Was I going crazy?
In the midst of that thought the 'remaining life' was constantly decreasing.
"…What do I need to do?"
As I asked the question out loud like a madman the translucent hologram changed, and answers came back.
< Hunting, like you've been doing all this time. >
< But now hunt the protagonists. >
< If you succeed you will be given lifespan in return. >
< You can also absorb the talent of the protagonists you've hunted. >
"Fuck. What the hell do you mean by protagonist?"
< Isn't that a common word in your world? >
< It's the 'main characters' that appears in novels, movies, dramas, cartoons, and more. >
< Those who are never defeated, those who stand up no matter what in the face of danger, and those who are favored by the whole world. >
"I've seen many of them in real life. You want me to kill them? Impossible."
Even if you just turn on the TV right now, there are many people like that.
They've never failed in their life.
Take my job for example, wouldn't the SS-Rank hunter at the apex be considered a protagonist?
"How am I supposed to deal with a SS-Rank hunter?"
< It's not limited to your world. >
< Protagonists exist in many worlds and many dimensions. >
"Ho."
My heart is pounding. I knew I shouldn't do this, but I was strangely excited.
"…Okay. When should I start?"
< You can start right now. >
"But, there's just one problem. You know I'm in a terrible condition, right?"
My body is not in a condition to do extensive activities.
A stupid body that will have a heart attack if I even run a little bit.
< This problem can be solved using your lifespan. >
< 10 days lifespan can be used to temporarily stop the heart condition for a one day. >
'…Shit.'
My hands tremble. If I use 10 days, I will have 21 hours left.
Am I just going to live for another ten days? Or will I gamble for a better life?
It was not a choice.
"Yes. I-I'll do it!"
[10-day lifespan used to temporarily suppress heart condition.]
Soon after, my chest felt like something was missing.
A round blue mark was carved into the pit of his stomach.
After a while a heart-rending comfort surged within me.
Although I haven't partied in a long time I felt refreshed as if I had gone back to my youth.
"…All right. Let's get ready, but before that. Can I bring stuff with me?"
< 20kg is the limit you can take with you. >
"20kg? So stingy."
How did a weak hunter like me work on the front line?
It was possible due to the state-of-the-art equipment.
A Leather armor coated with aether, and a coat coated with aether worn over it.
Four aether bullet pistols, eight extra bullets, and one sniper rifle behind my back.
After packing some other explosives I stopped before reaching the weight limit.
I picked up an aether blade, the main weapon of hunters, and pressed the release button.
A white metal's body popped out and became about 120cm long.
When the energy is activated a blue laser coats the edge.
Schink!!
"Huu."
I sighed looking at the blue light of the aether blade for a long time.
Hunters kill monsters using aether, an energy extracted from the heart of a monster.
And now with that energy I'm going to kill people.
'I can't believe I have to fight with this kind of equipment.'
As I always wore a military uniform with reliable equipment I could only sigh when I saw the condition of my current equipment that fell short.
Moreover, the touch of the blade is unfamiliar.
The last time I fought was already half a year ago.
Tigers don't forget how to hunt, but I'm still nervous.
'I wish I could get a Blaster Cannon…'
I can't help it.
First of all, nobody would be satisfied if they had a taste of the best equipment.
"I'm ready."
[Traveling to Erajon Empire. The world of the Level 33 protagonist, Gilitender.]
[10…9…8]
Watching the countdown I took a deep breath.
The other person is the protagonist.
A creature blessed by the world.
I can only trust that this "Client" will match me against a protagonist who I can hunt successfully with my ability.
[2…1…0]
With the message 'Travel Complete' a thunderbolt like sound hit my ear.
The next moment.
The world fell apart.
[You've become a challenger in the Erajon Tournament.]
…Waaaa!!!
Cheers came from all sides.
'Wait, what?'
Quickly taking a combat stance, I stepped back slightly and looked around.
A large space that looked like the colosseums on Earth.
Tens of thousands of spectators were looking down at me, or this place.
"Oh, my. This opponent's entrance was a bit extreme. A lightning bolt struck down. How did you do that?"
Looking straight ahead a pretty boy with dark skin was smiling at me.
He was shorter than I was, but he was so muscular that I didn't think he was weak at all.
And floating on his head…What's that? Hashtags?
#One's_World_Best_Sword
#Protagonist #Goodriddance #2ndrebirth #Perfecttalent
I was reading it carefully while the other person looked bored.
"You don't look so strong for such a brilliant entrance. Name?"
