Chapter 208: #World’s Strongest Hunter (2)

“M-Mr. Yu! What should we do?! That uncle is going to die at this rate!” Xu Zhu exclaimed anxiously as she watched the Hunter War.

Ares clutched his axe and lifted the bloody Choi Bong-Shik using his free hand.

「Save me! Mr. Yu Il-Shin!」

At the brink of death, Choi Bong-Shik desperately cried from the bottom of his heart.

Ding!

[An emergency quest has occurred!]

[Follower Salvation Quest]

[Target: Choi Bong-Shik]

[Other Yu Il-Shin, do you wish to save your follower Choi Bong-Shik from a life-threatening crisis? (Yes/No)]

Was this the first time a Follower Salvation Quest occurred while I was separated from the main body? Come to think of it, I’d personally recruited him, so I couldn’t let him die.

“Yes.”

Ding!

[The title Benevolent Savior is unavailable. Altering his fate will cost 10,000,000 Gcoins.]

[The Second Moon created by Yu Il-Shin trigger an “incredible miracle.”]

A dazzling light enveloped me.

Hang on, Bong-Shik. Your god is coming.

“

Huh?

Where did Mr. Yu go...

Eh?

Why is he on the screen?”

***

With a twist of fate, I was transported to the colosseum in Africa, where the Hunter War was raging. I pulled my helmet from subspace, put it on, and blocked the axe swinging for Choi Bong-Shik’s neck with Demon Lord.

Claaaang!

All of that happened in 0.1 seconds.

“Did you call for me, Bong-Shik?” I casually turned around, and saw tears of joy streaming down Choi Bong-Shik's face.

Meanwhile, Ares pushed against the arm blocking his axe, but I didn’t budge.

“

Aaargh!”

Ares grimaced as if he were forcing out a week's worth of constipation.

Also, he looked quite big up close.

“W-who are you?! Where did you come from?”

“First, let go of this.”

Claaang!

I flicked his axe upward with Demon Lord and lunged for the arm gripping Choi Bong-Shik.

“

Ack!”

Ares withdrew his hand in a hurry, retreating like a startled cat.

I swung it to scare him off, anyway.

“

Hic, hic!

T-thank you...” Choi Bong-Shik wailed, tears and snot streaming down his face.

I couldn’t help but frown at the sight of him. His mangled arm hung limp with broken bones. How annoying.

I couldn't stand seeing my follower get beaten up by anyone besides me!

“

Tsk.

Stop whining and get some help.”

I’d heal him if I could, but I wasn’t a Benevolent God. So, I grabbed him by the scruff of his neck and threw him toward Gal Joong-Hyuk and the rest of Team Korea.

“

Aaiieee!!”

Choi Bong-Shik let out a strange noise as he bounced off the invisible barrier around the arena. He collapsed to the ground, unconscious and bleeding from both nostrils. Hey, his face was his only asset! I was furious.

“You bastard! How dare you beat him into a pulp! You’ll pay for this!”

Ares looked at me, speechless, but I didn’t care. I directed Demon Lord at him, about to take my anger out on him.

“W-wait a moment!”

The invisible barrier was disabled as the MC rushed into the arena, and the Korean medical team carried the unconscious Choi Bong-Shik on a stretcher.

The MC asked, “Who are you?”

“Yu Il-Shin.”

The MC quickly browsed through the device in his hand. “Yu Il-Shin, Yu Il-Shin... Oh, I see your name on the list of substitute Hunters! The rules require identification for Hunters who wear helmets during appointments. Would you mind giving me your hand?”

I offered my hand, and the MC scanned my biometrics.

Beep beep beep!

“You are indeed S-rank Hunter Yu Il-Shin from Team Korea. Just let me double-check with the team’s coach. Will he be the Hunter facing Hunter Ares in Round 5 of Greece vs. South Korea?”

Puzzled at first, Gal Joong-Hyuk crossed his arms and nodded solemnly. “Yes, Hunter Yu Il-Shin is our representative.”

The MC turned to Ares. “Hunter Ares, would you like to play in the next round?”

“Of course!” Ares glared at me, gritting his teeth.

The MC raised his microphone and made an announcement to the crowd.

"Team Korea’s coach and participant, Gal Joong-Hyuk, has announced Steve Choi’s withdrawal, resulting in a loss for Team Korea in Round 4! Now, Round 5 is about to begin with the last remaining Hunter—Hunter Yu Il-Shin—facing off against Hunter Ares! Hunter Yu Il-Shin has already captivated the audience with his dramatic entrance, but can he put an end to Hunter Ares’ five-round winning streak?"

At the same time, my name was shown on the LED board.

Hunter War Round of 64, Group 2, Round 1

Rules: 5-player, winner-takes-all

Greece vs South Korea

Current Score 4 : 0

Fifth Match: Ares Lehou vs Yu Il-Shin

“

Waaaaah!

”

“Black Helmet! Avenge Steve Choi!”

“Huh? That Hunter is part of the team?”

"Ares! O’ mighty Greek god! Crush that nobody!"

Thunderous roars and cheers erupted from the audience. It felt similar to nurturing Faith. Though it wasn’t much, I could still feel divine power surging within me.

Eh, it’s still useful.

