Tae-oh stumbled, collapsing to his knees, his blood pooling on the cold concrete. He looked up at Ji-hoon, who was still holding the tablet, his expression cold and regretful.
"Ji-hoon..." Tae-oh gasped, realization dawning. "You... you set me up."
"I had to verify your power, and then I had to eliminate it," Ji-hoon said, his voice void of emotion. "It's the safest path for the world."
The pain exploded. Tae-oh's vision went white.
[System Alert: FATAL DAMAGE RECEIVED!]
[Emergency Protocol Initiated: Hidden Talent Activation!]
A digital scream tore through Tae-oh's mind. The System, recognizing the imminent failure of its Host due to his weak, non-combat skill set, enacted a desperate measure.
[F-Rank Skill Deemed Non-Viable for Survival: Basic Audit. Deleting...]
[Hidden Core (The Great Auditor) is transforming its statistical function into an aggressive combat application.]
[System Override! Virtue Points Converted to Core Enhancement: 250 VP consumed.]
A blinding light erupted from Tae-oh's body, but it wasn't golden—it was a chaotic surge of shadow-black mana mixed with raw digital energy. The mana surged through his body, not healing the wound, but rewriting his existence from analyst to aggressor.
His pupils contracted into sharp, predatory slits. He felt the knowledge of the Audit skill change inside him, converting its function from "finding inefficiencies" to "replicating perfect performance."
[New Skill Acquired: Flaw Replication (B-Rank, Unique).]
[Effect: The Host can temporarily replicate any visible skill or natural ability used by a target after identifying a "Flaw" (opening, stress point, or over-reliance) in its execution. Replication lasts 5 minutes. Cooldown: 1 hour.]
He roared—a primal, soundless burst of energy—and his muscles violently contracted, forcing the dagger out of his body. He stood up, swaying, his expensive suit shredded and soaked in blood and shadow-mana.
Ji-hoon and Hyun-woo stared, momentarily paralyzed by the sheer change in aura.
"You thought a betrayal would be the flaw in my system?" Tae-oh's voice was distorted, deep, and utterly devoid of fear. "You thought you had the perfect execution?"
He pointed a bloody hand at Hyun-woo, who was already raising his heavy shield in defense.
[Flaw Replication Activated! Target: Hunter Hyun-woo (C-Rank Shield Mastery).]
[Flaw Identified: Reliance on Heavy Shield (Slow Recovery Time). Replication Initiated.]
Tae-oh moved. He didn't use an F-Rank skill; he moved with the perfect, lightning-fast defensive maneuver of a fully realized C-Rank Shield Master, but without the shield itself. His arms moved to block, and then his feet shifted, using the C-Rank's footwork and stance against the stunned Hyun-woo.
He then channeled his black mana, not into an Audit blast, but into a perfect, replicated punch—a punch that carried the exact kinetic force and angle needed to breach a C-Rank Hunter's core defense.
The punch landed square in Hyun-woo's chest. Hyun-woo screamed as the internal damage exploded. He collapsed, clutching his chest in agony.
Ji-hoon, the Regressor, reacted instantly, drawing his greatsword, Despair's Edge. He charged, unleashing a powerful C-Rank [Mana Surge] toward Tae-oh.
Tae-oh didn't dodge. He simply analyzed the attack.
[Flaw Replication Activated! Target: Regressor Lee Ji-hoon (C-Rank Mana Surge).]
[Flaw Identified: Over-extension of Aura (Exposes Rear Arc). Replication Initiated.]
In the next moment, Han Tae-oh replicated Ji-hoon's exact attack. A surge of shadow-black mana exploded from his own hand, meeting Ji-hoon's silver mana head-on. The clash wasn't even; Ji-hoon's attack was stronger, but the sheer shock of his inferior, supposedly dead rival using his own technique forced him to pull back.
"So this is it, Traitor," Ji-hoon growled, his eyes burning with confirmation. "The hidden power. The true S-Rank villain."
Tae-oh looked at the power coursing through him—a power that finally matched his ambition. The hope of peaceful survival was entirely gone.
"The bond is broken," Tae-oh stated, his voice now calm, dangerous, and absolute.
He pointed a bloody finger at Ji-hoon. "The alliance is over. You and I will only meet to fight. And next time, I'll take a skill that ensures I win."
With a burst of speed that tore the floor beneath his boots—the replicated speed of a top B-Rank—Han Tae-oh vanished into the maze of shipping containers.