Legacy of the Crow — Part 2
It was too late.
The Sun Crow statue crumbled completely.
Mjolnir, crackling with thunder, flew back into my hand.
But I wasn’t done yet.
I hurled Mjolnir once more and began walking toward the shattered statue.
“What are you doing?! Are you insane? Stop it right now!”
Seong Huiyeong was hopping mad, practically screaming at me.
I ignored her and retrieved Mjolnir again.
Now, the distance between me and the statue was zero.
No need to throw it anymore—I channeled compressed mana into the hammer and swung it directly.
KWA-RA-RANG! KWAANG! KWAANG!
Each strike released thunderbolts, shattering the Sun Crow statue further in real time.
By now, it had turned into nothing more than a hulking, deformed monstrosity.
At this point, guards flooded out of the security room.
“Freeze!”
“Stop it! Stop right now!”
“Kill that terrorist bastard!”
The guards aimed their guns at me, but none of them dared pull the trigger.
Over the past few days, I’d made myself familiar to them, and the VIP visitor badge dangling from my chest was clear proof of my status.
And honestly, who’d dare shoot a high-level superhuman wielding a hammer crackling with lightning?
What would they gain from provoking someone who could obliterate them with a single swing?
BANG! BANG! BANG!
With the [Destruction] trait activated, every strike turned the Sun Crow statue into scrap metal.
No, not even scrap metal—just fragments.
The once grand Sun Crow statue had been shattered into hundreds of shards.
“Haaa…”
Seong Huiyeong let out a long sigh.
Ignoring her exasperation, I sifted through the metallic debris.
Using the [Treasure Hunter] trait made it a trivial task to locate the hidden item.
“I found it.”
“What did you say? You found—oh my god!”
The Crow Chip.
Just as Seong Huiyeong had described it before—a magical chip clutched in the talons of a three-legged crow.
When I held it up to show her, her eyes widened to their limits.
Her gaze was a mixture of shock, disbelief, and joy all blended into one.
In a low voice, I addressed her.
“There’s no time.”
“What do you—oh, I get it now.”
I hadn’t acted today without careful preparation.
I’d already checked the schedules of the Geumo Group’s eldest and second eldest sons before smashing the statue.
Both were currently at their respective company offices.
No matter how fast they used flying cars to rush here, it would take them at least 10 minutes.
Those 10 minutes.
Those 10 minutes would determine everything for us.
Seong Huiyeong straightened herself immediately, urgency evident in her movements.
“Follow me! There’s a body modification facility in the training center on the second floor!”
As expected of a chaebol conglomerate. While most companies might have fitness centers, the Geumo Group apparently boasted body modification equipment.
We didn’t even wait for the elevator. Instead, we dashed up the emergency stairs.
On the way, Seong Huiyeong made rapid-fire phone calls.
“Yes, Secretary Kim, it’s me! Gather all of my security personnel immediately! Send them to the second-floor modification room, you know where that is, right?”
“Director Jeong! It’s me! Come to the second-floor modification room right now! Don’t ask why, just get here! Secretary Kim will brief you on the details!”
“Team Leader Lee! Bring your entire team to the modification room on the second floor! Notify the other teams, too! Yes, I mean it! Everyone, right now!”
She issued orders like a machine gun, one after another.
Her desperation was palpable as she practically kicked the door to the training facility open and stormed inside.
The receptionist at the counter blinked in shock.
“Uh… young lady?”
“The modification room is vacant, right?”
“Yes, it’s empty, but… what’s going on?”
“Activate it right now.”
Despite their confusion, the staff member quickly began operating the controls.
A large glass chamber in the corner of the room lit up.
It resembled the facilities I’d seen back at Geonwoobong Mountain, but this one was far more advanced and luxurious.
Seong Huiyeong walked over to the chamber and inserted the Crow Chip.
The monitor came alive, displaying complex mana circuits.
[Golden Crow Mutation Gene]
[Gemstone Magic Array Cybernetic Frame]
[Geumo Mana Circuit Design]
The secrets of the Geumo family unfolded one by one.
Seong Huiyeong began stripping off her clothes without hesitation.
