Wrapping Up the Semester (7)
The probing battle between the two began. Neither made the first move, locked in a fierce stare-down. Kang Minji, closer in distance, ought to advance first, but she held her arms out to the sides in a defensive stance.
After a tense standoff, Kang Juwon moved first.
"Huu... Then I'll attack."
Kang Juwon had watched Kim Siu spar with him in class before. He'd seen those massive gauntlets disarm Kim Siu's sword and follow up with attacks plenty of times.
'Just gotta watch out for that!'
Kang Juwon began his assault on Kang Minji, careful not to let her grab his arms. His one-sided barrage continued, but her guard proved far sturdier than expected. Her physical prowess seemed even better than he'd imagined.
'Is she... this strong?'
Even bolstered by Kim Siu's potion for enhanced physical stats—a fact unknown to him—Kang Juwon couldn't help but panic. Every lapse in his focus brought a fist whistling toward him. No clean hits yet, but at this rate, he might actually lose.
"Do it properly..."
Kang Minji muttered, glaring at Kang Juwon.
"Haha..."
He'd thought it'd be an easy win, but Kang Minji was starting to adapt to his swordplay. Dragging things out like this wouldn't end well.
'Time to use my acceleration ability.'
Activating his unique power, Kang Juwon began moving a full tempo faster at intervals. Now he could outpace Kang Minji. She should crumble soon.
'Or... so I thought.'
Against his expectations, Kang Minji responded to his acceleration with calm precision. Even with his sudden bursts of speed, she never panicked, holding her composure. Impatience gnawed at him.
'Stay calm. I'm still in the advantage...'
Her barrier was chipping away bit by bit—not major damage, but steady. If time ran out, it'd be his victory by decision.
'But...'
His stamina was plummeting, while her breathing stayed rock-steady. The moment he tried to catch his breath, she'd charge in with terrifying ferocity.
'Can't keep this up... Time for the finisher.'
To wrap it up before his stamina gave out, Kang Juwon fell back. With acceleration active, the distance yawned open in an instant. Before she could close in, he'd gather his mana and go for broke.
He pooled every ounce of mana. The motion he'd drilled endlessly. Mana surged into his legs; he crouched, primed to launch. This speed would eclipse everything before it—an endgame thrust he couldn't even control himself. No way she could react.
'Sorry, Minji!'
Before she could rush him, he rocketed forward like a bullet.
That instant...
'...?'
As if she'd been waiting for precisely this, Kang Minji dropped her guard.
'Giving up the attack to dodge?'
She couldn't evade at his speed.
'It's over!'
The moment Kang Juwon sensed victory, her right fist pulled back—like chambering a round.
'She gonna counter?'
His speed was superior, and his sword outranged her arm.
'Too late, Minji!'
Anxiety bloomed as he met her unflinching glare. She calmly drew back her right arm. His speed held the edge, but her setup was impossibly efficient. Mana gathered; she unleashed a straight punch. At the fist's tip, an immense mana concentration.
As he hurtled in, her fist detonated.
'Can't stop now!'
Kang Juwon couldn't dodge either. His choice: full commitment. He poured everything into ending it. Thus began the chicken game between Kang Minji and Kang Juwon.
A game where two drivers charge head-on, deciding whether to swerve or hold course. But these players had already tossed the wheel. No dodging. Collision inevitable.
Now, only one thing decided the winner: who struck first?
They collided.
"Nuclear Punch!!!!"
"Uwaaaa!!!!!"
Kang Minji's fist erupted, engulfing Kang Juwon. His blade pierced her clean through.
Kwa-gwang!!!
A colossal explosion rocked the arena. Both had poured everything into that single strike. The deafening blast filled the field; everyone clamped hands over ears. Smoke blanketed the sparring ground—nothing visible.
"Ah... shit."
Not like they were destined partners or anything; no need to mimic that.
'Kang Minji better be okay...'
A world apart from her practice Nuclear Punch. She'd held back her explosion ability solely for this trump card, waiting patiently to unleash it. The effect was undeniable.
