[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-marvel-hunter":3,"chapter-marvel-hunter-marvel-hunter-chapter-142":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Marvel: Hunter",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1590031,2056,"Chapter 142: Swordsmanship","marvel-hunter-chapter-142",142,"\u003Cp>Host: Blaine\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Physical Fitness: 275\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hunter Level: C\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Abilities:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Diamond Body Lv.5]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Copying Eye Lv.3]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Absolute Hit Lv.3]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[HawkEye Lv.3]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Mind Control Lv.3]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Shadow Stealth Lv.3]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Mind Reading]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Danger Perception]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Regeneration]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Equipment: [Hunter Suit (+10)] [Elemental Bow (+15)] [White Snake Bow (+5)] [Tracking Paper Crane (x3)]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Balance: 7.875 billion\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>---\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During this round of shopping in the mall, Blaine once again maximized his physique.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, he soon noticed a problem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most of his skills were already at Lv.3 or Lv.5, yet his Hunter Suit and Elemental Bow seemed comparatively under-leveled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And equipment—he really had too little of it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At present, he owned only one suit and a pair of bows.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If not for his limited skill bar, Blaine would have also improved himself in other areas.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Elemental Bow and Hunter Suit had been with him from his days as a garbage-tier D-rank Hunter to now, an elite C-rank. It would be a lie to say he felt no attachment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides, in terms of power, they were still superior to anything else available. Both had been strengthened repeatedly, and unless the mall introduced a proper recycling system, Blaine wasn't willing to replace them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Hunter Suit was currently +10.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blaine strengthened it 15 times in one go: 50 million from +10 to +15, 250 million from +15 to +20, and 500 million from +20 to +25—for a total of 800 million.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He then strengthened the Elemental Bow 10 times, spending another 500 million.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Together, that was 1.3 billion, minus his 10% Hunter discount—1.17 billion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Balance: 6.705 billion.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After upgrading both pieces of equipment to +25, Blaine saw the notification he had been waiting for:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Money spent in system shop has exceeded 10 billion. You can now upgrade your Hunter Level from C to B.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally—an upgrade!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blaine excitedly confirmed the prompt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>---\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Congratulations to the host for raising Hunter Level to B.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[The skill bar has expanded to 15 slots.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[The shopping discount in the mall has increased from 10% to 20%.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[New function unlocked: Mall Recycling.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mall Recycling: Equipment you no longer need can be recycled to the system at 50% of its original purchase price (strengthening costs excluded).\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>---\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The benefits of reaching B-rank were enormous. Five additional skill slots, a doubled discount, and a recycling function.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, old equipment could be traded in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, the catch was obvious—it only reimbursed 50% of the base price, excluding strengthening. Still, better than nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blaine, however, was more interested in the expanded skill bar. With five new slots, he could now purchase auxiliary skills freely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One in particular caught his eye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>---\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Eye of Insight]: Price: 5 billion. Grants the ability to discern the physique, skills, weaknesses, and status of any opponent whose strength is at most more than three times your own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>---\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without hesitation, Blaine purchased it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the old saying goes: 'Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated in a hundred battles.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This Eye of Insight could even expose the details of someone up to three times stronger than him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Armed with knowledge others lacked, Blaine could turn even an overwhelming battle to his advantage—perhaps even killing an opponent far stronger than himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, the ability scaled with his growth. In the distant future, he might even peer into the powers of the five Creation Gods.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For now, though, looking too high above him would likely return only a string of question marks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In addition, Blaine also purchased a weapon and a skill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>---\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Curse Blood Knife]: An incomparably sharp demon blade. Even a small cut will infect the target with curse poison, leading to rapid death. No detoxification possible. Curse poison can be enhanced through strengthening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Swordsmanship Lv.1]: Basic proficiency with blades.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>---\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This addressed one of Blaine's weaknesses. Until now, he had relied solely on close-quarters brawling and ranged archery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But what if he faced powerful opponents wielding swords, knives, or daggers? He couldn't always rely on brute force or his Hunter Suit to block them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Against fodder enemies, perhaps brute strength was enough. But in the Marvel world, there were no true weaklings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Take, for example, Thanos—the \"Mad Titan\" with his massive double-edged blade. Even with Blaine's physique, clashing against that weapon would be suicide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Better to have a blade of his own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides, in assassination scenarios, wouldn't it be far more elegant to decapitate a foe in one swift strike, rather than grappling with them in bloody close combat?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why rely on brawling when cleaner options existed?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Cursed Blood Knife was a high-tier weapon. Its base price alone dwarfed that of the Elemental Bow—proof of its terrifying potential.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Strengthened dozens of times, it might even kill Thanos. At worst, it would force him to suppress the curse or amputate the infected limb, weakening him severely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for why Blaine bought Swordsmanship despite owning a knife, the reason was simple: \"swords and knives are not separate.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unless it was a broadsword or massive cleaver, there was little practical difference. A sword had two edges; a knife had one. But both could be used in the same way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, with enough strength, even the back of a knife could cut like a blade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So buying Swordsmanship was the smarter investment—it covered both weapons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>*************************************\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You can get access to early chapters on patr*on\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you like my work and you want to support me then you can become my patron on patre*n.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My patr*on account is Lord_Immortal_0170\u003C\u002Fp>",910,"2026-06-06T09:11:28.860Z",1,"novelbin.me","14095bfb57ce45de351458ecd49dfc77179139a0ac3c6ce1d931baaa69d6fb21","marvel-hunter-chapter-143","marvel-hunter-chapter-141",411,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fmarvel-hunter-cover.jpg"]