Infinite Evolution Hunter [NOVEL] - Chapter 4

[Regeneration (E): Evolves the body while regenerating.]

Same as in my previous life. From E-rank onward, not only does regeneration speed up, but the body evolves in ways that overcome injuries and stress.

The more you get hit, the tougher you become; the more you run, the faster you get.

I examined the wounds from earlier.

Fresh skin had grown where the flesh was torn, leaving it smooth with no scarring.

That’s another advantage of the regeneration skill. Since it’s not simple healing but true cellular regeneration—like fingernails or hair—no scars remain.

Moreover, if a limb is severed or the wound is large, basic healing skills or potions can’t fully restore it.

Regeneration, however, will rebuild it stronger, as long as you have enough vitality and time.

I felt fired up.

My regeneration skill rank had risen, and the speed was noticeably faster.

I’d planned to focus on raising stamina and then train my skill in an actual Gate, but now I had a reason to push myself to the extreme even more than before.

Maybe because I’d healed up and then undergone intense training, I was so hungry my stomach hurt.

When I entered the cafeteria, I felt other students’ eyes on me.

After taking a serious injury from an instructor on the first day, I had apparently become a minor celebrity—one way or another.

“Is that the jerk? No real ability, but he still got into the Academy just because he awakened?”

“Yeah. They say he’s F-rank regeneration.”

Trainees’ skills should be confidential, so I had no idea how they knew—but I wasn’t planning to stay in the Academy long anyway.

I ignored them, grabbed my food, and headed for the corner seat where I’d eaten lunch.

Shutting out the stares, I silently shoveled the heaping tray of food into my mouth and finished eating.

After the meal, I returned to the dorm, grabbed a change of clothes, and headed to the communal bath.

My level had only risen by one, but my body had already gotten a bit bigger and firmer.

Maybe because I’d been so soft to begin with, the change felt even more pronounced.

I washed off the dirt and blood with water hot enough to scald.

After I finished and came out to change, a group of students passed by, spotted me, and came over.

“Hey, F-rank. Stop getting in the way of people who seriously want to be Hunters and go home, yeah?”

One who looked like their leader stepped up to pick a fight.

He had to be close to two meters tall and built like a tank.

Awakened usually have strong pride.

They think they’re different—and in truth, they have awakened power.

So it’s common for them to dislike non-awakened or Awakened with “half-baked” skills entering their domain, and to throw their weight around.

“Mind your own business.”

I answered without looking at him, finishing dressing.

“What? Listen to this punk’s attitude.”

In my previous life, I would’ve just smiled awkwardly and avoided any contact, but I had no reason to do that now.

I quietly packed my things, turned around, and stared straight into his eyes.

“Huh… so you’re an Awakener and all that? Do you even know who I am?”

“No idea.”

I didn’t recognize his face—which meant he wasn’t someone who would make a name for himself later.

There are entrance ceremonies several times a month, and this isn’t the only Academy. Even if you strut around here, you’re small fry in the end.

“Heh heh… you’re pretty good at getting under people’s skin. Got something to back that attitude up?”

Towering over me, he tapped my forehead with his finger.

“Not really.”

I flicked his annoying hand away.

“Hahaha… ha!”

He stopped laughing and swung a fist at my head.

Maybe he thought a surprise attack would work, but his wind-up was huge—I could see it coming.

I turned my body aside to dodge and drove a punch into his ribs.

With a thud, my fist sank into his side, but his posture didn’t budge.

He was tougher than he looked.

“My skill is Enhancement, you little—!”

I avoided the next punch that would’ve smashed my skull, but his Agility was probably double mine.

I couldn’t dodge the rapid follow-ups.

A hook caught my face, and I hit the floor.

My skull rang.

As I tried to gather myself and get up, a kick flew in.

I twisted this way and that to protect my vital spots, but the bystanders joined in and started stomping me.

“Damn it! Who do you think you are?!”

Rage flared—I almost considered killing them all.

Then I thought it over and realized this wasn’t a bad opportunity.

I’d been happy about the unexpected skill level-up earlier; if I took beatings from guys with clear malice, I might pick up one or two more skills.

“Don’t you dare drop out. From now on, every time I see you, I’ll grind you into the ground. Ptooey!”

He spat on me and left the shower room, his gang following.

I lay on the locker room floor for a while, and when I’d recovered enough, I stood up.

“Damn it. Guess I have to wash again.”

By the time I fetched fresh clothes and got back under the water, the wounds on my body were already healed.

—

The chaotic first day passed, and the wake-up trumpet blared at 5 a.m. the next morning.

“Wake up! Wake up! You think you can sleep in like this inside a Gate?! Assemble on the training field within ten minutes!”

At the Academy—designed with Gate conditions in mind—wake-up times were early.

I was already awake, but instead of rushing, I dressed at an easy pace and left the dorm.