Besides the live audience, billions more across the world were watching the Hunter War through various broadcast media channels. I’d become stronger by feeding off their Faith. I looked at Ares with a smirk. He’d be my stepping stone to crushing that damned clown and every other pesky enemy.

Ares glared at me, saying, “I can tell you’re no ordinary Hunter. Your strength surpasses me, and that dagger isn’t just any weapon. It may look like that, but it must be famous.”

Ares grimaced at the scratch marks he saw on Demon Lord.

“Still, it’s no match for my divine weapon! Icarus!”

Claaaack!

I appraised the pure white wings sprouting from Ares’ back.

Ding!

-----

[Icarus Wings]

Purchased from Hunter Shop. A pair of wings bestowed by the mythical Greek architect, Daedalus, predecessor of Guardian of Fire and Smithing, upon his son.

Special note: Allows high-speed flight. If used for over ten minutes a day, the wearer will be cursed by Icarus.

-----

Due to flying too close to the sun, the wax holding Icarus’ wings together melted, and he fell to his death. What a flawed tool with a meaningless curse.

“Since this is my last round, I’ll give it my all! Witness my true power!”

Swoosh!

Ares flew into the air and disappeared in the next moment.

Whaaaam!

A powerful gust of wind swept across the stadium like a roaring jet, swirling like a tornado. Thanks to the invisible barrier, the audience remained safe, though their pamphlets flew into the air.

“T-that’s crazy!”

“Oh my goodness!”

The MC exclaimed to the stunned audience, “H-Hunter Ares has disappeared! That speed surpasses human limits! This is going to be different from the matches we’ve witnessed so far! This man is definitely a huge contender! Will Yu Il-Shin be able to catch up to Hunter Ares?!”

“

Hmm.”

I could still see the giant hovering around me while approaching, though? Besides the wings, he was also armed with an assortment of equipment from the Hunter Shop.

I appraised them.

-----

[Achilles Armor Set]

Purchased at the Hunter Shop. Blessed by Guardian of Fire and Smithing.

Special note: Blessed by a semi-immortal Greek hero, Achilles. Blocks most attacks except for those targeting the Achilles.

-----

[Procrustes’ Axe]

Purchased from the Hunter Shop. Blessed by Guardian of Fire and Smithing. Used by the notorious Greek killer, Procrustes.

𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

Special note: Temporarily seals the abilities of those who touch the wielder.

-----

The Achilles Armor Set boasted unparalleled defense. Gustav’s hatchlings once used it after abducting Hunters with access to the Hunter Shop. The axe, emanating a fearsome red glow, belonged to a serial killer from Greek mythology, Procrustes. He’d “fit” his victims to his bed. If they proved too tall, he’d amputate the excess length. If they were too short, he’d stretch them to their death.

Beyond that, Ares concealed a cache of assassination and poison-related equipment—unexpected for his size. A Greek warrior wielding an astronomical arsenal, likely worth a nation’s budget, just to win the Hunter War. By human standards, he was undeniably a formidable foe.

Ignoring Ares, who hovered around me to find an opening, I raised Demon Lord.

“Demon Lord’s Descent.”

The Demon Lord’s Heavenly Sword’s First Stance—the descent of a supreme demon, shaking the very heavens.

“Kneel.”

Sss—

With a light stroke of the sword, the gale that made its rounds throughout the colosseum ceased, and the crowd began chattering.

“W-what just happened?”

“How did Hunter Ares become like that...?”

“

Koff, koff! Bleeergh!

”

Ares laid on the ground like a squashed insect, coughing out a stream of dead blood. His wings lay tattered, and his golden armor crumbled into nothingness. Indeed, no matter how powerful his equipment was, it was still no match for gods.

As I approached him, terror flashed across Ares’ bloodshot eyes. The word “surrender” was right at the tip of his tongue.

Not so fast. I clamped my hand over his mouth and lifted him, just as he’d done with Choi Bong-Shik. I pointed the Demon Lord at his neck.

Woooong!

Excited at the sight of blood, the former demon sword rampaged like a maniac. Ares’ gaze wavered like a cow at the slaughterhouse.

I smirked and whispered in his ears, “Do you want to live?”

“

Mmph! Mmph!

”

“Say, I believe in Yu Il-Shin.”

Ding!

[Congratulations. You have succeeded in nurturing fanatical faith by displaying the overwhelming majesty and terror of a god!]

[You have gained Ares Lehou as a follower (Fanatic).]

-----

[Ares Lehou (Fanatic)]

A male human. Around for 28 years.

Special note: A descendant of a hero from Greek mythology. Possesses a weak divine blood. A strong follower equivalent to four S-rank beings.

-----

The moment Ares became my follower, I could feel a powerful surge of divine power inside me. He was on par with S-rank Lin Xiaoming. No wonder the Korean Hunters didn’t stand a chance against him.

I tossed the unconscious Ares, foaming at his mouth, and turned to Team Greece.

“Who’s next?”

“Ares was defeated that quickly?!”

“H-how did you...?”

The Greece Hunters went pale, especially Igis Sotiropulou. The female Hunter, whose eyes were covered in bandages, trembled pathetically as if she’d seen a ghost.

"Too scared?" I mercifully raised my middle finger. "Come at me, all of you."