Sword Saint Yeo Seon-hui
Shin Ye-hwa gnawed at her lip as she watched the duel unfolding before her eyes. To think that the karma she'd piled up in the past would come back to haunt her like this... If the responsibility had fallen on her own shoulders, she wouldn't have felt a thing. What she'd sown, she could reap herself. But seeing that karma transferred to Seong Ye-han ignited a blaze of fury within her. Regret over her past self stabbed at her heart like a sharp blade.
"Oppa..."
Seong Ye-han's situation wasn't all that bad in itself... But the fact that she couldn't help him or bring him joy—instead dragging him into some pointless mess—was pure agony for Shin Ye-hwa. And of all things, that mess was a duel with another S-rank. If she could, she'd ignore their promise or whatever and reveal her power, smash that old hag alongside him, and offer her up as tribute to his ability in the process.
But she couldn't, because Seong Ye-han wanted a one-on-one with Yeo Seon-hui.
"Might as well make the most of it. Use this as a chance to fight for real."
Ever since inheriting her stats, Seong Ye-han hadn't unleashed his full power. Even their spars with Shin Ye-hwa were the same—efficient, sure, but neither wanted to hurt the other, and he still didn't know the limits of his strength, so they held back. But against Yeo Seon-hui, it was different. He'd finally found someone he could beat down with everything he had without a shred of guilt. He planned to go all out, for real.
Worst case, as long as he didn't die... Even if an arm or both legs snapped, he wouldn't feel a thing. Plus, as one of Korea's longest-serving S-rank hunters alongside Jeong Beom-ho, she wouldn't lose her life to a newbie like him. She'd have ways to protect herself. Hell, she should be more worried about her own body, he'd joked.
Shin Ye-hwa agreed, which was why she was watching the duel between Yeo Seon-hui and Seong Ye-han so obediently.
An awakener's physical abilities transcended ordinary humans once they hit C-rank, but that was nothing compared to when mana reinforcement kicked in. And the higher the physical stat rank, the more dramatically the reinforcement amplified.
Seong Ye-han's strength had already surpassed a typical S-rank, in Shin Ye-hwa's estimation. What level would he reach if he poured mana into full-body reinforcement? Whatever it was, Yeo Seon-hui's physical prowess as a psychokinesis awakener wouldn't stand a chance.
"Oppa, you got this..."
Still, Yeo Seon-hui's immense mana and telekinesis were wild cards. Win or lose, Shin Ye-hwa vowed to give him a special treat later as she cheered him on.
A sword slicing through the air at blinding speed. A normal object moving that fast would roar with sonic booms, but Yeo Seon-hui's blade—whether due to telekinesis or some other reason—remained eerily silent despite its ferocious power. At night, it'd be several times trickier.
Boom!
The explosive roar came solely from Seong Ye-han swatting the sword away. Even veteran hunters might die without knowing what pierced them if she launched it in earnest... But not him.
Kwang!
Seong Ye-han swung his halberd effortlessly, batting away Yeo Seon-hui's flying sword. It flew off for a moment before diving back at him. The back-and-forth had repeated countless times already. Honestly, it wasn't taxing. He had plenty of stamina and mana left.
Yet he hunkered down like a turtle, focusing purely on defense. Not because he was struggling, but because of Yeo Seon-hui's other swords still hovering. He knew she was holding back, testing him. If their positions were reversed—with his abilities against another like him—he'd soar into the sky first, cutting off approaches, then rain down the remaining four swords like an aerial bombardment, pummeling relentlessly.
But she didn't. She just floated there in place, watching him with steady eyes, as if appraising him. That arrogance would be her downfall.
Seong Ye-han calmly wielded his spear, thinking. This was just like his spars with Shin Ye-hwa—her toying with him, darting in and out, while he stubbornly aimed for a decisive blow. The dynamic was replaying here with Yeo Seon-hui.
Mana and stamina in reserve. He could fend off her swords all day like this. Thud— He could've charged like at the start to close the gap, but he held back, patient. Her remaining swords floated behind her like wings. When they were all committed, his chance would come.
What the hell is this guy...?
