Final Evaluation Showdown
Today was the day for the one-on-one duels in the final evaluation. All eyes were on the matchup with Yoon Seoa, the closest thing to a protagonist they had.
"Has Professor Kang Mina arrived?"
"Hello, Instructor Han Ho-jin."
Perhaps because everyone expected a one-sided beatdown, there weren't as many spectators as one might think. Duels only had meaning when the fighters were evenly matched; with this level of difference, the outcome was obvious.
"Even so, it's Yoon Seoa's duel—kinda surprising there aren't more people."
"What can you do?"
Han Ho-jin chuckled wryly and turned his gaze to the screen.
"A match that ends the moment it starts—can't be helped."
"She's prepared a lot, though. It won't end that quickly."
"Even so, can she overcome the gap?"
Han Ho-jin pointed to a screen in the corner. It displayed the pre-registered equipment info for both students. All gear for the duel had to be pre-approved by the instructor. Using unapproved weapons meant instant disqualification. The opponent's gear details weren't shared.
"Yoon Seoa brought no equipment at all. Kim Siu, on the other hand, has a sword and six approved throwing items."
Kim Siu's Equipment:
1 Sword
1 Smoke Grenade
3 Type A Bombs
1 Type B Bomb
1 Flashbang
Six throwing items. Kang Mina checked the equipment window in the corner of the screen. One sword, one smoke grenade, three Type A bombs, one Type B bomb, one flashbang. Kang Mina knew Yoon Seoa's habits. She'd heard from other instructors about how she avoided wasting strength and minimized mana use. It wasn't always bad—conserving energy boosted sustained combat power—but it could give openings to opponents you could crush in one go.
"But it's Yoon Seoa."
It was a flaw all the instructors noted, but she wasn't the type to let pride get her killed.
"She knows when to bend if needed."
"Yeah, that's true."
Yoon Seoa wasn't one to cling to pride till the end. It'd be best if she ended it decisively from the start, but if it got dangerous, she'd go all out.
"The moment the mana core activates, mana fills the body and begins merging with it. You know how that creates a physique different from a normal person's."
"Uh? Why bring that up suddenly...?"
"Once the merge completes, physical abilities skyrocket beyond a normal human's, and you can sense the awakener's unique aura."
"Of course I know that. But why mention it now?"
"Because Kim Siu seems to have awakened. I felt mana when I inspected his gear earlier."
"Really?"
For the first month after first awakening, the body undergoes transformation as it merges with mana. Early on, with no control, mana leaks out naturally. But Kang Mina had never sensed any from Kim Siu.
"You know it's possible to hide it on purpose, right?"
It was possible. During the initial merge phase, hiding an awakening could be done in three main ways. First, if the mana was too weak to show externally. Second, if wearing gear that concealed it. Third, exceptional mana control to suppress it deliberately. With Kang Mina's skill, she could detect all three—but she'd never suspected Kim Siu had awakened, so she'd never checked.
An uneasy thought crept in. Could a newbie awakener really beat the top student?
"Hiding it this thoroughly means there might be some show after all."
"I hope so."
She smiled outwardly, but inside, she couldn't laugh. If he won, who knew what favor Kim Siu might ask for? Yoon Seoa wouldn't lose, but an inexplicable anxiety stirred.
Alright... this time, I end it.
He'd already aced the written exam after memorizing the issues through loops. He'd even used the extra cash to buy gear for the duel. Coin names, buy/sell timings—he'd repeated them endlessly. It still didn't feel real. He'd once trembled over tens of thousands of won, and now he'd made over 100 million. Like a dream.
Goodbye, beggar life!
He only had tens of millions left now, but money was infinite with loops. He could've earned more, but stamina limits forced him to cash out at 130 million max—he had no idea beyond that chart.
Insane ability... Gear's a bit subpar, though.
He'd wanted top-tier stuff, but buying was tricky. Bitcoin purchases had issues, and cashing out felt dirty. So he'd sourced from a shady shop: genuine items disguised as defectives from legit production, marked up 2-3x. All had unique codes proving authenticity.
Over ten million for one duel... ridiculously expensive.
It stung, but this time, I win.
"Kim Siu, proceed to the duel arena."
The one-on-one finally began. In the isolated room, the instructor cast a protective barrier. Yoon Seoa entered with her sleepy eyes, her own barrier up.
The arena outside buzzed with students watching. Kim Siu felt a thrill—he rarely drew direct stares. He knew they were here for Yoon Seoa, not him. But this time, I'm the star.
Yoon Seoa narrowed her eyes, sizing up the manastone bombs' power.
Manastone bombs were rarely used throwing items. Hard to carry safely (they couldn't detonate from external shock), middling power. Too big hindered movement; too small lacked punch. Packing high power into small size jacked up the price beyond hunting profits, so they gathered dust.
"You both know the duel rules, right?"
"..."
"First to destroy 50% of the opponent's barrier wins."
They warmed up.
"Confirm and respond."
"Yes."
"..Yes."
"10 seconds, then begin."
The moment countdown ended, Yoon Seoa's attack flew his way.
"3"
"2"
"1"
"Begin!"
At countdown start, he rolled sideways blindly. Attack grazed by. He popped up, dodged the 1.5-second follow-up, then sidestepped the next.
Phew... now, taunt?
"That's some serious underestimation, huh?"
"..."
Light provocation. Yoon Seoa's perpetual sleepy face shifted subtly—yet her eyes stayed locked on his throwing items.
My read was wrong...?
"Not mad, right?"
"..."
Before her arrows flew, he hurled a Type A bomb. It detonated on impact. Obviously, Yoon Seoa blocked the blatant attack.
"...Done?"
Before her arrow, he triggered hidden inventory smoke grenade and flashbang.
"Beeeeeeeep!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
"Ugh!"
Vision and hearing cut off. She'd rely on mana sense. He rolled another bomb in the gap. Even blind and deaf, she'd sense Type A activation via mana. But Type B was a timer—undetectable till detonation.
He rolled Type B toward Yoon Seoa. Her position never changed; loops taught him the perfect backdoor roll.
"!!"
To mask detection, two more Type A in quick succession.
Boom!
She blocked flawlessly. But missed Type B rolling behind. Smoke cleared patchy visibility, but she didn't notice it at her feet. He charged to distract further.
Wall incoming soon—
Dodge by turning.
Focus all her attention here—
Dodge spear. He knew trajectories—no hesitation.
"You... awakened."
Her mutter spread chill. Seizing slowed movement, ice walls erupted everywhere. Alert to bombs, she kept distance—no approach, trapped in ice prison. Farther than before; attacks impossible.
But no panic. All planned.
Good.
As she relaxed, he activated Anti-Magic. Glowing blue eyes; anti-magic mana repelled her chill.
Anti-Magic
"Second awakening?!"
His sword had high mana conductivity—boosted efficiency for two strikes. One cleaved the wall like paper.
He posed to charge over the cleanly sliced ice.
"Tch!"
Yoon Seoa thrust hands, prepping attack. More distance meant weaker power—visible drop.
Ice crystals bloomed like flowers. He spun back.
Got her! It's over, Yoon Seoa!
Bomb activated simultaneously. She sensed anomaly, spotted it.
"What?"
Too late to block—she hastily fired ice shotgun. Bomb exploded.