Volume 2, Episode 1
026
It was widely known that drawing out one's potential in the current Hunter world was something nearing impossible.
Many Hunters had poured tremendous time and effort into finding a method, but the results had been disastrous.
However, there were occasionally those who succeeded.
But even they could not know exactly how they had drawn out their potential.
“In my opinion, perhaps it came true because I worked hard every day and wished for it desperately.”
There were those who said they had drawn it out by wishing for it tirelessly without missing a single day.
“I don't really know either. It just happened suddenly one day….”
There were also those who said it was mere luck.
Beyond these, there were all sorts of outlandish claims.
Because of this, the Association and all Hunters alike had been unable to establish a clear definition for the method of drawing out potential.
Still, one fact remained clear.
“Those who draw out their potential are extremely rare.”
It was an exceedingly rare occurrence that the majority of Hunters would never experience.
It was known to be such a strange phenomenon that occurred only in an extreme minority of Hunters, and yet—
“T-this… crazy….”
The raid members could not believe the scene before their eyes.
They had been struggling desperately just to survive against Orcs, not truly fighting them, yet they had now succeeded in hunting one.
“Haa. Haa….”
Though their appearances were covered in blood, a complete mess.
Even in such wretched states, they had succeeded.
‘This is unbelievable.’
And in a mere five days at that.
This was simply unbelievable.
They had been unable to take down even Goblins, treated as the weakest monsters, in a single attempt. How could they do this in such a short time?
Thus, all the raid members were thinking the same thing.
‘This has to be…’
There was only one thing that could make this possible.
They had drawn out their potential.
There was no other way to explain it.
‘How did they do it?’
But currently, no Hunter knew the exact method.
Therefore, the raid members' faces were filled with bewilderment.
*Gulp.*
At that moment, two men who had drunk potions—
I Hyeonu and Gim Juwon looked at I Seojun with eyes brimming with killing intent.
Even the veteran raid members flinched at that gaze, but—
“Next.”
I Seojun looked at them with an expressionless face and called for the next without hesitation.
“Kuwark!”
Then one raid member quickly moved and dragged an Orc over.
Seeing this, Gim Juwon and I Hyeonu did not hesitate and immediately rushed at the Orc.
“……!”
And the ensuing scene was nothing short of a shock to the raid members.
Ta-at!
Movements clearly different from before.
Their power had increased as well.
They were no longer the ones being constantly beaten by Orcs.
Kwaang!
“K-kuwark!”
A completely reversed situation.
Now the Orc was slammed into the wall, screaming in agony.
At that, the raid members watched with their mouths agape, unwittingly.
‘W-what the hell…’
Their rate of growth was truly unbelievable.
Therefore, the raid members' faces remained stained with confusion.
Sswik.
But I Seojun took it for granted.
Hunter or otherwise, in the end, they were human.
Because he knew where humans grew.
‘Crisis.’
A crisis between life and death. Within it, humans reached their limits.
And the moment they surpassed those limits, humans grew.
Those who denied that hitting one's limits led to growth simply didn't know any better.
‘Where the limit is.’
And also.
‘How far is possible.’
Only one who had experienced all of that could know.
This training was something only I Seojun could do.
As if to prove that fact—
“Keoak!”
A raid member, stimulated by the growth of I Hyeonu and Gim Juwon, tried to follow suit and nearly lost an arm.
After that, no one dared to do anything reckless.
And leaving the growth of Gim Juwon and I Hyeonu behind….
Ding!
I Seojun had grown as well.
[Fusion of C-rank Magic Stone complete.]
[Fusion of B-rank Magic Stone complete.]
A smile formed on I Seojun's lips at the system voice that rang out.
* * *
[Fusion of C-rank Magic Stone complete.]
[Fusion of B-rank Magic Stone complete.]
I Seojun's arm glowed blue.
His arm, which had turned black at some point, was adorned with jewels that emitted a brilliant light.
But the next moment.
‘Restore.’
I Seojun's arm had returned to its human form.
This was not the ability he had used on the planet Lumer, but the skill Fusion that had transformed into a skill upon his return to Earth.
[Fusion Lv. 2]
Attaches the target's body to your own body.
*Everything the target possessed is automatically adjusted to suit your body.
*Magic Stones can be fused.
※A body part connected via Fusion can be restored to its original form at will. (However, there are some body parts that are excluded.)
That was why he had been able to remain in human form whenever he wished until now.
Considering his time on the planet Lumer, this was unbelievable.
‘If this had been possible back then.’
He would never have lived as a wretched monster.
So he had been a bit surprised when he first checked it.
Because something he had never imagined had occurred.
‘Exceptions.’
But this wasn't all-powerful either.
However, I Seojun had a rough intuition as to what they were.
Because he had tried fusing every body part during his time on the planet Lumer.
‘Magic Stones.’
And the magic stones he had received before.
The reason he had collected them was precisely because of that—the new description added when the Fusion skill level rose.
In fact, these magic stones could be called the biggest difference and advantage Earth had over the planet Lumer, for I Seojun.
