Chapter 418 – Part 2 – Lightning from a Clear Sky

[You have killed Hunter Peter Fields.]

[You have stolen the trait ‘Leader’s Authority’.]

[You have stolen 25 pieces of equipment.]

[You have stolen 20 Magic Stones.]

[Synchronization rate 52.3%]

[You have replicated the appearance of the killed target.]

‘He’s dead.’

That was the end of his feelings about killing a Great Hero.

As always, Choi Seong-min looked down at the corpse with indifferent eyes.

‘Should I check the items?’

From legendary helmets and legendary armor to various S-rank equipment.

He possessed quite a variety of equipment, but what caught his eye most was the EX-grade weapon, Mjolnir.

[Mjolnir]

-Classification: Weapon

-Grade: EX

-Attack Power: 6,000~9,000(+3,277)

-Effects: Mana +2,000, Additional weapon attack power equal to mana. Attack speed +10% each time weapon is swung (max 20 stacks)

-Durability: Infinite

-Usage Restriction: S-rank or above (Soul-bound)

-Description: A blunt weapon born from enhancing a legendary sword. You can gain 1 stack each time you swing it, and when 100 stacks are accumulated, you can use Lightning Strike. Stacks reset when equipment is unequipped.

‘Converting mana to weapon attack power, attack speed increase with each swing, and Lightning Strike after charging…’

Choi Seong-min shook his head after seeing the options.

‘No matter how much the Magic Core converts into a weapon suitable for the user, this weapon is too good for him.’

He couldn’t understand how such a good weapon ended up in the hands of trash like Peter.

‘Since it’s soul-bound, I can’t give it to anyone… This is troublesome.’

Choi Seong-min tried gripping Mjolnir.

Holding it together with the Doppelganger’s replica sword gave him two hammers in both hands.

Whoosh whoosh whoosh-

When he swung the twin hammers, stacks built up quickly.

Moreover, the Fierce Attack trait had stacked up to 10 from the previous battle.

Whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh!

With 200% attack speed from the Fierce Attack buff plus Mjolnir’s 200% attack speed, the hammers in both hands spun so fast they were invisible.

[Stack 100/100]

[Lightning Strike preparation complete.]

[Please look at your desired target and speak the activation word.]

‘It charged already.’

One of the two Mjolnirs glowed as if urging him to use it quickly.

‘I might need to use it someday, so let me check its power.’

Choi Seong-min looked around for a target.

Coincidentally, there was a good test subject right in front of him.

Peter’s corpse.

‘Lightning Strike.’

At that moment, lightning flashed and struck from the sky.

Kwarrrung-!

Peter’s corpse, hit by lightning, disappeared without a trace.

‘Crazy. This was the level of damage?’

Though it was a corpse with defense levels equal to ordinary people, he didn’t expect it to be this powerful.

‘I need to use it more to know the exact damage, but for now it’s perfect for corpse disposal.’

Though the lightning would draw some attention.

Sure enough.

He could hear murmuring sounds from far away.

‘I should get out of here first.’

Choi Seong-min disappeared with Shadow Movement.

Not long after.

“Here, here!”

“Huh? I think something flashed here?”

People who witnessed the lightning came looking, but they couldn’t find either Choi Seong-min or Peter Fields.

Only blackened burn marks remained where the lightning had struck.

* * *

Just yesterday, after the Wings of Hope vice-leader had left.

Ryu Jong-ik remained in the conference room, resting his chin in his hand, lost in thought.

‘I’m glad the alliance was concluded safely.’

Actually, he hadn’t been too worried.

The black mask had vouched that they could be trusted, and the vice-leader he met directly seemed like quite a good person.

The real worry was something else.

‘Will the black mask really kill the Great Heroes for us?’

Of course, not all of them.

He had firmly stated that Woo Seong-jae was unbeatable.

‘I don’t even hope for Woo Seong-jae. As he said, if he just kills up to Peter Fields, I couldn’t ask for more.’

Yet worry lingered on Ryu Jong-ik’s face.

It was because of Kwak Min-cheol.

‘I want to kill Kwak Min-cheol with my own hands.’

