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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Chaos
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“You have to do something for me!”
Han Yuri’s shout echoed through the training grounds.
I stared at her, momentarily stunned, then snapped back to reality.
“What is it?”
“It’s nothing weird! I’m not asking you to implant a chip in your brain or a listening device in your vocal cords!”
Where the hell did she come up with that?
“You’re asking me to trust the person who tried to put a tracker on me?”
“I apologized for that!”
“An apology doesn’t erase what happened.”
“Ugh…”
My bluntness left her speechless.
She bit her lip. I thought about it.
A small favor for Han Yuri in exchange for increasing my chances of becoming Irena’s disciple?
‘Not bad.’
And if it was something ridiculous, I could just refuse.
“Fine. I’ll do it. But if it’s something crazy, I’m not obligated, right?”
“Right.”
And so, our special training began.
“She usually starts by freezing your feet to restrict your movement. Then she’ll use falling icicles or ice shards. But the most annoying thing is…”
“The ice vines.”
“Huh? You know about those?”
Of course, I did.
It was a technique she’d continued to use even years later.
It was her most efficient attack.
“The hardest thing about fighting Lee Seol is her skill activation speed. Unlike me, she doesn’t need time to prepare. She can activate her skills instantly, wherever she’s looking.”
“So, even if you know how to counter them, it’s hard to actually do it?”
“Yeah. Think of her as a hell-level raid boss.”
Even Han Yuri, who usually gave me a hard time, was serious.
She was just as invested in this discussion as I was.
“So, the best strategy is to focus on speed… are you even listening?”
“Yeah, I’m listening.”
I was responding, but my attention was glued to the video.
“…”
It was insane. Absolutely insane.
Lee Seol effortlessly deflected all of Han Yuri’s attacks.
She even looked bored.
‘I have to beat… this monster…?’
We weren’t even on the same level.
Even seasoned Hunters would be awestruck by her overwhelming power.
She was a prodigy.
I chewed on my lip, watching the video, and Han Yuri chuckled.
“Why so nervous? It’s not a life-or-death match.”
“Anyone who isn’t nervous after seeing this isn’t human.”
“Have some faith in yourself. As long as you don’t let it drag on, you can win.”
“Ha. Me?”
Beat this monster? Overcome this wall?
Me?
I could only laugh.
Han Yuri’s expression was reassuring.
“I guarantee it. You’ll win.”
“Based on what?”
She just smiled.
An expression of absolute confidence.
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The training arena.
Not a single student in the stands.
Only professors.
This wasn’t an official match, but it was effectively a selection trial for Irena’s disciple.
I sat on the bench in the waiting room, nervously bouncing my leg.
Sparring.
Teammates sparred to improve their skills.
But I’d never sparred with Lee Seol, or even Han Yuri.
‘Want to spar sometime?’
I’d always put off Han Yuri’s offer.
Why?
‘Because I was scared.’
The trauma from my previous life.
The memory of being crushed like an ant, crawling pathetically on the ground.
Things were different now.
They were. But…
…my body wouldn’t cooperate.
My heart pounded as I watched Lee Seol prepare on the other side of the arena.
“Haa…”
I took a deep breath, but my heart rate only increased.
My breathing became ragged.
‘This isn’t good.’
My vision blurred.
‘Not good at all.’
“Haa…”
Calm down. Calm down.
I bit my lip until it bled, but the tension wouldn’t dissipate.
At this rate, I wouldn’t even be able to hold my sword properly.
‘I need to find a way. There has to be a way…’
I racked my brain, half-crazed with anxiety, when I felt a cool sensation on my left cheek.
I turned to see…
“Nervous?”
…Choi Ah-hyun, holding a can of Zico.
Déjà vu.
It was just like when I’d first met her after regressing.
The day I’d vowed that things would be different this time, that I would finally find happiness.
The memory of that day, of that vow, calmed my racing heart.
“No.”
“Hehe. I knew you would say that. Here, drink this and win.”
Zico.
By chance or fate, it was the same drink as that first day.
“Thanks. I’ll drink it well.”
I chugged it, gave Choi Ah-hyun a smile, and walked into the arena.
Lee Seol followed.
‘I can do this.’
