At the sa ti, in Hemis’s office.
Hemis was having a private eting with Reidrun.
“Congratulations. You’ve completely broken through the wall. I thought it would take longer, but it was unexpectedly fast?”
“I was lucky.”
Reidrun had been unable to grow for quite a long ti.
A state commonly described as ‘hitting a wall.’
He had completely broken through that wall by defeating Oseld Gefen in this battle.
“Shouldn’t you be looking into a Division Commander position soon?”
Division Commander is one of the highest positions with only 25 spots in the entire Demon King’s Army.
Now Reidrun has reached a level where he could stand shoulder to shoulder with them.
Of course, having just reached this level, he couldn’t be considered completely equal.
However, given Reidrun’s talent, he would catch up perfectly before long.
“I appreciate the suggestion, but I don’t think it’s ti yet.”
“Oh? If you want, I could create one for you. Should I even make a Vice Corps Commander position?”
“I’ll just gratefully accept your kind intentions.”
Reidrun bowed his head and declined.
For a mont, Hemis’s lips twisted.
“Is it because of Choi Hyun-seok?”
“…While I won’t completely deny it, it’s not just because of Choi Hyun-seok.”
“Then?”
“I still want to build my skills further by your side, Lady Hemis.”
Depending on how one heard it, it could sound quite arrogant.
Despite already becoming one of the strongest in the Demon King’s Army, he was saying he could still grow further.
“Well, if that’s your wish, there’s nothing I can do.”
Hemis brushed it off casually.
Actually, from her perspective, there was no need to send Reidrun to a division.
Having a talented person like Reidrun assist her made various tasks easier.
“Ah, I almost forgot why I called you here today.”
Suddenly Hemis clapped her hands.
She rembered why she had called Reidrun here.
“Reidrun. The unit was completely destroyed in this incident, wasn’t it?”
“Yes… I’m ashad.”
“No, you did well. It’s just that I’m worried about how to rebuild this.”
Due to the human attack, two regints stationed at the Black Giant Star under direct corps command were terribly destroyed.
Not only were there casualties among the soldiers, but seven high-ranking battalion commander-level officers had died.
While regular soldiers could be replenished from anywhere, battalion commanders were different.
It was bound to be a headache since such elite officers were rare even in the Demon King’s Army.
“I could forcefully bring so from the divisions, but those idiots would obviously hate that. And I don’t want to bring in just anyone.”
Battalion commanders of the corps direct regints.
These would be people working directly with Hemis face to face.
She wanted to select people who were as smart and capable as possible.
“So I was thinking about holding a tournant throughout the corps for the battalion commander positions.”
“A tournant?”
Holding a tournant for battalion commander positions.
It was unprecedented.
“Yes! It’s better to see them fight and pick capable ones, right?”
“Indeed… If we can moderate it to prevent too many casualties, it could be a good event.”
Not a bad idea.
Although there was a risk of losing many commander-level talents during the tournant.
If they were careful about that part, it seed like it could work out quite well.
“That’s what I thought too. But then I had an even better idea.”
“What do you an by better idea…?”
“Let’s send Choi Hyun-seok to the tournant.”
Hemis’s lips spread into a wide grin.
Her expression showed she was already looking forward to what would happen.
“It’s about ti we give Choi Hyun-seok a battalion commander position too, right? How long is he going to stay cooped up in the kitchen?”
“Isn’t it too early for Choi Hyun-seok?”
Worry was evident in Reidrun’s voice.
Objectively speaking, Choi Hyun-seok’s Combat Power barely reached company commander level.
For such a Choi Hyun-seok to enter a tournant for selecting battalion commanders?
He would be perfect prey.
“Don’t worry. We’re not holding the tournant right away.”
“When are you thinking of holding it?”
“A month from now.”
“Won’t that be too little ti?”
“It’s Choi Hyun-seok we’re talking about, right? He’ll manage sohow. Ohohoho!”
The difference between company commander level and battalion commander level was like heaven and earth.
Normally, even a year wouldn’t be enough.
In so cases, even several years might not be enough to reach that level.
But Hemis had no intention of waiting that long.
