34-23

Chapter 23 

The leader of the Ja-Ae Cult, Lee Jinwoo. 

He was preparing to face the looming threat. 

But there was an unforeseen variable he hadn’t predicted... 

A trait he’d gained after corrupting a woman whose name he no longer even remembered. 

Through [Prediction], he knew the Association’s strongest would come to fight him. 

But predictions are never perfect. 

Reality is full of variables, and it’s impossible to control them all. 

So, he was suddenly dragged by Fist King, who stormed the top floor of the Ja-Ae Cult, into another dimension. 

Now, in a barren field, Lee Jinwoo and Fist King stood face to face. 

No, it wasn’t just the two of them... 

‘From rank 2 and down, there’s a variety here.’ 

“That’s the real body, right?” 

Unofficial Rank 7, Iron Woman. 

“The Association’s subspace cube brings the real body, even if you use it on a clone... tch tch.” 

Rank 4, Ice Master. 

“....” 

Rank 2, Ninja. 

“Sigh... What is this? Forcing me to waste my precious time...” 

He could feel his link to his pre-made clones had been severed. 

Probably, being dragged into this unknown world broke the connection. 

‘At least I learned something new.’ 

If you go to another world, your clones in the original world lose connection. 

‘Well, anyway...’ 

“So you all came to catch me? I’m honored.” 

“Hmph, I alone am enough for the likes of you!” 

Rank 6, Fist King. 

“Quiet, Fist King.” 

Rank 9, Scouter. 

“The opponent has at least a thousand confirmed traits. He may have even more. He’s a monster.” 

“Hmph, I knew that already!” 

“That’s why I told you so many times we need to cooperate.” 

“....” 

From the conversation, it was clear they could see my status window. 

Scouter didn’t seem surprised, so he must have known in advance. 

“To know that and still only bring this many... That’s impressive in its own way.” 

“Weaklings are just a hindrance.” 

‘Weaklings are just a hindrance...’ That stung a bit. 

“Fine. Let’s see how strong you are.” 

Ice spears formed in the sky, targeting the Association’s ranking group. 

He didn’t care about accuracy. With so many spears, someone would get hit. 

“I knew it, but that’s an unpleasant power.” 

Then, ice spears formed on the other side as well. The power I used was Ice Master’s Ice Spear. 

One of my traits, [Mimicry], gave me that power. 

Of course, with just that, I couldn’t fully copy Ice Master’s abilities, but my body had grown strong with thousands of traits. 

‘I’m clearly stronger than Ice Master.’ 

The downside of [Mimicry] was that it only worked on those weaker than me. 

Crash! 

The ice spears collided and shattered. 

Ice Master managed to intercept them all. 

He looked fine, so I could probably use more power. 

“How about that? Even the weak can be useful with this power, can’t they?” 

“What... That’s my technique...” 

“You’re weak compared to me.” 

At the same time, a magic circle formed under Ice Master’s feet. 

His feet started to freeze. 

At that moment, Fist King charged at me. 

“Lee Jinwoo!!!” 

His stance showed it was his signature move, the “Straight Punch.” 

Supposedly strong enough to shatter a mountain. 

Maybe that’s exaggerated, but a man who reached rank 6 with just his fists couldn’t be underestimated. 

“If you charge in like that, who’s going to let you land a hit?” 

I dodged with simple movement. 

I was a bit surprised that [Mimicry] didn’t work on Fist King. 

‘So I can’t copy that punch.’ 

A man who fights with nothing but his fists, no technique or tricks. 

You could say his whole life is in those fists. 

“Tch, I guess I still can’t handle one person’s life...” 

“What nonsense!!” 

Whoosh  

Fist King’s punch grazed right past my chin. 

The wind pressure alone would have ripped the flesh off an ordinary person. 

‘One hit would probably be fatal.’ 

But as long as I don’t get hit, it’s fine. 

“Fist King, you’re too dangerous.” 

Buzz  

A golden aura formed around Fist King. 

Trait: [Expulsion] 

He expels opponents from his territory. This trait comes from the sorrow of someone who wanted to drive out a hated member of their group but couldn’t. 

I don’t know the details, but that seemed about right. 

It only expels, causing no harm, so it’s not that threatening... 

‘He won’t be able to come back here for a while.’ 

“Hey!! Wait...!!” 

“No way..! This is a space where no one can leave for a whole day...!” 

Stronger than an artifact made by the World Government? 

‘If that’s the case, maybe it’s impossible to bind him with a sealing device...’ 

