Leveling Up Alone

Chapter 176: I Hate Anyone that Uses a Bow (2)

The referee was getting ready to start the fight, since the two Hunters were prepared.

Creak…!

Jung Woo-Hyun pulled out an arrow from his quiver and nocked it, while Han-Yeol gripped his sword in preparation to attack.

"Are you ready?"

Wooooong!

Both of them started to channel their mana.

“FIGHT!”

The referee finally gave the signal.

Everyone anticipated the melee fighter, Han-Yeol, to make the first move, but they were surprised when the archer, Jung Woo-Hyun, made the first move instead.

"Eat this!"

Shwoooong!

The typical way to shoot an arrow was to aim it directly toward the target, but Jung Woo-Hyun deviated from the norm and shot the arrow to the side instead. Many would assume he did so impulsively, but Jung Woo-Hyun was renowned as the Bow Master.

Among the Hunters, there were no Master Rank individuals who specialized in archery, and most bow-wielding Hunters fell below the S Rank. Therefore, Jung Woo-Hyun's title as the Bow Master was not entirely unfounded.

Shak!

The arrow followed a U-shaped trajectory, soaring toward Han-Yeol's blind spot.

‘Ha! As if!’?Han-Yeol scoffed as his Sixth Sense kicked in.

Clang!

It was a piece of cake for Han-Yeol to perceive the incoming arrow, even though it flew from his blind spot, thanks to his Sixth Sense ability, which made everything move at an extremely slow pace.

When Han-Yeol deftly parried the arrow, Jung Woo-Hyun was slightly flustered at how easily his attack was blocked. However, he gritted his teeth, took three more arrows from his quiver, and exclaimed, "Try blocking this!"

He unleashed his 'Multi Shot' technique.

Creak… Shwooong! Shwooong! Shwoooong!

It was not a skill but rather a self-developed technique that enabled him to shoot three arrows simultaneously at his target. The arrows dispersed in different directions, with the middle one heading straight for Han-Yeol's head, while the other two formed an arc, targeting both of his sides.

This highly challenging technique was Jung Woo-Hyun's specialty, which he had used to dispatch numerous monsters. It was also the technique that endeared him to his devoted fans.

‘It’s definitely difficult to block something like this with ordinary defensive skills,’?Han-Yeol thought while observing the three arrows.

Most defensive skills were of the shield type, capable of protecting only a single direction, while those offering full-body defense were exceptionally rare. Jung Woo-Hyun's arrows, which could target the entire body, proved to be a truly lethal technique against most opponents.

Han-Yeol possessed his own defensive skill, but he saw no reason to employ it at that moment. Swinging his sword, he thought, ‘It will be easier for me later on if I stick to one concept instead of showcasing all of my skills.’

Shwaaak!

Clang! Clang! Clang!

“…!”

All three arrows flew in different directions, yet Han-Yeol effortlessly swung his sword once and blocked all of them.

Crack!

Gritting his teeth and feeling frustrated at his blocked technique, Jung Woo-Hyun knew he couldn't afford to stand idly by. He didn't have the luxury of dwelling on his disappointment.

"It's my turn now. Get ready," Han-Yeol declared after successfully deflecting two attacks from the Bow Master.

Tak!

Knowing that he couldn't maintain a purely defensive stance indefinitely, Han-Yeol kicked off the ground and swiftly charged toward Jung Woo-Hyun.

Unbeknownst to Han-Yeol, Jung Woo-Hyun still had a few tricks left to unleash. As Han-Yeol closed in on him, Jung Woo-Hyun readied himself to shoot his arrows once again, but this time with a significantly more potent attack.

"I'll show you what true rapid fire is!" Jung Woo-Hyun exclaimed, determined to make a lasting impression.

Pak! Pak! Pak! Pak! Pak!?

This time, Jung Woo-Hyun pulled out five arrows from his quiver and swiftly released each one in rapid succession toward Han-Yeol. Accomplishing the seemingly impossible, he managed to pull back his bowstrings five times in a matter of seconds.

Gulp!

Han-Yeol?nervously gulped after seeing the bow shoot out arrows like a gun. He thought, ‘What kind of speed is that?!’

Ironically, the arrows shot by the Bow Master seemed to be much more powerful than bullets.

Tak!

Han-Yeol came to an abrupt halt, his focus shifting entirely toward evading the incoming barrage of arrows.

"Did you truly believe that I am limited to shooting curved arrows and multi-shots?!" Jung Woo-Hyun proclaimed, his voice carrying a note of triumph.

‘That's why he was so confident in facing me one-on-one, even though he was at a disadvantage due to his weapon,’?Han-Yeol thought, feeling impressed.

It was quite rare for someone to possess the ability to shoot arrows at such rapid speeds, and this was the true secret behind Jung Woo-Hyun's overconfidence in dueling against Han-Yeol.

