Chapter 46: The First S-Rank Supporter (3)

“Kim Taeyang!”

I’m Changing Careers to Awakener and Hunter.

At Hyunbin’s shout, Kim Taeyang snapped back to his senses.

The Monsters that Hyunbin hadn’t managed to stop were now charging straight at him.

“Damn it!”

Kim Taeyang swung his Kukri and sliced through the neck of the Monster that broke free.

‘What the hell is that.’

Kim Taeyang followed behind Hyunbin.

He entrusted his back to him and calmly followed in his wake.

‘What is all this, really.’

Watching Hyunbin rampaging up ahead sent chills running down Kim Taeyang’s spine.

The strength he usually witnessed from Hyunbin seemed almost playful in comparison.

Huff, huff.

Kim Taeyang felt his breath growing ragged.

Before he knew it, Kim Inho was at his side.

The two of them held the line, plugging the gap Hyunbin had carved open, and waged a fierce battle against the Monsters.

One by one, the other Awakeners snapped out of their daze, alarmed at the sudden surge of Monsters.

But when they saw the three Awakeners holding the front and fighting to protect them, they tightened their grip on their weapons and joined the fray.

Even as a Four Star, this was a battle they never could have won.

A Five Star after Rank-up is impossible without an S-rank.

Yet, knowing that, no one ran—they fought.

Even they didn’t understand why.

Slash, rip!

Boom!

Finally, the Soldiers joined in, heating up their gun barrels.

Around a hundred Monsters were shredded to pieces and scattered, and at last, Hyunbin stood before the Dragon.

“Hello. Should we introduce ourselves?”

Bathed in the blood of Monsters, Hyunbin curled his lips up, looking fondly at the lump of experience points before him.

The Earth Dragon shyly extended its tendrils as if to introduce itself.

Quite the outgoing personality.

I charged straight at the creature.

It swung its forepaw at me.

Boom!

A shockwave and a cloud of dirt engulfed me.

I gripped the Number 1 Sword and slashed at the beast’s foot.

Grrr.

For such a hulking beast, it’s such a crybaby.

Are you really wailing just because I sliced off a few toes?

Just like before, getting careless only leads to real pain.

Right now, my Strength alone has surpassed the limit of 99—it’s at 141.

A number that transcends humanity.

The creature’s tail whipped at me like a massive lash, surging in like a tidal wave.

Can I cut through it?

-Hero of Salvation is activating.

-The more people you must protect, the higher your attack power rises.

-Current effect: Attack Power increased by 210%.

I can cut through it.

I poured all my mana into the sword.

Strength welled up at my fingertips gripping the blade.

It felt as if I could accomplish anything I wished.

Like I could even cut through a boulder before me.

And this feeling never lies to me.

Slash!

A geyser of the Earth Dragon’s blood burst into the air, splattering to the ground and steaming.

Its tail was severed.

But I, too, lost my weapon.

For cutting through the solid body of the Dragon, my Longsword was smashed to bits.

“Number 1 Sword, congratulations on your discharge.”

Now I was barehanded.

It glared at me with eyes full of hate for taking away my weapon.

The severed area was quickly cloaked in light and regenerated in an instant.

Now the Dragon looked as if to say, What will you do next?

No, how can a reptilian face look so expressive? Perhaps because it’s intelligent.

The creature began to dance, trying to stomp me to death.

Boom, crash!

Its huge claws smashed nothing but already-ruined building debris.

A utility pole was shattered, power lines trailing across the ground, and shop signs were crushed beyond recognition.

I dodged its attacks and pulled back.

My body was scraped and torn, but the wounds healed in an instant.

Have I gained a regeneration ability? No, it must be Karin’s power.

Even the mana I received earlier must have pushed me to my limits.

-All supplies will be deployed to the designated coordinates!

That was a close call.

I’m tired of just dodging.

With Olivier’s voice, a square object plummeted from the sky.

Was it delivered by drone? For real?

The box was torn apart, and a mysterious weapon flew straight for my head.

I raised my hand and caught it; the moment I did, light burst from the scabbard, and a long blade shot out.

At first, I thought it was an awl.

But as the point extended, it broadened into a massive weapon.

-Currently in development: monomolecular sword. Codename: Dragon Slayer.

Despite its huge blade, the thinness made it surprisingly light.

-Hero’s Authority: Weapon Master is activating.

The Hero masters any weapon the moment it’s grasped, no matter how unfamiliar.

Now, the creature opened its mouth wide, ready to unleash fire.

If I didn’t stop it, not only my team but countless Awakeners would burn alive.

Slash!

A sensation as if I were slicing paper vibrated through my hand.

Screeeeech!

The Earth Dragon’s scream echoed.

Its snout, sliced by the monomolecular blade, split into four directions, spraying blood everywhere.

This is incredible. I cut it with barely any effort.

But there’s a drawback.

This greatsword—no, calling it a greatsword feels silly, it’s so thin—feels like paper.

How many people could even wield such a weapon?

For most Awakeners, it’d be a disposable tool, easily damaged.

Meaning: limited uses.

‘But that’s enough.’

I charged the Earth Dragon again.

This time, it realized I was truly dangerous.

It roared and lashed out with its tendrils.

Slice.

Once more, the Dragon’s scream rang out.

Its tendrils thrashed on the ground like live fish, spewing blood.

Stamping over them, I dove for its chest.

It immediately lifted a foreleg to crush me.

Will it hold up?

Still fine.

I swept the monomolecular sword down.

Slice.

With a chilling sound, the Earth Dragon’s foreleg was severed.

Off-balance, the creature crashed to the ground.

