The Hero Returns

<<What the hell is this…?>> Chun Ha-jin released Su-hyeun's wrist reflexively.

And, at that moment, Su-hyeun moved his sword once more.

Slash—

"Argh!"

Su-hyeun cut Chun Ha-jin's chest deeply. With a scream, Chun Ha-jin pulled himself back, swinging his sword as hard as he could.

Slash, slash—

Craaaack—

The aura of the sword in the cross shape flew to Su-hyeun. Su-hyeun swung his sword as well and scattered Chun Ha-jin's sword aura.

"What the hell…did you do to me?" Chun Ha-jin shouted.

"You know. You're the one who sucked all that."

"Is it some sort of poison skill?"

"Yes, it is. I mixed some dirty stuff in my energy. If you absorbed directly, it would be a bit strong."

[Murderous Toxin]

* Magic Level: 6

* Lv: 2

* Mix the strong toxicity in your Magic. Depending on your skill level, you will be able to shoot poison or increase your immunity to toxicity.

*Trait: The power of this skill would increase with Third Eye.

Murderous Toxin. It was a skill that Su-hyeun got from the floor after he obtained the Third Eye. Although Su-hyeun didn't use many poison-typed skills, Murderous Toxin was quite a useful one. He especially liked the fact that the Proficiency of the skill automatically increased as his trait, Third Eye, increased.

Moreover, the poison could be used in many ways, not just for battle. For example, he could use it when he needed to get a confession or dig up some information. And right at the moment was also a good time to use it. When Su-hyeun first learned about Chun Ha-jin's skill, he planned to use this skill.

"It's probably quite painful. Although you only took a little, you absorbed it directly. Also, you'll need some time to detoxicate."

"You, crazy bastard…" Chun Ha-jin looked upset.

In the world Chun Ha-jin had come from, poison skills were his natural enemy. People who studied poison, naturally, had toxicity in their energy. Absorbing their power was like eating raw vipers. Of course, people like Chun Ha-jin had a tolerance to many kinds of poison. But the energy he had just absorbed from Su-hyeun was more toxic than he expected.

<<I probably won't be able to move properly for a while.>>

Chun Ha-jin had thought Su-hyeun would be at a similar level to him, but Su-hyeun's ability was better than he had expected. He was surprised at that, but he was also excited at the opportunity to absorb the power of such a strong man. But now, circumstances had changed. He couldn't take Su-hyeun's power anymore, and he was in danger.

<<Should I give up?>> The reasonable option came to his mind, but he shook his head. <<No, I'll hold out.>>

He was too proud to give up right away. Chun Ha-jin's pride was too high to swallow or give up.

Grab—

Chun Ha-jin held his sword tightly. To detoxicate, he thought he would need about five minutes.

<<I have to drag this out—>>

Swish—

Clang—!

But even before he finished the thought—

"…!"

—Chun Ha-jin had to block a sword attack that came from above his head. His wrists trembled. Surprised, Chun Ha-jin stretched his bent knees and swung his sword.

Swish—

Whoosh, whoosh—

Su-hyeun jumped up, and Chun Ha-jin raised his head to find Su-hyeun. His heart was beating hard from the previous blow.

<<When did he move and how the hell, he is so strong? Am I weaker?>> Chun Ha-jin thought that shouldn't be right. <<I'm slightly indisposed now, but there's no way that there's such a huge difference between us.>>

Chun Ha-jin wasn't dopey enough to not know his own body condition.

<<That means…>> Chun Ha-jin opened his eyes wide. <<Did he become stronger?>>

Boom—!

Crack, crack—

Su-hyeun hit Chun Ha-jin from above again. Chun Ha-jin clenched his teeth. His hands were in such pain. He barely endured because he had been protecting his arms with Energy Barrier. It was a shock that could make him fall to his knees in an instant. Chun Ha-jin realized how big the gap between him and Su-hyeun was.

"Damn it!"

Rumble, rumble—

Dark red magic rose from Chun Ha-jin's body. In his world, it was called the Inner Power. He began to release all the power that he had been absorbing through the Force Absorption skill at once.

"Cough!"

Chun Ha-jin coughed up blood. He was already poisoned, but he used a huge amount of power in an instance. It burdened his body.

<<I'm ahead of him in Inner Power!>>

Chun Ha-jin was so sure that the Inner Power that he had been accumulating through his Force Absorption skill was unsurpassed.

Rumble, rumble—

Chun Ha-jin lifted his sword. He could see Su-hyeun pounce on him fearlessly. It looked like Su-hyeun would deliver a blow instead of dodging.

<<Stupid!>> Chun Ha-jin smiled with his bloody mouth.

Rumble—

The dark red Inner Power began to take shape around Chun Ha-jin's sword. The aura seemed like it could cut anything with a single blow. Chun Ha-jin lifted his sword. Clouds floating in the sky were split as the sword moved. He felt confident that he could cut through anything.

<<I'll cut him!>>

Slash—!

And, at the moment that Chun Ha-jin's sword and the Inner Power about to swallow Su-hyeun…

"Explosion Style."

