Infinite Evolution Hunter - Chapter 204

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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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204
Beyond the cafeteria and performance venues, the Metallanet crafts exhibition hall and shop drew the largest crowds.
While the exhibition featured displays that Metalim had created by manipulating metal like liquid, the Metal Plants from the Underground proved far more popular.
Though smaller than what I’d seen in the Underground, the geometric metal fruits gleamed beautifully, captivating passersby. Perhaps all living beings share a fundamental desire for things that shimmer.
“Brother, should we buy one for Mother?”
“Would this keep our mom from killing it? She murders every plant she touches….”
In truth, Metal Plants were merely decorative pieces on the surface. Only in the Underground, using methods known exclusively to the royal family, could they absorb mineral powder and bear fruit.
“Lee Ji-seok.”
I turned at the sound of my name.
It was Elchai, an Imperial Noble from Metallanet. The other Metalim hadn’t recognized us, but Elchai’s mental barrier was strong enough to resist Bae Na-young’s perception-disruption magic.
“My lady, are you interested in the Metal Plants?”
“Yes, they’re truly beautiful.”
“I’ll have several sent to your residence.”
“Oh, thank you so much.”
“However, it’s quite unfortunate that Lee Ji-seok won’t be participating in this exchange tournament.”
“Yes, I have a child now. It seems I won’t be able to move about for a while.”
I glanced toward Ji-ho.
“I understand. Ah, but must participation in this tournament always be with others? I’m considering entering solo.”
“The basic purpose is to promote harmony among different races, but solo entry is possible if you have the ability. You seem quite confident.”
“Ha, I’m simply worried about coordination since I have little interaction with other races.”
“Visit the Operations Committee, and they’ll measure your abilities.”
“I’ll do that.”
* * *
“This is absurd! Run it again!”
Bourbon shouted at Jang Mi, who worked for the Operations Committee.
“But… even if you say that, the results are already in.”
“There’s no way my power is merely this level!”
“Merely? That’s S-rank Hunter level.”
The Ligen Research Institute had assembled all existing science and magic technology to create an instrument that measured a subject’s abilities.
It could measure every form of energy—pure physical strength, mana quality and quantity, spiritual essence, and even magical force.
“There’s no way such numbers can measure my true strength!”
“It’s roughly accurate. Besides, we measure first, then prove the real hierarchy in the tournament itself.”
Jang Mi was beginning to lose patience with Bourbon’s tantrum.
“Don’t you dare speak to me so casually, you lowborn wretch!”
“What? Lowborn? You bastard….”
Jang Mi unzipped her fire-resistant hoodie, flames erupting from her chest.
“Do you start fights every tournament?”
Yang Sang-heon grabbed Jang Mi’s shoulder as she lunged at Bourbon.
“But! This asshole!”
“Are you this woman’s master? Good timing. Run the measurement again.”
“Master? You’re dead!”
Jang Mi reached down to pull the zipper further.
“I’m telling Hunter Jung Min-gi about this—undressing anywhere you please.”
“But how can I just stand here after hearing something like that?!”
“Yes. Stand still.”
Jang Mi’s mouth fell open in shock.
“If you’re dissatisfied, would you like me to take the measurements myself?”
“Fine. Go ahead.”
Yang Sang-heon measured again, but the numbers remained unchanged.
“This can’t be right!”
Bourbon threw another tantrum.
“Then, would you care to spar with me? My readings are slightly higher. If you can subdue me, I’ll recommend they increase your numbers.”
“Excellent! Let’s go.”
“Brother….”
“Don’t fuss about it, okay?”
Yang Sang-heon calmed Jang Mi and led Bourbon to the field where the exhibition match would take place.
“Put this on.”
Yang Sang-heon attached a round, disc-shaped item to his chest and handed another to Bourbon.
“What is this?”
“It’s called a Damage Counter. It’s used in exhibition matches like this. When the shield on this counter is depleted, you’re declared the loser. It’s to prevent serious injuries.”
The Damage Counter drew energy from the magic circle beneath the exhibition field, creating a shield far more powerful than its size suggested.
While it couldn’t withstand the full-force attack of an S-rank Hunter, even halving the damage was enough—S-rank Hunters had naturally high defense, making survival feasible.
The shield’s capacity was determined by the measured vitality and defense. The harder one’s body and the stronger one’s stamina, the more powerful and durable the shield became.
“I don’t need this. I won’t get hurt.”
“…Didn’t you get captured by Amy before?”
Yang Sang-heon was growing increasingly exasperated with this Metalim.
“That…. That woman uses electricity! The matchup was bad!”
Since Metalim’s body was metal, Amy’s attacks easily penetrated to his core.
“You still have to wear it. If you refuse, you can’t participate.”
“Tch! Fine!”
Bourbon reluctantly took the counter and attached it to his chest, a thin protective barrier enveloping his body.
“Shall we begin?”
Yang Sang-heon drew his sword.
“Open your eyes wide and watch! Metalim’s true power!”
Bourbon enlarged his body by several dozen centimeters and sharpened his hand edges into blades, launching his attack.
Yang Sang-heon sidestepped the ominous strike and slashed Bourbon’s unwrapped wrist.
Clang!
Sparks erupted from the shield.
The Damage Counter on his chest displayed a red line forming a circle, which diminished ever so slightly from that single blow. Even without enhancement, Bourbon’s body—platinum infused with mana—was far harder than a human wearing high-grade armor.
“Didn’t I tell you! Your attacks mean nothing to me!”
