Chapter 2023 – 2023. Newtype
I deflected the sword energy flying towards me with my Hwaryeon Bido. This sword energy was identical in form and power to the one I had just unleashed.
I wasn’t surprised or flustered. I recognized it as the ability of Feedback.
Feedback’s ability, simply put, is the power to return things. It’s different from reflection. I hadn’t even thrown the sword energy at Feedback, yet it was fed back and came flying at me.
“Kkyaaaaaaaah! Doctor!! Doctor!!!”
Ma Young-jae, the Gangwon Province governor who had lost both legs, screamed. Feedback shook his head at the sight.
“Governor, please be quiet. Didn’t I come running like this? If you go to the hospital now, your identity will be exposed. Can’t your legs be reattached later? Haha.”
Feedback laughed cheerfully. A faded, jewel-like stone fell out of Ma Young-jae’s pocket. It couldn’t be a real stone he was carrying around, so it must be an item. An item that summoned Feedback to this place.
“However, I’m not sure how the situation is unfolding. Why would the youngest of the Cheonil Group target the Gangwon Province governor? This is blatant terrorism. Do you think you can challenge the public authority of the Republic of Korea and get away with it?”
“Are you blind? That monster is the Gangwon Province governor? Does that really look human to you?”
Feedback glanced at Ma Young-jae. Then he said shamelessly,
“Don’t make fun of people’s appearances! He may be ugly, but he’s human!”
“Don’t try to argue about that. No matter how you look at it, he’s a different species. Ah, Feedback, are you the same species as that thing?”
“No, I’m human!”
Feedback stated firmly. I wasn’t stupid enough to believe that so easily. I didn’t care whether it was true or not.
I put a drug cigarette in my mouth and took a deep drag. Feeling my concentration rise, I charged towards Feedback.
The Hwaryeon Bido drew a red trajectory. My target was Feedback’s neck. Kill him when I can.
Clang!
A blade identical to the Hwaryeon Bido appeared in mid-air and deflected my attack.
‘He can replicate not only sword energy but also the blade of the Hwaryeon Bido. The speed and power with which I wield it, even the force within it, are all the same. The only difference is the direction. He can control the direction as he pleases.’
Before the operation began, broker Kang Eun-sook had briefed me on Feedback. Feedback was the guardian closest to Ma Young-jae. Feedback could feed back any attack within a 10-meter radius of himself. It didn’t matter if it was a close-range or long-range attack.
The condition for Feedback was recognition. He could only return an attack if he recognized it. In other words, I just had to launch an attack that he couldn’t recognize.
‘It’s not as easy as it sounds.’
Feedback was a top-tier guardian active in Gangwon Province. Having worked as a guardian for over 10 years, his combat power was on a different level from the average person.
I approached Feedback without swinging my sword. Since I hadn’t attacked, Feedback couldn’t feed back an attack. I approached the guy who was just standing there blankly.
I didn’t attack right away. If I attacked while he was clearly watching, he would just use his ability and attack me back.
“Haha. It seems I’ve been underestimated. People underestimate and ignore my strength because I work in Gangwon Province, not Seoul. I’m not in Gangwon Province because I’m too weak to go to Seoul. I’ll prove that to you.”
Feedback’s right fist flew towards me. It was a feint. The real attack was a kick. I jumped to the side and dodged his kick. Reflexively, my fist went forward. He activated his ability. A fist identical to mine fell from above my head.
‘Even my fist is a target of his ability.’
It was a very annoying ability. I caught the fist with my palm and dropped lightning. Feedback didn’t dodge the lightning and took the hit. He was fine even after being struck by lightning. The only damage was the tips of his hair being singed.
‘He recognized the lightning. He protected his body with force before it hit. Even so, there’s too little damage. Is the clothing he’s wearing an item?’
Feedback grinned.
“I’ll return it.”
Lightning erupted from his body and surged towards me. I swung my sword to deflect the lightning, and as if waiting for it, a sword appeared in mid-air and attacked me.
If I attacked, my attack would become the enemy’s attack and fly towards me, and if I deflected that attack, another attack would fly towards me. It felt like I was falling deeper and deeper into a quagmire. It was a very shitty way to fight.
The strategy to defeat Feedback was to use attacks he couldn’t recognize? It was easier said than done. His senses were already honed to a sharp edge.
“Ah, fuck. This is so annoying.”
Suddenly, I felt a surge of irritation. Did I have to fight him while using my brain? I wasn’t Jung Soo-yeon. Jung Soo-yeon would fight using her brain to make the most of her abilities. Since she had many abilities, fighting recklessly was very inefficient.
But what about me?
Since when had I ever fought using my brain?
“Haha. It’s also an option to retreat now. You and the Cheonil Group will have to pay the price later, though. You don’t think the Korean government will just stand by after the Gangwon Province governor was attacked, do you?”
