Chapter 258
Chapter 258
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 258
Chapter Title: Those Martial Artist Bastards
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—Kwang!
Concentrating mana into my feet and ankles, I propelled myself forward with a tiny motion. Mana, this energy, granted divine power that transcended mere muscle strength. And thus, the Supremacy of the Heavenly Demon. The Heavenly Demon who conquered the Central Plains and reigned over the heavens overwhelmed the "world" and subjugated the "earth."
"Behold."
In an instant, I closed the gap with Mariel.
"...!"
Compared to her charging at me by kicking off the ground, I'd leaped across the distance in a single step.
"I am the Heavenly Demon."
Her eyes widened as she saw me. Sure, my mana pool was tiny as hell, but thanks to my circuit training, I could wield it with zero waste—perfectly.
All the mana inside me moved more freely than my own limbs.
Executing the Supremacy of the Heavenly Demon was child's play for me.
"It's Kim Katt."
A clean technique, without even a hint of waste.
A pristine technique honed to the peak of efficiency.
The follow-up attack would flow more naturally than running water.
"Whipping Fist Technique."
—Whoosh whoosh.
The punches of the Whipping Fist Technique were savagely stubborn, like a tantrum-throwing kid. Not hard to deal with, but just like with a brat throwing a fit, compromise was impossible.
This let me dictate the close-quarters brawl exactly as I wanted.
In other words, now that I'd closed in...
"Guh?!"
—You weren't escaping.
Steel-hard fists mercilessly hammered into Mariel's body. Thud! Thwack! Thud thud thud! Her side already bruised, her explosive power was shot.
Even at full strength, she couldn't dodge my attacks—what chance did she have weakened?
A merciless tidal wave of punches battered her flesh.
"Urk... hack! You think I'll just take this?!"
—Fwoosh!
Right as she was getting pummeled, she spun her body dramatically. Even in this cramped space, she rotated beautifully and unleashed a back kick.
The sharp heel of her long boot targeted my head—or more precisely, my jaw. It flew straight, hitting exactly as aimed.
—Scree!
I sighed inwardly.
Full of openings.
Nothing but openings.
It was laughable.
"It's over—!"
The attack was too straightforward. Sure, that honesty packed real power. But in real combat, it felt frustratingly rigid—needed work.
That's how it looked to me, a third-dan Taekwondo black belt.
—Boom!
I instantly raised my gauntlet to block. Gauntlet met boot with a massive clang. I rooted my lower body like a tree, channeling strength downward.
—Unshakable.
I took the full force without budging an inch.
"...What?!"
In that slowed moment, I caught Mariel's shocked face. She'd been confident in that strike. But she was green. Panicking at a failed attack proved it.
Always plan for failure—counterattacks, combos. Swordsmanship was like that; hand-to-hand should've been too.
For her age, it was decent.
But still, just a martial artist.
Never tasted life-or-death struggle.
Her reactions were slow because of it.
"Asura Blood Splattering Fist."
Still blocking the kick, I twisted my left fist like a snake and slammed it into her lower back. —Thump! Her thin outfit offered zero defense—couldn't block my punch at all!
"Kyak!"
Mariel's stance crumbled.
"Compared to Taekwondo, this world's martial arts are just like some limp dog balls dangling on a sweltering dog day."
"Tae... kwon do?"
"Feel it with your body."
—Crack!
I unleashed a merciless, killer Taekwondo kick on her crumbling form. This wasn't the softened, sport version from modern Korea.
It was pure murder arts, refined by Heavenly Demon Kim Katt himself for killing and killing alone.
"—Murder Taekwondo."
A kick made to shatter humanity.
Mana-charged and amplified by my greaves, it flew at Mariel. She flinched, sensing danger, and raised her leg to counter.
"Dieee?!"
Then I'd seize the range!
I powered up, kicking even faster!
—Boom!
Unable to keep up with the explosive speed, Mariel screamed as the impact hurled her back. "Kyaaaaack!!" The skill gap was too vast now. I charged, unleashing every technique in my arsenal.
"Guhak! Krgh...! You barbaric sword-swinging brute...! Kyak!"
I toyed with Mariel, exploiting the overwhelming difference in skill.
My bare-handed combat had already surpassed low-rank instructors at the martial artist guild. Pure skill-wise, that put me at mid-rank.
Nah, this was straight-up high-rank instructor level.
Hell, I might even beat the guild master.
"Urgh...! How can you be this strong...!"
Battered and broken, Mariel staggered back, gasping.
"Yeah. I'm definitely strong."
I slowly approached her, opening my mouth.
That's right. I was strong.
"But you lost because you're weak."
"What... did you say?"
"I said you lost because you're weak—not because I'm strong."
I declared it.
"So don't think you lost because I'm strong, you weakling."
"Eek!"
Furious at my taunt, her eyes rolled back as she unleashed a swift kick. Decent speed, pretty sharp. But.
"Not scarier than a blade."
It wasn't deadlier than a knife edge.
So it wouldn't touch me.
"Step forward."
I dove in without fear.
"Ah...! Th-this is...!"
I slipped past her kick in a flash, burrowing inside her guard. No matter what she tried, she couldn't reach me. Casually, I pressed my hand to her abdomen.
"That's what you get kicking like that."
"..."
"If that'd been a punch, you'd be dead."
—Plop.
I whispered it, and she slowly lowered her raised leg.
Sparing you for those thighs and the wallet, bitch. I'd already beaten the crap out of her, and I wanted that wallet handed over willingly, not forced—less trouble that way.
