Sparring (2)
Jeong Ri-on, the captain, was getting an earful from his vice-captain, Mulsuja.
"Are you out of your mind, Captain?"
"Ah, what now?"
"Your opponent's a student. From the Academy! And you're challenging him to a spar?"
"It's not a life-or-death duel—just a simple spar."
"With your power, one wrong twitch of your finger could endanger his life. He's F-rank, remember? F-rank might qualify as an awakener, but in front of an S-rank like you, he's basically a regular person!"
Jeong Ri-on smacked his lips, as if he had nothing to say in response.
Standing boldly before him with arms crossed were three sylphs.
Mulsuja rubbed her forehead, her head throbbing from the sylphs' chaotic chatter.
Jeong Ri-on glanced at her, then squirmed behind the much smaller sylphs as if trying to hide.
That only made Mulsuja snap again. "Captain! What do you think you're doing?!"
Jeong Ri-on grinned sheepishly. "Spirits and spirit users are one body and soul, right?"
"No, come on..."
Mulsuja sighed in exasperation.
The squad members who'd come to watch the spar chimed in too.
"It was a bit hasty, yeah. Sparring with that kid?"
"What's the harm? The captain's not the type to kill anyone over bad power control."
"Might be a great opportunity for the student, actually."
"Ha, takes me back to when I first joined the knights. I begged the captain for spars every day."
The spirits joined the banter, especially the undines chattering excitedly.
The undines just laughed, treating the bold declaration like a hilarious joke.
Mulsuja asked, "Just what kind of spirit is this Aqua that everyone's hyping her up like that?"
The undines exchanged glances and giggled.
Mulsuja's face twisted in confusion.
A nearby spirit user asked his own sylph, "Can you tell me?"
"...The Fire Spirit King?"
Jeong Ri-on, who'd been listening to the spirits, nodded slowly. "I think I have a rough idea. About Aqua's true nature."
Mulsuja stared at his mouth, waiting for the answer—
Knock knock knock.
A knock echoed through the room.
Jeong Ri-on nodded to the sylphs, and one manipulated the wind to open the door.
Jang Gilsan stood on the other side.
"Jeong Ri-on."
"Oh, Jang Gilsan."
Jeong Ri-on greeted him with a smile. He saw the man as a close junior—they'd met several times and crossed paths in meetings and business.
But Jang Gilsan didn't seem to see it that way. He leaned against the wall with a displeased scowl.
"Did you know that kid was coming here?"
Jeong Ri-on chuckled at the grumpy tone. No one pulled off a cynical, deadpan look quite like him.
Feigning innocence, Jeong Ri-on replied, "No idea. Pure coincidence?"
"You saw that video but didn't rush to the guesthouse—instead stayed at the resort and just happened to run into him?"
"Yeah. What a coincidence, huh?"
Jeong Ri-on said it like a joke, but Jang Gilsan wasn't amused.
Finally, Jeong Ri-on raised both hands. "Alright, alright. Truth is, my sylphs told me. That Aqua and her spirit user are your friends."
"So you figured I'd bring him here and waited?"
"Pretty much."
Jeong Ri-on laughed awkwardly. "Don't worry. I'm just curious about the spirit user, so I threw out a spar invite."
"Isn't your style to challenge promising spirit users to spars as a recruitment ploy?"
Jeong Ri-on shrugged. "Well, sure. If I find someone useful for Korea's benefit and growth, I might scout 'em."
"For your guild and knights' growth, you mean."
"We're the Phoenix Guild. A stronger guild means a stronger nation and safer people. You know that."
Unlike the sprawling Union Guild's business empire, Phoenix Guild threw itself into gate subjugations without fear of death. Pride for his guild shone through Jeong Ri-on's playful tone and eyes.
"Let's make a bet."
Jeong Ri-on tilted his head at the sudden proposal. "A bet, out of nowhere?"
"If he beats you in this spar, drop the scouting offer."
"Ho...? And if I win?"
"We'll hand over one of the gate monopoly rights Union Guild snagged at the last guild unity event."
The spectating knights buzzed.
"Gate monopoly...?"
"He's betting that on the captain's personal spar?"
"Heir, my ass—gambler more like."
Jeong Ri-on was stunned too. The Jang Gilsan he knew never jumped into unwinnable fights.
"Hmm..."
Something felt off, but as sub-master, he couldn't pass up a gate monopoly.
"Deal. I accept."
"Got it."
As Jang Gilsan turned to leave, Jeong Ri-on grabbed him. "Hold on, Jang Gilsan. What makes you confident enough to bet so big?"
All eyes turned to him. To them, it looked like moth-to-flame recklessness.
"The Academy's full of all sorts of crazies."
It taught young hotbloods how to fight—weaklings became easy prey there.
"How do you think he survived?"
A faint smile tugged at Jang Gilsan's lips. "I've never seen Kang Hyunwoo fail at anything."
With that, he left the waiting room.
Jeong Ri-on watched him go and chuckled softly. "Friendship, huh... Good time in life."
The others chimed in.
"Even so, comparing an Academy kid to the captain?"
"Never seen that guy act so childish."
"Must be a real close friend."
