Chapter 109. Reunited with Junseok (3)
It was a sudden thought, but Jeonghyeon had liked Junseok from the moment they first met.
So much so that he wanted to bring him on as a comrade or subordinate if possible.
Even compared to other hunters, there weren't many with as strong a drive for self-improvement as Junseok.
He could judge situations despite his battle-hungry nature, and he wasn't that aggressive anyway.
From Jeonghyeon's perspective, Junseok was just another guy picking fights...
But come to think of it, barging into someone else's guild and demanding they hand over something... anyone in charge would have to respond.
So Junseok was just doing his job diligently, which made Jeonghyeon like him even more.
That was why he'd proposed the second bout.
To help Junseok grow a little faster.
And as a bonus, to witness Jeonghu's progress firsthand.
Sparring matches were crucial.
Up until now, most monsters had been beast-like, but soon enough, there would be traitorous hunters and battles in Afraksas for personal goals.
Training against various awakeners was a good thing.
Bonus for everyone. Definitely not because it's a hassle for me.
With that in mind, Jeonghyeon called over Jeonghu.
"Jeonghu. Think you can handle it?"
"Of course."
"I'm putting some restrictions on you. Don't let Junseok know."
"...What kind?"
"No One Strike. Fight only with Leap."
"...Pardon?"
"You probably couldn't use One Strike anyway. After fighting me, Junseok won't lag behind your Leap in speed. And One Strike takes too long."
Jeonghyeon personally fitted the wooden gauntlets onto Jeonghu's hands, continuing like a coaching staff member.
"How many forms does Storm Dragon Fist have?"
"Five basic forms: One Strike, Leap, Five Points, Six Palms, and Seven Annihilations. Plus two combined techniques: Threefold and Four Evils."
Seven forms in total...
He'd already seen three.
One Strike was a powerful single blow. Leap for mobility, Four Evils a combo of two forms.
He hadn't seen Threefold, but he'd witnessed Six Palms.
It was essentially an enhanced One Strike with a different name.
Its power had been tremendous—enough to pierce Seoul Northern Field's fortress walls, humanity's strongest bastion, with ease.
Jeonghu was still far from that level.
This spar might prove hugely beneficial for both Junseok and Jeonghu.
They'd come for Garibaldi, but if his 'bonuses' helped his subordinates grow, what could be better?
"Use Five Points, Threefold, whatever. Pull out everything you've got."
"Got it. Just no One Strike, right?"
"Yeah."
Jeonghyeon patted Jeonghu's shoulder and stepped back to the center.
Junseok, buffed to numb his pain, returned to position.
It had started unexpectedly, but both Jeonghu and Junseok were dead serious.
I'll win no matter what!
Flames seemed to burn in Junseok's eyes.
Alright, let's test my limits.
Jeonghu felt a light tension at the rare opportunity.
"Ready... Begin!"
At Jeonghyeon's shout, Jeonghu and Junseok leaped from opposite ends of the training ground.
"Storm Dragon Fist... Leap!"
"What kind of childish name is that?!"
Junseok's straight-line dash overwhelmingly outpaced Jeonghu's.
As the air-ripping spearman closed in and nearly collided—
Just like that childish technique's versatility, Jeonghu abruptly changed direction.
"!?"
He'd blasted mana at the ground for repulsion, turning nearly at a right angle—a shocking maneuver for speed-focused Junseok.
"Kuh!?"
Boom!
Junseok scraped his spear along the ground to land and spun around, but Jeonghu had already touched down and was charging again.
"Leap!"
Each step was a leap in itself, closing the gap with blinding speed.
Jeonghu's form darted toward Junseok.
"Hmph!"
But pure speed was Junseok's domain.
Adapting to high speeds meant eyes that could track them.
Junseok saw Jeonghu's trajectory plainly—almost sluggishly.
He kicked off the air, dodging sideways dramatically.
"Dodge all you want!"
Jeonghu twisted toward him.
"Bring it!"
Junseok switched to short bursts instead of long glides, pivoting nimbly.
Thud! Thud! Whoosh! Boom!
"Whoa... what am I even watching?"
"The symbols of speed battles."
"No, seriously, I can't see a thing."
As Philip muttered in awe to Jeonghyeon, the onlookers saw only blurs, explosions, and flying debris.
The two tailed each other like fighter jets in dogfight, vying for backsides and blind spots.
"Now!"
The instant one broke trajectory, it was attack time.
In under three seconds, they clashed spear against gauntlet, thrusting and punching furiously.
Junseok refused to let Jeonghu into striking range.
Jeonghu denied Junseok a clean thrust angle.
Crack! Crunch!
