episode_0095

095.

“……”

In Baek Yurin’s dry, ashen eyes, a faint desire was slowly emerging.

Up until now, she had simply focused a considerable amount of mana onto her blade, staring at me quietly as if it were just a warm-up.

The bluish mana scattered a dim light, flowing like a waterfall, which was very threatening.

That was Geomgang, Geomgang.

I wonder if there are any Academy students who can use Geomgang.

Even the legendary Yi Siwoon might have hesitated to use Geomgang against someone like me, but Baek Yurin was willing to use it against me.

Hey, Baek Yurin, isn’t using Geomgang a bit excessive for a student sparring match?

The murmurs from the spectator seats echoed in my ears.

Perhaps it was quite surprising that a first-year Academy student like Baek Yurin could use Geomgang.

Many inspectors below the middle rank were unable to use Geomgang.

That’s how difficult the technique of Geomgang was.

Although it was not fair to compare Geomgang and Geomgisang, as they required different skills, Geomgang was generally considered a more advanced technique.

Indeed, Baek Yurin was a genius among geniuses, unlike someone like me.

I have no idea if I could ever use Geomgang through normal training.

Using artifacts might make it possible to use Geomgang.

Anyway, in terms of pure skill, Baek Yurin was exceptional. According to the original game, she was considered the strongest in the Academy during her first year.

Well, she may have been humiliated by the protagonist’s group from the second year onwards, but anyway…

“Baek Yurin.”

“Hmm?”

I called out to Baek Yurin.

She looked at me as if she were puzzled.

There was no turning back now that Baek Yurin had decided to use Geomgang.

I had to raise the stakes and settle the match in one go.

“Let’s settle this with our best skills, what do you say?”

“…?”

The longer I dragged it out, the more disadvantageous it was for me.

My left hand was already causing trouble, even though it had only been a short exchange.

Ignoring the throbbing pain in my bones and muscles, a tingling sensation was creeping up my arm.

Judging by the state of my left arm, I had to settle the match quickly.

“In terms of character settings, Baek Yurin’s basic physical abilities are not that high.”

Baek Yurin was a typical agile character.

Her specialty was to dominate her opponents with swift movements and precise techniques.

Therefore, while Baek Yurin’s basic physical abilities were higher than mine, they were not exceptional.

Of course, if she enhanced her body through mana, it would be a different story.

“Not confident?”

“…”

“Well, if you don’t want to, just say so.”

“…”

I gently teased Baek Yurin’s pride.

As me, I had to make sure that Baek Yurin accepted the proposal.

If it were someone else, they might have rejected it, thinking, ‘What kind of nonsense is this?’ But considering Baek Yurin’s personality, the chances of her rejecting it were low.

For Baek Yurin, this proposal was not the kind that could be rejected.

Refusing to settle the match with our best skills would be no different from running away.

With her pride and self-esteem related to swordsmanship abnormally high, Baek Yurin would never refuse.

Of course, Baek Yurin was also wary of me.

There was a possibility that I might be the man from her past.

But paradoxically, if I could be the man from her past, she would never back down.

I had to show her how much you had changed from the past.

“…Are you confident?”

Baek Yurin mumbled as if intrigued, then slowly nodded.

“Alright… a match… it should be fun.”

“Hoo.”

With this, the minimum conditions for preemptive action were achieved.

In order to land a blow on the monstrous Baek Yurin, a decisive match was necessary.

Since we agreed to settle the score with our most powerful techniques, it was possible to speculate to some extent on Baek Yurin’s skills.

In a single match, each would use their most powerful technique available.

I knew most of the techniques that Baek Yurin could use.

Of course, I didn’t know all of them, but I had a good grasp of the techniques that could be considered Baek Yurin’s finishing moves.

Among them, what technique would Baek Yurin use?

Most likely, there was a high possibility that she would use the ultra-fast thrust known as the Baek Ah, which was developed over a long period to defeat that man in the past.

Furthermore, this technique had never been leaked to the outside world.

While other techniques had been somewhat leaked through matches, sparring, and competitions, the Baek Ah had not been. It had never been used in an official setting.

Truly a hidden ace up her sleeve.

One of the techniques that would be mentioned as Baek Yurin’s most powerful finishing moves in the future.

However, I couldn’t help but know quite a bit about the Baek Ah technique that Baek Yurin had diligently hidden.

As it was one of the representative techniques of Baek Yurin, I had delved quite deeply into it in terms of character setting.

The unique preparatory movements, principles, methods, and circulation of mana required for using the Baek Ah. I had a rough idea of what was involved.

Of course, I didn’t remember all the details. And even if I did know them well, I had no confidence in being able to block it.

