Boom! Boom boom boom—!
Deafening explosions rang out one after another, threatening to rupture eardrums.
A three-story commercial building collapsed, sending concrete debris flying in every direction.
Thick smoke and flames engulfed the street.
Crackle— crackle— crackle~!
Sparks flew from fallen streetlights, and sharp glass shards were scattered everywhere.
It was complete pandemonium.
The downtown area had turned into a battlefield between hunters and villains.
The once peaceful and quiet university street had transformed into a living hell in an instant.
Groans of pain leaked out from various spots across the devastated city streets.
The sound of sirens wailing in the distance only heightened the severity of the situation.
Among them, one female college student was trapped with her leg pinned under rubble, unable to move.
Professor Park Ahjeong quickly ran over to the female student.
“Hold on just a little longer, student.”
Professor Park Ahjeong was an A-rank hunter specialized in healing and defensive magic.
She deployed a barrier into the gap beneath the rubble.
A white protective shield spread out, slowly lifting the heavy chunk of concrete.
Professor Park Ahjeong hurriedly pulled the student out from under the debris.
The student’s leg was horribly broken and mangled, covered in bloodstains and bruises.
Professor Park Ahjeong immediately cast a healing spell.
Vrrr— Vrrr vrrr— Vrrr—
Green mana swirled and seeped into the student’s leg.
Then.
Just like new sprouts emerging in early spring, the broken bones reconnected, torn flesh regenerated, and the bruises faded away.
Professor Park Ahjeong carefully helped the student to her feet.
“You should be able to move now. Hurry and get out of here!”
“Th-thank you……”
The student quickly ran toward a nearby alley.
At that moment.
“Grgh…… Grraaaagh……!!”
Another groan began to sound.
A silhouette was sprawled between the collapsed buildings.
Professor Park Ahjeong covered her mouth the moment she saw his face.
“You are……!”
A burly, muscular man wearing camouflage military fatigues.
A thick stake was driven deep into his chest.
Professor Park Ahjeong knew that face.
It was Taekbaek Strongman Kwak Wooseok of the Korean Hunter Association.
He was a direct subordinate of A+ rank World’s Strongest Man Ma Seokdong and the 8th-ranked A-rank hunter.
As Professor Park Ahjeong approached, Kwak Wooseok slowly reached out his hand.
“Kwak Wooseok-ssi, who on earth…… No, how did this happen……”
“Grk! Grraaagh!”
His lungs and windpipe must have been damaged; only a wheezing, air-leaking sound came from Kwak Wooseok’s mouth.
“Kwak Wooseok-ssi, don’t speak! I’ll treat you right away!”
Professor Park Ahjeong immediately activated her healing magic.
A warm green aura seeped into the wound.
However.
Gurgle gurgle gurgle—
Dark red blood continued pouring heavily from the wound in Kwak Wooseok’s chest.
“Cough— Hack—!”
Kwak Wooseok vomited a thick clump of blood.
Then, he grabbed Professor Park Ahjeong’s shoulder.
“Grgh…… Grk……”
Professor Park Ahjeong squeezed her eyes shut.
How am I supposed to……
The stake had pierced both his heart and lungs.
It was a fatal wound beyond help.
If the stake wasn’t removed, the wound wouldn’t regenerate, but if it was pulled out, he would die instantly.
“Gr…… gh……”
The hand gripping Professor Park Ahjeong’s shoulder trembled violently.
She could clearly feel his life slipping away.
A truly hopeless, miserable situation.
Nevertheless, Professor Park Ahjeong continued casting her healing magic.
Again and again and again.
The green aura endlessly poured into Kwak Wooseok.
But eventually.
Thud!
Kwak Wooseok’s arm finally fell limply to the ground.
Professor Park Ahjeong silently lowered her head.
At that moment.
“Finally found you. Do you know how long I’ve been looking? Professor Park Ahjeong.”
A deep male voice rang out from above.
Professor Park Ahjeong looked toward the source of the voice.
A man wearing black leather clothes was floating in the air.
He had brown mohawk hair, various piercings covering his face, and a star-shaped tattoo over one eye.
A man with a bizarre and grotesque appearance.
“Why are you like this? It’s because you were hiding that I had to cause such a big commotion to find you! Don’t you think? This is so tiring for both of us!”
……Big Data.
Professor Park Ahjeong’s face twisted with rage.
The villain ‘Big Data.’
An A-rank wanted criminal with combat power comparable to an A-rank hunter.
