Chapter 112

The exploits of the Stardust Attack Unit had already spread far and wide within the Phoenix Guild.

Song Sang-woo, the Master of the Phoenix Guild, even came out to the entrance to greet them.

“You’ve all worked hard!”

He flashed a deep smile at Kang Yuseong and clapped him on the shoulder.

As a Master, his demeanor, akin to welcoming a victorious general, was quite extraordinary.

Beside him, Captain Moon Baek-woo of the Phoenix Attack Unit also looked at Kang Yuseong with a face full of pride. An attack unit from the Phoenix Guild, merely ranked among the top ten in the country, had succeeded in rescuing a VIP after defeating renowned attack units.

The power displayed by Stardust during that process had even surprised Moon Baek-woo.

Furthermore, rumors had spread that Park Jong-han, the Eternity Attack Unit Captain of the Immortal Guild, had acknowledged Kang Yuseong, making their feelings exceptionally profound.

Of course, not everyone shared those sentiments.

While there were certainly those who resented the “newcomer pushing out the old,” no one within the Phoenix Guild was bold enough to voice such opinions.

Kang Yuseong was now officially the leader of the Phoenix Guild’s most skilled attack unit.

It was clear what would happen if anyone dared to complain to him, given the full support he received from the Master and Vice-Master.

The Hunters of Stardust, receiving the Phoenix Guild’s warm welcome, felt their hearts swell with emotion.

They, who had been nothing more than third-rate, were now being treated with such respect in a major guild.

This was all thanks to Kang Yuseong.

“Captain, I’ve been noticing lately, you seem to be getting even more handsome.”

Kang Yuseong let out a chuckle at Jwa Myeong-hoon’s words.

“I’ve always been handsome. You mean you didn’t know?”

Then, Kim Do-jin next to him burst out laughing.

When Kang Yuseong glared at him, he shrugged.

“Oh, a funny thought just popped into my head. What, does it sting?”

“Forget it. What would I even say to you?”

Kim Do-jin smirked annoyingly, but Kang Yuseong deliberately ignored him.

Kang Yuseong looked at the attack unit and spoke again.

“Everyone worked incredibly hard this time. Thank you for bravely surviving even in difficult situations. While even tougher challenges will likely arise in the future, I trust that you all will remain steadfastly by my side.”

“Of course! Captain, just trust us!”

Jwa Myeong-hoon thumped his chest as he spoke.

Han Do-seong looked at him with an exasperated expression.

“Stop it already. Ugh, it’s so embarrassing.”

“What? You wanna go, punk?”

The two immediately started bickering and fighting.

However, their antics weren’t met with frowns, but rather with smiles. Everyone knew how the two had relied on each other and endured countless battles together.

‘Speaking of which…’

Kang Yuseong glanced at Kim Do-jin.

He was always an annoying fellow to see, but his growth rate was truly astonishing.

Just a short while ago, his magic ability was only slightly higher than Kang Yuseong’s, but now he had reached such a high level that it was practically out of sight.

‘A fearsome guy…’

He felt once again that bringing Kim Do-jin to their side had been a wise decision.

As Kang Yuseong gazed intently at Kim Do-jin, he suddenly spoke to him.

“Kim Do-jin.”

“Yes.”

Kang Yuseong looked at him with a provocative gaze and continued.

“You and I, let’s have a match.”

Kim Do-jin narrowed his eyes and met his gaze.

“Don’t you have anything better to do?”

Kang Yuseong grinned.

“I just want to see how strong you’ve become. If you’re not confident, then never mind.”

At those words, Kim Do-jin’s eyes changed completely.

He, too, had considerable pride in his abilities and was a man of great competitive spirit.

He was not one to back down when directly challenged.

“You’d better bring insurance. A strong one.”

Kang Yuseong smirked again.

“Well, I wonder if you’ll get a chance to use that insurance.”

Kim Do-jin’s eyes narrowed.

“Name the time and place.”

Kang Yuseong nodded.

“The time is this evening, and I’ll tell you the place separately.”

Kim Do-jin also gave a slight nod.

“Alright. I won’t go easy, so if you’re scared, don’t come. You might get hurt.”

That was Kim Do-jin for you.

That boldness, not yielding a single word against Kang Yuseong.

How much he admired that audacity!

Kang Yuseong smiled faintly.

“I’m looking forward to it.”

A silence fell over the attack unit at their conversation.

Though only the two of them were unaware, a palpable killing intent was already emanating from their exchange.

The Hunters whispered among themselves, looking at each other.

“It looks like the Captain is going to kill Team Leader Kim Do-jin!”

“Hey, how strong is Team Leader Kim Do-jin! Even the Captain won’t have an easy time!”

“You’re right! The Captain almost died to Team Leader Kim Do-jin last time!”

As the Hunters were whispering, they suddenly felt a chill and stopped talking abruptly.

Gil Hyeok-jun stood there.

He glared at both Kim Do-jin and Kang Yuseong and spoke.

“Why am I left out?”

Kang Yuseong saw him and thought, ‘Oh, right.’

To arrange a duel in front of him, a man whose competitive spirit was second to none…

“Well, then, why don’t both of you come at me at once? I don’t mind.”

Kim Do-jin said, looking at the two with an indifferent expression.

Then he raised his right and left hands.

“One hand per person. Well, this should be enough.”

The smile on his lips made the two men frown.

“So, Team Leader Gil Hyeok-jun… shall we?”

“That sounds good. That annoying bastard… I’ve wanted to teach him a lesson for a while.”

Under the cold gazes of Kang Yuseong and Gil Hyeok-jun, Kim Do-jin smiled faintly.