"I... lost..."
I pulled my hand away, and she said it heavily.
"Yeah, kid. Good fight, blondie. Pretty impressive against the Heavenly Demon. You hurt anywhere?"
"..."
I dusted off her shoulders gently, and she bowed her head. Her clenched fists trembled. Losing to hand-to-hand as a swordswoman must've stung her pride.
But it was fine.
Defeat always made people grow.
Since I was taking lesson fees anyway, I could spare some advice.
Wary of counters, I grabbed her shoulder—
"You bastard! Think you're safe dropping your guard?! Time to pay you back!"
Mariel yelled at full volume and lashed out with a vicious kick.
Feisty little shit.
Knew it.
—Grab.
Already on guard, I caught it easily.
"..."
Mariel stared at me wide-eyed, like she'd seen her dead mom resurrected. Then awkwardly turned to look at her trapped leg.
"Hey."
—Flich!
My low call made her shoulders shake.
I raised my fist, and she blurted desperately.
"Th-this—it's not cheating! I was just paying you back for what you did! You did it too! You said the one who drops guard is at fault—so this doesn't count!"
Her rambling showed she was scared shitless. Goddamn. What was the point messing with a kid like this? She looked way younger than me.
Maybe just turned twenty?
"Sigh."
I sighed.
"Listen up, hothead. Who kicks like that? Swing it like an idiot, and anyone gets hit, dumbass. Even a stray dog would dodge."
I released her leg and lectured like advice.
This frustration felt fresh—been ages.
"Hold still a sec."
"Wh... what? What're you saying?"
She panicked at my words.
"Lemme show you a real kick. I'll fix your stance—just stand there. Watching you is painful. Consider it a lesson."
Confused, she followed my lead.
"O-okay... like this?"
"Good. Stay put. You're doing great."
What an idiotically innocent girl.
She snapped to attention.
"Great... how?"
"Yeah, really great. You've got talent."
"Talent..."
Now she was scratching her head.
"Yeah. Stay there. Here it comes."
Had I hit her head wrong earlier?
—Hoo.
I exhaled, eyeing her at attention.
Mariel looked a bit tense.
Straight bangs, sky-blue eyes contrasting her blonde hair.
Healthy thighs and a peek of panty string at her hips—nice points.
She looked fine overall.
But like I said.
"Kim Katt Drop Kiiiiick!!!!!!"
Beauty was useless on me.
—Splat!
"Kyaaaaaaaack!!!!!"
Standing at attention, unguarded, she ate a dropkick dead-on and rocketed into the ground like a cannonball.
"Never drop your guard, bitch!"
"G-guhak! M-my gut...! You tricked me! Tricked me again!"
"Shut your trap! You tried tricking me first!"
Full-power ultimate dropkick left her clutching her belly and chest, writhing in agony—couldn't even stand.
"Ur... hack! Guh guh guh!"
Pretty scream—music to my ears.
The Heavenly Demon grew stronger amid piles of corpses and enemies' screams!
"Daring to trick me?!"
Enraged, I pounced on the downed Mariel. Land a strike? Follow with grapples. I hugged her from behind as she lay sideways.
And.
Rear Naked Choke.
"Kya, kyak?! What the hell! Let—let go!"
She grabbed my forearm, legs flailing to escape my muscles. No chance. The Rear Naked Choke was banned by official associations for being brutal—not some amateur move.
Plus, my muscles outclassed any woman's.
That was "sap macho" for ya.
"Watch closely! This is otherworldly martial arts! Secret ultimate of the Heavenly Demon Divine Arts!"
"What're you babbling, pervert?! Let go!"
"Pervert?!"
"Kyaaaaack! Let go! Let me go! Pervert! Pervert!"
I had her squirming body locked tight with mine.
As she thrashed, her thighs rubbed against me. Uh, this situation's a bit...
"Quiet! Rear Naked Choke!"
Ignoring it!
I squeezed my muscles!
"Hrrk guh guh guh—!!!!!!"
Choking her neck, her face turned beet red.
Having fun, I rambled and enjoyed her reactions.
"Haha! How's it taste?!"
"Fugk! L-let... let go! Let me gooo!!!"
"Uahahahaha!!! This is the power of otherworldly martial arts, Heavenly Demon Divine Arts!"
"Gkh, guk...! L-let...!"
"Shit-tier martial artist scrubs like you could never beat this!"
I eased up a bit there.
"Puha...! Ha... haa... I-I lost! How about calling it here?! Sorry for the sneak attack! Please stop!"
Desperate, gasping it out.
"You're sorry?"
"Y-yes! I lost! I'll apologize!"
"No dice."
"What?"
"Rear Naked Choke!"
"Hrrk guh guh guh guh—!!!!!"
Interrupting my cozy time with Serka was a grave sin!
Finally time to play with Serka, and this bitch ruined it!
Serka'd bolted long ago—god knows when I'd see her again! Pay up, martial artist! I never forgive marked foes. True macho of machos, guardian of Confucianism, Heavenly Demon Kim Katt!
I was gleefully tormenting Mariel when.
"Th-there! Mariel Instructor's over there...!"
"Huh? What?"
A shadow fell over me.
I looked up, wondering.
—Clear sky-blue hair.
And matching sky-blue eyes.
A woman looked down at me.
"...Wh-who're you?"
Sensing doom, I asked politely.
"Martial Artist Guild Master."
"Pardon?"
The reply came.
...What'd she say?
"I said that."
—Thwack!
Short pain hit.
Then my vision went black.