Chapter 40: Ogre Power
“Who’s Yongsu?”
“How should I know? The boss has killed more than a few people.”
“Huh, looks like he even killed an old lady.”
“Total scumbag.”
From the murmuring crowd of bandits, Jang Ho-cheol, a large and imposing figure, stepped forward.
“Come out, you idiots!”
Whose side are they even on?
Jang Ho-cheol strode forward confidently and shouted.
“How dare some arrogant punk call out the Mountain King!”
“Huh? I called out Jang Ho-cheol!”
Cheol-du carefully observed the man who had appeared, exuding a dangerous aura.
His unkempt beard and wild appearance were typical of a bandit.
The kind of look you’d often see in the historical dramas his grandfather used to watch.
“I am Jang Ho-cheol!”
“I am Kang Cheol-du! Bring it on!”
“Ha, whatever. This is ridiculous.”
Jang Ho-cheol laughed, genuinely amused by the absurdity.
“Hahahaha.”
Even Thunderbolt wouldn’t be as reckless and random as that guy.
Kang Cheol-du.
Never heard of him before.
“You think you’re tough or something?”
“This guy sure talks a lot.”
“Wow, this bastard is really annoying.”
Jang Ho-cheol turned around and shouted at his men.
“What are you idiots doing? Call in the sub-bosses!”
The bandits were just standing there, watching their boss being insulted without doing anything.
If a fight broke out, they should either intervene or take sides. But instead, they were just watching with keen interest. From the boss’s perspective, it was infuriating.
‘Damn, their organization is a mess.’
It’s not just pitiful—it’s downright disastrous.
The bandit group was made up of criminals and outcasts from villages, but their individualistic behavior was way too extreme.
Cheol-du looked at Jang Ho-cheol, who was unarmed, and said,
“I’ll wait. Go get your weapon.”
“Huh? Are you for real? Are you some kind of ranker?”
“No.”
“Then why are you acting tough?”
“I’m just here to avenge Yongsu’s mother.”
Of course, the bigger reason was that he wanted to challenge Jang Ho-cheol because he was said to be strong.
“What? Who’s Yongsu?”
Cheol-du pointed behind him.
“My younger brother.”
“……”
Even when squinting, the man behind him, Ki Yongsu, looked older. The guy in front was bulky but had smooth skin, making him appear no older than his twenties.
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“I’ve never seen this Yongsu or whatever. And I’ve never killed any auntie!”
“Then maybe you killed Yongsu’s mother when she was a young lady.”
“No, damn it! I’ve never killed any woman at all!”
Women were already rare in Nova.
Their low population ratio made encounters scarce.
There was one woman he’d like to kill, but he’d sworn never to harm a woman yet.
“Hmph, lies.”
“No, damn it! Why would I lie about not killing her?”
“Enough. Just fight. If you have no weapon, come at me bare-handed.”
Sshhhk—
As if declaring further talk pointless, Cheol-du drew his sword.
“Wow, this brat’s really pissing me off.”
Puppies don’t know to fear tigers. He’d already gauged the situation.
‘Their expressions say it all.’
The three behind him radiated anxiety.
The one in front brimmed with confidence.
The kid looked young, spouting about revenge—clearly a rash act of youthful impulsiveness.
The younger they were, the easier they fell for things like friendship or avenging parents.
Jang Ho-cheol’s specialty was sending sub-bosses first to gauge the opponent, fleeing or negotiating if things went south. But this kid had forced an early conclusion.
“Fine. You’re dead.”
Jang Ho-cheol pulled his beloved mace from his inventory.
Snap!
The smooth mace without spikes felt perfect in his grip. It was lethal but better at maiming than killing.
‘Why kill when you can enslave?’
In Nova, everything was precious, but people were the rarest resource. Subjugating them as slaves beat killing.
He’d parted ways with those who clashed with this philosophy.
Those prissy scholars in Neo-Seoul would never survive wild Nova.
“Oh, you have an inventory too.”
Cheol-du had never seen anyone besides Jin-tae and himself use one. Seeing Jang Ho-cheol’s faintly nostalgic smile, he nearly scoffed.
“Heh, so young. Good. I’ll temper your hot blood.”
Big, dumb brutes were easier to control.
Break them with force, and you’re halfway done.
Jang Ho-cheol had never been outmatched in strength.
“Hryaaaah!”
Whooosh—
His sleek mace sliced through the air.
Cheol-du tried blocking with his sword but had to roll aside, aiming for Jang Ho-cheol’s flank.
‘I need a better weapon.’
Even a steel sword couldn’t cut through a steel mace.
A steel axe might’ve clashed evenly, but the weight difference was too stark.
Clang!
Cheol-du’s slash only grazed Jang Ho-cheol’s armor, cutting his clothes.
The armor, likely crafted by a skilled blacksmith in the bandit den, was impeccably constructed.
Layered steel plates deflected Cheol-du’s surprise attack flawlessly.
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“Heh heh heh!”
