Ambush in the Empty Arena
Nam Il-gon was pacing restlessly in the corridor outside the door. Spotting Choi Muhyun, the manager startled and hurried over.
"Our star pro Choi, you're here awfully quick. Come on in. How do you take your coffee? Two sugars and two creams?"
"No coffee, thanks. I'd like to get the medical test done first."
Settling onto the sofa, Choi Muhyun didn't hide his impatience. He hadn't rushed here at top speed just to chit-chat with this manager.
"Haha, you're a man in a hurry. Fine, fine. For our pro Choi, I'll go fetch the doc and set it up right away. Just wait a moment."
Nam Il-gon stepped out into the corridor.
Left alone, Choi Muhyun fiddled with his phone. Out of signal range—no calls, no texts. After ten minutes with no sign of the manager, he pulled up a saved video. The one that had made Kim Jun famous.
"Crazy bastard."
The low mutter escaped every time he watched it.
What would it feel like to crush a guy like that with everything I've got?
Sitting idle in the manager's office made him antsy. Stepping into the corridor, Choi Muhyun wandered until his view suddenly opened wide.
An arena empty of spectators... it was massive.
He'd only seen stadiums packed with screaming crowds stomping their feet. Now, he walked slowly toward the center.
The shock-absorbing dirt-sand mix felt nicely cushioned underfoot.
In a few hours, this place would be jammed shoulder-to-shoulder. While the crowds cheered and thrilled, right here, muscle would smash against muscle. Savage fighting spirit would clash in a bid to break each other.
His blood boiled with the urge to fight now.
Choi Muhyun dropped into the Jirye-se stance.
Thud. Dirt and sand sprayed outward, puffing up lightly before settling slowly.
Then, applause echoed from ahead.
Lifting his head, Choi Muhyun spotted a man at the spectator entrance.
The guy, about 170 centimeters tall, let out a wild yell and leaped down, planting his feet precisely on the chair backs without a wobble in his torso. He somersaulted twice in midair before landing smoothly.
"Hiyah!"
Striking a pose and shouting like Bruce Lee reborn.
Crazy bastard. Better steer clear.
As Choi Muhyun turned to leave, the man called out.
"Hey, you there! Hold up!"
Hey? On first sight?
Strength gathered in Choi Muhyun's eyes.
"What?"
"You're Choi Muhyun, right?"
"And if I am?"
"I'm Yeon Chil-su, from Yeon Ga's Cheonmu Pavilion."
"So?"
Choi Muhyun briefly recalled Yeon Min-gyun from the elevator. Same "Yeon" surname.
"You should have clocked it right away. I'm Yeon Ga blood. Ring any bells?"
"Nope."
"Cheonroegeom."
"What's that?"
Choi Muhyun feigned boredom.
"You don't know it was originally Yeon Ga's property?"
"Take it up with the Dungeon Association if you want to argue. Don't hassle innocents."
Turning to exit the arena, Choi Muhyun spotted someone blocking the entrance.
It was Yeon Min-gyun from the elevator.
A burly man stood at the opposite exit too, and another at the spectator section door.
"Beat me, and you might walk out unscathed."
Yeon Chil-su said cheerfully.
"Ah, so if I knock out all you guys here, I can stroll right out?"
Cracking his knuckles, Choi Muhyun advanced on Yeon Chil-su.
"Bingo. But think you can?"
Yeon Chil-su kicked off the ground and launched himself.
Whack, whack. Midair kicks rained down.
Blocking with both arms and retreating, Choi Muhyun was startled by the power behind those seemingly light kicks. He could hold for now, but taking more would bruise his arms purple.
Any counter, and the guy dodged back. Faster than even Kim Jun.
Luckily, Yeon Chil-su's kicking arts weren't potent enough to pierce Choi Muhyun's solid defenses.
"Chil-su, I'm getting sleepy. You'll have us up all night."
Yeon Min-gyun yawned lazily.
Biting his lip at his senior's words, Yeon Chil-su accelerated sharply. One of Yeon Ga's famed foot techniques, Kkwaeunbo, unfolded.
Thud.
A heel strike to the shoulder.
Choi Muhyun staggered but kept his balance. Speed-focused, the power had dropped off sharply.