"Huh, oh. What am I supposed to say? It's a long story."
"You finally answered. You may not know, but my name is Gilitender."
Immediately after, someone's commentary rang from somewhere.
[Ah! What a splendid entrance this challenger had made!]
[A new face! The first challenger to appear today, the name is Yoo! Seo! Dam!]
[Will he be able to beat the champion Gilitender who has achieved 30 consecutive victories!?]
[If not, will it be Gilitender's easy victory again!?]
Gilitender grinned and pointed his sword at me.
"It doesn't matter what you do. Even if you take a pill, poison or threaten my family, or persuade me with your identity. Try and beat me somehow."
Soon, he approached me with a light kick and spoke.
"If that is possible."
"…!!"
Schink!!
As soon as the aether barrier was activated 20% of the energy was torn off in an instant from the severe impact.
Aether armors could withstand a strike from a moderate monster at mid range, but this was bareful one cut!
I took out the aether blade, quickly wielded it with the blue energy coating, and stepped back three steps.
"What is that? Magic barrier? Is that a magic blade in your hand?"
Unlike before when he was laughing hard, Gilitender now looked strangely taken back.
I fixed my posture from the impact which seemed to have caused some internal injuries and spoke.
"It's an Aether Blade, you son of a bitch!"
He lowered his posture to prepare for an attack, but was puzzled as soon as he saw me running.
"This, what is this? Using a technique that would only appear in legends. That's unsightly."
"…!"
Schwua!!
The air from the frictional force of the aether blade was torn with a swing, but he was already by my side kicking me.
"Ugh!"
Only after rolling on the floor two or three times did I realize that I was not his match without a gun.
I couldn't tell at a glance because he wasn't wearing anything, but at that level, it has to be at least an A-rank level of physical enhancement.
Schink!
"Ugh!"
I thought he was definitely standing in front of my eyes, but Gilitender kept disappearing from my sight.
I've never witnessed anything like this in my life.
I was thinking how I could make use of this without knowing where he was.
I am a veteran myself.
And a veteran who has survived much worse situations by tearing down all the strong!
As I hurriedly rolled a grenade under my feet forward I tried to stab the person who turned behind me, but only to stab the air as expected.
Beep, Beep, Boom!!
"Ugh!"
As soon as the aether grenade exploded I took a pistol from my waist and fired it at him.
Each bullet was my lifeblood, but now is not the time to save.
Ping, Ping, Ping, Ping!
Gilitender, who lifted his iron sword and blocked all the bullets despite his bad posture, tried to close the distance again.
Wherever he was running a spark ignited on the floor.
Pashi!!
"Damn it. Is he a wizard!?"
Even an elephant would faint at once, but he only flinched for a moment and soon gave up that plan.
"Heup!"
Then, like a miracle.
[The protagonist Gilitender has gained the skill Lightning Resistance (F).]
Gaining a skill on the spot?
'Fuck! Does that make any sense?'
Skills and superpowers were things I never got in my life.
But there was no time to think about it because he came at me again.
However, now I realized how to deal with Gilitender.
The previous approach was useless, so after retrieving the aether blade I pulled out my sniper rifle.
It was regrettable that I couldn't bring an assault rifle, but I had to be satisfied with this for now.
Holding my breath and aiming at the person who was running sideways.
It was a crazy speed that easily surpassed a cheetah, but I have also hunted monsters who ran this fast.
Paang!!
"Ku-uck!"
One shot seemed to hit his abdomen, but he deflected it again with his iron sword.
'Damn, what the hell is that iron sword made of?'
He was reeling from the shock.
I didn't think he would be able to deflect it.
Damn, aether sniper rifles are good, but the flaw is that it takes a long time to reload.
No, now that I see it something was creeping up on Gilitender's iron sword.
It looks similar to my aether blade, but somehow different.
Still, I was used to seeing "qi" because it is something that anyone on Earth with superpowers can use.
There was no time to load the next shot, so I released about 15cm of energy from the rifle and swung it to my right.
And, just in time, it clashed with Gilitender's sword who was beside me.
Then we both fell back.
Ding!!
"This…"
When his sword was scratched Gilitender opened his eyes in surprise.
"What the hell is that? Mana doesn't give off that hideous energy."
"You don't need to know."
"It's strange. It's not magic. It's using some strange techniques. Where the hell did you come from?"
"I came to kill you."
You don't have to struggle.
In the meantime he was zigzagging up to me, stepping sideways.
I should get ready to deal with it.
