episode_0056

[‘Zara’s Patience (P)’ effect is activated. Each stack increases all attack power by 2%. (Current Stacks: 10/10)]

[‘Adrenaline Booster (P)’ effect is activated. During combat, all action speed increases. However, the consumption of health and mana also increases. Current Stacks: 10% (Max 100%)]

I cleared the information window that popped up and sheathed my sword.

‘…Thank goodness.’

I didn’t expect to get caught off guard by the shield.

Shouldn’t I have aimed for the lower part instead of clumsily going for the neck in a topic I wasn’t skilled in?

‘No.’

I corrected my thoughts.

‘I was foolish.’

If only I had been a bit more cunning.

I would have deflected and swiftly struck the neck.

Relaxing after winning in the end was the cause of my mistake.

As I reflected on my actions, the voices of the professors could be heard.

“Good job~”

“Excellent.”

“It’s been a while since we’ve seen such a spectacle. Both in appearance and swordsmanship.”

Hmm, everyone seems to be giving positive evaluations.

I was about to bow my head and step down.

‘…!’

I stopped in my tracks at the intense momentum directed solely at me.

As if waiting, someone was approaching.

That person is…

‘…The female professor who has been staring at me since earlier?’

I inwardly panicked at the sight of her clearly approaching me.

W-wait, is she going to…?

Make a self-destructive remark?

Aiming for a social burial…

Was she waiting for this timing all along?

‘Oh no! It’s fine if others get scolded, but…’

I couldn’t bear to disappoint our Meow-Meow.

But the response I heard was completely unexpected.

“Yuseha Hunter. I watched the match earlier. Impressive.”

“T-thank you…uh…-”

“-Just call me Pang Jin-ah.”

“Oh, okay…what’s this about…?”

“Something unfortunate happened.”

Pang Jin-ah coughed awkwardly.

She spoke with a rather unnatural tone.

“I apologize.”

“…Huh?”

“Due to an unknown reason, the scoring device we were using just malfunctioned.”

“…What!?”

Wait, that was a thing?

It wasn’t just evaluated by sight?

“I’m sorry, but due to the lack of fairness…I can’t let you leave like this. Professor Sarangmi.”

“Uh, me?”

“I request healing for Yuseha Hunter’s injuries, health, and mana recovery. Is it possible within the barrier?”

“W-well, yes…but…uh, what are you planning to do…?”

“It’s simple.”

Swoosh―!

Pang Jin-ah, who had been talking, drew a sword from her waist.

A typical Korean-style Hwando stance.

It was a refined and elegant sword, unlike the crude appearance of a ‘Class Hunter’ Pyodokju sword stance, but I couldn’t think about what grade of weapon it was.

I had to focus all my energy on calming my trembling body.

‘…This is insane.’

Red.

Something in front of me was burning fiercely.

The beautiful and haughty figure from earlier had completely disappeared.

She had transformed into a monstrous being emitting a bizarre aura.

I instinctively realized that this was the ‘Maximum Danger Level’ that [Unprecedented Perception] could measure.

“I will personally conduct the test. Don’t worry. It will be an evaluation of defeating , so it won’t greatly affect your pass/fail status.”

The bewildered professors looked at each other and murmured.

Just before someone could say, ‘Shouldn’t we stop this?’

Professor Bongmichun spoke up, silencing everyone.

No, don’t stay quiet, stop her!

“Yuseha Hunter.”

“Yes, yes?”

Pang Jin-ah.

She was approaching.

I swallowed hard, my throat dry.

“Don’t worry. I’ll take care of it… I hope you understand it as an honor.”

“…I’ll do my best.”

Her sword was aimed directly at me.

*

Clang!

Swish!

Clang!

Pang Jin-ah, and Yoo Seha.

The fight between the two swordsmen continued without any sign of stopping.

A sudden battle unfolding.

At first, Yoo Seha was taken aback.

But soon, she began to endure the test with a serious gaze.

Of course, endurance was based on her own standards.

From Pang Jin-ah’s perspective, it was more like watching to see the truth, even though he could end it in an instant.

