F-Class Destiny Hunter

Chapter 86

At the same time, it felt as though the world had come to a halt. In reality, everything except for Seo Gangrim had stopped. Even the messages from the gods had frozen, and the demons that had been charging at him were suspended in mid-air. However, the voice in his head remained as persistent as ever.

"Are you still holding onto hope, child?" The voice had a tone of amusement and condescension. "Poor child, look at how pitiful you are."

In the frozen world, Seo Gangrim's Destiny window appeared before him. There was only one sentence written there:

[Your Zodiac sign is 'Rat.']

The weakest of the twelve animals, just like in astrology, a person's Zodiac sign was predetermined from birth, an unchangeable destiny.

[You can acquire a new ability related to your Zodiac sign.]

Several small characters, like glyphs, floated before his eyes. Each of them had an image of a rat. Rats being chased, rats scavenging for food, rats dying in despair.

"What can you possibly do with a rat-like ability?" The voice mocked, emphasizing the weakness of the Rat Zodiac's ability.

If Seo Gangrim had been born in the Year of the Tiger or the Year of the Dragon, he might have obtained a more useful ability. There had been times when he cursed his fate.

At that moment, the voice asked with curiosity, "Why are you smiling?"

Seo Gangrim realized that he was indeed smiling. He couldn't help but smile because this was the moment he had been waiting for.

Slowly, he walked through the frozen world. In his past life, he had never been able to raise all his stats to Level 30, so he had never acquired the ability related to his Zodiac sign. However, he still had gathered information like a rat, collecting and collecting more. Hence, he knew exactly which characters were associated with which abilities.

"I've heard the 'rat-like' insults many times. Anyway, Seo Gangrim only know how to survive like a rat."

Even if he were given abilities related to the Dragon or the Tiger, they wouldn't suit him. After all, a rat has to live a rat's life.

"Although the rat is considered the weakest animal..."

He reached out towards one of the glyphs floating before me. Then, light began to radiate from the glyph.

"There's nothing scarier than a rat in a corner."

The glyph depicted a rat covered in blood, dying, but its eyes were burning with an intense determination.

[Acquired ability 'Roar of the Rat'!]

As he held the glyph, the world began to move again. The demons that had been frozen in mid-air suddenly lunged at him but he didn't dodge them for that was what he wanted.

*Splash!*

As he swung his sword, everything in front of him was cut in half. The demons that had been biting into him were instantly torn to pieces.

【Aargh!】

【Hey, Gangrim is going to die!】

【Why the hell aren't you dodging?】

【Seriously, get some divine blessing already!】

【Are you just going to ignore his messages?】

Messages offering divine blessing appeared one after another, but what he needed was not the gods.

While swallowing his own blood, he activated the ability.

[Ability 'Roar of the Rat' has been activated!]

[Ability] Roar of the Rat

[Grade] Human First-class

[Description] An ability that grows stronger in times of crisis. Can only be used when your health is below 10%. While this ability is active, you become nearly invincible, but you will suffer severe penalties when the ability ends.

-Squish!

Seo Gangrim swung his sword, and everything in front of him split in half. The demons that had been clinging to him were instantly torn to shreds. The demons were swept away like waves, but his shadow remained steadfast, as if thinking that Seo Gangrim couldn't win. But a cornered rat would open its mouth to a cat.

[Ability 'Fighting Instinct' is currently activated!]

[Ability 'Roar of the Rat' is currently activated!]

When Seo Gangrim activated both abilities simultaneously, he felt a power unlike anything he had experienced before. Confronted by this sight, the shadow appeared confused but summoned the demons once again.

Seo Gangrim advanced, slashing through the demons blocking his path. Despite feeling his health rapidly decreasing, Seo Gangrim felt more energetic than ever, as if his body were burning brightly before fading away.

"Child, you're going to die anyway. If you're going to die, why not peacefully sleep within me?"

"I told you…" Seo Gangrim said, stepping over the corpses of the demons. Once again, experience points piled up beneath his feet. Despite that, Seo Gangrim continued to cut forward. "I'll send Shin Sooah out of here first before I die."

Suddenly, all the demons had fallen, but his shadow did not show any signs of fear or hesitation. Instead, it looked at Seo Gangrim as if he were a fool.

"A mere rat struggling in vain. You still don't understand."

As those words ended, the surrounding atmosphere underwent an instant change. It felt like the air was thinning, and then an announcement appeared before Seo Gangrim's eyes.

[The subject's Zodiac attribute has changed to 'Tiger'!]

[Ability 'Roaming Mountain Tiger' has been activated!]

[Matching the Zodiac attribute 'Tiger' with 'Roaming Mountain Tiger' enhances the effect!]

Among the deceased, someone had the Tiger Zodiac attribute. It was unbelievable that the shadow could steal even the Zodiac itself; it didn't feel like his shadow anymore.

[The 'Tiger's energy frightens the 'Rat'!]

