Chapter 30
Chapter 30
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: Sparring Match
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I swallowed a deep sigh and lightly tapped his shoulder.
"It wasn't a fight... We just made a little bet."
I gave Paeng Daesan a brief rundown of the conversation I'd just had with Byeok Cheonwi inside the barracks. That we'd settle the vanguard spot for the secret cave exploration with a spar against some unorthodox scum, and that I'd nominated him—Paeng Daesan—as our champion. And that my vice squad leader position was riding on the outcome of that bet.
By the time I finished, Paeng Daesan's eyes were bulging like a goldfish's. He stammered in disbelief,
"M-Me...? Big brother picked a guy like me... for something that important...?"
His eyes reddened in an instant. He grabbed my hand tightly.
"Big brother! This Paeng Daesan swears he'll fight to the death for the man who gave him this chance! I'll win for sure!"
'Yeah, that's the spirit.'
I nodded inwardly, pleased by his fiery response.
"Good. Fight like your life depends on it. And if it looks like..."
I leaned in and whispered in his ear.
"...you're going to lose, then die together. A mutual kill at least ends in a draw."
"......Pardon?"
"If you lose, I become vice squad leader. Better we both die than let that happen, right?"
Paeng Daesan stared at me blankly for a moment before letting out an awkward "Haha!"
"You're joking, right, big brother?"
"About eighty percent joke."
"Big brother, you're the best!"
Then it hit me—the most crucial detail.
'...Right. This guy's an Azure Dragon Squad member.'
If Squad Leader Byeok Cheonwi ordered him to throw the fight, he just might obey. That bear of a man was exactly the type to pull something like that. I needed to nip it in the bud.
I hardened my expression and gripped both his shoulders firmly.
"Paeng Daesan. Listen up."
"Yes, big brother."
"Even if the squad leader orders you to lose, you absolutely cannot."
"......!"
"If you throw it on purpose... from that day on, I'm no longer your big brother. Got it?"
Paeng Daesan's face went pale. He nodded furiously with a grim look.
"Don't worry, big brother! Even if a blade's at my throat, I'll never betray you!"
Perfect. That should do it.
"Oh. Almost forgot the most important part."
I placed my palm gently on Paeng Daesan's forehead. He looked puzzled but accepted it quietly.
'Awaken all the dormant potential within you. Your muscles will turn to steel, your bones to wrought iron, your blood will boil like lava. Pain becomes pleasure, fear turns to fighting spirit. You are the undefeated God of War.'
Shiiiiiik—
My mental energy drained rapidly as a powerful physical enhancement suggestion sank deep into Paeng Daesan's mind. This was no plaster cast or banned drug like modern fighters might use—it was an extreme reinforcement technique that rewrote body and spirit from the root.
Not my body, so side effects? Not my problem. I poured it in full throttle, no holds barred.
"Grgh... Urk...!"
A pained groan escaped Paeng Daesan. His whole body began to tremble violently.
Crack. Creak!
Horrific sounds of bones twisting and muscles reshaping echoed from him. His already burly muscles swelled unnaturally, straining against his uniform. Thick veins like earthworms bulged across his iron-hard forearms. Hot steam rose from his body, as if he might burst at any moment.
"Hah... Hah... Big brother... What... is this...?"
He clenched and unclenched his fist, murmuring in disbelief. He could feel the overwhelming power surging through him, incomparable to before.
Dizziness from the massive mental drain hit me, and I staggered. Soso quietly steadied me from the side. Leaning on her slightly, I gazed contentedly at my 'creation' before me.
Now, preparations were complete.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ About an hour had passed since Byeok Cheonwi and Moyong Bi disappeared into the unorthodox camp's tent.
"Waaaaaaaaah!"
A earth-shaking roar erupted from the unorthodox side, like the howl of a starving wolf pack, dripping with greed for victory and thirst for blood. Their champion must have been decided.
At the signal of that cheer, warriors from both camps began to move.
