I Became The Rankers’ Number One Pick [EN]: Chapter 90

90.

“Hunter Park Seoa. From here on, hop on my back.”

Seoa glanced once at the active volcano, which seemed close yet far away.

“Ah, okay.”

There was no other choice.

Until they left the village, they had managed to run together at a reasonable pace, but not anymore.

No matter how hard Seoa tried, it was impossible to keep up with the speed of an A-class Hunter. She couldn’t insist on running on her own and cause trouble.

‘I really hope I become an S-class this time.’

Then, even if nothing else, she wouldn’t be embarrassed about being slow.

Seoa cast [Fighting] on Yoon Ah-jung and Song Jin-ho, respectively, and then climbed onto Song Jin-ho’s back.

From the crater, volcanic ash, volcanic rocks, and embers were flying out.

Yoon Ah-jung took out her weapon, a falchion [a single-edged sword with a curved blade], in advance.

“Get behind me. I’ll defend as I go ahead.”

“Okay.”

As Yoon Ah-jung swung her falchion high, a mass of earth gathered around her sword, creating a roof.

In that state, Yoon Ah-jung ran forward. Song Jin-ho also stuck close behind Yoon Ah-jung and ran.

It was definitely an incredible speed, but Seoa wasn’t as surprised as before. She had already experienced teleportation-level speed while clinging to the back of an S-class Hunter.

The roof made of earth was stronger than expected.

It deflected all the large and small heated stones that flew at them. In the meantime, Song Jin-ho skillfully dodged anything that flew to the side.

As they ran, they spotted Kang Hae-in and Kim Soo-hyuk running ahead. Although they were the same A-class, Yoon Ah-jung and Song Jin-ho were far faster.

The distance that had been quite large quickly narrowed, and soon they overtook them.

“What, why are you so fast?”

“We’re going ahead!”

To Kim Soo-hyuk’s whining voice, Song Jin-ho replied firmly and sped up even more.

Certainly, this speed was much faster than usual. Naturally, this difference was because Seoa’s [Fighting] increased their strength by 15%.

As they got closer to the crater, a wave of hot air rushed at them. The group braced themselves and diligently climbed up the increasingly steep mountain.

***

Thud-!

Yoo Ji-an landed deep inside the crater, on solid ground.

If it were a normal volcano, magma would be flowing here, but this place was not naturally formed.

However, the blazing flames and smoke everywhere, and the molten rocks due to the intense heat, made it an environment no different from a real volcano.

Of course, Yoo Ji-an didn’t jump into this place with his bare body. He had consumed an Icing Ball beforehand.

Even without the Icing Ball, he could endure it, but then the consumption of stamina and mana would be too extreme.

Yoo Ji-an had decided not to go berserk in this gate, so he didn’t intend to push himself unnecessarily.

Thanks to that, he leisurely walked around this hot place, thoroughly scanning the surroundings with the ‘Observe’ skill.

A place hotter in the midst of heat, overflowing with mana. [Ignis] must be there.

The [Salamander] and [Casa], which had been rampaging until just now, had all disappeared. This was a phenomenon seen just before a berserk [a state of extreme rage and loss of control].

If Ignis’s berserk is not stopped in time, the village will instantly turn to ashes, and the mission will fail.

Even if they manage to escape, a gate that has failed to clear the mission will gradually accumulate mana inside, and when it exceeds the limit, a ‘Gate Break’ occurs.

Then the monsters from this gate will pour out onto Earth. The reason why all hunters attack gates is also to prevent ‘Gate Breaks’ in the first place.

Yoo Ji-an ran his hand over the hot wall, found a point where mana was gathered, and strongly collided his mana against it, creating a large explosion.

Kwang!

With a roar, the wall collapsed, and a space hidden deep inside was revealed.

Yoo Ji-an strode into the space. And he stared at [Ignis], who was captured there, with a blank expression.

[Ignis] was in the form of a small girl covered in flames. In normal times, she would have a complete human appearance, but now she was only imitating it.

The restraints on Ignis’s wrists and ankles were fixed to the wall.

And the floor and walls surrounding Ignis were densely packed with black magic stones. Some of them could not withstand Ignis’s power and were broken.

At the sign of someone, Ignis raised her head. Empty, but red eyes blazing with anger turned to Yoo Ji-an.

【You…who.】

“Ignis, I came to set you free.”

【If I get out of here, I will turn the human world into a sea of fire.】

“That’s troublesome. Then I can’t complete the mission.”

【If I get out of here, I will turn the human world into a sea of fire.】

“Anytime after we get out.”

