'I have devoted my whole life to the martial arts.'
'I have never learned to back down.'
Liu Zhigang. A proud 6-star Hunter. China does not follow the global standard Hunter ranking system and uses its own unique solution. The more stars a Hunter has, the more outstanding they are. A 5-star Hunter, was the highest rank. However, only one person: Liu Zhigang was uniquely classified outside the ranks and called a 6-star Hunter. Of course, the treatment he received was on a different level than the rest of his colleagues. But no one could disagree with him being an exception. He was fully capable, and he was the true savior of the People's Republic of China, having firmly protected the country amidst the chaotic upheaval.
'...So this time, too, I will not back down.'
Liu Zhigang was hiding a secret that none of the people of China, which boasted a population of over 1 billion, knew....
'Do you think I, Liu Zhigang, will be consumed by my inner demons-!'
He had been fighting alone against the Itarim's divinity to avoid being consumed, for over two years. It came upon him at the same time as he awakened. After becoming a Hunter, it didn't take long for Liu Zhigang to realize that the power given to him was different from others. Magic power, a mysterious power that suddenly arose within his body. He had heard that other Hunters felt a tremendous sense of elation when they awakened. But he was different.
'...It's still not enough.'
The moment his magic power arose, the sensation he felt was, surprisingly, 'emptiness.' When a person starves for too long, they eventually stop feeling hunger. But if someone suddenly feeds that person a piece of bread, their starved stomach, triggered by it, finally realizes the terrible hunger they had forgotten.
'Power, I want power! Much more power!'
And the intense hunger that Liu Zhigang felt was exactly the same sensation as experienced by Thomas Andre, who in his previous life was a national-level Hunter. But unfortunately, Liu Zhigang was a little less fortunate. Someone who noticed the intense hunger he craved, had seemingly been waiting and came barging into his empty heart.
[Do you desire power?]
'...!'
[If you desire it, I shall give it to you. More power than you ever dreamed of.]
Liu Zhigang couldn't help but be startled. It was as if the unidentified voice whispering in his ear like a devil was seeing right through his heart.
'Who are you!'
[What does a name matter? What matters is that your vessel is large enough to receive me.]
'...!'
Whew!
From the beginning, the voice wasn't asking for Liu Zhigang's permission. At that moment, a new power from outer space suddenly began to flow into his empty vessel. At the same time, as if by magic, the hunger in his heart began to be filled. But as a rule, there is no such thing as power without a price.
[Therefore, submit willingly.]
'...!'
Just like that, Liu Zhigang was reborn as an apostle of Itarim at the same time as his awakening....
'...Don't make me laugh!'
Even Itarim's divinity had not foreseen something. Liu Zhigang was a warrior who had walked the path of martial arts his entire life. It was the stubbornness of someone who had spent his entire life upholding what he stood for at the center of his heart, different in quality from Thomas Andre, who had lived his life as a scoundrel using violence as a means.
'I don't believe in God! My mind is all mine!...!'
[...!]
Liu Zhigang, who had been embracing the power that filled his body, gritted his teeth and managed to endure the forced submission. But Itarim's divinity was not a power that could be handled by the will of a mere human.
[Worship.]
[Praise.]
[Prove your faith...]
'Shut up! Shut up! No matter who you are! I... I!'
Gritting his teeth Liu Zhigang instinctively resisted the desire to prostrate himself before the great power and worship it. A headache that made him feel like his head was going to break. A stream of blood dripped down the corner of his clenched mouth. But at the same time, the emotions that welled up on his face were none other than humiliation and self-righteousness.
Creak!
'...I am Liu Zhigang!'
[....]
To put it bluntly, Liu Zhigang was not ultimately corrupted by Itarim's divinity. No, he was still being corrupted every moment, but to shake off that power, he abruptly rushed outside. And with the two longswords he had trained with all his life, he entered a dungeon and began to slay magical beasts indiscriminately. In this way, he ceaselessly expelled the power of Itarim that was constantly trying to take over his body. As a strategy to maintain his sanity, Liu Zhigang found the answer in the martial arts he had practiced his entire life. Of course, not everyone can reach the state where knowing and doing are one, but he struggled desperately, and succeeded…
Kwaaak!
Kyaaaaaaak!