Jeong Ri-on smiled in agreement and reached for his sylphs. They fluttered onto his hand.
[Sparring with Aqua!]
[We're totally winning!]
Jeong Ri-on smiled at his fired-up sylphs.
The quiet Mulsuja finally asked, "So, what's Aqua's deal?"
Jeong Ri-on grinned mischievously. "Not telling."
"...Why?"
"Just 'cause."
"..."
Mulsuja sighed. Spirits picked contractors like themselves, and this proved it. Dealing with her immature captain aged her daily.
* * *
I stood face-to-face with Jeong Ri-on atop the sparring arena. Over twenty knights encircled us in a ring, watching intently—including Jang Gilsan, with Mandu perched on his shoulder.
Mandu was still too young for fights, so I'd left him there.
Mandu cried out shrilly, as if cheering me on.
Mulsuja, officiating as referee, stepped between us. She eyed me and Aqua worriedly. "You sure you won't forfeit?"
[We shan't!]
Mulsuja shook her head with a sigh at Aqua's instant reply. "Understood. Then let's begin the spar. Since it's just practice, please refrain from life-threatening attacks."
Here, she stared pointedly at Jeong Ri-on, who just beamed innocently.
"If things get too intense or injuries seem likely, I'll step in. Also, regarding the spar..."
As Mulsuja droned on endlessly, I eyed Jeong Ri-on.
He met my gaze with smiling eyes but a steely resolve. My fist clenched involuntarily. Excitement and competitive fire bubbled up from my chest.
I can't get hung up on winning or losing in a spar.
But to this man—the idol of countless spirit users, a wall I'd one day surpass—I wanted to show my all.
If I believe I can win, I might land even one solid hit.
Freshly D-rank, beating an S-rank like Jeong Ri-on was absurd. That's why I had to trust myself and fight boldly.
"Hoo..."
I took a deep breath, regaining calm.
Heart hot, head cool.
With a clearer mind, I assessed his power again. Three sylphs on his shoulders and head, wooden sword at his waist.
Jeong Ri-on was a dual-trait user: Spirit Affinity and Physical Enhancement.
To be precise, he wasn't a true S-rank awakener. A-rank Spirit Affinity and A-rank Physical Enhancement made him a "quasi-S-rank."
Not every dual-trait user qualified for that bump—Jeong Ri-on had proven it in countless gates, the world's only Spirit Swordsman.
To beat a guy like that, I need every trick.
I looked up at the ceiling.
"Aqua."
[Got it!]
Aqua followed my gaze and grinned.
Just then, Mulsuja finished her laundry list of rules. Tense-faced, she glanced between us. "Three-minute spar. Begin."
At her signal, Aqua and I executed our pre-planned strategy, spraying water everywhere.
Splash—!
The area around me flooded instantly.
Slippery floor should stop him from charging with Physical Enhancement.
I was D-rank. An A-rank-enhanced rush from Jeong Ri-on would be unstoppable.
"Oho. Smart choice."
Jeong Ri-on let me take initiative before moving. No Physical Enhancement—instead, sylph power.
Whoosh—!
Wind at his back like jets, he rocketed forward. Sylph winds coated his wooden sword—one of his signatures, Wind Blade.
He aimed for me, the weak link—basic tactics.
"Aqua!"
My call was enough. She blasted a thick water stream at his sword's path.
Jeong Ri-on swung.
Splash—!
Aqua's high-pressure jet pierced the wind, slowing the blade. Still, A-rank physicals made it fast—even without enhancement.
Too quick to dodge. I activated my sole spirit spell, Water Shield.
I stretched it long toward his incoming sword.
Splash!
His wooden blade slid along the shield, slicing empty air.
"!!!"
Jeong Ri-on's eyes widened—not at the application, but that his attack veered off a mere Water Shield.
Sorry, but this isn't your average Water Shield.
Possessed Skill: Water Shield (Intermediate)
The Spirit Magic Random Box gave Water Shield, upgrading my existing one from basic to intermediate.
And infused with supreme spirit Aqua's power.
Contractors and spirits are linked. One's strength bolsters the other—that's why his sylphs dared taunt a supreme spirit, trusting their A-rank contractor.
A plain attack with no power? Even a quasi-S-rank couldn't shrug it off!
I punched at his disrupted face.
Even mid-miss, he tracked my fist perfectly. Insane reflexes.
Whoosh—he tilted his head, dodging easily.
But it was a feint to distract.
Whoosh—!
Aqua's water arrow streaked from the side.
[Block it!]
The sylphs, fixated on Aqua from the start, hastily formed a wind barrier.
But a supreme spirit's full-powered strike overwhelmed even them. The barrier tore, and Jeong Ri-on leaped back.
Now!
This distance was part of our plan.
I shouted to Aqua, "Collapse it!"
She thrust her hand toward the spot I'd eyed earlier—right above his head.
Jeong Ri-on looked up sharply.
Gurgle—!
Fierce water roared from the ceiling. Sensing the attack, he blasted sylph wind backward to escape.
[Hyaat!]
Aqua clenched her fist.
Crack—!
Her destructive power shattered the water tank and ceiling, unleashing a thunderous cascade straight at Jeong Ri-on.