Chapter 9: Thunder Emperor

However, no miracle happened.

Sung Mi-Ri looked at her test results dejectedly. The rows of complex numerical graphs could be summarized into a few lines.

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[Sung Mi-Ri (19)]

Ability: Lightning Combat-type

Rank: B

-----

Korea had fewer than 300 B-rank Hunters.

Moreover, Lightning Combat was a top-tier ability, with its most famous hardliner being SS-rank Hunter Gillian, New York’s guardian. For those reasons, most guilds in Korea would treat a B-rank Hunter with this ability as if they were an A-rank combat Hunter.

Nevertheless, Sung Mi-Ri didn’t look happy in the slightest. After all, she had received the same result for the tenth time.

I failed to surpass it again...

Despite all her efforts, she still couldn’t overcome the limits that came with her predetermined rank. Was she truly bound to fail?

A certain someone’s voice echoed in her head.

“Don’t even think of getting revenge. Keep a low profile, Sung Mi-Ri. You’re just a B-rank Hunter.”

Clench!

The test report crumpled in her hands.

“What makes you think I’ll give up?”

Flashes of lightning blitzed across her black pupils. She was determined to rise above the ranks using her own power!

Just then, her phone let out an alarm.

Beep beep beep!

It was from the Hunter Association.

Hunter Association:

Emergency! A gate has appeared at Seongdong-gu, Seoul! An A-rank monster, Spiky Rhinoceros, has apparently appeared! Calling all A-rank Hunters and above in the area for an emergency dispatch!

***

Criiiick!

Huge clouds of terrifying black smoke billowed from the severely burnt carcass of the Spiky Rhinoceros, its perforated fats sizzling. Despite being strong enough to destroy an entire city, a girl wearing a black helmet had slain it. Unlike other Hunters, who eagerly put themselves out there, Thunder Emperor hid her identity, which only made her even more popular as a result.

“Thunder Emperor is awesome!”

“

Kyaaa

! Unnie, I love you!”

“Did a B-rank Hunter just defeat an A-rank monster?! This is an exclusive!”

“Stay back! This site is off-limits!” The police, who arrived late, began controlling the crowd of people and journalists.

Meanwhile, Thunder Emperor became the center of attention. Her special-coated helmet prevented anyone from seeing through the visor, leaving everyone unaware of the blank look on her face.

Am I really the one who killed it?

Although the gigantic carcass of the Spiky Rhinoceros lay motionlessly before her, it still felt all too surreal.

Thanks to the mobility of her Lightning Combat ability, she arrived at the scene first, finding a monster attacking civilians.

-

Graaaaa!

A B-rank Hunter like her was normally no match for a monster as strong as the Spiky Rhinoceros. Nevertheless, she disregarded that knowledge when she saw a man hugging a little girl, protecting her with all his might. Her heart throbbed. The heartbreaking sight mirrored her own past.

No!

Her body moved on its own.

As the Spiky Rhinoceros opened its jaws wide to devour the man and the little girl, she jumped in between them. Then, with every ounce of her power, she activated Lightning Storm—her B-rank lightning skill—and unleashed the most powerful beam of lightning she could muster!

Flash!

However, it did nothing against the Spiky Rhinoceros’ thick hide. Like a tiny mantis attempting to block a wagon, Thunder Emperor was about to be trampled to death.

“Crushing... Forefinger of God.”

At that moment, she heard a click.

As if a switch had been pressed, she then felt something strange happen within her.

𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

Flash!

Rumble! Baaaam!

As deafening sounds reverberated, the Lightning Storm instantly expanded several times its original size, engulfing the Spiky Rhinoceros. Based on the damage it had caused...

A-rank... No, it was clearly an S-rank ability.

In a daze, Thunder Emperor looked down at her hands, still tingling with electric currents. Her recent examination had told her that she was still a B-rank Hunter. Did facing death awaken the dormant abilities within her? No, that couldn’t be it. She had been in life-threatening situations multiple times before.

What changed?

Thump! Thump!

At that moment, two figures approached her from the sky.

“It’s S-rank Hunter Sung Mi-Na!”

“Woah! Even Baek Yu-Hyun is here!”

The people who had gathered outside the barricade threw a commotion. The reporters immediately took photos of the two, the shutters of their cameras madly clicking.

Sung Mi-Na was a Psychic-type S-rank Hunter, while Baek Yu-Hyun was a Fire-type S-rank Hunter. He had been a hot topic recently for clearing the Dark Dragon Dungeon.