“Young lady!”
“W-What are you doing?!”
The surrounding staff were utterly flustered, but she ignored them completely.
In no time, she stood bare, turning to face me with an unwavering gaze.
“Black Tiger Swordmaster. I leave everything to you.”
“Understood. Don’t worry and step inside. I’ll guard you until you come out.”
At that moment, Secretary Kim arrived, leading a group of security personnel in tow.
“Miss! We’re here—uh, what?!”
They froze in shock, their eyes trembling like there was an earthquake as they locked onto Seong Huiyeong.
Unbothered by their reaction, she stepped into the glass chamber.
The chamber turned semi-transparent as mana fluid began to fill it, sloshing around her form.
Secretary Kim glanced at the monitor and gasped.
“Geumo Mana Circuit Design!”
“You understand the situation, don’t you?”
“Yes! Yes, I do!”
“Secure the training facility. Evacuate everyone inside and lock it down completely. No one gets in, no matter who they are—not even the Chairman.”
“Understood! I’ll handle it!”
Within a minute, the training facility was cleared.
Employees who’d been training, guards, and other personnel quietly withdrew.
Of course, it was only the calm before the storm.
Even as they left, many were hurriedly making phone calls, either inside the facility or just outside.
If we’d detained them, it would have caused a bigger mess.
Better to let them leave and accept the risk of information leaks than deal with an accidental death.
I stood guard at the entrance to the training facility, gripping the Black Tiger Sword tightly.
Roughly 30 minutes.
This would be the most critical time for this job.
Ding!
After a long period of silence, the elevator chimed.
The number displayed above it was [2].
Soon, the doors slid open, and two men in their 40s stormed out, their faces filled with fury.
“Huiyeong! Where are you?!”
“You sneaky little brat, scheming behind our backs?”
“Get out of my way!”
The eldest brother charged in first.
His face was flushed red, as though he’d been drinking, and the mana waves emanating from him were suffocatingly heavy.
It felt like a massive giant was pressing down on my shoulders, forcing my knees to buckle.
“Ugh!”
That wasn’t just a feeling—it was reality.
Secretary Kim, who stood beside me, groaned and fell to his knees under the pressure.
The bodyguards who had followed him weren’t any better off.
Their faces turned pale, and their trembling hands dropped their guns.
Only those at level 4 or above could resist such overwhelming mana; anyone below level 3 couldn’t even manage a word.
“Hoo…”
I took a deep breath.
With my left hand, I gripped Mjolnir, and simultaneously activated Aegis.
[Giant’s Strength]
[Vajra Body]
[Undying]
[Mana Soul]
[Tiger King Sword Technique]
[Sigurd Cultivation Technique]
Filling my trait list with high-tier abilities drastically eased the oppressive pressure weighing down on me.
I stepped forward and blocked the eldest brother’s path, standing squarely in front of him.
Now face-to-face at close range, he furrowed his brows savagely.
“Oh? Blocking me, are you?”
“It would be wise to stop while I’m still being polite. Otherwise, I won’t be responsible for what happens next.”
“Ha! Just because you’ve been doing well lately, you think you can stand on equal footing with me? Listen here, Black Tiger Sword. I showed you respect last time, but now you’re pulling this? Do you even know who I am?”
“I do.”
I answered with absolute sincerity.
“You’re the CEO of Geumo Electronics—or rather, the soon-to-be former CEO.”
After all, there was no way Seong Huiyeong would let her competitors go unchecked.
The eldest brother bared his teeth in anger.
“How dare you!”
“What? Are you going to hit me?”
I leaned in slightly, holding both the Black Tiger Sword and Mjolnir in plain view.
The eldest brother flinched, instinctively stepping back.
He knew.
He knew very well that he couldn’t beat me.
He’d seen it himself just two days ago—me defeating a level 6 Master Warrior.
Sure, I hadn’t gone up against Cyborg or Flame Horse yet, but there was no way the eldest brother was stronger than the level 6 Master Warrior I had defeated.
If anything, in practical combat terms, he was likely weaker.
The Master Warrior might have been an ordinary level 6, but he was a seasoned veteran.
