Infinite Evolution Hunter - Chapter 127

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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127
Screams echoed from what hunters called the “washing machine”—the Extreme Situation Generator. The device was living up to its notorious reputation.
“Ahhhhhhh!”
“Mom!”
“I don’t want to be a hunter anymore!”
“I’m sorry!”
The hunters waiting for their turn trembled as they heard the anguished cries through the monitor.
“Hunters with poor performance will enter the washing machine! Improve your skills on your own! If you don’t, I’ll improve them for you!”
Unable to employ psychological torture like criminals, I wielded carrots and sticks to fuel their training enthusiasm.
Now they pushed themselves to their limits without me needing to kick them from behind or throw objects at them.
* * *
Jang Mi, a Battle Mage who blended hand-to-hand combat with magic, had much to learn from Hong Long, so even after leaving the washing machine, she received one-on-one instruction.
Ji-seok fought with brute strength, so Hong Long was far superior for teaching technique. Jang Mi’s father, Hunter Jung Min-gi, specialized in swordplay and lacked the resolve to push his daughter hard in training. That’s why I’d sent her to Ji-seok before.
“Miss Jang Mi. Your fists aren’t your only weapon. Use your entire body. Your elbows, knees, shoulders, back—the human body can become a lethal instrument anywhere.”
“That’s… easier said than done!”
To Jang Mi, who had only ever cast magic from her hands, Hong Long’s instruction felt harder than using chopsticks with her feet.
“Attacking in straight lines like that makes it far too easy to dodge. Vary your approach. Be fluid.”
Hong Long spoke with ease as he demonstrated the proper stance.
Jang Mi was too busy evading Hong Long’s flowing chain of attacks to think clearly.
His words were kind, but his fists were not. Knowing her shield was sturdy and that the Healer and Ji-seok were backing her up, Hong Long pounded her like a chef tenderizing a cutlet.
As Hong Long rushed forward, Jang Mi extended both hands and attempted to unleash flames.
Before the fire could erupt, Hong Long lightly pushed her arm upward with one hand.
The hand that had pushed her arm now drove toward her face.
Knowing Hong Long’s relentless technique, I could tell even with my shield, my nose would break—I knew this before the blow landed.
Hong Long was deliberately matching his speed to mine, a gesture of restraint, but ignorance might have been preferable.
The face, though? Really? I’m a woman in my twenties.
“No!”
With Jang Mi’s cry, flames erupted from her entire body.
Hong Long took a step back.
“Precisely. Abandon the fixed notion that your power only flows from your hands.”
“Thank you, Hunter Hong Long!”
Jang Mi gazed down at her body in wonder as flames poured from it. Then, as the fire faded, she discovered her clothes had been completely incinerated, leaving her naked.
“Kyaaah!”
Jang Mi curled up, covering herself. She hadn’t been wearing armor, so the flames had consumed her entire outfit. Even if she had been armored, it likely would have been destroyed anyway.
“Ahem.”
Hong Long closed his eyes and turned away, handing her some clothes.
* * *
“Well done. The five hunters who reached A-rank will now participate in the ranking tournament.”
With a week remaining before the competition, fortunately all five starting members had barely scraped into A-rank. Ye-seul and Chang-hee were already close, and when Hyung-bin and Jin-woo caught up—or so I’d planned to replace them if they didn’t—the entire team, including Jang Mi, reached level 41 through solid teamwork and determination.
Separate from the tournament itself, I was delighted to see World Tree Academy’s progress. Training hunters this diligently brought me one step closer to protecting the world.
“Good. You’ve met the minimum requirements. Now take your items.”
Through training with Hong Long, Jang Mi had learned to unleash magic from every part of her body—not just her hands—to attack. After burning through dozens of outfits, she finally understood that clothing was a liability. Now she wore a Mithril armor with generous exposure, and reinforced magic-enhancing items adorned her wrists and ankles. With this setup, her shield’s power had increased dramatically.
“Wow! This looks absolutely amazing!”
“Ah… No! What kind of unmarried woman dresses like that!”
Jang Mi beamed with joy, but Jung Min-gi quickly shielded her from view upon seeing the revealing armor.
“Dad, does that mean I can dress like this after I get married?”
“What?! Married? To whom?!”
“Now, you two sort that out yourselves. Everyone else, take your items.”
All of them received their new equipment. Both offensive and defensive power had risen by a tier.
“Isn’t this… expensive? We don’t have the money for this…”
Hyung-bin examined the item carefully before speaking. These were top-tier items usable by A-rank hunters—so expensive that this entire group might go into shock hearing the price.
“Consider them a loan for now. Use them freely. But if you lose…”
“We’ll give our absolute best!”
“The first match is in four days. Use that time to adapt to your new equipment. And remember, the starting five aren’t fixed. If any hunter demonstrates superior skill, the lineup can change at any moment. Don’t let your guard down.”
* * *
Over four days, the starting roster remained unchanged, and finally, the opening ceremony commenced.
Initially, they’d planned to conduct the competition quietly, but concerns arose that intense fighting might hurt feelings. So the opinion to treat it like a sport was accepted.
The thinking was that if hunters viewed this as a sport, it would prevent excessive emotional escalation.
Thus, the World Tree League was created.
Eight nations participated: Korea, the United States, England, India, Italy, France, Germany, and Canada.
China and Japan couldn’t spare hunters due to internal constraints, so they sent fewer to the Academy. Judging they had no chance of winning, they withdrew.
Mexico forfeited, lacking a deep enough hunter pool.
No other nations had sufficient hunter depth either.
“I hope hunters from each nation will do their utmost to maximize the results of your training thus far. And through the World Tree League, let us strengthen the bonds between hunters of different nations and build collective strength to overcome the crises ahead.”
Director Baek Young-shin concluded the opening remarks.
[Now, the first match begins! Korea versus Germany! Let me explain the rules!]
The game commentator’s words accompanied a screen change.
[The game is simple. Destroy the one-meter orb in the enemy’s territory to win. It’s a specially crafted item that breaks only after receiving damage beyond a certain threshold, a certain number of times.]
A one-meter spherical orb appeared on screen—an orb created by Jae-in.
[In other words, no matter how powerful a single impact is, it won’t shatter in one blow.]
[So even if an S-rank hunter—say, Lee Ji-seok—struck it, it wouldn’t break?]
The co-commentator asked.
[Who knows? We could make a special exhibition match later to see if it can be destroyed in one hit.]
The commentator continued the explanation.
[Players participating in the game wear a judgment device on their chest. This is called a damage counter—it functions like a shield that absorbs a portion of damage. If this damage counter is completely destroyed or receives damage beyond a certain threshold, that player is out. This measure exists to protect the lives of participating players.]
[So there won’t be any injuries. Next, let me explain the terrain. With Baekdu Mountain at the center, Korea’s orb is positioned to the north, and Germany’s to the south.]
Jang Mi, waiting at the starting position, waved toward the camera.
[Among Korea’s representative team is Jung Jang-mi, daughter of hunter Jung Min-gi. Oh, she’s equipped with quite a bold design for her gear.]
The conservative hunter Jung Min-gi buried his face in his hands in embarrassment seeing his daughter on screen in such an outfit.
A drone hovering above Baekdu Mountain’s peak fired a signal flare into the sky.
Boom!
Fireworks erupted across the sky.
[The game has begun!]
“I’m holding the position here!”
“What?! Jang Mi?! Jin-woo, follow her!”
As Jang Mi burst forward, a startled Hyung-bin rushed after Jin-woo.
Meanwhile, the German team moved with perfect synchronization, their strategy meticulously planned. Two members defended the base while three pushed through the forest.
“Circle around the mountain from the right and attack. Don’t overextend—just draw their attention. Once their eyes turn away, I’ll circle back and destroy the orb.”
At Norman’s command, the two attack squads nodded and split apart.
“There!”
Jang Mi spotted two figures moving through the forest, where leaves hadn’t fully emerged yet.
“Huff… huff…”
Without waiting for Jin-woo, whose breath came in ragged gasps as he struggled to keep pace with Jang Mi’s speed, she charged alone at the two German hunters. Strategy meant nothing to her.
“Tch… we’re clashing faster than expected.”
“Good. Once we deal with this brat, victory is ours.”