Trainees with good stats sprinted like they were flying; a few even jumped out of windows.

When most had arrived, the instructor shouted,

“That’s it! Anyone past ten minutes will strap these weights to both wrists and ankles. Do it!”

Since I’d strolled over, I did as told and strapped on the weights.

I needed to increase the load on my training anyway, so this “penalty” was actually good for me.

If I’d come early and put them on, it would’ve drawn attention—so I deliberately moved slow.

It was still early in the program, so each weight was ten kilograms—forty in total.

Once everyone was in line, the senior instructor began speaking.

“Without stamina, you will not survive in Gates! You may have to hunt for days, run out of food, or be injured. In those moments, the most helpful—and most fundamental—asset is stamina. Keep that in mind as you train. Now… first eighty back to the summit wins. Go!”

Some students panicked at the sudden announcement, but most had adapted to yesterday’s training and shot off like arrows.

An instructor led from the front to set the route, and the students surged after him.

The latecomers, with the extra forty kilos, nearly had their limbs torn off trying to match that pace—even as Awakened.

With stats only a bit above a normal person’s, running with forty kilos slowed me to a crawl—but I grit my teeth and kept moving.

The group that started in a pack soon stretched into a long line, and the lead instructor never looked back.

The front group hit the back-mountain summit and was already coming down, while the trailing group, me included, hadn’t reached the top yet.

Soaked in sweat, I crested the summit, and a cool wind blew away some of the heat.

But there was no time to rest. I immediately began the descent.

By the time I returned to the starting point—about an hour later—most students were already gone.

“At that speed, how will you survive being chased by monsters?! Everyone arriving now will tag the summit again. Go!”

For the trailing students, gasping with lungs in their throats, it was like the sky was falling.

“In-instructor, can we at least drop these weights…?”

One female trainee, face pale, asked in a crawling voice.

“The fault—and responsibility—lies with those who came late. Run as is. Move.”

“Y-yes, sir.”

Lacking the courage to argue, she turned and started running.

Still, the instructor wasn’t wrong. If you can’t handle even this, you won’t survive in a Gate anyway.

I set off for the summit again as well.

With heart and legs tearing and my head spinning, I kept moving without a break.

When I reached the top again, a fresh breeze met me—and a notification window popped up.

[Strength has increased by 1.]

[Stamina has increased by 1.]

[Skill acquired: Iron Will (F).]

More than the wind, the stat gains and new skill delighted me.

I’d thought the Academy would be a waste of time, but yesterday’s incident had turned it to my advantage.

Iron Will increases resistance to pain, resistance to mental magic, endurance—overall mental durability.

With Stamina up, my body felt lighter, and I increased my speed on the way down.

I hadn’t worried about injuries from the start, so I ran boldly; the descent was far easier.

Drenched in sweat, I reached the starting point again.

Of those who ran twice, I was the first to return, so no one was there yet.

“Trainee Lee Jiseok. You may go eat.”

The waiting instructor addressed me, and I bowed slightly and headed back to the dorm.

—

This morning we had Introduction to Monsters.

Students who’d spent themselves on the two runs were exhausted, but after breakfast I had already recovered—no muscle soreness, no fatigue.

“Welcome to Introduction to Monsters. We don’t have time to teach everything about monsters, but we’ll briefly cover the ones you’re likely to meet over the next year.”

The instructor—muscular enough to pass for an active Hunter—projected an image of a goblin.

“What? A goblin, seriously?”

“Do we even need to learn about that?”

Murmurs rose from the students.

“Quiet!”

The professor slapped the wall to get our attention. He might have been Awakened too—the wall made a thunderclap and looked slightly cracked.

“Do goblins look like a joke? The number one cause of death for rookie Hunters is goblins.”

“Huh?! Aren’t they the weakest monsters?”

“In pure combat ability, yes. A goblin is about 130 centimeters tall, and its strength is a little below that of a non-awakened adult male. If you stay calm, even a non-awakened can defeat one on one.”

“Then how do Hunters get taken out by them?”

“They swarm. There are lots of them. And they’re clever. Traps, poisoned weapons… and goblins throw their lives at you. Compared to modern people who’ve lived comfortably, their mindset is different. That’s why rookies fall victim so often.”

The professor showed unvarnished photos of Hunters who’d been killed by goblins.

“Urgh…”

Some covered their mouths and looked away; others watched with tense, serious eyes.

“Too brutal? This is what you’re going to see from now on. In an office, a mistake gets you a write-up—or, at worst, fired. For a Hunter, a mistake gets someone killed.”

In the taut atmosphere, the professor continued the lecture on goblin habits and ecology.

“That’s all for today. Don’t slack on your studies—you’ll have to hunt a goblin in the Academy graduation exam.”

At that, everyone left the classroom half-eager and half-anxious.

In the afternoon, we had hand-to-hand combat training—our first combat training since joining the Academy.