Chapter 217
Chapter 217
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 217
Chapter Title: A Spar After Awakening
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***
After a series of incidents, I was finally back in the training room.
A strange, palpable tension hung in the air between us, even as I faced Kalli, who had changed into her training clothes.
“...I’m sorry.”
I couldn’t meet her gaze as I apologized again.
“Well... I know you didn’t do it on purpose, Student Han Cheon-seong. I’m really okay.”
Despite her careful words, Kalli’s appearance suggested otherwise.
Her face was flushed bright red, her gaze unsteady...
And after what she had shown me just last week, I now understood her feelings, and I could feel the heat rising in my own face.
Just as she had feelings for me, I, too... didn’t dislike her.
No, in fact, I had developed feelings to the point where I could now say that I liked her.
“...”
We stood there awkwardly for a moment, but the atmosphere gradually calmed as Kalli began asking about my condition.
As I explained in detail what had happened during the week she was gone, Kalli’s expression shifted between surprise and concern.
“...So, it’s no exaggeration to say my body is now in perfect condition.”
When I finished by assuring her I was fine, she gave a slight nod.
“In that case, I’m truly relieved for you, Student Han Cheon-seong. But Student Leonhardt must be heartbroken...”
“...I believe Leonhardt is strong enough to overcome it.”
As I answered, I felt a clear sense of faith in him.
When I saw Leonhardt a few days ago, his face no longer held any trace of depression or self-loathing. Instead, his expression was one of renewed determination, radiating a conviction that reminded me why he was the protagonist.
“That’s a relief... Oh, so, Student Han Cheon-seong. Did you really complete your skill?”
“Yes. I completed it.”
As I replied, I felt more confident in myself than ever before.
*Swoosh.*
I took a small step away from her, raised my spear, and strongly manifested my will.
The first form of the Seven Forms of the Asura Spiral that I could currently use.
—Asura Spiral Spear.
The moment I deployed the skill, I felt a sense of loss as a chunk of my strength drained away. Simultaneously, a brilliant, multicolored spiral began to rage fiercely around the spear shaft.
*Sizzle!*
The maelstrom of the spiral, which even produced a crackling sound, was a truly mesmerizing sight to behold.
“You really did complete your skill.”
My satisfaction grew as Kalli, her gaze following mine to the swirling spiral, showed even greater surprise.
“It’s just a shame my proficiency isn’t high enough to maintain it for long.”
As I spoke, I could slowly feel my mana depleting rapidly.
‘At most, maybe thirty minutes.’
The Asura Spiral Spear I had just manifested utilized the principles of circulation, making its efficiency exceptional.
The skill was at least three times more efficient than my total mana pool would normally allow.
But for all its destructive power, it also consumed a massive amount of mana.
“You truly turned a crisis into an opportunity... That’s a good sign. Student Han Cheon-seong, for the time being, you should focus on increasing your skill proficiency.”
Looking at Kalli as she offered her thoughtful advice, my trust in her swelled.
“Yes. I’ll do that.”
Even as I answered, I was honestly itching for a fight.
I couldn’t remember the last time I had gone so many days without training. And here I was, in an environment where I could train with my newly manifested skill.
Right in front of me was Kalli, the most trustworthy person I knew.
“Instructor Kalli... if it’s not too much to ask, may I request a brief spar?”
There were no classes today due to the school closure. And while it wasn’t our scheduled day...
...I didn’t think I could hold back.
A spar with her would be the greatest stepping stone for my growth. I wanted to fight her, no matter what.
“Alright, Student Han Cheon-seong.”
My heart began to race again as I saw her smile and readily agree.
***
*Sizzle!*
A sharp, crackling sound, unbelievable for a clash between spear and sword, ripped through the space.
The spar unfolding between them was on a completely different level from their previous encounters.
*Shushushuk!*
The spear, wielded with the Asura Spiral Spear, was precise and sharp in its speed, forcing even Kalli to unleash her own power.
*Woooong!*
The trait of Vibration hummed around her blade.
As she met the spiral-wreathed spear, Kalli was inwardly even more surprised.
‘To think this is the power of a student who awakened his skill only a few days ago.’
*Sizzle!*
As she struck the spearhead with force, the space warped, creating a bizarre rupturing phenomenon that even distorted the sparks.
She recognized it as the power of the trait he had manifested. Yet, the spiral enveloping the spearhead refused to disappear. The multicolored spiral, like a flickering flame, seemed about to die out before roaring back to life, wrapping around the spearhead and asserting its presence.
And the way Student Han Cheon-seong charged forward, his spear held ready, was incredibly strange.
‘It’s as if he’s already found the first signs of unity.’
The state in which one becomes one with their weapon, able to handle it as if it were their own limb, is commonly called the ‘state of unity.’
It’s often perceived when one feels the illusion that the opponent’s entire body has become one with the weapon they hold. Incredibly, Student Han Cheon-seong was showing signs of unity.
Even while using the powerful energy of a skill, his spear and body moved almost as one.
*Chiiiiik—!*
The spiral around the spearhead seemed to envelop his very body, accelerating him further as he launched a menacing assault.
