Part 113
The Jade Pill and the Golden Pill.
A few centuries ago, it might have been quite hard to determine which was more precious between them.
They had different roles and efficacy, after all. It was hard to decide which was superior. However, times had long since changed. With the development of civilization, their difference grew to be as wide as the gap between heaven and earth.
The Jade Pill was not worth what it used to be.
That was why Tenz had tried to give it to Yoo-seong as a substitute for the Golden Pill. âUghhâ¦â
A vein popped out of Yoo-seongâs forehead. No one understood pain as well as he did, given what heâd had to endure during the last year.
However, this was the first time heâd felt this level of pain.
Go-oh-!
In the modern era, the path to gaining CE was through a medical infusion. Instead of ingesting energy scattered in the atmosphere, hunters underwent a procedure with the aid of technology.
âArggh!â
Modern hunters took the convenience of CE injection for granted.
Thud-!
Yoo-seong fell to his knees.
The pain was a little similar to when he took the Golden Pill, but it was also somehow entirely different.
If the Golden Pill changed his veinsâ structure, the Jade Pill was performing a much simpler transformation.
Pure Ki ingestion.
It was not the same as the refined CE injected into human bodies. To be exact, this was raw energy boiling in Yoo-seongâs core.
âToo many impurities.â
That was the result from Tenzâs research institute a long time ago when they studied the Jade Pill.
Although it contained a tremendous amount of energy, it contained too many âuselessâ impurities compared to the processed CE.
Of course, there was nothing bad about taking the Jade Pill. It was established that it could increase the amount of CE in the body. The problem was the taker had to settle for quite some time as the impurities were purged from their body.
It was far more economical and efficient to extract CE through a monster corpse.
Seoyu, who had come from Tenz, knew about this study, hence her advice to Yoo-seong. It was a troublesome process, and Yoo-seong hadnât really had to use it before.
âYou have to⦠move⦠move!â Yoo-seong muttered to himself.
Despite the pain, he did not lose focus. Howeverâ¦
Bang-!
No matter how many times he tried to deactivate the button, it did not respond. Perhaps it had decided that this was the best option to take.
At this moment, Yoo-seong could not move at all.
He was crouching in a fetal position, gagging and trying not to vomit. This was almost the same scenario as when he took the Golden Pill.
Immediately after his battle with the monsters, he had fallen unconscious due to the extreme pain he felt.
âI cannot let the same thing happen right now,â Yoo-seong thought.
The beast with the lightning and thunderbolts was somewhere in the real world. Auto-Hunt had decided to take the pill, meaning that despite the pain, Yoo-seong would be safe.
However, if he lost consciousnessâ¦
âCivilians.â
Wolk-!
Blood poured out of Yoo-seongâs mouth, and his vision dimmed.
âPeople will get hurtâ¦â
Auto-Hunt was forcing him to stay still. So couldnât he take a little break for now?
He would be safe, anyway. The disaster was not his fault.
He wasnât even in his own country. Whatever the consequences were, it was because the hunting industry in this country was corrupted.
It was not his fault. He refused to take any responsibility for this.
Butâ¦
Yoo-seongâs eyes closed.
***
Dung-!
Dung-!
Masaru was a young police officer.
After the siren had sounded, his role was to assist in evacuating citizens from the operation area. Like everyone, heâd dreamed of becoming a hunter, but he soon gave up when he realized he was not talented.
Still, he was satisfied with his current profession.
Although he was not a hunter, he was still in a position to help people. His work also helped the hunters carry out their operations with confidence.
Although he might be lacking in ability, he too had his own role and importance.
Masaru felt proud of himself. Up until ten minutes ago.
Douung-!
âHa! Haaa!â
The drum-like noise had woken him up, and heâd begun yelling in panic. His fear had been enough to make him wet his pants.
Dooung-!
Ten minutes ago, they had been leading people near the barrier line toward the tallest nearby building.
It was a very durable structure with an earthquake-resistant design, strong enough to function as a shelter. The building design was a masterpiece that incorporated Japanâs uncompromising pursuit of safety.
