Giant Horned Hyenas were pack creatures, living and hunting in formidable numbers. The leader of the pack was always a female, larger and stronger than any male. A thick, mane-like ruff of fur framed its neck, giving it a leonine appearance. This alpha female was a monstrous creature, standing over two meters tall at the shoulder and stretching five meters from snout to tail. Their packs could number anywhere from a few dozen to several hundred, a significant portion of them the direct offspring of the dominant female. It was a matriarchal society, an alpha clan built around a single maternal line. Naturally, every Giant Horned Hyena in the pack obeyed the alpha female’s commands without question. They were nocturnal. Having adapted to the scorching desert heat, they had evolved to be most active during the cool of the night. The Giant Horned Hyenas charged with terrifying force. As creatures that hunted in overwhelming swarms, they possessed neither fear nor caution. Faced with such a large-scale assault, an ordinary person—or even most awakened—would be swept away in an instant. While the bulk of the pack swarmed the massive form of Kang Tae-san, a smaller contingent broke off and rushed toward Yoon Ji-han. Yoon Ji-han immediately unleashed his Morae Po. A high-pressure jet of sand erupted, smashing the head of the lead Giant Horned Hyena. The others didn't even seem to notice as their packmate fell, charging onward without pause. Yoon Ji-han fired the Morae Po again and again. The power of the skill was impressive. Each blast took down one of the beasts. The problem was the sheer number of them. Taking them down one by one wasn't enough to escape this overwhelming danger. Yoon Ji-han’s mind raced as he fired another Morae Po. "One at a time won't work," he thought desperately. "I need to take down at least five at once. It's the only way to even the odds." The real issue was mana. He had to find a way to use Morae Po multiple times in quick succession while managing his reserves efficiently. No, he simply had to. There was no time for hesitation or deliberation. As if in answer to his resolve, five thin tendrils of sand shot out from the desert floor, lancing toward the charging Giant Horned Hyenas. With strangled yelps, five of the creatures collapsed. Each had a clean, coin-sized hole bored straight through its skull. He had divided a single Morae Po into five separate attacks. It was a desperate attempt to conserve mana. But to maximize its killing power, he’d condensed each divided stream into a thin but potent beam. Instead of exploding on impact, they pierced. The first attempt was difficult, but the second came more easily. Once he had forged the path, it was simpler to walk it again. Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh! Successive volleys of Sand Blasters shot forth. Five streams of sand pierced the heads of five Giant Horned Hyenas simultaneously. It seemed he could hold them off, at least for a while. Finally, Yoon Ji-han had a moment to spare a glance toward Kang Tae-san. He turned his head, and his eyes widened in disbelief. “Kekeke! More, more…” Kang Tae-san was a whirlwind of motion, cackling madly as he swung Cheon-myeol. The sand around him was littered with the corpses of more than a hundred Giant Horned Hyenas. He wasn't using any special skills like Yoon Ji-han. He simply swung Cheon-myeol, and swung again. With every brutal arc of the weapon, several Giant Horned Hyenas were hewn apart. Blood sprayed, and chunks of flesh flew through the air. The already crimson desert sands were stained an even deeper shade of red. Occasionally, a Giant Horned Hyena managed to sink its teeth into Kang Tae-san’s arms or calves. But their fangs couldn't pierce his flesh. His body was harder than steel. Instead, the Giant Horned Hyenas’ teeth shattered on impact. “Kekeke! That tickles.” Kang Tae-san grabbed the head of a hyena clamped onto his thigh and casually crushed its skull with one hand. The creature’s sturdy cranium crumbled like a dry biscuit. He then hurled the limp body into the oncoming pack. The dead hyena collided with the living, sending them tumbling across the ground. Legs were bent at unnatural angles, bellies torn open, organs spilling onto the sand. Kang Tae-san was ruthlessly slaughtering them. None dared to truly challenge him. Seeing the tide of the battle, the alpha female, who had been observing from the rear, finally stepped forward. A shimmering blue field of energy enveloped her body. That aura meant she was at least a B-rank creature, with abilities related to magic. Sparks of electricity began to crackle between the horns on the alpha female’s head. It seemed she could wield lightning magic. In the next moment, a bolt of pure lightning shot from her horns. The bolt split the darkness, arriving in front of Kang Tae-san in an instant. As if swatting a fly, Kang Tae-san simply waved his hand and caught the bolt of lightning. The raw energy that had illuminated the night sky vanished within his closed palm. Only then did a profound sense of danger wash over the alpha female. It realized this adversary was completely different from any prey it had ever hunted. The alpha female let out a sharp roar, a command to retreat. There was no greater foolishness than struggling against an overwhelmingly superior foe. Half the pack was already gone. If they lost any more, the survival of the clan itself would be in jeopardy. The alpha female’s judgment was swift and sound. The problem was that Kang Tae-san had no intention of letting them escape. Kang Tae-san hurled Cheon-myeol. Spinning at a fearsome speed, the massive weapon scythed through everything in its path. The mournful cries of the Giant Horned Hyenas echoed across the night sky. The scene of pure carnage froze Yoon Ji-han where he stood. Yet, Kang Tae-san wasn't finished. Kang Tae-san stomped down hard on the desert floor, launching himself high into the air. Cheon-myeol, having