Chapter 121
Near the entrance of the Raid Gate, at the temporary headquarters.
Sung-joon Lee was lightly stretching his body, while Tae-hyun Ko, Ye-rin Lee, and Kyung-hyun Oh couldn't hide their anxious gazes behind him.
"Are you sure you'll be alright without our help?"
When Sung-joon Lee first announced his plan to tackle the Red Gate, public reaction was nothing short of fervent.
It couldn't be helped. Now that Min-soo Yoon had been defeated, Sung-joon Lee was Korea's only hope.
If Sung-joon Lee were to lose, it would be the end for Korea.
Citizens sent heartfelt messages of support, and those called Hunters all ignited the sense of duty they held in their hearts, declaring their participation in the attack force.
Everyone was prepared to fight with all their might, united in purpose.
Amidst this unification of hearts, an incredibly shocking declaration was made.
"A solo raid... Can't you reconsider just once more? Though he had a bit of an unlucky personality, Min-soo Yoon wasn't the type to put on airs. He truly had the power of a ranker, and yet he was defeated. Do you understand what this means?"
"The American Neuro, Japanese Aqua, and Chinese Dragon Star guilds have expressed their willingness to immediately support elite Hunters if Hunter Sung-joon Lee requests it. They're all guilds with considerable reputations, so they would be of significant help in battle."
Though these were words of genuine concern, they couldn't change Sung-joon Lee's mind, which had already made its decision.
"I appreciate everyone's concern, but there's no need to worry."
He hadn't declared a solo raid without reason in the first place.
According to the information Min-soo Yoon had previously disclosed, the boss monster Cavillo had been wounded by strong energy.
This meant that the gap wasn't so insurmountable that one couldn't even dare to attempt it.
'Judging by his own words about being overwhelmed in swordsmanship, there must be some difference, but...'
That much could be sufficiently bridged by his own skills, Sung-joon Lee's abilities.
Of course, this was only from Sung-joon Lee's perspective.
"..."
Tae-hyun Ko, along with Ye-rin Lee and Kyung-hyun Oh, couldn't suppress their anxiety.
As they all chewed on their lips, trying to choose what words to say, there was a knock at the door.
Knock. Knock.
"May I come in?"
The eyes of those gathered in the temporary headquarters crossed at the voice heard beyond the door along with the knocking sound.
It was a natural reaction.
The man asking for permission from beyond the door was none other than Min-soo Yoon.
An entirely unexpected visitor had arrived.
'What's this? He's not someone who would visit without reason.'
For a moment, curiosity stirred in Sung-joon Lee as he nodded his head.
"Yes, you may enter."
As if he had been waiting for Sung-joon Lee's permission, Min-soo Yoon immediately opened the door and stepped inside.
Step. Step.
Though there was no aura inadvertently flowing out, the spirit carried in his footsteps and eyes was still as sharp as a well-forged sword.
"Quite a few guests here."
Min-soo Yoon murmured in a low voice, looking around before speaking again.
"I'd like to speak with Hunter Sung-joon Lee alone. Could everyone else step out for a moment?"
As Sung-joon Lee nodded readily, those gathered in the headquarters moved to leave without a word.
"I've heard you have a straightforward personality, so... I'll get right to the point."
Min-soo Yoon stepped forward confidently and sat in the chair opposite Sung-joon Lee.
"The Red Gate's boss monster, Cavillo, is strong. In terms of martial arts, he's at the Grand Master level, top-tier... For a martial artist like you, he's a master who has reached the edge of the Fire Realm."
Min-soo Yoon began to speak in a calm voice.
"Based on his transcendent physical abilities, he shows quick movements and powerful destructive force. He can fly freely using his two wings and shoot out energy spheres. But what's most terrifying is that he possesses swordsmanship at a level so high that even I couldn't reach it."
A deep shadow fell across Min-soo Yoon's face as he spoke.
"Cavillo can create destruction that could be called a storm with just a single sword strike, possessing such strong power and excellent swordsmanship... He's a monster on a completely different level from what we've known so far."
Most of this could be considered information already made public.
However, it hadn't been pointed out in such detail before.
It was highly likely that this action had some purpose.
Naturally, Sung-joon Lee's eyes narrowed.
"It seems you have something specific you want from me."
"I do have something I want... but first, I want you to know that I'm saying this because I acknowledge your skills, Hunter Sung-joon Lee."
Min-soo Yoon smiled faintly and carefully watched Sung-joon Lee's reaction as he spoke.
"...You're a talent who shouldn't die in a place like this. You're one of the few geniuses who can stand shoulder to shoulder with me, Min-soo Yoon, and a hero who can lead South Korea forward with me."
By now, Min-soo Yoon's voice was tinged with desperation.
"So please... I want you to withdraw from the solo raid. If we form an attack force centered around you and me...!"
"I appreciate the information, but I don't think I need to hear the rest of what you have to say."
Sung-joon Lee cut off the words without leaving any room for discussion, causing Min-soo Yoon to bite his lower lip hard.
"...You'll surely regret this."
"It seems you're confident that I'll lose."
There was no response.
But the bitter expression and wavering eyes were answer enough.
"Then shall we make a bet?"
"A bet?"
