Evolution Theory of the Hunter

Evolution Theory of the Hunter (ETH)
Volume 1 Chapter 70

"Didn’t you just decide to use both canes because you felt it was a waste to only use one?"

"Hey!"

"Next time if we get another cane, you can hold the third one in your mouth."

"Isn’t that a scene from a really old cartoon?…"

Manager Kim and Sooah stepped back while I ran behind the stumbling monster.

No matter how fast I was, it was difficult to get behind it unawares…but it was possible now.

The monster’s movements became further slower.

From behind the monster, I slid right under him to get at his underbelly.

"Kkeung!"

From under him, I began to put all my strength into pus.h.i.+ng his body over.

As a bug type, it was light compared to its size, and I was able to lift him off with my current strength.

It began to claw at the ground in desperately – futilely trying to keep from rolling over.

"Nuh uh uh."

I pierced its vulnerable belly with my sword.

Stab!

s.h.i.+ver!

I could feel the huge body of the monster start to shake.

It began to claw at the ground even harder to now try and shake me off.

"Heub!"

Stab!

I pushed my Honcheon sword all the way in this time so that only the hilt of the sword was visible and refused to be shaken off.

I dug my feet into the ground while holding onto the hilt.

I was in the perfect position to use my strength.

Both hands on grasping the hilt, I pushed with my shoulder as I tried to lift my upper body off the ground.

One of the Splendense’s leg lifted up off the ground.

"Oh oh!"

"He lifted it!"

"Is he trying to flip it over?"

Even before I learned the effort skill, I was able to squat 250 and dead press 300.

That was something even a pro bodybuilder would have had a hard time doing.

You might question if a lowly porter could achieve something like this…but unlike athletes, porters could take all the supplements or drugs they want. And most porters do take drugs – out of necessity. And I did the same.

Being already that strong, combining my initial strength with the 300 percent buff…I could probably lift 1 ton at this point.

Kikik!

The Splendense’s body was almost at a right angle to the ground now.

"Oh oh?"

"It’s working!"

"Are you serious? How the h.e.l.l is he doing that?"

I could hear the surprise mixed with excitement in everyone’s screaming voices.

But people who have flipped bugs for fun know.

That something like this isn’t easy.

Plllllllll!

The monster’s sh.e.l.l began to open up to reveal a wing.

Sc.r.a.pe sc.r.a.pe sc.r.a.pe sc.r.a.pe!

And its legs kept on sc.r.a.ping furiously on the ground.

My feet lost their balance and grip for a moment.

I couldn’t keep this up.

Pluck!

As soon as I plucked the sword from its underbelly, a yellowish liquid began to ooze out.

I guess I’ll try stabbing you with the b.l.o.o.d.ysword instead.

Slam!

I slipped out from beneath after jamming my b.l.o.o.d.ysword, and his body slammed forcefully to the ground.

Kiiii!

The monster was definitely a lot slower than before. I don’t know if it’s because of his wound or the b.l.o.o.d.ysword at work…but it was noticable.

Shwing shwing!

The arrows kept flying in the air, aiming for the monster’s eyes, while Cho Youngoo and Jong Sawon did all they could to draw its attention.

Attacked from all sides and unable to do anything, the monster swung its legs this way and that while spinning around.

It looked like nothing, but those legs were dangerous.

Cho Youngoo and Jong Sawon backed up.

Tap.

Seeing an opening, I jumped up onto the monsters’ back.

Its sh.e.l.l was a hard exoskeleton of chitin.

Perfect target for my Honcheon sword.

Slam!

Slam!

One after another, I struck at the sh.e.l.l with the sword while I hopped here and there – causing a small explosion with each hit. One of

Kakak!

I just hopped away from each attack…which landed on the monster itself. If it was human, I’m sure it would have pulled out its hair in frustration since I was evading every single one of its attacks. Poor thing.

Slam!

I slammed down my sword one more time. But the monster’s hard sh.e.l.l did not look like it would crack any time soon. Stupid b.a.s.t.a.r.ds and their hard sh.e.l.ls.

But I’m sure that even though it wasn’t doing any damage on the outside, the explosions were causing internal damage inside.

And it would have a difficult time recovering because of the b.l.o.o.d.y sword still stuck in its underbelly. Good.

And just when I thought all I needed to do was drag the fight out while I let the b.l.o.o.d.y sword do its work..

Crack.

"Uh uh?"

The monster’s hard sh.e.l.l cracked open and revealed its wings.

Nah…surely it wasn’t going to fly into the air?

I’ve never seen something like this happen with my own eyes…!

I quickly got off its back.

Whoos.h.!.+

And almost at the exact time, the b.a.s.t.a.r.d flew into the air.

I let out a sigh as I watched the giant beast hovering about 10 meters in the air.

Isn’t it too much for a monster of that size to be able to fly in the air like that?

Oh well.

Thanks to that, it became much easier to fight it.

Shwing! Shwing!

Arrows flew out and hit its wings. Unfortunately, even though they looked thin…they were actually thin for its size…but thick enough where the arrows didn’t pierce right through.

But they did make it harder for the monster to fly.

And the attacks didn’t stop there.

Being in the air meant that its weakest part was fully exposed – its underbelly.

Thank you, sir, for volunteering your stomach up for attacks.

Shwing!

Kiekkk!

This time, an arrow flew at its stomach from the side and lodged itself right in. It was Park Hanb.u.m, shooting at the it while riding around on his bike.

Not bad, Park Hanb.u.m. His shots were powerful enough that they were making the Splendense flinch with each hit.

Shwing!

Shwing!

And now two arrows shot out at the same time from the same place. But the more powerful shots were being fired from our new archer’s side – since he had the Level 3 bow.

I put up my thumb at him and hurriedly went to where Han Joonseok and Bae Yeonkyoung stood.

I decided to trust in Park Hanb.u.m’s bike skills and help those two instead.

Shwing!

And just then, an arrow perfectly hit the monster square in one of its buggy eyes.

It was Han Joonseok’s stalker.

"Nice!"

Cho Youngoo made a fist pump in the air with a big old smile on his face.

Kya!

The hovering monster turned to Han Joonseok and moved to attack.

The damage was big but that meant the monster had new motivation to get back at the one who got its eye.

I mean, if it were me, I would probably try to kill the one who poked out my eye first too.

Han Joonseok and Bae Yeonkyoung were in danger.

They couldn’t protect themselves against a level 4 monster.

Even our best defense, Cho Youngoo with his level 3 s.h.i.+eld, wouldn’t last very long against a diving attack from a Splendense.

A back up plan?

I didn’t have anything of the sort.

But I did have super strength…and the Honcheon sword to deliver my strength properly.

I decided that right when it got as close as possible without hitting us, I would hit it explosively with the Honcheon sword to change its course.

Ah…I know I came up with it…but it sounds like a stupid plan. No matter.

Kyaaa!

"Cho Youngoo! Jong Sawon! Stand by and attack when it gets close to the ground!"

"You don’t need us to help with defense?"

Cho Youngoo shouted out.

"I’ll block it! Sooah!"

"OK!"

She gave her hand a quick whisk and I felt my body get lighter as the 1 person buff activated. WIth this, my strength went up to 450 percent. I could probably lift 2 tons right about now.

Maybe even flip over a truck.

"It’s coming!"

I yelled out loud as I held the Honcheon sword with both hands. In order to stay flying in the air, the Splendense had to have a relatively light body…but it was still probably about a ton.

Would I be able to withstand the impact, no, hit back with enough power to change the course of monster piledriving into me from 10 feet in the air?