On Hiatus: God's Personal Reasons-Chapter 209: #World’s Strongest Hunter (3)

Hunter War Round of 64, Group 2, Round 1

Rules: 5-player, winner-takes-all

Greece vs South Korea

Current Score 4 : 1

Fifth Match: Winner Yu Il-Shin!

“You cheeky punk!”

Swish!

Hearing my taunt, a man swooped into the arena like a swift swallow from the Team Greek’s benches.

"You've won just once. Don't you think it's a bit early to get cocky?"

The long-haired, lanky man had a gruesome blade scar over his right eye. A pair of strange, wavy swords hung at his waist, faintly exuding bloodlust.

He glanced at the unconscious Ares and said, “Ares specializes in subjugating monsters. His skills and power are admirable, but they aren’t suitable for hand-to-hand combat.”

Shriiing!

“I see that you’re a swordsman as well. Impressive. Let me teach you what a sword is.”

He pointed the glowing blue tips of his double swords at me. This felt familiar somehow... I racked my brain as I observed him, but I couldn’t pinpoint why.

The MC declared to the crowd, “It’s the sixth match between Greece and South Korea! Up next from Team Greece is the famous swordsman, S-rank Hunter Gus! He may be an S-rank, but he’s also a specialist in hand-to-hand combat, rivaling even SS-rank swordsman! How will South Korea’s last hope, Yu Il-Shin, fare against the renowned swo—”

Clang!

Before the MC could finish his introduction, Gus had lunged toward me like a bullet.

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“Acheron of Misery! Cocytus of Lament!”

Tzzz!

The double swords turned black, twisting in strange trajectories like a meandering river, flying toward my vital point.

Ding!

-----

[Acheron and Cocytus]

Purchased from the Hunter Shop. Blessed by Guardian of Fire and Smithing.

Special note: Named after the river of the underworld, it holds a fraction of its power. Pain (S) and Paralysis (S).

-----

My appraisal skill kicked in on its own. I didn’t even care that it could incapacitate the opponent with the slightest touch.

I’m sure I’ve seen him somewhere before.

While busy figuring that out, I struck the double swords that flew toward me with the Second Stance of the Demon Lord’s Heavenly Sword—Demon Lord’s Pratāpana.

The river of misery and lament that flowed in the underworld was swallowed by the infernal flames reminiscent of an active volcano.

“Aaaargh!”

Swoosh!

“Aaaah!”

Along with the deafening impact, Gus bounced off the invisible barrier and landed next to the unconscious Ares.

“N-no way...”

Charred black, Gus could barely lift his head to meet my gaze. I gripped my sword, its blade wreathed in black flames.

“T-that’s the Sword of Pluto that I’ve been seeking...” Gus collapsed before he could even finish his sentence.

Ding!

[Congratulations. You have succeeded in nurturing fanatical faith by displaying the overwhelming majesty and terror of a god!]

[You have gained Gus as a follower (Fanatic).]

This development feels familiar, too...

“Mr. Sword God! You’ve returned!”

I looked up to see a raggedy Sword Demon running back to Team Korea’s benches.

“Oh! He’s basically Sword Demon!”

“Hey! Where have you been?!”

“Mr. Yu! We’ve all been so worried!”

“Master!”

The Sung sisters and my other followers also returned to their seats.

Meanwhile, the MC stared at me, his mouth agape.

“U-unbelievable! What am I seeing right now?! What overwhelming power! Hunter Yu Il-Shin has defeated the swordsman in one fell swoop! The current score sits at 4 : 2! Will Hunter Yu Il-Shin perform a miracle today?!”

“W-who is that Hunter?”

“The one and only god[1]? What kind of name is that?”

“Kyaaa! Oppa! Take off your helmet please!”

Seeing how the tables had turned, cheers from the million-strong audience burst forth toward me. Moreover, my name was also etched deep in the minds of billions of viewers worldwide. It wasn’t enough to be called Faith, but things could change by the end of the Hunter War.

“Who’s next? I can take on all of you.” I signaled toward Team Greece, and they glared fiercely at me in return.

However, the MC jumped in to stop me, “Hunter Yu Il-Shin! The matches must be one-on-one! Please don’t taunt Team Greece!”

“Hmph. Okay, fine.”

The invisible barrier was momentarily disabled and the medics came in with stretchers, carrying away the unconscious Ares and Gus. Thus, the next Hunter from Team Greece stepped into the arena.

I instinctively frowned. He was a 160 centimeters tall blond with curly hair. Honestly, he looked more like a movie star than a Hunter. Furthermore, he didn’t wield any weapons, and only a skull-shaped whistle hung around his neck.

The MC yelled, “We're now in the seventh match between Greece and South Korea! The next Hunter from Team Greece is none other than Hunter Hermes, one of Greece's twelve gods! Will this prodigy, who earned his S-rank license at a young age, demonstrate a prowess worthy of the Messenger God himself?!”

I said to him, “Kiddo, you’re next? Why don’t you just send someone else?”

