NOVEL NEXT 35.
35.
Most seemed to be B-rank hunters, but the aura emanating from one man with an exceptionally large build was unsettling.
He appeared to be a combat-type hunter based on his appearance, but it couldn’t be certain. After all, even Dark Net had a burly-looking hunter with healing skills.
‘For now, the important thing is for all of us to escape safely.’
Although outnumbered, both Jihwan and Jungsu were A-rank combat hunters. Thanks to this, the battle was progressing favorably for their side.
“Hurry up!”
The man who had placed the fallen researcher on the rune pattern shouted while keeping watch in all directions.
Usually, invisibility skills mostly involve suppressing one’s presence or hiding in shadows, but not a single hair of the attacker who struck the researcher was visible.
Not only had he disappeared, but the kidnapped child had vanished with him. It would have been hard to believe if he hadn’t seen it with his own eyes.
‘The loss is too great.’
Moreover, the attack skill was tremendous. Though not a hunter, the researcher was wearing at least five defensive artifacts.
Even so, if they had been a little late in administering the elixir, he would have died. It was a potion that the organization could only produce one bottle of per year.
If they hadn’t prepared for contingencies by requesting it from above, they would have inevitably lost the researcher.
Although the elixir was precious, it was better than losing Researcher Heather. With the sudden deaths of many researchers, Heather’s value had increased even more than before.
Especially since Researcher Heather had created Sehun, who could be considered the masterpiece of the experiment, they had to save her and evacuate somehow.
“Only 1 minute left!”
At the words of the hunter operating the teleport, the man stood up.
“You take responsibility for the evacuation. I’ll hold them off here.”
“…Understood.”
Leaving behind eyes filled with determination, the man surveyed the chaotic surroundings. It was regrettable not to take the child, but the enemy’s resistance was fiercer than expected.
The image of Yoo Hyunwoo’s sly smile flashed in the man’s mind. His teeth ground involuntarily. He knew that the Dark Net guild master was investigating the organization’s background, but he hadn’t expected him to know about Sehun as well.
‘At least an A-rank ability user.’
Moreover, the ability of the cafe owner protecting Sehun was also unexpected. He had thought it was just an unfounded rumor floating around the internet, but to think he was really an A-rank hunter.
Moving hastily due to Researcher Heather’s pressure was a mistake. With a sudden dungeon outbreak nearby, he thought they shouldn’t miss this opportunity.
Since they had achieved their primary objective, it was best to wrap things up here. Having nearly died, the researcher wouldn’t be able to complain about why they couldn’t bring Sehun.
As the man activated his skill, egg-sized lumps bulged out all over his face. The lumps spread from his face to his shoulders, upper body, and lower body, changing his skeletal structure.
‘What is that?’
At the grotesque sight, Jian tightened his arms around Sehun. Just as his impatience peaked because the cooldown time wouldn’t finish, he was preparing to attack as soon as his skill activated, thinking they couldn’t let Researcher Heather escape like this.
But the man who had revived the researcher was strange. Seeing his face and entire body twist bizarrely sent chills down Jian’s spine.
“Jian-ssi…?”
At that moment, Leo, who had approached the stage, cautiously called Jian’s name. Leo too was feeling a sense of crisis upon seeing the man’s transformation.
The man seemed to be a shape-shifting hunter. As if confirming this guess, round ears soon sprouted on top of his head, and thick fur grew over his face.
His two legs, which had been standing like a human’s, suddenly changed to four-legged walking. The clothes he was wearing were torn to shreds and scattered everywhere.
Large front paws that looked like they could crush a face in one blow, eyes filled with killing intent, fluffy brown fur with black stripes – the familiar appearance closely resembled the apex predator among carnivores.
“Grrrr…!”
The sound that reverberated through the hall made Leo’s shoulders shudder.
“Ugh, Jian-ssi, where are you?”
He nearly wet himself for a moment. Jihwan and Jungsu were still busy dealing with the other guys. Leo only had skills specialized in pursuit, so it was impossible for him to face a tiger as big as a house.
If he had known it would be like this, he should have just hidden as Jihwan said. Jian’s abilities were superior to his, so he would surely manage well on his own, but Leo had acted recklessly out of worry.