At that moment, the second brother stepped forward, trying to diffuse the situation.
“Why don’t you calm down?”
“Calm down? About what?”
“Black Tiger Sword, I understand that you’re an exceptional warrior. But even you wouldn’t stand a chance if my brother and I combined our strength. And soon, my brother-in-law and his friend will arrive, and they’ll join us as well. You should step aside while you still can. Whatever Seong Huiyeong promised you, we’ll make up for it—and then some.”
His tone was far more rational than the eldest brother’s.
The eldest, who had been scowling, seemed to be considering the compromise now as well.
“Tch, I hate to admit it, but he’s got a point. And you—do you even know what kind of woman Huiyeong is? That witch will suck you dry and throw you away when she’s done with you. Join us instead. We won’t just make up for your losses; I’ll even give you the position of Vice President at Geumo Security if you want it.”
Such a small offer.
Seong Huiyeong had offered me the President position the moment she saw me.
What good was a powerless Vice President title?
I swung Black Tiger Sword and Mjolnir simultaneously, pointing them at the brothers.
“No thanks. Switching sides in the middle of a job is the kind of thing only human trash would do. I intend to keep my word.”
“Tch!”
“Then I’ll just have to break through by force.”
Ding!
As if on cue, the elevator doors opened.
From within stepped two superhumans.
A towering, 3-meter-tall steel giant and a man whose body, save for his face, was engulfed in flames.
Cyborg and Flame Horse.
As soon as they exited, they locked eyes with me. The eldest and second brothers shouted in unison, as if rehearsed:
“Kill him!”
“Yes, sir!”
BOOM!
Cyborg stomped the ground, sending a thunderous tremor through the building.
The eldest and second brothers moved to either side, creating an opening for Cyborg to charge directly at me.
A full-power charge.
Equipped with SR-grade equipment and traits, it was a devastating rush.
Ordinarily, the correct move would be to dodge—to sidestep and stab the back of the charging enemy.
But I couldn’t do that.
Behind me stood the glass door leading to the modification room.
Breaking through that door and reaching Seong Huiyeong was their ultimate objective.
So, I raised my shield.
Eyes sharp, abdominal muscles tensed, and lips pressed tight, I switched my traits.
[Giant’s Strength]
[Vajra Body]
[Mana Shield]
[Close-Combat Mastery]
[Defense]
[Insight]
Cyborg slammed into Aegis.
KWAANG!
Thunder roared.
In that moment, it felt like lightning was splitting the world.
The sheer impact rattled my brain and shot through my spine.
It was a blow that should’ve sent me flying 10 meters.
But thanks to the synergy of my traits—particularly the automatic defenses from Close-Combat Mastery and the perfectly timed block enhanced by Insight—I managed to withstand the attack.
I was pushed back by just a single step.
Meanwhile, Cyborg staggered two steps backward from the recoil of his own force.
“Huh?”
“What the—?”
“What is this…”
Everyone was stunned.
Even the eldest brother, whose eyes had been gleaming with hostility.
Even the second brother, who’d been watching with his arms crossed.
Even Cyborg, who had charged with confidence.
Even Flame Horse, who had been ready to leap into the fray.
The bodyguards and security personnel standing around all wore similar expressions: wide eyes and slightly open mouths.
Now it was my turn.
I didn’t bother giving them time to prepare or react.
Without a word, I replaced my traits and swung Black Tiger Sword in a diagonal arc.
[Giant’s Strength]
[Mana Soul]
[Close-Combat Mastery]
[Tiger King Sword Technique]
[Slash]
[Severing Moon]
A single, decisive strike—completely disregarding any injuries I might sustain.
Light flashed.
A sharp blade aura cut through the air as though splitting the moon itself.
“Gah!”
The attack came while Cyborg was still unprepared to defend.
This wasn’t a strike from an ordinary level 5. It was a ferocious blow reminiscent of a level 6 master warrior.
Cyborg let out a long, agonized scream as his chest was slashed open.
His exterior—stronger than most magical equipment—had been torn apart, and my sword had reached all the way to his magical core before being withdrawn.
‘Tch!’