[And so begins the first clash! These two German hunters are no novices—they’re veterans with over five years of hunting experience. Let’s see what kind of battle unfolds!]
Seeing Jang Mi charge forward without hesitation, the veteran German hunters closed the distance to intercept her.
“Hah!”
Jang Mi accelerated further, flames erupting from her feet as her acceleration skill propelled her forward.
“What… what?!”
Wendel, the German hunter, raised his shield in shock.
Jang Mi burst into the air once more, flames propelling her higher as she unleashed fire directly at Wendel’s head from above.
“Gah?!”
Blinded by the inferno, Wendel lost his bearings. Jang Mi landed behind him and drove a sharp punch directly into the damage counter on his chest. Flames erupted from her fist as it struck, and the counter’s green light shifted to red.

Beep!
[German player Wendel is out.]
A mechanical voice echoed from the drone.
“Damn it… How easily?”
[Ah! Player Jang Mi is incredible! The veteran player couldn’t even mount a defense before being taken down in an instant!]
The German player couldn’t believe it. He had over five years of hunter experience. He’d even leveled up since arriving here, yet he’d been defeated so easily by this young girl. It was unthinkable.
“Wendel!”
Lora, the remaining German hunter, attacked Wendel’s position and swung her sword horizontally at Jang Mi’s back, who was still facing away.
Jang Mi flexed her waist fluidly, evading backward, and kicked one leg skyward. Flames erupted along the path her foot traced.
“Kyaaah!”
The flames engulfed Lora, and her damage counter rapidly turned red.
Then Jin-woo’s eagle flew forward and struck Lora’s damage counter.
Beep!
[German player Lora is out.]
“Damn it… We lost too quickly. But we’ll still win in the end.”
Since Norman, the strongest of the five German hunters, had gone to the main base, there was confidence he would deliver.
Boom!
A sound more like artillery fire than gunshots echoed across Baekdu Mountain.
[German player Norman is eliminated.]
“The captain?! That’s impossible!”
Wendel and Lora gasped in shock at the broadcast. Norman, who was stronger than them and far more cautious, had fallen so easily?
“… The Korean team has grown considerably.”
The German team’s coach spoke to Ji-seok.
Germany had once been far ahead of Korea, yet they’d been overwhelmed so easily. With their ace eliminated and only two players remaining, there was no hope of victory.
“Germany forfeits.”
[Germany has forfeited! Match concluded! The Korean team demonstrates overwhelming superiority! They advance to the semifinals!]
“Ow!”
When Jang Mi returned to the waiting area, Ji-seok flicked her on the head.
“Why?!”
“Who told you to rush in like that? What if that opponent had been strong? Do you understand what teamwork means?”
“I read their profiles before the match. Both were close-range warriors with slow speed, so it was definitely manageable.”
Jang Mi rubbed her head and replied.
“…So you weren’t completely thoughtless.”
Truly the daughter of hunter Jung Min-gi. She lacked maturity, but her combat instincts and abilities were overwhelmingly superior to other players.
While Ji-seok was scolding Jang Mi, another team’s match began outside.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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