Chapter 66
The Security Force’s hunting in Area 3 was divided among several teams.
There was a clear division of roles, with combat teams directly handling the hunts and transport teams processing and moving monster byproducts.
Team 1, including Alex, was hunting near the outermost edge of Area 3.
“…Captain! Captain!”
They spotted someone running toward them with a pale face, wounded.
It was a member of Team 3.
“Kevin! What happened?!”
After hearing the breathless explanation from the team member, Alex and the others’ expressions hardened.
They hurriedly moved out.
What they saw when they arrived was the scene of a terrible tragedy.
Bodies of Team 3 Security Force members were scattered all over the ground.
There were also bodies from the Black Star Society, but the ones still standing alive were Climbers from the Black Star Society.
The moment Alex saw his team members’ corpses, his eyes flipped with rage, and he leapt.
The eyes of the Black Star Society survivors widened in shock.
Alex flew across the distance, landed among them in an instant, grabbed one man by the throat, and threw him.
Kwaang!
Seeing their comrade fly away and smash into a rock, the other Black Star Society Climbers recoiled in horror.
“W-what the…”
The other team members who had hurriedly followed Alex stopped him.
“…Captain! Calm down first!”
Alex looked around at the remaining Black Star Society Climbers with murderous eyes.
“How dare you bastards…!”
That was when it happened.
Thud. Thud. Thud…
The sound of the ground shaking grew closer, and people appeared from the other side as well.
Alex’s expression hardened when he saw the man running at the very front.
…Kwoong!
Just like Alex had, the man leapt noisily and landed at the scene.
It was Wang Kai.
The Black Star Society Climbers hurriedly retreated behind him as if they had been saved.
Wang Kai looked around at the corpses with no particular emotion, then sighed lightly.
“Well, this is a whole damn mess. What the hell happened here?”
Wang Kai’s gaze turned toward Alex.
Alex spoke in a voice filled with anger.
“The Black Star Society Climbers invaded our hunting territory. And they attacked first. It should be obvious which side is at fault.”
“…Haaah?”
Wang Kai furrowed his brow.
He let out a snort, then asked the Black Star Society Climbers,
“You heard him. Did you guys attack first?”
“…N-no. They attacked first.”
“That’s what they say.”
The wounded Security Force member shouted furiously.
“You… Don’t make me laugh! You bastards attacked our team leader with a skill first!”
“No, Lord Wang Kai. W-we tried to resolve it with words, but they ambushed us first.”
Wang Kai waved his hand.
“Enough, enough. Obviously the Security Force attacked first. Isn’t it obvious?”
“…What?”
“And why is this your territory? Did we sign some contract deciding that? Hunting grounds belong to all of us.”
Wang Kai said,
“So, how do you plan to take responsibility for this fucking situation, Captain of the Security Force?”
Alex let out a hollow laugh.
“Did you just say responsibility?”
“Yeah. How many of our guys died? One, two, three… What is this, a declaration of war?”
The Security Force and Black Star Society Climbers gathered behind the two of them and glared at each other.
In that explosive situation, Alex barely swallowed his anger and regained his reason.
For now, he had to end things here.
If they fought each other here, it would be the same as saying they should all die together.
“Let’s end it here, Wang Kai. A lot of our people died too.”
Since Alex had taken one step back first, he naturally expected the other side to step back as well.
But Wang Kai shook his head and said,
“Quit spouting bullshit.”
“…”
“I asked how you’re going to take responsibility. For killing this many of our guys.”
Alex frowned.
“You want to take this all the way?”
“You’re not understanding me, so I guess I have to.”
“…Are you saying we should all die here?”
“Heh heh, looks like the ones who’ll all die are your side, though. Not confident?”
Wang Kai sneered.
Alex swallowed a groan inwardly.
‘This lunatic…’
A full frontal battle was not among Alex’s options.
If that happened, most of the people here would definitely die.
But Wang Kai showed no intention of backing down. He was openly releasing killing intent, and he meant it.
Alex glared at Wang Kai, then made a proposal.
“Then let’s do this. You and me. We fight and settle it. Leader against leader.”
Wang Kai grinned.
“Yeah? And?”
“The loser admits fault for what happened today.”
“Call. Let’s do that.”
Wang Kai accepted the proposal as if he had been waiting for it.
Alex waved his arm at his team members.
“Everyone, move far back.”
“Captain… This is…”
“That lunatic is serious. This is the best option, so step back. Don’t you trust me?”
The Security Force had no choice but to retreat far away.
The Black Star Society did the same.
On the vast lava land, Alex and Wang Kai faced each other.
Wang Kai stretched playfully, then spread both arms and said,
“Still, since I’m higher level, I should give you the first move, right? Come at me.”
Alex did not refuse.
He stomped the ground and shot toward Wang Kai at tremendous speed.
Kwoong!
The two men’s fists collided.
A massive shockwave spread outward.
Alex stomped the ground once more and pushed forward with his whole body.
At the same time, Wang Kai also stomped the ground and used Leap to retreat far backward.
Alex immediately chased after him.
A battle between two of the world’s highest-level Climbers.
