Chapter 10
Mana Exhaustion
KRAAAANG───!!!
A powerful shockwave burst out.
No matter how strong that guy’s defense was, there was no way to block this.
As expected, the “One Punch” struck, and Yong Taesu was sent flying.
Clang—
He smashed through a seventh-floor window and beyond.
Hoo.
I sighed inwardly.
“I did it!”
I had won the fight against a 4-star hunter.
Of course, it wasn’t easy.
Honestly, if it weren’t for the “One Punch” skill, I would have lost.
No.
It wasn’t just the “One Punch” skill.
“Prill. You did well, too.”
【Heh. I’m this kind of spirit!】
Without Prill’s help, I wouldn’t have been able to buy enough time to cast the skill.
This was a battle where I had to use every resource I had.
“But in the end, I’m the one who won.”
Of course, the important thing is the result.
Winner and loser.
In the harsh hunter world, there can only be one winner.
At least this time, I was that winner.
“Oh my god. What kind of destructive power was that…”
“Team Leader Yong lost!?”
“…What is this? He’s supposed to be just a porter!”
“That bastard might not even be a porter.”
I heard the startled murmurs of spectators nearby.
“C-crazy. Please hide me.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Ah, I don’t know! Just—!”
I even saw some guys who used to bully me now cowering in fear.
Yeah.
This was a conclusion no one could have predicted.
A mere porter they treated like a toy had blown away the hunter team leader they worshipped like a god.
“W-what the…?”
The most shocked was none other than HR Team Leader Ma Gwangjin.
His plan to contract me cheaply after Yong Taesu subdued me was completely shattered.
“G-get that bastard immediately! I said get him!”
Flustered, he ordered the other hunters to restrain me.
‘This isn’t good.’
Because of the unexpected spectators, I was in quite a bind.
It was clear none of those onlookers would side with me.
And then—
Ding!
[Entering mana exhaustion state.]
The aftereffect of the “One Punch” skill: mana exhaustion.
My entire body drained of strength.
If hunters attacked me in this state?
‘No way I could block.’
There was no doubt I’d be caught without resistance.
‘I have to hold out until the mana exhaustion ends somehow.’
Right now, I had only one option to use my full power.
“Prill. Buy me some time.”
【Ugh. I’m weak right now too.】
‘Just stall for time.’
【I’ll try!】
Using Prill’s power to endure until the mana exhaustion ended.
Normally, I wouldn’t want to rely on Prill’s power, but I had no choice.
Survival was the priority.
If I survived, I could grow stronger and get revenge.
But then—
“D-damn! How do we catch him?”
“Even Team Leader Yong couldn’t do it…”
“I-I don’t want to die!”
Maybe there was a way without using Prill.
【Ice Ar—】
“Wait!”
I stopped Prill from using a low-grade ice skill.
Then I checked the surrounding reactions again.
My conclusion:
‘The situation might not be as bad as I thought?’
Despite Ma Gwangjin’s orders, the hunters didn’t rush me.
That’s because all the hunters here were 1 or 2-star.
There were no hunters above 3-star.
So no one could accurately assess my condition right after sending Yong Taesu flying.
Everyone was just overwhelmed by the impact of the “One Punch” skill and didn’t consider that I couldn’t keep up that level of destructive power continuously.
“What are you waiting for! Attack now! He’s just a lucky bastard who got a skill!”
“But…”
“The HR Team Leader isn’t even our direct superior!”
“Y-yeah! We don’t have to obey him!”
“Damn it! You bastards…!”
Also, they didn’t have enough loyalty to risk their lives on orders.
‘You should have behaved better before.’
I bit my lip in frustration and slowly scanned the hunters.
The room was now quiet.
Whenever a hunter’s eyes met mine, they quickly looked away.
“If you want to fight, come at me all at once. Don’t bother me one by one.”
I asserted dominance with a boastful tone.
Finally, I locked eyes with Ma Gwangjin.
He also avoided my gaze.
He was quick to read the atmosphere.
‘Good.’
Now, the strongest here was me.
At least on the surface.
‘I can barely use my strength.’
Due to mana exhaustion, I was actually the weakest here.
But since the others misunderstood, I could mask my weakness as confidence.
Step.
Anyway, I had the atmosphere under control and made my next move.
First, I pulled out the Frost Eternity Sword stuck in the ceiling.
Shrring—
‘Ugh.’
But here a problem occurred.
I staggered slightly from not being able to handle the sword’s weight as I drew it out.
‘Can’t even handle this much?’
The Frost Eternity Sword was much lighter than a regular iron sword.
Though pulling a sword out of the ceiling wasn’t easy, losing balance over something this light?
Mana exhaustion was a more serious debuff than I thought.
‘Hold on a little longer. It’ll be over soon.’
Thanks to my innate trait “Excess Mana,” the mana exhaustion didn’t last very long.
But in this situation… every second counted.
Then—
“…Isn’t that guy just bluffing?”
“…Seems like it.”
Because of that, the public opinion started to change.
Yeah.
Everyone realized the truth.
I wouldn’t be able to repeat that level of attack that sent Yong Taesu flying.
“If you catch him, you get 15 days paid leave!”
Ma Gwangjin threw out a carrot at just the right time.
“…Damn it. I’m going in.”
“I’m coming too!”
Some of the more aggressive hunters rushed at me.
Tat-tat.
The Gwangcheolpa hunters quickly closed in.
“You’re not even in shape, yet you’re bluffing!”
One charged with a spear held long and aimed at me.
My mana exhaustion hadn’t recovered yet.
But—
“Prill!”
【Ice Arrow!】
Shatter—Thud!
The ice arrow Prill fired pierced the hunter’s neck.
“Ugh!”
One down, but more came running at me.
“Die!”
“Arrgh!”
A sword-wielding hunter charged from the right, and a mace-wielding hunter from the left.
Two more enemies.
“Damn it. Prill!”
【Wait! Ice Arrow…!】
Prill tried to fire again but was a bit late.
She was clearly weak now.
So weak she couldn’t even instantly handle these three mediocre hunters.
‘Damn.’
So I couldn’t just stand still.
Struggling to move my weakened body, I stepped toward the sword-wielding hunter.
“Too slow! Your strength’s gone!”
The hunter shouted with glee.
He was excited thinking he’d catch me and get the reward.
‘Just dodge once.’
I stepped forward with a determined expression.
Once.
Just once, if I dodged that attack, I could count on Prill’s help.
So even if it was tough…
‘I’ll roll on the ground if I have to—’
But then—
Ding!
[Due to very rapid mana recovery, mana exhaustion ends early.]
‘Good.’
I realized I didn’t need to do that anymore.
Strength returned to my body.
Boom—!
