Chapter 8: Promotion Test （4）
Whoosh!
The axe sliced through the air.
At the sight of the attack that would make one’s knees buckle, Kang San gave up on confronting it head-on and took a step back.
Crack!
Dirt splattered.
Glancing over, he saw a crater in the ground.
‘If I get hit directly, it’s game over.’
Blood Orc.
As if to prove that the massive, rippling muscles adorning its entire body weren’t just for show, the Blood Orc’s destructive power was beyond what an F-rank Hunter could handle. A single mistake could lead to death. With a cold gaze, Kang San watched the Blood Orc preparing its next attack.
Tap.
‘Right foot, left foot, right foot…’
The Blood Orc charged.
Judging by its footing, the next attack would be a swing of the axe towards the left side of his head.
Whoosh!
As expected.
Kang San didn’t dodge by watching; instead, he moved his body as soon as he saw the Orc’s muscles move at the timing the Orc had anticipated. Thanks to this, he didn’t get hit by the attack despite its speed. This method was honed during his time as an F-rank human shield. Kang San had low stats and no skills. To survive with his bare body, he had to learn to use his head, not confront things head-on.
The current situation was the result of that.
Witnessing Kang San dodging the Blood Orc’s attack at a distance close enough to feel its breath, Jo Han-byeol, who was positioned behind, was amazed.
“Wow.”
It was like watching a magic trick.
As Kang San’s waist bent back, the axe passed over him.
Han-byeol had sighed countless times, thinking Kang San had been hit, but each time, Kang San dodged the attacks with almost magical agility. Predictability and flexibility that transcended agility. Kang San was different from ordinary Tankers.
Whack!
“…Ugh.”
This time, he was too slow.
Kang San hurriedly blocked with his shield and gritted his teeth at the jarring impact.
The situation was gradually catching up to him.
Kang San shouted in frustration.
“You crazy bastards! Don’t just stand there watching, attack!”
The team members behind him.
They were still in shock.
The appearance of the Blood Orc was too sudden, and they had expected Kim Myeong-min to step up when the D-rank monster appeared.
But Kim Myeong-min just watched.
Finally grasping the situation, the 2nd team members hurriedly joined the fight.
While Kang San tenaciously bought time against the Blood Orc, their attacks landed on the monster.
Thwack!
Bam!
Jo Han-byeol’s arrow and Choi Si-won’s thrown attack pierced the Blood Orc’s hide. The Blood Orc roared in pain. Suddenly, a red haze rose around the Blood Orc. At the very familiar phenomenon, Kang San let out an urgent voice.
“D*mn it, Berserker.”
A Warrior skill.
The Blood Orc was a monster with a skill.
Monsters that use skills are often called treasure chests because they have a certain probability of dropping skills, but the problem is that you need the power to subdue them. The Blood Orc’s axe, fueled by frenzy, attacked Kang San directly. This attack, which ripped through the air, was unavoidable even for Kang San.
Bang!
“Argh!”
Kang San was sent flying.
He rolled back once, then jumped to his feet and quickly held his shield close to his body.
The opponent’s location?
It wasn’t a decision made after assessing that.
Instinctively protecting himself, Kang San’s body was flung into the air the moment he confirmed the Orc was charging at him.
Thwack!
A fist attack.
His body twisted.
The immense shock made him feel like he was going to lose consciousness.
“Ugh.”
“Oh no!”
“Help him quickly!”
The team members in the rear became busy.
They provided support and dealt damage appropriately, but Kang San didn’t have the time to pay attention to that. Blood mixed with saliva dripped from his mouth. Kang San forcibly swallowed the disgusting blood that rose up. If he collapsed here, it would be a pointless death. The golden haze rising around Kang San quickly healed the bruises that had turned crimson.
‘Healing Aura.’
The effect of the aura was excellent.
A whopping 23% recovery rate.
And his health recovery was also superior to others, so his wounds were healing quickly on their own.
‘This is d*mn hard.’
Curses welled up in his throat.
The Blood Orc snorted violently.
The thought of facing that monster sent chills down his spine.
But what could he do?
For some reason, the examiner had no intention of stepping in, and if that was the case, he had to endure to survive.
The fate of a Tanker.
Not letting any more monsters past him was the shortcut to victory.
‘I’ll endure to the end.’
He strengthened his resolve.
As the Blood Orc charged again, Kang San once again blocked the attack without flinching. He dodged most of the attacks. He read the timing of the opponent’s attacks and threw himself out of the way a step ahead, and if dodging seemed impossible, he shielded himself with his shield. His body swayed wildly. Kang San bought time bit by bit, looking like he was about to d*e. Fortunately, most of the Goblins had been dealt with, so there was no need to be wary of other areas, and thanks to Kang San buying time, wounds began to appear on the Blood Orc’s body one by one.
Then.
Thwack!
Kraaaagh!
Jo Han-byeol’s attack landed perfectly.
An attack that penetrated the eyeball!
With a perfect attack that dealt damage directly to the brain, the Blood Orc’s body staggered. It was now only a matter of time before they defeated the seemingly invincible monster. Perhaps the Blood Orc knew this too. It mustered its last bit of strength and hurled its axe with all its might.
Whoosh!
Whizz!
An attack that sliced through the air.
It was a timing no one expected.