Their bodies moved so fast that afterimages lingered behind them.
The Security Force and Black Star Society Climbers watching from afar couldn’t even properly see how the exchanges were happening.
Only the repeated sounds of shockwaves bursting rang out.
Alex’s speed grew faster and faster.
\[Skill: Elevation (Rare)\]
The more you move your body, the more elevated you become, enhancing your physical abilities. When movement stops, the effect gradually disappears.
Type: Physical (Passive)
Willpower Cost: None
Cooldown: None
\[Endless Barrage (Rare+)\]
The more you attack the same target, the more your damage continuously stacks.
Type: Physical (Passive)
Willpower Cost: None
Cooldown: None
Kwaaang!
Wang Kai blocked Alex’s fist with his forearm and was blown backward.
As his skill stacks piled up, Alex’s strikes grew stronger.
He unleashed a storm of consecutive attacks at Wang Kai without giving him a moment to breathe.
‘There’s almost no gap…!’
At the moment, Alex appeared to be overwhelming Wang Kai.
Although there was a 4-level difference between them, Elevation covered that gap, and Endless Barrage’s stacks were building up smoothly.
Of course, Wang Kai had not yet used his main skill, known as Frenzy, or any of his other skills.
Just as Alex continued his attacks while watching out for that…
“…!”
Wang Kai’s eyes turned red.
He instantly knocked Alex’s fist aside and counterattacked.
Alex hurriedly crossed both arms to block Wang Kai’s fist.
The impact was beyond imagination.
Alex’s body was blasted backward.
Wang Kai closed the distance in an instant with Leap and slammed his leg down.
Alex desperately rolled across the ground to dodge.
“Here!”
But Wang Kai’s kick came flying again immediately.
Alex failed to dodge and took the hit.
“Ghk…!”
As if everything until now had been a joke, Wang Kai began rampaging like a madman.
Alex couldn’t understand it.
Even if Wang Kai had used Frenzy, there was no way the difference should widen this sharply.
Alex could no longer keep up with his opponent’s speed.
Kwaaaaang!
In the end, he took a clean hit to the chest.
With an impact that felt like his sternum had shattered, he was sent flying, bounced off the ground, and rolled.
“…Captain!”
Wang Kai shook off his hands and walked toward the collapsed Alex.
“Pathetic. Did you actually think you could go toe-to-toe with me?”
Alex spat blood and raised his trembling head.
“You… You’re not level 60, are you!”
Wang Kai smiled.
“You noticed? I went up another floor just recently. I’m level 64 now.”
Alex’s complete defeat.
Despair spread across the faces of the Security Force members.
On the other hand, the Black Star Society Climbers cheered.
“Wang Kai! Wang Kai! Wang Kai!”
Wang Kai smiled in satisfaction and raised his hand, and the chant stopped.
Alex barely managed to get up and spoke through clenched teeth.
“I… lost. I’ll keep the promise.”
Alex couldn’t bring himself to look back at the Security Force members.
He had been miserably defeated, and now he had to admit fault as well.
“Sure, sure. That’s that, but we still need to finish this.”
With those words, Wang Kai lunged toward Alex.
One of the Security Force executives hurriedly intervened and blocked the space between them.
Kwaang!
The executive was sent flying like a stuffed doll, his shield crushed.
The Security Force members shouted in shock.
“W-what are you doing?!”
Wang Kai had just tried to finish Alex off.
Wang Kai smiled viciously.
“What do you think? Now your captain’s life has to take responsibility, and then we’ll be done.”
“…!”
“Or… maybe I should just wipe you all out while I’m at it. If all of you die here, the Security Force’s main strength will be annihilated, won’t it?”
Alex shouted in disbelief at Wang Kai’s absurd words.
“What are you saying…! Do you think you can get away with something like that?!”
Wang Kai chuckled.
“Getting away with it\~? Well, our Party will handle that. What, is the whole world going to attack China? What are they going to do? Either way, Floor 5 is going to completely belong to us from now on.”
Realizing that Wang Kai was serious, Alex could only feel sickened.
He was completely insane.
“Let’s kill you first and think about it afterward.”
The moment Wang Kai lunged toward Alex again…
Claaang!
A man suddenly appeared from thin air and blocked Wang Kai.
Wang Kai flinched in surprise and retreated.
The man was pushed back slightly as well, standing in front of the collapsed Alex.
Alex had no choice but to be shocked when he saw the man’s face.
“…Hyun?”
The Korean young man he had met at the Drake restaurant.
It was him.
---
I was roaming around Area 3, hunting for quite a while.
“…?”
A faint roar came from far away.
I tilted my head.
This…
It sounded like people fighting.
And if the impact sounds could be heard all the way from here, they had to be pretty strong.
It wasn’t something I could just ignore, so I moved in the direction of the sound to check.
By the time the sound began to die down, I arrived at the scene too.
What I saw was…
‘…What the hell?’
What kind of situation was this?
Still hidden, I approached the people gathered in the distance.
They seemed to be Climbers from the Security Force and the Black Star Society.
I had no idea what had happened, but there were several corpses around them.