I’d spent the last few days meticulously analyzing her.
Her fighting style, her skills.
I tightened my grip on Eve.
“This will be a first-strike match. The first person to land a hit wins. Now, begin!”
Beep!
The whistle blew, and I launched myself forward.
An ice pillar erupted where I’d been standing.
Incredible speed.
She was a monster. But I was fast too.
[Lightning God Activated!]
I appeared behind her in an instant.
A speed even Irena would struggle to react to. Yet…
“You’re fast, Hyeon-ah.”
…Lee Seol was keeping up.
Clang!
My sword struck an ice barrier.
I tried to follow up with another attack, but a shadow fell over me.
Instantly…
[Lightning God Activated!]
…I teleported to the other side of the arena.
Ice meteors crashed down where I’d been standing.
Crash!
“Haa… haa…”
Two consecutive uses of Lightning God.
My head throbbed, but I couldn’t take my eyes off her.
“This is…”
Lee Seol.
Overwhelming versatility.
Unmatched activation speed.
The polar opposite of Han Yuri.
“As expected of Hyeon-ah. You even dodged that.”
Her eyes flicked to the side.
‘Vines!’
I pushed off the ground again.
Dozens of ice thorns erupted from the floor, chasing me.
“Whoa…”
She seemed surprised that I’d anticipated it.
“Ugh!”
A vine shot out, aiming for my left ankle.
Her eyes were locked on mine, but…
‘A feint!’
She was using my reliance on her gaze against me.
She’d used this tactic often in the future. The realization sent a shiver down my spine.
This wasn’t in the videos.
She hadn’t even been using her full power against Han Yuri.
The vines were closing in. I pushed aside my thoughts.
‘Stay calm. This is within expectations.’
I had fewer skills and abilities.
Tricks wouldn’t work.
My only option…
‘…was to break through!’
[Equivalent Exchange Activated!]
[Consuming 3% pain points to enhance physical abilities!]
[Lightning God Activated!]
The ice vines faltered.
Lee Seol had lost track of me, even for a moment.
A chance.
A glimmer of hope.
I moved in a zigzag pattern, making it harder for her to pinpoint my location.
[Consuming 5% pain points to enhance physical abilities!]
Faster.
[Consuming 15% pain points to enhance physical abilities!]
Stronger!
[Lightning God Activated!]
I felt like I was one with the wind.
The sensation Choi Ah-hyun always described.
‘One more time!’
[Lightning God Activated!]
Blood trickled from my nose.
My head felt like it was on fire.
But I pushed myself further.
[Lightning God Activated!]
“Ugh!”
My vision whited out.
My brain couldn’t handle the strain.
But it didn’t matter.
I didn’t need to see. I would rely on instinct.
‘I just need to hit you.’
[Lightning God Activated!]
A small gasp.
Lee Seol.
She’d lost me.
Finally, the opportunity I’d been waiting for.
I lunged towards the source of her mana.
I swung my sword.
Crack! Shatter!
My sword pierced the ice barrier and struck something solid.
It didn’t feel like flesh.
“Ah…”
Was this it?
My limit.
Even with my regression, even with my newfound abilities, I couldn’t beat her.
I couldn’t beat a Witch.
‘Dammit…’
My vision cleared, and I saw it.
My sword was blocked by Lee Seol’s outstretched hand.
Her hand, reinforced with ice. And…
“The winner is… Lee Seong-hyun!”
…the tip of my sword, having barely pierced the ice, was touching her hand.
Just 1mm.
But it had connected.
“Ugh, Hyeon-ah, you’re too fast! My eyes hurt. Hyeon-ah…?”
“…”
“Hyeon-ah. Are you okay?”
I couldn’t speak.
The words wouldn’t come.
I’d surpassed her. I’d overcome the impossible.
The days of anguish, frustration, and despair…
“H-Hyeon-ah, why are you crying…? Oh… something’s wrong. Hyeon-ah?”
…the moments of doubt, wondering if my efforts were in vain…
…they hadn’t been meaningless. I realized it now.
“Hyeon-ah, why… why are you like this? Hyeon-ah, please stop crying…”
For the first time in my life…
…I’d beaten her.
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