Shattering the Heavens
Serena couldn't hide her shock. Seong Hyun-jin had taken her flames head-on and endured. No, it seemed like they hadn't affected him from the start. The power of a chaos-attribute spirit neutralized all other spirit forces, so it was entirely possible. Of course, there was a difference between theoretical possibility and actual feat—it was still astonishing.
The opponents who'd faced Serena before had used spirit powers too, but they'd all been crushed under the overwhelming firepower of her fire-attribute spirit. 'I wanted to end this quickly...'
Honestly, she did. Serena had no desire to fight him. She didn't want to push Seong Hyun-jin, who was clearly unwell because of her. No matter what he said about fighting properly, her personality wouldn't let her go all-out against someone suffering on her account. That's why she'd been holding back—deliberately sweeping down with her right arm, the source of her spirit power, to dial back the intensity.
Yet this man before her kept trying to fight. "Let's get serious from now on."
Even now, Seong Hyun-jin drew power from the chaos spirit and wrapped it around his sword. Serena bit her lip hard at the sight. Mistaking it for her steeling herself, Seong Hyun-jin swiftly swung his blade.
But Serena didn't yield easily this time either. Just like in the class placement exam, she dodged the strike by a hair's breadth and created distance. Seeing no counterattack come, Seong Hyun-jin issued a cold warning. "Serena. I said fight properly."
He furrowed his brow. "Did that sound like a joke to you?"
Seong Hyun-jin figured he needed to force her into a corner where she had no choice. Guilt was holding her back, so if he created a real crisis where injury was possible, she'd forget those distractions. In heated combat, when excitement peaked, things like conscience faded away. It was one reason soldiers on fierce battlefields killed without hesitation.
Seong Hyun-jin lowered his sword to a low guard. Then he kicked off the ground in a flash, targeting Serena's shoulder with a full swing.
"...I don't want to."
"...What?"
But the sword halted once more. Stopped by Serena's sudden words.
"What, a Dragon Word?"
"Didn't sound like one just now..."
The spectators, baffled by Seong Hyun-jin's abrupt pause, murmured in confusion. Even the referee watching the match looked puzzled. But Serena spoke in a trembling, tearful voice. "I don't want to fight. At least not with you. How am I supposed to fight the man who got hurt protecting me of all people!?"
Seong Hyun-jin's eyes widened. Serena's, after her outburst, brimmed with tears, shaking fiercely.
"No matter your resilience, your body can't be fine! You're like that because of me—how could I fight you...!"
Seong Hyun-jin eyed her guilt-stricken face with a touch of embarrassment. He glanced at the crowd, then sheathed his sword. "Serena, you're misunderstanding... I'm fine right now."
"Don't lie...!"
"No, really..."
It was true the elixir had wrecked him, but Yeonhui's treatment had fixed that. He was painless now. If anything, the backlash from summoning the King of Chaos worried him more. Since Serena was deeply mistaken, he needed to clear it up. Otherwise, the match wouldn't proceed normally, and he couldn't achieve his goal.
Seong Hyun-jin sighed softly and proposed to his thoroughly misled opponent. "...Then block one attack. That'll prove if I'm fine or not."
"You're just pushing yourself again...!"
"I'm not. When have I ever lied to you?"
Serena flinched, her shoulders trembling. He never had... but...
"But being fine is what's suspicious..."
"I got healed."
"...Pardon?"
"Don't believe me? Judge for yourself."
Seong Hyun-jin backed away. The crowd buzzed, wondering what was going on.
"What are they doing?"
"Something wrong on Yeonhui's side? They suddenly stopped fighting."
"What's up?"
"Why this? Is the martial festival a joke?"
Some were puzzled; others grew annoyed at the lack of proper engagement. The referee, deeming the situation problematic, asked Serena. "Serena Eldark, are you forfeiting?"
"Wait, referee."
Seong Hyun-jin addressed him. "Just a misunderstanding. We'll fight again."
"......"
With distance made, Seong Hyun-jin gripped his hilt two-handed. He raised to high guard and uttered flatly. "Measure the distance."
This was the incantation. A technique applied to certain forms in Karin's swordsmanship—the essence of her spirit sword arts, a verbal command cast on the user.
The moment Seong Hyun-jin activated it:
"!"
"!?"
"...What."
Serena, the referee, and the spectators—all reacted differently but were equally stunned. They'd all sensed it.
Hummm───────.
A chill emanated from Seong Hyun-jin's sword. It held only chaos power—why this sensation? No student in the arena understood.
Only those walking the swordsman's path felt something in that sword presence.