Yeo Seon-hui pondered as she watched Seong Ye-han deflect her flying swords without fail. Her telekinesis blades weren't just about hurling them straight—effective against monsters, sure, but against fellow hunters, especially peers, such linear attacks fell short.
Normally, you'd parry or evade the opponent's swing, then use the flying sword itself for swordplay to fell them. That was the trick against awakeners. But against Seong Ye-han, her swords got overpowered before they could maneuver, bouncing off from his sheer force. His striking power exceeded the telekinesis she'd infused, briefly disrupting control and sapping their momentum.
Even with mana reinforcement, to be outmuscled by raw muscle... It was staggering.
"Even Association President Jeong wasn't this strong..."
Jeong Beom-ho, the legendary physical S-rank before Seong Ye-han, who'd single-handedly halted a dragon's charge. Even he hadn't matched her flying swords with such brute force. His true strength lay in his mountain-like defense ability, but right now, this kid might have the world's top physical stats.
No helping it. Yeo Seon-hui frowned and ejected another sword from behind her.
Kwang!
The silent blade met Seong Ye-han's shaft once more.
"Not just brute strength, huh?"
She'd aimed for a blind spot and perfect timing, yet his reaction was razor-sharp. His agility was elite too. And that already blistering power had ticked up a notch. He still had headroom.
Yeah. Expected as much. An S-rank was an S-rank, green or not. Going all-out against one sword would've been disappointing.
"Time to get serious?"
She deployed her last two flying swords, pressing him. Kwakwakwang! They swarmed like a wolf pack on the hunt. Yet Seong Ye-han stood firm like a lone lion, unyielding.
Deafening blasts echoed beyond human hearing. Flashes and shockwaves marked the clashes. The ground cracked from aftershocks alone, craters forming around him like meteor strikes. Raw power was carving away the earth.
Watching, Yeo Seon-hui regained her composure. Impressive physique, but that was it. He was holding his own against her blades, but wounds were accumulating. And that was only because she wasn't trying to kill him—avoiding vitals. If she'd gone for them mercilessly like against monsters, he'd be done in seconds.
"I've won."
Still, remarkable power and reflexes for a rookie. Guide him right, and he'd outstrip even the Association President in offense—the strongest S-rank. She glanced at Shin Ye-hwa, still silently watching. Time for the verdict. If she cared for him at all, a white towel would fly soon.
Seong Ye-han batted away the storm of blades, gauging Yeo Seon-hui's momentum. Contrary to her assumption, he still had plenty in the tank. She probably did too—that sword she rode was untapped. But Lady Luck smiled on him.
Shwick—
He deliberately opened a gap, letting one of her flying swords graze his leg. Slash— Blood sprayed from the thin cut. No big deal. His stats weren't just strength—stamina was S-rank too. Governing endurance, recovery, an awakener's foundational vitality... That scratch had already healed amid his nonstop defense.
He sensed her attacks loosening bit by bit. Her attention splitting toward Shin Ye-hwa watching the duel. Telekinesis fed heavily on the user's mental focus, no matter how standardized it'd become since Yeo Seon-hui. Opportunity loomed.
Seong Ye-han stayed cool amid the frenzy. Kwaboom! Boom! Her swords' paths simplified. Victory certainty scattering her focus. Deflect, deflect, deflect. Finally, as one ricocheted blade looped back dead into his front...
"Hup!"
Kwaaang!
With unmatched force and speed, Seong Ye-han swung his halberd downward. Like Shin Ye-hwa just before meeting Yeo Seon-hui. Abrupt shift in breath and velocity caught her off-guard, her response lagging for a split second.
He knew the blade he'd deflected was momentarily out of her control. Kwak!Spiiin—
It smashed into the ground, then bounced skyward. Spinning wildly, its form crystal-clear to him in slow motion.
A bit more. A bit more... Now!
"Hah!"
Seong Ye-han roared, swinging his halberd. The broad axe-face struck the rebounding sword-tip dead-on, no margin for error.
Kaaaang! Shrieeek!
Like a laser, trailing optical illusion—it rocketed forth. Not a shell... a sword-shell. Kwaaaaak—
Ripping the air with thunder, it shattered her reflexive telekinesis barrier and slammed dead-center into Yeo Seon-hui's body.