It wouldn’t matter much even for A-grade hunters, right?
“... Wait, Yeonseung. What’s your hunter rank?”
“C+.”
“Did you have it checked when you returned?”
“I did, but they strangely didn’t increase it.”
“Are you sure you showed your skills? Did they not test it properly because you’re a martial artist?”
Unlike magicians, martial artists had complicated testing methods. Magicians’ strength could be roughly grasped by the circle of the strongest magic they could use, but martial artists were different. One way was to show their martial arts stage. Unlike circles, however, that couldn’t be clearly recognized.
Even first-class stage martial artists had to go through many confirmations. It was obviously poor treatment!
“I think I definitely filled it to at least B-grade, so it is strange.”
“Then why C+? Did those kids get bribed?”Hwang Gyeongryong murmured.
“Bribed?”
“Nothing. I will check that later. Let’s talk first. Based on the restrictions here, you seem to have become quite stronger.”
“Uhh… Well, yes.”
“So why did you go to the Abyss?”
“It’s a long story...”
“Just tell me!”
As he spoke, Hwang Gyeongryong thought Choi Yeonseung wouldn’t have that big of a reason. In the past, Choi Yeonseung had many loose screws. His desire to pursue strength made him do all sorts of weird things.
“Simply put, it was to protect the planet.”
“... I’m sorry. Can you tell me in detail?”
***
Choi Yeonseung left the Abyss after receiving the constellation’s offer, but Hwang Gyeongryong’s expression distorted strangely when he heard that Choi Yeonseung had awakened as a constellation after wandering around and fighting in the Abyss for an infinite amount of time. Now he returned to protect Earth.
Hwang Gyeongryong looked like he didn’t know what to say.
“... So you’re older than me now?”
“Is that really important right now?”
“It is, man! Wait... Wait. Honestly, I can’t believe this.”
Hwang Gyeongryong had a very distrustful expression, which slightly hurt Choi Yeonseung.
“Honestly, I thought Hyung would believe me.”
“... Hey! Some things are just far too unbelievable! If you were me, would you believe it? Do you have any idea how many crazy people have returned from the Abyss?”
“Will you believe me if I show you what I’m capable of?”
“......!”
Hwang Gyeongryong came to a realization. This guy insisted on entering the Otherworld to do this from the beginning! Hwang Gyeongryong found Choi Yeonseung’s arrogant words interesting.
“Oho. That’s good!”
Hwang Gyeongryong snorted, took off his jacket, and threw it away.
The dignity of a clan leader! His pride as an older brother! The pride of being an S-grade hunter!
No matter how much Choi Yeonseung had wandered around the Abyss and become stronger, Hwang Gyeongryong didn’t think he had become stronger than him.
“Yeonseung. Do you know how many times I've had a strange twist of fate? Just as I was about to die, I got the A+ rank skill ‘Level Up from Death.’”
“Hyung’s taste in skill names is too much...”
Skills could have the same performance but different names depending on the user. If Choi Yeonseung had obtained it, then its name would’ve likely been along the lines of, ‘Dying Flash.’
Level Up from Death. How blatant...
However, unlike its childish name, Level Up from Death was the secret to how Hwang Gyeongryong become an S-grade hunter. A unique passive skill that only Hwang Gyeongryong had on Earth! It was a fraudulent skill that pushed him to become stronger beyond his limits when driven to the brink of death.
Choi Yeonseung had a trembling expression on his face when he heard the explanation.
“Hyung, you’ve always liked fantasy novels, but to think you’re really living like the main character...”
“You're one to talk! You like martial arts!”
Hwang Gyeongryong was caught off guard. He immediately unleashed his magic—Aquas’ Magic Shield! It was a fraudulent passive skill that automatically created a barrier as soon as magic power was unleashed! It was very powerful, considering it automatically activated when other defense magic needed to be cast first.
At the same time, Hwang Gyeongryong raised both his sleeves, revealing tattoos on his forearms. The tattoos started to burn.
“What are those?”
“It’s a technological advancement. Have you ever heard of tattoo-type artifacts?”
Tattoo-type artifacts instead of staffs or swords! That was the culmination of advanced raid engineering and a prototype made by Hwang Gyeongryong’s company.
-Yeyo’s Magic Missile, Yeyo’s Magic Missile, Yeyo’s Magic Missile...
When the tattoos glowed, hundreds of light bullets started to appear around him. Magic Missile was the most widely known 1st-circle magic. It was such a simple skill that a talented hunter could learn it without a magic book. All they had to do was gather their magic into a circle and shoot it!
However, despite its simplicity, Magic Missile could be evolved in various ways. Its variations included 2nd-circle magic Enhanced Magic Missile, which had stronger firepower, and 3rd-circle magic Continuous Magic Missile, which could fire bullets continuously. There also was Yeyo’s Magic Missile, a 5th-circle magic and an A-rank skill.
Of course, there was a reason why it was ranked so high. Infinite division and infinite tracking! It continuously produced Magic Missiles for as long as it was infused with magic power. Moreover, the Magic Missiles it created endlessly pursued its target. To top it all off, since it was cast by an S-grade hunter, each of its bullets contained immense power.
“Yeonseung. Do you know who the first UHC champion is? Let me give you a hint. It’s someone you know.”
“Is it you?”
“That’s right!”
Magic Missiles started to fly and cover all sides along with those words. Being an S-grade hunter didn’t mean using powerful and spectacular magic. Rather, it meant being able to use low-circle magic in such powerful ways.
‘There is no need to waste magic power on high-circle magic.’