Emboldened, Bourbon swung his hand blade in a grand arc, but Yang Sang-heon sidestepped with minimal movement, his composure unshaken as he continued slashing at Bourbon’s wrists.
Gradually, he increased the intensity, infusing his strikes with aura.
Clang, clang, clang!
In the time it took Bourbon to swing his arm two or three times, Yang Sang-heon’s blade—enhanced by his acceleration skill—had carved across Bourbon’s wrists dozens of times.
“You miserable rat!”
Bourbon transformed from his human form into a slime-like creature, then into a grotesque monster bristling with branch-like tentacles so densely packed that his torso vanished from sight.
Bourbon honed the tip of each tentacle to a razor’s edge and unleashed a barrage of attacks. The power remained unchanged from before, but the sheer number of strikes multiplied tenfold.
Caught off guard by this unexpected transformation, Yang Sang-heon’s eyes widened momentarily in surprise, but he regained his composure in an instant.
He heightened his focus, finding a path through the onslaught of attacks, and hurled himself through a gap that seemed impossible to escape.
Yang Sang-heon’s body and blade spun within the narrow opening.
Clang, clang, clang, clang!
Beep!
Having been struck dozens of times by countless branches in rapid succession, the damage counter’s shield was completely depleted. Though Bourbon had multiplied his means of attack, he had also multiplied his vulnerable points.
It was an overwhelming match.
“I… I won’t accept this!”
Even after the match ended, Bourbon lunged forward again.
“This is troublesome…”
Yang Sang-heon withdrew the aura from his blade and deflected the incoming tentacles. He found himself contemplating whether it was acceptable to cut down a noble from a nation with which they had only just established friendly relations.
“Look at this! You can’t even cut through my body, can you?!”
Unaware of Yang Sang-heon’s restraint, Bourbon thrashed about wildly.
“Bourbon!”
“Y-yes, Uncle.”
“…Apologize for your rudeness and withdraw.”
Elchai ground his teeth.
“B-but…”
“Your participation is hereby disqualified. Your training is still insufficient. Yang Sang-heon, I appreciate your restraint.”
Before Yang Sang-heon could respond, Elchai turned sharply and walked away, with Bourbon following behind him without so much as an apology.
“The Metalim workers are decent folk, but I can’t fathom why those two behave that way.”
Yang Sang-heon sheathed his blade.
* * *
“What a disgrace is this?!”
“My sincerest apologies.”
At Elchai’s harsh voice, Bourbon dropped to his knees, trembling violently.
“How long has it been since I told you to exercise restraint, and yet you return here shamed?!”
Elchai kicked Bourbon.
“I-I’m terribly sorry.”
Bourbon tumbled backward, then scrambled forward on all fours to kneel before Elchai once more. It was hard to believe this was the same man who had displayed such arrogance moments before.
“How many times must I tell you to conduct yourself as befits a noble?! Had your father not been dead…”
Bourbon hung his head low. Though Bourbon was a reckless fool, he knew better than anyone how merciless Elchai truly was. This was a man who would kill even his own nephew without hesitation if his pride were wounded.
“P-please, grant me one more chance!”
“You’ve already failed twice, and now you say this?! You will not participate in this exchange match.”
“Will you go yourself, then?”
“Do I look like a fool?! Such matters are delegated to my subordinates.”
“But sir, didn’t you say we need to demonstrate Metalim’s power? If only subordinates participate, won’t that bring shame upon us?”
“There is one among the lowborn whose combat prowess is exceptional.”
“Ah!”
“I shall entrust one of the royal treasures to them. With it, they will easily dispatch the surface humans.”
Elchai summoned Ridi, who had been working in the mine tunnel.
“Will you fight for the glory of Metallanet?”
“If you command it….”
Ridi knelt before Elchai and bowed her head in response.
“I shall lend you a royal treasure. Consider it an honor.”
“Thank you.”
Though Elchai had seized what the previous king had granted her, Ridi—possessed of deep affection and loyalty to the kingdom—accepted the blade in silence.
* * *
Ridi was selected as Metallanet’s representative for the exchange match and visited the Operations Committee to have her abilities measured.
Ridi replenished her titanium and mana stones, healed her wounded body, and attended the assessment.
Ridi’s ability measured lower than Bourbon’s, but when she wielded the royal treasure sword during measurement, her power rose to match Bourbon’s. However, since solo participation was still impossible, she was placed on a team.
“I’m Ridi Titanium.”
“Nice to meet you.”
“It’s an honor to work with you.”
Yang Sang-heon extended his hand, and Ridi grasped it firmly, shaking it lightly.
“Baldri Naepanary. Pleased to meet you.”
Baldri was a gnome from the Ark Residents with rainbow-colored hair.
“Delighted to meet you.”
For the sake of the diminutive Baldri, Ridi knelt and clasped her hand.
“I like you.”
Ridi smiled brightly.
“Then, let me explain my abilities first so we can coordinate.”
Yang Sang-heon drew his sword and stepped forward.
“I primarily use light-attribute aura. I can infuse it into my blade and fire light discs—Light Sorcers—to strike targets.”
Yang Sang-heon fired a sorcer that shattered a boulder, then launched another into the air, stepped upon the fixed disc, and traversed the sky.
Now it was Baldri’s turn.
“Baldri channels spirits into her body.”
Yang Sang-heon and Ridi exchanged puzzled glances. Spirit users were rare on both Earth and Metallanet.
Thinking demonstration faster than explanation, Baldri closed her eyes, then opened them—and a fire spirit descended upon her form.

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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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