Life Rebooted with Copy and Paste-Chapter 115. The Scout

Clang!

Kim Do-Joon raised his spear just in time to block the oncoming fist. The force vibrated through the shaft, yet he held firm and swung it back. His spear met the enemy’s guard once again, barely leaving a scratch.

A smirk spread across the Blood Lion’s face. The small wound on his arm bubbled, before disappearing completely in the blink of an eye.

The ability to regenerate...

According to ancient records, the Therianthropes possessed remarkable regenerative abilities. They weren’t quite at the level of Trolls, but they could heal from most injuries that’d otherwise incapacitate an ordinary person.

The ones I've fought so far were the same, Kim Do-Joon thought, remembering the battles he had faced on the way here. However, something was different about this creature.

This one seems to heal faster than all the other ones I’ve encountered.

Kim Do-Joon noted, this creature wasn’t only confident because of his strength, but also his unnatural ability to recover.

Then, Kim Do-Joon flexed his empty left hand, before clenching it into a fist. He’d gauged his opponent’s skills. Now, it was time to get serious and defeat him!

Kim Do-Joon charged. The Therianthrope, who noticed the attack, didn’t bother to dodge. Instead, he grinned savagely and threw a punch straight at him, ready for another exchange.

The battle resumed after a brief lull, but this time it was different. Kim Do-Joon poured even more mana into his spear, channeling his power into the weapon.

A torrent of freezing energy from the Ice Crystal swirled around the spearhead, encapsulating the Violent Stream in a single strike. The spear spun, hurtling toward the Therianthrope like an unstoppable force of nature.

“This is...” the Therianthrope muttered, widening his eyes in surprise. He had sensed Kim Do-Joon’s energy before, but this attack was far stronger than anything he had felt earlier.

Then, a single, terrifying realization hit him.

This attack could kill me.

For the first time, his heart raced with fear. Up until now, the battle had been no more than a casual warm-up, but now, the stakes were life or death.

In that moment, the Therianthrope’s eyes turned blood-red. His body seemed to erupt with an ominous aura, tendrils of energy pouring out from every part of him.

This was Blood Force, the unique mana of the Therianthropes. Unlike Hunters, who followed the paths of mana, Therianthropes channeled their power through their bloodlines. This gave their mana its distinctive, blood-like hue.

However, the Blood Lion’s Blood Force was different. It was denser and more potent than anything Kim Do-Joon had ever encountered.

“I’ll admit that you could kill me,” the Blood Lion said with a smirk.

His smile was overflowing with bloodlust. In fact, this was what the Blood Lion wanted—a real fight with an opponent worthy of his strength.

Of course, Kim Do-Joon didn’t care about his enemy’s excitement. He remained focused on one thing: finishing the battle.

Ha...

With a flick of his wrist, sparkling dust scattered from his hand into the wind. Moments ago, it had taken the form of a knife, but now, it had dissolved into nothingness.

[Blood Lion]

Compatibility

- 0%

[Additional Effect]

- Non-regenerating

Nice... I got him.

Kim Do-Joon was satisfied with the outcome. The previous attack had been a ruse. He had intentionally overloaded his attack with mana to distract the beast. As planned, the creature had focused all its energy on blocking the Violent Stream, completely overlooking the small knife that had appeared and vanished in Kim Do-Joon’s left hand.

"Now, let’s get the real thing started, Human," the Blood Lion growled, baring his teeth in a menacing grin.

Kim Do-Joon agreed, albeit he kept silent. This next round was indeed the main event. Their second clash began with a roar of force that shook the ground. Fists and spear collided with ferocity.

Unlike before, when they had merely exchanged blows directed at each other, it now felt as if they were trying to tear apart everything around them. Each strike aimed not only at their opponent, but at the earth beneath their feet, the air they breathed, the very space they occupied.

Massive trees, once towering over the battlefield, were torn like paper, and the ground was riddled with deep craters. These weren’t even direct hits, but the aftermath of their clashes.

Gulp—

The other Hunters, watching from the sidelines, gulped nervously. None of them dared to interfere. After all, even the smallest misstep would mean certain death. They could potentially be ripped apart by the sheer force of the ongoing battle.

Even top-tier Hunters like Ko Cheong-Cheon and Walter, who had the skills to intervene, held back. They knew better than to get involved now, lest they disrupt Kim Do-Joon’s flow.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Baaaam—!

Time passed, though it was hard to tell how much. Both Kim Do-Joon and the Blood Lion were panting heavily. They had poured everything they had into this fight, leaving them dangerously low on stamina.

“Looks like we’re both running on fumes,” the Blood Lion said, his voice tinged with regret.

This fight was exhilarating—a rare joy he wanted to savor. However, both of their energies were fading fast.

Once their mana reserves were gone, it’d come down to a bare-knuckle brawl. And when that happened, the outcome was obvious. No mere human could beat the Blood Lion in a hand-to-hand fight.

"Ko Cheong-Cheon, we need to step in soon. If we don’t, he’ll die," Walter whispered urgently.

"I know," Ko Cheong-Cheon replied, his eyes locked on the fight. "I’m waiting for the right moment."