"I'm heading out first!"
"Uh... uh..."
A quick word to the flustered Yoon Seoa, then out.
The arena buzzed with crowds. The roar alone hinted at the devastation. But the real issue lay elsewhere.
Just as she'd prepped her finisher, so had Kang Juwon. An untrackable thrust by the naked eye—at that velocity, she'd taken a mortal wound for sure.
Murmurs rippled through.
"Coming through!!"
I shoved past the crowd toward the inner arena. The distant scoreboard displayed their barrier statuses.
'0%. Both barriers obliterated.'
Just no worst-case scenario, please.
"Treat them quick!!"
Medics and staff, stunned by the sudden crisis, rushed onto the field.
Kang Minji, bleeding and writhing in agony. Kang Juwon, a ragged heap on the ground.
"Hey! Kang Minji!! You okay?"
"Juwon!!"
Simultaneously, someone shouted from the opposite side.
"..."
"..."
Eye contact: Lee Da-eun, the academy's vice-top.
Treatment pressed on as we stared. She seemed better than feared—Kang Minji managed a weak wave. Only then did I exhale in relief.
'That power level... no way it ends in minor injuries.'
Something felt off, but if she was fine, that was enough.
"Haa..."
Kang Juwon, apparently okay too, flashed a wry smile and waved to Lee Da-eun. She sighed in relief.
'What's Lee Da-eun's fate rank?'
S-rank.
'S-rank... Same as Yoon Seoa.'
Turning, I caught Kang Juwon staring at Kang Minji.
'But that guy's look... not right.'
Not vengeful or sore about losing.
'Did that bastard fall for Kang Minji?'
Kang Mina sighed in relief seeing Kang Minji wave.
"Thank goodness... haa..."
She couldn't bear imagining her hurt. Her own intervention had made their survival possible.
Before one-on-one duels, barriers were assigned based on student grades. Higher-grade barriers required higher-ranked instructors, but with so many duels at once, universal high-grade coverage was impossible. Mana had limits, as did elite hunters capable of it. Plus, slapping top-tier barriers on weaklings wasted time dragging out 50% damage thresholds.
Thus, grading by scores seemed logical. But predictions could miss—rapid growth often outstripped grades. If one side dominated, they could adjust; cases like this, though, risked disaster.
Prevent via pre-duel practical score disclosure? Security locked the system until official reveal. Instructor judgment was key.
'Thank goodness...'
Scores and growth pegged both at C-grade barriers, but Kang Mina figured Kang Juwon's trajectory demanded B. Sisterly concern? She pushed for A-grade to protect Kang Minji. All raised brows, but her insistence won out.
'Didn't expect this level...'
Upgrading to A meant credibility hits if results soured. No rigging, but her word might lose weight.
'Even dialed damage detection to 30%...'
Fearing prolonged matches tarnishing her rep, she'd tweaked sensors for decision at 30% damage. Minor for cadets; safety excuse would fly.
"If not Professor Kang Mina, that could've been a catastrophe."
"Y... yeah."
"As expected, so perceptive. The academy's top prof indeed."
Instructor Han Ho-jin clapped in praise. Others chimed in.
"Felt stronger than scores during gear checks, but never dreamed A-grade... Who'd foresee this?!"
"I didn't know everything either... hoho."
"Experience from the front lines makes the difference."
Kang Mina felt a pang of guilt but smiled it off.
"Haha, humility too—the academy's finest!"
Her head throbbed; stress mounting. Thinking of Kim Siu worsened it.
As tension built, that moment flashed back.
'Back then... head didn't hurt at all...'
Swallowing Kim Siu's semen had melted away all worries. Absurd, but maybe some special power?
'Crazy! Thinking of that filthy, vile guy!'
The more it stressed her, the more his semen tempted.
'Crazy!..'
"So, who won?"
Kang Mina could only pray for her sister.
Moments later, the scoreboard lit up with the victor's face.
"Kang Minji... Student Minji wins."