‘Alright, I guess I should stop warming up and get serious now,’?Han-Yeol thought and smirked.

Wooooong!

Han-Yeol abandoned the idea of closing the distance with the Bow Master and channeled his mana into the Sword of the Thousand Armed Bodhisattva.

Gulp…!

Jung Woo-Hyun nervously gulped after sensing the mana being channeled into the sword. ‘A unique weapon can call forth disaster, so I need to be careful against that…’

He might have been arrogant and overconfident in his abilities, but Jung Woo-Hyun was well aware of the immense destructive potential of a unique weapon. The reason he agreed to this duel was not only because he disliked Han-Yeol and due to Kim Tae-San's request, but also because the prize for this event was none other than a unique bow, a perfect weapon for someone like him.

Among Hunters, only a few used bows, as most ranged combatants preferred guns over bows. This lack of demand made bows cheaper than most weapons, discouraging crafting-class Hunters from investing their precious materials and time into crafting a weapon that would likely go unsold.

The bow currently wielded by Jung Woo-Hyun was subpar for an S Rank Hunter. He had compensated for his weapon's shortcomings with his technique until now, but there were numerous instances where he nearly lost to formidable opponents due to his inadequate equipment.

The situation was no different now. Despite maintaining the upper hand throughout the duel, he couldn't help but feel a twinge of nervousness when Han-Yeol began channeling mana into his sword. Nevertheless, Jung Woo-Hyun was not one to back down or cower.

"I will crush your item with my technique!" he roared, pulling an arrow from his quiver. This particular arrow differed from the usual ones, with a thick arrowhead shaped like a small ax.

Jung Woo-Hyun, being a regular Hunter, had only three skills at his disposal. However, he had devised numerous techniques and combinations to surpass his limitations and eventually attain the prestigious S Rank. His growth wasn't a sudden power-up; rather, his fighting style had evolved over the years.

Yet, the primary catalyst for his success was none other than the bow itself. The bow proved to be an incredibly versatile weapon capable of utilizing various types of arrows, allowing the power of the bow to be significantly amplified depending on the arrow employed.

“Eat this, you bastard!”

Shwoooosh! Bang!

As soon as the arrow was released from the bow, it emitted a gunshot-like sound, courtesy of its thick arrowhead. The arrow generated shockwaves in its wake as it hurtled toward Han-Yeol with tremendous speed.

Han-Yeol quickly assessed the arrow's trajectory and readied himself to employ the skill of the Sword of the Thousand Armed Bodhisattva.

‘Mana Slash!’?

Wooooong…! Shwaaaaaak!

A crescent-shaped energy burst forth from the sword, obliterating the arrow in its path before continuing its trajectory toward Jung Woo-Hyun.

"Damn it!" Jung Woo-Hyun cursed, stunned to witness his mana-reinforced arrow being effortlessly destroyed by a single energy wave emanating from a sword. However, he couldn't afford to stand idle, for the crescent energy was now hurtling directly toward him.

Reacting swiftly, he leaped out of harm's way, narrowly avoiding the Mana Slash. A shiver ran down his spine as he realized that failing to evade it in time would have resulted in being cleaved in half.

“Haa… Haa… Haa…”?Jung Woo-Hyun’s breathing became labored.

The leap itself did not strain him excessively, but the realization that he had narrowly escaped death's door was enough to send a surge of tension coursing through his body.

‘Wow… This skill is quite good…’

On the other hand, Han-Yeol found himself impressed with the prowess of his new sword's skill. Despite infusing only a small amount of mana into it, as he had limited expectations, he was pleasantly surprised by its remarkable power.

Feeling a sense of satisfaction, Han-Yeol couldn't help but taunt his opponent with a smug smirk. "What are you doing? Planning to stay down all day?"

Under normal circumstances, such taunts might not have had a significant impact, but given the Bow Master's current shaken state after narrowly escaping death, they struck a nerve. Jung Woo-Hyun, losing his composure, roared in response, "Damn you! You won't leave here alive!"

Whoosh! Creak…!

Jung Woo-Hyun swiftly retrieved an arrow from his quiver, nocking it with precision. As he prepared for his next move, he began channeling his mana not only into the arrow but also into his eyes. Gradually, his eyes transformed, growing increasingly transparent as he focused his mana into them.

‘Tsk… People with those eyes tend to be quite tricky to deal with…’?Han-Yeol clicked his tongue.

Woooooong!

A formidable surge of mana enveloped Jung Woo-Hyun's entire being, coalescing into an intense concentration within the arrow. Sensing the potent aura of mana, Han-Yeol prepared himself by assuming a lowered stance, aware that this forthcoming attack would be substantial in its impact.

"Eat this! Arrow of Infinity!" Jung Woo-Hyun bellowed, unleashing the arrow with all his might.

Pshwoooong!

