Ch.187Episode 37. Certification Exam (6)

Kang! Kang! Kang!

Dynamic visual acuity that precisely reads movements.

Physical strength that doesn’t yield to swinging fists.

An aura that doesn’t cower even in the face of intense killing intent.

Yujin was filled with emotion as he looked at Jung Iyeon standing before him.

Though she hadn’t fully matured yet, seeing the scenes he had read about in novels unfold before his eyes was truly impressive.

“Heuup!”

“Meteor Sword.”

Kwang!

A flash of intense light accompanied by a downpour of sword energy.

Yujin casually twisted his body to avoid it while keeping his eyes fixed on the sword energy. Though he had seen this technique many times during training, this was the first time it carried such clear hostility.

‘How far will the protagonist grow?’

He knew he could eliminate Jung Iyeon’s sacred object by using Nullification, but Yujin had no intention of using it. He wanted to enjoy this fight a little longer.

Kakakakakang—!

The successive crashing sounds of fists and sword colliding.

“Aren’t you pushing yourself too hard?”

“Not at all…!”

“Good. I’ll speed up a bit…!”

“Keuut!”

Jung Iyeon, who had been struggling to block the fierce barrage of attacks, retreated significantly. Yujin immediately responded by closing the distance.

However, that brief moment until he closed the gap gave Jung Iyeon an opportunity to use her skill.

“Flash Strike – Wild Form.”

A movement so swift it was difficult to follow with the eyes.

In an instant, six attacks targeted Yujin’s vital points. With movements clearly faster than months before, she succeeded in slicing Yujin’s side with the tip of her sword.

“I’m continuing…!”

“Distortion Sword.”

Pusuk!

When Jung Iyeon used her skill, a laceration appeared on Yujin’s shoulder, spraying blood.

‘I clearly put my fist in the trajectory, yet my shoulder was cut by the sword strike? This is…!’

It was one of Jung Iyeon’s recently learned skills.

A technique that made the visible trajectory and the actual trajectory of the sword strike misalign. The light emitted with each swing of the sword disrupted the opponent’s vision.

“Distortion Sword – Barrage.”

It was a fast yet precise combination attack.

Though not an unfamiliar technique, even Yujin, still unaccustomed to it, could only focus on dodging. At the same time, he identified what countermeasures might work.

“Huh…! Huh…! As expected of Instructor. You’ve barely taken any damage.”

“You’ve grown.”

Unlike before when they couldn’t land a single hit, both Jung Iyeon and Yeonmu Hui were now inflicting damage on Yujin, even though he wasn’t fighting at full strength.

“Jung Iyeon, that’s enough.”

“Time… whew…! Did it take you long?”

“About 2 minutes, I think.”

“Only that much? I feel like I’ve been sprinting at full power for 30 minutes.”

“…I guess that means even lasting 2 minutes against Yujin is difficult.”

The two, having regrouped, charged toward Yujin.

“We’ll continue!”

“Lotus Style – True Cut.”

“Flash Strike.”

Watching the two’s attacks, Yujin channeled electricity into his grip.

“No, this fight ends here.”

“Nullification.”

* @ *

“Whew…! To maintain flames against my ice. That’s impressive.”

All the buildings around Ha Yuri were frozen, but the ground where Gu Yeonhwa and Yu Ari stood maintained its form.

“Hmm…!”

Breath escaped from Gu Yeonhwa’s mouth.

Her fingertips were frozen. She was barely holding on, but withstanding Ha Yuri’s high-density ice was no easy task.

“Senior, how much stamina do you think you have left?”

“I can still use skills, but my lungs are filled with cold air. I can’t move for long.”

“…I need time to use a technique.”

“How long?”

“Just a few seconds should do.”

“Alright. Let’s stake everything on this.”

“Yes.”

The moment Gu Yeonhwa concentrated black spheres in both hands, Yu Ari shot out like a bullet. As she ran, she scattered her weapons into the air.

“You still have energy left? You two are really something. You could join active duty right now.”

“Dismemberment – Heavenly Net.”

Kkigik—!

The dagger Yu Ari threw scraped against the ice wall. But that was all. She couldn’t inflict significant damage.

“You know that won’t work, right?”

“Icicle.”

Pipipiping!

The ice formed in Ha Yuri’s grip rushed toward Yu Ari’s head. Yu Ari looked at the numerous ice spikes pouring down and tensed her legs.

“Hup!”

“Acceleration.”

‘She can get even faster from there?’

Yu Ari, who instantly entered Ha Yuri’s blind spot, leaped.

“Execution.”

Yu Ari pierced and broke through a thin part of the ice wall, then aimed for Ha Yuri’s carotid artery.