It was true that even the Cheonil Group couldn’t cover this up. It was practically a direct challenge to the national public authority.
“When did I say I was going to run away?”
“Are you saying you’re going to die now? Hmm. I respect your choice!”
Feedback was still smiling. He didn’t doubt his victory even a little. I was annoyed, so I immediately took action.
I moved forward without breaking the chain of attacks. A blade of the Hwaryeon Bido appeared in mid-air and fell on my shoulder. I swung my sword to deflect it. This time, a blade that appeared from the side aimed for my flank. I tried to dodge, but I was a little late. I ignored it and moved forward.
“Is this some kind of self-abandonment? Charging in with your life on the line… More than half of the guys I’ve faced have made that choice. And they all died.”
Click.
Blades popped out of Feedback’s sleeves and shot towards me. The distance was too close to dodge. I swung my sword to deflect them. Because he recognized that as an attack, blades appeared in mid-air and fell on me. Blood spurted from my left shoulder. I ignored it. The distance was close now anyway.
The smile disappeared from Feedback’s firm face. The serious guy threw or swung daggers hidden all over his body. I didn’t counter those. I dodged if I could, and if I couldn’t, I protected only my vital points. Even with daggers piercing my arms, legs, and torso, I stubbornly moved forward.
“This crazy bastard…”
Feedback’s composure disappeared, and I could see the fear he was feeling.
He stepped back. I approached him faster. For every step he retreated, I advanced two steps.
The distance closed.
Within striking distance.
I swung my sword without hesitation. His ability activated. My attack appeared in mid-air and blocked my attack.
“You’re already bleeding a lot! If you just hold out, I’ll win!”
“If I can hold out, that is.”
I continued my attacks.
I deliberately didn’t use the Thunder Sky Style. An attack that was too powerful would be more dangerous when it was returned.
Attack after attack collided. Blood splattered, my vision blurred, and an opening appeared in his defenses. Without hesitation, I thrust my sword into that opening.
“Kkyaaaaaaah!”
The guy who had been cut in the side screamed and thrust a dagger at my neck. I blocked the dagger with my shoulder and stabbed the Hwaryeon Bido into his body.
Stab, stab, stab!
Stab, stab, stab!
He and I swung our swords and daggers like madmen, filled with hatred. At some point, Feedback only used his ability defensively.
Feedback stabbed my body with daggers to survive, and I just stabbed him with my sword to kill him.
Blood splattered.
He used his ability to defend only his vital points. On the other hand, I attacked everything, vital points or not. I was at a disadvantage because of what I had suffered before closing the distance.
Thud.
I was the first to fall. I had lost too much blood.
“Ha, haha. I was a little scared there. You’re the first guy like you. More of a monster than a monster… A crazy bastard is a crazy bastard for a reason.”
The guy who had regained his composure laughed. As if to make sure, he stabbed a dagger into my heart.
[Death Resistance has been activated. You will not die for the next 15 seconds.]
“Well done, Feedback! Now call 119! My legs! My legs are cut off!”
“Governor, please calm down. Aren’t there still more enemies? Besides, you don’t seem to be in that much danger. But were you really not human?”
“I, I’ll explain later.”
“Well, you don’t have to explain. What’s important between us is sincerity, isn’t it? I just got a new girlfriend, and I need some money. She likes buildings…”
“I get it, so call 119! No, bring a recovery-type ability user!”
“Hmm. They’ll be here soon. It’ll take 15 minutes, but that’s fast.”
[Using Full Recovery.]
As I silently got up, Feedback’s eyes widened as much as they could when he belatedly realized. It was understandable since the guy who had finished the confirmation kill had suddenly gotten up without a single wound.
Thunder Sky Style (雷天流) Thunder Flash (雷光).
The sword became a flash of light and severed Feedback’s thick neck.
Swoosh!
His head fell to the ground.
“This is the correct way to use Full Recovery.”
I checked my body, which was in top condition, and looked at Ma Young-jae, who was lying on the ground. The guy lying on the floor looked up at me and trembled.
“Let’s go to a better place.”
I grabbed Ma Young-jae by the scruff of his neck and left the mansion. The other guys? They’ll get out on their own. Feedback, who was the most dangerous, was dead by my hand, so escaping would be easy.
‘I have to kill Noh Kyung-hak too… I don’t have time. Let’s aim for the next opportunity.’
I arrived at the designated safe house. Kang Eun-sook was waiting there. Kang Eun-sook’s eyes widened as if she was surprised to see me.
“I’m surprised you’re the first one here.”
“I brought a gift too.”
“That’s a gift I like.”
A cold smile appeared on Kang Eun-sook’s face as she saw the legless Ma Young-jae.
