Chapter 333: Knot (3)
When Jo Hwan-seong, the Director of Cheongmyeong Detention Center, was killed by Kang-hoo, it seemed plausible if you considered the element of surprise.
The difference in levels wasn’t too great, and given Kang-hoo’s highly rated skills, it wasn’t strange.
But not Yuji.
It shouldn’t have ended like this.
Unless he had withdrawn from the scene with serious injuries or unexpected reinforcements had appeared to complicate matters, no one imagined Yuji would be utterly destroyed purely by Kang-hoo’s skill and strategy.
That was true even for Lim Jeong-wan, known for being colder and more rational than Kang Dong-hyun.
Kang Dong-hyun repeated Lim Jeong-wan’s words to himself.
“Shin Kang-hoo is plotting against me?”
“If you look at it simply, there’s no reason he couldn’t take out a commander with a lower level than Yuji-nim.”
“No. No! That bastard Yuji was an idiot from the start. He was totally careless! That’s why he got taken out in Osaka too!”“……”
Lim Jeong-wan held back his words.
Even if others didn’t know, he didn’t want to speak harsh truths about the man he served.
He believed Kang Dong-hyun fully recognized the threat Kang-hoo posed.
Denying reality was just stubbornness. There was no way someone as quick to acknowledge things as Kang Dong-hyun would simply ignore it.
Still, there was one thing Lim Jeong-wan realized while watching the fight between Kang-hoo and Yuji in real time.
No matter what you think, going up against Shin Kang-hoo would be a pain for anyone.
In a single instant, more than ten skills burst forth—and that was just a portion.
Having such a wide variety of skills meant his unpredictability vastly exceeded other hunters.
In other words, for his opponent, every moment was a constant tension and inevitably difficult to manage.
Isn’t that right?
Just like how a kicker who can use both feet freely is far more challenging than one who only uses one.
‘Whatever the process, Yuji dying without even putting up a fight is only going to boost Shin Kang-hoo’s reputation. Damn it.’
Lim Jeong-wan lowered his head deeply.
Seeing Kang Dong-hyun do the same, their thoughts must have aligned. This was undoubtedly the worst-case scenario.
The scene was silent.
No sooner had Yuji died than the Eclipse members scrambled to flee.
Kang-hoo didn’t bother chasing them.
None of them had constellations worth stealing, and his strained body felt like it could collapse at any moment.
Thanks to Mad Solarkium, most of the pain was ‘deferred,’ but he couldn’t prevent his physical condition from deteriorating.
With Yuji’s death, the constellation plunder happened automatically.
As for his items, Kang-hoo would strip and recover them, then report the aftermath to the Public Safety Bureau for cleanup.
This time, however, unlike the usual post-battle routine, he planned to do something extra—something he normally didn’t.
【Heir of the Death Line】
【You may learn one skill from a hunter you killed.
Once the learning is complete, the contract with the constellation will change to one that increases your Dark Energy by 25.】
It was a constellation he had stolen before, during a fight alongside the Touishi Guild against Cha So-hyuk’s forces, after killing a black mage.
Using the ‘Heir of the Death Line,’ Kang-hoo decided to extract a skill from Yuji. Whether you call it learning or plundering, it was the same thing.
Since constellation powers don’t activate until a skill is officially learned, he skimmed through the skill list.
After a brief moment of deliberation, he decided to stick with the skill he had considered from the start.
【Would you like to learn Carapace Transformation?】
When he activated the constellation’s power, the system prompted him once more.
Kang-hoo proceeded to learn the skill.
Depending on how it was used, Carapace Transformation could instantly nullify fatal strikes.
Even more tricky was the fact that until the opponent actually launched their attack, the outcome was unpredictable.
【Carapace Transformation】
【Skill Mastery: Lv. Max】
【Temporarily transforms a chosen body part into tough leather to absorb external damage.
The durability of the transformation directly correlates with the amount of mana infused per second.
Mobility during transformation decreases between 5% to 35%, but joint movement is not restricted.】
【At max mastery, you can even temporarily transform fabric close to your body into carapace.】
‘That’s insane.’
The whole description felt broken, but the additional detail in a separate section was even more surprising.
Max mastery effect.
Apparently, Yuji hadn’t been able to use that. If he had, his clothes would have changed appearance.
Anyway, unlike petrification or the defensive stance forced by the Impeccable Wall skill, Carapace Transformation had the advantage of allowing movement while still defending.
It would prove useful in many ways.
【The contract with the constellation Heir of the Death Line has been permanently converted to increase Dark Energy by 25.】
Not only did it allow skill learning, but it also added to the Dark Energy! Thanks to that, Kang-hoo’s Dark Energy total reached 1061.
【Carapace Transformation】
Kang-hoo gave Carapace Transformation a try.
He had already seen Yuji use it to turn his body into tough leather, so that part was clear.
This time, Kang-hoo tested transforming his clothing along with his body.
It consumed a fair amount of mana, but thanks to his Mana Hyper-Sensitivity, it was bearable.
Meanwhile, Kang-hoo’s clothes, synchronized with the skill, began to harden.
“This is seriously incredible.”
A satisfied expression formed on his face.
If this was how it worked, then creating a tight, full-body enhancement suit would be ideal.
Synchronized with Carapace Transformation, the suit itself could be made even sturdier.
