🔊 TTS Settings
chapter 118
A sharp, bitter smile played across Executive Ho’s lips.
Does he think I wouldn’t anticipate an offense of this level?
Twisting his body, he swung his sword upward. Sparks flew as the blade collided with the edge of the steel axe.
Those sparks became flames, summoning a thunderbolt.
And those flames—
Rumble rumble—
It wasn’t just one or two.
[A barrage of firebolts descends!]
The magic of fiery heat intensified the high-temperature lightning. Since lightning is a type of fire, this effect amplified the flames even more.
The summoned firebolts struck like arrows directly where Executive Ho stood.
Boom, boom, boom!
Every time Ho took a step back, the firebolts struck him. A few hit him directly, but they were deflected by the sword swings.
And then, the lightning—
[Jeonseung, ‘Immortal Who Eats Steel’ deliciously devours the magic contained in the firebolts!]
Absorbed by Jeonseung, the magic was then spat out.
“I’ll show you how tasty your magic really is.”
With Ho’s fierce slash, a tidal wave of force swept across the ground.
[Jeonseung, ‘Immortal Who Eats Steel,’ vomits the consumed magic!]
The cyan lightning transformed into a sticky, black lightning, Ho’s signature style.
It was far more destructive and nerve-jangling than Lee Hyun’s.
[The deep breath of Du-eok-sini (SS) burns fiercely!]
[Du-eok-sini’s collar flutters.]
[Activating Rampage Strike (SS), attempting a bull’s step!]
Lee Hyun did not dodge. Instead, he thickened the cloak of lightning around his body and charged forward.
Pa-pa-pa-pang!
Each swing of the axe tore through the black lightning.
“I didn’t really want to taste it… but it’s pretty strong.”
“Is that so? I feel it a lot. Every time I digest it, my fingertips tingle.”
“Isn’t that nerve pain? You should see a doctor.”
“Ha ha. I already go regularly.”
Hoo-
The gap between him and Executive Ho narrowed again.
“If I want to spar with young people like you for even one more day, this old man has to stay healthy, right?”
Bang!!
The axe and sword collided midair.
“I don’t think this counts as healthy, sir.”
“You wouldn’t know. These days, every day feels different. My joints creak.”
“If your painful joints are like this,”
Lee Hyun swung his left axe horizontally. Ho reached out with his left hand.
Thunk!
“How bad must it have been when you weren’t in pain?”
Lee Hyun released both axes without hesitation and rammed his right shoulder into Ho’s body.
Speed is power, and lightning is the most destructive of all attributes. Together, the impact was beyond imagination.
Bang!!
Ho staggered several steps back. Crossing his arms, he barely managed to block Lee Hyun’s charge, but Lee Hyun pressed forward, pushing Ho to the transparent barrier.
Thud!
The barrier shook as if it would break at any moment.
Lee Hyun immediately drew a third axe, Gyo-hyeol, with his left hand and struck Ho’s side.
Swaaaaak!
Knowing his only advantages were speed and power, Lee Hyun used them fully.
It was a risky move that could easily cause serious injury.
Yet a look of exhilaration spread across Ho’s face.
Bang!!
The axe struck his side but hit something solid midway.
Grrrrr!
A horrifying grinding of metal.
“I asked you how it was when it didn’t hurt!”
By now, Ho had no sword in hand. The sacred relic had melted and formed a protective guard.
“Back then? I was the best!”
Ho laughed like a demon and drove his knee upward. Lee Hyun’s body was close, making the abdomen the perfect target.
Bang!
Lee Hyun pulled the axe inward to defend against the strike.
“…ugh!”
A gut-wrenching pain. Lee Hyun gritted his teeth.
And then—
[Whirlwind Step (S) swaps positions with the opponent!]
[A lightning strike descends.]
Flash!
In an instant, Lee Hyun switched positions with Ho, summoning a lightning strike.
The needle-sharp attack narrowly missed Ho’s crown.
Ho remained calm despite the sudden skill activation.
He lifted his leg, aiming his shin like uprooting a pavement at the back of Lee Hyun’s neck.
Flash!
The black lightning born from Lee Hyun’s power erupted at supersonic speed.
[Battle Sense (S+) warns of danger!]
Instinctively, Lee Hyun realized that getting hit could shatter his cervical vertebrae.
The nature of this fight had changed completely. It felt like the jaws of a beast were lunging at him.
Ho was finally showing his full strength without holding back!
“…!!”
Lee Hyun squeezed his magic circuits with all his strength to resist.
[The spirit of Du-eok-sini explodes!]
Kraaaang!!
Lee Hyun staggered, nearly breaking, and was pushed back violently. Fragments of shattered black lightning tore through the arena repeatedly.
Hoo-
Ho exhaled deeply and regained his posture, a relieved expression on his face.
He laughed.
“Even though that was your best attack, you blocked it effortlessly. Impressive.”
“…It wasn’t exactly effortless.”
Lee Hyun frowned and lowered the crossed axes. His arms tingled painfully—he had even aggravated his internal injuries.
A delay of even half a beat would have been fatal.
“Ha ha. That’s still considered intact. Back in the day, few survived that strike unscathed.”
It didn’t sound exaggerated.
“What is this, exactly?”
“It’s called Yeop-ho-gak (Tiger Hunting Foot).”
“Hunting Yeop, Tiger Ho?”
A technique for hunting tigers?
“It’s an old man’s secret technique, honed to eventually defeat the Guild Master.”
“…!”
“You’ve just tasted it in sparring. Consider it an honor. I don’t show this to other executives easily.”
Ho twisted his mouth. His normally hidden, fierce Man-style temperament was fully revealed—like a hunter targeting a tiger.
“I’m not the only one hiding techniques. Geum Ji-sang, and the other executives, probably the same.”