They split into two groups on either side of the vast clearing before the secret cave's entrance, growling at each other across the divide. One side looked like a ragtag mob but with fiercely gleaming eyes—the unorthodox bunch. The other was the orthodox alliance, neatly arrayed under their sect banners. And we, the Azure Dragon Squad, took position at the forefront of the orthodox lines.
In the tense standoff's center, Byeok Cheonwi strode forward.
"We'll settle it here!"
Boom!
He drew the massive greatsword from his shoulder and slammed it into the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust. Like a child doodling, he scratched a line with the blade's tip, instantly forming a thirty-meter square sparring ring. Murmurs of awe and wary sighs rose from both sides at his monstrous strength and inner energy.
Soon, one figure emerged from each camp to face off in the ring's center.
One was my 'creation,' Paeng Daesan. The other was a skinny man from the unorthodox side, wielding twin swords.
"Kill him! Chop off his limbs!"
"Smash that orthodox dog's skull!"
Ear-splitting, murderous cheers exploded from the unorthodox camp. The orthodox side and our Azure Dragon Squad roared back in kind.
"Azure Dragon Squad! Paeng Daesan!"
"In the name of justice, slay that demonic fiend!"
Even with plenty of female martial artists mixed in, the overwhelming male ratio meant only thick, sweaty manly voices rang out. Hearing hundreds of beastly roars from these dudes was somehow sapping my energy.
But something felt off.
'...Something's wrong.'
I scrutinized the man opposite Paeng Daesan. Ominous, razor-sharp aura. Eyes like a leopard stalking prey, watching for any gap. Muscles relaxed yet primed for explosive power.
This wasn't third-rate energy.
Byeok Cheonwi had said he'd send someone of similar level. But this guy looked overwhelmingly stronger than Paeng Daesan when I'd first met him. Even if I maxed out physical enhancement on myself now, I wouldn't bet on beating him like a dog.
Tricked?
I glanced toward Byeok Cheonwi, half hoping. Uncannily, he was looking right at me. Our eyes met, and I read the message in his gaze crystal clear.
'Didn't you pull some trick too?'
His look screamed 'pot calling the kettle black.' That bear had set a trap for me. He'd anticipated a monster like this from the unorthodox side all along.
I turned to Moyong Bi. As if sensing my stare, he subtly looked away, avoiding it.
'...Hah.'
A hollow laugh escaped me.
The so-called orthodox hypocrites had outright cheated. They'd colluded with the unorthodox scum beforehand to send mid-tier experts. And kept it from me alone. Cowards preaching justice and righteousness while plotting dirty tricks behind the scenes.
But there was nothing I could do now. The spar was about to start. No calling it off. Only one thing left for me.
'Paeng Daesan. Please...'
I could only pray he made full use of the 'power' I'd given him.
At that moment, Byeok Cheonwi's booming command echoed across the valley.
"Spar begins!"
The unorthodox twin-sword punk moved first at the signal.
Tat!
He danced in lightly like a butterfly, closing distance—then instantly retreated, gauging range. My suggestion had maxed Paeng Daesan's body, but not his total inner energy. To the twin-sword guy, Paeng still reeked of third-rate from his presence alone.
But he didn't underestimate. Like a snake, he circled cautiously, probing for weakness. Just like an outboxer jabbing to test.
Clang! Cling!
His twin blades sliced the air alternately with sharp metallic rings. Not direct attacks—probes to test reactions and restrict movement. Paeng swung his heavy saber in response, but initiative was already lost.
"Ngh!"
The twin-sword punk chipped away at Paeng's guard, inching closer. He deflected the brute force with agile footwork, constantly targeting flanks and rear. A big, heavy saber like that left huge openings on misses.
Clang! Ka-clang! Cling!
Under the relentless strikes, Paeng was purely defensive. Beads of sweat formed on his brow. Like a butterfly in a spiderweb, sinking deeper into the mire.
Suddenly, the twin-sword punk dropped low.
He's diving in!
Clang!
Paeng slashed down desperately to block, but it was bait. The punk flowed off the blocked blade and thrust his other sword deep at Paeng's waist.
Pinned to the ring's corner, Paeng's vision swirled with a storm of sword afterimages.