Chapter 16

Chapter 16

The Director’s office was on the top floor of the Association building. The employee knocked, opened the door for me, then quietly withdrew.

The man in his late fifties standing in front of the desk had graying hair and wore a neat suit. Behind his easygoing appearance was an unmistakable air of experience.

The man noticed me and immediately brightened, striding over.

“Welcome. I’m the Director of the Seoul Branch. I’ve been waiting since this morning for you to arrive, Hunter.”

When he held out his hand, a thick hand firmly grasped mine. It felt more like being seized than a handshake.

“Please, have a seat.”

Once we sat across from each other on the sofa, the Director held out a tablet. Two dungeon records were displayed on the screen.

“An E-rank mutation in an F-rank Goblin Cave. Then the very next day, a higher-level mutation in the E-rank Corrupted Temple. There is no Hunter in Association records who has cleared mutated dungeons two days in a row.”

The Director shook his head while looking over the records. He made no effort to hide his admiration.

“When I first received the report, I thought it was a computer error.”

‘So he’s starting with the mutations after all.’

Surely he hadn’t figured out that the mutation was caused by the combined combat power of the tribe.

My hands tensed.

The Director continued.

“When a mutation occurs, there is effectively nothing the Association can do. We cannot determine the exact rank inside, so recklessly sending Hunters in would only increase the casualties.”

“So that’s why organizing the rescue team took so long.”

It made sense. If a mutation occurred and they had no idea how many ranks the dungeon had risen, how could they simply send a rescue team charging in?

“That’s correct. In the end, the party already inside has to endure on its own, so a mutation designation is practically treated as a death sentence.”

The Director set down the tablet and looked straight at me.

“And yet, Hunter, you walked out both times. After personally defeating the bosses, no less.”

“I was lucky.”

“The witness accounts are far too specific to call it luck. We heard everything from the people who entered with you.”

The Director pulled out a document and pointed to it. His eyes gleamed like someone recounting another person’s heroic exploits.

“Hunter Park Jeongsu’s report says you exploited the Goblin High Chief’s intelligence and pierced its vital point.”

Then he pulled out another report.

“Hunters Kim Dohyeon and Lee Seoyeon testified that you accurately located the golems’ cores on your own. The report even ends by saying that you’re someone who will climb higher than she has.”

Those were Park Jeongsu’s words. One side of my chest grew warm, but at the same time the pressure increased.

‘If they praise me this much, it’s actually kind of scary.’

The more the praise continued, the narrower the sofa seemed to become.

“The Association is paying attention to your potential.”

The Director shifted all the way to the edge of the sofa.

“Mutated dungeons are areas no one can enter, yet you didn’t merely survive inside them—you cleared them. From the Association’s standpoint, that means you are talent we absolutely cannot afford to lose.”

Then an envelope and a document were placed on the table.

“This is a 30 million won reward for clearing a mutated dungeon. And this is a recommendation letter for the D-rank advancement exam. You’ll be able to take the next exam immediately without waiting.”

‘Oh? Thirty million won?’

Pressure or not, my eyes went straight to the envelope.

Four million won had come in yesterday, and today they were offering more than seven times that amount, plus the qualification I had been aiming for.

The sofa that had felt cramped only moments ago suddenly became comfortable.

“Thank you. I’ll gladly accept them.”

I quickly took the envelope and slipped it into my clothes, making the Director laugh aloud.

“And this is not a proposal, but more of a warning in advance.”

The Director clasped his hands together.

“Once you reach a higher rank, the Association will have a formal proposal for you. It’s still too early to discuss it now.”

‘A formal proposal. What are they going to ask me to do?’

I was half curious and half burdened, but I didn’t press him. Raising the planet came first right now.

“I’ll hear about it when the time comes.”

The Director smiled in satisfaction and nodded.

“Good. Until then, the Association will continue watching you.”

The Director handed me a business card with his direct number written on it.

“If you ever need anything, contact this number at any time. The Association’s doors are always open to you.”

“Yes. I’ll remember that.”

