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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: bchen3
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“Listen carefully. When facing multiple opponents, there is only one key.”
The metallic, grating voice suddenly flowed into my ear.
This voice, sounding almost like an auditory hallucination, clearly belonged to the one-eyed, one-armed man from my dream.
‘Why all of a sudden….’
Contextually, it seemed to be the continuation of what I had missed after waking from the dream.
But the problem was the timing.
Clang-!
My first real combat practice, and against two opponents no less.
Two people with eyes flashing with hostility charging at me furiously.
I needed all my concentration focused on what was right in front of me.
No matter how helpful it might be, I had no luxury to listen attentively.
‘After staying quiet all this time, why now of all moments…!’
I clicked my tongue briefly as I thought.
My deliberation lasted only for a moment, and I made a decision instantly.
Clang clang-
I quickly stepped back with rapid movements.
It wasn’t because I expected anything from the advice.
It was simply because I couldn’t possibly concentrate on the match while hearing voices in my ear.
As I was organizing my thoughts, the man’s advice continued.
“One fatal strike. Your first strike must be delivered with the mindset of killing.”
Beginning with the mindset one should have when facing multiple opponents.
“Target the vital points, areas where you can inflict fatal wounds. Naturally, before the first clash, you must create the environment and position to identify these vital points.”
Strike points, and preliminary work.
“The force you need to exert is your full power. Furthermore, rather than a frontal approach, an angle or surprise attack would be ideal.”
From power control to the explanation of the optimal position.
Looking at each piece, they were realistic pieces of advice that would clearly be helpful.
But.
‘…Unless it was before the start of the match.’
I could state with certainty that now was not the time.
If anything, attempting this awkwardly in an unfamiliar situation would more likely end up making things worse.
‘Is this what the shadow guy meant when he said it could be helpful depending on the situation?’
I frowned as I recalled his words.
Meanwhile.
“How long are you planning to just back away!”
The two of them, Eom Jun-tae and Son Gi-uk, pursued me with killing intent.
Perhaps due to our difference in stats, the gap was closing quickly.
Because of this, I had to make another decision.
‘…In that case, I’ll have to accept some damage.’
And then counterattack with Bokmagukwon.
Having made that judgment, I stopped abruptly.
Then I pushed off, intending to charge straight ahead.
No, just as I was about to dash forward.
“With the judgment and sense you’ve shown, you should be able to find the answer in a real fight.”
Advice came once again.
But this time, it didn’t stop at mere advice.
“…!”
A strange sensation permeated my entire body.
Especially, something indescribable flowed into my mind.
At that moment.
‘Is this how I should move in this situation…?’
Somehow, I just knew.
In the current situation, being chased by multiple opponents.
What I should do, and how I should do it.
As soon as I realized this, I dashed forward at full speed.
“…!”
The two of them were taken aback.
Soon they regained their composure and took up their stances.
It felt like they thought this was my last desperate attempt and were focusing intently on crushing me.
When we entered each other’s attack range.
“Die-!”
“Hup!”
They each unleashed their first strike, deploying their martial arts.
Their attacks came with a slight time difference.
And the two of them cleverly positioned themselves to limit my range of movement.
Normally, the options would have been few.
Either face the attacks head-on or retreat.
‘Neither is the best option. Then…’
The answer came in an instant.
Clang-
I immediately employed Heukingbo and jumped right into their front line.
Whoosh-!
The gauntlet grazed past my hair.
Just from the sound, I could clearly feel the power behind the strike.
But I moved forward without the slightest hesitation.
Swish-
After dodging by a hair’s breadth, I positioned myself.
Right in the middle, directly in front of the two of them.
Perhaps that’s why.
“…Eek!”
Their movements betrayed their surprise.
In contrast, I paid no attention to it.
Swish-
Like pushing with my back, I deflected the one behind me.
Whoop-!
Using that as momentum, I extended my fist toward the one in front.
‘Target: the chin.’
A strike thrown with the intention of completely destroying it.
In response, the one in front hastily raised both arms.
Crack-!
Nevertheless, with a brutal sound, he slid back.
From the moment I jumped fearlessly into the center, to the series of movements I executed at close quarters.
Looking back on it, I realized.
‘The advice has been fully internalized…’
The strange sensation that had seeped in with the final advice.
I realized its identity was “someone else’s experience.”
‘Someone who had been receiving advice from the man…?’
This sensation, which definitely couldn’t be called my own, was living and breathing within me in real-time.
It was implementing judgments, responses, and movements that I, in my original state, wouldn’t have even thought of.
The continuing responses were also the same.
“Y-You bastard!”
The one behind me, having regained his senses belatedly, charged at me.
Swish-
He threw a strike aimed at my face with fierce momentum.
I should have cowered, but the sensation dwelling within me told me otherwise.
‘There’s no need to hesitate. Rather…’
This was an opportunity.
Accordingly, I pivoted in an instant.
Then I charged straight at him.
Clang-
Simultaneously bending my neck back and spreading my palm wide.
I extended it right toward his face.
“…Ugh?!”
Momentarily blocking his vision, and in that interval, I dodged his strike by the narrowest of margins.
Then.
‘Time to counterattack.’
Without hesitation, I clenched my left fist and extended it.
The target was the heart, and once again, I imbued it with the will to kill.
However.
Thwack!
Despite the newfound experience, my body’s strength remained the same.
Therefore, the strike that landed was not a fatal blow, but merely an effective hit.
“…Ugh.”
He staggered, clutching his chest.
The other one, who had barely blocked my earlier strike, was similarly cowering.
At that point, I realized.
That the exchanges so far had far exceeded their expectations.
The corners of my mouth naturally curved upward.
‘…With this.’
Though it was just a brief exchange, I had to admit.