Cracks spiderwebbed the wooden spear; the gauntlets crumbled.
As if they'd vowed the first to land a hit lost, the fight overheated.
That was when it happened.
Uldran's power and Elkalabi's orb react. You can now discern the current state of your subordinates.
Consume mana to discern subordinate in real-time?
Oh. A new feature.
Uldran's mind-reading mana, combined with Dungeon Eye and Elkalabi's orb, had awakened in Jeonghyeon the ability to fully analyze subordinates' states.
He immediately channeled power into his right eye.
His mana-formed helmet floated transparently; ambient mana became visible.
Subordinate Jeonghu's base stats rise.
Subordinate Jeonghu's speed perception rises.
Subordinate Jeonghu's instincts sharpen.
Facing vastly superior speed, subordinate Jeonghu senses his speed limit.
Storm Dragon Mirtus's mana dependency increases.
Storm Dragon Mirtus's mana usage improves.
The status window hovered continuously above Jeonghu.
One popped up, another faded, allowing precise tracking.
Makes me wanna call out pointers...
Jeonghu was clearly outmatched in speed.
Sensing his limit, he drew more from Mirtus's mana.
Overdoing it with body-based power risked self-damage.
But that's how growth happened.
Jeonghyeon silently cheered him on.
Hang in there. Plenty of openings. Speed isn't everything.
A common pitfall for speedsters.
Like now—obsessing over reaching the enemy faster exposed weaknesses.
They'd bared all flaws, fixated solely on outpacing the other.
Pop! Bang!
Explosions shifted from ground debris to weapon fragments.
Junseok's spear tip was shattered, leaving a mere stick.
Jeonghu's gauntlets were mostly crumbled, exposing bare fists.
You can't win on speed.
Mirtus, whom Jeonghu channeled, wasn't speed-specialized.
His inimitable strength lay in optimally distributing mana across the body for needed power.
Sometimes drawn-out, sometimes explosive bursts.
That was Mirtus's way.
Jeonghu had to realize it himself.
Otherwise, he couldn't beat Albatron's awakener, embodiment of storm winds and terrifying speed.
"It's over!"
Junseok, already knowing, ramped up beyond normal.
Jeonghu was at his limit; Junseok pushed his own.
"Urk!"
The speed gap widened; Jeonghu's back was exposed.
"It's over, you bastard."
That instant.
Subordinate Jeonghu uses Seven Annihilations for the first time.
Seven Annihilations? In this split second?
In Jeonghyeon's mana-sight, a bizarre sight unfolded.
Jeonghu's internal mana overheated, bursting outward.
No way...!
As Junseok's spear thrust at Jeonghu's back—
—Stop!
Jeonghyeon issued a command draining all his mana in an instant.
Mirtus's overheating mana halted abruptly.
Splat!!!
Junseok's spear shattered on Jeonghu's back, sending him tumbling across the ground from the impact.
"Hah... hah...!"
"Jeonghu!!"
Philip rushed gasping to the panting Junseok—no, to Jeonghu.
Jeonghu lay unconscious, bleeding from everywhere: mouth, ears, nose, even skin cracks.
"Help! Quick, healing magic!"
Philip cradled Jeonghu, pleading with Kingdom guild members, but none looked his way.
Victory over thorns made them bask in triumph—understandable, but ignoring the bloodied loser?
Kingdom Guild still has a long way to go.
As Jeonghyeon moved to fetch a nearby healer—
"What're you doing, you idiots?! Heal him now!"
"Huh?"
"It's a spar! Spar! No one's dying here?!"
Junseok, fresh from the brutal clash, berated the healers instead.
"Treat him immediately! What if something happens?!"
"Y-Yes... got it!"
The healers finally shuffled over, mending Jeonghu's wounds.
Worse than external injuries: mana vein tears from Seven Annihilations.
"What is this... all mana veins are ruptured..."
"Ugh... hurts just looking."
As healers clustered around Jeonghu, Junseok dragged his weary body to Jeonghyeon.
"I won, so no dungeon as promised. Got it?"
"Yeah. Good work."
Jeonghyeon offered a handshake.
"Hmph. From the loser."
Junseok grumbled but took it.
His hand trembled slightly.
What, nervous?
As Jeonghyeon tilted his head, Junseok pulled away with a sigh.
"There's an unconfirmed dungeon at the western edge."
"Huh?"
"Unconfirmed means at least B-rank. You know."
"Ho. Didn't know you had a generous side."
Junseok ignored the jab, voice burning fiercer.
"Send that guy to train there. I'll fight him anytime."
Yep, Jeonghyeon really liked Junseok.