“I look forward to seeing what you accomplish, Hunter Lee Junhyeok.”

The Director came all the way to the door to see me off. It was not the kind of treatment the highest-ranking official of the branch would normally show an F-rank Hunter.

My back felt hot, and my steps grew quicker the entire way down the corridor.

* * *

The envelope inside my clothes felt heavy the entire way home.

The moment I opened the door and stepped inside, I brought up my status window.

[Current Points: 522P]

[Descent: Available]

There were plenty of places to spend points, but something else was more urgent right now.

‘Let’s go see Pantelun’s face.’

“Descent.”

Vwoom!

My heart thumped heavily. White light covered my vision.

When I opened my eyes, I was in front of the temple.

“Ruler!”

The tribe members rushed over and knelt. While I acknowledged their greetings, Pantelun stepped forward, his eyes shining brighter than usual.

“Ruler. There is something I wish to show you.”

“Show me.”

Pantelun gripped his spear and walked to the center of the training ground. He stood in front of a wooden post and pulled the spear back beside his waist.

Whoosh!

The thrusting spearhead spun as it drove forward.

Crack!

It hadn’t merely pierced the log. The area around the hole had been ground away entirely. The watching warriors raised their spears and cheered.

“I tried adding rotation to the thrust. When I increased the twisting force, it went deeper, so I created this technique.”

‘He transferred the rotational principle of Spear Throwing to a thrust?’

It was a technique I had never taught him. He was already living up to the title of Pioneer.

“Let me try too.”

I took the spear and stood before the post. The moment I recalled Pantelun’s movement, the inherited trait responded.

Rather than copying it with my head, the moment I twisted my wrist, rotation naturally flowed into the spearhead.

Crack!

A hole appeared in the post. It wasn’t as deep as Pantelun’s, but it was unmistakably a rotational thrust.

“You succeeded on your first attempt.”

Pantelun’s eyes widened.

‘So this is the power of Inheritance.’

It felt as though the path he pioneered was engraved directly into my body. Rather than learning it, it was more accurate to say we were creating it together.

“When I spar with you, Ruler, I feel as though my spearmanship improves faster. Next, I would like to try adding rotation to my throws as well.”

“That’s a good idea. Show me first when you complete it.”

Pantelun nodded excitedly.

We exchanged a few more moves.

Then.

Graaaaaah!

A roar erupted from the direction of the orc camp.

I turned my head. Dark red energy was surging from the middle of the camp.

“Pantelun!”

“Yes!”

We both ran at the same time.

When we reached the camp, the orcs were scattering in every direction, while the two juvenile orcs were being carried away by human women.

At the center stood the leader orc who had carried the white flag during the negotiations, transformed into something completely different.

Dark red energy wrapped around its swollen body, and there was no reason left in its rolled-back eyes.

Ding!

[Orc Awakened Born!]

Your investment in Induced Awakening has borne fruit.

Awakening Type: Berserker

Abilities: Explosive Increase in Physical Ability / Pain Negation / Enhanced Combat Endurance

‘It finally happened!’

But there was no time to celebrate.

Ding!

[Warning: Awakening Rampage]

The power of Awakening has forcibly activated the innate skill ‘Berserk.’

The individual has lost its sense of self and entered a rampaging state.

Stabilization Condition: Physically subdue the rampaging individual and force it into complete submission

Failure: Rampage continues / indiscriminate attacks on nearby individuals

‘Subdue it?’

BOOM!

While I was reading the message, the rampaging orc smashed one of the huts. The wooden pillar went flying whole.

Pantelun stepped forward with his spear and blocked the way, and the orc’s gaze locked onto him.

‘No.’

If two Awakened fought head-on, it would only end when one of them died, and I couldn’t afford to lose the first Awakened of another race. Just as the system said, our only choice was to subdue it and force it to submit.

“Pantelun! Don’t kill it! Just knock away its weapon! I’ll finish it!”

I gripped my spear and charged straight forward.

Graaaaaah!