However, as Ha Yuri twisted her body to avoid it, Yu Ari’s attack was rendered ineffective.

“You’re quite good, but…! Not yet!!”

Bbeok!

“Keok!”

Yu Ari took a punch to the abdomen and was slammed into a frozen building, losing consciousness. Ha Yuri wiped the blood seeping from her neck and sighed.

‘Her skill at closing distance is no joke. And besides…’

Ha Yuri narrowed her eyes and observed the vast power gathering in Gu Yeonhwa’s grip.

A black sphere similar to a fireball.

But the pitch-black color was heavier and deeper than ever before.

It had enough power to easily cause an explosion in the area when it burst.

‘I’ll need to block that with full power.’

“Purgatory!”

Seeing the sphere Gu Yeonhwa launched, Ha Yuri concentrated her power to the front.

“Sorry, but everything freezes before me.”

“Ice Cold Prison.”

The cold air bursting from Ha Yuri’s grip froze not only the sphere but also Gu Yeonhwa’s entire body except for her head.

“Kuk…!”

The sphere Gu Yeonhwa had launched fell limply to the ground as if it were a stone.

“Hmm…!”

She tried desperately to break free, but it was impossible to shatter the ice that completely enveloped her body, rendering her immobile.

“Not bad. But you’re still far from being able to face me.”

Even as she said this, Ha Yuri was sweating and breathing slightly heavily. She had expended that much energy.

“Really… children with promising futures.”

* @ *

Even though Yujin and Ha Yuri’s fights had concluded, the audience in the stands still couldn’t contain their excitement.

In response, the fights they had just witnessed were being rebroadcast. The spectators couldn’t take their eyes off the screen. They watched the battles again through the footage, forgetting even to blink.

And now, people began to take interest in who these trainees were that had fought against the leading heroes.

The Special Class had unintentionally made their debut.

With time remaining, training proceeded once more, and while the pattern was similar, this time the focus was on methods of rescuing people in disaster situations rather than combat.

After all the training was complete, there was time for light autograph sessions and conversations with the audience.

“By the way, who were those trainees who fought against Hero Yujin and Hero Ha Yuri?”

“That’s…”

“They’re Hero Yujin’s disciples.”

Before Yujin could speak, Ha Yuri answered.

“Um…”

“Disciples, you say?”

“Hero Yujin is an academy instructor in charge of the Special Class.”

“The Special Class…?”

The spectators couldn’t help but be puzzled. Anyone interested in the academy had heard about the Special Class.

The perception that it was a class for problem students was ingrained in their minds, so they naturally questioned how such capable individuals could emerge from there.

“Everyone is bound to be confused. The academy’s Special Class is famous for gathering problem students. But now, the Special Class is no longer a place for problem students. It’s a place for students overflowing with talent.”

As Ha Yuri spoke decisively, the people around began to murmur.

This statement from Ha Yuri would later become the catalyst for both parents and students to seek out Yujin at the academy.

* * *

“Good work.”

I approached the Special Class kids sprawled lifelessly in the lounge. Though the physical exertion might be less than during training, it probably felt more exhausting. There’s the stress that comes with real combat situations.

“Ugh… it hurts…”

“You’re exaggerating.”

I lightly acknowledged Gu Yeonhwa’s whining and patted her head.

This is just training, so it’s manageable, but if they were to fight real villains, it would be much more brutal. In this industry, defeat often means death.

“But now that you’ve experienced it once, you’ll have a better feel for it. We’ll come again next week. After that, you’ll take the practical exam, so Muhee and Ari, prepare well.”

The practical exam would be less difficult than this anyway, and since individual evaluations would apply, passing was practically guaranteed.

“Yes…”

“Okay…”

They looked dejected. Perhaps they’re worried about whether they can pass. But such concerns were unnecessary.

It’s only because Ha Yuri and I were present in this training; if we hadn’t been, they would have successfully rescued people and subdued the villains.

The Special Class students have confirmed they can hold their own even against active heroes.

“Don’t worry. The exam will be much easier than this. And…”

Now people have recognized their talent.

The stigma of the Special Class being a collection of problem students is gone.

Now the Special Class will be recognized not as a place for problem students, but as a place for students overflowing with talent.

…Is this thinking too optimistic?

Still, I want to hope. I want to see civilians someday calling them heroes, trusting and following them.

“…?”

“Why didn’t you finish what you were saying?”

“…I think with your skills, you’ll become the best.”

“How can we be the best when you’re around, Instructor?”

“That’s right. Please get weaker.”

I was trying to end on a heartwarming note, but they really have no tact.

“If I get weaker, villains will run wild, you know?”

“That would be problematic!”

And so, we concluded our training, exchanging pointless jokes as usual.