The Handsomer You Are, the Stronger You Become-Chapter 130: Overtime (4)

The wasteland echoed with the crimson spectacle of an explosive finale.

At its epicenter—

‘Ah....’

Kyle felt his body breaking apart, a sigh escaping his lips.

‘I was always number one....’

Since the world had changed, he had always been first.

The first to awaken in the U.S., the first to clear dungeons, the first to reach level 100.

Everything about being a Hunter had come easily to him—slaying monsters, completing quests, and basking in the adoration of the masses.

The world hailed Kyle as a hero, and everything he said or did was met with unwavering support.

So he began to wonder:

Am I a god?

Updat𝓮d from frёewebnoѵēl.com.

Perhaps the ancient myths of countless nations weren’t mere fabrications but tales of real people who had ascended to godhood.

Maybe he was destined to follow in their footsteps.

This belief took root in Kyle’s heart, and eventually, it became a tangible reality.

The Seven Deadly Sins.

By completing his sin, he could acquire divine status.

From the Infinite Dungeon, Kyle had obtained the Sin of Envy.

A power that ensured he was always ahead of others. It resonated with his life’s trajectory, and he believed it was inevitable that he would be the first to achieve divinity.

But then, in the Swordsmanship Tournament, his victory was stolen.

By an unknown, no-name Hunter.

Kyle couldn’t bear it. To reclaim his stolen throne, he launched an ambush.

But in the end—

‘I was supposed to be number one....’

The truth struck him: he was no longer the best.

Thud!

As the explosion subsided, Kyle’s shattered body fell limply to the ground.

Even in his final moments, he had struggled to maintain his position at the top, but now his arms and legs hung uselessly, severed and lifeless.

And then—

Fwoooosh!

A sudden burst of green light radiated from Kyle’s broken form, flowing into Kang Hyunsoo, who stood nearby, bloodied and breathing heavily.

“...?! What is...?”

Hyunsoo’s bewildered gaze darted around.

The truth revealed itself through a message:

[You have defeated the Successor of Envy.]

[Absorbing the Fragment of Envy.]

Just like with Ji Wonhoon, defeating Kyle had caused the Sin’s power to transfer to Hyunsoo.

But this time, it wasn’t just a fragment—it was a larger shard.

While Ji Wonhoon had been a mere follower incapable of fully manifesting his sin, Kyle had advanced enough to pursue the divine quest, giving him far greater power.

Hyunsoo felt the weight of this new energy—stronger and more potent than before.

However—

[Your vessel is incomplete.]

[You cannot fully assimilate the Fragment of Envy.]

[Due to differing natures, only a portion is absorbed.]

[The Fragment of Lust is slightly strengthened.]

[The power of the Beauty Talent increases by 10%.]

[The remaining Fragment of Envy disperses to find a new vessel.]

Because the nature of the power differed, he couldn’t fully absorb it.

Fwoosh!

The green energy that had temporarily entered Hyunsoo’s body shot back out, piercing the sky and scattering into countless fragments.

Watching this, Iron let out a heart-wrenching scream.

“K-Kyle...? Kyyyyyle!!”

While battling Hayuri, Iron had turned his head at the massive explosion, only to see Kyle dead and the power of Envy transferring to Hyunsoo before dispersing.

“D-Damn it, he actually won...?”

Even Hayuri, usually composed, was stunned into momentary disbelief.

Iron immediately launched himself toward Hyunsoo.

Swish!

His knuckles, charged with wrath, hurtled toward Hyunsoo.

But—

Clang!

Hyunsoo raised his dual swords just in time to block the strike.

“You killed Kyle...! I’ll avenge him!!”

【Activation】

[Wrath Skill: Wrath Explosion (SS) - Unleash the power of Wrath across your entire body, creating a massive explosion.]

Boom!

A colossal explosion erupted from Iron, engulfing everything in its vicinity.

With his Trust Armor already shattered, Hyunsoo seemed doomed.

But then—

Fwoosh!

A violet portal opened, and Hayuri emerged, grabbing Hyunsoo and pulling him into the portal before it closed.

In the blink of an eye, the two reappeared at the outskirts of the battlefield.

Hayuri glanced at the distant explosion and turned to Hyunsoo.

“What the hell happened? I thought you were losing... Did you awaken some kind of new power?”

Panting heavily from the intense battle, Hyunsoo glanced at the system messages hovering in his vision.

“A new power... yeah, you could say that.”

{Hidden Talent}

[Lv 1. Decadent Beauty – Beauty blooms even amidst despair. User wields swordsmanship fueled by their own blood.]

[Activation Condition 1: Activates when both maximum health and maximum Appearance Power drop below 50%.]

[Activation Condition 2: Activates when the user sustains injuries and bleeds.]

[Triggers upon fulfilling either condition.]

Hyunsoo stared at the messages, stunned.

A power like this had been hidden all along.