If I give him a chance, Gilitender will catch me.
After another hit the remaining aether was at 60%.
If I allow at least three more hits I'll really die.
With a quick dash a small mine was set up within reach of his feet.
Gilitender didn't know what it was, but he retreated without stepping on it when he sensed it was roughly dangerous.
It was enough to not step on it.
I took out another pistol and shot a few times, but that madman dodged or deflected the bullets like it was nothing.
Yeah, it can be avoided.
It was something that even the superhumans of Earth could do.
However, even A-rank superpowers cannot do the act of hitting each bullet.
Obviously, his strength is barely enough to be C-Rank, let alone A-rank.
But his control was so overwhelming.
Something that doesn't exist on Earth, a very unusual form of swordsmanship, past its limits, existed in him.
Boom boom!
Another clash.
He tried to hit my neck with the sword that quickly pulled away after I activated the aether shield to its fullest extent, but this time it was a close call.
I saw Gilitender's wry smile as he noticed that the energy was rapidly shrinking.
"Hah, well. I don't care. In the end, you will die to me. You were a pretty interesting guy."
Boom!
The energy blade was released at this moment and they separated by a step.
Gilitender, who had backed into a corner again, began to dance.
Yes, I could only explain that it was really a dance.
The tip of the sword seemed to fall, then went up again, and then cut forward as if it were poking in.
'Crazy…!'
I've never seen anything like that in my life. No hunter could do that.
That is real swordsmanship. Unknown to modern people.
[Remaining Aether: 7%]
I quickly activated the aether shield on my wrist because I thought I was really going to die if this kept up.
Clink, clink!
"Keuk!"
A round energy shield with a radius of about 30cm was broken at immediately, but it blocked one hit of the sword at least.
At the same time, I kicked him in the chest and unclipped a grenade.
Tuk!
"…What?"
It was a trick to push him away and blow him up, but he got closer as if he wouldn't be pushed aside by my fragile kick.
"Stop with the petty tricks!"
Kaboom!!
In the end we were swept away by the energy explosion.
My aether's frequency had already been set, so my equipment does not harm me.
"Ku-uck!"
Coughing in vain Gilitender was bleeding from his mouth.
He seemed to have thought of attacking my weak points, but anyone who's a little smart can do that much.
Wouldn't they have prepared this much if they were beaten once or twice?
"Damn it!"
Gilitender screamed and stepped back, and at that moment I pressed a button.
Woosh!!
Immediately after, a huge pillar of fire rose from under Gilitender's feet!
The fireball made of pure aether was more powerful than ordinary fire.
"Son of a bitch, you can't withstand fire, can you?"
I breathed heavily, and stepped back slowly.
Not even superhumans who have an enhanced body can withstand that fireball.
It was the most expensive equipment I had.
But.
The other person is the protagonist.
I didn't know the full meaning until now.
[The protagonist Gilitender is using his indomitable will to not fall against the extreme flames.]
[The protagonist Gilitender gains the skill Fire Resistance (D)!]
As the flames cleared Gilitender walked out.
There was soot everywhere, but he didn't seem fazed by such things.
"Ho…Awesome…"
"Haha, I didn't know. I guess I can survive a fireball. Now what else do you-"
However, I was already 20 steps back.
"Resistance, let's say that's the case."
Lying down on the floor I press down on a detonator.
"But you're not immune to a M18E17 claymore mine, are you?"
"…What?"
Immediately an explosion followed.
Kaboom…!!
Everything in front of me turned to ashes.
After a brief silence.
Waaaa!!!
Cheers erupted from all sides.
[Oh, my, god! What the hell is going on! The 30 consecutive wins champion! The absolute invincible man! A new champion has been crowned by beating Gilitender! Will he be chosen by the empire?…]
Such noise was somehow good.
I was overwhelmed by the messages that popped in my head.
[You've successfully hunted a Level 33 protagonist.]
[Your Level has risen by 2.]
[Mission Completed. Returning to your original world.]
The noise around me died, and I was back in my studio apartment laying down. Nevertheless, the messages were still steadily popping up.
[330 Days of lifespan will be paid]
[Remaining Lifespan: 330 Days 15 hours 21 minutes]
[You can randomly absorb one of their talents or skills.]
[Do you wish to absorb it?]
Somehow in a blurry trance I just relied on instinct to open my mouth.
"I don't know, just do it…"
Then I heard something spinning.
Another message soon popped into my head.
[Gilitender's talent Swordsmanship (A+) has been absorbed!]