‘I truly was pushed back in strength.’

After all, Hyeonu’s opponent was an orc, not a human. His uncalibrated strength stat was close to 1,400, but it wasn’t enough to beat an orc with a higher level.

‘Giant’s Power.’

[Giant’s Power has been used.]

[Your strength stat has increased.]

Hyeonu used Giant’s Power and ran back to Cancun. He was going to use the other giant skill if he was pushed again. It might be different if he used it from the beginning, but this was a battle of pride. Hyeonu’s and Cancun’s branches collided again.

Hyeonu almost groaned at the shock of his entire body being hit, but he managed to endure it and didn’t bounce back this time. There was more shock from holding on than from bouncing off, but it was bearable. As long as Hyeonu maintained this standard, it was enough to fight with. Cancun’s strength wasn’t great, but his technique didn’t seem so excellent. It was possible for Hyeonu to win if this pattern was maintained.

On the other hand, Cancun was astonished. ‘His strength suddenly increased.’

The power of the human traveling with his friend had become stronger in an instant. Now the human seemed strong enough.

‘Finish it quickly.’

If Hyeonu could become stronger once, it meant that it was likely he could become stronger another two or three times. Cancun thought he needed to finish the spar before Hyeonu took out all his hidden cards. Then Cancun kicked off hard against the ground.

In an instant, Cancun appeared in front of Hyeonu and swung his tree branch. No, he tried to swing it.

‘Huh?’

If only it wasn’t for Hyeonu’s branch that blocked him first...

Before Cancun’s branch was swung, Hyeonu’s branch had already blocked the way. Then Hyeonu’s branch cut Cancun’s hair shorter. It was done lightly with only a movement of the wrist, but the power wasn’t light. Momentarily dazed by the blow, Cancun grasped at his fading spirit. He couldn’t be defeated in such an impractical manner. He would show his father and uncle that he could beat this human. He would prove that they were wrong.

Cancun’s branch turned green, and there was a popping sound. Too much magic power was injected, and the branch burst a bit. Cancun’s branch headed toward Hyeonu with enough pressure to destroy everything.

Hyeonu didn’t move. This way, he would be hit by the tree branch. However, Hyeonu moved the moment that Cancun’s branch reached him. Hyeonu showed off bizarre movements and dodged Cancun’s attack exquisitely.

Cancun’s branch struck the floor. It was unknown how much magic power had been injected, but a pit was violently formed in the ground around the branch. While dodging Hyeonu, Cancun continued to attack. Simultaneously, Cancun was getting angry. He started to become angry at Hyeonu who kept avoiding the attacks.

Sticky fighting energy started to spill from Cancun’s body and hinder Hyeonu’s movements.

[Player ‘Gang Hyeonu’ has entered a ‘slowed’ state.]

‘What is this?’ Hyeonu was perplexed by his slow movements. This was the first time Hyeonu encountered a CC skill that couldn’t be resisted with his fighting energy. Then he soon found a reason for his slow movements. It was the red energy that flowed out of Cancun’s body.

That was the problem. Just then, a skill passed through Hyeonu’s mind.

[Area Proclamation]

[You can radiate magic power based around yourself to a certain area, causing constant damage to your opponents and speeding up your movements.

Type: Immediately Activated

Rating: Unique

Skill Proficiency: F

Area Range: 10m

Duration: 3 minutes.

Skill Cooldown Time: 10 minutes.]

‘Area Proclamation.’

Once Area Proclamation was used, a black light started to be released from Hyeonu’s body. The emitted magic power spread in all directions. Black magic power permeated Cancun’s body, and it also permeated Hyeonu’s body.

‘Good.’ This was Hyeonu’s impression of the Area Proclamation that he was using for the first time.

He had never thought of using it in the Balder Mountains. In fact, he had forgotten the existence of Area Proclamation. It was enough for him just to swing the sword while working with Tang-E. However, the skill was really great. He wondered why he hadn’t used it until now. It seemed that his increase in movement speed, from activating Area Proclamation, exceeded the reduction caused by Cancun’s unknown energy.

Meanwhile, Cancun’s face was slightly distorted. Hyeonu’s black magic power, which Cancun had absorbed into his body, did not cause serious damage, but it caused an annoying pain.

“That... It is a skill similar to Orc’s Wrath. Isn’t that right? Dakan.”

Dakan nodded at Raccoon’s words.

“It must’ve been taught by his teacher! It was more noticeable than anything else. I thought the fighting energy used by Cancun was great, but there is no damage,” Dakan exclaimed.

Hyeonu’s fighting energy was astounding. It was the first time that a non-orc race possessed such fighting energy.

“Yes. He seems to be almost unaffected. Yet he isn’t an orc but a human. The amazing thing is that he’s also an adventurer.”

“Isn’t this why you acknowledged him, Dakan?”

“As expected, your eyes are as sharp as an orc.”

Moments later, Dakan pointed toward the place where Hyeonu and Cancun were still fighting fiercely. “This... He has lost.’

The spar between Cancun and Hyeonu ended.