‘It’s more interesting precisely because ti is limited.’
How would Choi Hyun-seok beco stronger within the limited ti?
That was the real purpose behind planning this tournant.
***
Choi Hyun-seok was lost in thought while stroking his chin.
“Creating Fighting Technique…”
What is Fighting Technique?
To Choi Hyun-seok, Fighting Technique was an excellent combat tool.
‘Even doing the sa thing, efficiency changes when you have tools.’
Just looking at ‘Reidrun-style Fighting Technique’ is a pri example.
‘Type 1 Early Battle Crush’ is perford by extending your fist while infusing it with magical power.
Looking at just the action itself, it’s nothing special.
It’s a very simple technique that anyone can do if they can control magical power.
However, the power is vastly different when usingFighting Technique versus not using it.
Using tools to extract several tis more efficiency from the sa movent.
That is Fighting Technique.
That’s why in combat, it was better to learn as much Fighting Technique as possible.
[500 hero points are required to create basic Fighting Technique]
[Would you like to create Fighting Technique?]
A system notification was heard.
‘500 points… It’s expensive, but worth trying.’
Considering the value of Fighting Technique, 500 points wasn’t too expensive.
Choi Hyun-seok decided to create Fighting Technique, thinking of it as an investnt for the future.
“Alright. Let’s start.”
When Choi Hyun-seok accepted, the next notification imdiately followed:
[500 Hero Points will be deducted!]
[Starting Fighting Technique creation]
[Observing and recording magical power and physical movents for a set period]
[Start and end tis can be designated as desired by the user]
Choi Hyun-seok nodded after seeing the system notification.
‘So it’s going to observe and record my movents?’
It was a surprisingly simple thod.
‘What should I make into a Fighting Technique?’
Nurous techniques flashed through his mind.
After pondering for a mont, Choi Hyun-seok grinned.
‘Of course, starting with a low kick!’
His favorite and most confident technique, the low kick.
If this excellent negotiation tool were to be reborn as a Fighting Technique, it would surely be of trendous help.
“Begin!”
[Recording Provisional Hero Choi Hyun-seok’s movents and magical power]
As soon as the system notification sounded, Choi Hyun-seok’s leg moved like lightning.
[Recording complete]
After the brief recording ended, notifications continued to appear.
[Creating Fighting Technique…]
[Optimizing body balance]
[Optimizing magical power utilization]
[Automatic balance adjustnt]
Various notifications kept coming.
‘So it automatically optimizes my movents.’
It ant the system would automatically supplent the technique he used.
What a simple and convenient system!
For the first ti, Choi Hyun-seok felt grateful to the Hero Shop.
‘Hurry up and finish…!’
His heart was pounding at the thought of creating a new Fighting Technique.
At that mont.
[Warning! Demonic energy detected from user]
“Huh?”
Choi Hyun-seok blinked and checked the notification.
[Unable to use magical power optimization system]
“Huhh…?”
Anyone could see sothing was going wrong.
Anxiety began to creep in.
[Fighting Technique creation failed!]
[Please try again next ti!]
“Oh shit!”
Finally, things went wrong.
Rachel ca running at his sudden outburst.
“Hero! What’s wrong!?”
“The Fighting Technique creation failed.”
“Why?”
“Says it won’t work because demonic energy was detected. What nonsense is this!?”
“Ah…”
Rachel nodded as if she had an idea about what happened.
“The Hero System wouldn’t have considered the use of demonic energy in the first place… The very premise of a hero having demonic energy doesn’t make sense.”
“Then what should I do?”
Rachel fell into thought at Choi Hyun-seok’s question.
“Hmm… We can’t remove the demonic energy that’s already settled in, right?”
“That’s right.”
“Then there’s only one way.”
“What is it?”
“Being reborn! In your next life, be careful not to possess such vicious things as demonic energy… Eek!”
Choi Hyun-seok grabbed Rachel by the collar.
Madness glead in his eyes.
“Is this the ti for jokes? Huh? I’m about to lose 500 Hero Points!”
“Th-then what can we do! We can’t overhaul the Hero System!”
“Haa…”
It’s called the Hero System from the start.
