Chapter 250
Chapter 250
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 250
Chapter Title: Plum Blossom Tree (3)
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Bile rises in my throat.
-Boom!
The kind of one-against-many raid that occasionally breaks out in dungeons.
Saku, gauntlets equipped, unleashed a burst of pale pink mana and struck the Plum Blossom with ferocious momentum.
-Whish!
One exchange.
Fist meets fist.
When that didn't work, Saku lowered her center of gravity and leaped into the air like a bird, slamming her heel into the side of his head.
Slowly, like herding a wild boar with hunting dogs.
She circled him at blinding speed, landing blow after blow.
Pink cherry blossoms trailed in the wake of her snowy-white ankles.
A single fox riding a path of scattered petals across the night sky.
-Thud!
Twisting her body, she stomped down on his forearm with her heel. The Plum Blossom blocked it.
It was a scene straight out of a game, breathtakingly beautiful.
"Keep pressing him."
If the situation weren't this dire, I might have been impressed.
-Ting.
When the bell rang, everyone in the vicinity had to tense up.
Because no one knew when or where he'd vanish to next.
One wrong move, and you'd be eliminated on the spot.
A combat incapacity ruling meant automatic disqualification.
Which meant my healing powers were useless here.
'Still.'
It required sustained focus and strategy, but it wasn't enough to force me to unleash my status window yet.
-Bang!
The Plum Blossom countered Saku's kick, sending out a harsh shockwave. Pushed back in the clash of strength, Saku flew a short distance away.
Soo-yeon and Cornus slipped into the gap.
Two swords resonating with mana, emitting sharp whistles. Backed up by Panya's magic.
A flawless combo that could even threaten S-ranks.
No prior practice needed; they trusted each other's skills, so their coordination was seamless.
Cornus was pulling her weight perfectly.
"Heh..."
The Plum Blossom grinned amid the mounting fatigue.
In that interval, I darted in and swung my sword.
-Bang!
His eyes spun unnaturally, and he caught my blade.
His face thrust right up to mine.
"When are you going to fight for real?"
Though I'd been half-assing it, he'd seen right through me in the chaos.
There were less than 30 minutes left anyway.
Stalling was far more profitable than trying to win outright.
"Who knows."
"...Fine then."
The Plum Blossom's fist aimed for my solar plexus.
"I'll make you fight properly."
I released the sword and curled my fist, maintaining my stance.
Blocked the punch with my elbow. The bone-jarring pain made my arm go numb.
I immediately reclaimed the sword he'd snatched.
It reverted from liquid form in my grip, solidifying back into a blade.
-Boom!
He repelled the incoming attacks from Soo-yeon and Cornus, then unleashed a barrage on me.
Wrapping his entire body in full-power mana, a brilliant blue aura rippled across him.
I dodged and landed a punch on his jaw.
-Crunch!
"Kuh."
Even taking a hit, his body didn't falter. His eyes burned with menace.
'This guy's a pervert, straight up?'
A few exchanges in, and it was clear.
He was only enhancing his body just enough to barely keep up.
I'd seen battle maniacs before, but this level of seriousness was disconcerting.
-You can do more, right?
His eyes seemed to say as much while fixed on me.
-Ting.
His speed ramped up another notch.
The weight in his punches, the body's signal screaming to get out now.
I dodged and parried between attacks. No openings for counters anymore.
Close-quarters combat where a single moment could shift everything dramatically.
-Grin.
A smile crept across his face.
Let's see if you dodge this. His intent was plain as day.
Ting. Ting.
Two accelerations in an instant. I had to readjust to the speed I'd just adapted to.
Space cracked, and the Plum Blossom vanished.
Pure white mana bloomed from his body like flowers.
I tracked the remnants of those petals.
Flash. He reappeared mid-air, swinging a fist.
-Baaang!
A speed too fast for the eyes. Petals fluttered before me.
I couldn't keep up visually.
But my honed battle senses, every nerve in my body, screamed his position.
Body hypersensitive from focus, catching even faint mana flows. I set the sword aside and raised one arm to block.
The world slowed like slow motion for a moment.
I blocked the beastly strike.
The Plum Blossom, after our exchange, put distance between us.
-Thud.
His eyes narrowed dangerously.
"What..."
A sharp glance at me as he spat it out.
His eyes flicked to his side. Soo-yeon was there.
"...I came for that girl, but you're something else."
What?
"What the hell are you talking about?"
No answer to my question.
With that, he blocked Saku's attack again. Widely spaced, he'd recovered his maxed-out mental energy.
The sticky glint in his eyes toward me... was that my imagination?
-Throb.
Pain shot through my arm. The blocked spot was bright red.
Skin torn, blood gushing. Even if I'd poured all mana into body reinforcement, this damage confirmed his strength.