And at the point where the axe would reach, Choi Si-won, one of the Dealers, was staring at the incoming axe with a pale face.
✦✦✦✦✦✦
In a split second.
Kang San saw the movement of the muscles.
The arm pulling back with force was the motion of a throw, and looking to the side, he saw that Choi Si-won was defenseless.
‘It’s dangerous.’
His head became a tangled mess.
Should he stop the throw?
That’s impossible.
The attack the Blood Orc attempted with its life was practically unstoppable, and if that was the case, Choi Si-won’s head was likely to be smashed by the axe that sliced through the air. That was an outcome he absolutely couldn’t allow. Didn’t Azmoon’s third trial tell him to protect all his team members?
‘D*mn it.’
Time slowed down.
His mind was a jumble of conflicting thoughts, but Kang San knew from the beginning that there was only one option he could choose.
Kang San kicked off the ground.
Just before the Blood Orc’s axe gained full momentum, he threw himself with all his might in the direction the axe was flying.
Whack!
Thud!
“Gasp!”
“Ka, Kang San-nim!”
The 2nd team members screamed.
Even though he hurriedly defended himself with his shield, Kang San, who had taken the thrown attack head-on, crashed to the ground so miserably that it seemed like his life was in danger. It was a situation where an ordinary person would be dead. Even if he were a D-rank Hunter like the Blood Orc, it seemed impossible to withstand the Blood Orc’s Berserker-fueled, all-out attack.
If it had been a few days ago.
Kang San would have died here.
But fortunately for Kang San, there was a source of confidence that made him make this reckless choice.
『Guardian’s Will has been activated.』
『Health is fully restored, and defense is temporarily doubled.』
“Ugh.”
Kang San vomited everything in his stomach.
His grotesquely twisted arm and broken ribs had definitely caused him immense pain, but when Guardian’s Will took effect, they all returned to normal. The gamble paid off. Thinking that he could survive with Guardian’s Will as long as he didn’t d*e in one hit, Kang San threw himself in without hesitation.
Right behind.
He heard someone collapse.
Choi Si-won, who thought he was going to d*e, was trembling as he sat on the ground.
There are many guys like this when you go on raids.
Hunters who aren’t ready to risk their lives.
Rather than scolding such Hunters harshly, you need to comfort them appropriately so they can recover their broken mentality.
“You won’t d*e until I d*e. So, pull yourself together and let’s start again.”
Clack.
He raised his shield.
And at the sight of Kang San stepping forward, the 2nd team members were completely captivated.
At this moment.
The leader wasn’t Jo Han-byeol, but Kang San.
✦✦✦✦✦✦
The test ended.
The result was a successful subjugation after many twists and turns.
The 2nd team members joined forces and finally defeated the Blood Orc, which they thought they could never defeat.
As they returned to the original world through the Gate, an official approached with a pale face and bowed his head.
“I’m truly sorry. The Blood Orc wasn’t detected during the exploration process. It seems there was an issue we didn’t anticipate. I sincerely apologize. Nothing can excuse our mistake, but we will compensate the 2nd team members separately at the Promotion Test Center.”
The official was trembling.
He had no choice.
If an incident like this was maliciously reported to the media, it would only be a matter of time before the iron-rice-bowl civil servants lost their jobs.
This incident was clearly the fault of the Promotion Test Center.
At the official’s earnest apology, the 2nd team members’ expressions softened.
The situation was resolved.
Everyone flocked to Kang San.
“Thanks to you, I’m alive.”
“Are you really someone who was an F-rank Hunter until now? Watching you tanking at the front, wow! It really felt like I was watching a guardian deity. This is fate, so could I possibly get your contact information?”
“You’re amazing.”
They showed their favor towards Kang San.
An excellent Tanker.
That was a very valuable connection.
Kang San was the kind of person you absolutely had to know, and that’s why they didn’t hesitate to show their favor first.
Especially the scene where he protected Choi Si-won.
Wasn’t that truly an exemplary display of a Tanker?
Not only the 2nd team members, but even the 1st team members who hadn’t fought together subtly gathered around.
There were items obtained in this battle.
The Blood Orc’s Skill Spirit and a Stat Stone that increased stats. Under Jo Han-byeol’s leadership, it was unanimously decided to give them to Kang San. No one objected. Skill Spirits and Stat Stones weren’t items you saw often, but they still judged that Kang San deserved them.
While Kang San was having a hectic time.
Finally, the results of the test were announced.
“…excluding…, the rest of the applicants have all passed. Congratulations on becoming E-rank Hunters.”
“Oh!”
“Now we’re E-rank!”
People cheered.
Everyone in the 2nd team except Choi Si-won passed, and there were also two failures in the 1st team. People were shouting with joy. Kang San also felt his emotions welling up among them. In fact, Hunters with natural talent are often granted E-rank from the start, but Kang San hadn’t been able to escape the life of an F-rank human shield for the past few years.
But now it was different.
Azmoon’s trial.
It was certain that it threatened his life, but thanks to it, he was able to overcome the tiresome wall of F-rank.
‘I succeeded.’
That’s when it happened.
Kim Myeong-min, who had announced the results, approached Kang San and said,
“…if you don’t mind, could you spare me a moment of your time?”
A cautious question.
Now that he had seen the results of the test, Kim Myeong-min’s judgment of Kang San had completely changed.