The tiger’s yellow irises flashed as they reflected the ceiling lights. The tiger’s raised front paw aimed at Leo’s head.
Just as he thought he was going to die without a chance and tightly closed his eyes, there was a thud, but no pain. Leo opened his eyes slightly and felt his face with both hands. It was strange that his face was still intact.
“You’re safe for 10 minutes.”
A familiar voice was heard right beside him. He turned his head, but there was no visible presence.
“Is it a defense skill?”
“Yes.”
Jian stared with trembling eyes at the tiger standing right in front of the barrier.
He knew there were shape-shifting ability users among hunters, but this was the first time he had seen one completely transform into an animal. Perhaps this was why he wore shoulder boards with a tiger pattern.
The tiger, having failed its attack due to the barrier, kept swinging its front paws to no avail. Its body, covering the barrier with raised front paws, looked to be a full 3 meters tall.
‘…I missed it.’
While the man was attacking after transforming into a tiger, the teleport had activated. Researcher Heather and the hunter holding her had disappeared in an instant.
‘I need to capture this man at least.’
Since she had returned alive, the researcher would target Sehun again. Hyunwoo had said to wait until the time was right, but the other side had attacked first.
If he had been a little late, Jian might have only found bloody remains here. If he hadn’t stopped them, they surely would have taken Sehun through that teleport.
‘Let’s give it a try.’
Earlier, he had thought it wouldn’t matter if the attacked target died. His anger had peaked that much when he saw the marks left on Sehun’s body.
It takes tremendous resolve for a person to kill another person, but at that time, his mind was filled only with the thought of killing, regardless of the consequences.
But if he had to continue such battles in the future, there was a need to subdue without killing. Keeping this man alive and taking him to Hyunwoo would help prepare for what was to come.
As he activated his attack skill, the scene before his eyes changed. He scanned the tiger, which had turned light green, and the people who were still not subdued.
He moved his fingers to bring everyone within the skill’s range of influence. The red soon changed to blue, and the tiger’s stomach caved in before returning to normal.
“Grooowl…!”
The tiger roared and rolled on the floor. Not just the tiger, but the hunters that Jihwan and Jungsu were facing also writhed in agony.
“…Amazing.”
Leo quietly marveled at Jian, who had subdued six hunters, including an A-rank hunter, in an instant. He thought Jian was specialized in defense, but his attack skill was also quite, no, extremely impressive.
Every time the tiger writhed, the stage floor was dented. As brown fur scattered in the air, Leo stepped back and covered his nose with his sleeve.
‘I have an allergy to animal fur.’
While Leo struggled as his nose tickled and he felt like coughing, Jian was concentrating so hard that his temples were soaked with cold sweat.
‘I can do this. I must do this.’
He revived the sensation he felt when he first attacked the clam. His attack skill could clearly adjust its intensity.
Bloody foam leaked from the tiger’s mouth. Its eyes, which had been flashing with killing intent, were now distorted with pain and unfocused.
They say subduing is much harder than killing. It was truly correct. The amount of life force depleted was small, but it consumed far more mental energy.
“…Is it dead?”
The struggling movement suddenly stopped. Leo eyed the limp tiger with a dazed look.
“Did Jian-ssi do this? These bastards’ eyes have all rolled back.”
“That’s an incredible skill.”
Jungsu and Jihwan also approached where Leo was, breathing heavily. It was because Jian was still invisible.
“Phew…”
Finally, Jian exhaled tiredly and deactivated his invisibility skill. All strength drained from his body. As he sat down to catch his breath, Jihwan crouched and tied the tiger’s limbs with a sealing artifact.
“If it weren’t for Jian-ssi, someone would have been seriously hurt.”
Realizing that the ‘someone’ Jihwan mentioned was himself, Leo cleared his throat. It was true that he had moved rashly, ignoring Jihwan’s warning.
“I’ll contact the guild master. We need to clean up here too.”
“Oh, go ahead.”
While Jungsu contacted Hyunwoo with his watch, Jian took off his shirt and wrapped it around Sehun’s body.
Although Jian’s clothes were also torn in places and stained with blood, he had no choice because Sehun was wearing only underwear.