Chapter 32

*Whoosh!*

A scorching fireball shot up into the air, hurtling towards Kang Yuseong, who had leaped skyward.

Kang Yuseong swiftly dodged it, turning his sword sideways.

The most crucial rule when facing a Magic User was never to give them distance.

But that was easier said than done. Distance control was precisely what Chakra Users struggled with the most.

It was the reason countless scenarios unfolded where Chakra Users were helplessly overwhelmed, unable to close the gap while ranged attacks rained down on them.

Later, countermeasures like Sword Force and Sword Impact would emerge, but in the early days, Chakra Users were significantly outmatched by Magic Users.

However, Kang Yuseong was a fighter who had overcome such disadvantages through countless battles.

For him, distance control was not a difficult technique.

At this stage, there was no way a Magic User would have encountered a Chakra User who could control distance with such veteran skill.

*Clang!*

As Kang Yuseong instantly closed the distance to Jang So-dan, crimson sparks erupted from his sword.

A cold smile played on Kang Yuseong’s lips.

Jang So-dan was indeed a formidable expert, ranked within the top 300 in China.

He had clearly been flustered by Kang Yuseong’s pressure.

But his combat sense was equally impressive; as Kang Yuseong plunged forward and swung his sword, Jang So-dan deployed an Air Shield to block it.

An Air Shield, formed by compressing air into a solid, steel-like barrier, effectively defended against attacks from swords or axes.

It was a vital defensive skill that protected Magic Users even from the immense power of monster attacks.

*This is the kind of fight I live for.*

Kang Yuseong gazed at Jang So-dan, whose quick judgment had shone through, and pushed off the ground once more.

*Hummmm—*

The sword in his hand hummed softly.

*Whoosh!*

Even though Jang So-dan had blocked Kang Yuseong with an Air Shield, the tide of battle had already shifted in Kang Yuseong’s favor.

It was Kang Yuseong who consistently held the initiative in the attack.

*Clang!*

Another shower of sparks flew.

But it was then that Jang So-dan’s expression began to twist.

Kang Yuseong knew why.

And he knew it very well.

*An Air Shield…*

*Thump—*

*…can also shatter ridiculously easily if it takes enough damage.*

*Whoosh!*

*Crash!*

This time, Jang So-dan’s body was violently shaken.

For a moment, nothing stood between Jang So-dan and Kang Yuseong.

Jang So-dan’s face turned ashen, meeting Kang Yuseong’s smiling gaze.

Just then, men wielding weapons rushed in from the side to save Jang So-dan.

*Clang!*

Someone barely managed to block Kang Yuseong’s downward strike.

But the cost was horrific.

“Aghhh!”

His grip was shattered, his hand torn apart.

The man appeared to possess considerable strength, but merely blocking Kang Yuseong’s single blow had severely injured his hand, rendering it useless.

Kang Yuseong didn’t press his attack further, instead retreating to observe them.

*Let’s… take a look.*

At that moment, Kang Yuseong activated Thieving Eye.

*Flash—*

And symbols appeared above all of them.

Some symbols were gray, others displayed question marks, but most were green, corresponding to their respective weapons.

However, Kang Yuseong wasn’t looking at those men.

His gaze was fixed on one place.

Jang So-dan.

Above his head, a fireball symbol, a long Flame Whip symbol, and a gray symbol of several overlapping shields were visible. And then, another symbol: two fireballs overlapping.

*That… could it be?*

Kang Yuseong frowned at the sight.

To possess that, Jang So-dan was quite a dangerous individual.

Bursting Fireball.

It was a spell that launched two fireballs simultaneously, but they didn’t just fly straight. One would fly honestly, but the one following behind would move erratically.

It might hide behind the first fireball, or it might ride the air currents created by the first fireball, flying haphazardly before *Boom!*

Thus, when a Chakra User discovered it, they couldn’t prevent the damage.

This was the very magic that had forced countless early Chakra Users to their knees.

“Kihah!”

At that instant, the men charged at Kang Yuseong.

Kang Yuseong immediately deactivated Thieving Eye and retreated.

A heavy axe swung towards him, and a massive spiked flail was hurled from the side, aiming to crush Kang Yuseong’s flank.

They seemed to have undergone considerable training, as five or six men instantly surrounded Kang Yuseong, cutting off his escape routes and presenting an excellent offensive formation, pressuring him from the front.

Within that encirclement, Kang Yuseong moved.

*Thump—*

He flicked one foot, deflecting the axe’s trajectory, and used the longsword in his hand to strike the spiked flail upwards.

*Clang!*

Before the sparks from the colliding sword and flail could dissipate, Kang Yuseong pushed off the ground.

*Thump-thump!*

In such an encirclement, panic meant death.

His opponents were individuals who had undergone extreme training to kill.

Even the slightest opening could lead to instant death.

But the one facing them was Kang Yuseong.

In this kind of combat, he was more seasoned than anyone.

Instead of retreating while trapped in the encirclement, he launched an even more aggressive offense.

*Flash—*

He darted forward and swung his sword.

*Clang-clang-clang!*

Suddenly, fierce sparks flew around him.

“Ugh!”

At the same time, the men recoiled.

The power imbued in his sword was immense.

But it was then.

“…!”

One man stood rigid, unable to move.

With an expression of disbelief, he slowly looked down at his chest.

A sword was embedded there.

