Chapter 94
Boom!
As the sudden surge of blue energy shook the foundations of the training ground, Sung-jun Lee's eyes narrowed as he gazed impassively at Yi-ryung Kang.
He felt a completely different pressure than before.
Yi-ryung Kang's power had explosively increased in an instant, but Sung-jun wasn't surprised or flustered.
He could easily predict the reason.
'...It seems he's using his innate true qi.'
Sung-jun's gaze lowered.
'So it's come to this after all.'
Now that Yi-ryung had opened his innate true qi, this was no longer a friendly match.
It had become a fight to the death, wagering their lives.
The situation had escalated beyond what was originally planned.
However, Sung-jun had anticipated this possibility to some degree since his first conversation with Yi-ryung, so he was able to calmly continue his train of thought.
'This could actually be seen as a fortunate turn of events.'
Yi-ryung was a madman - it was unthinkable that he would quietly back down after this friendly match.
'Considering the information gathered about the Sosu Clan and Yi-ryung Kang...'
It was clear he would seek revenge in some form.
Eliminating Yi-ryung as a future threat right here and now would be the cleanest resolution from Sung-jun's perspective.
Having quickly organized his thoughts, Sung-jun gazed at Yi-ryung with cold eyes.
Though one might expect Yi-ryung to question Sung-jun's lack of reaction as he prepared for battle without a hint of agitation, Yi-ryung paid it no mind.
More accurately, he had no time to question it.
Opening his innate true qi, the source of life, meant he was actively consuming his life force in real time.
He could only maintain this state for about 5 minutes at most.
While far from a long time, Yi-ryung was fully confident he could kill Sung-jun in that short span.
Naturally, this wasn't baseless confidence.
The Raging Ghost Evil Combat Technique!
Among the thousands of martial arts in the current world, this could be boldly called a divine, unparalleled technique. That's why Yi-ryung had such confidence.
In fact, the Raging Ghost Evil Combat Technique was evaluated as being on par with the qi-wielding masters known as Rankers in terms of pure destructive power.
'Normally, the excessive qi consumption would be a clear weakness preventing proper use, but...'
With his innate true qi opened, that was no longer an issue.
"I'll kill you without leaving a trace, erasing even the memory of my previous humiliations."
As Yi-ryung extended his fist with an expression full of confidence, about to unleash the Great Asura Annihilation Fist - the supreme technique of the Raging Ghost Evil Combat Technique also known as the Great Asura - Sung-jun raised his Blood Shadow Asura Divine Technique to the extreme.
"..."
The inner force of the Blood Shadow Asura Divine Technique spread naturally throughout his body, filling it with strength beyond normal limits.
His five senses sharpened acutely.
His thought processes accelerated, making the surrounding world seem to slow down.
In this elongated world, Sung-jun's narrowed eyes observed Yi-ryung charging at him with fierce momentum.
'...Not bad.'
A few months ago, the boss monster Eliuros had also used innate true qi, but the power Yi-ryung was emitting now was on a different level.
This was because Eliuros had instinctively manifested that power when on the brink of death.
But Yi-ryung before him now was intentionally using his innate true qi.
Rather than recklessly using it while losing his reason, he was regulating the innate true qi energy with his own will.
Since he was wielding the power rather than being controlled by it, there was naturally a clear difference.
In fact, Yi-ryung's current aura could be said to surpass even a supreme martial arts master.
It wasn't simply that his strength had increased - he had drawn out power from an even higher realm.
Moreover, by burning his innate true qi, he was able to wield a massive amount of inner force.
An ordinary supreme martial arts master would not easily be able to guarantee victory.
However, Sung-jun Lee was no ordinary supreme martial arts master.
He was the greatest blood demon who had conquered a thousand continents, hailed as the Demon God and ruler.
Even if Yi-ryung was using his innate true qi, there was no chance of defeat.
"Hmmph..."
As Sung-jun took a deep breath, his pitch-black eyes that were as deep as darkness tinged red.
At the same time, the suppressed power of the Asura raised its head, and an alluring red light erupted from his entire body.
Feeling the restrained and pure destructive force, Sung-jun raised blood energy in his wide open palm.
Woong-!
With a calm resonating sound, the blood energy bloomed and coalesced into a concentrated sphere of energy.
Then, with a satisfied smile, Sung-jun began rotating the energy sphere floating above his palm.
Whish-!
One rotation, two rotations... As it rapidly gained rotational speed, the energy sphere quickly transformed into a vortex-like form and began to surge violently.
He had effortlessly accomplished something only possible with an unbelievably high level of inner force control and understanding. But the truly amazing part was that Sung-jun's actions didn't end there.
Woong-!
He imbued the rapidly rotating energy vortex with waves.
Furthermore, he added all the inner force from his middle and lower energy centers to maximize the condensation of the energy.
The violently surging vortex in his palm could now be called Sung-jun's ultimate attack without exaggeration.