“I’ll admit that you’re strong. You must’ve trained and practiced a lot to get this far.” Hermes stared at me with pride, before continuing politely, “However, no matter how strong humans become, there's something they can never train.”

“Hoo. What an interesting brat.”

That’s an amusing response, coming from a kid.

Either way, I hoped his attitude matched his power.

“Let the seventh match begin!”

At the MC's announcement, Hermes bowed before shifting into a fighting stance.

I deliberately didn’t appraise him, feeling the anticipation of unwrapping a present as I waited for his attack.

“So, what is it that can never be trained?"

Hermes smirked in response, flashing his set of white teeth.

“The eardrums.”

“Eardrums?”

He grabbed the whistle around his neck and inhaled deeply. As the atmosphere and focus shifted toward him, his chest puffed up like a balloon.

“Howl! Death Whistle!” Hermes blew into the skull whistle, unleashing his breath like a huge tempest.

The skull whistle's eyes flashed red as its mouth gaped open.

Gaaaah!

-Kyaaaaaaaaak!

A sound like the screams of revenants echoed through the colosseum.

“Aaargh! What is this sound?!”

“I-it’s too scary!”

“I-I couldn’t breathe...!”

The audience covered their ears at once, writhing in agony.

“Quick!”

The Hunters and elves from the organizing committee jumped into action right away.

-Warning! Warning!

-The invisible barrier has been raised to its maximum level for audience safety!

A strange magic circle appeared on the invisible barrier, stopping the chaos among the crowd. They could still hear the shrill screams through the upgraded barrier, albeit faintly.

Of course, the protection didn’t extend to me, who was in the arena with Hermes.

Riiiip!

Cracks appeared on my helmet as if it was a piece of pottery. The Death Whistle, shaped like a human larynx, mimicked the sound of a human scream. I heard it was used as a weapon during Aztec-era wars to crush the enemy’s morale. No ordinary humans could notice the difference, unlike me.

-Kyaaa!

-Kieeeek!

Thousands of demons were rampaging across the colosseum. The innocent-looking boy— seemingly too gentle to harm even a fly—turned out to be a necromancer like Ko Sa-Deuk.

"Thankfully, they upgraded the barrier in time, or the casualties would be piling up as we speak."

Hermes stopped blowing the whistle and said, “Just so you know, I halved the strength in consideration of the audience. Surrender now, or you’ll get yourself killed.”

“Kekeke!” I cackled.

“...Is something funny?” Hermes was speechless, but his glare on me only grew more intense.

I couldn’t help myself, I was having so much fun! I didn’t know humans could entertain me so much!

I walked up to Hermes.

“Do it, then.”

“Eek!” Hermes flinched and retreated at the aura I emitted.

“Quick, kill me.”

The closer I got, the more his terror grew. Hermes bit on his lip so hard it almost bled, then raised his whistle.

“You will regret this!”

Apparently, he wasn't lying about halving the strength—the number of demons multiplied a hundredfold.

“Scream! Death Whistle!”

-KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAK!!!

The screams from hundreds of thousands of demons rang in the air, threatening to swallow the world.

Well, I also had my own demon!

Woooong!

Demon Lord let out a fierce scream.

-How foolish! Did you think you could defeat my disciple with a mere toy!? Disciple, show him my Lion’s Roar!

Demon Lord’s martial arts knowledge was transmitted into my mind. Raising the visor of my helmet, I unleashed the power that had been passed down to me.

Gaaaaaah!

A beastly roar drowned out the demons' cries, shaking the colosseum as if an explosion were imminent.

Hermes’ eyes went wide. “Huh?! W-what in the name of—Aaaargh!”

He was swept away like a butterfly caught in a typhoon, slamming against the invisible barrier. Hermes was knocked unconscious on impact. Moreover, my clothes were shredded, leaving me completely exposed.

Well, whatever. I pulled the half-shattered visor back down and looked in the direction of Team Greece.

“C’mon, I’m tired of waiting. Did you chicken out?”

“Y-you’re the monster from yesterday...” Igis, whose eyes were covered by the bandages, went pale in horror.

“You baaaaastard! I, Jenova of Lightning Spear, will fight you!”

Pzzz!

A large, white-bearded Hunter, resembling Zeus stepped into the arena. Ferocious lightning sparks scattered from his giant spear.

“Gaaaaah!”

He was sent flying immediately, with his face rearranged in the process.

The MC exclaimed, “I-incredible! He’s so strong! Hunter Yu Il-Shin! Is he really just a first-year rookie?! The score has become 4 : 4 in no time at all! Will Team Greece be able to pull through this?!”

“Hmph.” I shook the blood off my fist, clicking my tongue in disdain.

Enough wasting time.

I just wanted to fight that weird-eyed woman!

“Come on stage now, Bitch.”

Igis’ shoulders shuddered slightly. Then, she took off the bandage covering her eyes with determination.

Shaaa!

Then, a pair of snake-like eyes were revealed.

“Alright. I’ll fight you.”

1. Because the audience is international, it's understandable that the interpretation wouldn't be accurate for the audience, hence this translation. ☜