“Then I’ll see you this evening.”

Thus, a three-way duel was arranged.

A battle between the three strongest members of the Stardust Attack Unit.

But Kang Yuseong was smiling inwardly.

Because only he knew the true meaning of this battle.

* * * * *

Whoosh—

Seven in the evening.

Near Star Pharmaceuticals, in a large open field created by the Second Shock, three figures gathered.

For tens of kilometers in every direction around this area, no one lived, so there was no concern about being noticed.

Against the darkening evening sky stood Kang Yuseong with a longsword at his hip, Gil Hyeok-jun with a greatsword on his back and two hand axes tucked into his waist, and Kim Do-jin, wearing a fedora tilted askew, observing the two with an indifferent gaze.

It was a considerably wide open field, yet when these three appeared, it felt as if the space had shrunk.

The Hunters of the Stardust Attack Unit also watched this historic duel from a distance. Their expressions, a mix of excitement and anticipation, were quite animated as they gazed at the three.

“Hmm…”

Kang Yuseong looked at the two and stepped forward.

As he walked forward with his hands slightly raised, Kim Do-jin and Gil Hyeok-jun simultaneously frowned slightly. He was merely walking, yet an immense pressure, as if a great mountain were bearing down on them, emanated from him.

Shing—

Gil Hyeok-jun drew his greatsword.

At that moment, Kang Yuseong realized that Gil Hyeok-jun had grown dazzlingly since their previous encounter.

Shwaaa—

A hazy Force emanated from his greatsword.

The Hunters of the attack unit, watching this, felt an oppressive sensation, as if their chests were tightening.

Indeed, Gil Hyeok-jun was also a possessor of immense power.

Gulp—

The Hunters couldn’t help but swallow dryly at the breathtaking sight of the three men, who had reached such a high level.

Whoosh—

And at that moment, red sparks suddenly flared up, illuminating the surroundings.

The Hunters saw countless red, thread-like energies swirling around Kim Do-jin’s body like a tornado. He, too, had already begun.

Seeing the two of them, Kang Yuseong bared his white teeth and grinned.

These were two men who possessed absolute power in South Korea right now.

Even if they were Hunters from the Immortal Guild’s Eternity Attack Unit, they possessed such formidable martial prowess that no one would dare challenge them.

And these two were baring their fangs at him.

It wasn’t predetermined.

No, rather, Kim Do-jin had provoked the two to attack him together, but reality had turned upside down.

Under Kang Yuseong’s oppressive aura, the two had bared their fangs at him in unison.

The thrill of being able to fight these strongest men spread through every fiber of Kang Yuseong’s being.

‘Good…’

It was exhilarating.

This thrill, emanating from his fingertips to his toes.

That delightful thrill, which unfailingly appeared when facing an absolute powerhouse and having to cross swords with them, was once again coursing through him.

That was why Kang Yuseong was called a beast consumed by madness.

Because he relentlessly sought this thrill, more potent than any drug in the world.

Kwoooosh!

Kang Yuseong’s gaze turned cold, and a colossal aura surged from his entire body.

The beast bared its fangs.

And two fierce predators stood against him.

The three of them observed each other, seeking an opening.

At this moment, if even a flicker of an opening appeared, they would immediately sink their fangs into a throat.

However, it was the beast consumed by madness who shattered that subtle standoff.

He brazenly revealed an opening, then charged madly, rushing at the two predators.

Bang—

The air ripped apart, and Kang Yuseong’s body surged towards the two as if pulled by a vacuum.

Kim Do-jin raised his right hand, and Gil Hyeok-jun’s eyes flashed with a fierce light.

Swaaash!

At that moment, Gil Hyeok-jun kicked off the ground and brought his greatsword straight down, while Kim Do-jin unleashed a torrent of hot flames.

Clang!

Simultaneously, fierce sparks flew.

Kang Yuseong parried Gil Hyeok-jun’s greatsword with his longsword, then immediately plunged inward.

Whoosh!

But cunningly, Kim Do-jin’s flames rapidly pursued his trail.

The flames surged with a fierce momentum, as if to engulf not only Kang Yuseong but Gil Hyeok-jun as well.

‘This bastard!’

Kang Yuseong realized his intention and frowned.

Kim Do-jin was, in fact, using Kang Yuseong as bait, intending to take down Gil Hyeok-jun as well.

Regardless of how they fought, it was a one-on-two battle.

It was always much more advantageous to start a fight by damaging the other two, excluding himself.

Thud!

Gil Hyeok-jun, seemingly realizing this, gritted his teeth, stomped his foot, and quickly retreated backward.

Clang!

But Kang Yuseong didn’t let him escape.

Like a predator leaping through the air at its prey, his body stretched out, directly pouncing on Gil Hyeok-jun.

Compared to Gil Hyeok-jun’s greatsword, Kang Yuseong’s longsword was shorter and thinner, but the power imbued within it was by no means negligible.

Thwack!

With just one downward strike of the longsword, Gil Hyeok-jun’s leg sank slightly into the ground.

An immense power was contained within that strike.

Swaaash!

At that moment, a fireball hurtled towards Kang Yuseong’s back in the blink of an eye.

Most cunningly, it was a fireball launched at a timing Kang Yuseong absolutely could not evade.

Kang Yuseong felt a searing heat on his back and gritted his teeth.

If he tried to dodge it, Gil Hyeok-jun’s greatsword would surely cleave him, and if he didn’t, he would take a significant hit.

In that fleeting moment, Kang Yuseong’s body spun in mid-air.

It was as fluid as a painting, so natural that it made observers doubt their own eyes.