Lee Hyun recalled the executives’ various temperaments.
“We all gathered under the mountain spirit for one reason.”
“…The Guild Master became a goal.”
“A mountain we must eventually overcome. We, who used to roam freely in the world, had to learn our limits under the Guild Master.”
Lee Hyun saw the executives in a new light. Their relationship with the Mountain Spirit was fascinating.
Executives trained continually to surpass the goal, while the Mountain Spirit constantly evaluated them. Mutual feedback strengthened them.
Trust underpinned this healthy dynamic.
‘This is how I imagine Blue Thunder… and myself…’
Lee Hyun felt he had learned something important.
“That’s why I want you to awaken the Art Name. Even a fragment might give you a useful hint.”
Finally, he realized the sparring obsession had a purpose.
“Arsala, young one.”
Sun Wukong jumped beside Lee Hyun.
‘Daeseong?’
“That person is beyond you. He’s a monster aiming for godhood. Once a human targets a god, they cease to be human.”
It was a high evaluation of Ho.
“Unlike the executive Jeong you fought, this is real. He has already reached the ‘turn’ in the cycle and is glimpsing beyond—a true transcendent.”
“…!!”
Ho was that formidable?
“Even understanding a painting by such a god? For someone just entering the Martial Duel style, it would be toxic.”
Sun Wukong wasn’t jealous—he genuinely worried.
“So open the Ho Art. I’m curious what shape you’ll create.”
“Don’t discard the painting yet. Now’s not the time for recklessness.”
Lee Hyun recalled the Art Name painting in vivid detail.
‘The executives developed their arts to defeat the Mountain Spirit, and Daeseong worries I’ll misuse Ho Art…’
[Long Spear spins violently!]
‘Then what if I reverse the two strokes?’
Lee Hyun’s eyes deepened.
‘If I research Ho Art like the executives to defeat the Mountain Spirit… and center it on the Martial Duel style?’
He would deconstruct Ho Art as a key to unlock the Martial Duel style.
Flash!
Lightning sparked across his eyes.
Something flashed in his mind: the Art Name with tiger and magpie. Something could be gained from it.
‘Let’s try it.’
He stepped forward to seize the idea.
“I’ll block Yeop-ho-gak with Ho Art.”
“Ha ha. Seems you’ve got an idea?”
“Hey! You!!”
Ho laughed; Sun Wukong frowned.
Then—
Crackle!
Lee Hyun revealed his lightning.
“That’s…!”
“That thunderhead of a guy, ha ha! Ha!”
Their expressions reversed. Ho was shocked; Sun Wukong smiled mysteriously.
“Let’s begin. Time is running short.”
Lee Hyun twisted his lips in determination.
6:50 PM
Uijeongbu
Sizzle! Sizzle!
The air in General Lee Gun-san’s mansion yard smelled of grilled meat.
“Oh! General, it smells amazing!”
“Ha ha. Is that so? Good. I asked my usual supplier for some fine meat today.”
With sixteen people crowded together, the yard buzzed with activity.
“Where’s the alcohol?”
“Check the icebox. Lots of varieties.”
“This is Green Wine? Expensive in Korea… aren’t you overdoing it, General?”
“I’ve opened my entire cellar. Enjoy freely.”
“Oh! Can we drink Petrus 2009?”
“…That’s over 10 million won a bottle. Better not.”
“Ten million won!”
“Hey! Open it! It’s easier to ask forgiveness than permission!”
“Are you all trying to destroy my household?!“
People reacted differently: some helped grill meat, some searched for alcohol, others enjoyed the reunion, and some shared baby or nephew photos.
Four years later, Lee Gun-san again experienced the magic of Blue Thunder.
Time had passed, but nothing had changed.
‘Thankfully. I worried about awkwardness, but that’s the magic of Blue Thunder.’
At the center was Lee Hyun, which pleased him greatly.
“Ko senior, what are you doing? Hurry with the lettuce! The order’s been long. Can’t run a place like this?”
“Shut up! Can’t you see I’m carrying sesame leaves? And help out instead of standing there!”
Meanwhile, Go Jin-woo looked exhausted.
“If I were a servant here, Ko senior should do it.”
“I’m not a servant! I’m part-timing!”
Since early morning, Go Jin-woo had been helping with preparations.
The problem was, many people sought him out.
“Either way.”
“Don’t compare! Want to be lined up under me like four years ago?”
“Ugh! Military culture is old-fashioned! Modern army doesn’t do that! Grandpa!”
“Senpai! The meat’s all gone!”
“Where’s the salt? I can’t see it!”
“Jin-woo senior!”
“Jin-woo hyung! Where are you?”
“Aaaah!! Stop calling me!!”
Jin-woo had always been prime prey for the juniors.
“Lee Hyun! Kim Min-jung! Why aren’t you here!!”
At 7 PM, Go Jin-woo tore at his temple.
“I even took a half-day off… so slow, so slow.”
“I took leave too, coming from Daegu… my precious leave…”
“Probably not because of Min-jung, more like Lee Hyun. He’s always late training, even though he’s punctual on missions.”
Old Blue Thunder members chuckled checking the time.
“Wasn’t there a late penalty? 10,000 per minute?”
“How much now? 100,000? 150,000?”
*”Still, for Lee Hyun… maybe 300,000…”
“No. None.”
At that moment, the gate swung open. Exhausted, Lee Hyun appeared, covered in dust and sweat. Behind him, panting, was Kim Min-jung.
All eyes turned to them.
“Sorry… puff! I tried to leave early… because of senior Jang…!”
“No fines, right?”
Lee Hyun entered the yard confidently.
Go Jin-woo pointed at the wall clock with a grim expression.
“10,000 won. The minute hand just moved, punk.”
