Rival (4)
It was decided that Elena Apocalipse would face off against Seong Hyun-jin first. This was the order she and Clarice had settled on before Seong Hyun-jin arrived.
“How shall we set the rules?”
“Let’s just make sure we don’t inflict any serious injuries on each other.”
“Mm, sounds good. A few moderate wounds are just the thing to stoke the heat of battle, after all.”
Elena’s lovable appearance clashed oddly with her battle-maniac words, spoken so casually, but Seong Hyun-jin didn’t find it strange at all. If anything, he liked what she said, flashing a slight smile as he replied.
“Since we’re here to cross swords, shall we exclude spirit power?”
“Yes, that would be best.”
Elena agreed readily. She thought his suggestion made sense, but she had also witnessed firsthand how dangerous his spirit was. There was no telling what that evil spirit might do if provoked. Better to clash with pure swordsmanship than risk it.
“I’ll take that side.”
“Sure.”
As Elena moved to her position, Seong Hyun-jin fiddled with his sword hilt, pondering how to handle her.
“Hey, isn’t that…”
“Elena sunbae? She’s back?”
In the meantime, students passing by began to stop and stare, recognizing Elena Apocalipse on the training ground. Especially among the second- and third-years, she was a celebrity, so the mere fact that she was about to spar with someone sparked massive interest.
“Who’s her opponent?”
“Oh, that guy. The first-year who won the training festival.”
“Ah…!”
At those words, the students recalled the first-year who had displayed miraculous swordsmanship at the festival. Those who had been on their way paused, settling in to watch the duel unfold.
This…
No way I can just walk past without watching.
No student at Terastial Academy wanted to miss the sight of Elena—the undisputed strongest—crossing blades with Seong Hyun-jin, the first-year who had dominated the festival. What started with a few onlookers soon swelled into a crowd, turning the once-empty training ground into a sea of people.
Seeing this, Seong Hyun-jin let out a wry chuckle.
“We’ve got quite the audience. Looks like we’ll have to do this in the mornings from now on.”
“I rather like this, but if it’s more convenient for you, junior, then mornings it is.”
She drew her Sabok Sword with a light laugh. Its segmented blade, split like a snake’s belly, uncoiled like a whip. Considering she also wielded a regular straight sword, this meant she was planning to go all out from the start. Elena clearly enjoyed the attention.
“Shall I tell them to back off if it’s too much pressure?”
“Nah, it’s not a problem.”
Seong Hyun-jin wasn’t bothered by the eyes on him, but he had no desire to reveal Master Karin’s swordsmanship in detail to random onlookers.
“Ready?”
“Yeah.”
Though Seong Hyun-jin hadn’t drawn his sword yet, his stance signaled he was prepared. Elena realized what his opening move would be.
Iaijutsu…
He had frequently used it against the Wise Star, Abraham Nobwells. Was it a basic form taught by the Sword Star? Elena wasn’t so sure. Iaijutsu had its uses, sure, but it was mainly effective for surprise draws—lulling the opponent into complacency by keeping the sword sheathed. Otherwise, the friction from the scabbard usually robbed the blade of power and speed. A normal swing was better.
With that in mind, Elena dragged her Sabok Sword’s blade long across the ground.
“……Here I go?”
“Yeah, I’ll yield the first strike.”
Elena eyed Seong Hyun-jin’s movements for a moment before charging.
“Elena Style, First Form.”
“Rupture”
Common sense backed her thinking. Iaijutsu rarely outperformed a straightforward swing.
But as Elena had seen herself, Seong Hyun-jin’s iaijutsu was extraordinarily powerful—enough to parry the Wise Star’s assaults without faltering.
It was only natural. Among Karin’s sword arts, the most basic—Soul Severing Sword—had been designed to turn the drawbacks of iaijutsu into strengths. Mastering it required understanding how to convert scabbard friction into raw power through precise posture and technique. No one but Karin had ever grasped it… except her one true disciple.
A sharp clack echoed as the guard caught on his thumb.
“Soul Slash”
The sword flashed out in an instant.
Kagagagak!!!
In the blink of an eye, the drawn blade twisted aside every segment of the Sabok Sword, shoving Elena back with sheer force.
“…!”