They both knew Kim Do-Joon had fought valiantly. He had whittled the Blood Lion’s strength down to a fraction of what it was. And now, the man was on the verge of collapsing. There was no way he could finish the fight on his own. At least, that was what everyone thought, except Kim Do-Joon.

You can go in now, Kim Do-Joon quietly muttered under his breath.

As if on cue, the Ice Crystal mana that had been swirling around him, encasing his entire body, began to dissipate. The bitter cold that radiated from him moments ago started to fade, leaving him standing there with nothing.

Everyone could sense it. The sudden drop in his aura was impossible to miss. Even the Blood Lion frowned, sensing something was off.

"Are you giving up already? If that’s the case, what a disappoi—"

However, before the Blood Lion could finish his sentence, a wall of fire erupted around Kim Do-Joon, engulfing him in a blazing inferno.

Whoosh—!

***

"W-what the hell?" Ko Cheong-Cheon couldn’t help but shout.

His voice trembled as much as his hands. He stared at the scene in disbelief, his mind racing. From Oh Tae-Jin’s documents, Ko Cheong-Cheon had read everything there was to know about Kim Do-Joon.

Kim Do-Joon was an Enhancement-class Hunter with ice-based mana. Yet here he was, wielding fire—and not just any fire, but an overwhelming flame, the complete opposite of his usual ice.

In fact, that wasn’t the only thing that was off. Not only had Kim Do-Joon’s element changed, it also felt like he’d somehow restored all of his depleted mana in an instant. The sheer amount of mana radiating from him was overwhelming.

Did he drink a potion that restores all of his mana...? No, there's no such thing. Then... is it a skill? One that instantly recovers depleted mana?

Ko Cheong-Cheon was bewildered. No matter how powerful or famous the Hunter, he had never heard of such an ability. Even someone like him, who ranked first in Korea and among the top in the world, couldn’t make sense of what was happening.

Unbeknownst to him, two contrasting elements of energy were coexisting within Kim Do-Joon.

"Damn it!"

The Blood Lion, standing opposite of Kim Do-Joon, was far more shaken. His victory was within reach, yet his human foe suddenly recovered and returned stronger than ever! Now, the third round of their battle had begun.

This time, Kim Do-Joon was clearly dominating.

Thwack!

Then, in the blink of an eye, Kim Do-Joon’s spear pierced through the Blood Lion’s flesh, tearing through bones and muscles, before embedding itself deep in the beast’s chest.

It was the same spiraling, explosive force as before, but now enveloped in hellish flames. The fire didn’t only scorch the Blood Lion’s skin, but burned through his organs, reducing everything inside to ash.

"This... can't... be..."

The Blood Lion’s vision began to blur, his regeneration effect completely failing to kick in. He didn’t even have time to wonder why. All he could think about was the looming defeat and encroaching death.

Although he’d yearned for a fierce battle, what he desired above all else was victory. Every fight had been a way to grow stronger, to push itself further. However, this was the end.

The Blood Lion’s eyes widened in disbelief, unable to accept his own death. It tried to speak, but before it could utter a word, the flames from the spiral wound in his chest erupted once again, consuming him entirely.

Fwoosh!

[You have defeated a monster. You have gained Experience Points (EXP).]

[Your Compatibility has increased.]

Kim Do-Joon glanced at the message that appeared before him. It hadn’t been long since his Compatibility had risen after the encounter at the port, but here it was again, increasing further. Satisfied, he withdrew his spear from the Blood Lion's lifeless body.

“Phew...”

Kim Do-Joon exhaled softly. He had no idea how much energy he had poured into this fight. His body, which was usually brimming with vitality, now felt strangely empty.

However, he could feel his mana slowly returning.

Thanks to his mana breathing skill, his recovery was at least two to three times faster than others. Still, with the sheer amount of mana he had used, it’d take some time before he was fully recharged.

"For now..." Kim Do-Joon surveyed the battlefield around him.

It was a wreck. The landscape had been completely transformed by the aftermath of his battle with the Blood Lion.

I guess I’ll have to be more careful when fighting near others.

He scratched his cheek awkwardly before turning around. He walked toward the hunting party that had been observing him from a safe distance.

***

The clean-up began because the mission wasn’t over yet. There were still plenty of Therianthropes lurking deeper in the forest. However, with the death of the Blood Lion, the rest were just scattered remnants.

Still, everyone needed a break since many had been injured during the battle with the Blood Lion. While Shin Yoo-Sung had done his best to heal them, some injuries were too severe to completely fix in a short time.

Tents were set up, and the wounded were laid down to rest. Among them was Yeon Hong-Ah, unconscious and still bleeding slightly from the corners of her mouth. She had yet to wake up.

After ensuring the wounded were taken care of, Shin Yoo-Sung approached Kim Do-Joon.

“We’re about to start a meeting with Ko Cheong-Cheon and Walter. It would be great if you could join us, So-Eun’s Dad,” Shin Yoo-Sung said.

Kim Do-Joon raised an eyebrow in confusion. He looked puzzled because they wanted an A-rank to attend a meeting exclusive for S-Ranks.