Sung Mi-Na’s dazzling beauty and skills made her the most popular Hunter in Korea. In fact, she was always the first pick for broadcasts and commercial films.

As soon as Sung Mi-Na arrived, she grabbed Thunder Emperor by the collar.

“Hey! I told you not to act recklessly! You're just a B-rank Hunter! Why would you face the Spiky Rhinoceros alone?! Are you looking to get yourself killed?!”

“Well, you at least have to acknowledge the results, Mi-Na. Not even an A-rank Hunter can take on a Spiky Rhinoceros on their own.”

“Shut the fuck up, Baek Yu-Hyun! This has nothing to do with you!”

In response, Baek Yu-Hyun simply shrugged and backed away.

“Why is Sung Mi-Na treating Thunder Emperor so harshly?”

“I heard they aren’t on good terms. Maybe it’s true?”

Hearing the murmurs from the crowd, Sung Mi-Na gritted her teeth and released Thunder Emperor. She then whispered, “I’ll see you back at home. Just you wait.”

Slam!

Sung Mi-Na was gone in a flash. Despite being a Psychic type, Sung Mi-Na was still physically superior to Thunder Emperor, who was just a B-rank Hunter.

The Thunder Emperor watched her leave with a dumbfounded look. Considering how furious Sung Mi-Na was, it was obvious what awaited her at home—corporal punishment masked as training.

Nevertheless, Thunder Emperor didn’t regret her actions. She recalled the man she had saved earlier.

“Thank you so much, Ms. Sung Mi-Ri! Thank you for saving me and my niece! I will definitely repay this favor! T-thank you so much for saving us!”

The man bowed deeply, tears streaming down his face, as he held the unconscious child in his arms. She actually remembered him—he was the same man who had asked her a weird question back at the Hunter Association.

While he might look sloppy, he definitely wasn’t a bad guy. The fact that he didn’t abandon his family in the face of death was all the evidence she needed. When he said that he would return the favor, she could feel that he was being sincere.

She was proud of herself. Her decision to stay on the path of a Hunter despite her older sister’s firm opposition made this possible.

“Oh.”

A thought flashed in her mind.

The Thunder Emperor reached for her face with trembling hands, finding it still hidden by her special-coated helmet. If so, then only her family and the top brass of the Hunter Association should be aware of her true identity.

“... How does he know who I am?”

***

It had been three days since that particular incident.

I looked down at the Han River from Mapo Bridge. It was one of the top suicide spots, but I wasn’t here to do that. I fidgeted with my phone.

-----

[Brutal Killer (F→E)]

The one who walks the path of a malevolent god. Overcome the incoming trials and become a true malevolent god!

-----

I initially refused to believe that I could open a gate and call upon such a disaster. However, the notification windows that had popped up after the death of the Spiky Rhinoceros forced me to accept the reality.

Ding!

-----

[You have overcome a trial!]

[The title Brutal Killer has risen by a rank.]

[As a reward, you may now purchase the power of a Low-tier God from the God’s Shop without using Gcoins.]

[However, you may only purchase a malevolent god’s power.]

-----

I almost died.

Not just me, but even my niece Seong-Yeon. If the electrifying female student—no, Thunder Emperor did not save us...

“Sorry, I’m sorry, Seong-Yeon.”

My heart still pounded heavily whenever I recalled the incident from three days ago. I couldn’t even begin to imagine how my niece must’ve felt.

After that day, the first thing I did was try to delete the God-Maker from my phone, but none of the methods I tried worked. Not even factory resetting it did the trick.

“Then I’ll just throw it away. Without this cursed phone...” I raised my phone outward, toward the water.

“

Keuk.

”

But I couldn’t bear to let go. I kept doubting if it was the right move.

If my abilities manifested this God-Maker game, then wouldn’t the same still happen regardless?

More importantly, if this was the root of all problems, shouldn’t I learn more about this and try to come up with a solution instead?

Complicated thoughts filled my mind. It would have been great if there was a guide, but the game was too obscure.

Ding! Ding!

Just then, I received God-Maker notifications.

Fuck

.

It had been quiet the past few days, but those fucking ants were out and about again! I glared at my phone and prepared to crush them.

A new kind of insect was in the God-Maker’s cave. Instead of black or red, this one was white. It was shining brilliantly like a gem and was half the size of the other ants.

Shiver.

Shaking pathetically, the small termite sent a message.

[Saintessx xx xx Godx xxx xxxxx.]

“... Saintess?”

For the first time, the message didn’t label the critter with a number.