Seong Hyun-jin’s strike hadn’t been stronger than Elena’s, yet she was the one pushed away.
“Elena sunbae got pushed back…!”
“That guy’s got some real power.”
The crowd chalked it up to Seong Hyun-jin’s strength, but Elena knew better. His body hadn’t fully matured yet; his raw power wasn’t superior to hers. And she had charged with acceleration-built momentum, while he’d simply stood and drawn. It wasn’t just about muscle.
“…Impressive.”
This meant Seong Hyun-jin’s technique was far beyond what she’d imagined. Eerie. Mystifying. A blade worthy of the Sword Star’s disciple.
Elena grinned. She wanted to clash with that enigmatic edge again and again.
“Elena Style, Second Form.”
She spun as she retreated. The Sabok Sword’s segments fanned out, swirling in a vortex.
“Spiral”
Kwagak!!
Elena’s Sabok Sword gouged the training ground floor. Seong Hyun-jin opted for evasion this time. The blade grazed his leg perilously close, slicing only his pant leg.
Elena frowned unconsciously at his refusal to engage, but Seong Hyun-jin hadn’t merely dodged. He kept his previously drawn sword in hand, raising it diagonally.
“Spirit Exorcism Sword, First Strike.”
“Ghost Slayer”
It looked like a simple overhead chop, but to Elena facing it head-on, it seemed like two blades descending from different angles. A truly ghostly strike.
“Wow, that’s divine skill right there.”
Elena voiced her genuine admiration, yet she discerned the attack’s true nature without hesitation, raising her sword.
Jjeeeeng!!
The Sabok Sword’s segments locked together, perfectly blocking Seong Hyun-jin’s strike.
“…Sharp eyes, sunbae.”
“They must not have been wasted days pouring over the blade.”
Elena laughed as she said it, shoving Seong Hyun-jin’s sword back with full force to create distance. The Sabok Sword’s greatest advantage was its extendable blade and reach.
A sword art crafted to maximize that.
“Elena Style, Fourth Form.”
With a mighty swing, the segments parted, the blade stretching like a long whip. Elena whipped her arm back, building momentum like a lash.
Then.
“Serpent Slayer”
The Sabok Sword writhed like a snake, lunging at Seong Hyun-jin.
“……”
Witnessing this, Seong Hyun-jin sheathed his sword once more.
“Those two…”
“Neither’s gaining a clear edge…”
“Holding his own against Elena sunbae with her Sabok Sword?”
Elena’s strength was legendary among academy students. The undisputed top of Terastial Academy, her prowess was called monstrous even by other schools’ standards. Second- and third-years, who had felt it on their own skin, were especially aware.
Yet here was Seong Hyun-jin not just holding even, but pressuring her in turn. It shocked the crowd on every level.
“That first-year… I felt it at the festival, but he’s a real monster.”
“Heard from Marian who went to the exchange—he won the comprehensive sparring too.”
The students confirmed Seong Hyun-jin’s skill with their own eyes, voicing honest awe. It even sparked thoughts that Elena might finally have a rival.
And when Elena unleashed her fourth form, a few third-years who’d faced her directly grimaced, bad memories surfacing. Even those who’d put up a good fight crumbled to that one technique.
“Th-that one…”
“Using even that against a first-year…? How serious is she?”
Then, abruptly, Seong Hyun-jin sheathed his sword again.
“…He sheathed it?”
“How’s he gonna counter that with iaijutsu…!?”
Serpent Slayer wasn’t just a sinuous blade. Like a snake coiling before striking prey, it shot forward to impale.
Yet he chose iaijutsu now? The snake would bite before he could draw.
Bit of a poor judgment.
He’s only a first-year; lack of experience?
Elena’s got this.
Everyone watching thought so. Except one.
“……”
Clarice’s eyes widened in surprise, but not at Seong Hyun-jin’s decision to sheathe against Elena’s strike.
“Soul Severing Sword, Fifth Form.”
It was the first time even she had seen this preparatory stance for the technique.
As the snake reared its jaws to devour Seong Hyun-jin.
“Ghost Soul Slash”
JjeeEEEEEENG────────!!
No one knew when the sword had been drawn—it cleaved the serpent’s head in two.