Chapter 140: Promotional Speech
The next morning.
Sword Sage, Spear Sage, Poison Demon, Fist King.
Getting them on the phone wasn't difficult at all. Neither was asking them for the simple favor of sparring with Isabella.
Sword Sea Pavilion.
It had been ages since I'd last visited.
With Isabella trailing close behind me, I headed inside.
Four Awakeners were already gathered there.
“Thank you, elders. For graciously making time like this.”
“Minwoo, if it's your request, how could we not oblige?”
Sword Sage, speaking on behalf of the group with a hearty smile and a pleased expression. The other three elders reacted much the same.
In the blink of an eye, Fist King barreled over and wrapped me in a rough bear hug with his bulging, muscular arms.
“Hahaha! You pretty thing! Thanks! Lately, I've been training with real gusto because of you!”
“Elder, that hurts a bit…”
“Ahem. Why's a young buck like you so frail? Should I have some tonic brewed up for you?”
It wasn't that I was frail—Fist King's strength was just beyond imagination.
‘Even without gear, what kind of power is this…’
Just then.
Spear Sage held Fist King back and spoke in his mild-mannered way.
“Thanks to you, I've learned so much. I thought just not regressing in my old age would be a blessing… Thank you.”
Even Poison Demon, grunting from behind, nodded vigorously in agreement.
From the atmosphere, it seemed all three elders had made some kind of breakthrough.
‘Well, yeah.’
Sword Sage was the top, but the other three weren't far behind.
Just half a step apart at most. Even that was talent enough to vie for world rankings.
Having gained some extraordinary insight in that state, it was no wonder they'd progressed afterward.
It had been four months already, after all.
Sword Sage had awakened his Mind Sword in just a month, so four months was plenty for the others to gain something too.
Anyway.
I'd gotten their numbers in the past but hadn't used them much beyond occasional check-ins and donations.
This was my chance to make use of it.
I handed earpieces to the four of them.
“This is…”
“Something Ilsung developed. Plug it in your ear, and it'll translate.”
Isabella didn't speak Korean.
At best, she was fluent in English as a second language.
All four had picked up conversational English during their prime, traveling abroad, but gear was essential for smooth translation.
Of course, Isabella had her interpreter in too. With her at my side, I introduced her.
“You all know her, right?”
“Oh, I know her. Name was… Isa… something?”
“Kid, even mountains have electricity these days. Watch some TV and live a little. It's Isabella, isn't it?”
“Oh, right! Isabella!”
Only then did Fist King clap his hands as if remembering her name.
“Goodness. Sorry about that, Miss Isabella. I don't keep up with the outside world. Even use phones like this, huh.”
Fist King held a cute little flip phone, so old and worn it was grimy.
“… It's fine. But isn't Fist King loaded with money?”
“Money? Gave it all to my disciples. Besides, this one's old but works fine. A phone just needs to make calls.”
“Ah, I see.”
Isabella nodded.
Soon, Sword Sage, staring intently at her and me, spoke up.
“So, you want us to spar with this young lady?”
“Yes.”
“How's her skill?”
At that moment.
Isabella stepped forward.
“I've never lost to anyone in my life. Not since I was eighteen.”
“You're in your prime.”
Sword Sage nodded contentedly.
The other elders reacted the same.
Pleased by her youthful spirit, they chuckled with broad smiles.
“Please take good care of her. She's a bit blunt, but she's good people deep down.”
“I get the gist. Leave it to us.”
I looked at Isabella.
“Deal?”
“… Fine. But it has to be the best.”
“Of course. Don't worry about the quality.”
It'd produce a battery worth slapping an American company back and forth.
With that, Isabella stepped forward.
“Any gear on hand?”
“Yeah, we've got some. We scattered a few when we retired, but ours are still spryer than active duty. Want to gear up and go?”
“Mine is top-tier, but…”
Fist King smirked.
“Worried about us, Miss Isabella? We didn't waste our years. No need. Brothers, I'll take the first round?”