There’s no way the system would have considered demonic energy, used by demons who are the heroes’ archenemies.
“My 500 points…”
Choi Hyun-seok slumped down.
“At least give half back…”
It wasn’t like he wanted the demonic energy, but to take all 500 Hero Points because of it.
It felt too unfair.
At that mont.
[Hero Quest!
Hey you!
You’ve blown 500 Hero Points!
But it’s too early to despair.
Points can always be earned again!
Now is the ti to forget the past and move forward.
Create a Fighting Technique with your own power!
Objective: Create unique Fighting Technique Reward: ???]
Choi Hyun-seok stared blankly at the quest window.
“Uh…”
Then deep anger ca.
“Are they mocking ? Huh? They’re mocking for losing 500 points, aren’t they? Damn!”
Points can always be earned again, they say.
Is this supposed to be consolation?
“Forget it and just give my points back!”
No matter how much he shouted, the lost points wouldn’t return.
He already knew this, but it was so unfair he couldn’t help but shout.
“Haa…”
A mont later.
Having finally cald down, Choi Hyun-seok continued his thoughts calmly.
“So they’re telling to create a Fighting Technique myself, but is that possible?”
“Of course it’s impossible!”
“Could you not say that with such a bright smile when I’m pissed off?”
Fighting Techniques weren’t sothing to be taken lightly.
Even learning existing Fighting Techniques required trendous effort and talent.
And now they want him to create one himself?
It was like asking a beginner who just started learning to cook to create a Michelin-star worthy recipe.
In other words, it was impossible unless a miracle occurred.
“Hero, what should we do now?”
“There’s only one answer.”
Choi Hyun-seok clenched his fist.
“Let’s use the Reidrun chance!”
“…”
“Think about it. That’s our only option, right?”
Reidrun had already created and was developing his own Fighting Techniques.
He would surely be able to provide answers about creating Fighting Technique.
“First, I need to go to work at the kitchen, and after my shift ends, I’ll go ask him.”
While talking, it was already ti to go to work.
Choi Hyun-seok resolved to visit Reidrun after his kitchen duties were over.
***
That evening.
As soon as his shift ended, Choi Hyun-seok went straight to Reidrun’s office.
‘There he is.’
As it happened, Reidrun was walking down the corridor, seemingly on his way out sowhere.
“Lord Reidrun.”
“Oh! Hyun-seok. Perfect timing, I was just about to look for you.”
“Pardon?”
“I have sothing to tell you.”
Before Choi Hyun-seok could ask, Reidrun spoke first.
“There will be a tournant to select battalion commanders in a month.”
“A tournant?”
“Yes. Seven battalion commanders died this ti, didn’t they? Lady Hemis decided to discover new talent rather than bringing people from other units.”
“I see.”
Choi Hyun-seok nodded.
He knew the unit had suffered considerable damage from this incident, but he didn’t know it was this severe.
‘Seven battalion commanders dead. Those guys really were monsters.’
He was newly impressed by the strength of the humans who had invaded then.
‘Fighting against guys like that, thinking back, it really was reckless.’
As he smirked at the thought, sothing crossed his mind.
‘Wait. But why is he telling this?’
Choi Hyun-seok’s eyes began to tremble.
‘Surely not… It can’t be? It won’t be…’
Unfortunately, bad premonitions tend to always co true.
Reidrun opened his mouth with a stern face.
“Hyun-seok. Lady Hemis said you should participate in the tournant too.”
“…”
“Don’t worry too much. We’re not expecting you to win.”
“Then…?”
For a mont, a glimr of hope flickered in Choi Hyun-seok’s eyes.
If they weren’t expecting him to win?
Given that it was a battalion commander tournant, maybe just passing the preliminaries would be enough.
“Final eight. You just need to make it to the quarter-finals to pass.”
Choi Hyun-seok closed his eyes.
Along with his closing eyelids, his fleeting hope disappeared.
The darkness in his vision.
It was the future that lay ahead.
‘Haa, I thought things were going too smoothly…’
Another life-or-death ga was beginning.
Hope you enjoyed the chapter! If you would like to support or read advanced chapters, you can do so by unlocking chapters.
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