Pang Jin-ah sealed away all the techniques he usually used and only displayed the graceful movements of his swordsmanship that he had quietly accumulated.

Yet, the difference between the two was clear.

As evidence, Yoo Seha moved around trying to pressure him, but Pang Jin-ah didn’t budge from his spot.

As time passed by.

At one moment, Pang Jin-ah felt puzzled.

‘…Curious.’

The reason was Yoo Seha’s sword.

His swordsmanship was so inexperienced.

Yoo Seha’s movements were practically a mess, showing little sign of proper training.

It was obvious to anyone that he was a beginner, yet ironically, his movements were unbelievably good.

‘…And strange.’

In his reckless swordsmanship, there were occasional glimpses of brilliance.

Techniques that should have been negative.

For example, swinging the sword face like a mace. Engaging in combat that should always result in losses.

But astonishingly, he turned all these actions into positives.

Occasionally, even Pang Jin-ah was slightly surprised by the attacks.

At first, he didn’t know why, but as he mixed his movements with the sword, he realized why this was possible.

‘…Intuition.’

Yoo Seha’s intuition.

His almost animal-like developed intuition danced between instinct and reason, finding a way through the storm of the sword’s onslaught.

Instinctively searching for skills that shouldn’t be used at the moment. As soon as he realized they shouldn’t be used, he applied them in a different way.

Just like now.

Clang!

Pang Jin-ah parried Yoo Seha’s strike, which was enhanced by a punch to the sword face, and brought the confrontation to an end.

Regardless of the techniques and means he displayed, Yoo Seha’s actions were creating an escape route from a place with no exit through a ridiculous act called ‘exceptionality.’

‘……’

Pang Jin-ah was speechless.

The current duel felt like a professional fighter who had trained in martial arts for a long time facing off against an ignorant civilian.

Interpreting techniques with practicality, he saw through unpredictable exceptions.

‘…However.’

Even so.

The difference between Yoo Seha and her was overwhelming.

Closing that gap was impossible.

But thanks to that, it wasn’t as difficult as it could have been.

‘…I wanted to press without causing any harm.’

At this rate, they would just keep dragging on.

There was no choice.

Pang Jin-ah decided to put a little sincerity into it.

He exerted force on his wrist.

He slowly and gently unfolded his usual ‘vertical cut.’

But…

Clang!

“……?!”

As if he already knew, Yoo Seha’s counterattack blocked him, leaving him flustered.

“…What?”

He was once again surprised by the stance he displayed.

Stepping forward, he assumed a posture specialized in thrusting.

Professor ‘Sarangmi,’ who had been watching, stood up.

“…Oh, isn’t that the move the Turtle Knight used just now?”

That’s right.

What Yoo Seha had just displayed was the ‘Thrust’ of the ‘Turtle Knight.’

Of course, he didn’t possess the related skills, so there was no light shining.

But the fact that he displayed something similar.

And if it was a technique of the opponent he had fought just a few minutes ago, it was a different story.

“…Pity.”

Pangjina unconsciously licked her lips.

A deal with the devil.

It was said that one could achieve many things, even creating something out of nothing, through a deal with the devil, but there was one condition.

Only talents with potential could be traded.

This was a fact that many had confirmed, and it was the answer to why this world was still intact.

This meant that whatever talent Yuseha was displaying now, it was one of the things he possessed.

“If only I had met a good teacher a little earlier…”

If that talent hadn’t fallen into the hands of evil…

If he had met someone to nurture him…

Surely, above all, he would have bloomed beautifully and brightly like a flower.

“…Focus, Pangjina.”

She shook her head to clear her distractions.

She had to extract everything from Yuseha now.

And if it was true that he had strayed onto the path of evil…

“Purify the evil…”

Reflect on it.

Then, help him start over from the beginning.

Clang!

“Whoa?!”

Yuseha stumbled back from the sudden push.

He looked ahead with a puzzled expression.

“…”

Pangjina’s sword pointed straight at him.

She understood the meaning behind Yuseha’s actions.

“It means come at me properly.”

In other words, it was a challenge to do your best.