It was a power that a novice forcibly drawing out strength by exploding their innate true qi could not possibly withstand.
'Third Form of the Myriad Blood Demon Seas, Asura Destruction Wave Palm.'
Kwaaa-!
With a sound that split the air, the launched Asura Destruction Wave Palm collided with Yi-ryung's Great Asura Annihilation Fist in mid-air.
Bang-!
Despite the thunderous impact, neither Sung-jun nor Yi-ryung were pushed back.
The destructive powers had perfectly matched each other.
However, the Asura Destruction Wave Palm was no ordinary palm technique - it contained the principles of waves.
The initial collision was not the end.
Woong-!
The waves that spread from his palm once again raised a vortex of red energy, which immediately bored into Yi-ryung's extended arm, tearing apart all the meridians inside.
Kwagwagwa-!
As the meridians exploded from the impacts, Yi-ryung's extended arm erupted with fountains of red blood as the skin was torn apart.
No, it wasn't just his arm.
The violent energy vortex continued to advance relentlessly, eventually engulfing Yi-ryung's entire body and randomly shredding organs like his lungs, heart, and liver.
Kwagwagwagwa-!
With all his organs reduced to tatters, Yi-ryung's condition could not possibly be intact.
"Keuuugh-!"
Black dead blood gushed like an open faucet from between Yi-ryung's lips.
Since the power had been somewhat reduced after colliding with the Great Asura Annihilation Fist unleashed by exploding his innate true qi, Yi-ryung had narrowly avoided death.
But his body was damaged to the point where he could be called a cripple without exaggeration.
It was no exaggeration to say that the spark of life had been completely exhausted from continually using his innate true qi, and all his organs had lost their functions as well.
In fact, Yi-ryung's body was collapsing like a puppet with cut strings.
Thud.
The victor of the battle had been decided.
* * *
"S-Sung-jun Lee has defeated China's final contestant, Yi-ryung Kang! With a perfect 5-0 score, Korea has achieved a flawless victory!"
As the announcer's excited voice resounded throughout the training ground, Kang-hyun Cho could not hide his surprise.
"We won! Hunter Sung-jun Lee has defeated Yi-ryung!"
Kang-hyun Cho immediately jumped up from his seat and shouted in an excited voice, but this could be considered a mild reaction.
The Hunter Association executives and government officials were barely containing their excitement, stomping their feet in place.
"To think we'd actually defeat China..."
"We've proven the strength of our Korea to the world!"
But the person who received the biggest shock was arguably the Vice President of the Association, Tae-hyun Ko.
In fact, Tae-hyun Ko had forgotten his dignity as Vice President and was gaping with an astonished expression.
"...This is impossible."
He had expected there to be some kind of plan since they had boldly accepted the friendly match.
But he never imagined that plan would be to defeat Yi-ryung head-on.
'How can this be possible?'
Although he hadn't directly examined him, Tae-hyun Ko's discerning eye and intuition were quite sharp from meeting countless Hunters.
'Just a month ago, Hunter Sung-jun Lee was clearly an SS+ rank Hunter.'
So what in the world was this scene unfolding before his eyes?
'To defeat the SSS rank Hunter known as the Great Asura, Yi-ryung...'
This meant that Hunter Sung-jun Lee had reached SSS rank in just 4 months since returning to Earth.
A wry smile appeared on Tae-hyun Ko's lips at this reality that was hard to believe even with his own eyes.
"Hehe..."
Even the nine Hunters representing Earth, the members of the Guardians, had taken at least a year to reach SSS rank.
Yet Hunter Sung-jun Lee had shortened that time by 3 times, taking only 4 months.
His previous achievements could already be called historic, but this growth was truly unprecedented.
'Just where is Hunter Sung-jun Lee's limit?'
The question naturally arose, but Tae-hyun Ko soon abandoned that line of thought.
The career he had built up so far was simply too overwhelming.
'...I can't even begin to imagine with my current self.'
But there was one thing he could be certain of.
Hunter Sung-jun Lee was a giant who represented the future of the Hunter Association - no, the future of Korea.
"Finally... Finally!"
A bright smile bloomed on Tae-hyun Ko's face as he clenched his fist tightly.
This was inevitable, as South Korea, which had always been evaluated as the weakest in East Asia, had achieved victory in a friendly match against China.
Of course, the Sosu Clan was only a part of China's full strength.
But the impact itself would certainly not be small.
'Not only China, but Japan will also have no choice but to be wary of Hunter Sung-jun Lee's existence.'
It meant they would no longer be able to engage in reckless diplomacy like before.
This alone was cause for great joy, but it was only the beginning.
'Considering Hunter Sung-jun Lee's growth rate that I've observed so far...'
Before long, their homeland, South Korea, would establish itself as a power in East Asia.
It meant they could reclaim the diplomatic rights that had been inevitably lost to powerful countries like China and Japan.