# Talented Max Level Player Episode 32

It wasn’t just Lycanthropes.

‘Where is it?’

He felt it.

‘Behind!’

A presence emitting a more ferocious killing intent than the Lycanthrope before his eyes. A scream reached Kim Hyukjin’s ears.

“Kyaaaah!”

One of the three women who had fallen, including Han Myung-hee, had her arm torn off by the powerful jaws of the Lycanthrope.

Splat!

Hot blood spurted from where the arm had been torn off.

Kim Hyukjin did not focus too much on this. No, he couldn’t afford to. If he gave the Lycanthrope even a moment’s distraction, the ‘something’ whose identity was still unknown would plunge a dagger into his back.

‘Now. I catch it.’

It seems to believe it’s perfectly concealed. In fact, it’s invisible to the naked eye. Not eyes as in vision, but the eyes (感覺眼) of ultra-sensory perception—the evolution of sensing that sketches the situation in one’s mind. Those eyes caught the creature’s location. Level 25 or not, this was Kim Hyukjin.

[Would you like to change your title from ‘Exceptional Player’ to ‘The First Arch Nemesis’?]

Exceptional Player provides significant advantages in monster hunting. Increased damage. And increased movement speed. Each option was like a gem. But right now, at this moment, ‘The First Arch Nemesis’ was necessary.

[The title ‘The First Arch Nemesis’ has been applied.]

The super-sensory eyes (感覺眼) located ‘it’. Catching it with mere sight was meaningless. Ultimately, he had to physically catch its movements.

[Special Skill. Transposition (移形換位) activated.]

Transposition. A renowned technique of Swordmasters. A method of rapid movement with no preparatory actions, reaching the targeted destination instantly. A technique that once gloriously ennobled swordmasters, now reincarnated by Kim Hyukjin.

In an instant, the world felt distant. The feeling of being sucked somewhere, as if by a vacuum cleaner, the sensation of one’s body shrinking under a powerful force. But Kim Hyukjin remained unfazed. This sensation, as though his body naturally knew it all along, reacted instinctively.

‘Right here.’

A transcendent method atop swift movement techniques. Using movement speeds unthinkable for level 25, Kim Hyukjin quickly switched his title.

[The title ‘Exceptional Player’ has been applied.]

[Additional Damage +20%]

[Movement Speed +10%]

The moment he moved using Transposition, he switched his title effect with a keen combat sense. He accomplished it in the brief moment that lasted less than a second—something unimaginable for level 25.

Furthermore,

[Skill. ‘Excellent Strike’ activated.]

Not just a regular attack, but a title skill. ‘Excellent Strike’ was used, and Kim Hyukjin swung his iron sword. His attack, starting with Transposition and ending with ‘Excellent Strike’, was indeed rapid.

Thwack!

He had stabbed something.

He couldn’t see it properly. He hadn’t wholly activated his super-sensory eyes. All he saw was,

──────

Six-Tailed Fox (六尾狐) LV. 27

──────

just the name.

‘Six-Tailed Fox?’

A six-tailed ‘monster fox’. It excels in stealth and surprise attacks and can cast a bit of ‘magic.’

‘The Six-Tailed Fox is showing up already?’

Kim Hyukjin was already aware of the Six-Tailed Fox and knew how to hunt it. The issue was that it wasn’t time for the Six-Tailed Fox to appear. The ‘monster fox’ belonged to the ‘phantom’ class, which includes monsters slightly more difficult to handle than general monsters of the same level.

‘It has already fled.’

All that remained was the Lycanthrope.

* * *

A woman’s arm was torn off. A fountain of blood erupted. Kang Sunhwa didn’t close her eyes.

‘If it were my brother.’

To Kang Sunhwa, Kim Hyukjin was not just ‘an older brother she knew.’ Not a romantic interest or love interest, but someone closer to an ‘object of reverence.’ What would her brother have done?

“Taunt!”

[Skill. Taunt used.]

Above the head of the Lycanthrope, an ‘!!!’ appeared.

The Lycanthrope raised its head towards the sky and howled.

Awoooooo-!

[Howling is affecting your body.]

She had been affected by this howling before. Back then, Kang Sunhwa hid behind a car, unable to do anything as her legs and body shook. Status ailment. She had been paralyzed.

‘This time will be different!’

Kang Sunhwa opened her eyes fully.

[Status ailment has no effect.]

In the tutorial field, the Lycanthrope from Jongno had been terror itself, but not now. If the relationship with that Lycanthrope was predator and prey,

‘Now, I’ll be the one to hunt you!’

Now the relationship had changed to hunter and hunted. The system, the levels, the growth imparted by these things all strengthened and trained Kang Sunhwa.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

Sounding like a dog barking, the Lycanthrope charged towards her. Sharp claws were visible.

Swhoosh-!

Alongside the sound that seemed to rip through the air, sharp claws aimed for Kang Sunhwa’s nape.

Kang Sunhwa wasn’t afraid. She didn’t step back even by a single step. Instead, she moved half a step forward. She balanced her body, tightened her toes, powerfully tensed her abdomen, and lowered her center of gravity.

[Skill. Platinum Shield activated.]

As she used the skill, she snapped up the wrist of the Lycanthrope with a smack!

‘Ugh…!’

Her wrist felt numb. She had greatly softened the impact with ‘Platinum Shield,’ but the strength of the Lycanthrope was beyond imagination.

‘I blocked it.’