When Hyunsoo had used Frenzy and engaged in his frenzied duel with Kyle, he had fully expected to lose.

With each passing moment, his Appearance Power dwindled, weakening him, while Kyle remained strong.

But just when it seemed hopeless, a new power awakened.

Decadent Beauty.

Though niche, the concept of finding beauty in brokenness manifested as a potent force.

And ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) the abilities it bestowed were extraordinary:

[Decadent Skill: Blood Sword (SS)]

Combines the user’s blood with mana to forge a blade-like aura. Costs 500 mana.

[Decadent Skill: Blood Web (SS)]

Spreads the user’s blood in a web-like formation, creating sharp barriers to entrap targets. Costs 600 mana.

[Decadent Skill: Bloodburst (SS)]

Combines the user’s blood and mana to create a powerful explosion. Can be chained with other Decadent Skills. Costs 700 mana.

[Decadent Skill: Blood Fortification (SS)]

Forms a protective shield around the user’s body or a specific part using blood and mana. Consumes 200 mana per 10 seconds.

[Decadent Trait: Blood Frenzy (SS)]

Automatically activates with Decadent Beauty. When the user bleeds, all physical abilities are drastically enhanced. All stats double, with an additional +1,000 bonus.The sheer potential was astounding.

While the conditions to activate the talent were severe—requiring injury or a significant drop in health and Appearance Power—the rewards far outweighed the drawbacks.

Hyunsoo could forge weapons, create barriers, unleash explosions, and even enhance his defense and physical abilities to levels that rivaled Bloom.

It was this hidden talent that had allowed him to defeat Kyle, the Successor of Envy.

Even Hayuri was impressed.

“The power of a Sin changes depending on its user, but... wow, that’s incredible. You could probably take down Iron with that, too.”

Hyunsoo agreed inwardly.

Truthfully, he didn’t think he would lose to Iron in his current state. He had already defeated Kyle and could now count on Hayuri’s support.

However—

‘I can’t trust her.’

Doubt gnawed at him.

While they had been allies thus far, there was no guarantee that Hayuri wouldn’t turn on him once Iron was defeated.

Hyunsoo was already injured and vulnerable.

If he used Decadent Beauty to defeat Iron, Hayuri could easily betray him, leaving Hyunsoo as nothing more than a pawn in her game.

It would be a clean sweep for her—Hyunsoo would do the hard work, and Hayuri would reap all the rewards.

With that in mind, Hyunsoo frowned and said, “It’ll be tough for me. I already dealt with Kyle, so why don’t you handle Iron? From what I saw, you should be able to manage.”

As expected, Hayuri responded with a feigned excuse.

“Ah, I don’t think I can. He’s grown stronger than I anticipated during our fight.”

Her answer was transparent.

Though they were allies, they remained wary of one another. Defeating Iron could disrupt the balance of their fragile alliance, so conserving strength was paramount.

The tension between them became palpable, like walking on thin ice.

Finally, Hayuri broke the silence.

“...Let’s deal with Iron if he becomes a bigger threat later. For now, we should retreat. Both of us are exhausted.”

“Agreed.”

Their alliance remained intact—for now.

Hayuri waved her fan, summoning a violet portal.

Just as they stepped through, Iron’s furious roar echoed from the distance.

“Stop right there, you bastards...!!”

With bloodshot eyes and seething rage, Iron charged toward them.

But Hyunsoo and Hayuri disappeared into the portal, leaving the wasteland behind.

***

[World News] Drastic Shifts in Global Hunter Rankings!

[Breaking: Korea’s Kang Hyunsoo Soars from Mid-Tier to Top-Tier After Swordsmanship Tournament Victory!]

[U.S. Hunter Kyle Missing for Over a Month Following Devastating Loss.]

[Iron Found in Mongolia’s Gobi Desert After Disappearing Post-Tournament.]

[Korean Government Hails Kang Hyunsoo’s Win as National Pride, Promises Unwavering Support for Hunter Development.]

One month had passed since the dramatic conclusion of the Swordsmanship Tournament.

Though the initial buzz had begun to wane, the aftermath continued to ripple across the globe.

In addition to Hyunsoo’s surprising victory, the disappearance of Kyle, the American runner-up, and the mysterious reappearance of Iron only fueled speculation.

Some theorized that Kyle had died in a dungeon out of frustration, while others suggested he had retired from being a Hunter due to the crushing loss.

With no evidence or leads, not even the media, government, or Hunter Bureau could determine the truth.

In a dark alley, a shadowed figure scrolled through the latest news on their phone.

“Kyle’s disappearance... So what I sensed back then was real. That guy is dead.”

Despite the limited information available, the figure had pieced together the situation with startling accuracy.

Standing in the shadow of a streetlamp, their face obscured, the figure smirked.

“Well then, I suppose it’s time to pick up the pace.”

Removing their hat, they stepped confidently into the bustling street.