The reason he created Revolution in the first place was also Kwak Min-cheol.

Since he had killed his daughter Eun-bi, he had to complete his revenge with his own hands.

But the black mask said he would kill Kwak Min-cheol.

‘What should I do? Should I ask the black mask? To let me deal with Kwak Min-cheol myself?’

But the black mask probably wanted to kill Kwak Min-cheol too.

It was honestly difficult to ask him to yield.

‘Most importantly, there’s no way to contact the black mask…’

He should have said it when he saw him last time, but he missed the timing.

‘What should I do?’

Ryu Jong-ik worried, but only briefly.

“So you were here.”

Just like before, the black mask appeared like a ghost, leaning against the wall.

Who knows how long he had been there.

“Bl-Black Mask. You have a talent for startling me every time. Haha…”

Ryu Jong-ik patted his surprised chest.

The sudden appearance wasn’t unpleasant or anything.

Though he said they weren’t comrades, the black mask was a more reliable supporter than anyone.

“Black Mask, what brings you today…”

“I came to deliver news.”

“What? What news…”

“The news that I killed Peter Fields.”

“What?”

Ryu Jong-ik couldn’t help but be surprised.

He knew the black mask’s abilities well, so Peter Fields’ death was foreseeable.

But he hadn’t expected him to be killed this quickly.

‘It’s only been one day and he’s already dead?’

After calming his surprised heart, Ryu Jong-ik asked.

“Are you certain… certain he’s dead?”

“Yes. I disposed of the body so I can’t prove it, but I definitely killed him.”

“That’s truly amazing. Thank you. Thanks to you, I can rest easy.”

Ryu Jong-ik bowed his head deeply.

He couldn’t help but be grateful to the black mask who had removed such a huge obstacle.

“Now excluding Woo Seong-jae, the remaining Great Heroes are Kwak Min-cheol, Melissa, and Frank. Three of them.”

“That’s right.”

He nodded in agreement, but Choi Seong-min knew the truth.

‘Actually, only Woo Seong-jae remains among the Great Heroes.’

But only Choi Seong-min and Woo Seong-jae knew this fact.

Others thought the remaining Great Heroes were still actively operating.

‘I’ll reveal it later. That I took care of them all.’

While thinking such thoughts, he saw Ryu Jong-ik hesitating to speak.

Soon after reading his thoughts, Choi Seong-min smiled wickedly behind his mask.

‘I wondered what was wrong, turns out he wants Kwak Min-cheol.’

Watching Ryu Jong-ik’s lips move, Choi Seong-min asked.

“You seem to have something to say to me?”

“Ah, well… This might be a difficult request…”

Ryu Jong-ik gathered courage and spoke.

“I don’t know about the other Great Heroes, but couldn’t I kill Kwak Min-cheol? I’m making this request.”

Seeing him bow his head to the floor showed how earnest he was.

“What’s the reason?”

“Well… I have a deep grudge against Kwak Min-cheol. Of course, I don’t know if you do too… but couldn’t you yield just that one to me?”

“If I yield? Can you win?”

Of course, beating the babbling Kwak Min-cheol would be easier than eating cold porridge, but Choi Seong-min pretended not to know and asked.

He wanted to see Ryu Jong-ik’s resolve.

“I know the difference is huge. Kwak Min-cheol has 1.8 million combat power and I only have 1.02 million. But…”

Ryu Jong-ik clenched his fists tightly.

“I want to finish that guy with my own hands no matter what. I might die in the process… but I don’t care about my life. If I’m just given a chance to take revenge on Kwak Min-cheol…”

Choi Seong-min was inwardly satisfied with Ryu Jong-ik’s appearance filled with anger.

‘His resolve seems sufficient.’

Even without reading his thoughts, he could feel that he was prepared to risk his life.

Choi Seong-min nodded in permission.

“Fine. I’ll leave Kwak Min-cheol to you, Leader.”

“Really? Is that true?”

“Yes. However, you must be with me when facing Kwak Min-cheol. If you fail, I’ll have to deal with him.”

