Hijack: Becoming The Strongest Hunter By Stealing Skills.

Rin gazed up at the towering mountain. Once, it had seemed like a simple challenge—something he could conquer with ease.

But now, standing at the base, weighed down by exhaustion and uncertainty, he struggled to fathom how he would reach the summit and make it back down without his body giving in to the strain.

But now there was no turning back.

After ensuring their gear was secured and all necessary equipment was packed, Min-Ju and Rin took a final moment to mentally prepare for the climb ahead of them as they looked towards the mountain.

Rin let out a long sigh, his chest rising and falling asleep the once easy mountain hike now looked impossible.

He adjusted his stance under the heavy weight, gripping his hiking pole tightly. His knuckles turned white from the pressure. One of his fists clenched at his side.

"One step at a time," he whispered to himself, the words strengthening his resolve.

With a deep breath, he took the first step. The weight on his back made his knees buckle slightly, threatening his posture. Still, he pressed forward, the cool breeze and lush vegetation offering a small comfort as they left the base camp behind.

As they neared the trailhead, they encountered two hikers. The strangers stood at the base, staring up at the mountain. When their eyes landed on Rin, their expressions shifted from admiration to confusion.

"You're hiking this mountain with all that weight?" one of them scoffed. "This isn't a joke. I don't know what kind of motivation you have, but there's no way you're making it to the summit like that. The path only gets narrower from here."

Before Rin could respond, the other hiker's eyes widened in recognition. His mouth formed a small 'o' of surprise.

"Wait a minute... is that the retired A-rank Hunter, Min-Ju?" He pointed at Rin. "Yo, are you with her? If you are, then—hold up—are you a Hunter too?"

Min-Ju noticed the tension in Rin's expression. His face was strained, his ankles struggling to stay firm under the weight.

Not wanting to waste time and energy with a conversation, she simply nodded in response to their questions and stepped forward, signaling Rin to follow.

The two hikers exchanged glances but didn't push for more answers.

As Min-Ju and Rin moved ahead, their pace steady and focused, the hikers hesitated for a moment before quietly following.

Their footsteps softened as they tried to match the rhythm of the Rin and Min-Ju a seasoned Hunter.

---

Min-Ju, always aware of her surroundings, soon sensed something off. Without turning around, she spoke in a calm yet commanding voice.

"Come out. I know you're there," she said, her brow relaxed but her tone firm. "You've been following us since the trailhead."

The two hikers hesitated before stepping out from behind a large boulder, their gazes lowered in shame. They muttered excuses, trying to place the blame on each other.

One of them, in frustration, kicked the boulder. The moment his foot connected, the massive rock wobbled, then shifted. A horrifying crack echoed through the air.

The boulder was rolling straight toward them.

For a moment, they froze in terror. Their bodies refused to move, panic paralyzing the both of them.

Min-Ju reacted instantly. In a blur, she sprinted toward them, using her enhanced speed to shove them out of the boulder's path.

The force of her push sent them sprawling onto the dirt, but they were safe.

Knowing that wasn't enough, she turned to face the rolling boulder. Her muscles tensed as she braced herself.

Then, with a powerful shove, she redirected the boulder toward the mountain wall, stopping it from continuing its deadly descent.

She exhaled slowly, releasing the tension from her body.

Then, she turned to the hikers, her sharp gaze locking onto them.

"Why were you following us?" she demanded. "And next time, when danger strikes, move. If I hadn't been here, you'd be crushed by now."

The hikers shifted uncomfortably. Finally, one of them muttered, "We run a blog. We thought maybe something was going on between you and the kid—like he was your long-lost son or something.

We wanted a picture for our site. It would've been a great story for the people."

Min-Ju's jaw tightened.

"You risked your lives for a blog post?" she said, her frustration evident.

The hikers bowed their heads in embarrassment. "We're sorry. We won't do it again. We won't write about this, either."

But by the time they finished their apology, Min-Ju was gone.

---

She glanced around, searching for Rin. He was nowhere to be seen.

Her instincts kicked in. With the search skill she had learned from Hayes, she quickly pinpointed his location—already far ahead, halfway up the mountain.

A sigh escaped her lips. Without another word, she took off in his direction.

By the time she reached the summit, Rin was already there, sitting on a rocky ledge, gazing at the breathtaking view.

The sun bathed the mountain in warm hues, the world stretching endlessly below. He was resting, his breathing still heavy from the climb.

Min-Ju approached, her expression unreadable. She expected him to be struggling, barely able to move after such an intense hike. But instead, he sat there calmly, as if nothing had happened.

Curiosity got the best of her.

"Didn't you see what happened at the trailhead?" she asked, crossing her arms. "Or did you just not care?"

Rin's eyes widened slightly. He tilted his head, then casually crossed his legs.

"Oh, you mean those guys who were stalking us?" he said. "Yeah, I noticed. But I knew you had it under control. No point in me standing around watching while carrying all this weight."

With that, he stretched his arms, stood up, and dusted himself off.

"Now, let's head back down."

Min-Ju stared at him for a moment, then shook her head. A small smirk tugged at the corner of her lips.

Without another word, they began their descent down the mountain.