At Dakan’s words, Raccoon yelled at Hyeonu, “Stop! The spar is over.”

***

Hyeonu’s branch cut through the air sharply. Cancun dodged the attack by moving back one step. Then he struck back with his tree branch. Hyeonu also evaded by turning his body while he swung his fist straight at Cancun. Hyeonu’s fist which was filled with magic power struck Cancun.

“Ack!” Cancun moaned at the sudden shock to his abdomen. It felt like his intestines were flipping over. Still, it was only for a moment. Cancun grabbed Hyeonu’s wrist and threw this human over his shoulder. Hyeonu was suddenly being pushed as Cancun’s branch aimed a green energy at him. To avoid the green energy, Hyeonu leaned down. Then he kicked off from the ground and flew through the air.

Hyeonu floated in the air and descended toward Dakan with his branch. Cancun naturally lifted the branch to block Hyeonu’s attack. It would’ve been better to avoid it, but Cancun’s pride was hurt. Avoiding a power struggle here meant there would be a greater rift in his cracked ego.

Hyeonu’s and Cancun’s branches collided. The sound created wasn’t that of a magic power explosion but the sound of something being hit.

“Spit!” Cancun spat, and his saliva was very red. In fact, Hyeonu’s action was a feint. Hyeonu pretended to hit down, but he actually swung the branch subtly. He moved it down Cancun’s tree branch, which was swinging upward, and hit Cancun’s cheek.

“Stop!” Raccoon stopped the two of them after confirming that blood came from Cancun’s mouth. “Both of you did well. It was different from what I thought would happen, but I think it helped Cancun a lot. You need to know that there are opponents like this. There aren’t just fighters who fight with strength like me and Dakan.”

Then Raccoon patted Cancun’s and Hyeonu’s shoulders at the same time. Raccoon’s words weren’t entirely true though.

‘This is what I’ve been looking for.’

From the outset, Raccoon had wanted Hyeonu to fight this way. He wanted to show his son, Cancun, a new combat style. The defeat was just a bonus. His wish was for Cancun to gain a lot from this defeat. As Raccoon wished, Cancun felt a lot.

‘A stronger power.’ He felt a longing for strength.

Cancun definitely felt that he was still lacking in the fight against Hyeonu. He wasn’t strong enough to crush Hyeonu’s skills and techniques.

“It won’t be like this next time.”

Once Cancun finished speaking, someone’s fist struck his chin. The fist that struck Cancun’s chin was covered in golden fur.

“Use honorifics to my Master dude. Friend, I am the only one with the privilege to speak informally to him. I can’t yield even if it is Cancun.” Tang-E’s words were outrageous. He thought he had all types of privileges.

“If this is the case, I’m sorry. I will apologize, dear friend.”

At Cancun’s apology, Hyeonu frowned as if he had seen something strange. Then he approached Raccoon and reached out. It was signaling that he was asking for compensation.

“Please reward me.”

At Hyeonu’s words, Raccoon started a lengthy explanation. “Do you remember when Cancun released red energy at you?”

Hyeonu nodded. He couldn’t forget because it was the first CC skill that affected him since he gained the fighting energy stat.

“You already know the identity of the red energy. It is fighting energy. That’s it.”

“Fighting energy?”

Hyeonu shook his head at Raccoon’s words.

‘The fighting energy stat can be used like that?’

He had a moment of doubt. For Hyeonu, fighting energy was a thankful presence that elevated his stats and was a means of resisting CC.

“Can I use fighting energy like that?”

Raccoon burst out laughing at Hyeonu’s question. “Kuhaha, you are going to kill me. I’m going to die of amusement.”

Raccoon continued to laugh in an unstoppable manner. Consequently, the answer to Hyeonu’s question came from Dakan instead of Raccoon. “One of the methods to use fighting energy is the way that Cancun used it—emitting fighting energy and pressuring the opponent. If there is a drastic difference in stats, then it can lead to death.”

“Then...”

“Yes, this is the reward I’ll give. It is how to use fighting energy. There are two ways to do it. There is one that can be used right away and one that takes some time. What is your choice?” Raccoon said.

Hyeonu wasn’t troubled after hearing this as his previous experiences had already given him a way.

“I will choose the one that takes some time.”

“It takes quite a while to learn, but there is a way to reduce the time it takes. How about it?” It was a subtle suggestion from Raccoon.

Hyeonu reflected on the proposal and nodded. “Yes, if that’s the way, then I’ll do it.”

Raccoon smiled at Hyeonu’s words. This time, he didn’t laugh loudly. Racoon’s sharp fangs barely seemed to be visible as he smiled lightly. “Then pull out your weapon.”

At the end of his words, Raccoon picked up the branch that had fallen to the ground.

“Huh?”

“Learning with your body is the best way to reduce the time it takes to learn to use fighting energy. Well? Aren’t you getting ready?”

Hyeonu was very flustered when he heard these words. He was so flustered that he couldn’t even think of moving.

“Then let’s start.” Raccoon finished speaking and swung the tree branch heavily.

Meanwhile, Hyeonu still looked like he was trying to deny the current situation.