Not Even a Single Hit Allowed
The cadets following Han Seongjin wore a mix of emotions on their faces. The first-years looked equal parts expectant and anxious. The second- and third-years, meanwhile, stared in utter confusion at the sudden sparring challenge.
"What the hell did they just say? A spar?"
"Looks like a first-year. Wants the class intensity dialed back during conditioning if they win."
"What? Is that even allowed?"
"Prof seems to have agreed. Probably is."
"Damn, gotta respect the guts on those first-years."
Ignoring the murmurs from the second-years who hadn't fully grasped the situation, they arrived at the indoor sparring arena near the training field. The rectangular space had a floor made of special alloy, surrounded by equipment, medical kits, and water dispensers.
Seongjin picked up a small vizor from the shelf—a white base with sky-blue patterns etched into it. A familiar item to the cadets.
"You all know what this is, right? Sparring headgear. Put it on, and if you take an impact..."
Seongjin slipped it on, and a blue interface enveloped his face. He then slapped his own cheek hard enough to make a sharp smack.
-Beep.
The vizor's interface flashed red once.
"It blinks if the impact exceeds a certain level. Lets the user know they've taken damage. We'll spar with these on."
Seongjin personally hated wearing protective gear for spars, but it was necessary for his plan.
Following his lead, Leo Grant grabbed a vizor and donned it as well. As Seongjin shrugged off his coat in the center of the arena, his ripped muscles bulged visibly under his black short-sleeved tee. A few female cadets blushed at the sight before shaking their heads, snapping back to reality.
"Before we start, let's tweak the conditions a bit."
Seongjin dusted off his hands and spoke casually. His voice was far more relaxed than usual—almost like he was enjoying this.
"I've accepted Ethan cadet's proposal. Lower the class intensity. But I want to give you all even more motivation."
Seongjin's red eyes gleamed coldly through his vizor.
"In today's spar, if Leo Grant cadet makes my vizor flash even once."
He paused, and the cadets held their breath, eyes locked on him. Seongjin flashed a sly grin.
"I won't hold class for the rest of the semester. Full attendance for everyone here, and A+ grades for the whole subject."
"""......!"""
A stunned silence blanketed the arena, shattered moments later by an explosion of cheers from the thirty cadets. Most wore expressions of disbelief.
"E-Everyone gets an A+...?"
"Wait, so no more of that hellish class for the whole semester?"
"Sounds like it."
"Hey! First-year! You got this! Our futures are riding on you!"
Was this for real? Just one solid hit. Land that, and everyone gets top marks. Not just the first-years—the watching second- and third-years flushed red with excitement too. An unprecedented promise in academy history: guaranteed perfect scores.
Even the cadets who'd dismissed Seongjin's "bomb" now lit up, cheering Leo on.
"......"
Ethan watched the scene, his heart pounding—with tension, anxiety, or something in between.
This got way too big. What the hell is the prof counting on to offer that?
He bit his lip but knew there was no backing out now. The stakes were enormous.
Meanwhile, Leo, standing near Seongjin, flushed with anger at the words.
...Not even one hit? Against me?
Noble Academy first-year runner-up. Heir to the prestigious Grant family. A 196cm behemoth, the pinnacle of physical enhancement talents—smashing monsters barehanded. And this guy was saying that in front of him.
His pride shredded, but Leo clenched his jaw, swallowing his rage. He strode forward, locking eyes with those red ones.
"...Fine. You better keep that promise."
"Of course. I stake my professorship on it."
-Rumble.
Their stares crackled like lightning. The ferocious aura made a few cadets flinch. Surprisingly, their eye levels were almost identical.
"Prof's pretty damn tall up close. Barely any difference."
"...Can he win? I'm getting nervous now."
"Don't say that! You're making me scared!"
Late worries bubbled among the cadets but were quickly brushed aside.
-Step, step.
After the stare-down, they backed away, turned, then faced off again. Leo dropped into a low stance, hands up near his face in perfect guard. His overwhelming presence pressed down on the entire arena.
His ability, Golden Armor, boosted physical stats, recovery, and durability—but he was a monster even without it. A baseline physical enhancer, his honed muscles and combat-honed body rivaled steel.
And opposite him.
Seongjin stood casually in the center, feet shoulder-width, arms down at his sides—unlike Leo.
...No guard?
