Bombardment and Airstrike
“So, basically, you guys go out first and seize the initiative for us—”
The moment the waiting room door swung open, a provocative backside came into view. The end of thickly braided long hair draped artfully over leather shorts, forcibly drawing the eye to those glossy brown thighs.
“Oh, the first-years. I've been waiting.”
A foreign beauty in scant leather armor—barely covering the essentials—glanced back at us with a wink. Her body was toned from consistent workouts, a sight that hit hard.
Confucius's Fan
“Ancestor?”
Confucius, who had appeared out of nowhere, unfurled his fan and lazily blocked Gong In-myeong's view as he entered the waiting room.
“Xantia Zorbas, second-year rep. Nice to meet you.”
“Ah, yeah... Seol Romi.”
The chairman's granddaughter, Xantia, greeted them fluently in Korean and extended her hand. Seol Romi shook it hesitantly, mumbling her response. Behind her, Wonhyo flashed a strained expression, his eyes sparkling. He didn't even need to speak for it to feel like he was yelling Wonhyoooo!!!!.
"Why's she the only one rocking bikini armor? Total show-off."
“How the hell should I know.”
That wasn't some shallow ploy for looks or to lower guards—it was practical. But I kept my mouth shut, wary of drawing suspicion if I acted like I knew something.
"Ah. I just wanna smack that ass once."
“Save the perv crap for the right time and place.”
"Be honest. You feel the same—"
“I don't.”
"Whoa, that was a lie just now."
“Shut up.”
I silenced Gemma, then lightly patted Shin Sua's shoulder—she was overwhelmed by Xantia's presence.
“Don't get intimidated. You'd look pretty damn good in a swimsuit too.”
“You're insane...”
“You've seen it all already, so what's the big deal? You watched me writhe in pain during tuning via sense-sharing.”
“How did you...”
“What, just a guess? And it was spot on?”
“Ahh! My head's spinning!”
Shin Sua clutched her forehead dramatically and plopped into a nearby chair, faking dizziness. So she really had watched. Just testing the waters, but now I didn't have to feel guilty about peeking on her through Gemma's eyes.
After cheering up Shin Sua—who'd nearly lost the initiative—with some light teasing, I finally had a moment to check out the other second-year reps.
Clink.
A handsome guy set down his silver coffee cup and eyed us. The imperial robes of the Korean Emperor—tailored to fit after King Gojong passed the throne to Sunjong—gave away that he was Igabi, the second-year top student. A national treasure mourning outfit he rarely wore. Imagining how many Yi clan ancestor spirits blessed those robes made his strength feel all too real.
Whatever. Elitist Lv.999 Mediterranean sis and coffee otaku versus tradition's lower-half powerhouse and Nordic metal otaku? We're good.
“Kook kook. You scrawny first-years better not faint at Lady Almira's big guns.”
Turkish exchange student Almira Murad crunched on lokum while sipping Igabi's coffee, with Seo Jeon-jeom quietly watching us beside her. Those two were our opponents today—second-year vice-tops.
“......”
I spotted Seo Jeon-jeom's go stone container nearby. Something I'd never seen, even after grinding Ancestor Bless Me dozens of times. His ace in the hole? No wonder Jeong Da-un came up empty on intel. Can't counter what you don't know.
Still, no plans to lose.
“Hey. If we win this, make that promised day a long one.”
“Focus, you idiot...!”
Shin Sua's blush was adorable, so I teased her once more before standing. Shame. With the new variables, it'd be nice if we could prep more. Shin Sua finishing her Grand Offering early for that cheat-level blessing was solid, but saturation countermeasures were still iffy...
Unless the ref's a total pushover, we'll get caught—but if we can't use that function legally, we might have to.
* * *
The guide called the first-round participants. We left the top first- and second-years behind and headed to the stadium first. On our wrists: single-use artificial relics to block lethal wounds. Smaller than usual, less cumbersome—custom-made, probably.
Whoaaaa!
Blinding lights and deafening cheers assaulted us the second we entered. Stadium-sized like a soccer field, but without the stands, it matched the training ground from Jang Han-nam's and Jeong Da-un's lessons. Teachers' thoughtfulness hit different.
“—I swear.”
The four of us finished our brief oaths and split left-right at the arena center, backs turned. Shin Sua silently faced the wall, but I scanned the crowd the whole way. Beyond the spirit-force safety barrier: VIP guests and other Argo students mostly eyed vice-top entrant Shin Sua, but some watched me too.
Mun Hee-jeong and U Hyo-chung waving from Class A seats. I smiled back, spotting Baek Je-in and Baek Yu-min. Scanned for Gumiri—no sign, good. After pushing it last time, she'd play it safe today. Special-grade Shangju among the VIPs and teachers would've sniffed her out otherwise.
"What're you doing? Match starting—focus."
“Got it.”
Gemma's sharp reminder snapped me back. Like rehearsal, Shin Sua and I turned at the barrier, facing the second-year vice-tops. Almira giggled maniacally while struggling with a longsword shorter than her, Seo Jeon-jeom calmly eyed the ref.
“Kim Mutt. Support me with everything you've got today. Lose, and I'll stomp you flat.”
