Chapter 67. Won Pilso (3)
"It feels kind of similar to demons."
Kang Yujin tossed the broken arrows away and looked around.
"Are these weapons made by Pandemonium?"
"The equipment the Black Dragon Society used didn't have this ominous feeling, did it?"
"I believe Pandemonium also exports Demonic-attribute equipment."
"It seems the Black Dragon Society in the central-western region simply didn't import those types."
"Either way..."
Kang Yujin frowned.
"Something about this feels filthy."
As he spoke...
He reached behind his back and pulled out the Durandal Replica wrapped in cloth.
"This thing probably kept it from affecting me."
"The original Durandal contains many sacred relics."
Joo Minha answered.
"If the replica reproduces even part of that power..."
"It would grant its owner a holy blessing."
"So demon energy gets neutralized?"
While they were talking...
Hwang Cheol's subordinates rushed toward them from all directions.
Kang Yujin could sense the same "filthy feeling" coming from their equipment.
Annoyed...
He handed the Durandal Replica to Lee Jukheon.
"Use this."
"I use an Eastern sword."
"This is a Western sword."
"If you don't want it, forget it."
"Tch."
Lee Jukheon took it anyway.
"Fine."
Kang Yujin equipped the Saint's Iron Fist.
If the enemy protective suits were evil equipment made by Pandemonium...
Divine Power should work well against them.
"My magic should work too."
Joo Minha glanced at Seok Taejun.
"But Seok Taejun's attacks may not be very effective."
"Then I'll stay in the air with the Chimera and keep them occupied."
"Please keep a close eye on their movements."
"And watch out for arrows."
Seok Taejun mounted the Chimera and flew into the sky.
The remaining three faced the enemies on the ground.
"Small fries, get lost!"
Lee Jukheon charged first and swung the Durandal Replica.
Even when the blade merely brushed an enemy's protective suit...
Explosive sparks burst out.
"This thing is ridiculous."
Hearing Lee Jukheon's surprised voice...
Kang Yujin moved forward.
He knocked down each attacker with a single punch...
Leaped over the bushes...
And approached Hwang Cheol.
"Urgh!"
Hwang Cheol gritted his teeth and threw his bow aside.
Then he drew the sword at his waist.
"You bastard!"
"What did you do?!"
"What?"
"How did you neutralize the demon's curse?!"
"You're even completely ignoring the physical resistance of these suits!"
It was thanks to the Divine Power from the Durandal Replica and the Saint's Iron Fist.
But Hwang Cheol hadn't realized that at all.
"You seem like a pretty experienced Contractor."
"What?"
"Is equipment that grants Divine Power really that rare?"
"I thought a veteran like you would notice immediately."
"...!"
Hwang Cheol froze.
Then he looked toward Lee Jukheon.
His breath caught.
"Don't tell me..."
"Is that the replica of the holy sword Cheon Sangwoon created?!"
"To think I'd see one here!"
"So it really is rare."
Kang Yujin swung the iron mace in his left hand.
Hwang Cheol was wearing the same protective suit as his men...
So the mace probably wouldn't inflict much damage.
But it was more than enough to restrict his movement.
"Ugh!"
Hwang Cheol narrowly avoided it.
Kang Yujin closed the distance and punched with the Saint's Iron Fist.
Hwang Cheol rolled across the ground and avoided the strike.
He dodged?
Even after that...
Hwang Cheol kept evading Kang Yujin's attacks with tricky movements.
Watching carefully...
Kang Yujin noticed he was using the uneven mountain terrain to alter his movement.
So this is what they meant when they said he was good at using terrain.
Meanwhile...
Kang Yujin himself felt slightly uncomfortable on the unstable ground.
It was difficult to use techniques with [Fa Jin].
Not bad.
But Kang Yujin didn't feel endangered.
If anything...
He welcomed the situation.
If I want to fight an SS-rank Contractor like Cheon Sangwoon someday...
I need more kinds of experience.
Kang Yujin had defeated Somun Gwang in their previous match.
But he couldn't say he had truly overwhelmed him.
With his current ability...
Fighting an SS-rank Contractor like Cheon Sangwoon would be difficult.
I need to gain experience against all kinds of opponents.
Compared to veteran Contractors...
The thing Kang Yujin lacked most was experience.
Until now...
He had relied on instinct.
But there was clearly a limit to that.
I need to practice fighting even under bad conditions like this.
Maybe Joo Minha was rubbing off on him.
He was actually glad to be fighting at a disadvantage.
[B-rank Constellation "Archer Who Shot Seven Suns" is amazed that Kang Yujin managed to obtain such powerful Divine equipment.]
[S-rank Constellation "Wise Returner" admires the skill of the young Contractors.]
"Haha."
"Even the Constellations who were cheering for Hwang Cheol are starting to lean toward Kang Yujin."
"Looks like it, Hyung."
The B-rank Constellation duo "Golden and Silver Children," Geumgak and Eungak, chatted excitedly.
Hwang Cheol was a well-known archer-type Contractor.
Naturally...
He was popular among Constellations who had been archers.
For example...
The B-rank Constellation "Archer Who Shot Seven Suns" was Erkhii Mergen, the legendary archer of Mongolian mythology.
And the S-rank Constellation "Wise Returner" was Odysseus, the hero of the Trojan War and protagonist of The Odyssey.
But right now...
Even they seemed more focused on Kang Yujin's group than Hwang Cheol.
[A-rank Constellation "Adventurous Sailor" wonders where they obtained such a holy sword.]
[A-rank Constellation "Third Son of the War God" is intrigued by the impressive weapon.]
Meanwhile...
The Constellations who had been watching Kang Yujin's group for a while were curious about the holy sword Kang Yujin had brought this time.
"Haha."
"Those Constellations probably don't know Kang Yujin met Cheon Sangwoon."
"Well, not many Constellations watch Kang Yujin twenty-four hours a day."
"We only know because Geumgak and Eungak told us."
The chatroom members knew because the brothers had informed them.
"We were watching Kang Yujin train blankly when Cheon Sangwoon suddenly appeared in the middle of the night."
"That surprised us."
Geumgak and Eungak smiled as they remembered it.
"The Durandal Replica..."
"It's an impressive mass-produced weapon by modern standards."
"But it costs an absurd amount to manufacture."
"It's a shame it doesn't perfectly suit Kang Yujin or Lee Jukheon."
"Kang Yujin doesn't know swordsmanship."
"And Lee Jukheon isn't used to Western swords."
"Still, the Divine Power effect works."
"He was only carrying it on his back..."
"And it neutralized the curse."
"I was shocked."
As the conversation continued...
Hwang Cheol kept backing away while avoiding Kang Yujin's attacks.
Eventually...
He entered deeper into the mountain.
"Ah."
"Is that a valley?"
"Kang Yujin hesitated."
"The water looks deep."
"And the current looks strong."
"Wait."
"Is Hwang Cheol..."
"Standing on the water?"
"Hwang Cheol's Constellation is the 'Hunting Giant.'"
"That's Orion from Greek mythology, right?"
"He was the son of Poseidon."
"He could walk on water, whether sea or river."
"His Constellation Skill probably lets his Contractor borrow that ability."
"Ah."
"So that's why Hwang Cheol can stand on the surface."
"He can move through mountains and across water..."
"He's definitely a terrain specialist."
Since his bow had failed against Kang Yujin...
Hwang Cheol seemed to be switching to a terrain-based battle.
While Kang Yujin was forced into the deep valley...
Hwang Cheol ran freely across the surface and attacked from every direction.
But the Constellations in the chatroom reacted coldly.
"Ah."
"He should've just escaped."
"Why is he approaching?"
