CHAPTER 32

Chapter 32

The atmosphere crackled with tension as Sung Jinwoo and Goto Ryuji stood opposite each other, their gazes locked in silent battle before the real fight had even begun. The S-Rank Hunters from both Korea and Japan stood on the sidelines, their eyes fixed on the two hunters about to clash. Choi Jong-In stood beside Go Gunhee, observing the battlefield with an unreadable expression. The chairman of the Korean Hunters Association broke the silence first.

"I never expected to see another strong hunter like this in Korea," Go Gunhee said, his deep voice carrying admiration as he watched Jinwoo exude an overwhelming aura.

Choi Jong-In crossed his arms, his eyes narrowing slightly as he analyzed the young hunter's power. "Well... I wouldn't be shocked if that guy ends up becoming much stronger than me. It just feels like he grows stronger every time I see him fight."

Go Gunhee chuckled, shaking his head. "I never expected to hear this from Korea's one and only National Hunter."

Choi glanced at him with a small smirk. "It's not like I'm the only one at this level," he said, indirectly acknowledging that Go Gunhee himself was once considered at that peak.

Go Gunhee sighed. "I'm too old now. I'm not the same as before."

Hearing this, Choi's expression turned serious. He had long known that Go Gunhee's strength had declined over the years due to injuries and age. The old wounds the chairman bore were not ones that could be easily healed, even by high-level magic. Choi looked at him for a moment before placing a hand on the chairman's shoulder, his palm glowing with a faint yet intense heat.

Go Gunhee's eyes widened as he felt warmth surge through his body. "Choi... you have a healing ability?"

Choi Jong-In shook his head with a small smile. "Just a skill I recently got my hands on. It's not much, but it should ease some of your pain."

Go Gunhee flexed his fingers, feeling the newfound relief course through his limbs. He looked at Choi with gratitude but said nothing more as both men turned their attention back to the battle.

In the ring, Jinwoo and Goto finally made their move. The moment Goto took a step forward, Jinwoo vanished from his sight. The Japanese Hunter's eyes widened in shock as a sudden force smashed into his side. He barely had time to react before he felt a heavy impact against his ribs.

He twisted his body mid-air, landing skillfully on his feet. A grin formed on his lips as he wiped the blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. "You're faster than I expected, Hunter Sung."

Jinwoo remained silent, his golden eyes glowing faintly. He had long since realized that Goto was testing him, but that didn't mean he would hold back.

Goto adjusted his stance, his muscles tensing as he unleashed a powerful kick toward Jinwoo's head. Jinwoo tilted his head slightly, dodging it with ease before countering with a knee to Goto's stomach. The force sent the Japanese Hunter skidding backward, his boots digging into the reinforced ground.

The gathered hunters murmured amongst themselves in awe. "He's holding back, isn't he?" one of the Korean hunters whispered.

"Who? Goto or Jinwoo?" another asked.

"Both."

Goto wiped his mouth again, his expression turning more serious. "Fine, let's turn it up a notch."

His aura exploded around him, a violent surge of energy that sent cracks forming beneath his feet. Jinwoo's gaze sharpened as he, too, began unleashing his mana, his presence growing even more overwhelming. The air grew dense, making it difficult for the lower-ranked hunters to even breathe.

Choi Jong-In, who had been observing quietly, frowned. "If this keeps up, one of them will die."

Just as Jinwoo and Goto prepared to launch their next attack—one that would undoubtedly cause severe damage—Choi suddenly appeared between them, standing calmly with his hands in his pockets.

Before either of them could react, flames erupted from Choi's body, spiraling outward like a blazing storm. The sheer intensity of the fire forced both Jinwoo and Goto to halt their movements, instinctively pulling back.

The entire hall fell silent.

The speed at which Choi had moved left everyone stunned. Even Jinwoo, who had experienced countless battles, had not expected the Guild Master to intervene so effortlessly.

Goto clenched his fists. "What the ....?"

Choi's voice remained calm, yet firm. "That's enough. Any more, and one of you won't be walking away from this."

The flames around him slowly dissipated, but the heat still lingered in the air. Goto exhaled sharply, his eyes still locked onto Jinwoo. He wanted to continue, but he knew that Choi was right. If they kept going, it wouldn't just be a spar—it would be a fight to the death.

Jinwoo, on the other hand, simply let out a small chuckle, stepping back without protest. "Alright," he said casually, "I'll stop."

The tension in the room eased, though the shock of what had just transpired remained. The Korean and Japanese hunters exchanged glances, some whispering amongst themselves about what they had just witnessed.

"Did you see how fast Choi moved?"

"Yeah... but more importantly, did you see how strong Jinwoo is?"

On the sidelines, Go Gunhee chuckled. "Well, that was entertaining. I suppose this trip wasn't a waste."

Choi Jong-In sighed, rubbing his temples thinking . "I think I just saved Japan's number one hunter from getting himself killed."

As the event wrapped up, the hunters began to disperse, some still murmuring about the fight.

End of Chapter