【If I get out of here, I will turn the human world into a sea of fire.】

“Where is the guy who made you like this now?”

Yoo Ji-an silently said what he had to say to Ignis, who was only repeating the same words like a parrot, with only evil remaining. And he pointed Ruin Blade at Ignis.

The energy rippling from the tip of the sword was so strong that even the Fire Spirit King Ignis flinched. But Ignis’s anger was deep and great.

After hesitating for a moment, Ignis soon thrashed around, chained up.

【If I get out of here, I will turn the human world into a sea of fire. I’ll kill them all!】

Swish, clank, clank-

Every time Ignis thrashed, the flames in the crater grew in size, spewing heat outwards.

The ash, smoke, and embers flew on the wind, covering the world. In some places, the embers had grown into large fires.

This was the power of the Spirit King Ignis.

Even though her limbs were restrained and her mana was sealed, she could still exert enough power to burn the outside world from within.

The one who put restraints on such a strong Ignis and locked her in a cave.

That person was the final boss of this gate.

Yoo Ji-an’s Ruin Blade instantly cut through the air.

【If I get out of…!】

The Ruin Blade, moving at an invisible speed, cut off the chains of the four restraints that bound Ignis.

【Uahahahaha! Finally, finally!】

Ignis, whose hands and feet were freed, flew straight past Yoo Ji-an and out of the cave.

Yoo Ji-an quickly chased after him.

A-class hunters, including Seoa, were falling into the crater.

Whirr-!

“Ugh!”

In the face of the sudden high-temperature wind, Song Jin-ho, who was holding Seoa, accidentally dropped Seoa.

“Ah, ahhh…!”

Seoa, who couldn’t maintain her balance, plummeted downwards in an instant. Below, Ignis’s blue flames were surging as if to swallow her up.

“Park Seoa!”

Yoo Ji-an, who came out chasing Ignis, found Seoa.

He stepped hard and soared high. And before she hit the ground, he caught Seoa and landed on the ground.

“Icing Ball?”

“Cough, I ate it, I ate it, but…!”

It was a high temperature that made it impossible to open her eyes. It was hotter than the Salamander’s fire she had experienced before. As evidence, Ignis’s flames were blue.

Only after Kang Hae-in landed on the ground and created a water barrier could she barely come to her senses.

As soon as Seoa came to her senses, she cast [Fighting] and [Love Yourself] on the entire team.

Yoo Ji-an also swallowed another Icing Ball.

“We have to finish it within 30 minutes.”

That was the duration of one Icing Ball. Even if he wanted to give more, they were so precious that he couldn’t get many. It wasn’t a matter of price, but the number released was too small.

【Uahahahaha! Finally outside…!】

Fortunately, Ignis didn’t care about those who had fallen to the ground and tried to get out of the crater. But it was as if he was blocked by something, and he couldn’t get out from above.

Kim Soo-hyuk, who was looking up at the sight, asked.

“Why is he like that?”

“Because he hasn’t gained freedom yet. Only the restraints have been released. Our ultimate goal is another guy who imprisoned him.”

“But he doesn’t seem to be in his right mind. I thought the Spirit Kings were smart.”

“He’s been brainwashed until now, so he can’t see anything because of his anger.”

“…We haven’t even found the spirit caster yet, so how are we going to catch that?”

While Kang Hae-in maintained the water barrier and was troubled, Kim Soo-hyuk took out his sniper rifle ‘Midnight’.

“What do you mean how? If words don’t work, then a beating is the answer. He’ll come to his senses if he gets hit.”

“Don’t kill him.”

At Yoo Ji-an’s short command, Yoon Ah-jung grumbled.

“Who’s looking out for who right now? We’re in a situation where we can barely make it even if we do our best.”

If it was just about killing, Yoo Ji-an could have just stabbed the bound Ignis.

Ignis, more enraged by not being able to get out, slammed his body hard against the walls and ceiling. But he was constantly bounced off by something invisible on the ceiling.

The more Ignis’s anger grew, the hotter the inside became.

“Okay. Just stay still, please.”

Kim Soo-hyuk pointed his gun at the ceiling. And he looked into the scope with one eye.

Ignis was flying around wildly, spraying fire everywhere.

Bang-!

Kim Soo-hyuk confidently pulled the trigger towards that incredibly fast-moving object. And Ignis, who was actually hit by that gun, fell down engulfed in flames.

However, he only fell after taking a slight hit, and Ignis stood firmly on the ground with both feet.

The price of the attack was clear.

Ignis’s red eyes, filled with anger, turned to them.