The arrow this time appeared rather ordinary, unlike the thick arrow he had shot earlier. Nevertheless, Han-Yeol's instincts warned him that this was not something he could simply annihilate with a Mana Slash. Consequently, he made the decision to evade the incoming arrow by swiftly leaping to the side. However...

"Haha! You're dead!" Jung Woo-Hyun jeered.

Shwooosh!

“…!”

Han-Yeol managed to successfully evade the initial arrow, but to his astonishment, the arrow that should have sailed past him abruptly halted mid-air. It then split into two separate projectiles, both hurtling toward him once more.

"What in the world?!" Han-Yeol cried out in horror, instinctively evading the dual onslaught of arrows once again. However...

"You're done for today, punk! Hahaha!" Jung Woo-Hyun triumphantly declared, exuding confidence in his impending victory.

Shwooosh!

“Euk!”?Han-Yeol groaned as he witnessed the two arrows split into four, each hurtling toward him from distinct directions.

"What the fuck?!" he exclaimed, scrambling to evade the incoming barrage.

Unfazed by Han-Yeol's reaction, Jung Woo-Hyun shouted with excitement, "Where do you think you're going?!"

He continued to unleash a relentless stream of arrows, which joined the multiplying projectiles in their pursuit of Han-Yeol.

Meanwhile, Kim Tae-San and the other VIPs observed the duel with gratification, their smiles reflecting their satisfaction with the unfolding spectacle.

‘Hohoho! Based on the rules of this Fight Match, you're not permitted to intentionally kill your opponent. However, if, in the heat of battle, an accidental death occurs, we can't place blame on someone for such an occurrence, can we?’?Kim Tae-San thought.

He was undoubtedly pushing the limits. The rules explicitly stated that there would be criminal consequences for killing one's opponent, regardless of intention. However, Kim Tae-San, confident in his influence, believed he could easily circumvent any such repercussions. After all, his position as the assembly's chairman was not without reason.

In a discreet manner, Kim Tae-San signaled to Jung Soo-Hyun, who was observing the duel. The hand signal implied that they were free to eliminate Han-Yeol if they so desired.

Jung Soo-Hyun acknowledged the message and conveyed it to Jung Woo-Hyun through gestures. Although they lacked a specific secret code, the brothers' shared experiences as Porters and lifelong hunting partners allowed them to understand one another solely through nonverbal cues.

Jung Woo-Hyun nodded in response.

‘It’s annoying that Kim Tae-San is ordering us around, but our raid party needs his help to become even stronger than we are right now,’?he thought.

The one requesting the favor was none other than South Korea's most powerful Hunter, which made it the most advantageous connection they could hope for in the country. It went without saying that this "best connection" was exactly what they needed to ensure their success from this point onward.

‘First things first! I have to get rid of this tactless bastard!’?Jung Woo-Hyun redirected his sights on his opponent.

Driven by his desire to teach his opponent a lesson and bring the fight to a swift end, Jung Woo-Hyun unleashed a relentless barrage of arrows. However...

‘Damn it! Why is he so slippery?!’?he cursed inwardly.

Sixteen arrows trailed Han-Yeol, and Jung Woo-Hyun had already fired his twentieth arrow at him. Despite this relentless assault, Han-Yeol narrowly evaded each arrow as it whizzed past him.

Jung Woo-Hyun, the Bow Master, had calculated that the arrogant opponent should have met his demise by now. Yet, he couldn't help but feel flustered as the situation unfolded contrary to his expectations.

On the other hand, Han-Yeol was busy studying the trajectory of the arrows. ‘These arrows may be fast and come from all directions, but they're riddled with openings when I observe them in slow motion. Damn... I can't help but feel that this Sixth Sense skill is like cheating...’

Han-Yeol possessed a diverse range of skills, some of which could be considered outright cheat skills. This gave him a strong sense of confidence, assuring him that he wouldn't easily be outmatched by others in terms of abilities.

‘Now, shall we stop playing and go dash his hopes and dreams?’?he thought.

Initially, Han-Yeol felt greatly flustered when he witnessed the arrow splitting into two, but upon careful examination of the trajectory and pattern, he quickly realized it was nothing extraordinary.

Although the arrows were undeniably swift and plentiful, their patterns appeared rather simple and straightforward. However, this perception was only possible due to the enhanced abilities of Demon Eyes and Sixth Sense. An ordinary Hunter would have likely been turned into a bloody pincushion long before reaching the sixteenth arrow.

Tak!

Han-Yeol suddenly kicked off the ground and jumped toward Jung Woo-Hyun.

“Heok!”?Jung Woo-Hyun gasped in horror as he witnessed the arrogant punk effortlessly evade all thirty-two of his duplicating arrows and rapidly approach him.

Instinctively, he reached into his quiver, a reflex he had relied on countless times in dangerous situations throughout his life. However...

Tak… Tak…

‘I-I’m out of arrows?!’?