“Go ahead.”
Fist King advanced.
Gear began equipping on him one by one. Clearly inferior to Isabella's in quality.
Multiple Legendaries.
At best, one or two Ancients.
The stat gap was overwhelming.
Even so, the moment the fight began—
Boom!
Fist King closed in first, throwing a punch at Isabella.
A glint lit my eyes.
‘Whoa.’
Fist King's level was definitely high.
Over a thousand, easy.
Plenty of titles and skills too.
Yet the Fist King I knew hadn't reversed his age like this.
His foundation had changed.
He was rampaging like a madman; that was the only way to put it.
Intense pressure from the start.
Isabella's eyes narrowed slightly.
She seemed flustered that things weren't going as planned.
“Nice footwork!”
Fist King, conversely, praised her in admiration. Even with all her S-rank skills active, he held the advantage.
The two elders, Spear Sage and Poison Demon, watched with relaxed expressions.
A realm beyond the material world.
Ever since hearing Sword Sage's words, all three had pondered and deliberated on it without fail, day after day.
Whenever they grasped even the faintest clue, their skills advanced as though they had shed an old skin.
Fist King was the prime example.
“… I'll get serious now.”
Isabella's eyes turned icy.
Brilliant lights erupted around her. Item activations and SS-rank skills.
She was using everything.
Fist King's gaze sharpened too. The power gap between geared Isabella and ungeared was night and day.
An Awakener of his caliber knew it well.
“Alright, me too then—for real.”
The moment Isabella nodded and vanished.
Boom!
An explosion rang out.
Then.
“Cough!”
Isabella reeled back, vomiting blood with the blast.
Her brow furrowed as if she'd seen something incomprehensible.
When she closed in on Fist King at high speed, a chill ran down her spine and triggered every defensive skill she possessed.
Pure survival instinct.
‘I definitely defended thoroughly…’
Yet the punch hadn't even touched her—still, a massive impact hit her gut.
A strike horrific enough to shatter all her defenses!
Unfathomable. Especially since she'd activated all her gear.
In this state, no one in the world could claim to block her easily.
But she'd been overwhelmed.
If Fist King had not pulled back at the last second, the attack would have been fatal.
The items would've saved her life, but it was that threatening.
“… What was that just now?”
“Oh, this? Heart Fist. Fist of the mind. You pack a punch, Miss Isabella. Made me use it.”
“Fist of the… mind? A skill?”
“Skill? Kinda vague. Anyway, sorry, Miss Isabella, but it's pricey. Can't teach it.”
“… Then who can?”
“Dunno. Ask the originator.”
Fist King glanced over.
I was standing there.
“…?”
Isabella blinked.
‘Originator?’
Did that mean I'd taught Fist King Heart Fist?
Hard to grasp.
I knew Kim Minwoo's skills were impressive from yesterday's spar. But Fist King's technique now…
‘A whole different dimension?’
Too profound for a mere skill.
How'd he even teach it?
And if he had the prowess to teach it, why not use it yesterday?
“Does it take a ton of mana?”
“It does. But not unmanageable. You can control it.”
Then why hadn't I used it?
She eyed me curiously, and I scratched my cheek, guessing her thoughts.
What could I do?
This body had zero talent for learning anything.
I'd swung a sword like crazy, yet not even a basic skill generated.
Silence, briefly.
Isabella approached.
“I want to learn it too. Heart Fist. What do I give you?”
Return home?
That was already off her mind. Hearing even a snippet about this Fist of the Mind beat solo training any day.
For herself, and for France.
“Haha! You're bold. But learning that'll cost more than pocket change.”
The three elders nodded in sync with Fist King. Perfect hype men.
An unexpected sharp assist.
Foolish not to capitalize.
I stared at Isabella. Blurting answers to pleas was amateur hour.
True masters…
“Start with nailing the promo line. I'll call in a few days. See you.”
Stew it first, let it ripen.
