Evolution Theory of the Hunter

Evolution Theory of the Hunter (ETH)

Park Hanb.u.m revved his bike and sped away.

After a few moments,

Vroooom!

We heard his bike again and saw close to 25 monsters chasing after him.

What was interesting was that he was riding his bike in large arcs instead of driving straight.

"…what the h.e.l.l is he doing?"

"I think….he’s testing out his new item."

Han Joonseok responded as he slitted his eyes to try and look closer. It seemed he was able to a.s.sess the situation better thanks to the Optical Ruby ring allowing him better vision.

Whe Park Hanb.u.m got a bit closer, we were finally able to see what was going on.

He was shooting his bow while speeding on his bike at the same time. Since he had both hands off the handles every time he shot his bow, the bike would swerve here and there.

"What the…is that even possible…?"

On a road that wasn’t even asphalt…and one that was a bit wet at that…he was using sheer hip movements to stabilize his bike.

"I can see why he wanted that bow."

Han Joonseok added. Just being able to ride a bike like that could be as helpful as having a skill. No, it might actually be due to the aid of a skill that he’s able to ride like that.

"Get ready for battle."

Struck momentarily by Park Hanb.u.m’s riding skills, the monsters had drawn every closer in mere moments.

And in that time, the monsters had gone from 25 to 23.

We were already in position.

Jong Sawon, Cho Youngoo, and I were in a triangle as the ranged damage dealers (ADC).

It was Sooah’s job to back us up.

Vroom!

The bike sped roared as it sped past me. I could hear the wheels grinding against the ground.

Paht!

Park Hanb.u.m shot out an arrow and another monster fell to the ground.

That was a level 3 item for you – the damage it inflicted was no laughing matter.

Our opponents consisted of 10 Predatory Toads, 6 Striped Alligators, and 6 Fanged Earwigs. 22 in total.

Seeing a standing target, they switched their attention to me and started running in my direction.

Shwing.

Honcheon sword in my right, Level 2 no name in my left hand.

And I had been wearing my armor for a while now.

Squeeze.

Sqeezing my swords in both hands, I made a dash towards them.

Jong Sawon and Cho Youngoo followed suit and ran forward as well.

Manager Kim started to cast his spell while Han Joonseok, Bae Yeonkyoung, and Park Hanb.u.m readied their bows.

Quickly reaching the monsters, I struck out with my sword horizontally. No matter how sharp the blade is on a sword, it is hard to kill a large monster with one swipe.

The key was to attack their weak spot.

Flap.

One predatory toad struck out its tongue in my direction. I could see the poison dripping off its thick tongue as it came ever closer.

Swipe!

Flap!

As soon as I cut it off, almost three more struck at me.

Too slow.

Swipe! Slas.h.!.+ Slas.h.!.+

Even before they can feel the pain of my blade, I stepped atop the first toad’s head.

"Croak?"

Stab!

I struck down with my Honcheon sword straight into its head.

[+200]

I jumped off the now dead toad towards my next monster.

The predatory toad I had aimed for raised its head and opened its mouth.

Huge.

It could easily

"Haaahhht!"

I yelled out and swiped my Honcheon sword straight up and down.

The large gaping mouth split into two and transparent fluid splattered everywhere.

But even with its mouth split apart, the toad remained its mouth open.

And I fell right into its throat.

s.h.i.+t.

Splat.

The sticky saliva clung all over my body. It smelled putrid.

"Sunbeh Oppa!"

I could hear Sooah yelling out.

The toads esophagus started to pulled my body in. If I just stayed still, I might get digested.

I hurried stored all my weapons into storage and brought out the b.l.o.o.d.y sword.

This might hurt a bit.

Shwing!

"Crooak!"

The toad started to jump about after I cut it.

Now I could feel what was left of its tongue pus.h.i.+ng at me and its muscles trying ever harder to digest me.

I tried in earnest to stab at its throat. Luckily I was able to do this much since its tongue was already gone – meaning I wasn’t paralized.

Stab! Stab!

"Just die! Die why don’t you!"

Staab!

Unable to take any more, it finally spit me back out.

"Croak! Croak!"

The monster started croaking and coughing as if it had something stuck in its throat. I’m sure it wasn’t feeling 100% since I had left my b.l.o.o.d.y sword stuck in its throat before being spit back out.

Ah, my clothes were covered in the toads juices, and I was unbearable smelly and sticky.

I did bring a change of clothes but there was nowhere for me to shower. I guess I would need to look for some running water after this fight was over.

"Partyhead!"

Han Joonseok yelled out. Another toad jumped to where I was standing.

I hurriedly hopped back.

Slam!

The ground shook at the impact of the large monster.

I equipped myself with a sword in either hand again.

Tap.

I hit the ground running. The nasty toad revealed its little stub of a tongue as it raised its forelegs.

Unlike normal toads, these toads had incredibly large feet.

Slam!

"Euk."

I dodged its attack and ran to its side.

Swipe!

I struck at its hip and all its intestines spilled out of the gaping hole.

Ah, are those eggs over there? Looks like this one is female.

Slam! Slam!

It started to jump after me…even with its intestines and eggs trailing after it.

[+200]

Reward points..where did that come from?

Looking up, I saw that the toad that had swallowed me whole had finally collapsed.

It seemed as if my b.l.o.o.d.ysword had finally done its work and drank all its blood.

"Croak!"

During the short time I was preoccupied by that toad, the zombie toad had closed the distance.

Shwing!

An arrow had lodged itself in the toad’s forehead. It flinched, but the damage wasn’t enough to kill it.

But more arrows flew out…and one of them hit its eye.

"Croak!"

It let out another croak and started to flail its body.

And then I jumped atop the miserable toad to jam my Honcheon sword straight down.

[+200]

After ridding of three toads in that way and looking around, I saw Jong Sawon and Cho Youngoo engaged in a b.l.o.o.d.y fight against the Striped Alligators.

There were 6 dead toads.

The remaining 4 toads were fast asleep.

The striped alligators were much easier to deal with than the Predatory Toads.

The striped alligators were only fearsome when they were hidden in shallow streams – when they were exposed above ground like they were now…all you had to do was avoid getting bitten.

Cho Youngoo raised his s.h.i.+eld and blocked the attacks of the 3 meter long Stiped Alligators.

Jong Sawon parried attacks at my right.

They couldn’t do reckless close combat fighting like I could do.

I was only able to do such attacks because of the high level abilities…thanks to my effort skill.

Because even if they were level 3 hunters, if they got caught in the level 2 toad’s mouths…they would not be able to get back out.

Most humans fought while depending on their weapons and equipment…and not relying on their physical abilities. The same went for dealing with the alligators. I was just the exception.

Humans could not move as quickly as the monsters’ jaws could.

One wrong move, and they could lose an arm or leg to the alligators’ mouths.