He took hits to the shin and side, but minimal damage. Still, accumulating blows would wear him down eventually.
He tried a deliberate counter, but it was futile. The guy was a shadow, untouchable.
Then, an idea struck.
Pretending to reel from a hit, he loosened his abdominal guard. Yeon Chil-su charged straight in to finish it, as if waiting for the opening.
"No!"
Yeon Min-gyun and the six seniors shouted, but too late.
Concentrating inner power in his abdomen for reinforced defense, Choi Muhyun seized Yeon Chil-su's right ankle, twisting to snap the ligament.
Yeon Chil-su kicked Choi Muhyun's chest with his left foot to break free, but could barely stand. Panting and glaring, another man dropped down behind him, twin daggers in hand.
"Tsk tsk, Chil-su. Can't even spot a shallow trick? That's why you end up like this."
"...Yuk-su senior."
"Pathetic."
Yeon Yuk-su kicked a priest aside in the opposite passage. The one supporting Yeon Chil-su was Yeon O-su.
"You barely passed round one. Congrats. But hey, heard you were a straightforward tanker. Setting traps like that? Kinda dirty, no?"
Yeon Yuk-su approached the catching-his-breath Choi Muhyun.
"Not like you can talk."
Choi Muhyun scanned the entrance-blockers, starting with Yeon Min-gyun.
"Fair point."
Yeon Yuk-su shrugged, his daggers clashing in midair with a metallic clang.
"Come at me."
"Was planning to."
The smile vanished from Yeon Yuk-su's face as he gripped his twin daggers and charged Choi Muhyun.
Tiny sparks crackled from the tips of his five fingers.
His hand had gone rigid.
Dashing to the bathroom, Kim Jun turned on the faucet and plunged his right hand into the water. Crackle-crackle-pop. Sparks raced up the wall, shattering the lightbulb.
Shards of glass rained down.
Fortunately, the paralysis lifted.
Kim Jun swept away the glass. A sharp piece nicked his skin, drawing blood, but it healed in seconds.
Sitting on the bench, he raised his hand. He could flex and extend his fingers fine now, but sudden paralysis meant random sparks.
The issue was not knowing when a body part might lock up. If he pinpointed the trigger, he could prevent it.
Once or twice a day so far. It'll ramp up over time. Need to find a way.
Testing by pushing his body to induce aftereffects, a knock sounded at the door.
"Water delivery."
Kim Jun checked through the entrance and opened up.
The man with a massive water jug balanced on his shoulder brushed past Kim Jun and headed up to the master room.
Kim Jun eyed the water company employee.
He swapped out the master room jug and descended with the empty. Meeting Kim Jun's gaze, he shot a contemptuous glare before heading to his truck by the roadside via the parking lot.
Confirming the truck leaving, Kim Jun locked the guildhouse door, hopped in his car in the lot, and pulled onto the road. The truck was turning right.
He kept a safe distance to avoid detection but nearly lost it at a signal.
Tailing's no joke.
Luckily, no long chase needed.
The truck stopped at a park entrance.
The driver got out and entered the park.
Kim Jun parked, hopped the bushes, and slipped in. Hiding behind a tree, he watched as a bench-sitter rose upon spotting the man.
Glancing around, the man handed over a white envelope. The recipient peeked inside, eyes widening.
Too far for voices, but Kim Jun was sure: cash envelope.
The guy I almost bumped earlier gave off a hard, cold metallic aura. Faint, but definitely a Raider. What was he doing up in the master room?
The envelope recipient headed to the truck loaded with jugs.
Kim Jun tailed the man exiting the opposite park gate. Had to ditch his car.
The guy kept looking back.
Forcing Kim Jun to stay hyper-vigilant, the stamina drain was brutal.
After thorough checks, the man descended into the subway.
Kim Jun followed.
Arriving first at the Korean restaurant, Go Cheolmin drained a cup of ice water and ordered another.
Really want to bolt.
Phone already off. For focus on the talk with Choi Min-su.
Then, the door opened, and Choi Min-su entered—like a massive tiger stalking into the room.
"Early bird, huh?"
"Just arrived."
Go Cheolmin stood.
Choi Min-su extended a hand.
