F-Class Destiny Hunter - Chapter 152

Chapter 152

Chapter 152

The scream that had just been heard, though faint, was unmistakably Yoon Bom’s voice. Seo Gangrim shouted toward the direction from which the scream emanated.

“Yoon Bom! Are you there?”

However, there was no response. Instead, another voice came from a different direction.

“Is everyone okay? I feel like I can’t hear well.”

The current voice was Yoon Geoul’s. Soon after, the voice of Father Yohan followed.

“Is everyone all right… Ahh!”

“Father!”

Father Yohan screamed, and then his voice suddenly vanished. Familiar voices resonated in the darkness.

“Darn it. Nuna! Why aren’t you talking?”

“Could it be that everyone can’t hear?”

Seo Gangrim lost his sight, while the rest of the members lost their hearing. They were in a state where they couldn’t perceive each other.

Then, a faint voice echoed from the darkness.

“Ugh, everyone… Where are you all?”

It was Shin Sooah’s voice. The moment he heard that voice, Seo Gangrim paused for a moment and then started walking in the direction from which the voice was coming.

In the midst of the darkness where only voices echoed, someone was watching Seo Gangrim.

‘Seo Gangrim, you finally came up. Lucky. I didn’t miss you.’

Choi Pilyeong was hiding in the darkness, observing Seo Gangrim. He had been waiting on the lower floors for Seo Gangrim to emerge. When one of the clones scattered throughout noticed Seo Gangrim, he wanted to call him out.

‘It’s lucky in many ways that he can’t see anything now.’

[Ability ‘Clone’ is in progress!]

[Ability ‘Voice Replication’ is in progress!]

In various parts of the 18th floor, clones were spread out, imitating the voices of the Flying Tiger Sect members. It was sufficient to lure Seo Gangrim into a trap.

“Geoul, Father Yohan… Please, help…!”

“Nuna! Jang Taeheon! Where is everyone?”

“Gangrim-ssi, where are you?”

False voices from all directions were calling out to Seo Gangrim which rooted him to the spot, unable to move.

Choi Pilyeong observed this scene with delight. ‘Now, who should you rescue first?’

Seo Gangrim still stood there as if contemplating where to go to first.

At that moment, one of the clones shouted loudly, “Seo Gangrim? Are you there?”

Seo Gangrim’s shoulders trembled upon hearing the voice.

The voice belonged to Dokgo Jun. Seo Gangrim spoke in the direction of the man, “Dokgo Jun?”

“Thank goodness. I thought you were in a deeper place… Ah!”

At that moment, a short scream erupted from Dokgo Jun and was accompanied by a tumult of sounds – screams, the cries of monsters, and the sounds of things being destroyed. Just by hearing the noises, it seemed like a fierce battle was taking place.

“Damn it, Seo Gangrim. Run! Don’t worry about me…!”

Dokgo Jun’s voice conveyed pain and urgency. It sounded like he had suffered serious injuries. Upon hearing this, Seo Gangrim changed direction towards Dokgo Jun.

“Dokgo Jun, are you there?”

As Seo Gangrim inquired into the darkness, a harsh coughing sound, resembling someone vomiting blood, was heard instead of an answer. Dokgo Jun spoke with difficulty, “Seo Gangrim, step back. It’s dangerous here…”

The clone continued shouting in a weak voice as if dying. As Seo Gangrim approached, he heard Dokgo Jun’s voice pleading, “Seo Gangrim, quickly… go up. There’s not much time left.”

Choi Pilyeong had approached without notice and was watching the scene. If this scene was heard through audio alone, it seemed like an emotionally charged situation. Of course, the reality was different.

“Gangrim… I said to go…”

Despite Dokgo Jun’s objections, Seo Gangrim continued to approach the clone, unaware that it was holding a sharp sword. The clone and Choi Pilyeong were just waiting for Seo Gangrim to come closer.

‘If he approaches like this, he’s a dead man.’

Just eliminating Seo Gangrim was satisfying enough, but the fact that he would die at the hands of his own colleague added an extra layer of enjoyment for Choi Pilyeong. Imagining Seo Gangrim’s despair when stabbed by his sword made his whole body tingle, and it was almost unbearable.

‘Come closer! Seo Gangrim, just a little closer…!’

Seo Gangrim soon entered the attack range of the clone. Choi Pilyeong clenched his fist. Finally, when Seo Gangrim was right in front, the clone swiftly swung its sword.

-Swoosh!

“Aaargh!”

A scream echoed as the wrist was severed, but it wasn’t Seo Gangrim’s. The clone struggled with its severed wrist.

‘What, what’s going on? Did Seo Gangrim attack?’

-Kwang!

After cutting off the clone’s wrist, Seo Gangrim grabbed its throat and slammed it against the wall. Choi Pilyeong was still frozen, unable to comprehend the situation.

‘Why? Weren’t Dokgo Jun and Seo Gangrim not allies?’

The clone, caught by the throat, struggled to break free. As the cold blade touched its neck, the clone, in a shocked tone, said, “How did you know I’m fake…?”

“I ordered Dokgo Jun to do something. So there’s no reason for you to be here. And if you were really Dokgo Jun…”

-Splatter!