-Boom!
A distant sound.
The Plum Blossom's movements drew closer.
Dodging and blocking persistent attacks around him, the bell tolling as distance shrank.
'Hold on.'
A chill down my spine.
'This bastard's targeting just me now.'
His gaze locked on me. Bad premonitions like this never lie.
I crossed my arms, drawing up mana again. Using the slightly recharged power after a brief rest, the flesh on my arm regenerated.
His speed surpassed the last burst.
Intent on scraping my bottom line, the guy's temperament was nasty.
One foot forward, black-gloved fist extended.
A man approaching, scattering pure white flowers into the sky.
"Sss."
I inhaled the night air, summoning black mana. Arms wrapped in it, I set my stance.
He closed in with the flowers, launching a punch.
-Kwaaang!
Circular air currents erupted around my arms. I blocked. Stumbled back a step on the gravel.
I shook out my wrists and cracked my neck.
-Crack.
Bone sounds from fatigued wrists brought stinging relief, numbness prickling my hands.
I flexed my fingers one by one.
The power gap hit bone-deep; he'd overpowered that strike deliberately.
Even after the first, he kept spewing petals, offering more punches.
'...This guy's not right in the head.'
His eyes were sharp, no doubt.
Impossible to spot through status window, Black Path, mana—the three layers hiding my strength.
Probably...
Judged by reaction speed, martial arts completion, by his own standards.
Champido, whom I'd met, was similar.
Top figures all have that stubborn gauge. Anyone I point at is strong anyway.
Spar once, realize this one's different.
This one's worth fighting.
...Their predictions rarely miss, which is impressive.
And I don't hate those fights either.
A glance around: most cameras focused here.
Unleashing full power would advertise to Flower how much stronger I'd gotten.
'It's already somewhat known.'
No helping it.
As Cheondo said. I'd grown too much to build fame gradually.
Arrogant?
If my thinking was wrong, the Plum Blossom wouldn't be charging me now.
'Master... tch. Whatever.'
I shook off Cheondo's words.
Reset my stance, and the slowed world accelerated again.
Opponent bloated with pride and self-confidence.
That predatory gaze intent on clawing out my insides was obvious.
Fight-lovers' eyes hold many emotions.
Euphoria of victory. Bone-tingling achievement proving growth.
They crave it more, never imagining defeat.
Especially one undefeated against National Trees.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Connection with the World Tree is temporarily severed.] ...Of course.
My stubbornness matches his.
The thought of shattering that smug Plum Blossom face once hit just as I fully unleashed my status window.
Some fame already spread. Flower and the Association watching me.
This was just adding a sliver to the rumors.
But undetectable by others. Thoroughly cornering him.
A formless power invisible on screen.
-Kwaaang!
I gripped his colliding fist amid the roar.
"...Interesting."
He said.
-Ting.
Bell rang, massive plum blossoms flying through the air around.
The same motion Saku showed before. Circling me, probing for gaps.
I tracked his movements leisurely with my eyes.
The late-joining team tried to block, but fell short.
That speed was tough for me too, initially.
"Siheon. You okay?"
"Huh? Yeah."
Answering Cornus, I stepped forward.
A way to counter that blistering speed.
The best option I could think of now.
"...!"
"......"
Conversations rode the wind, fierce feedback exchanged to fight the Plum Blossom.
I barely heard. Wasn't focusing on words.
I took another step forward.
-Step.
Ripples spread from my toes.
Colorless mana blanketed the lake, slowly dominating the space.
A skill I barely learned when my potential peaked, blank slate allowing it. Powerless then, couldn't draw it out.
Invisible to the eye.
-Crack!
The airborne Plum Blossom's body plummeted suddenly.
-Kwarang!
Petals scattered like falling flowers.
White plum stars rained like snow, adorning the lakeside and gravel.
The space in the vicinity warped instantly. Like the folding illusion when he moved.
-Crunch, thud, boom!
I ground my foot like crushing a cockroach. The more I did, the Plum Blossom's body sank further.
"Wha..."
"What?"
The women around looked utterly confused.
They couldn't perceive it.
But the Plum Blossom glared at me with flashing eyes.
"...Kuh, heh heh heh."
Laughing.
I pressed my foot, slamming his head into the ground.
-Boom!
Against him, pure dominance in an instant. Without Black Path, couldn't wield it fluidly.
My techniques had wild variance.
I glanced around, admiring the spectacle.
Plum blossoms strewn on the ground. Gravel and petals half-filling the earth.
Petals flattened, trembling like they'd crumble to dust anytime.
A week bloomed, time to wilt.
Feeling mana depleted body-wide, I lifted my foot.
-Diiiiing.
A mechanical tone echoed from the sky.
Signaling the end of the first trial.