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[Translator - Helga ]
[Proofreader - Starfall ]
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Chapter 107: Underground Arena (4)
<Authority “Hierarchy” has activated!>
<Temporarily weakens the abilities of lower Superhuman Bloodlines within range!>
<While facing lower-ranked Superhuman Bloodlines, your strength is temporarily boosted to SS-Rank!>
Even an S-class stat is considered transcendent and commands respect in the Hunter industry.
With just three S-class stats, one can qualify as a world-ranked Hunter.
However, the growth of stats doesn’t end with S-class. Higher stats exist beyond that.
While S-class is considered transcendent, SS-class exists on an even higher level.
Throughout the world, and in fact throughout history, there are very few Hunters with SS-class stats.
SS-class is revered as legendary and is considered a level above even the transcendents.
Now, this immense power was in his hands.
Although it was only a temporary phenomenon.
<Warning! Your physical strength is too high compared to other stats!>
<Caution! Excessive strength is damaging your body!>
<Notice! Physical strength is temporarily restricted!>
It wasn’t even a situation where it could be controlled, yet it still felt overwhelming.
Simply standing still, he could feel the volcanic force surging through his entire body.
At any moment, he thought, his body might just explode.
“Blocking my punch and still fine, huh?”
At that moment, Maria Sanchez spoke with a perplexed expression.
Her punch, thrown with all her might, was gently caught by Kwon Hanul's hand.
Kwon Hanul, who should have been torn into pieces, was standing unharmed.
“You’re interesting, aren’t you?”
A chilling smile spread across Maria Sanchez's lips.
It was the kind of smile a cat might give before killing a mouse after toying with it.
“Can I treat you a little rougher?”
Maria Sanchez yanked her fist back, spinning her body as she launched a spinning kick.
Her heel struck Kwon Hanul’s temple directly.
Though it was clearly a human leg striking, a sound like a bomb explosion echoed through the air.
But, contrary to the loud noise, Kwon Hanul's head remained intact.
No, his upper body didn’t even sway.
“You’ve got a temper.”
Kwon Hanul lightly pushed her foot away with his palm.
Maria Sanchez retracted her extended leg and stepped back.
“You...?”
“After hitting me twice, it’s my turn.”
Kwon Hanul clenched his fist, gathering strength to throw a punch.
As Kwon Hanul gripped his fist, Maria Sanchez felt as if a towering, enormous wall that could block out the sky was gazing down at her.
Simply standing still, she felt suffocated and breathless.
Then, the man’s body shifted slightly. One shoulder dropped as his opposite fist moved.
In that instant, Maria Sanchez sensed death.
If he threw that punch, she would die. It didn’t matter how far away. Her entire body would be crushed, and she would lose her breath.
Then, it happened.
The man’s movements stopped. The punch he was about to throw froze in mid-air.
“Oh, right, I shouldn’t do this.”
He muttered something odd before loosening his grip on his fist.
“...What are you doing?”
“There are too many eyes watching.”
He slapped his hands and arms, as though releasing tension from his body.
“I need to hold back.”
It was an unintelligible comment.
But one thing was clear.
This man had intentionally limited his abilities during the fight.
Such an action couldn’t be done without looking down on the opponent by a considerable margin.
“You know who I am, right?”
“I told you earlier, Maria Sanchez, didn’t I?”
“So, even knowing who I am, you still do this?”
In this absurd situation, Maria Sanchez couldn’t even manage a laugh.
Rage rose within her.
Her muscles twitched. The power from her Superhuman Bloodline reacted, and her physical abilities surged.
“You really think I’ll let this slide...?”
Just then, Kwon Hanul lowered his body. The moment he moved, he was already right in front of Maria Sanchez.
“This!”
She was momentarily stunned but quickly responded. She brought her palm down toward his head.
But Kwon Hanul moved first. He grabbed her hand before it could strike.
“How dare you grab my hand?”
Maria Sanchez snarled and gripped his hand in return, trying to suppress him with strength.
But Kwon Hanul used his strength, pulling her in toward him instead.
“...Huh?”
Her body flew through the air. In the blink of an eye, Kwon Hanul slammed her down to the ground with all his might.
It was like swinging a wet towel onto the floor, her body slammed into the ground with force.
“Eek!”
The ground wasn’t as solid as her body, so it didn’t hurt, but it left her disoriented.
But she was still a Hunter of the highest caliber. She immediately regained her composure.
And then she saw it.
Right in front of her, Kwon Hanul’s fist was clenched.
“This is gonna hurt.”
With those words, Kwon Hanul drove his fist downward.
The entire underground arena shook.
* * *
Maria Sanchez regained her senses and quickly got up.
“Sister!”
Looking to her side, she saw Marcos Sanchez with a worried expression.
“Where am I?”
“The infirmary of the Underground Arena!”
“The infirmary? What happened to the fight?”
Marcos Sanchez clenched his mouth at her question.
“What happened to the fight?” Maria Sanchez demanded, her tone sharp.
“...You lost, sister.”
Her strength drained from her body at those words.
She had known it already, but hearing it from Marcos Sanchez made it feel real.
But she couldn’t dwell on her defeat.
“Hey.”
A voice laced with suppressed anger reached her ears. Maria Sanchez turned to see Mark Goldpixie, his face twisted with frustration.
“I know it’s customary to comfort someone just waking up, but before that, I have to ask.”
Mark Goldpixie gritted his teeth.
“How do you plan to handle this situation?”
Marcos Sanchez jumped to his feet and glared at Mark Goldpixie.
“Can’t you see my sister’s lying here?”
“Marcos, enough.”
“Sister!”
“I said enough.”
