Chapter 9: Thunder Emperor

Chapter 9: Thunder Emperor

However, no miracle happened.

Sung Mi-Ri looked at her test results dejectedly. The rows of complex numerical graphs could be summarized into a few lines.

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[Sung Mi-Ri (19)]

Ability: Lightning Combat-type

Rank: B

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Korea had fewer than 300 B-rank Hunters.

Moreover, Lightning Combat was a top-tier ability, with its most famous hardliner being SS-rank Hunter Gillian, New York’s guardian. For those reasons, most guilds in Korea would treat a B-rank Hunter with this ability as if they were an A-rank combat Hunter.

Nevertheless, Sung Mi-Ri didn’t look happy in the slightest. After all, she had received the same result for the tenth time.

I failed to surpass it again...

Despite all her efforts, she still couldn’t overcome the limits that came with her predetermined rank. Was she truly bound to fail?

A certain someone’s voice echoed in her head. “Don’t even think of getting revenge. Keep a low profile, Sung Mi-Ri. You’re just a B-rank Hunter.”

Clench!

The test report crumpled in her hands.

“What makes you think I’ll give up?”

Flashes of lightning blitzed across her black pupils. She was determined to rise above the ranks using her own power!

Just then, her phone let out an alarm.

Beep beep beep!

It was from the Hunter Association.

Hunter Association: Emergency! A gate has appeared at Seongdong-gu, Seoul! An A-rank monster, Spiky Rhinoceros, has apparently appeared! Calling all A-rank Hunters and above in the area for an emergency dispatch!

***

Criiiick!

Huge clouds of terrifying black smoke billowed from the severely burnt carcass of the Spiky Rhinoceros, its perforated fats sizzling. Despite being strong enough to destroy an entire city, a girl wearing a black helmet had slain it. Unlike other Hunters, who eagerly put themselves out there, Thunder Emperor hid her identity, which only made her even more popular as a result.

“Thunder Emperor is awesome!”

“Kyaaa! Unnie, I love you!”

“Did a B-rank Hunter just defeat an A-rank monster?! This is an exclusive!”

“Stay back! This site is off-limits!” The police, who arrived late, began controlling the crowd of people and journalists.

Meanwhile, Thunder Emperor became the center of attention. Her special-coated helmet prevented anyone from seeing through the visor, leaving everyone unaware of the blank look on her face.

Am I really the one who killed it?

Although the gigantic carcass of the Spiky Rhinoceros lay motionlessly before her, it still felt all too surreal.

Thanks to the mobility of her Lightning Combat ability, she arrived at the scene first, finding a monster attacking civilians.

-Graaaaa!

A B-rank Hunter like her was normally no match for a monster as strong as the Spiky Rhinoceros. Nevertheless, she disregarded that knowledge when she saw a man hugging a little girl, protecting her with all his might. Her heart throbbed. The heartbreaking sight mirrored her own past.

No!

Her body moved on its own. As the Spiky Rhinoceros opened its jaws wide to devour the man and the little girl, she jumped in between them. Then, with every ounce of her power, she activated Lightning Storm—her B-rank lightning skill—and unleashed the most powerful beam of lightning she could muster!

“... How does he know who I am?”

***

It had been three days since that particular incident.

I looked down at the Han River from Mapo Bridge. It was one of the top suicide spots, but I wasn’t here to do that. I fidgeted with my phone.

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[Brutal Killer (F→E)]

The one who walks the path of a malevolent god. Overcome the incoming trials and become a true malevolent god!

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I initially refused to believe that I could open a gate and call upon such a disaster. However, the notification windows that had popped up after the death of the Spiky Rhinoceros forced me to accept the reality.

Ding!

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[You have overcome a trial!]

[The title Brutal Killer has risen by a rank.]

[As a reward, you may now purchase the power of a Low-tier God from the God’s Shop without using Gcoins.]

[However, you may only purchase a malevolent god’s power.]

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I almost died.

Not just me, but even my niece Seong-Yeon. If the electrifying female student—no, Thunder Emperor did not save us...

“Sorry, I’m sorry, Seong-Yeon.”

My heart still pounded heavily whenever I recalled the incident from three days ago. I couldn’t even begin to imagine how my niece must’ve felt.

After that day, the first thing I did was try to delete the God-Maker from my phone, but none of the methods I tried worked. Not even factory resetting it did the trick.

“Then I’ll just throw it away. Without this cursed phone...” I raised my phone outward, toward the water.

“Keuk.”

But I couldn’t bear to let go. I kept doubting if it was the right move.

If my abilities manifested this God-Maker game, then wouldn’t the same still happen regardless?

More importantly, if this was the root of all problems, shouldn’t I learn more about this and try to come up with a solution instead?

Complicated thoughts filled my mind. It would have been great if there was a guide, but the game was too obscure.

Ding! Ding!

Just then, I received God-Maker notifications.

Fuck.

It had been quiet the past few days, but those fucking ants were out and about again! I glared at my phone and prepared to crush them.

A new kind of insect was in the God-Maker’s cave. Instead of black or red, this one was white. It was shining brilliantly like a gem and was half the size of the other ants.

Shiver.

Shaking pathetically, the small termite sent a message.

[Saintessx xx xx Godx xxx xxxxx.]

“... Saintess?”

For the first time, the message didn’t label the critter with a number.