Chakra, Flash Stab!

A terrifying stab, so fast it was almost invisible, had struck him.

He was not given the luxury of time.

*Gush!*

As Kang Yuseong pulled out his sword, a torrent of blood spewed forth, and the man collapsed on the spot. But Kang Yuseong was no longer there.

*Flash!*

The man next to him widened his eyes.

Kang Yuseong had leaped into the air as if an eagle had spread its wings, pushing off the ground and swooping down upon him.

Completely unprepared for such a move, his body was stiff with shock.

That fleeting moment sealed his fate.

*Swoosh!*

The man’s body was precisely cut in half.

*Drip— Drip—*

First, a drop or two of blood flowed, then it poured out like a waterfall.

*Thud!*

And his body, no longer able to support itself, collapsed with a dull thud.

The faces of the men who had surrounded Kang Yuseong twisted.

For the first time, the shadow of despair fell over their eyes.

This was no mere human.

How in the world could they possibly contend with this man?

Far from attacking him, they were now cornered, forced to desperately seek a way to survive…

They realized with searing clarity that the man before them was absolutely no match for them.

His sword was merciless, lethal.

It sought out only the critical, vulnerable spots they wished to hide, and they were utterly incapable of blocking it.

At this moment, they were merely shields for Jang So-dan.

Suddenly, Kang Yuseong, sword drawn, surged before their eyes.

To them, he appeared like the grim reaper himself. They gritted their teeth and gripped their weapons.

It was then.

*Boom!*

A fierce heat surged from behind them, and a blazing fireball soared through the air.

Simultaneously, something else shot out.

*Whoosh!*

It was a Flame Whip, burning with terrifying intensity.

To block or dodge the fireball meant being struck by the Flame Whip, and if they focused on the Flame Whip, the fireball would engulf them.

This was Jang So-dan’s skill!

*Gulp—*

The men swallowed hard.

*Perhaps!*

Just perhaps.

Jang So-dan might be able to take down this man!

The next moment, they had to doubt their own eyes.

Something unbelievable had just happened.

*Crackling!*

A strange aura was gathering in Kang Yuseong’s hand as he leaped into the air.

The aura quickly took shape.

“N-No way!”

“Th-That’s!”

The men gasped in astonishment, their mouths agape.

The most surprised among them was Jang So-dan himself.

“How… how can this be?!”

*Whoosh!*

A Fireball.

What had erupted from the man’s hand was a fiercely blazing Fireball.

If he were a Magic User, it wouldn’t be strange at all.

But this man was a Chakra User!

An astonishing sight had unfolded, shattering all conventional wisdom.

*Whoosh!*

He fired the Fireball towards Jang So-dan’s Fireball, which was flying towards him.

*CRASH!*

“Ugh!”

The two fireballs collided, unleashing a swirling shockwave.

Scorching heat spread in all directions, and the men writhed in pain.

Jang So-dan momentarily lost sight of the man.

*Ugh!*

It was a fatal mistake.

At that moment, Jang So-dan felt a chill run through his entire body.

Right before his eyes.

*He* stood there.

“Jang So-dan, you must die.”

Kang Yuseong, wearing a cold, devilish smile!

Before Jang So-dan could snap out of it and swing his Flame Whip, his body was already trembling.

“Gurgle, gurgle!”

A thin line of blood already traced his neck.

His neck had been severed in an instant.

“I hold no personal grudge… but for the sake of the future.”

The more Magic Users grew, the more formidable their power became.

Because even ten Chakra Users fighting one Magic User could have that numerical disadvantage overturned by the Magic User.

Especially this man, Jang So-dan, was a Magic User who would later achieve tremendous growth and play a significant role.

Nip trouble in the bud.

It was an iron rule Kang Yuseong had learned the hard way after becoming a Monarch.

*Thud!*

Jang So-dan clutched his neck, but he couldn’t stop the gushing blood and collapsed.

“Well, shall we begin again? Us.”

Kang Yuseong turned around and looked at the men.

But the men had already lost their will to fight and were backing away hesitantly.

Kang Yuseong advanced towards them.

*****

A considerable number of Chinese Hunters lay fallen.

Cruel?

Yes.

Inhumane?

Yes.

Then why must it be done?

Kang Yuseong offered a dry smile.

Who could answer such a question?

In truth, Kang Yuseong didn’t even believe that annihilating them was the perfect solution.

But the war had already begun.

This battlefield was a place where enemies spared out of compassion today would frequently stab you in the back tomorrow.

Hell.

Compassion was a luxury, mercy a virtue that should not exist, and pity and benevolence should be discarded—an ultimate, primal scene of slaughter.

He had lived on the battlefield for a long time and learned this.

That war was like that.

That it had to be that way.

*Therefore.*

Kang Yuseong took blood-stained steps.

*I have no choice but to become a demon.*

Someone had to end it.

But to end it…

Someone had to start it.

The act of pressing that detonator…

That was what Kang Yuseong had chosen now.

He would orchestrate the stage with his own hands, and he would create the war.

Killing these people would undoubtedly cause a huge uproar in China.

But even to silence them, he had to go.

Towards Chinatown, towards that place where everything was being planned and conceived.

Because once the truth of that place was revealed, China would have no choice but to remain silent.

Kang Yuseong had come here precisely for that reason.

He walked alone through the late-night streets.