Whoosh!
Unfazed by his missed strike, Jang Ho-cheol kicked. With no room to dodge, Cheol-du blocked with his arm and was shocked to skid backward.
“……!”
First time.
He’d met someone stronger than himself.
“Stronger than an ogre, huh.”
At Cheol-du’s words, Jang Ho-cheol burst into laughter.
“Hahaha! Of course! I’ve mastered the power of giants!”
Seemed ogres lived somewhere in Neo-Seoul.
“Heh heh.”
Cheol-du had killed a juvenile ogre before. He looked forward to facing a full-grown one someday.
Seeing Cheol-du sheathe his sword, Jang Ho-cheol frowned.
“What? Giving up already?”
“No. To avoid damaging you.”
“What?”
“You’re not worth more than this.”
He needed to save his sword for the swordsman lurking behind Jang Ho-cheol.
“You’re arrogance personified.”
Jang Ho-cheol swung his mace furiously. Cheol-du ignored it, closing the distance to throw a punch.
Thud! Crack!
The impact was solid.
Cheol-du’s smile widened at the familiar hardness.
‘Hard as stone.’
This guy had both a giant’s strength and skin.
The texture matched the juvenile ogre’s.
“Hahaha! No one in Neo-Seoul can match my endurance!”
Jang Ho-cheol stashed his mace and faced Cheol-du bare-handed, brimming with fighting spirit.
“I’ll fight you fair and square!”
Not out of honor.
He’d already calculated the odds.
‘Hurts, but not enough to die.’
His chances now exceeded 90%.
Breaking the kid with fists would subdue him faster than weapons.
Hot-headed youths respected those who out-brawled them.
“Heh heh.”
Cheol-du stepped forward eagerly.
His natural boxing footwork made Jang Ho-cheol snort.
“Cocky brat.”
No technique could bridge the gap in raw power.
Jang Ho-cheol had activated 57 strength stat stones!
Plus two trait orbs earned from ogre hunts!
A superhuman with a giant’s power and hide.
No one in Neo-Seoul could rival him bare-handed—not even that government lapdog captain.
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Thud! Crack!
Whooosh!
Fists flew between them.
Punching, getting punched.
Bam! Thud!
Spectators chattered while watching their boss fight.
“Damn, that guy’s holding up.”
“Right, still standing after all that.”
None of the bandits doubted their boss’s victory.
Cheol-du’s group shared the sentiment.
Captain Choi Jun-seop stood ready to intervene.
But the three sub-bosses among the bandits gave him pause.
All rankers.
He could take one, but three?
If Jin-tae and Ki Yongsu were rankers, they might’ve stood a chance…
‘If things go south, we run.’
Choi Jun-seop resolved.
He’d seen enough of Kang Cheol-du.
A rough gem.
Or an untamed beast?
Either way, he’d make a valuable ally.
Though his story was fabricated, he’d genuinely committed to avenging Yongsu. Ruthless, but not evil.
Like how generals weren’t called murderers, Cheol-du’s boldness deserved respect.
Too precious to lose to Jang Ho-cheol.
“If needed, I’ll carry Cheol-du and run.”
Choi Jun-seop whispered barely audibly. The sub-bosses were already eyeing them.
Escape wouldn’t be easy.
“Cheol-du will win.”
“Jang Ho-cheol doesn’t fight losing battles.”
His greatest strength wasn’t power or influence, but foresight.
A coward who avoided certain defeat.
Him fighting meant 100% confidence.
Cheol-du’s courage was admirable, but reality was reality.
“Look. He’s barely getting hit now.”
“Huh?”
Choi Jun-seop focused on the fight he’d neglected.
Whoosh! Thud!
Thwack!
Both men were battered—Cheol-du with a bloody nose, Jang Ho-cheol disheveled.
But lately, Cheol-du’s fists landed cleanly, while Jang Ho-cheol’s grazed.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Thud!
“Damn, those dodges!”
Ki Yongsu gaped at Cheol-du’s narrow evasions. Choi Jun-seop leaned in, mesmerized.
Whoosh! Whap!
Thud!
Cheol-du dodged every punch and kick, dealing steady damage.
‘Almost adapted.’
His enhanced strength had felt underutilized, but the agility orb he’d consumed earlier helped.
His brain’s commands and muscle responses had accelerated absurdly.
Previously, his strength could leisurely execute orders. Now, it struggled to keep up with his reflexes.
Stamina drained rapidly, but Jang Ho-cheol seemed equally strained.
Cheol-du stacked damage methodically. Jang Ho-cheol, realizing the tide, lunged to grapple him.
Thud! Crack!
Even at close range, Cheol-du’s fist cratered Jang Ho-cheol’s armored side, disrupting his breath.
“You son of a bitch!”
Jang Ho-cheol squeezed, intent on crushing Cheol-du.
‘My strength reigns supreme!’
He channeled all his mana, activating a skill.
‘Ogre Power!’
Creeeak—