"If I meet my death in the Red Gate, I'll arrange for you, Hunter Min-soo Yoon, to receive everything I have, including the support of the Hunter Association, Phoenix, White Tiger, and even the shares of the Infinity Guild."
"What...?"
"However, if I defeat Cavillo alone and successfully clear the Red Gate, then you, Hunter Min-soo Yoon, no, the entire Cosmos Guild, will stand behind me and the Infinity Guild."
Min-soo Yoon was a swordsman who had reached the Fire Realm.
His current skills were not bad, but what was most attractive was his strong self-esteem and thick network of connections.
'Even in the worst-case scenario, he's not the type to stab me in the back.'
In other words, he was the best type of person to have as a reliable ally and subordinate, someone you could trust to watch your back.
"What do you think? Isn't this a proposal where the Cosmos Guild and you, Hunter Min-soo Yoon, have nothing to lose?"
Unlike Sung-joon Lee, whose eyes were shining, Min-soo Yoon's face was deeply troubled.
'...This is beyond having nothing to lose.'
It was a bet he was bound to win no matter what.
Just by accepting the bet, he could gain the support of the Hunter Association and guilds that were the core of Korea, as well as acquire the Infinity Guild, which was showing the steepest growth.
However, he couldn't easily accept the bet.
'If I accept this bet... I'll have to let Hunter Sung-joon Lee go.'
It meant losing a valuable comrade to fight alongside on the world stage.
But there was no other way.
Already, great greed was swirling in Sung-joon Lee's eyes.
'No matter what I say now, it won't get through to him.'
If he couldn't stop it anyway...
He needed to secure practical benefits, if only to form an attack force to subjugate Cavillo in the future.
After much deliberation, Min-soo Yoon nodded his head.
"...I accept."
* * *
On a cliff swept by the northern wind.
Finally entering the Red Gate, Sung-joon Lee slowly moved his head.
'Just as I heard...'
The hundreds of sword marks filling the area and the cliffs that had lost their original shape and crumbled testified to the fierce battle that had taken place here.
"It won't be boring, at least."
Just as a curve formed on Sung-joon Lee's lips as he imagined the battle with Cavillo in his mind, it happened.
Whoosh-!
A sudden fierce wind blew in, enveloping Sung-joon Lee's form.
Of course, this was no ordinary natural phenomenon.
The Red Gate's boss monster, the Death Wind Cavillo, had revealed himself.
"When I sensed it from afar, it seemed similar... but seeing it directly, it's a bit different from the previous bug."
Yellowish energy was constantly surging from Cavillo's entire body as he floated in the air.
For a martial artist, it meant he was emitting an enormous amount of energy while covering his entire body with protective energy.
It meant he had no intention of going easy on his opponent like he did with Min-soo Yoon before.
"You look like a somewhat interesting toy, but unfortunately, I'm in a bit of a bad mood right now, so... Just die quietly."
As Cavillo, who had made this chilling declaration, flew in--
Whoosh-!
Sung-joon Lee, who had dodged Cavillo's attack by slightly twisting his waist, was about to extend his clenched fist forward when--
Cavillo's form in front of him dispersed.
"Slow! You're too slow!"
As Cavillo's hand swung with a sneer, sword strikes like a gale of wind shot out from behind.
It was a movement so fast it could be called a gust of wind, but a smile played on Sung-joon Lee's lips.
'Not bad.'
Min-soo Yoon's warning made some sense now.
Just judging by his current movement, Cavillo's physical abilities could be said to be excellent.
But that was as far as it went.
It was fast, but not threatening.
Sung-joon Lee, with cold eyes, slowly swung his arm while feeling Cavillo's sword rushing in from behind.
'Myriad Bloody Demon Sea, Blood Light Dance Flow.'
Unlike the bloody demon martial arts he had used before, this wasn't a martial art filled with cruel and overwhelming destructive power.
However, the practicality of the martial art was no less than the bloody demon martial arts he had used before.
'Just as softness can overcome strength, slow movements can catch up to fast speeds.'
With keen insight, he predicted the opponent's movements and accurately countered the opponent's attacks with minimal movement.
And ultimately, he blocked the opponent's movements and seized control of the initiative. This was the characteristic of the Blood Light Dance Flow he was now employing.
'Attacks that are simply fast will never reach me.'
Indeed, Cavillo's rapid sword strikes were all being blocked by Sung-joon Lee's Blood Light Dance Flow.
"W-What?"
Confusion was evident on Cavillo's face.
And for good reason. From Cavillo's perspective, the movement was so slow it was laughable. Normally, he shouldn't have been able to block the attacks.
Yet the human before him was ostentatiously blocking the sword strikes.
No, he wasn't just blocking them.
He was gradually closing the distance and putting pressure on Cavillo.
"You damn...!"
Despite the harsh curse flowing from his mouth, Cavillo quickly stepped back, trying to secure distance.
He was trying to regain the initiative he had lost.
However, Sung-joon Lee, who had been through countless battles, was not about to allow that.
Whoosh!
Sung-joon Lee, his eyes flashing, employed his blood energy.
Blood energy began to move rapidly through the meridians of his entire body.
As the cells in his body awakened and his senses sharpened, his muscles expanded and he felt his physical body surpassing its limits. Without hesitation, Sung-joon Lee took a step forward.