“Are you sure that I can be there?” Kim Do-Joon asked.

“Of course,” Shin Yoo-Sung nodded firmly.

A glance around at the other A-ranks nearby revealed that they too, were looking at him as if it was the most obvious thing. A short while later, four people—Kim Do-Joon, Shin Yoo-Sung, Ko Cheong-Cheon, and Walter—gathered inside a small tent.

The mood was starkly divided. Shin Yoo-Sung was smiling, clearly in a good mood. Meanwhile, both Ko Cheong-Cheon and Walter kept stealing glances at Kim Do-Joon, looking uneasy.

Where the hell did this monster come from? Ko Cheong-Cheon thought, still in disbelief. He had called the Blood Lion a monster, and Kim Do-Joon, who’d defeated him, was just as monstrous.

Originally, the plan had been simple. They’d help Korea out during this hunt, gain some goodwill, and leverage that to extract Ko Cheong-Cheon from any political backlash. After all, with the defeat of the Blood Lion, they could demand rewards, influence, and favors from the Korean government.

Our plan is all ruined...

Everything had fallen apart. Besides, everything had already been laid bare for the world to see—the sight of Ko Cheong-Cheon and his elite Mercenaries being effortlessly overwhelmed by the enemy, only for Kim Do-Joon, a lone Korean Hunter, to step in and defeat the foe with ease.

Not just the Hunters present, but the entire nation had witnessed it unfold live, leaving no room for denial or excuses.

In this tense atmosphere, the meeting began. The agenda was clear: the future course of the hunt.

“We may not face anything stronger than the Blood Lion, but we should proceed with more caution,” Shin Yoo-Sung began, setting a more careful tone.

He suggested that they should no longer be confident about pressing forward at full speed. Then, Ko Cheong-Cheon seized the opportunity, making a suggestion with a slight smirk.

“How about we retreat for now? It might be better to regroup and come back later.”

However, his words carried a different intention. This hunt was turning into more of a loss than a gain for him. Bringing his top-tier Mercenaries, including Walter, just to play second fiddle to someone else was humiliating. If they retreated now, Ko Cheong-Cheon could easily come up with excuses to bow out of the hunt altogether.

However, Shin Yoo-Sung wasn’t having it. He firmly shook his head.

“We can’t do that. The cost of keeping all these Hunters here is already immense. Any further delay isn’t an option.”

Shin Yoo-Sung wasn’t naive. He knew exactly what Ko Cheong-Cheon was thinking. Back when the Mir Guild was still a part of the Priests' Association, he had encountered plenty of people like him. They were obsessed with cost-benefit calculations and how they appeared in front of others.

“But is money really the issue here? What if there are more monsters like that Blood Lion lurking ahead? For safety’s sake, a retreat makes more sense,” Ko Cheong-Cheon argued, his voice taking on a sharper edge.

“...”

Shin Yoo-Sung let out a reluctant groan. As much as he disliked admitting it, Ko Cheong-Cheon had a point. Pushing forward without knowing what lay ahead was a huge risk. The real problem, though, was that if the Mercenaries pulled out, their fighting strength would plummet.

Then, a thought struck him.

Wait... Mr. Do-Joon is still here.

Kim Do-Joon, who had single-handedly defeated the Blood Lion, was more than enough to make up for any loss in manpower. Even if the Mercenaries decided to bail, as long as Kim Do-Joon was with them, the hunt could continue successfully.

At that moment, Kim Do-Joon, who had been quietly listening, finally spoke up.

“So, the concern is that the deeper parts of the forest might be more dangerous than we expected?” Kim Do-Joon asked, breaking his silence.

“That’s right.”

“Yes exactly.”

“...”

After seeing everyone’s agreement, Kim Do-Joon then proposed his plan.

“In that case, how about this? I’ll go ahead as a scout. If there’s anything like the Blood Lion lurking around, I’ll contact you immediately.”

The room fell silent. Everyone instinctively wanted to tell him it was too dangerous, but after witnessing the sheer power he had displayed earlier, those thoughts faded away.

“Plus,” Kim Do-Joon added casually, “I’ll take care of any monsters I encounter along the way. That way, you’ll have an easier time following me.”

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“But that’s...”

Everyone’s eyes widened in shock at the implication of his words. Although he made it sound like he was doing them a favor, what he was really saying was obvious—he planned to hunt the monsters ahead of them alone.

It was, in essence, a monopolized hunt, similar to what Yeon Hong-Ah had been doing in A-rank dungeons. However, none of them dared to challenge him. Who could argue with the man who’d just single-handedly taken down the Blood Lion, a creature that had been an insurmountable obstacle for everyone else?

“Well then, we’ll be counting on you.”

Kim Do-Joon left the meeting room, looking satisfied.

***

The next day, the hunting party set off again at dawn. As per the agreement, Kim Do-Joon forged ahead alone, clearing out Therianthropes as he ventured deeper into the forest.

— Gyaoo!

Suddenly, a loud, eerie screech echoed through the trees.

“Hmm?” Do-Joon muttered, pausing.

Something unusual in the hollow of a tree trunk had caught his eye.