*Clang-clang-clang-clang!*
A rapid series of intense clashes echoed, and even while focused on the spar, she had to be cautious with every movement of her sword.
“...!”
Her eyes narrowed instinctively at the spectacle of the spiral that embroidered the space in a brilliant display.
‘The way the spiral obscures the spearhead’s trajectory is also quite...’
Threatening.
Unless one could sense where the spearhead was aimed, it was difficult to even discern its direction with one’s eyes.
*Woooong—!*
She decided to gradually increase the intensity of the vibration in her blade, intending to grind away the threatening power of the advancing spiral.
*Chichichik!*
On their next clash, a fiercer crackle erupted as the spiral completely burst apart. As the spear shaft itself was revealed, she slammed her sword down hard on it.
*Kwaang!*
Looking at the spear shaft driven forcefully into the training room floor, she slowly let the vibration in her blade fade.
“...This is.”
A faint smile escaped her lips as she saw Student Han Cheon-seong staring up at her blankly after she ended the spar in a single exchange.
“I was just testing the intensity of the spiral you manifested. Don’t look so discouraged.”
“Ah, yes... I understand.”
As he awkwardly composed himself, she retrieved her sword from where it had pinned his spear and spoke calmly.
“First, I’ll give you my impressions of your skill. It’s a skill with incredible sustainability. Of course, its destructive power for piercing a single point is also formidable, and the way the spiral surges just before impact to weaken the opposing force is also a remarkable power.”
As she evaluated his skill, she couldn’t help but be amazed.
Looking at the skill alone, Student Han Cheon-seong’s was in no way inferior, even when compared to many high-grade traits.
In terms of destructive power and versatile applications, it was a skill that approached the highest tier.
“...So my skill has strong sustainability.”
“That’s right. From what I saw, its greatest strength seems to be sustainability. However, if it encounters a force that surpasses its limits, like just now, the spiral will burst, leading to a futile result.”
The weakness of the skill she perceived was also surprisingly simple.
—Strong against the weak, but weak against the strong.
Of course, very few skills could stand up to a much stronger force, but considering the seemingly infinite persistence of the spiral, this aspect was particularly prominent.
Unless its flow was completely severed, the endlessly circulating spiral would soon regain its strength.
It was a power that would feel far more threatening and overwhelming unless there was a significant difference in strength.
‘And looking at the skill alone, it’s top-tier.’
However, it was a growth-type skill that required Student Han Cheon-seong himself to reach a higher level.
“Thank you. I feel like my understanding of my trait has definitely improved.”
“I’m glad to hear that. But I hope you don’t blindly trust my words and think in only one way. It’s a type of skill I’ve never seen before, so I can’t be completely sure.”
“Then I’ll keep my mind open to the possibilities.”
A sense of pride filled her heart at his bright smile and response.
Student Han Cheon-seong’s dazzling growth and development brought her a joy as if it were her own.
Her gaze was drawn, as if mesmerized, to his vibrant face, which held a boundless desire for improvement.
‘What should I call it...’
The more she looked at Student Han Cheon-seong, the more she felt that there were times when he himself seemed to shine.
He never lost his will and always sought to move forward.
And he always proved his own strength.
Despite suffering a series of accidents, he had shown the resourcefulness to strengthen his will even further and turn a crisis into an opportunity.
“So, you said the skill’s name is the Seven Forms of the Asura Spiral?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
His eyes shone as he replied, making her ponder for a moment.
When speaking of skills, people often say that each one is unique. That’s how much the abilities and destructive power of skills varied from person to person.
Even so, one could often compare the origins of a skill or its power to similar skills based on its name, but Student Han Cheon-seong’s skill had no such parallels.
‘As far as I know, there’s no one else who has awakened a skill through spearmanship.’
Student Han Cheon-seong, standing before her now, was unprecedented, and finding a similar skill in the future would likely be next to impossible.
That point felt rather unfortunate to her.
“Unfortunately, no other skills come to mind. But I can say this for certain. The skill you’ve obtained, the Seven Forms of the Asura Spiral, is unique and holds even greater potential than other skills.”
“Just hearing you say that, Instructor... is more than enough for me.”
A smile played on her lips as she watched him smile faintly.
“No, I’m doing this because I want to do more for you.”
With those words... she carefully sheathed her sword.
The spar was over.
It hadn’t even lasted an hour, a stark contrast to their past sessions, but it had to be this way.
Student Han Cheon-seong, standing before her, was already at his limit.
“Haa...”
His breathing was incredibly ragged as he retrieved his spear from the floor. Sweat was visible on his face and even trickling down his exposed collarbone.
“No more training for today.”
“...Understood.”
Hearing the disappointment in his voice, she slowly approached him.
Her hesitation was mostly gone now. She wasn't going to just worry and think by herself anymore.
*Rustle.*
As she picked up a nearby towel... she inadvertently swallowed.
“...Student Han Cheon-seong. Stay still for a moment.”
Even as she spoke, her heart trembled slightly.
“Ah... yes.”
She reached out her hand without hesitation toward him as he stared at her blankly and nodded.