LIGHTNOVELONLINE Ch 06 - The Qualities of a True Hero
Chapter 6: The Qualities of a True Hero
“…What the hell is this guy doing?”
Chi-Seong had found Chang-Sik’s first impression kind of amusing, but he never expected him to act like this, especially in a life-or-death situation.
“Damn it… does he not get the situation we’re in?”
Chi-Seong gritted his teeth so hard they felt like they were going to break.
“What’s he planning to do against an A-rank villain?”
Part of him thought Chang-Sik was all talk and would run away the moment things got serious.
**‘Yeah, just don’t do anything stupid and run. Running’s better than dying.’**
And just then—
**BOOM!**
The entire building shook violently.
Chi-Seong cautiously approached the window and looked outside.
The wall of fire had grown fiercer, and thick, black smoke was spreading everywhere.
“…Flame Stalker.”
And then he saw him. A man standing amidst the chaos.
“What the…? That guy?”
To his shock, it was Chang-Sik, standing confidently where Chi-Seong thought he would’ve already fled.
The sheer absurdity of the scene made Chi-Seong laugh out loud in disbelief.
“…Haha.”
And then, Chang-Sik started running.
Chi-Seong felt an inexplicable rush of excitement as he watched.
**‘Could it be…?’**
Chang-Sik’s swift, calculated attacks pushed the villains back like a pile of straw, sending them reeling.
Chi-Seong’s fists, clenched tight, were dripping with sweat.
But it was also clear that after that first attack, Chang-Sik wasn’t landing any solid hits, and his movements were slowing.
Chi-Seong felt the urge to run out and help him, but…
“Damn it… Kim Chang-Sik, just run for it while you can!”
…he couldn’t muster the courage.
When Chang-Sik’s seemingly desperate attack failed miserably, Chi-Seong shut his eyes tight and sank to the ground.
“He’s going to get killed.”
**Thump, thump, thump—**
His head hung low, he plugged his ears, bracing himself for the inevitable scream of pain that he was sure would come any moment now.
It felt like the world was closing in, the darkness swallowing him whole.
And then—
**BOOOOOM!!**
A deafening explosion ripped through the air, cutting through the suffocating tension.
The powerful tremor was so strong that even the building Chi-Seong was in shook violently.
He lifted his head.
And what he saw—
“…”
was a breathtaking spectacle of flames reflected in his wide-open eyes.
Screams rang out, but strangely, they didn’t sound horrifying.
The reason?
Amidst the inferno stood one man, tall and unwavering—Kim Chang-Sik.
“Holy shit! Is this real!?”
Cheers erupted from the group of survivors.
Everyone was overjoyed.
But strangely, Chang-Sik didn’t share in the excitement.
Instead, he looked at the inferno ahead of him with extreme caution.
“Ahaha, huh? What the…?”
Feeling something was off, Chi-Seong examined the fire carefully.
And then he saw it.
“What the…?”
In the raging flames, where the remaining villains were writhing in pain, something was targeting Chang-Sik.
The **Flame Stalker.**
**‘He’s in danger!’**
Without a second thought, Chi-Seong threw himself through the window.
—
Chi-Seong’s sudden attack caught the Flame Stalker off guard, making it gag and cough in pain.
“Khak…! Kugh!”
Its charred, twisted body writhed in agony, already blackened like ashes.
Chi-Seong stared at his own glowing white hands, still stunned by what he’d just done.
“What the hell…? This thing was fine in that hellish fire, but now it’s like this?”
“…It seems like it’s only immune to the flames it creates,” Chang-Sik said, almost as if he had just figured it out himself.
Though surprised by Chi-Seong’s sudden appearance, Chang-Sik couldn’t deny the timing was perfect.
“Even if we know its weakness, don’t let your guard down.”
Having already fought the creature once, Chi-Seong nodded silently in agreement.
Chang-Sik glanced at the system window.
**[Remaining Time: 09:58]**
‘We’ve got about 10 minutes left…’
If they didn’t finish the fight within that time, Chang-Sik’s long-awaited first revenge would slip through his fingers.