He could hear a small voice.

Flash—

Crack, craaack—

Rumble, ruuumble—

With a tremendous magical wave, Chun Ha-jin's sword began to tear like a sheet of paper.

"What the hell…"

Rip, riiip—

The tremendous Inner Power that Chun Ha-jin had been accumulating so far scattered. It was as if the power was eaten up by a higher power. Chun Ha-jin's Energy Barrier was broken, and so was his Inner Power. His hard body was torn; he knelt.

"Cough, cough—"

Flop—

Chun Ha-jin never thought he would kneel to anyone. But he knelt down this day. Chun Ha-jin had no power to stand anymore.

"Having huge magic isn't everything," Su-hyeun said. "Even if you have a good weapon, if you're awful, you can't use it well."

"Are…you…saying…I'm…awful?"

"There are many more important things than pouring tremendous magic at an enemy. Concentration and focus, timing… The size of the magic is just one of many factors."

"Bull…sh*t…" Chun Ha-jin denied Su-hyeun's words.

He couldn't accept that his way was wrong. Also, he still didn't think he was wrong. And Su-hyeun could understand him.

"Yes," said Su-hyeun, "that is bullsh*t. Even though there are many factors to decide a victory or defeat, higher power is a very critical factor. So, what I'm saying now is," —Su-hyeun went on, as he stepped in front of Chun Ha-jin and looked down at him— "that's just all you have."

Chun Ha-jin gritted his teeth at Su-hyeun's insult. Since his legs were like jelly, he tried to use his arms to get up. It was a meaningless struggle, but he didn't quit.

"Don't be even more pathetic. Just get down and listen."

Crush—

Crack—

"Argh—"

Su-hyeun trampled Chun Ha-jin's shoulder. At the sound of bone breaking, Chun Ha-jin clenched his teeth. He never screamed. Su-hyeun began to wonder what kind of life Chun Ha-jin had been leading. He must be in so much pain even to stay still with the Murderous Toxin, but he just made a quiet moaning sound while his shoulder was crushed. His will was very strong. Su-hyeun could tell his effort to be strong so far. But…

"I don't have any ill will toward you. Well. Murdering is fine according to the rules of the game. And I don't blame you for that." Su-hyeun raised his sword. "So, don't feel too bitter."

Stab—

"Argh!"

When Su-hyeun's sword penetrated Chun Ha-jin's neck, he opened his eyes wide.

Slash—

And Su-hyeun finally cut Chun Ha-jin's neck and turned his body. He could see Luslec watching him from the opposite side. He was grinning as if he knew what Su-hyeun would do. Around him, Su-hyeun could see cheering people, and dropouts. In Su-hyeun's eyes, they all looked like dolls.

Act 6

It was time for the second game of semifinals. Luslec's opponent was eliminated very quickly. He had only reached the semifinal because he luckily met easy opponents. Luslec didn't even have to call his shadow soldiers as he had done for Hercules. He easily dominated him with his sword.

"Winner, Luslec!" the host again declared Luslec the victor in a dry voice.

Luslec reached out his hand to his opponent and helped him stand up. Then, he raised his arms to respond to the cheers of the crowd.

"Oh, wait." Luslec didn't go down off the stage. Instead, he looked at the host and said, "I don't think we need break time. Can we just start?"

"You mean, right now?"

"Yes. Is there a problem?"

"If the other player agrees, there is nothing wrong with it," the host said and looked at Su-hyeun, who was sitting in his chair by the side of the stage.

Su-hyeun, who had been watching the game with his arms folded, nodded. "I can start now."

"Then, player Siegfried, please come on the stage. We will start the game in three minutes."

Su-hyeun immediately went up to the stage at the host's word.

Hooray—! Yay—!

People cheered louder. But Su-hyeun didn't pay attention to the sound. What he paid attention to was Luslec. It was as if Luslec was the only one that existed on a white background. Luslec was standing still on the stage, watching Su-hyeun coming.

"Hey, it is finally the finals."

"Did you wait long?"

Stomp, stomp—

Su-hyeun walked toward Luslec. The host stopped him before he got closer than ten steps from Luslec. One minute had passed; now about two minutes were left to start. Su-hyeun stopped walking as the host gave him a signal.

Luslec looked at Su-hyeun's eyes and smiled. "What are you thinking?"

"I'm wondering who you are and what this world is."

"I heard. People said you've been asking about their pasts. You're really interested in other people, aren't you? Should I call you nosy?"

"I guess I am."

"So? Did you figure out who I am?"

"At first, I thought you were just one of the awakeners climbing the tower, like me. But after I started to talk with other people, I had another thought."

Su-hyeun looked around at the expressionless hosts, cheering crowds, and the players watching the game from the waiting seat. All of their faces seemed pale.

"I've seen people like you before, and I've seen them quite a few times."

At Su-hyeun's word, Luslec made a wry grin.

"And we, the awakeners, call you guys like this" —and at that reaction, Su-hyeun was sure about his idea— "the gatekeepers."