“You disobeyed me, you deserve to die.”

In an instant, the clone was torn apart. Dokgo Jun’s voice was gone, leaving only silence. While Choi Pilyeong was still processing the situation, Seo Gangrim turned around.

“Choi Pilyeong, are you there?”

Upon hearing his name, Choi Pilyeong unconsciously covered his mouth. In the silence, Seo Gangrim continued to speak.

“You don’t have to answer; I can sense your presence clearly.”

Thanks to the effect of ‘Senses,’ even without sight, Seo Gangrim could roughly grasp the situation. The subtle sounds of breathing, footsteps, and changes in the air allowed him to detect the slight differences between Choi Pilyeong’s clones and the real voices.

‘The acting wasn’t convincing either.’

From the beginning, even when the voices of the fake members reached him, Seo Gangrim knew he was being deceived. The slight nuances in the voices were apparent to him.

Then, Choi Pilyeong’s voice echoed from the darkness.

“…I felt it before, but killing a colleague, even knowing it’s fake. You’re quite something.”

“Colleague? Are you talking about Dokgo Jun?”

It was a comically absurd misunderstanding. If Shin Sooah’s voice had been used, it might have been slightly more convincing, but it happened to be Dokgo Jun.

Choi Pilyeong said as if he couldn’t comprehend, “I thought you and Dokgo Jun were closest… Surely, you and Dokgo Jun must be close colleagues!”

“That novel? If you’re a journalist, you should investigate yourself instead of believing in such fakes.”

Provoked by Seo Gangrim, Choi Pilyeong’s face turned red. He spoke with hidden anger, smiling faintly.

“I don’t know what audacity you have to provoke me, Seo Gangrim. Do you even know your current situation?”

“I know well. You’re stalking me like a pervert.”

“Don’t talk nonsense like that. I’m doing this for the people’s right to know!”

“You voyeuristic pervert talks a lot.”

Choi Pilyeong closed his mouth. Not because he agreed with the statement.

His expression was twisted with anger like never before.

“I’ll tell you what the next article will be about.”

Footsteps were heard from behind Choi Pilyeong. Not just one pair of footsteps. Behind Choi Pilyeong, faces identical to his began to appear.

“Seo Gangrim, killed the other hunters. He tried to kill Choi Pilyeong to destroy the evidence, but…”

Choi Pilyeong laughed sarcastically.

“Defeated in battle. Seo Gangrim fled, never to return from the Great Demon Realm.”

Numerous clones surrounded Seo Gangrim, pressing on him like a vice. The oppressive aura emanating from each clone was anything but ordinary.

Seo Gangrim gazed into the darkness and spoke, “You seem stronger than a week ago.”

“I thought you didn’t know what you were talking about, but maybe you’re not an idiot after all,” said Choi Pilyeong, adopting a self-assured demeanor as he walked forward.

Certainly, there was a marked difference in the energy flowing from him compared to a week ago.

Holding a sword, he scrutinized Seo Gangrim.

“You know it too, right? As the fame of the gods increases, so does their all-encompassing power.”

It was a law known to all. That’s why everyone was striving to raise the fame of their patron gods.

Choi Pilyeong grinned at Seo Gangrim.

“Well, here’s the problem. How many people do you think are reading my articles right now?”

Seo Gangrim remained silent. Seeing his reaction, Choi Pilyeong began to chuckle.

“Do you understand? As many people read my articles, my patron god’s fame is rising. At this very moment, I am getting stronger!”

Millions of people were reading Choi Pilyeong’s articles. The number of views directly contributed to his power. The more attention people paid, the more widely his name was becoming known.

[Through the efforts of the manshin ‘Choi Pilyeong,’ the name of his patron god ‘Enchanting Voice’ is spreading widely. Fame is rising!]

At this very moment, Enchanting Voice’s fame was rapidly increasing. Feeling the power flowing into him, Choi Pilyeong laughed.

“You have no chance of winning. If you kneel and beg in front of me, maybe I’ll forgive you.”

“As you say, fame becomes the power of the patron god.”

Seo Gangrim slowly rose. His shadow elongated beside him.

“But you’re mistaken about something.”

At that moment, Choi Pilyeong felt an inexplicable unease. The shadow behind Seo Gangrim, which was now draped on him like a giant beast, triggered an eerie sensation.

‘Why do I feel like this?’

Certainly, Seo Gangrim was alone. Without sight and worn out from repeated battles, the situation should have been favorable to Choi Pilyeong.

‘Why am I trembling like this?’

He involuntarily clasped his trembling arms.

In the darkness, Seo Gangrim’s voice reached him.

“Who is the subject of your article?”

“Well, that’s…”

Choi Pilyeong momentarily closed his mouth. People reading the article were not only mentioning him. The person most talked about, discussed, and mentioned was not Choi Pilyeong alone.

Seo Gangrim, pointing his sword, said, “The subject of your article is me.”

[Hunter ‘Seo Gangrim’s’ name is spreading widely! Humans are beginning to pay attention to you!]

[‘Seo Gangrim’s’ fame has exceeded a certain value!]

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