“…Hoo.”

Bowing his waist, Yuseha raised his hand to his sword hilt.

Watching him, Pangjina tensed the muscles on the back of her hand.

“Show me, Yuseha Hunter.”

And if it’s not true…

Prove it.

“That you are not a Main.”

“…Wow, he’s really a monster.”

Yuseha was convinced.

Pangjina, was it?

This woman was the strongest person he had ever seen in his life.

She was even stronger than his father.

Yuseha was in awe of the level Pangjina had reached.

It was like a solid fortress that not even a needle could penetrate.

How much foundation had she built?

How much had she practiced with the sword?

How much enlightenment had she gained and raised her skill to the extreme?

He admired her talent, effort, and skill.

Yuseha was convinced.

No matter what he did now, it was impossible to defeat her.

No, it would even be difficult to inflict a proper wound on her.

“That’s why I’ll do my best.”

This was his respect for Pangjina, a true tribute.

And conveniently, something perfect to show off was ready.

[‘Zara’s Wrath (P)’ effect is activated. With an Indomitable stack of 10 or more, the skill is enhanced.]

“…Hoo.”

He took a deep breath.

He slowly bowed his waist.

Spreading his legs, he forcibly channeled most of the remaining mana inside his body into the blade.

He presented her with his most powerful skill, [Ryucham].

[‘Song of the Sword’ is activated. The power of the fencing skill is increased by 160%.]

[Ryucham-Strong is activated.]

[Adrenaline Booster (P) effect is added. All action speed increases during battle. However, the consumption of health and mana also increases. Current stack: 20% (max 100%)]

He charged like a meteor of blue light.

The destructive power, clearly different from before, made the audience and the instructors stare at him in surprise.

Pangjina was no exception.

“…!!”

Like a lightning bolt, he swung down towards her.

Kwaaang!

The weight of the air changed.

Pangjina, who was blocking, had a subtle but trembling look in her eyes.

“Was there a hidden move?”

At first, he thought it was an ultimate skill, but that wasn’t it.

All ultimate skills, when activated, emit a ‘command’ and at the same time, a ‘rune’ is engraved somewhere on the body, emitting light.

He didn’t see any of these signs.

So this must be a technique enhanced by the power of runes.

At that moment, Pangjina remembered the ‘Shield Push’ displayed by Mahana in her mind.

“I see, did both of them eat the rune of the same rare boss?”

Clang!

“…Ugh!”

Pang Jin-ah let out a small groan.

He took a step back for the first time.

A power that far exceeded his expectations.

And a sharp prediction that overwhelmed everything.

This was possible because of the mysterious ‘Sal’ at the core.

Pang Jin-ah clicked his tongue softly.

“…I was planning to be more cautious.”

But he had no choice.

He was stronger than expected.

Being mediocre would be meaningless.

Pang Jin-ah exerted force on his blocking wrist.

Swish…

[White Flame].

The unidentified flame began to tinge Pang Jin-ah’s sword with a gray hue.

It doesn’t end here.

Swift and strong.

The combination of two qualities created a mysterious technique [Swordsmanship].

It distorted the timing of Yoo Se-ha’s ‘Enhanced Dragon Strike’, forcing weaknesses to reveal themselves.

“…!?”

Yoo Se-ha’s face was filled with astonishment.

Realizing what Pang Jin-ah was trying to do, he tried to escape by any means necessary.

Seeing his actions, Pang Jin-ah considered himself to have a good sense.

Most people only notice things after they happen.

He foresaw the future unfolding with an animal-like instinct.

‘But.’

It was already too late.

Pang Jin-ah’s sword surged towards the opening.

Fast yet concise.

Simultaneously beautiful swordsmanship.

It was a technique within a technique that only skilled swordsmen who had mastered the art of countering their opponent’s power could unleash.

Yoo Se-ha’s weight and the power of [Dragon Strike].

Combined with Pang Jin-ah’s sword strike, it countered back as one.

Clang!

“Thud!”

With a sharp metallic sound, Yoo Se-ha’s body was knocked back and flew through the air.