Go Cheolmin clasped it firmly for a shake.
"Sorry for dumping the kid on you and not visiting much."
Choi Min-su said, sitting.
"No, sir. If anything, sorry for dragging you into this mess."
"Details after the meal."
Choi Min-su ordered deftly. Until food arrived, they swapped light old tales—mostly Go Cheolmin's active-duty stories.
"Never dreamed you'd be a guild master. Figured you'd tank till you rotted in a dungeon."
"Same here back then."
"What changed?"
"Long story. Would take nights to tell."
"We'll carve out time later."
Neat, exquisitely tasty dishes filled the table.
Choi Min-su ate casually, like a regular. Go Cheolmin barely managed—nibbling bits, forcing them down.
Meal over.
Choi Min-su, halfway through cold sikhye, eyed Go Cheolmin.
Go Cheolmin knew it was time.
"What I'm about to say... it'll be hard to believe."
"If you say it, I believe."
Choi Min-su crossed arms, muscles bulging under short sleeves.
Go Cheolmin exhaled deeply and began with first meeting Kim Jun.
Kim Jun? That carrier? Why bring him up? Heatstroke?
Choi Min-su's eyes narrowed, but he didn't interrupt. The hothead Go Cheolmin had mellowed as master.
When Go Cheolmin described chasing off the guildhouse-seeking Kim Jun with conditions, Choi Min-su's eyes widened.
"No way—that's why he aced the college entrance exam?"
"Yes, senior."
"Not your average punk."
Choi Min-su recalled the life-size bromides on his son Choi Muhyun's wall during a visit. He'd raged and torn one of Kim Jun's.
Now, even without talent, that effort could influence Muhyun big-time.
"Uramata took a huge hit on Devils' Day."
"Nearly folded."
"Only Socrates Team returned safe. A miracle. Nuclataurus exploded, after all."
"..."
Choi Min-su was speechless.
His son Choi Muhyun tanked for E-rank Socrates Team—couldn't survive a Nuclataurus blast.
"You didn't know. Muhyun's tight-lipped, yeah."
"...So he hid in the mountains awhile. How'd they survive the dungeon? What happened?"
"Lyposaurus appeared."
"...What?"
Choi Min-su's eyes bulged.
"They raised a barrier, but radiation-dosed Socrates Team was dying when Lyposaurus approached. It licked their wounds. Miraculous recovery."
"Hard to buy."
"Officially reported to Association, but too outlandish—buried."
"Makes sense."
"Reason for the long tale: Kim Jun got contaminated by that Lyposaurus then."
"Contaminated?"
Go Cheolmin handed Choi Min-su the test results from guild doc O Won-jin.
"...Grade disturbance vibes. 12th grade to 6th? Recovery stats insane."
Choi Min-su muttered.
"Showed this to Master Nam Eung-ryeol."
"To him? You know where he is?"
"He said bring Kim Jun."
"And? Passed that brutal test? Even Raiders struggle."
Choi Min-su buzzed with excitement.
"Passed."
Go Cheolmin beamed, having witnessed it.
"Impressive, contamination or not."
"Explaining in detail because: in the recent dungeon raid, owner of Cheonroegeom Muhyun brought out? It's Kim Jun."
Choi Min-su's thrilled, childlike glee froze.
"...You've gone senile."
"Crazier joke: Kim Jun now holds Yeon Chung-jae's memories and inner power, original Cheonroegeom master."
Silent Choi Min-su.
"Hahahaha!"
Laughter burst hysterically.
Tears welling, Choi Min-su waved it off.
"Was bored and pissed lately. You cleared it right up. Knew it'd be fun, I'd visit more. You drink?"
"Cheonroegeom was stolen yesterday."
Choi Min-su's laughter faded.
"Go on."
"Yeon Ga's doing. No proof, of course. But they didn't get what they wanted. Cheonroegeom's with Master Nam Eung-ryeol now."
"...With the master?"
Choi Min-su was lost.
Hard to parse truth from lies. All true? Too much of a leap.
"You know: Cheonroegeom crosses space to its true wielder."
"...Heard the tale. Rumors of Podum in its makeup."
"True."
"So... Yeon Ga stole it, but it sought its master and left?"
"Yes."