Entrance Exam (Complete)
At first, I thought he was just puffing up with pointless pride. But I quickly dismissed the idea. Song Junho might have a few screws loose, but he wasn't dumb enough to get stubborn in the middle of a fight.
▶Doubt. I suspect what he's showing now might not be his full power. He may not have unlocked his unique ability yet.
'What he's doing now isn't his full power?' No fucking way. If that flailing around in the air was his best shot, this guy never would've been scouted as a promising talent in the first place.
▶Master's standards are a bit too high...
'Couldn't have failed to awaken his ability.' The distinct sensation prickling my skin. The energy churning like a live volcano. He's definitely unlocked it.
'Song Junho's true worth.' Unique ability [Seven Demon Swords]. Too much hassle to explain in detail—long story short, it's the power to summon and wield seven demonic swords, each with special abilities. The blades could be otherworldly mysteries beyond human comprehension or relics wielded by ancient heroes and kings who'd piled up lifetimes of karma. Either way, each one packs unique, overwhelming power. Fact.
'If he pulls those out, I could gauge how much he's grown...' No helping it. Time to ask straight up.
"Hey, you gonna whip it out or what?"
"...What the hell are you talking about all of a sudden?"
"What else? [Seven Demon Swords]. At least something like [Wind God Sword], right?"
"...! How the fuck do you know my ability?"
The kid's putting on that obvious third-rate extra act...
'Hmm. Looks like the sword types match up.'
A sudden thought hit me amid the confusion.
"You—is it the Mad Demon Sword's turn right now?"
"...!!!"
Bullseye, you little shit. His slack-jawed, dumbfounded stare was almost comical.
'This guy's actually worried I'll get hurt?'
Cheeky bastard.
"What the hell are you? Did the Song family send you or something?"
"Hey, drop the clichéd bullshit and pull it out before I beat your ass."
"...What're you..."
"You gonna just flop around and fail like this? Huh?"
Even handing him time on a silver platter, and he hesitates—couldn't help but sigh.
As I mentioned before, [Seven Demon Swords] summons swords brimming with insane power.
'OP as hell, right?' It's that broken... but comes with equally bullshit growth conditions.
'Fixed sword per cycle. Can't summon others during the period.'
Plus, each sword imposes trials you have to complete perfectly to unlock their true strength bit by bit. Only after surviving all seven can you wield them fully.
Of those, [Mad Demon Sword] hits you with a trial that gnaws at your mind and turns you into a rampaging lunatic—which made it the one Song Junho feared most.
'In my past life, his habit of avoiding the Mad Demon started right here.'
Idiot. If it's your power, grit your teeth and adapt.
A guy whose path was set from the jump, scared of that? Still a coward even now.
Tsking my tongue, I kicked off the ground. Not flawless, but decades of honed movements flowed into footwork, closing the gap in a blink.
"...!"
Song Junho reacted late. He frantically checked me with the sword he held.
'Slow as shit, kid.'
Grabbing the hilt at my waist, I drew. A slash so vicious and precise it was hard to believe I hadn't used it once since my second go-around exploded outward.
Metallic clash, followed by a snapping rupture.
One second later, his sword cleaved in half and shattered to pieces.
"...!!!"
I leveled my blade at the retreating Song Junho.
"You're a swordsman too—you felt that, right? If I'd gone full, you'd be fucked."
"......"
"Pull it out, asshole. Don't make my blood pressure spike. Don't worry—if you lose it and go berserk, I'll smack you straight."
Song Junho uses Mad Demon Sword.
The cherished sword of the one who stained the era of martial arts and chivalry with blood unleashes its power.
Strength, Agility, Stamina increased.
‘Black Fang’
Silence fell as if some boss mob ad wasn't blaring obnoxiously. I waved it off.
'Now we're talking.'
I crooked a finger at him.
"Come at me."
"GRRAAAAAH!!"
Provoked, he charged. Beast-swollen calves exploded with raw burst power. Distance vanished in an instant.
I locked eyes on him from start to finish. Reading leg and arm muscles, I twisted my body on perfect timing.
The greatsword's edge grazed by a paper's width. Severed hair fluttered as it smashed where I'd stood a heartbeat ago.
BOOM!!!
Ground erupted, cracking the floor. Innocent trees splintered and flew. The first-hit trunk powdered into dust.
"Brute force much?"
Hard to believe it was the same guy—ferocious, devastating strike.