Cheers rose from behind me.

It wasn’t over yet.

The bigger it is, the more tenacious.

Whether my blade’s durability gave out first or its regeneration failed, this was an all-or-nothing fight.

Now, the head.

I poured all the blade’s durability into this swing.

The Earth Dragon could still fly, but as I kept tearing into it, it couldn’t act as it wished.

Soon, it opened its mouth wide.

Suddenly, the surrounding temperature spiked.

The Dragon’s Breath aimed at me—no, at the people behind me.

I tried to behead it before it could breathe, but it shielded itself with its wings.

Intelligent. Cunning.

Just by blocking one attack, it turned the tables.

FWOOOOOSH!

A wedge-shaped torrent of fire shot at the Awakeners caught off guard.

Kim Taeyang’s pupils widened.

Seohyeonji’s body froze.

And Karin stood calmly, making no move to dodge.

An unreal flood of fire engulfed everything.

I made a mistake.

It’s a Dragon. Cunning, intelligent, a devil who loves destruction.

Did it remember I’d fought desperately to save people all this time?

Could I slash the flames with my sword?

No, my Sword Skill hasn’t recovered yet.

Should I block it with my body?

I might stop the attack, but I’d never stand up again.

Could I use Inventory to store everyone?

No, not unless I make contact.

As the flames scorched the air and poured down, I found the best solution.

Karin’s body melting into the fire flashed before my eyes.

Even in this split second.

Like this.

Someone whispered in my ear.

A woman’s pale hand traced the air, and the ground flashed with light.

A small baby nestled in her arms.

No, I mimicked her, with hands like maple leaves.

Her warm embrace, her gentle whisper.

Just like that.

“Inventory, open.”

I don’t know when this memory comes from.

No, I’m not even sure if it’s really my memory.

But I knew for certain.

“Domain Expansion.”

I raised my hand and sliced the air.

The system recognized the pattern and expanded the skill.

The area around me changed.

Hexagonal blocks of light inscribed on the ground began to spread in all directions.

In an instant, time slowed, then stopped.

Only my consciousness accelerated as I stored everything within the domain.

Even with the Inventory vastly expanded by Level Up, the weight was tangible.

It felt as if I’d shouldered an enormous burden.

Thoughts and feelings of those inside the Inventory pressed on my mind.

Like a tangled ball of thread, confusion descended and the world grew dim around me.

FWOOSH!

The Earth Dragon’s flames incinerated the spot where the people had stood.

Continuous explosions shook the earth.

Too late, the Earth Dragon realized its targets had vanished.

I gripped the monomolecular sword.

The Earth Dragon frantically flapped its wings, slowly rising as a storm of dust whipped up.

-Hero of Salvation is activating.

-The more people you must protect, the higher your attack power rises.

-Current effect: Attack Power increased by 1,800%.

With more people inside the Inventory, the buff skyrocketed.

The Earth Dragon spread its tendrils to block my approach.

I dodged.

Where its tendril grazed my cheek, it burned as if branded by fire.

One more step.

The creature realized it could no longer stop me.

It raked its claws at me.

Too late.

I was already in close.

Slash!

As the monomolecular sword’s durability shattered, a line of blood streaked across the Earth Dragon’s neck.

The cut widened, blood gushed, and the Earth Dragon collapsed onto the earth, gasping its last.

-Level Up.

-Level Up.

-Level Up.

-Synchronization Rate increased.

-Level Up.

With its newly gained wings falling uselessly, disaster met its end here.

Hero?

A dark-skinned, nimble-muscled warrior smirked as if mocking me.

-Are there still old men who believe in those kinds of legends?

When I was first summoned to another world, I was thrown into training with no idea why.

-You’d better earn your pay. Make sure the young master doesn’t die.

She was brutal.

I’d only ever studied, but she pushed me, and pushed me again.

Even with a broken leg, I had to run; with a broken hand, I had to wield a sword.

To go home, she said, the Demon King had to fall.

Why did I have to wield a sword? I never knew.

Just because they called me Hero?

Because I’d be beaten under the guise of training if I didn’t try hard enough?

Pathetic, but honestly, I never really understood.

Why did I have to suffer all this training?

But I endured it.

There was nowhere else to run.

-Not bad.

Even the always-harsh warrior bared her teeth in a grin.

-Listen well. As long as your sword can protect you, that’s enough. You were dragged here as a so-called Hero, but you don’t have to save everyone.

After being summoned as a Hero, I went to my first war.

I’d endured hellish training.

I knew I could die, but strangely, I wasn’t scared.

And on the first day of the war, the warrior died.

The one who believed in me died.

The one who followed me died.

War after war. Battle after battle.

I made countless connections, lost just as many.

I realized something fundamental.

I had to become stronger.

For the first time, a vague purpose became my guiding star.

And I grew strong.

I defeated the Demon King and brought peace to the continent.

Then, I realized a new purpose.

Strength alone wasn’t enough.

You must be a symbol. You must have a power base that supports you.

To protect what’s mine.

I opened my eyes.

The world was noisy.

“Just now, Hunter Lee Hyunbin has opened his eyes!”

“Viewers watching this Broadcast! Before disaster, the Hero who saved everyone is here!”

What is this.

I was being carried on a stretcher.

I could’ve sworn I’d just severed the Earth Dragon’s neck.

Outside the ambulance window, the Dragon’s gigantic corpse lay sprawled.

Reporters crowded, officials trying to hold them back.

The cheers of countless people chanting my name.

“Whoaaa!”

It felt so unfamiliar.

After just a short nap—

I’d become the most famous person in Korea.