In a match where one hit meant defeat, that stance screamed, I won't get touched.
Leo's face twisted at the apparent arrogance, but he exhaled and refocused. Thirty cadets' grades hung on him. He couldn't let personal feelings drag them to hell.
Leo fixed Seongjin with cold eyes.
Not losing his cool? Impressive.
Seongjin smirked inwardly.
"The spar between Professor Han Seongjin and cadet Leo Grant begins now."
Reina, now positioned between them, shouted. Distant cadets erupted in cheers. Alice especially squeezed her eyes shut, hands clasped in prayer.
Please... Leo, take the prof down...!
To her, her future rode on Leo. She knelt, praying harder than for her first spirit contract.
"Come on, first-year runner-up."
At those words, Leo's massive frame exploded forward, kicking off the ground.
—Whoosh!
A straight right—textbook perfect. Unavoidable, piercing punch. Even as it closed in, Seongjin didn't budge. Cadets cheered inwardly: victory imminent, peace secured.
Then it shattered.
-Swish!
Seongjin leaned back at the last instant, dodging unseen. His left hand whipped out like a lash.
—Thwack!
"Guh!"
The whip-crack fist nailed Leo's nose bridge perfectly. His head snapped back, but he recovered, raising guards and pressing in.
Another punch from Leo. Seongjin dodged with a sway, countering to the jaw.
—Crack!
Leo's legs buckled momentarily, but he steadied.
This feel... it's been forever.
Seongjin grinned unconsciously at the familiar rush. Leo's vizor flashed endlessly amid the flurry. He broke his forward pressure, panting.
"Huff... huff...!"
Blood trickled from his reddened nose. His freakishly long arms ended in iron mace fists—blindingly fast, no wind-up visible.
-Swish!
But Seongjin's face always slipped just out of reach—a phantom dodge by a hair's breadth. Fighting fog.
And what drove him madder: ...My vision's blocked.
At some point, Seongjin's left hand hovered near Leo's eyes, obstructing forever. It ruined attacks, hid shoulder tells—impossible to time.
—Thud!
Standing still invited a shin to the calf like a knife stab, numbing the leg. Sinking in quicksand. Break through the hand? Sway and counter to nose or jaw. Idle? Blind mace incoming. Tight guard? Low kicks.
True deadlock.
Am I losing? Can't land shit?
No negativity. Focus. Leo shoved doubts aside, advanced.
—Thump! Thump!
This monster...!
Guards buckled, shock penetrating. Insane power. Weak barehanded? Alice arm-wrestling him seemed more plausible. Leo wanted to slap past arrogant self silly.
While pounding Leo, Seongjin halted a thrusting jab abruptly.
Damn habit almost went for the eyes.
Suppress old-world tics. Academy rules—no blinding cadets. He curled fingers into a tight fist.
In that split-second distraction leaking from Seongjin.
Leo seized it, lunging full-force, tackling low to grab Seongjin's knees and drive his shoulder in.
Right call? Maybe he'd wake floor-bound. But endless like this? Sandbag fate. Better gamble.
Blurred vision, Leo desperately hooked Seongjin's legs—but Seongjin yanked back, snaring Leo's neck deep.
Arms wrapped fluidly, guillotine-locking head in armpit. Knee rose.
—Smash!
"Grahk!!"
Seongjin's knee sank into Leo's gut, forcing air out in a whoosh.
—Boom!
Seongjin drove him to the wall, hoisting vertically, squeezing.
-Creak.
Leo's hands clawed desperately at the unyielding arm.
"Grk...!"
"Cadet Leo Grant. I recommend surrender. Hate doing this."
Mechanical calm. But it ignited Leo's last pride. Yielding to this overwhelming force? He'd never escape the shadow.
So no tap. Just a futile right swing at Seongjin's face.
"......Fine."
Seongjin eyed the hand, tightened.
For a flash, amusement crossed his face—like approval.
-Creak.
"Gahk...!"
Forearm crushed carotid; oxygen cut, blood stalled. Vision whited. Ten seconds. Thrashing arms went limp; body sagged like a doll.
-Thud.
Seongjin released; Leo's bulk crumpled. Reina rushed, positioning him safely, clearing airway.
Seongjin dusted hands, turned.
"......"
"......"
"......"
Shhh.
The thirty cadets stood deathly silent, staring with eyes that could hardly believe they were witnessing a human.