After several warnings, Marcos Sanchez finally fell silent.
“Mark, I apologize. Things really got out of hand.”
“I’ll warn you right now. Don’t even think about sending a third participant. There’s no limit to the number of players, but sending a third one will just get them mocked!”
Maria Sanchez shook her head.
“I won’t be doing that, so don’t worry.”
“So what do you plan to do?”
“We’ll have to change our plan.”
“Change your plan? How?”
“Marcos, take him down.”
At her command, Marcos Sanchez restrained Mark Goldpixie and pushed him to the ground.
“Ugh!”
Mark Goldpixie screamed in surprise.
“How dare you lay a hand on me! What is this nonsense...”
“Shut up, or I’ll snap your neck right here.”
Marcos Sanchez threatened, his voice menacing.
That warning made cold sweat appear on Mark Goldpixie’s forehead.
He had momentarily forgotten in his anger.
They were blood relatives of the Sanchez family, and that family was infamous in Pandemonium for being literal demons.
“Are you... trying to kill me?”
“Of course not. We’re not the kind to kill anyone recklessly.”
Maria Sanchez smiled faintly.
But Mark Goldpixie couldn’t relax.
“I’ll apologize first. The contract won’t be honored.”
Mark Goldpixie’s face was filled with conflicting emotions.
But he kept them in check, knowing that expressing them could cost him his life.
“...Fine. I won’t pursue this matter. You all leave quietly.”
It was the most he could concede. But Maria Sanchez wasn’t satisfied with just that.
“Sure, but before that, you need to do us a favor.”
“A favor?”
“Look into the man I fought.”
“I told you, such information is impossible to obtain...”
“I’m not asking for an identity check. I already know who he is.”
“You do?”
“His name is Kwon Hanul.”
The name didn’t ring any bells, so he wasn’t famous.
But Mark Goldpixie quickly recalled it, having heard relevant information recently.
“...Wasn’t he a key player in the South American cartel wars?”
“Yes, that’s right. I didn’t recognize him at first, but the technique he used gave him away.”
The technique of the Black Dragon Twelve Ascendant Techniques.
“I know all that. So why do you want me to investigate?”
“Where he’s being held, when he’s leaving the city, and if he’s leaving, where he’s going. That’s all I need.”
At these words, Mark Goldpixie’s eyes began to tremble with fear.
“You’re not planning to ambush him, are you? If you do that, you’ll make an enemy of the entire Mystery City!”
“I’m not crazy enough to do that, so don’t worry. Just do as we ask, and we’ll let you go.”
Though this deal wasn’t to his liking, Mark Goldpixie had no other choice.
“...Alright, I’ll do it your way.”
“Thank you. Marcos, let him go.”
As Marcos Sanchez stepped back, Mark Goldpixie adjusted his wrist.
Maria Sanchez handed him her smartphone.
“What are you doing? Call your secretary already.”
Mark Goldpixie reluctantly took the phone.
“And don’t say anything unnecessary to your secretary, alright?”
After the warning, Maria Sanchez gave Marcos Sanchez another order.
“Marcos, I’ll be keeping an eye on that man. You go to the other arena and bring the others.”
“You’re planning to ambush Hyukcheon?”
“Yes. So get ready.”
“But if you do that, it could lead to war with them.”
Even the Sanchez family found Hyukcheon a tough opponent.
Their elders tried to avoid entangling with them.
“There’s no choice. We can’t give up the patriarch’s treasure like this.”
But this time, it was unavoidable. The treasure was more important than turning Hyukcheon into an enemy.
“Don’t worry. It won’t be too hard. We just need to watch out for Joo Hayun among Kwon Hanul’s group.”
* * *
Whenever a participant won a consecutive match, they could request a short break.
“Sanchez family is here.”
During this break, Kwon Hanul called Kwon Myung-woo and Joo Hayun into the waiting room.
Both of them widened their eyes.
“What do you mean?”
“Both of the people I fought are blood relatives of the Sanchez family.”
“No wonder they felt different.”
Kwon Myung-woo’s expression became serious.
The Sanchez family wasn’t something that could be taken lightly, not even by Hyukcheon.
Their power from the Superhuman Bloodline was formidable, but the Sanchez family's influence in Pandemonium was immense.
“Was one of them Maria Sanchez?”
“Right. I guess you’ve figured it out.”
“You think I don’t know her? I just thought it was impossible, but...”
Joo Hayun trailed off. She had personal matters to settle with Maria Sanchez.
“Hmmm... Mystery City isn’t the kind of place where you can sneak in. There must have been some kind of help. But what could be worth all that trouble?”
Kwon Myung-woo stroked his chin as he pondered. After a moment, he came to a conclusion.
“...They’re after the grand prize.”
At this, both of them looked at Kwon Myung-woo.
“Sometimes, things of unknown origin end up in the underground arena. The Sanchez family must need something here, or they wouldn’t have come.”
“So, are the blood relatives of the Sanchez family going to keep challenging Kwon Hanul?”
Kwon Myung-woo shook his head.
“To enter the underground arena, you need a sponsor. There’s no rule on how many players a sponsor can enter, but if they send more than two, they’ll attract unwanted attention.”
The Sanchez family had already sent two blood relatives.
The rounds were finished.
“Haha, I’ve unintentionally spoiled the Sanchez family’s feast.”
Kwon Myung-woo grinned.
Kwon Hanul then asked him, “If it’s so important, wouldn’t they try anything to get it?”
“They’ll try. But there’s not much they can do.”
Kwon Myung-woo spoke with confidence.
“Unless they’re crazy, they won’t start a ruckus in Mystery City.”
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[Translator - Helga ]
[Proofreader - Starfall ]
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