Just as he had said, it was indeed useful.
No, the fact that it was immensely helpful.
I had firmly grasped the initiative even before testing Bokmagukwon, which had transformed into a skill.
‘If I were to fully demonstrate the true value of Bokmagukwon here, what would happen?’
Enthusiasm overflowed at the obvious answer.
Just then, as if they had regained their composure.
“Just move calmly.”
“Time is on our side anyway!”
The two of them charged at me again.
There was a sense of caution more pronounced than before.
Sure enough.
Clang-
They began to utilize their footwork in earnest.
One restricted my movement from the front, while the other positioned himself at my back and pressured me.
In response, I activated the skill, Bokmagukwon.
At that moment.
‘I can see. No, I can vividly feel it.’
Their movements, even those of the one behind me, were clearly felt.
This was entirely the effect of Bokmagukwon.
It was thanks to being able to detect malicious energy such as killing intent and hostility.
‘So I can detect enemies now?’
That wasn’t all.
As Instructor Go Tae-sik had told me before, “detection” was merely a basic effect.
The true value was evident in the new sensation rising throughout my body.
‘…Is this what you’d call exhilaration?’
A fierce, passionate energy.
It surged instantly and infused into both my fists.
I naturally knew the identity of this energy.
‘So this is the energy of demon annihilation…’
Energy to subjugate demons, and further, to annihilate them.
This seemed to be the special effect manifested in skills of C-rank and above.
‘To think it’s this potent without even utilizing mana.’
A shiver ran through my entire body at the tingling sensation.
At the same time, I realized.
‘Initially, I was going to learn by clashing relentlessly.’
Now it was different.
The expertise originating from someone other than myself.
Combined with detection and the energy of demon annihilation.
With the thought that I wouldn’t lose at all.
Clang-
I charged right back at them.
* * *
Clang-!
Gauntlet against gauntlet.
The clash of the strikes from An Il-han and Eom Jun-tae resulted in a thunderous sound.
Immediately, they both employed their footwork to create distance.
At a glance, it seemed like they were evenly matched, but the reality was different.
“Hoo!”
An Il-han, who should have been at a disadvantage in terms of power, retreated unscathed.
“…Ugh.”
On the other hand, Eom Jun-tae, who should have had superior basic stats, was the one with a contorted expression.
Given the difference in power, it was an unbelievable sight.
Sim In-uk, who was watching this, frowned deeply.
“…”
Was it because of the poor performance of the guys who clung to him calling themselves friends?
No.
That thought had already crossed his mind earlier during the match.
When Jinchang-sik had matched up evenly against a beginner named Im Gang-cheol.
Instead, Sim In-uk’s attention was drawn to someone else.
‘What is that guy.’
None other than An Il-han.
He was solely focused on the guy who was freely dealing with two experienced practitioners right before his eyes.
The reason was simple.
‘…It’s on a completely different level from what I saw yesterday.’
At this point, even the term “growth” seemed inadequate.
With a bit of exaggeration, it was a world-changing transformation.
It was that incomprehensible and extraordinary.
At first, he thought it was because of the skill, but soon he shook his head.
‘The power of the skill itself is certainly impressive. But that’s not all there is to it.’
The guy’s footwork and martial arts were undoubtedly excellent.
So much so that one would wonder how he had acquired such a skill.
But that was just a part of it.
After all, Sim In-uk himself possessed skills of that caliber.
And even skills of higher grades.
So the key wasn’t in the skill, but in something else.
‘Movement, judgment, response. What’s truly unbelievable is this.’
This was evident from the very first exchange.
The movement against multiple opponents, the way of dealing with attacks.
He was skilled and experienced to the point of giving goosebumps.
A product that could only be built through thorough experience.
And that’s precisely why it was even more unbelievable.
‘How can one grow at such a rate in just two weeks?’
While he was ruminating on this question with a stern expression.
“Il-han! W-When did you get so good!”
“Hah! Truly impressive, indeed!”
Suddenly, rough voices were heard.
They were the voices of Im Gang-cheol and Instructor Go Tae-sik.
They seemed to be discussing An Il-han.
Perhaps because of this, Sim In-uk found himself listening.
“Even though you were training intensely after school, to show such movement. Are you still training at dawn?”
“After school? What do you mean, Instructor!”
“That youngster requested it. Why, are you interested too?”
“Let me do it too, please!”
Not just after school, but even at dawn.
That level of effort was undeniably crazy.
But.
‘That alone isn’t enough.’
He could state with certainty.
He had already experienced it and felt the inadequacy to the bone.
Perhaps that’s why he thought of the only possibility.
‘…Genius.’
If that were the case, this was on a different trajectory even from the genius of Baek Yu-jin, the only person of the same age group whom Sim In-uk acknowledged.
The moment he thought of it.
Crunch-
Sim In-uk reflexively gritted his teeth.
‘So you’re a genius too, huh?’
The word “genius” was a kind of taboo for him.
Since that one time when his entire world collapsed because of those mere two syllables, it had always been that way.
‘…I can’t accept it.’
The boredom had completely vanished without a trace.
In its place, anger took over.
Just then.
“That’s enough! That should be sufficient!”
Instructor Go Tae-sik ended the match.
Sim In-uk quickly approached them.
Noticing his approach, Instructor Go Tae-sik turned his head during the feedback.
“Youngster, did watching make you itch to join?”
The same tone as usual.
But there was an unusually peculiar light in his eyes.
Somehow, it felt like his inner thoughts had been read, but.
‘…If only I can reveal the truth about that guy with my own hands.’
It didn’t matter.
As soon as he made his decision, he spoke.
“Instructor. Please let me fight against An Il-han.”
A bold request.
In response, Instructor Go Tae-sik’s lips twisted fiercely.
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