I Became The Rankers’ Number One Pick [EN]: Chapter 228

228.

As Seo-ah disappeared into the group, the battle intensified. The previously stagnant and tense fight gradually shifted in favor of the hunters, a change readily apparent from the outside.

Baek Eun-hee was amazed when she received buffs directly, but seeing the overall picture from afar made it even clearer. This was the true power of an S-class supporter.

“Ptooey!”

Finally spitting out blood, Baek Eun-hee stood up. She snatched the potion from Jose’s hand and gulped it down. Jose looked at her with concern.

“Are you alright?”

“With our Seo-ah working so hard, I can’t just sit around.”

Baek Eun-hee stretched her shoulders, loosened up, and instantly dashed to where Seo-ah had disappeared.

Seo-ah pulled out her toy hammer and knocked away the thrashing tentacles, heading towards Cha Tae-woon and Song Jin-ah.

“How is it going?”

“We can’t attack the main body because of the tentacles.”

The ranged dealers were trying their best, but the tentacles were doing a great job as shields. They rushed in to reduce damage before the main body could be hit. Seo-ah watched for a moment and shouted.

“Healers! Use your recovery skills on the main body when I signal!”

Song Jin-ah responded to Seo-ah’s words.

“Are you thinking of using that skill we used before?”

She was referring to [Reverse], which they had used together against the Bachelot-shaped monster in the temporary gate. Seo-ah nodded.

“That’s right, and I’m going to use one more thing. Hunter Song Jin-ah, step back as soon as you use your recovery skill.”

However, with only two-thirds of the main body exposed, using [Reverse] was not easy.

As Seo-ah pondered the timing, Yoo Ji-ahn lightly swept back his disheveled hair and stepped down beside Seo-ah.

“I’ll draw it out.”

“Yes? Wait, just a moment.”

Leaving those words about becoming bait, Yoo Ji-ahn turned around, and Seo-ah cast [Fighting] on him at 70%. It was the maximum she could manage right now.

“Be careful!”

Yoo Ji-ahn lightly clenched his fist, gauged his strength, nodded, and then powerfully kicked off the ground.

The monster sensed the threatening approach and shot all its tentacles at Yoo Ji-ahn. He managed to dodge them by stepping on the tentacles and gradually approached the main body. Seo-ah felt her throat burning as she cheered him on inwardly at the precarious sight.

The monster’s main body continuously emitted black poisonous gas. Within it, Yoo Ji-ahn used electric magic to keep stimulating the monster.

He gave the monster the impression that it could catch him, then retreated little by little. In the process, his clothes were torn, and he was injured by the tentacles’ claws, but he avoided fatal wounds.

The other hunters could only stare, mouths agape, at Yoo Ji-ahn’s incredible speed. Of course, Yoo Ji-ahn was amazing, but he was definitely pushing himself too hard.

The moment Yoo Ji-ahn’s movement was briefly stopped by a tentacle wrapped around his leg, Splinter flew in at an incredible speed and sliced the tentacle clean off.

“What are you all doing! Are you just going to watch?”

“Sister, is it okay for you to move?”

“What else can I do? If I just lie down, we’ll all die. I’d rather die fighting.”

Perhaps snapping out of it at Baek Eun-hee’s shout, the other hunters resumed their attacks on the tentacle monster.

With the attacks spread out, Yoo Ji-ahn seemed to move more easily.

In any case, thanks to Yoo Ji-ahn’s efforts, the tentacle monster’s main body was completely out of the gate. Seeing the whole thing, it was clear that the monster’s shape was close to that of a jellyfish.

The moment the monster was completely out, Seo-ah shouted.

“Support me!”

Cha Tae-woon held out his shield, and Seo-ah used it as a foothold to jump up with all her might. She stepped on the ice shards Jackson had created in the air, gradually approaching the monster.

The monster, having lost quite a few tentacles, couldn’t properly block Seo-ah’s approach due to the other hunters’ interference. Seo-ah landed lightly on Kian’s back, who had arrived just in time, and looked around for Yoo Ji-ahn.

“Here.”

Yoo Ji-ahn’s voice was heard from behind Seo-ah.

“I’ll cover you.”

Yoo Ji-ahn swung Ruin Blade widely, creating a net-like barrier of electricity around Seo-ah and himself.

Seo-ah turned around and shouted.

“Healer, get ready! And Hunter Bachelot!”

“I’m ready!”

While Seo-ah drove Kian closer to the monster, the tentacles were all burned away by Yoo Ji-ahn’s electricity. The moment they touched the main body, Seo-ah used [Reverse] (a skill that inverts the target’s current state).

“Now!”