This shitty body? One clean hit, and I'd be teleported to the plaza.
▶Analysis. Opponent's estimated strength exceeds 15. Speed matches. Physically overwhelms Master outright.
Miss made him howl. He kicked off, leaping high.
"GRRAAAK!"
Ominous noise from the raised greatsword. Black aura mixed with crimson flash formed beast-fang shape.
Song Junho uses ‘Black Fang’.
Black Fang. Skill exclusive to Mad Demon Sword. Ultimate technique exploding raw power and mana in one barbaric strike.
Viewers probably thinking: He fought well, but it's over. Can't surpass inherited blood talent.
"Pfft."
I slowly lowered my sword. Quiet, serene sword hum echoed.
Unbelievable calm after the chaos.
Will flowed arm to blade. No extra force—just an upward slice. Despite his swing, mine arrived first.
Plain sword trace, no aura or flair against Black Fang's massive power. Like a still lake.
Then ripples from a boulder drop.
Screeech.
Rust-eaten hinge screech—Mad Demon Sword split in two.
I flicked the fading Black Fang mana off my blade.
Swordsman's Zenith triggers.
"GYAAAH!!"
Song Junho tumbled back screaming. Backlash from his severed sword hitting him.
Watched silently, then glanced at throbbing pain. Wrist swollen, bent wrong. Sword hilt blackened like rot.
'...A little force, and it's this bad...'
This body really is trash.
'Kay. Short-term contract. Boost recovery.'
Short-term contract established.
Temporarily boosting contractor's natural healing.
Invisible contract document formed, wrapping my swollen wrist like a bandage. Pain eased—then a roar from behind.
Song Junho charging with severed greatsword. Still out of it, mindless swing—I ducked, flat-smacked his shoulder with the blade's side.
"Grahk!"
"Hey, shut the fuck up. Quiet down. You a beast or what? Screaming nonstop? Huh? You hearing me? Mad Demon's gone, so half-sane at least."
Swing again. Grip shift and muscle twitch obvious.
'Left horizontal.'
Dodged easy. Flipped back, smacked left shoulder and right leg.
Collapse with roar—I looked down.
"Moves too big and slow. Why overforce it? Broadcasting 'I'm slashing here'? Who taught you? Oh right—self-taught."
"GRRAAAK!"
"Noisy."
Hilt uppercut to chin. Split lip bleeding—smashed both shoulders.
"Snap out of it. Few hits and you're done? React faster. Oh? No hip power? Legs decorative? Huh?"
"Gr...krahk!"
"Want more?"
"......"
Kept beating till he came to his senses. Threw pointers in between. Smart kid—body learning, he'll adapt.
* * *
▶...Master. Isn't this a bit much?
'Hmm, you think?'
Five minutes later: powdered Mad Demon Sword, ragdoll Song Junho. Not a spot unbruised, face swollen unrecognizable. Hard to believe this was the promising talent drawing eyes.
'Still...'
Guts were respectable. Exam fails on critical hit to retire level or crushed fighting spirit—forcing teleport.
This mess, no teleport? Means he hadn't accepted defeat.
'Nah...'
He knows the gap. Must be will to learn more keeping him here. No master before, starved for knowledge.
Teach more? 'Till here.'
Already overperformed.
'Body can't take more anyway.'
Demonstrated sword Zenith transcending the flesh.
Fractures, internal bleeding stacking ×5
Cracking my neck, I approached.
"Good work. Go rest up."
"...Hoo, cough...N-name."
"Huh?"
"I'm... Song Junho."
Ridiculous—chuckle escaped. He stared up seriously, no joke.
'Guy's puppy eyes just piss me off more...'
"Choi Siwoo. 17. Same age as you. What, revenge?"
He shook his head.
"The favor... of teaching... I'll repay. No matter what."
"Pfft, just beat you 'cause I felt like it."
He chuckled raggedly, then dissolved into light.
Song Junho's affinity changed. Talent theft unlocked.
'Oh...?'
Didn't expect it—message popped right up.
'Song Junho. Easy pickings.'
So straightforward, no wonder he gets scammed.
'Sort the dorm later.'
Not just his—plenty from nameless scrubs I dropped on the way.
Pick the juiciest for theft.
Exam terminated.
G Group Final Survivor: Choi Siwoo
Good work.
30,000(P)
Perfect timing—announcement chimed as teleport circle lit underfoot.
Not bad for a first entrance impression. Satisfied.