**‘We have to end this now.’**
And just then, the Flame Stalker’s body began to change.
A strange, crackling sound filled the air, growing louder as the creature’s blackened body began to split apart like shedding skin.
Through the cracks, glowing orange liquid seeped out.
**Gloop—**
The liquid, as it met oxygen, instantly turned into vapor.
**FWOOSH!**
In seconds, the creature’s entire body became engulfed in dense, sticky flames.
“…What the hell is that?”
Chi-Seong’s jaw dropped at the sight.
Chang-Sik, however, grimaced.
“Shit… that bastard…”
When the Flame Stalker took on that form, it meant it was done playing around.
This was serious.
“Grrrrr….”
The creature, which had been lying limp, now let out a guttural growl as it stood up.
It looked like a demon that had crawled straight out of hell.
**Gulp.**
Chi-Seong swallowed hard, clearly tense.
“GRRAAAHH!!”
The Flame Stalker charged forward with terrifying speed.
Chi-Seong responded by swinging his arms, unleashing a burst of white energy.
**BOOM!**
The Flame Stalker plowed through the attack like it was nothing, grabbing Chi-Seong by the throat.
“Guhk!!”
At the same time, its mouth began to stretch open—no, it actually tore open.
The maw, now gaping wider than 120 degrees, unleashed a torrent of flames straight at Chi-Seong’s face.
“AAAAHHHH!!”
The sheer volume of flames was overwhelming. Chi-Seong could do nothing but take the attack head-on.
It all happened in an instant.
The villain’s lieutenant was now fighting an academy candidate with everything it had.
Chang-Sik clenched his right hand, activating **Rock Arm.**
**CRUNCH!**
He rushed forward, striking the creature’s arm, forcing it to release Chi-Seong.
**THUD!**
The creature, momentarily distracted, flung Chi-Seong to the ground like a rag doll.
**Boom!**
Its fiery killing intent turned toward Chang-Sik, locking onto him.
The creature crouched low, preparing to pounce, its beastly growl rumbling through the air.
Chang-Sik’s mind raced.
One mistake, and he was dead.
He focused all his senses on the creature’s movements.
Then, he noticed the slight contraction of its thigh muscles.
**Twitch—**
Chang-Sik immediately activated **Full Burst** on his legs.
**BOOM!**
He launched himself into the air just as the Flame Stalker shot past beneath him.
If his reaction had been even slightly slower, he would’ve been caught and melted alive.
While airborne, Chang-Sik spun and threw a punch enhanced by rock magic.
**BANG!**
The heavy blow sent the creature flying back.
But the extreme movements took their toll on Chang-Sik’s body, making his joints creak in protest.
“Huff… huff…”
“Kim Chang-Sik, are you okay!?” Chi-Seong shouted.
“…Worry about yourself,” Chang-Sik shot back, catching his breath.
This fight couldn’t drag on. They’d lose if it did.
“Chi-Seong, I need you to act as bait.”
“What!?”
“I’ll target its weakness. But first, you need to distract it.”
At first glance, it sounded reckless.
But by now, Chi-Seong had developed enough trust in Chang-Sik to nod and take a combat stance.
“…I don’t know how you know all this, but I’ll trust you.”
Chang-Sik knew the Flame Stalker had two weaknesses.
Right now, he planned to target the one even the creature itself didn’t know about—a critical physical flaw.
**‘This is our only shot.’**
The Flame Stalker crouched low again, growling as it eyed the two of them.
“Grrrr…!”
This time, Chi-Seong moved first.
**Thud thud thud!**
His glowing hands lit up as he charged at the creature.
The Flame Stalker rushed toward him in turn.
“Die!!” Chi-Seong roared, pulling his glowing hands back to strike.
But—
The Flame Stalker evaded him with a clever twist of its body, heading straight for Chang-Sik instead.
“What the—!?” Chi-Seong’s shocked voice rang out.
The creature had been targeting Chang-Sik from the very beginning.