He was famous not only for his distinctive appearance but also for his exceptional information gathering and hacking abilities.
Big Data smiled as he looked at Professor Park Ahjeong.
“Wow! You know who I am? I’m a little happy. Am I a celebrity now? Anyway, that makes things quick. You know why I’m here, right?”
“To do something like this…… Why on earth……”
“Why? Isn’t it obvious? I came because I want information from you, Professor! Seriously! If you understand, let’s make this easy for both of us.”
Professor Park Ahjeong raised her hand.
Vrrr— Vrrr— Vrrr— Vrrr— Vrrr— Vrrr—
Seven white spears materialized in the air.
Brilliant light illuminated the surroundings.
[Saintess’ Baptism]
A lethal skill created by compressing an extremely durable holy protective barrier to its limit for offensive purposes.
Professor Park Ahjeong glared at Big Data and said,
“I won’t tell a bastard like you even the first digit of my phone number!”
The white spears immediately shot toward Big Data.
Shwaaaaack!
But at that moment.
Hssss—
The white spears disintegrated into particles right in front of Big Data.
Big Data shook the pitch-black mirror in his hand.
“You idiot? You said you know who I am, right? Did you really think I wouldn’t analyze my opponent and prepare countermeasures? This artifact disrupts white mana within a 1-meter radius. In other words, you can’t do anything to me.”
“You…… disgusting bastard……”
Professor Park Ahjeong started coughing mid-sentence.
Her complexion turned deathly pale.
Her hands and feet trembled, and sweat poured down her face like rain.
Seeing this, Big Data clicked his tongue.
“Professor, looks like you’ve run out of mana? You used it all up healing the injured? Aigoo, what a shame~ You should have taken care of yourself first! Well then……”
Big Data pulled something out from his pocket.
A rolled-up ball of pink thread.
The bumpy protrusions on its surface resembled a tongue.
The pink thread instantly unfurled and moved like a living snake.
Crunch—
The pink thread instantly bound Professor Park Ahjeong’s arms and legs.
Big Data looked at her and said,
“That’s the ‘Salamander Toad’s Tongue.’ Over time, it secretes a terrifying acidic liquid from its surface. So answer me quickly so we can end this nicely.”
Big Data stared intently at Professor Park Ahjeong.
“Where is the artificial dungeon research data? Please tell me, Professor!”
“……”
“Don’t even think about playing dumb. I only move when I’m 100% certain. I have all the evidence of you and that Luddite person doing this and that. Got it?”
“……”
“Are you planning to keep your mouth shut like that? What do the kids call it these days? ‘Choosing death’? Is that your mindset? Come on, just spit it out. What exactly did you do with Luddite~!”
Professor Park Ahjeong silently glared at Big Data.
Her tightly pressed lips showed firm resolve.
But at that moment.
“Oh? Ahaha! Lucky—!”
Big Data suddenly let out a frivolous laugh.
At the same time.
Swoosh—
The tongue that had been binding Professor Park Ahjeong retracted back toward Big Data.
Big Data grinned brightly and said,
“Sorry! Actually, what I said earlier was a lie!”
“What?”
“The Salamander Toad’s Tongue doesn’t have the ability to melt the person it binds. Instead, it’s an artifact that steals whatever the user wants. Ta-da~!”
A small USB was now in Big Data’s hand.
Professor Park Ahjeong’s eyes shook violently.
“Th-that is……”
“Yeah, that’s right. That’s the USB containing all the data of you and Luddite getting all cozy together. Well, anyway. Since I got what I wanted, we’re done here! Take care, Professor.”
Big Data, who was about to leave, suddenly turned back to look at Professor Park Ahjeong.
“I’ll give you one piece of advice as a service. Don’t stick your neck out too much. Your name has been coming up a lot in the underworld lately.”
Big Data prepared to fly high into the sky.
However.
Crunch—
Big Data’s body froze in mid-air.
“Huh?”
Something was tightly gripping Big Data’s leg.
It was a glossy black whip.
“……Where do you think you’re going?”
A sharp voice rang out across the city streets.
Click— click— click— click—
The sound of dress shoes echoed as a silhouette appeared.
A beautiful woman with short bobbed hair in a suit walked forward.
She held a whip in one hand and handcuffs in the other, which jingled as she approached.
Killing intent blazed in her eyes.
It was the moment Bae Minji, the ace investigator of the Hunter Surveillance Bureau, made her entrance.