* * *
“What our Nine Dragon Guild lacked was top-grade elixirs! But through Chairman Li's magnanimous decision, we too shall receive those mighty elixirs! From this moment, Nine Dragon Guild heads to Korea for top-grade elixirs, and once more, we shall compete in good faith with Ilsung Guild in renewed form…”
Cameras flashed at the Nine Dragon Guild Master's resounding cry.
Fiery speech.
Passionate embrace with Chairman Li, cheers from the masses.
After the flashy display, Chairman Li Zemin approached the Guild Master.
“Since it's come to this, squeeze out one more. Got it?”
“Yes. I'll do my utmost.”
“Liang Xiaojun, learn plenty too.”
“I thank you for your boundless grace, Chairman!”
Liang Xiaojun bowed deeply.
Nine Dragon members heading to Korea: about ten total. Five for training.
Normally, low-level Liang Xiaojun wouldn't join such an expedition.
But things had changed.
Nine Dragon's prestige had dipped after the guild war loss. Meanwhile, Liang Xiaojun had shattered France's record, emerging as China's new hope.
‘Use him well for now.’
To soothe public sentiment and show Nine Dragon's wholesomeness, a fresh star player was essential.
Liang Xiaojun fit perfectly.
So, no choice.
Deploy one of the five cards.
‘Not a loss, though.’
Gate turf wars?
Lowbies joined anyway. He could still be useful leveled up.
‘And sharp too.’
China's hero, blah blah.
Most would puff up, but not Liang Xiaojun.
He was even more cautious, groveling flatter.
Family living quietly too, from what I'd heard. At least he knew his place. Worth grooming for now.
If he got any other ideas, Nine Dragon’s surveillance network was everywhere; they could count the hairs on his arms if they wished.
Thus, Nine Dragon boarded their charter to Korea.
No hero's welcome like Isabella's, naturally.
Never had one, but especially not now. Korea-China relations were iffy.
Plus, they'd been crushed by perennial fifth-place Ilsung.
Governments talked reconciliation publicly, but the public's grudge ran deep.
Whoooosh…
Quiet airport.
Nine Dragon members waited after unloading.
Hong Tao scanned them all, eyes resolute.
“For China, we must learn even one more thing. Devote body and soul! Chew on those words, over and over!”
“Yes!”
They replied, eyes ablaze. The deed was done.
No choice but to lap up Kim Minwoo's bile for every scrap. Strength meant future options.
Soon, vehicles approached.
“Get in.”
Nine Dragon boarded quietly.
Destination: Ilsung Training Center.
Sunglassed guard said,
“Head inside. Young Master awaits.”
Guild Master Hong Tao nodded for the group.
Train intensively here for days, get elixirs, then rematch Ilsung in guild war.
That was the plan.
The ten Chinese entered.
Soon, they faced me.
“Long trip. You must be tired.”
I smiled and greeted.
That instant.
Kim Minwoo and Liang Xiaojun.
Eyes met.
Messages appeared before each.
For me:
[First follower detected. Use as you will.]
And for Liang Xiaojun:
[Buried loyalty ignites. You are ready to serve Him.]
‘… Huh?’
I tilted my head at the suddenness.
Then.
Thud!
Liang Xiaojun dropped to his knees.
This moment, he couldn't contain the erupting volcano of emotion.
His hands trembled.
Memories flooded like a tsunami.
Countless recollections of following, adoring his great knowledge.
He was the great ruler.
He was the great founder.
He was the great avenger.
And he was the fallen ruler.
And I was…
His endless devotee.
Even when all crumbled, shattered, scattered.
Devoted to waiting eternities at his word that it wasn't over.
Waited eons.
Vague faith it wasn't the end.
Yes.
It truly wasn't!
He knew instinctively.
Death Lord.
What that signified.
And who stood before him.
Memories not his own, yet.
Irresistible infusion. As if one with the figure in them.
His vision blurred.
Hot tears streamed down kneeling Liang Xiaojun's cheeks.