Still, much had changed since the past. Kang Sunhwa understood her role and what she had to do.

‘I won’t let go!’

Tightening her grip, she didn’t let go of the Lycanthrope’s wrist. Kang Sunhwa’s small hand, her slender wrist, firmly held onto the seemingly stronger wrist of the Lycanthrope.

Grrrumble!

The Lycanthrope opened its mouth wide. A red mouth. Large teeth were exposed, seemingly ready to devour Kang Sunhwa at any moment with fierce energy.

Meanwhile, Kim Hyukjin quickly approached.

“Keep barking. You damn mutt.”

Schluck!

He thrust his ‘iron sword’ deep into the wide-open mouth, piercing through the Lycanthrope’s palate to the back of its head. Blood gushed from the Lycanthrope’s snout, drenching Kim Hyukjin in blood.

In that state, Kang Sunhwa punched out.

Bang!

There was a sound. Kang Sunhwa’s small fist planted squarely into the belly of the Lycanthrope.

[You have hunted ‘Lycanthrope’.]

[Experience points have been acquired.]

[+30 COINS]

The predator of the tutorial field, the hidden piece and king of wolves, the Lycanthrope, was no longer a match for Kim Hyukjin and Kang Sunhwa.

Kim Hyukjin wiped the sweat from his brow.

‘Easier than I thought.’

It was much easier than he thought. If it weren’t for the unexpected presence of ‘Six-Tailed Fox’, he might have been able to take it down without any damage. One person had died due to the Lycanthrope, her arm torn away.

‘May she rest in peace.’

The remaining two were shivering.

“Don’t, don’t, don’t come closer…!”

“Monster…!”

The two were out of their minds. Kim Hyukjin didn’t think to blame them. Their reaction was normal. A 2-meter tall wolf monster had appeared, and an even more monstrous being had stabbed it to death in front of them.

Kim Hyukjin didn’t particularly despise or hate them. After all, they had technically saved their lives, but expecting such gratitude from them was too much. They were not of sound mind, after all.

“…”

In the past, they would have been dead. But they survived.

‘They say it’s better to roll in dog poo and survive.’

Perhaps they will live with a great trauma, trembling in fear, but it’s still better than death. From now on, they have to live their lives on their own terms.

But there was something that puzzled him.

‘Six-Tailed Fox, huh…’

Back then, according to the government’s announcement, they succeeded in eliminating the ‘Lycanthrope’, the culprit of the incident. It was widely publicized, earning the accolades of the people.

‘Was there no Six-Tailed Fox back then?’

This was a pure hunch from Kim Hyukjin,

‘No. There was one then.’

There was no evidence. It just felt like it.

‘If it was there back then… they probably missed it.’

‘Monster foxes’ are creatures that are very tricky to catch with modern scientific technologies, especially a fox-type monster skilled in escape, like a ‘Six-Tailed Fox.’

Following the ‘Lycanthrope’ incident on Inwang Mountain, a sensational incident shook the world.

‘Serial killings around Inwang Mountain.’

The image formed in his mind.

‘The victims were found with their stomachs split open, and all internal organs missing.’

All these are characteristics of the ‘Six-Tailed Fox’. A monstrous creature that covets human organs. It was most certainly the case, but the government announced it as the heinous work of a twisted serial killer. They even caught someone for it.

A conspiracy theory surfaced in Kim Hyukjin’s mind. The accused had protested their innocence until they ultimately took their own life.

Kim Hyukjin was certain.

‘The government’s announcement at that time must have been false.’

Due to the heinous nature of the crimes, someone had to be blamed, and without a culprit, that blame would have been directed at the government or the police.

‘I will catch the Six-Tailed Fox.’

It was wounded. It couldn’t have run far. He decided to hunt the Six-Tailed Fox. The ‘Six-Tailed Fox’ was not originally part of his plan. However, if there was a ‘Six-Tailed Fox’, his plan would become more ‘complete.’

‘With some luck… I might obtain a [Fox Tail].’

Suddenly, something caught Kim Hyukjin’s super-sensory eyes. Although faint, he also heard a scream. Downhill. Kim Hyukjin moved first, followed by Kang Sunhwa. Though Kim Hyukjin had not explained, Kang Sunhwa naturally followed him. Despite only being 14 years old, her instincts and sense were exceptional.

Kim Hyukjin didn’t run too fast.

‘Pacing my breathing.’

If he ran too exhaustingly, he wouldn’t be able to hunt it. Instead, he might become the prey. One must not rush, or else everything can go awry.

‘The woman who escaped earlier.’

The wounded Six-Tailed Fox would be targeting her. Looking back, the escape route of the Six-Tailed Fox had been in that direction. It would attempt to heal itself by devouring human organs. Far below, the distant screams were likely hers.

A deadly aura was felt again. Just like before, the killing intent. Once caught by the super-sensory eyes, it was even more palpable.

‘The creature is incredibly gluttonous.’

Moreover, wounded, its gluttony would only explode. When it’s feeding, nothing else can enter its vision. That’s why he had used the innards of young calves to trap and hunt the Six-Tailed Fox.

‘There it is.’

He could see the Six-Tailed Fox. Its fluttering six tails. Underneath them, a person lay squashed. A cry for help reached him.

‘Am I too late?’

No. It wasn’t too late yet. Then, something new appeared in his super-sensory eyes. It was hard to consider this a ‘variable.’

‘I knew about it…’

Kim Hyukjin had anticipated this all along.