The rampaging orc charged to meet me, swinging a fist that tore through the air. Even a glancing blow would have enough force to break bones.

I twisted aside and activated Vital Point Detection. Red points appeared behind its knee and above its ankle.

Its arm immediately swung back toward my side.

I rolled across the ground, and the place where I had been standing moments earlier caved in.

‘One hit and I’m done. I know exactly where to aim.’

I raised the spearpoint as though I were going to thrust, then flipped the spear at the last moment.

Smack!

The shaft struck the back of its knee. Just enough force to buckle the knee without breaking the bone.

Grrgh!

The creature staggered, but didn’t stop. Its body, unable to feel pain, forcibly regained its balance.

Pantelun slipped into the opening.

Whoosh!

His rotational thrust grazed the back of the hand holding the club and knocked the weapon away. It was a strike that perfectly obeyed my order not to kill.

“Now!”

I threw myself onto its back, hooked the spear shaft in front of its neck, and pulled with both arms.

Grrrrgh!

Every time it struggled, it felt like both my arms were going to be torn from their sockets.

‘Hold on. I have to hold on.’

Pantelun kicked out the creature’s good leg and forced it to its knees, but the resistance didn’t stop.

Now all that remained was to carve into its instincts who stood above it.

Still pulling on the shaft, I poured all my will into the shout beside its ear.

“You are one of my tribe! Come to your senses!”

Flash!

The Ruler’s aura surged from deep inside my chest and collided head-on with the creature’s dark red energy.

Its thrashing gradually weakened, and the tension in its neck loosened.

Ding!

[Subjugation Successful]

The rampaging individual has submitted to the Ruler.

‘Berserk’ will be deactivated.

Beginning Awakening stabilization.

The dark red energy subsided, and its swollen body returned to its original size.

I released the spear shaft and stepped back. The creature collapsed forward, then lifted its head a moment later. Reason had returned to its once-rolled-back eyes.

Grrrr.

It placed a fist over its chest and pressed its forehead to the ground. It was the deepest orc oath I had ever seen.

“Welcome back.”

I patted its shoulder.

“Are you unharmed?”

Pantelun rushed over and immediately began checking my body. His face was stiff with worry.

“I’m fine. It ended easily because you knocked its weapon away.”

Uoooooh!

The tribe members who had been hiding returned and erupted in cheers. The orcs also cautiously approached and surrounded their newly Awakened kin.

Ding!

[Achievement Accomplished!]

★ First Awakened of Another Race ★

The planet’s first Awakened of another race has been born.

Reward: +150P

Current Points: 672P

‘Got an achievement out of it too.’

But the window didn’t end there.

Ding!

[Special Authority Unlocked]

▸ [Ruler of Ten Thousand Races]

― The traits of Awakened individuals from other races can also be inherited by the Ruler.

― Inheritable Trait Detected: [Unstoppable Berserker]

― Effect: Physical abilities rise the longer combat continues / Increased pain resistance

I doubted my eyes.

Didn’t that mean Inheritance wasn’t limited to Pantelun, and every time an Awakened of another race was born, I could obtain their traits too?

‘A Ruler who grows stronger every time an Awakened is born.’

I laughed.

‘Inheritance.’

When I activated the authority, a dark red strand of light flowed from the orc Awakened’s body and seeped into my chest.

Vwoom!

The muscles throughout my body tightened sharply and then relaxed, and the berserker’s sense of enduring pain without tiring was engraved into my bones. When I clenched my fist, I felt certain my strength could continue without end.

[Trait Inheritance Complete]

[Unstoppable Berserker] acquired.

‘Pantelun’s spearmanship and the orc’s endurance.’

With this combination, not only the D-rank exam, but even ranks beyond that seemed worth aiming for.

I was smiling as I looked down at the prostrated orc Awakened.

Then.

Ding!

[Bestow Name]

The second Awakened awaits a name.

A name defines existence.

Bestowing a name will form a bond of souls and awaken latent talent.

There Is Primitive Humanity Inside My Body

Author |

Webjung

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