At the same time, Bachelot used [Maximum] (a skill that amplifies the target’s abilities) on Song Jin-ah, and Song Jin-ah and the other healers simultaneously used recovery skills on the tentacle monster.

With [Maximum] and Seo-ah’s buff skills combined, the monster’s health was reduced by more than two-thirds with Song Jin-ah’s one recovery skill. With the addition of the other healers’ abilities, the monster’s health quickly hit rock bottom.

As the monster desperately spewed poisonous gas, Yoo Ji-ahn covered Seo-ah’s mouth and nose, picked her up, and jumped down to avoid it.

The remaining hunters then unleashed a barrage of attacks on the weakened monster.

Boom, boom! Bang!

[‘Poison Jellyfish’ Eliminated! Remaining S-Class Monsters (1/10)]

Immediately after the jellyfish’s corpse disappeared without a trace, the hunters were shocked by the system window that appeared in the air.

There were still nine S-class monsters left.

“Everyone, cheer up!”

Seo-ah, who had landed on the ground, encouraged them, and the hunters steeled their hearts at her voice and looked back at the gate.

“Yeah, it’s all or nothing anyway!”

“Let’s die fighting today!”

The [Poison Jellyfish] at the front must have been huge. Smaller monsters that had been hidden by it poured out in twos and threes.

But even though they were smaller, these guys were also S-class monsters. They had struggled against just one [Poison Jellyfish], but with multiple appearing, it was truly a living hell.

Among them, a guy called [Knight of Armor] was almost the same size as a human, and he was just as agile.

“Ugh, everyone, get out of the way!”

The [Knight of Armor] jumped into the middle of the battlefield and began attacking only A-class hunters. He clearly had an eye for recognizing strong hunters.

Several A-class hunters who had not prepared for the sudden attack were instantly killed. Among them was Go Geon-hoo, the Royal Guild’s A-class tanker (a character specializing in defense).

“Cough!”

Go Geon-hoo’s shield was cut by the [Knight of Armor], and the tip of the knight’s sword pierced Go Geon-hoo’s heart.

“Geon-hoo hyung! Damn it!”

Yang Tae-woo tried to use a recovery skill, but Go Geon-hoo was already dead. The [Knight of Armor] immediately targeted Yang Tae-woo, but then Baek Eun-hee’s Splinter flew in with terrifying force.

The [Knight of Armor] faltered at the razor-sharp gears, and Yang Tae-woo hid himself with [Stealth] (a skill that grants temporary invisibility).

Bang!

Kim Soo-hyuk sniped the knight’s head with Midnight, and the helmeted head staggered.

“I’m going to kill you.”

Baek Eun-hee, who had lost a guild member, gritted her teeth and flew in at the speed of light, grabbing Splinter directly and swinging it to confront the [Knight of Armor].

Seo-ah ran around the battlefield, casting [Fighting] (a buff that increases attack power) and [Ironclad Pine] (a buff that increases defense) on Baek Eun-hee. Then she discovered the deceased Go Geon-hoo.

“Hunter Go Geon-hoo…”

Seo-ah bit her lip in dismay. Still, with Baek Eun-hee and a few other S-class hunters joining in, the [Knight of Armor] was definitely being pushed back.

After confirming that Baek Eun-hee’s side was winning, Seo-ah turned her eyes elsewhere.

“Ugh.”

Over there, they were fighting against boiling lava and flames. She flinched for a moment, but Seo-ah calmly headed there again. Seo-ah had [Flame Resistance], so she could approach without difficulty.

Jackson was blocking with ice and water magic, but the flames were spreading much faster. They had to put out this fire as quickly as possible. Hunters without [Flame Resistance] were at great risk of being caught in the battle.

But the problem was that there were fewer S-class ice-type mages than expected. Choi Eun-gyeol was there, but he was focusing his firepower on burning the S-class locust swarm.

‘I wish there was a way to concentrate power on Jackson.’

[Maximum] was similar, but it had a fatal weakness: it couldn’t use other skills for one minute after use. In this case, there was only one way. Create a new skill.

“Jackson!”

Jackson, who was creating a snowstorm in the air, glanced down at Seo-ah.

“Is there anything you want right now? It seems like there are some spare personnel!”

Everyone was doing their best, but there was such a thing as compatibility between hunters and monsters. In any case, there were bound to be hunters who were less helpful in certain situations.

Fortunately, Jackson understood the intent of Seo-ah’s question.

“I wish their power could be gathered to me, even for a moment.”

It was a possible answer because she knew her abilities.

[Hunter ‘Jackson Oscar’’s Wish Granted: Skill ‘Focus’]

Seo-ah jumped up close to Jackson with [Unicorn Boots] (magical boots that enhance jumping ability).