However, this proved to be meaningless in front of it.
Dooung-!
Masaru looked toward where the twelve-story building had stood earlier. Now, it was gone.
All that was left were large chunks of burnt rubble. Everyone who had been in it was buried alive.
Dooung-!
âHuh?!â
In the spots where the bullets had hit the ape, blue light began to burst out.
Parasitic Bees.
Masaru turned his head.
âWhoâ¦?â
Beyond them, he could see the hunter in shining red armor.
There Yoo-seong stood, gasping for breath.
He had reached this place without Auto-Huntâs help. His body was still convulsing in places, but considering the situation, he wasnât at all in bad shape.
Actually, he had just picked up a Gellar Gun from the field and used it to cast Parasitic Bees for the first time.
It was an amazing feat, considering that he didnât have Auto-Hunt on. Still, it couldnât be said that his attack worked well.
The ape was still unscathed.
The Gellar Gunâs power hadnât been enough to penetrate its skin, leaving the Parasitic Bees technique useless.
Yoo-seong stretched his neck and observed the ape closely. Thenâ¦
Paaang-!
The ape disappeared.
Yoo-seong immediately curled up, but before he could even cast Steep Steps, the apeâs fist was already upon him.
Pagak-!
âUck!â Yoo-seong grunted.
The armor on his right arm had been blown away with just one hit.
Yoo-seong spun a few times in the air due to the impact and crashed to the ground, rolling a few more times. His body felt as if he had been electrocuted.
Yoo-seong clenched his teeth and used his left hand to regain balance.
He had barely raised his head again, only to find the apeâs fist flying in once more.
âDamn it!â Yoo-seong swore as he pulled his left hand.
Spider web.
A tiny thread compared to the apeâs massive arm, but because of Yoo-seongâs timing, it was enough to change the fistâs direction.
Bang-!
Yoo-seong then used his Steel Steps and kicked upwards.
âIf I could only deal one blow,â he thought.
Without Aura.
Without even Auto-Hunt.
The answer was his knee.
Concentrate on his aim and use the hardness of the Queenâs Hug to penetrate the beastâs eyes!
Pagak-!!
The apeâs head was thrown back.
âOkay!â Yoo-seong cheered as he soared over the ape.
However, he could see it: the ape hadnât even closed its eyes after the impact. It was looking straight at Yoo-seong, who was in the air.
âDamn.â
Boo-!
The apeâs massive hand now grabbed at his torso.
Jiing-
The six humps on its back glowed.
âAhhhhhh!â Yoo-seong could only scream as electricity flowed through his body.
Hoop-!
The ape threw his frail body away after a few seconds of dangerous voltage.
After flying tens of meters, Yoo-seong crashed through the glass of a buildingâs window.
The ape followed him with its gaze while the six humps on its back charged. However, unlike before, the apeâs eyes did not look indifferent at all.
It was as if it was saying, âIâll finish you off this time.â
However, there was something neither he nor even Yoo-seong knew.
The ape wasnât the only one charging.
-Conversion work completed.-
-Vol. 2 update complete.-
Words suddenly appeared in front of Yoo-seongâs eyes.
âWhat⦠ohâ¦! Crazy.â Yoo-seong laughed. âYou could have told me in advance.â
His weakened left arm felt heavy as he lifted it.
âUghâ¦â
âWill I be able to fight in this state if I press the button?â
Worried, Yoo-seong pressed it.
Suddenly he was overwhelmed by a feeling of fullness he had never experienced before.
âHuh?â
His legs, which had no strength just seconds ago, stood firm. His right arm, which had been paralyzed, crunched back into position. Above all, warmth began to spread from his lower abdomen throughout his entire body.
Yoo-seong stared at the ape on the street below him.
âCome on!â he yelled out.
Then he realized something.
He had Auto-Hunt on. However, he was still able to speak.
Yoo-seong felt his lips curl up in a smile. Then he yelled out once more.
âCome on, motherfucker!â
He didnât know exactly what had changed after taking the Jade Pill.
But so far, he liked it.