‘Alex…’
The man collapsed with serious injuries was a face I knew.
Alex, the captain of the Security Force, whom I had met at the Drake restaurant before.
And the Asian man on the opposite side was…
“What do you think? Now your captain’s life has to take responsibility, and then we’ll be done.”
The man said that.
After briefly assessing the situation, I was able to easily guess the man’s identity.
‘Is that Wang Kai?’
Were the Security Force and the Black Star Society fighting each other?
…To the point that people were dying? Why?
In any case, it clearly looked like Alex had lost to Wang Kai.
And then…
“Or… maybe I should just wipe you all out while I’m at it. If all of you die here, the Security Force’s main strength will be annihilated, won’t it?”
Wang Kai continued speaking.
What the hell was this lunatic saying?
He was going to kill everyone here?
“What are you saying…! Do you think you can get away with something like that?!”
“Getting away with it\~? Well, our Party will handle that. What, is the whole world going to attack China? What are they going to do? Either way, Floor 5 is going to completely belong to us from now on.”
Wang Kai took a step toward Alex, radiating killing intent.
“Let’s kill you first and think about it afterward.”
He really intended to kill him.
…I had no choice.
I stepped between Alex and Wang Kai and blocked Wang Kai’s attack.
Claaang!
A heavy impact rang through my arm.
I was pushed back slightly.
Wang Kai, who had also stepped back, blinked at me in surprise.
“…Who the hell are you? Where did you pop out from?”
Everyone’s gazes focused on me.
Ah, fuck…
What a situation.
For now, I spoke to Wang Kai.
“Stop. Are you really going to kill all these people?”
“…Huh?”
Wang Kai tilted his head and stared at me for a long time.
Then he suddenly spoke with a shocked expression, as if he had realized something.
“You… Is it you? No way.”
“…”
“Person123! You’re him, aren’t you?! Right?!”
Wang Kai’s voice rang out loudly, like he was advertising it to the entire neighborhood.
The Security Force and Black Star Society Climbers stirred.
“What? Person123…?”
“Did he just say Person123?”
…So it ended up like this after all.
I sighed inwardly and spoke to Wang Kai again.
“Please stop here. I don’t know what happened, but…”
That was when Wang Kai suddenly charged at me.
“…!”
His fist grazed the bridge of my nose.
I dodged Wang Kai’s attacks while repeatedly retreating.
He was fast and strong.
His physical ability was above mine.
When I crossed both arms and blocked Wang Kai’s fist, an impact far heavier than before rang through me.
Only after I retreated far backward did Wang Kai stop attacking.
“…Why are you attacking me?”
Even though I had used Skin Hardening, the impact still pierced through.
Whether it was because of a skill or something else, Wang Kai’s eyes were dyed red.
“Hey.”
Wang Kai laughed like a lunatic and said,
“I’ve really, really wanted to meet you, you adorable little bastard. I finally got my wish today. Wow.”
I had no idea what nonsense he was talking about.
Once again, I made it clear that I had no intention of fighting.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about… but can you stop?”
“Stop? Stop what?”
“Trying to kill Alex and the Security Force people. I don’t know why you’re fighting, but you’ve already won.”
Wang Kai gave me an unpleasant grin.
“Yeah? You want me to stop?”
“…”
“Then kneel and bow your head. If you do that, I’ll stop.”
I frowned.
“Huh? If humanity’s savior bows his head to me, then of course I should stop. Isn’t that right?!”
Wang Kai cackled while looking back at the Black Star Society Climbers.
The Black Star Society Climbers, who had been standing there blankly, burst into laughter as if trying to curry favor with him.
Feeling deeply displeased, I spoke to Wang Kai again.
“Don’t joke around.”
“I’m not joking. Bow your head and ask politely.”
“…And if I refuse?”
“Then I’ll kill them all. Ah, don’t worry, I’ll only beat you up just enough so you don’t die.”
From that brief conversation, I could understand exactly what kind of person was standing in front of me.
It seemed words wouldn’t work on him at all.
If words wouldn’t work, the only thing left was fighting.
The opponent was a powerhouse in the level 60 range, and if I fought half-heartedly, I would be in danger too.
I had absolutely no intention of taking that risk, so if I fought, I would go all out.
And going all out meant…
“…I’ll say this one last time, Wang Kai.”
I sighed and said,
“Stop here. This is my final warning.”
Wang Kai sneered.
“Warning? How scary. What happens if I ignore it?”
“You’ll die.”
“…”
“I’m not confident I can subdue you moderately or anything like that. Let’s end this here without anyone dying. It’s not hard.”
Wang Kai laughed while releasing killing intent.
“…You keep running your mouth because I’ve been listening quietly. Fine, don’t kneel. I’ll smash both your legs myself and make you kneel.”
…Fine.
Then there was no helping it.
Before Wang Kai could attack, I stopped time.
After completing 300 seconds of Mental Focus…
I released time and fired Destruction Ray at the same time.
The jet-black beam shot out in an instant, covering the spot where Wang Kai stood.
Fssssss…
And Wang Kai was no longer there.