slaughtered dozens of Giant Horned Hyenas, reversed its course and flew back toward its master. Catching Cheon-myeol in mid-air, Kang Tae-san dove straight toward the alpha female. He fell like a meteor, and the impact was just as tremendous. Amidst the alpha female’s desperate final scream, the sand erupted in all directions. After a long moment, the towering wave of sand settled, revealing the aftermath. The alpha female had been utterly obliterated, its body mangled beyond recognition. Only the twin horns on its head remained intact. Kang Tae-san stood over the corpse. Even after such an intense battle, there wasn't a hint of fatigue on his face. In fact, he seemed invigorated, a refreshed smile on his lips. He didn't look like the same person at all. Yoon Ji-han didn't dare to breathe too loudly. He was simply overwhelmed by Kang Tae-san's power. "Is he even human?" Yoon Ji-han wondered. "He doesn't seem to have used any special skills." When a person awakened, they gained unique skills. An awakened individual was at their most powerful when they unleashed those skills. Naturally, facing a formidable creature like the alpha female, using skills would have been the most effective approach. But Kang Tae-san had completely defied that common sense. He had crushed the alpha female to death using nothing but his own physical power. Yoon Ji-han couldn't believe a human could possess such strength. No awakened individual in Shin-Hanseong could exert that kind of power with their body alone. At that moment, Kang Tae-san turned his head and looked at Yoon Ji-han. “Kekeke! So you managed to survive.” Yoon Ji-han could only nod, not daring to speak. After another dry laugh, Kang Tae-san bent down and collected the horns from the alpha female’s remains. “The horns of Giant Horned Hyenas are quite useful. These even have lightning properties. If you refine them well, they could become an excellent weapon.” He studied the horns for a moment, then held his hand out in the empty air. The horns in his grasp vanished as if they had never been there. "A spatial ability? He's not a Martial Arts type, he's a Magic type?" Until now, Kang Tae-san had displayed a fighting style that belonged entirely to the Martial Arts category. Yet he had just used a spatial ability that only a tiny fraction of Magic-type awakened could ever hope to master. Yoon Ji-han’s understanding of the man was completely shattered. He was also puzzled. Why would Kang Tae-san, who already wielded a weapon like Cheon-myeol, need another? But Yoon Ji-han didn't dare ask. Kang Tae-san sheathed Cheon-myeol and drew a small dagger from his belt. He tossed a similar dagger to Yoon Ji-han. “From now on, you find your own food.” “Most of a Giant Horned Hyena’s muscle is toxic, except for the flesh on their flanks. You can dry it and eat it safely.” With practiced skill, Kang Tae-san carved a section of flesh from a nearby hyena’s side. It wasn't a large amount, barely the size of an adult’s palm. Yoon Ji-han had watched closely where Kang Tae-san was cutting and immediately followed his example. He knew Kang Tae-san wouldn't explain anything further. He now realized that the jerky he had been eating was the meat of a monster. "So this is how he gets his jerky." He had no objections. He had grown up in a slum where food was a constant struggle. If something was edible, he would eat it without hesitation if it meant survival. Yoon Ji-han cautiously mimicked Kang Tae-san's movements. Kang Tae-san skillfully cut just enough meat to last a few days. If he ran out, he could simply hunt again. Yoon Ji-han, however, wasn't nearly as strong as Kang Tae-san, so he had to prepare thoroughly. Securing as much meat as possible now would be a clear advantage. Yoon Ji-han managed to cut nearly thirty strips of meat. He wished he could take more, but with nowhere to store it, he had to stop. He wrapped the meat in his outer shirt, fashioned it into a makeshift bundle, and slung it over his shoulder. “Kekeke! You’re quite resourceful.” Kang Tae-san's tone was mocking. Surviving for two days was an accomplishment, but he was still a long way from being useful. To truly be of use, he would have to endure much more. And it would be harsh. “If you’ve got everything, let’s go. Before anything else catches the scent of blood.” It wasn't fear in Kang Tae-san’s voice, merely a desire to avoid another inconvenience. Nodding, Yoon Ji-han hurried to follow. He, too, had no desire to linger in this place, which now reeked of blood and death. The sun was already rising. The carnage, revealed in the harsh light of day, was even more gruesome. Scavenging monsters were already circling in the sky, drawn by the scent of the dead. Soon, more would gather for the feast. That was the law of the desert. The strong preyed upon the weak, and the dead became food for the living. No being could escape this cycle. Following Kang Tae-san, Yoon Ji-han was slowly beginning to grasp these brutal laws. As usual, Kang Tae-san paid Yoon Ji-han no heed and walked on ahead. Yoon Ji-han pushed himself to keep up, activating Sand Stride. After using so much mana in the battle last night, he had expected using the skill to be a challenge. But surprisingly, it wasn't as difficult as he’d thought. He had more mana left than anticipated, and his control over it felt much smoother. "It must be because of the fight," he realized. The experience of fighting for his life, of pushing his mana to its very limits, had clearly resulted in a significant improvement. "I’ve gotten stronger. And I'll keep getting stronger." Yoon Ji-han looked at Kang Tae-san’s back as he strode confidently across the sand. He couldn't understand why Kang Tae-san was dragging him along on this journey. But one thing was clear: Just by following this man, Yoon Ji-han would undoubtedly grow stronger. As long as he survived, that is. Yoon Ji-han diligently followed in his wake.

Chapter 10: A Nocturnal Swarm