Countless magical beasts spewed blood and died in his path. Liu Zhigang reversed the direction of Itarim's power flowing into him and ceaselessly expelled it out of his body. Guild? Forces that respected and followed him? He didn't have time to care for such things. For two whole years Liu Zhigang wandered restlessly across the vast expanse of China like a madman, venting Itarim's power towards the magical beasts. He did not accept the overwhelming divinity contained within, but instead, repelled it outwards. He couldn't let his guard down even when he slept. Even in his dreams, he had to fight against the inner demons waiting for him to reveal a moment of weakness. A thorough single path. A relentless single-mindedness. In the process, he received the sincere respect and support of 1 billion Chinese people and even gained the empty title of a 6-star Hunter, but it didn't matter to him. His interest was solely in one thing.
'I will not be consumed by the inner demons trying to control my mind!'
...Just like that, Liu Zhigang had become a monster, wandering aimlessly in search of places with many magical beasts. In particular, field-type dungeons that were dangerously neglected were the perfect battleground for him, as they allowed him to rampage freely, more so than normal dungeons entangled with numerous interests. Even if that place existed across the border in another country.
'There's a field that still hasn't been conquered even with Siddharth Bachchan deployed?'
...Liu Zhigang willingly crossed the border. He entered the 'Loktak Field,' which even India's S-rank Hunter had failed to conquer.
Liu Zhigang has single-handedly invaded the Indian border!
– No, why…!
Naturally, the repercussions were not small. The Chinese government, well aware of his wandering tendencies, had been doing its best to prevent such an incident from happening. They had been finding the next hunting ground near him even before he finished clearing the previous one and providing him with all other conveniences. There were countless field dungeons in the vast Chinese mainland anyway, and there were plenty of places where Liu Zhigang could fight madly until all his magic power was exhausted. But this time, they couldn't stop him.
– Liu Zhigang has finally crossed the border!
– Why couldn't they stop him!
– They should know what it means for China's 6-star Hunter to cross the border!
– This will turn into a diplomatic issue!
Chinese public opinion was in an uproar. Many people had seen him crossing the border without permission, and the news quickly reached the Indian government. Then, Indian public opinion was also set ablaze.
– China's strongest Hunter has invaded India?!
– Is China planning to wage war against India?!
– This must be a Chinese conspiracy from the start!
– The field where Siddharth Bachchan is located is at the end of Liu Zhigang's path!
– Is Liu Zhigang tired of slaughtering magical beasts and now aiming for Siddharth Bachchan!
– If China doesn't want war, then immediately…!
In truth, this situation was something no one wanted. Of course, there were a few thoughtless people in online communities who were spouting nonsense about taking this opportunity to occupy India, but they were a very small minority. Especially for the Chinese government, which had tried to stop him at the border, it was frustrating to the point of madness. Liu Zhigang, that stubborn old man who had walked the path of martial arts his entire life, was simply not someone who could be persuaded. In the end, they had no choice but to upload the footage of Liu Zhigang's remarks, recorded by the border guards, onto the internet.
"Are your heads just for decoration? Shall I remove them myself?"
Shiver. At Liu Zhigang's words, the Chinese Hunters who were trying to stop him from crossing the border turned pale and covered their necks.
"Loktak Field, where even Siddharth Bachchan is struggling, is gradually expanding. And right above it is our China." That's right. Liu Zhigang had his own justification. Before crossing the border, he fixed his sharp gaze on the camera pointed at him and raised his voice.
"Tell the people clearly! I, Liu Zhigang, am going to help Siddharth Bachchan because I am not confident in preventing the disaster that he couldn't stop. If you're not happy with that, then go catch the magical beasts yourselves…" Of course, it was an obvious excuse and a pretext. Liu Zhigang just wanted to go wild in a field where even Siddharth Bachchan was struggling.
'…This is the limit.'
He had endured for over two years, but he was getting tired. If he didn't quickly find stronger magical beasts and pour out all the wicked power that was trying to dominate his mind every moment…
'I'll really be consumed.'
And so, in the end… Liu Zhigang had encountered it. An opponent worthy of pouring all his power into. It was a wicked evil spirit with ominous black steam blazing from its entire body.
"Uhaha! There was such a strong magical beast here! I knew coming here was the right choice!"
[My liege! This guy's gone mad! He's definitely an apostle of Itarim!] Greed, who was in a fierce battle with him, shouted towards Suho, who had arrived late.
And at that moment. The eyes of Liu Zhigang and Suho, who were far apart, met in the air. Liu Zhigang glared at Suho and growled ferociously.
"You, what's your relationship with this evil spirit."
"…"
'This is bad.' At the murderous voice, Suho's expression hardened.