Ever since the creation of the sport UHC, the hunters had split into two. Hunters specializing in raids and hunters specializing in individual combat. There was bound to be a difference between hunters who killed monsters and raided dungeons and hunters who dealt with other hunters. Nevertheless, Hwang Gyeongryong had stood at the top of both types. He was very good at fighting like this.
“Hyung. You've got great aim.”
“Just dodge, dude!”
“I don’t see any reason to.”
Choi Yeonseung raised a finger and started to fire his internal energy. His bullets had the same principle as Magic Missiles, but they had a different power and speed. Every time a ray pierced through the incoming barrage like lightning, dozens of Magic Missiles were shattered.
“......?!”
Hwang Gyeongryong was stunned, but he didn’t stop. The most important thing in a one-on-one battle was to subdue the opponent. He had to force his opponent to defend by using magic before his enemy could! Unlike other young hunters, Hwang Gyeongryong was well aware of how tricky martial artists could be.
-Lava Path!
Lava Path, a 6th-circle magic! He prepared it while he was using the tattoo-type artifacts’ magic. The ground soon cracked and gushed out lava in all directions. It was as if the lava itself had a will and was trying to protect Hwang Gyeongryong.
“I can't believe you even learned this type of magic, Hyung.”
“Are you belittling me now? You a cheeky bastard!”
“Don’t worry, I’m going in now.”
Before Choi Yeonseung could finish speaking, he had used Origin of the Celestial Step and charged in a straight path! His unchanging movement made Hwang Gyeongryong feel embarrassed.
‘Does he think my magic spells are just cotton balls?’
Using internal energy to protect one’s body made them stronger, but that was only temporary. Choi Yeonseung couldn’t block a proper attack with something like that!
-Aquas’ Flash Javelin Throw!
Another 6th-circle magic! That spell fired a spear of light with tremendous penetrating power and speed. While B-grade hunters would already struggle to use one 5th-circle magic, Hwang Gyeongryong used two 6th-circle magics in a row. That showed how strong Hwang Gyeongryong was.
Lava devoured the floor while a spear of light flew from the front.
Choi Yeonseung squeezed out the Origin of the Celestial Divine Arts' internal energy to create a shield. It was a strong self-defense!
Hwang Gyeongryong flinched as a shield made of a cool white light covered Choi Yeonseung. He had seen sword energy and fist energy a few times before, but he had never seen such thick and clear internal energy.
‘Did he really become a constellation while he was in the Abyss?!’
‘Ah. This is so uncomfortable.’
Hwang Gyeongryong was shocked. Choi Yeonseung frowned in discomfort. It felt like he was fighting with heavy metal balls attached all over him! What made it even more annoying was that his power wasn't being reduced. Rather, he was just consciously adjusting it to prevent the Otherworld from breaking. Even so, his martial arts still flowed out like water.
[Unity of Body and Fist...]
[Concentrated Energy Arts...]
Hwang Gyeongryong’s astonishment reached its peak when Strong Self-Defense broke the spear of light and even blocked the lava.
“W-Wasn’t that a video manipulated by the Chinese?”
“What nonsense are you saying now?”
“I’ve seen a manipulated video similar to what you’re doing!”
“Ah...”
Choi Yeonseung recalled that there was an incident in China where the world discovered they were manipulating their martial artists’ ranks. Choi Yeonseung hesitated after easily breaking through the lava and spear of light.
‘I’m lacking inner energy.’
Choi Yeonseung’s internal energy was close to infinite, and he could convert all the energy around him into internal energy. However, restrictions were imposed here. He immediately replenished his internal energy due to his martial arts stage, but its total amount was still limited.
‘Then...’
Confident he could avoid everything without defense skills, Choi Yeonseung released his Strong Self-Defense. Afterward, he pushed all of the internal energy he was using for Strong Self-Defense outward.
Concentrated sphere bullets! The concentrated sphere formed in the air and shot out quickly toward Hwang Gyeongryong.
Surprised, Hwang Gyeongryong tried to dodge by teleporting and using defense magic.
-Short Distance Tele—
[Powerful internal energy has destroyed your magic!!]
[’Short Distance Teleport’ will be canceled.]
[The damage due to the rebound...]
‘!!!’
Hwang Gyeongryong was shocked. Choi Yeonseung tore his magic apart before he could cast it! That wouldn't have been a surprise if he was using low-tier magic that had a slow casting speed, but his magic took less than a second to cast! Yet it was torn apart first?
Hwang Gyeongryong enveloped himself with enhancement magic as a last resort. Just like martial artists, magicians could also strengthen themselves this way!
Hwang Gyeongryong didn’t like melee combat, but...
“Come at me—woah!”
Choi Yeonseung grabbed Hwang Gyeongryong’s wrist, turned it around, and smashed him to the ground. Despite being enhanced by magic power, his opponent had so much strength that the impact sent terrible shocks coursing throughout his body.
“Cough, cough...?”
“Are you really attempting close-quarters combat against a martial artist? You are so careless.”
“It’s been a while since you disappeared, so I made a mistake...”
Hwang Gyeongryong apologized while feeling a tingling pain all over his body. It had been too long since he had dealt with a martial artist.
***
Flop!
Hwang Gyeongryong sat down after coming to his senses.
“So that... What’s your martial arts realm? Peak-class? Or near it?” He asked.
“I’ve gone past that—it’s at the transcendent-class stage now. Going further from there allowed me to transcend mortality altogether.”
Hwang Gyeongryong scratched his head and stared at Choi Yeonseung.
“So you really are a constellation...”
“Yes.”
“... Do you know how absurd I feel right now?”
“I am devastated to find out that my sincere Hyung on Earth has become like this.”
“Hey! I have achieved great success in life!”
“I’ve also achieved great success in life.”
“So let’s say that you are a constellation. What do you want from me?”
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