“...Looks like we need to go with plan B. Ninja... please.” 

“....” 

Swoosh  

Ninja’s figure vanished in an instant. 

‘She’ll appear…’ 

Well, obviously, she’ll come out near me. 

‘Behind!’ 

I quickly sprayed the area. 

Sssss  

“?!” 

Ninja hurriedly dodged. 

I guess my reaction was a bit slow. 

I had a feeling she was a woman, so I tried spraying her... 

Seeing her dodge like that, she must be a woman. 

A man wouldn’t have dodged like that. 

“You...” 

  You’re a woman, aren’t you? 

Flinch  

Ninja felt an indescribable terror in that moment. 

No wonder a monstrous man realizing you’re a woman and looking at you with a chilling smile is terrifying for anyone. 

“Hey! What are you all doing?!” 

Iron Woman her trait was said to be similar to the hardening trait of the Southeast Asian prostitute. 

Her body was like rebar, hence the nickname. 

But that didn’t mean she was lacking in performance. 

‘Actually, she’s the most athletic of the group.’ 

She supposedly toyed with opponents with animal-like movements... 

Whoosh  

“Why can’t I hit you?!” 

‘But in the end, she’s just an animal.’ 

Thud! 

With one kick, Iron Woman was sent flying. 

Even I was surprised she flew so far from a kick I didn’t even put effort into. 

“Anyone else?” 

“....” 

‘Can’t we win…?’ 

Today, we gathered to capture Lee Jinwoo, but no one managed a decent attack. 

‘He’s toying with us…!’ 

Whoosh  

“Huh?” 

A little blood trickled from my cheek. It had been a while since I’d been injured. 

Looks like Ninja’s doing. 

“…You want to play tag?” 

“....” 

I aimed my spray at Ninja. 

“If you get caught… you know what happens?” 

After Ninja and Lee Jinwoo started fighting, 

We couldn’t follow their battle with our eyes. 

We could only infer their fight from traces. 

Where Ninja passed, afterimages remained; where Lee Jinwoo passed, powder scattered. 

‘We can’t interfere at all.’ 

The remaining rankers felt despair. 

‘If Ninja’s this strong, what about Sword Saint…’ 

‘I want to help, but I can’t…’ 

‘Damn it… what’s going to stop Lee Jinwoo…’ 

The only good news was that while Ninja hadn’t been hit once, Lee Jinwoo was accumulating more and more wounds. 

“Haha! So this is what it’s like! I want you even more now!” 

“....” 

Ninja said nothing. Only Lee Jinwoo’s voice could be heard. 

“If you become mine, I’ll force that quiet mouth open with my cock!” 

Ninja ignored even the humiliating sexual harassment. 

‘…Does Lee Jinwoo swing both ways?’ 

There were no women here. 

Because, to counter Lee Jinwoo’s power, they deliberately didn’t bring any female rankers. 

Losing a ranker to him would have been a huge loss for the Association. 

They were lucky Sword Saint couldn’t join because she’d been summoned by the World Government. 

‘But… we’re outmatched…’ 

“…This is beyond us. We should just focus on getting out of here.” 

“…That might be best.” 

Suddenly  

“Where do you think you’re going?” 

“…When did he get there?!” 

Iron Woman tried to kick, but Lee Jinwoo dodged easily. 

“Let’s do this: leave her behind, and the rest of you can go safely.” 

“What nonsense..! You think we’d do that?” 

‘While Lee Jinwoo’s distracted by Ninja, do something…!’ 

Buzz  

The same freezing spell Lee Jinwoo used on Ice Master. 

A curse that freezes the target ‘Frostbite.’ 

Of course, the weaker Ice Master’s power couldn’t affect Lee Jinwoo. 

But maybe Ice Master’s will reached the heavens? Lee Jinwoo’s speed slowed a bit… 

Slash. 

Ninja cut off Lee Jinwoo’s right hand. 

“.......” 

Lee Jinwoo quietly looked at what used to be his right hand. 

The rankers were even more horrified because he didn’t scream, cry, or get angry. 

“Ha so this is how dumb rankers are…” 

Ripple  

‘Ahh…’ 

Scouter should have realized when he called Lee Jinwoo a monster. 

‘That’s not a human, but a monster…’ 

His right hand regenerated instantly. 

Even all the wounds Ninja had inflicted healed. 

“…You didn’t come here thinking you’d go home in one piece, did you?” 

  Time for a beating. 

The one-sided thrashing began.