“Ah… Understood! Just giving me a chance to fight first is enough. Thank you so much.”

Ryu Jong-ik was happy just to get a chance for revenge.

‘Kwak Min-cheol… I’ll definitely kill you with my own hands…!’

At the sight of Ryu Jong-ik making a serious vow, Choi Seong-min could only smile bitterly behind his mask.

* * *

[Everyone, do you know the Eastland saying ‘lightning from a clear sky’? This morning, unexpected lightning struck near the Pentagon. Fortunately, no one was hurt, but according to witness testimonies from citizens, they saw staff members rushing out of the Pentagon in panic. When asked about this, the Pentagon has remained silent, and it’s speculated that some incident occurred inside…]

As if he had seen enough, Woo Seong-jae turned off the TV.

‘Peter is dead.’

He could guess even without Insight.

Since lightning struck from a clear sky.

‘Lightning striking means Peter used Mjolnir’s Lightning Strike…’

What reason would there be to use such a powerful function?

‘He must have encountered the black mask… no, Choi Seong-min.’

If he faced Choi Seong-min, there was nothing to see.

How could 4 million combat power beat 50 million?

Woo Seong-jae was certain of Peter’s death.

‘Still, to die after using lightning… he lasted surprisingly long?’

Even though Lightning Strike was used, Woo Seong-jae wasn’t relieved.

‘The opponent is a monster with 50 million potential combat power. There’s no way lightning could kill him.’

He was certain that if it was Choi Seong-min, he would have dodged even lightning with his ridiculous agility.

That was why the worry didn’t disappear from Woo Seong-jae’s face.

‘There’s no need to contact the Pentagon. Obviously everyone’s dead.’

He could guess from seeing other staff members rushing out in panic.

The Pentagon was probably a sea of blood right now.

‘102 S-rank hunters weren’t nearly enough.’

He had thought they might win if they responded properly, but as expected.

They were insufficient to stop Choi Seong-min alone.

‘Stupid bastards. That’s what they get for working under Peter and dying.’

Even though he had greatly contributed to their deaths, Woo Seong-jae felt no guilt.

‘My life is more precious than a hundred or so of those insects.’

Woo Seong-jae shook his head to clear his thoughts.

Now wasn’t the time to think about such insects.

His own life was in immediate danger.

‘Hunter Choi Seong-min will come after me now.’

This incident made it clear that Choi Seong-min was hunting Great Heroes.

Now he was the only remaining Great Hero.

‘I don’t know why he wants to kill Great Heroes, but I can’t just sit back and take it.’

Woo Seong-jae had prepared countermeasures for such a day.

Though he couldn’t guarantee they would work.

Of course, Choi Seong-min had said he could spare him depending on how well he completed his missions.

‘But the moment I become useless will definitely come.’

When that time came, Choi Seong-min would mercilessly kill Woo Seong-jae.

This much was certain.

‘Begging then would be useless. He’s a monster without blood or tears.’

But even such monsters had weaknesses.

Namely, family.

‘When Choi Seong-min learned that Frank was targeting his family, he was definitely angry.’

Seeing that, he thought at the time that Choi Seong-min’s family must not be touched…

‘Thinking about it differently, family was Choi Seong-min’s Achilles’ heel.’

In other words, if he could just kidnap his family, he could control Choi Seong-min.

‘I happened to order a subordinate with tracking abilities to find Choi Seong-min’s family, so I should get contact soon.’

If he could just locate where Choi Seong-min had hidden his family, kidnapping would be easier than eating cold porridge.

Once kidnapped, he could escape from Choi Seong-min’s grasp.

‘The only problem is that Hunter Choi Seong-min has a homing trait…’

He had prepared countermeasures for this too.

The method was simple.

‘Kidnap his family when Hunter Choi Seong-min is absorbed in other work. For example, when he’s massacring criminal hunters.’

In other words, if the kidnapping proceeded when Hunter Choi Seong-min was occupied, the job could be completed safely.

‘You threatened to kill me? Keke, just wait. I’ll make you feel what it’s like to be threatened.’

A sinister smile spread across Woo Seong-jae’s lips.