It wasn’t a technique that could be easily countered just because I knew about it in advance.

If I had the abilities and talents of Yi Siwoon, I could have countered it successfully, but… unfortunately, I was not Yi Siwoon.

I, a mediocre fighter, had no confidence in successfully countering the Baek Ah despite knowing quite a bit about it.

No, not even countering it, could I even block or dodge it?

It was like trying to avoid a falling meteorite.

“Well, it doesn’t matter.”

I didn’t intend to block or dodge Baek Yurin’s attack from the beginning.

I assumed I would be hit by Baek Yurin’s attack.

“What’s important is… being hit by the technique I want, where I want.”

I glanced briefly at my abdomen and swallowed dryly.

With my physical abilities, it was practically impossible to withstand Baek Yurin’s attack.

The moment I was pierced, defeat was certain, absolutely certain.

It was clear that I would collapse, oozing blood.

However, there was one thing.

One way to endure and withstand Baek Yurin’s attack.

I had practiced quite a bit, but this was my first real test, so I was quite nervous. But there was no other option besides this method.

Truly, no other option.

“Ready…?”

I held up a shield with my left hand, covering my abdomen, and raised my sword high with my right hand, ready to strike down in a slashing motion.

Baek Yurin held one hand near the blade’s tip, in a stance ready to thrust with force, slightly bending her body.

The heroes in the spectator seats seemed slightly puzzled by the unfamiliar preparatory stance.

Since there was no such preparatory stance in Baek Geomryu.

But I understood.

That was the precursor stance to the ultra-fast thrust Baek Yurin had developed based on Baek Geomryu.

As expected, she’s planning to use the White Fang Swordsmanship.

Well, she must have developed the technique diligently to use it in a situation like this.

“…Are you planning to counter? Do you really think you can block it with that shield?”

“….”

The azure magic enveloped the blade, ominously flickering.

With that level of swordsmanship, she could easily pierce through the armor and shield, no matter how well protected they were.

In sparring, one could suffer various injuries, big or small, such as being pierced through, breaking bones, or rupturing internal organs.

I was well aware of this and also knew that there were numerous healing potions and healing ability users on standby in case of such injuries.

But still, fear is fear.

One could accidentally hit a vital spot, and no one enjoys pain.

Oh, by the way, didn’t they mention that the Ranking Match is being broadcast live for external viewers?

Of course, I heard that they lower the level through mosaic and cognition filters.

“…Interesting. Let’s give it a try.”

Baek Yurin erased her relaxed expression and put on a faint smile.

She wasn’t just covering her abdomen with the shield to block her attacks. I also knew well that the shield couldn’t block her attacks.

The shield is just an illusion, a deception.

“Alright, let’s spar once….”

“!”

Swish!

Before I could finish my sentence, Baek Yurin rushed towards me.

She was as fast as a bullet, swiftly approaching me. In the blink of an eye, she was right in front of me.

She exploded her magic and thrust her sword with all her might. I quickly swung my sword as well.

Of course, Baek Yurin’s sword was much faster.

It was a fact that Baek Yurin’s sword would pierce through my body before my sword could reach her.

It was an unchangeable future, a destiny already decided.

“I’m faster….”

Modified White Fang Swordsmanship, White Fang.

According to the game’s setting, it’s a technique that accelerates the speed by exploding magic consecutively when thrusting the sword, called the off-beat high-speed thrust.

If the opponent is seeing this technique for the first time, they would surely be taken aback by the speed and timing of the sword.

But me, I’m not surprised at all.

After all, the sword itself wasn’t visible enough to be surprised.

“Your response is too slow. Disappointing…?”

“Ugh!”

Thud!

Baek Yurin’s blade pierced deeply through my abdomen.

As it was a high-speed thrust using swordsmanship, the shield and armor were easily pierced, just like tofu.

Looking at the pierced area, it seemed like the vital spot was avoided, but with the abdomen pierced, I wouldn’t be able to continue fighting.

Oh, of course, if my body was actually pierced.

“…?”

Baek Yurin blinked her eyes for a moment.

Despite thrusting deeply into my abdomen with her shield, I seemed unharmed, which puzzled her.

Not a drop of blood was shed, and she continued to swing her sword without stopping, as if it didn’t matter whether she pierced my belly or not.

“…You?”

Baek Yurin expressed her confusion.

Why was I unharmed?

Well, it’s because Baek Yurin’s sword didn’t pierce through me.

“What’s that?”

As she tilted the pierced shield, Baek Yurin could finally see it.

The gap in the void that was hidden behind the shield.

Unfortunately, Baek Yurin’s blade had forcefully stabbed into the rift in the space, not my body.

