Chapter 456 - Can I Call You Hyung?

Chapter 456 - Can I Call You Hyung?

Clang!

Thunderous sounds of metal clashing echoed; sparks flew all over the place as shockwaves shook the training room.

“Kuh!” Kim Tae-Hyun grunted in frustration.

‘What’s going on?’

He held the initiative; Kim Si-Hun’s attacks were not hurting him in the slightest and Si-Hun could not take his attacks head-on. Tae-Hyun’s attacks were also faster since he possessed Nostrian’s Will.

‘So why?’

Why was he not able to bring the battle to an end? Tae-Hyun anxiously stared at Si-Hun, who was panting heavily.

‘I wanted to show myself flooring the Sword Dragon.’

Tae-Hyun expressed disappointment. He glanced at Kang-Woo, who was calmly observing the battle.

‘Kang-Woo.’

Tae-Hyun’s heart beat rapidly as he recalled when he first met Kang-Woo. He was like a hero who had come to the rescue when Tae-Hyun was on the ground, on the verge of being kidnapped by the Andras Guild as a sacrifice. He recalled Kang-Woo leaving to eradicate evil without hesitation right after saving him. He admired Kang-Woo.

‘I want to be like Kang-Woo too.’

He wanted to become a hero who protected the weak as well. He wanted to become just like the protagonists in the stories he had read, which was why he did his best to level up despite being disrespected for being a rogue.

‘And I finally got my chance.’

Tae-Hyun clenched his necklace, immense power flowing into him through it. He had no idea what kind of power this was or whose it was, but he was certain about one thing: that it would make his dream come true.

‘Please watch me, Kang-Woo.’

Tae-Hyun looked at his idol; he wanted to look as cool as possible in front of him of all people. He took a deep breath in, lowered his stance, gripped his dagger tightly, and slowly blinked.

‘Foresight.’

Riiing.

[Activating ‘Nostrian’s Eye.’]

Tae-Hyun set aside the message window in front of him and scanned Si-Hun. Foresight was a skill that he acquired after obtaining the item known as Nostrian’s Eye in the unknown dungeon. It was a broken skill that allowed him to look five seconds into the future. He was easily able to block any attack that came his way with it.

“Haap!”

Clang—!!

The sword made of blue light cleaved into two. Si-Hun created another sword immediately after and fluidly continued his barrage of attacks, but none of his attacks managed to get past the small dagger. Si-Hun’s sword was deflected all too easily by Tae-Hyun’s dagger as if he were looking into the future.

“Haaa, haaa, haaa,” Si-Hun panted heavily.

His palms were torn, red blood dripping on the ground.

‘Damn...’

Si-Hun couldn’t believe that every single attack was blocked perfectly. It was like playing chess against a computer. The result was the same however many times he attacked and even if he added feints. It was like trying to climb an insurmountable wall. He could even feel his Qi quickly being depleted.

‘If only... If only I had Deific Essence.’

If so, Si-Hun would not be so easily overwhelmed. He would be able to overpower the enemy even if they knew his every move, but he was powerless because he did not possess Deific Essence.

‘No.’ Si-Hun bit his lip. ‘Hyung beat Constellations of Evil back when he didn’t have Deific Essence.’

To stand by Kang-Woo’s side and walk alongside him, Si-Hun also needed to surpass that wall.

‘I can do it.’

He needed to stand against desperate situations just like Kang-Woo had.

“Haaaaaaaahhh!” Si-Hun roared.

He clenched his sword with both hands as blood poured from his torn palms and pulled out what little remained of his Qi. He brought the sword above his head and swung it down with all his might.

‘Heavenly Dragon Flash!’

Boooooooom!!

Si-Hun was freed from his trauma but now that he was free, he was no longer desperate.

‘Si-Hun is already at a point where he can acquire Deific Essence on his own.’

However, he lacked something decisive that would allow him to surpass the wall and become even stronger.

‘Not even this would be enough.’

Kang-Woo clicked his tongue as he stared at Si-Hun, who had his head lowered. He was devastated by the loss, but he likely thought that it couldn’t be helped.

‘He’s probably thinking that he would’ve won if he had Deific Essence.’

If one lost in a game because of the difference in items compared to their opponent, they wouldn’t feel desperation or aspiration. They would feel that they couldn’t have done anything about it rather than a desire to improve themselves or aspire to become stronger.

‘He needs stronger stimulation.’

Si-Hun needed something that would make him feel even more desperate.

“Ngh,” Kang-Woo groaned.

It was hard to figure out what to do. He couldn’t stage a Layla kidnapping again like last time either.

‘He might digivolve into a Skull Greymon again if I push him too hard.’

Kang-Woo needed something that would push Si-Hun to just the right extent and make him desperate for just the right amount.

No matter how much he thought about it, he couldn’t think of anything. Just then...

“Umm... Kang-Woo,” Tae-Hyun called,

“Oh, I’m sorry. I was thinking about something.”

“N-Not at all!”

Tae-Hyun quickly shook his head. Kang-Woo smirked. If Uriel was like a slightly cranky cat, then Tae-Hyun was like a loyal dog.

‘Looks like I’m being rewarded for living like a saint.’

Kang-Woo would have never expected the rogue that he saved that day to come back to him in this way. The saintly life that he could swear by the heavens that he had lived was finally rewarding him. Kang-Woo smiled in satisfaction.

‘I still can’t fully trust him, but he’ll become a good pawn as long as he stays this loyal to me.’

Kang-Woo smiled nastily.

‘No, no.’ He erased the impure thoughts. ‘I could never use someone. I am light. I am light. I am light.’

Kang-Woo smiled brightly and extended his hand toward Tae-Hyun. “Welcome to Guardians.”

“Ah...”

Tae-Hyun shook with excitement. He clenched his fists and muttered to himself, “Nice.”

Kang-Woo chuckled at how genuinely moved Tae-Hyun was.

‘He’s the perfect pawn— I mean, comrade.’

It was as if a perfectly ripe truckload of watermelons was dropped in front of his house. Kang-Woo gripped Tae-Hyun’s hand tighter as light filled his heart.

“Umm... K-Kang-Woo,” Tae-Hyun called cautiously.

“Yes?”

“Umm... Could I...” Tae-Hyun gulped and continued, “P-Perhaps... call you hyung?”

“Oh, yes. Of course, you can.”

It was not a difficult request; rather, Kang-Woo welcomed the idea of becoming closer to Tae-Hyun.

“Ah, hahaha! Th-Thank you very much, Kang-Woo hyung! You can speak casually to me!”

“Okay, sure.” Kang-Woo nodded with a smile. “... Hm?”

Kang-Woo saw Si-Hun drop his sword made of blue sword energy, which dissipated into the air before it hit the ground. He could see Si-Hun trembling in shock with his eyes wide open.

‘The hell? What’s up with you, Si-Hun?’