Unconsciously, Seo Gangrim's feet froze in place. The figure of a tiger lurks in the shadows. As a rat, Seo Gangrim could only feel instinctual fear in the presence of a beast like this.

"Child, do you finally understand? The rat is inherently the weakest..."

-Squish!

Seo Gangrim forcefully moved his body and slashed the shadow. The shadow, seemingly unprepared for his movements, couldn't evade it. After all, a normal rat wouldn't even be able to twitch before a tiger. However, thanks to 'Fighting Instinct,' Seo Gangrim was a rat gone mad.

Though the attack landed heavily, the shadow's injuries were instantly healed. It then spoke with a voice filled with frustration. "You still don't understand your own capabilities. Do you still refuse to give up? If that's the case, I can only devour you whole."

Suddenly, the world around Seo Gangrim turned dark as the endless darkness began to change its form once more. The shadow filled the room, taking the shape of a mythical beast, not an animal.

[The subject's Zodiac attribute has changed to 'Dragon'!]

[Ability 'Dragon Transformation' has been activated!]

[Matching 'Dragon Transformation' with the Zodiac attribute enhances the effect!]

Among the twelve Zodiac signs, the Dragon was the only mythical creature. As the shadow transformed into a Dragon, divine power and abilities flowed in all directions.

Rooaar!

The black Dragon roared, and a tremendous force passed through Seo Gangrim's body like a sharp blade. Blood sprayed everywhere. The shadow bore the same wounds, but they were instantly healed.

"Give up, child. The rat's role ends here."

As if to confirm the shadow's words, the gods chattered.

【What? It can even transform into a Dragon now?】

【Furthermore, that shadow has a healing ability, doesn't it?】

【Can you really win against that?】

【Hey, just run away already! Stop fooling around!】

Everyone foresaw Seo Gangrim's defeat. If a rat and a dragon fought, the outcome was clear. Nevertheless, Seo Gangrim looked at the draon and smiled. "You'd have been better off as a rat."

Seo Gangrim withdrew the sword he had kept for this moment from the scabbard. Those who tried to kill the rat were not recorded in history, but those who tried to kill the dragon are remembered by future generations. The sword that sensed the dragon's energy opened its eyes.

[Jeon Eodo has detected the dragon's energy! Attack power greatly increased!]

Jeon Eodo, a sword with a history of killing dragons, brought about a more potent effect than any other weapon when it came to slaying dragons.

Seo Gangrim then moved forward, suppressing the instinctual scream within him.

[The target is stronger than 'Seo Gangrim'!]

[The effect of 'Fighting Instinct' greatly increased!]

Blood flowed wherever Seo Gangrim stepped, and the sense of impending doom grew even stronger.

['Seo Gangrim's' near-death state has been confirmed!]

[The effect of 'Roar of the Rat' greatly increased!]

The stronger his opponent, the more cornered Seo Gangrim was, and the more he burned with determination. For the weakest has the greatest potential for fierceness.

-Roooooar!

As if making a final effort, the shadow rushed towards him. Seo Gangrim gathered all his remaining strength and focused it on the Jeon Eodo.

In an instant, during a blinding white flash, he felt a sensation of piercing flesh.

"Ka, Ka...!"

His karma, his shadow, let out a scream. Seo Gangrim saw the dragon with its throat pierced. Seo Gangrim then transferred his entire body weight into it, splitting the shadow in half.

-Kwong!

The gigantic dragon knelt before the rat. As the shadow turned into ashes and crumbled, Seo Gangrim also collapsed to the ground.

[The effect of 'Roar of the Rat' has ended.]

When 'Roar of the Rat' ended, an intense pain surged through his entire body. Seo Gangrim couldn't move any longer. He couldn't even twitch a finger. He felt his death was imminent. The penalty was far greater than he had heard of.

Seo Gangrim felt a bit disappointed. If he had known that he would suffer so much and still die, he would have just committed suicide.

Through his blurry vision, Seo Gangrim caught sight of Shin Sooah. She approached him as if checking on him. His vision was too blurry to discern her expression, but either way, his shadow had disappeared. Even if Seo Gangrim died, Shin Sooah could escape safely. With Linnie and Yorn there, they would all make it out fine. Seo Gangrim had done what he needed to do. Now it was okay to rest. His vision grew hazier, and darkness encroached. In that hazy state, Seo Gangrim heard a voice.

【...... ......? ...... ......】

... A god? Seo Gangrim couldn't distinguish what was being said; he could barely make out the tone of the voice. Seo Gangrim had heard the voices of many gods, but the voice he was hearing now was different. It was the first time he heard it, yet it strangely felt familiar. Simultaneously, intense hatred and disgust welled up.

【...... ...... ...... ......】

It wasn't saying anything. It was laughing. Laughing as if it were extremely pleased. Amidst the echoes of divine laughter, Seo Gangrim lost consciousness.

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