Even a simple skintight bodysuit would turn into a functional full-body suit once transformed.
“……”
Just then, he happened to glance at his dagger, which had grown noticeably dull.
That was because he had to repeatedly stab into Yuji’s carapace-enhanced body without pause.
Since he also needed to rework the Claws of Hatred engraving anyway, he figured it was time to visit Kim Shin-ryeong regarding the suit.
Kang-hoo stripped the items off Yuji’s corpse one by one as he placed a call to Kim Shin-ryeong.
He thought he wouldn’t get through, given how busy the man usually was, but a voice answered after just a few rings.
– Yeah.
“Are you available? I’d like to meet.”
– I’m in Ganghwa right now.
“That’s perfect. I’m at Incheon Airport.”
– Oh really? Great timing then. Come over if you can. I’ll send the address, but I can’t send a car, alright?
“Of course. I’ll find my way.”
– I’ll be here for about a week, so make sure to come by before then!
“I’ll head over today.”
– Even better. What’s the purpose?
“Crafting. And I have some questions about a suit.”
– Okay. See you soon.
Short but to the point, the conversation ended quickly since they only stuck to the essentials.
Item retrieval.
A victor’s feast.
Kang-hoo stripped Yuji of every item, sorting them into what he’d wear and what he’d sell.
The necklace, bracelet, ring, and gloves weren’t worth keeping, so he decided to sell them.
The breastplate seemed to have a self-destruct feature rather than a simple detach function, having been used during battle.
In short, Yuji had set off fireworks using his own armor—a loss for the victor.
But the anklet and shoes were better than his current ones, so Kang-hoo decided to make the switch. He started with the anklet.
【Thunderous Frenzy – Anklet】
【Grade: Tier 2】
【Magic Resistance +175】
【Endurance +175】
【Frenzy Bloom – Instantly recovers 50% of HP and enters a transcendent state for 1.5 seconds.
Can be activated once with 500 Dark Energy infused into the anklet; another person’s Dark Energy can also be used for charging.】
‘Compared to the current Demon Anklet, that’s 75 more in both Magic Resistance and Endurance. Plus Frenzy Bloom? No reason not to.’
There was no reason not to switch.
Frenzy Bloom would be incredibly useful in emergency situations where he lost a large amount of HP.
The transcendent state referred to reaching the upper limits of awakening.
For Kang-hoo, it was comparable to being doped up with Mad Solarkium, Awakening Elixir, and every possible stimulant.
During that state, 1.5 seconds would feel like a full 90 seconds—stretching time to analyze, judge, and act at lightning speed.
He wouldn’t be able to spam Frenzy Bloom for now, but it was a viable strategy once his Dark Energy stock increased.
【Gale – Shoes】
【Grade: Tier 3】
【Agility +180】
【Strength +60】
He also swapped out his shoes.
Though the grade was the same as his old pair, he gained +30 in Agility and +10 in Strength.
“I hope Yu Cheonghwa buys the rest of the items. Doesn’t seem like selling them to her would cause any issues.”
Though loot, Yuji’s remaining items were troublesome to deal with, so Kang-hoo made plans to sell them off.
Merchants tied to Eclipse or afraid of their influence likely wouldn’t want to buy them.
But Yu Cheonghwa, backed fully by the Shinto Guild, would likely take them.
After all, the Shinto Guild wasn’t in a position to care about Eclipse’s influence—if anything, it was the other way around.
Selling everything to Yu Cheonghwa would make for a clean wrap-up. If anyone was at risk of retaliation, it’d only be Kang-hoo.
Yu Cheonghwa answered immediately when he called.
When the right person picks up at the right time, things move fast.
With the cleanup and next steps confirmed, Kang-hoo dialed a number he’d never used before.
It connected him to the Public Safety Bureau.
– Hello? This is Incheon Public Safety Bureau.
“I need you to recover the body of Ishihara Yuji. The location is…”
Kang-hoo gave them the street address where Yuji’s lifeless body was growing cold and calmly left the scene.
He had no lingering attachments to the place where he tied off an old grudge. If anything, he felt relieved.
Still, he wasn’t completely at ease—he might soon face someone even more dangerous than Yuji.
‘Vincent Meyer.’
This guy was on a whole different level than Yuji. He hadn’t become a member of Justice for no reason.
To face him, Kang-hoo would have to be prepared to risk his life. A happy ending wasn’t guaranteed.
Inside the car headed for Seoul Station, the chauffeur of the expensive limousine asked no questions about Kang-hoo’s appearance or the oddity of his pickup location.
He simply focused on driving to the requested destination and had even raised the soundproof barrier early on.
Thanks to that, Kang-hoo sat in the back sipping a cold soda while checking the remaining rewards.
Having taken down such a major figure, there was still much to look over even after collecting items and learning skills.
He had to review the fourth constellation perk unlocked from the Angel of the Battlefield after Yuji’s death.
He also had to analyze the detailed information of the five constellations he had plundered from Yuji.
For those reasons, his weary body might have had time to rest, but his mind and eyes had no such luxury.
The valuable rewards earned from Yuji’s death.
When Kang-hoo saw the fourth perk of the Angel of the Battlefield, a curious look came over his face.
“Hm?”
He had expected the perk to be unusual.
But even with that expectation, the extraordinary perk that appeared before him was beyond anything he imagined.