“You're softer than I thought—nice hanging on me.”
“Ugh, you bastard...!”
Shin Sua clamped her mouth shut, figuring trash talk wouldn't pay off, and glared ahead.
"Enough. You'll make her cry."
“Just loosening the tension.”
Post-ceremony, everyone awaited the judge's gun smoke from the stadium corner. Brief rules over speakers—
Bang!
Shin Sua and I charged forward.
* * *
The forty-second senior-junior introductory duel in Argo history.
The first match begins!
“Spirit Descent!”
Amid the booming announcer, Shin Sua and I drew in our goblin-fire ancestor spirits, accelerating. Opponents did the same for recon—scouting phase.
“Doodle—Hunting Dog!”
Preemptively gauge powers? Shin Sua swung her brush, summoning ink hounds.
Whoosh! Whoosh whoosh!
Four hounds raced twice as fast as us—double the number and size from last time. Grand Offering effects shining; made me proud.
“Pushing hard from the start?”
“Hehe! I've got a plan—stay put!”
Shin Sua grinned, manipulating them mid-air. Solid opener for her usual stamina issues. But I didn't interfere. I knew the special blessing from her early Grand Offering was in that bracelet.
“All bark, no bite. Ugly scribbles!”
Two hounds each toward us and Seo Jeon-jeom. Almira flanked, drawing her sword. Behind her: four massive cannons. 760mm caliber, 8.2m Ottoman siege beasts—Basilicas.
“Fire!”
Aimed at her ornate ceremonial longsword's path, they roared.
Kaboom!
0.5-ton stone balls—half Almira's size—smashed the hounds, ink scattering.
Creak.
Reloaded, now on us.
“Tonnerre.”
I triggered Spirit Lord Transformation.
Click.
Slugs chambered; fired at Almira's head.
Bang!
Clang!
Before the shot rang, a black mannequin dropped from the sky, deflecting it.
Shooo.
Barreling between us at bullet speed. Looked up: dozens more identical ghosts raining on us.
“Dodge!”
Papapapow!
We split; faceless phantoms cratered the floor like a beach. Even at partial power, matching Almira's stones.
“First-years, too easy?”
Seo Jeon-jeom's voice from the dust.
"What the— all ancestor spirits? Shangju contract one each, right?"
Gemma recoiled like at gross bugs.
“Relax. All one guy.”
I knew: King Chairong's soul shards, spawned from rumors of Silla-Tang lies and his 3,000 concubine regrets. "I love you 3000, Harem Master." Phantom concubines. Seo Jeon-jeom's bombardment Spirit Lord Transformation bared fangs.
“No one in Argo beats that quantity.”
“Guns and bombs. Full assault looks rougher than practice.”
Shin Sua muttered, crestfallen.
“Doesn't matter. Passepartout pierces any barrage.”
I cut short. Not the priority.
“Tired of dodging? Bring bigger guns?!”
Almira demanded real fight, advancing to the shattered hound spot.
“Now!”
Evading phantoms, Shin Sua slammed her brush butt-down. Scattered ink pooled at Almira's feet, forming a massive hound head.
“Doodle—Merit Dog!”
Rooooaaar from the heavens!
“Miyoooo!!!”
Almira flailed wildly—useless.
Crunch!
Ink jaws swallowed her. Immortal Position ancestor + Grand Offering = special boon. Fixed her spirit shortage: "Master Brushwork"—recycle ink-converted spirit/ancestor force.
“Not a drop wasted!”
“Idiot. Say that and—”
Boom!
Merit Dog's head exploded mid-boast.
“Old pumpkin balkabaşı! Think this sword's a toy?!”
Almira growled, sword on us. Ink slithered back to Shin Sua's brush.
"One down would've been nice. Shame."
“Your fault! Reflect!”
“Shut it. Bite your tongue.”
I yanked Shin Sua's waist, rolling us.
Pababak!
Five sharp phantom limbs stabbed our spot. I noted red glows on their chests, scooped Shin Sua, and bolted blind.
“Flag of Courage!”
Tonnerre's flag expanded into a hemispherical canopy.
Kaaaaboom!
Eardrums rang; stadium shook. Chairong shards' suicide blasts packed punch.
Pat pat...
“Hah, hahaa...”
“Cough.”
Flag absorbed most, but we flew back to the barrier.
“Back to square one.”
Second-years distant again.
“You okay?”
“Can fight. You too.”
I reset the flag, helped her up.
“Got the level. Not bad, but firepower's lacking.”
Seo Jeon-jeom drawled calmly.
“So, some senior wisdom?”
He raised his golden crown; phantoms gathered skyward, black thunderhead.
Bombardment primed. Almira re-aimed.
“Badass!”
69 Constantinople-wall siege cannons materialized, muzzles on us.
Guns and bombs. Omni-directional firepower net.
Yet Shin Sua stayed cool. Me too.
“From here's the rehearsed part.”
“Screw up, and you're neutered that day.”
"Who'd want that?"
We crouched low. I released Tonnerre's transformation.
“Passepartout.”
Passepartout
Slowly, a silver key enveloped the wooden cane. Master key shining in deadlock.