Magic stones had existed on Lumer as well.
‘Horn.’
Horned beasts.
They were predators of the planet Lumer, and hunting them yielded these rare items only sparingly.
On Lumer, it took years or even decades to acquire a Horn.
Using it, he could strengthen and grow the abilities of his fused body parts.
However, on Earth, although they weren't on the same level as Horns, such things could be acquired relatively more easily than on Lumer.
[Cannot fuse Magic Stones. Skill level too low.]
So when he first received magic stones from Yun Hyeongi, he had tried and failed.
But he had confirmed it was possible, and when his level rose, a new description was added.
---------
Name: I Seojun
Class: King of Lumer
Level: 3 (First Awakening: Incomplete Horn) *Most of the body's abilities are sealed.
[Stats]
Strength: 78
Agility: 69
Stamina: 73
Mana: 73
---------
And this was precisely the result of fusing magic stones.
Compared to before, each stat had risen by 3 overall.
It was a very subtle increase, but he could feel his physical abilities had risen overall.
Thus, another method to strengthen his body had been born.
Kkwak.
He would have to continue clearing Gates and growing through magic stones.
Though he would hit that limit quickly, I Seojun was hastening his growth.
‘Me too.’
Gim Juwon, I Hyeonu, and even Yun Hyeongi.
He had to use the Samil Resolution Agency, Tirion, and everything else.
Because what he had been searching for was beginning to come into view.
“…….”
The four assassins he had seen when Gim Juwon was kidnapped.
The energy they possessed was unmistakably from Lumer.
That was why even the mana detection device Yun Hyeongi possessed, classified as military goods, had been unable to detect them.
Because they had hidden their mana using Lumer's energy.
Most likely.
‘A research lab is likely involved.’
If not that, then something related to Lumer.
He had to find it.
Because the Resolution Agency and the Guild existed for that purpose.
“W-we're done…!”
And now, including Gim Juwon and I Hyeonu, the raid members had taken down the boss monster.
* * *
The faces of Gim Juwon and I Hyeonu were a sight to behold.
They were a wreck; it would have been harder to find a spot that was intact.
No matter how much they healed with potions, there were wounds left that couldn't recover due to regeneration limits.
They would heal with time, but for now, they wore expressions like warriors who had overcome impossible odds.
Ssik.
Yet a faint smile spread across their weary faces.
Kkwak.
Gim Juwon clenched his fist tightly.
“……….”
They had hunted Orcs and participated in taking down the boss monster.
Had it been them from not long ago, this would have been unimaginable.
They had been unable to properly kill even Goblins.
‘We really did it.’
But now it was different.
Goblins were now just a meal.
No, Orcs were now the same.
“Haa.”
It had barely been a month since asking I Seojun, and this was the change shown in that time.
Thus, an overwhelming sense of accomplishment flooded over them, beyond words.
‘I thought it was impossible.’
When they had entered the Gate and carried out the strange training I Seojun ordered.
Honestly, he had thought it impossible no matter how much time passed.
How many times had he been beaten half to death by Orcs.
No, there had been countless times he nearly died.
‘To think this worked.’
That was why he couldn't help but harbor doubts at the time.
He had kept thinking whether this was really right.
He had even thought I Seojun might be trying to kill him.
But those doubts had been completely resolved within the span of five days.
‘As expected.’
He too was a Hunter, so he knew.
That this was originally something nearing impossible.
Therefore, to say I Seojun, Hyung-nim, was a being who made the impossible possible would be no exaggeration.
“I'm going to get tested again.”
Gim Juwon spoke, suppressing his excited emotions.
“I think I'll probably make C-rank.”
A heart wanting to confirm his growth.
“…….”
The nearby raid members all heard his voice.
But no one mocked Gim Juwon.
‘If he gets tested again, he really seems like he'd reach that level.’
Because the skill Gim Juwon had shown was truly at that level.
“I'll go too.”
I Hyeonu said to Gim Juwon.
I Hyeonu was not someone who usually stepped forward easily.
‘I am certain.’
His attitude had changed because he was confident that he had grown.
He had thought he would live his whole life as an F-rank Hunter at the very bottom, but now it seemed that life would change.
Thump. Thump.
That was why the face of I Hyeonu, who usually didn't show his emotions, now looked exactly like Gim Juwon's.
His thoroughly excited heart was plainly visible.
Teobeok. Teobeok.
Several footsteps approached them.
“Good work.”
Now fairly close, the raid members offered greetings and left leisurely.
“Everyone, great work.”
“Please be careful on your way back.”
After seeing off the raid members, Gim Juwon and I Hyeonu approached a support staff Hunter to retrieve their personal belongings.
“Hyung-nim. I've got everything.”
Gim Juwon reported to I Seojun.
Just as the three were about to leave.
“Wait.”
Yun Hyeongi called out to I Seojun.
A face that looked somehow serious.
And then.
“Can I ask you for a favor too?”
Yun Hyeongi said.
The strongest villain in history had returned.