Chapter 310: Chapter 308

The general evaluation of Hunter ranks was roughly as follows:

1 C-rank = 10 D-ranks

1 B-rank = 10 C-ranks

1 A-rank = 10 B-ranks

In short, it meant that to face a Hunter one rank higher, you needed at least ten Hunters of the lower rank. But this was just a rough estimate. Anyone working in the Hunter industry knew that numbers were just that, numbers. First of all, even within the same rank, the amount of magic power varied, the types of skills were diverse, and with roles like tanker, dealer, and healer, it was impossible to compare them one-on-one. There were too many variables and errors to fairly weigh the gap between Hunters. Therefore, the most objective measure was to determine a Hunter's rank solely based on their magic power. But even those who didn't work in the industry knew that 'S-rank' was completely exempt from this calculation. Because S-rank wasn't a rank in the first place.

'Beyond rank'

'Immeasurable'

The magic power measuring device developed by mankind couldn't evaluate their vast power. Since those who couldn't be measured were called 'S-rank,' the statement that it took ten A-ranks to face one S-rank was completely wrong from the outset. To face one of them, you needed at least twenty A-ranks, maybe even more. And depending on the situation, the opponent, or even the S-rank Hunter's condition that day, it was completely impossible to estimate how many were needed to win. It wasn't for nothing that this era was called the era where the number of S-rank Hunters a country had was its national power. It was similar to the principle of nuclear weapon states in the past, but in fact, it was a much more practical and intuitive measure than nuclear weapons.

At least nuclear weapons didn't have human rights. Until the launch button was pressed, a nuclear weapon was just a political tool. But S-rank Hunters were different. They were literally walking nuclear weapons. Living nukes whose buttons could be pressed at any moment. There was no way to restrain them. Whether an S-rank Awakened turned into a villain overnight depended entirely on their morality. And that was why Woo Jinchul had been keeping a close eye on the S-rank villain Hwang Dongsoo...

Rumble—!

'This is fortunate.' Woo Jinchul couldn't hide his satisfaction that the S-rank variable Hwang Dongsoo was now fighting on their side as Greed. Especially since his debuff skills synergized even better with someone of that level.

[Don't run away! Gather around, you bastards!]

Bang—!

'Skill, Tremor of the Earth'

As Greed stomped his foot on the ground, a tremendous earthquake spread from that spot. Swept away by that shockwave, the scattered Chinese villains were pulled towards him. And Woo Jinchul added a touch.

"Chains of Suppression."

Whoosh—!

Woo Jinchul's magic chains entangled the villains pulled towards Greed like a net. What followed was truly a massacre.

Crash—!

Greed swung Iron like a baseball bat, and some villains even died instantly from the impact. Since Iron was originally an A-rank tanker, his sturdy body was a very effective 'blunt weapon', and his attack power was beyond words. Although it happened against his will, the effect was excellent. Woo Jinchul took advantage of the chaos and ordered the Association Hunters,

"Retrieve the 'otherworldly weapons' from their hands while we have the chance!"

"Yes!"

Otherworldly weapons were dangerous. They were suspicious armaments that granted unknown power to the user. The fact that the villains from China could put up this much of a fight against even S-rank Greed was proof. So Woo Jinchul left the battle to Greed and focused on retrieving the otherworldly weapons from the corpses as quickly as possible. While mixing in debuffs from time to time. Although they had never fought together before, they cooperated seamlessly.

[...Hmm.]

Greed felt a strange sense of emotion. Although he regained all his old memories after becoming a shadow soldier, it didn't erase the bad blood he had with Woo Jinchul in this life. How much he suffered because of those damn annoying debuff skills. He had to hide for two years, covered in wounds, even though he awakened as an S-rank. It was all because of him. If it was just Choi Jong-In, he could have just lied low, but Woo Jinchul used the Association's wanted list and relentlessly chased him. It was truly a sight he never thought he'd see. To think that Woo Jinchul would be on the same side, making his battles much easier with various debuffs.

Grin— Greed smiled.

[...Well, things like this happen.]

It was so convenient to have him on the same side. He didn't feel bad at all. Rather...

[Hmm. Otherworldly weapons...]

Greed picked up one of the otherworldly weapons from the villain he just killed. The forms of the Chinese otherworldly weapons were all different. If they had this kind of buffing function, they could have mass-produced them, but this variety gave the impression that they were experimentally creating various things.

Hum—!

[Huh?]

Was it because he was a former High Priest? Or was it because he was a shadow soldier? The moment Greed held the otherworldly weapon in his hand, He realized that it was sucking out his magic power. There were plenty of armaments that absorbed magic power, but this felt different.

[It's not absorbing my magic power for itself.]

[It seems like it's sending it somewhere.] Iron, released from Greed, also touched one of the otherworldly weapons and examined the feeling. He too immediately came to a conclusion.

[...I don't think we should touch these things.] Greed agreed and nodded.

[I see. Information about us would leak to someone.]

Crack—!

They destroyed the otherworldly weapons in their hands without hesitation. And they retrieved their black mana that was trying to fly away somewhere. After that, Greed approached Woo Jinchul and said,

[I think I know why that 'Doctor' bastard gave these to humans.]