“Indeed, the Spatial Ring is useful.”

A Spatial Ring that can create rifts within a 6-meter radius, allowing objects to be put in and taken out from the gap in space.

In the game, the inventory was the most you could do, but in reality, this feature could be used in various ways.

For example, pouring heavy objects into the air could turn them into mass weapons, secretly opening cracks in the ground could turn them into traps, and opening a crack and hiding behind it could block the opponent’s attacks.

Of course, since the speed of opening the crack was quite slow, it couldn’t be used in sudden situations.

If you were going to use it, you had to open the crack in advance.

“I couldn’t use it openly because there were too many cameras and people’s eyes, but if I open a crack right behind the shield and cover it with my body, it should be fine, right? Maybe?”

If exposed, I could just pass it off as a special ability, right.

“…!”

Suddenly, the sword I wielded reached right in front of her nose.

Baek Yurin tried to quickly move her body back, but it was useless.

I was already tightly holding her right wrist, the one Baek Yurin had drawn the sword with, with my left hand.

Using magic to strengthen my body to prevent Baek Yurin from escaping, I held onto her wrist as tightly as possible.

Even if she was Baek Yurin, she couldn’t break free from my grip in an instant.

If she had the physical enhancement ability of a Sernari, she might have been able to, but Baek Yurin didn’t have that level of strength.

Of course, if she had time, she could have easily shaken off my hand, but at the moment, my sword was right in front of her nose.

It was too late to try to shake off my hand and retreat now.

No matter how much she was Baek Yurin, she couldn’t avoid it.

“…Impressive!”

Baek Yurin quickly drew the sword she had brought with her using her free left hand.

It was a swift swordsmanship like a flash of light.

Although she drew the sword much later than me, she was able to intercept my sword in the middle.

Clang!

My sword clashed with Baek Yurin’s sword.

Orange flames sprang up in all directions.

It was quite a powerful clash of swords.

It seemed like she didn’t have the spare strength to use sword energy.

It was like two lightsabers clashing.

Truly living up to her reputation, Baek Yurin.

However.

“Hap!”

I waited for the moment when Baek Yurin’s sword touched mine.

I quickly activated the Moon’s Tear artifact with a shout.

Just like when I fought Ishiwoon during the midterms, I absorbed Baek Yurin’s sword energy to the fullest.

“…Huh?”

Due to the momentary absorption of magic, Baek Yurin’s sword energy faltered.

For a brief moment, Baek Yurin was almost defenseless.

I poured all the absorbed magic and my own magic into Baek Yurin, and with all my might, I shattered her training sword.

When the training sword broke into pieces, Baek Yurin looked slightly puzzled.

Without hesitation, I swung my sword.

My relentless attacks quickly closed in on Baek Yurin’s shoulder.

Even though she was wearing protective gear, my sword mercilessly cut through her flesh.

Squelch!

Dark blood splattered.

Baek Yurin gritted her lower lip slightly, kicked me away, and leaped back. Huh! This guy?

“Haa, tsk. Did you have to go this far?”

“….”

Baek Yurin checked the wound on her shoulder subtly.

Since she twisted her body to avoid the sword, it wasn’t a serious injury. Wow, she even managed to avoid this. Damn, isn’t this going too far?

“…Blood, it’s been a while.”

Baek Yurin runs her hand through her shoulder.

She stares at the flowing blood and mutters absentmindedly.

“…There aren’t many peers who can make me bleed.”

Baek Yurin clenches her fist tightly.

She throws the broken half of her weapon that she was holding in her left hand to the ground.

“You, just absorbed my magic… and what’s with the crack?”

“Haa, haa, hoo.”

She has no energy to respond.

Because she used up almost all of her magic.

“An extraordinary ability? Interesting…”

Baek Yurin’s lips curled up slightly.

She was smiling as if she was enjoying herself.

That Baek Yurin.

“You have more hidden, right? Show me more…”

“Surrender.”

“Huh?”

“Surrender, I lost.”

There was no other way unless the surprise attack using the spatial ring and the Moon’s Tears worked.

Since a genius like Baek Yurin wouldn’t fall for the same trick again.

It worked because it was a situation she didn’t know about, but now that she’s been exposed, there’s nothing she can do.

“…Is it just causing a shoulder injury after using two artifacts and having much more information with my current abilities? Tsk. Well, fine. Let’s just say I managed to injure the great Baek Yurin.”

It wasn’t a completely satisfying outcome, but it was enough, it was.

After all, this is just a sparring match.

As long as it’s not a matter of life and death, it’s enough to have come this far.

“…Surrender? Out of the blue like this?”

“Huh?”

In an instant.

“Are you kidding me?”