meters tall.

Whoever was bleeding didn’t go into the cave.

It was the opposite. They had fled from it, running away from something inside.

Following the blood trail, Kwon Oh-Jin entered the ice cave.

“Namgung Hui?”

Namgung Hui lay unconscious and in shambles at the entrance.

“What the hell happened to this guy?” Kwon Oh-Jin nudged him on the ground.

“M-Monster... inside... a m-monster...”

Trembling violently, Namgung Hui’s eyes rolled back into his head as he passed out. Blood still oozed from his wound and stained the icy ground. It looked like a sharp blade had slashed him.

Swallowing dryly, Kwon Oh-Jin stared deeper into the cave. Namgung Hui being here could only mean one thing.

The black-ranked monster is inside this cave.