"Yes. It was something I only guessed before I knew the truth about the Outer Gods Cult, but it seems like those bastards want to gather information about us from everywhere, don't you think?"

[You already guessed it?]

"Yes. The Doctor I met seemed to have a great interest in Awakened, no, humans."

[You met him directly? What did he look like?] Greed was truly curious. How dare he brainwash him, a soldier of the great Shadow Monarch, into a cult? He needed to know the face of that outrageous bastard to get back at him later.

"Hmm. If you're curious about his appearance, he was just an ordinary old man."

[Ordinary old man?]

"Yes. An old man, old enough to suit the title 'Doctor'... He was in a wheelchair."

* * *

At the same time. Suho was staring at the 'Doctor,' the Apostle of Evolution, and asking,

"I asked who you gave the rest of the weapons to."

"...Hmm. Well." The young boy, barely ten years old, still had a relaxed expression despite Suho's pressure. The Apostle of Evolution shrugged and replied,

"I don't remember exactly because I handed them out impromptu. Besides, they were all failed products to me, nevertheless it seems like they were quite effective weapons for humans, so some even fought and stole them from each other."

"And that wasn't intentional?"

"Why would I do that? It doesn't matter who's holding them, as long as I extract the information I need."

"So did you get the information you needed?"

"Yes, quite a bit. Especially the S-rank villain from Korea, Hwang Dongsoo, was a useful test subject."

"...Hwang Dongsoo?" Suho and Beru exchanged subtle expressions at the unexpected name. But the Apostle of Evolution continued without concern,

"As expected, S-ranks are different. Thanks to luckily recruiting Hwang Dongsoo into the Outer Gods Cult, I was able to create humanoid weapons from then on."

[Greed... Just you wait.] Beru softly gritted his teeth.

At that moment, Greed, who was far away, felt an inexplicable chill run through his spine and had a puzzled expression. Suho also decided to ignore that for now and asked what he was curious about first,

"So what are humanoid weapons? Did you create humans?"

"Creation... That's God's domain. An area that a mere creation cannot touch. But I've certainly been able to imitate it to some extent."

"Imitate?"

"Yes. Evolution at its peak is not much different from creation. Look at No. 47, whom I gave you." The Apostle of Evolution stretched out his hand and proudly pointed at the woman standing next to Suho.

"As you can see, No. 47 is a human who thinks and speaks on her own, but she doesn't have a soul. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't create a soul." At those words, Suho realized the identity of the bizarre feeling he felt when he first met No. 47.

"So to speak, an AI wearing flesh and blood."

"The concept is similar, but isn't this much more human? And a much more evolved version. Even if she's injured, she recovers quickly. Like..."

"The Shadow Army?"

"...Heh." The Apostle of Evolution's lips stretched into a wide grin at Suho's words that hit the nail on the head.

"Correct." The Apostle of Evolution, with a deeply satisfied smile, nodded and spread his hands wide.

"Look! How much effort I've put in! All these failed creations were research that started from the moment I saw the immortal army led by the great Shadow Monarch from afar in the universe." He recalled the shock he felt the moment he witnessed the Shadow Army with an ecstatic expression.

The immortal army that kept reviving no matter how many times they were killed. The sight of God's soldiers helplessly dying before that sticky power of darkness. Honestly, it was a shock. Especially for the Apostle of Evolution, who had been serving his 'god' who created him with loyalty, believing him to be an absolute being. And this question arose. Was the creator he served truly an absolute being? Even before that great, absolute death?

"Did you know? Creation and immortality! They're completely opposite concepts. I'm not a god, so creation is absolutely impossible for me, but what about immortality? If I evolve, if I experiment repeatedly, wouldn't it be possible someday? That was the beginning of my research, the reason why I volunteered to come to this Earth. I don't know about the others, but at least that was my purpose from the beginning."

"So? Did you succeed?"

"I've achieved half of my goal."

Half success. Suho immediately understood what that meant. If the shadow soldiers were an immortal army made of souls, No. 47 was a test subject made into a similar state with only a body, without a soul. An immortal soldier who could recover quickly from any injury. Except for the difference in materials, he had succeeded in creating a result that was almost identical in appearance.

"But there was nothing I could do about the other half of the failure. Perhaps because I'm a mere creation, creating a soul was absolutely impossible."

An empty vessel without a soul. The Apostle of Evolution, who created immortal soldiers whose bodies could be eternally reused, smacked his lips in regret. But Suho wasn't fooled. His experiment was definitely amazing. And as long as he was alive, his research would continue. And someday, when his research bore new fruit,

'He'll become my father's enemy.' Suho immediately condensed magic power in his fist. The Apostle of Evolution, sensing that, asked,

"Why are you suddenly doing that?"

"I'll ask one more thing."

Step. Step. Suho walked towards the Apostle of Evolution, his fist raised.

"You created immortal soldiers with an empty vessel without a soul... Then what number test subject are you?"

"Ah."

The Apostle of Evolution's expression, which had been relaxed from the beginning, finally faltered.

Crash—!

"...!"

Suho threw his fist. At that moment, everything shattered. All the illusions surrounding the Apostle of Evolution. And beyond that...

There was a 'brain'. A pink brain submerged in a small fish tank.