**‘You bastard!’**
The attack happened so quickly that Chang-Sik couldn’t dodge.
The Flame Stalker closed the gap in an instant.
Chang-Sik barely managed to raise his rock-covered right hand to block.
For a brief moment, their eyes met—Chang-Sik’s filled with determination, and the creature’s with cruel cunning.
**“Shit…!”**
**BOOM!**
The impact sent Chang-Sik flying through the air.
—
He blacked out briefly, his head ringing like a struck bell.
Blood trickled from his forehead, tinting his vision red.
“Haah… haah…”
His right hand, the one that had blocked the attack, was numb and unresponsive.
Looking ahead, he saw Chi-Seong still fighting desperately in the distance.
The system timer showed less than two minutes remaining.
If they didn’t finish this now, the future would unfold just as it had before—Chi-Seong would die, and the Flame Stalker would escape.
Chang-Sik forced his heavy body to stand.
Just then—
“Uh, hey.”
“Come on, let’s just go!”
“How can we? He helped us!”
The group of survivors hesitated nearby.
One of them, trembling all over, approached Chang-Sik.
“Let’s run together. I’ll help you…”
The trembling survivor grabbed Chang-Sik’s arm.
“It’s the Flame Stalker! There’s no way even Chi-Seong can win!”
Shaking with fear, the survivor tried to pull Chang-Sik away.
But—
“Let go.”
“Huh? No, but—”
“I’m not running. Let go of me.”
“Why!? Why won’t you just run!?”
Chang-Sik shrugged off the survivor’s grip and walked forward.
With every step, his legs trembled.
**‘There’s no chance.’**
**‘I’m going to die.’**
He knew he couldn’t take the creature down in his current state.
But for some reason, his body kept moving toward it.
**‘Why?’**
Was it his hatred of losing?
A deep-rooted thirst for revenge?
Or something else entirely?
Chang-Sik shook his head.
He didn’t know the answer.
All he knew was that he wanted to face it.
In the distance, he saw Chi-Seong being grabbed by the creature.
Chang-Sik quickened his pace, his bones creaking in protest.
Chi-Seong’s screams tore through the air as he was engulfed in flames.
Charging his remaining strength into his left hand with **Full Burst**, Chang-Sik broke into a run.
“Hah… hah!”
His body screamed in pain, but for some reason, a smile crept across his face.
**Thud thud!**
When he was about 10 meters away, he activated **Full Burst** one last time.
**Boom!**
Launching himself into the air, he closed the gap instantly.
The system timer showed just 10 seconds remaining.
The Flame Stalker seemed to notice him, its cruel grin widening.
Its maw opened wide, aiming to swallow him whole.
But—
“Shut your mouth, you bastard!”
Chang-Sik had already anticipated this.
Twisting his body mid-air, he brought his charged left arm behind him.
**Bang!**
A sickening crack echoed as his left shoulder dislocated, but the momentum propelled him forward.
In a flash, he was right in front of the Flame Stalker.
Its weak spot—a small protrusion inside its mouth—was now within reach.
“Take this!”
With his rock-covered right hand, he slammed his fist into the creature’s gaping maw.
**Crunch!**
The unexpected pain made the Flame Stalker’s eyes narrow in fury.
But Chang-Sik wasn’t done yet.
“Full Burst!”
From within the cracks of the rock covering his hand, a bright orange light began to glow.
**Sizzle—**
.
.
**BOOM!!!**
A massive explosion erupted.
Shards of rock tore through the creature’s delicate insides.
“GRAAAAAHHHH…!”
The Flame Stalker collapsed, defeated.
Chi-Seong, who had been watching in stunned silence, muttered:
“Who… what the hell are you?”
For the first time in his life, Chi-Seong looked at someone with admiration.
Chang-Sik’s chest tightened at the unfamiliar gaze.
The system notifications blared in the background, but Chang-Sik didn’t hear them.
Instead, he turned to the dazed Chi-Seong and said:
“…Kim Chang-Sik.”