I clicked my tongue in frustration.
Even though it had been a critical hit, it hadn’t been enough to finish him off.
SR-grade was still SR-grade, after all.
While I retrieved the Black Tiger Sword, abandoning any lingering regret, searing flames lunged toward me.
“You bastard!”
Flame Horse.
His entire face had transformed into fire as he charged.
He moved faster than the wind, the heat palpable as he closed in. My Danger Sense Ring barely had time to trigger before he was right on top of me.
He even managed to slip past Aegis.
An ordinary superhuman would have been engulfed in flames and burned alive, meeting a gruesome end.
But I wasn’t ordinary, and I had my trump card ready.
No matter how fast a superhuman might be, or how they elementalized their entire body to move faster than sound, they couldn’t move faster than my preparation.
I swapped my traits.
[Vajra Body]
[Undying]
[Close-Combat Mastery]
[Magic Resistance]
[Fire Resistance]
[Black Flame]
The searing fire engulfed me.
This was Flame Horse’s ultimate ability—full-body flame transformation—a move that was both an invincible defense and a devastating offense.
But it had no effect on me.
I’d withstood the Sunfire and the Sunlight Demon’s radiance before. No matter how powerful the heat of his flame transformation was, it couldn’t overpower me.
On top of that, [Undying] meant I regenerated any burns the moment I received them.
Boom!
“Gah!”
I coated Mjolnir in Black Flame and struck back at the fire.
Frankly, Mjolnir alone would have been enough to deal a significant blow.
But I had wrapped it in Black Flame, one of the top-tier fire traits.
Predictably, Flame Horse screamed in agony and was sent flying.
When he reverted to his human form, his entire body was shaking, his flesh eaten away by the lingering black flames.
“You bastard!”
Cyborg roared and charged again.
This time, his approach wasn’t reckless.
His movements were calculated, conserving energy for a prolonged battle.
Vwoom!
A magic drill shot toward me.
I carefully deflected it with Aegis, but then his left shoulder opened up.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
A close-range spray of buckshot.
Again, I blocked it with Aegis, merging the shield with my Mana Barrier.
“Die!”
Somehow, Flame Horse had shaken off the black flames and charged again.
He fragmented his body, raining fire down upon me. From the rear, he launched fireballs, followed by a close-range flamethrower before retreating.
As soon as he fell back, Cyborg dashed forward, firing his magical drill from his right arm, his built-in shotgun, and a machine gun that emerged from his left arm.
It was relentless.
My mind felt overwhelmed.
Each individual attack was something I could block or evade, but the sheer volume of their combined assault was staggering.
Flawless coordination.
Their attacks were as synchronized as the gears of a well-oiled machine.
If not for Insight and my extensive combat experience, I would have fallen by now.
“Damn it! Just die already!”
“Son of a bitch! What kind of freak is this?!”
The eldest and second brothers joined the fray.
Even better for me.
Compared to Cyborg and Flame Horse, their combat abilities were significantly weaker.
The overall firepower aimed at me increased, but their lack of coordination disrupted the seamless attacks.
This made it manageable for me to block everything with my shield alone.
And maybe that’s why—at some point—I noticed my shield had become stronger.
With Aegis combined with Mana Shield, I felt confident enough to block even Cyborg’s charge.
[Shield Bash]
After deflecting Cyborg’s attack, I swapped to the [Shield Bash] trait and struck back.
Cyborg let out a roar of disbelief.
“What the hell are you?! You are only level 5?! That’s impossible! Absolutely impossible!”
Flame Horse, the eldest brother, and the second brother all looked similarly bewildered.
They had realized the truth.
Victory was impossible.
Even with four against one, they couldn’t defeat me.
If it were just Cyborg and Flame Horse, I might have eventually fallen.
But dragging the fight out was definitely within my power.
And as proof, more than 30 minutes had already passed.
Vwooom.
The door opened.
Cyborg fell silent.
Flame Horse’s flames flickered violently.
The eldest and second brothers turned, their faces filled with disbelief.
At the end of their gaze, beyond the open door, stood Seong Huiyeong.
She had emerged, now at level 7.
–TL Notes–
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