Even Clarice Levatein, the 4th-place semifinalist and top 1st-year swordsmanship major waiting in the lounge, was the same. Seeing Seong Hyun-jin's sword, she couldn't hide her shock and whispered a name aloud. "...Hakodate Karin?"
Hakodate Karin. The Sword Star among the Palstar Heroes. The legendary swordmaster who'd reached the world's peak with a single blade, despite contracting a null-attribute spirit.
The swordsmanship Clarice had always aspired to.
Its essence was now manifesting in another's hands.
Tap.
Seong Hyun-jin stepped forward with his right foot. The chill blanketing the arena vanished.
Replaced by killing intent.
"...!!"
Serena instinctively forged a greatsword from spirit power and ignited flames. None of it was conscious. Just the thought: I'll die if I don't. That alone moved her guilt-frozen body.
Seeing it, Seong Hyun-jin smiled faintly. That's more like it.
"Heaven Destroying Sword, First Form."
He brought the sword down.
「Shattering Heaven」
# Seong Hyun-jin, disciple of the Sword Star. When he'd first heard it, it surprised him but didn't hit deep. His body wasn't fully forged, as he said, and he seemed a bit too carefree.
Realizing he truly was came during the class placement exam—seeing him slice through an excited spirit spell in one stroke. Yeah, he's definitely her disciple.
But that wasn't all.
"Ha... haa...!"
It wasn't a lie. His claim of mastering his master's sword entirely. Daring to say he'd grasped Hakodate Karin's entire swordsmanship... wasn't bravado or falsehood.
Otherwise, this couldn't have happened.
"Hak... haa...!"
Serena finally released her tension, panting heavily from the recoil. She had no choice.
A massive slashing scar lingered right beside her. The arena floor and walls, unmoved even by her powerful spirit spells, were shattered.
At least the spectator seats were spared. The slash's aftermath had cleaved beyond the walls—if seats were there, the horror was unimaginable.
The crowd gasped in horror; Monica in the commentary booth fell silent, speechless.
Serena, who'd nearly died, glared ahead with fury and confronted him, recalling his words. "D-did you really mean to shatter my arm...! I thought you were bluffing...!"
"Oh."
Seong Hyun-jin grinned, pleased. "Back to the usual Serena."
"You...!"
"See, Serena."
Seong Hyun-jin said. "I'm perfectly fine, right?"
"......"
Veins bulged on Serena's forehead. "...Fine. Guess I worried for nothing."
She snapped, fuming. "You're too fine—you could kill someone!!!"
"Haha."
Seong Hyun-jin spun his hilt lightly, reversing to the back edge. "Shall we continue?"
"......"
Seong Hyun-jin showed his fighting spirit. Serena gazed at him quietly, then sighed deeply.
And said, "...I lose."
"...Huh?"
The referee snapped to and asked. "Serena Eldark, is that a forfeit?"
"Yes. I surrender."
"Hey, wait! Ending it like this? We barely fought properly...!"
"If that had hit clean, I wouldn't be standing."
Serena shook her head. "No confidence blocking another. You win."
"No......"
Seong Hyun-jin started to protest but sighed and sheathed his sword in resignation. "Was just showing you to fight seriously... now it feels pointless."
"You tried to kill me..."
"Not really. I swung full-force knowing your power could deflect it."
Seong Hyun-jin never underestimated her strength. He'd believed she could parry, so he could go all-out. Otherwise, he wouldn't have swung like that. Killing in the martial festival meant disqualification—and he aimed to win.
But now his plan to clash properly was ruined. Seong Hyun-jin scratched his head at the deviation.
"Still, it's a relief."
"Yeah?"
Serena, who'd called it fortunate, looked at him. With relief, she beamed. "That you're not hurt."
"...You were worried?"
"Of course."
Of course she was. Her heart had been a mess from worry. She could fight freely because he'd acted for her. But his condition made that impossible. Serena confessed honestly.
"You did it for me—how could I not worry?"
"...Not for you. I just hate losing unfairly. Can't stand cheap tricks in a sacred duel."
"Pfft."
Serena chuckled lightly at his excuse. Seong Hyun-jin stared at her pretty smile, a bit dazed.
"Then how do you explain matching with Brother Aiel on purpose?"
"...On purpose?"
"I don't know how, but you rigged it."
Serena's eyes said she knew. Seong Hyun-jin was stunned at how quickly she'd pieced it together.
How'd she figure that out?
Serena smiled and asked. "Embarrassed I know you helped?"
"...Not that."
"You've got a cute side."
Serena laughed lightly. "Since you beat me, win it all. Got it? I'll be the one who lost gracefully to the champion."
"...That was the plan."
Affirming, Seong Hyun-jin watched Serena step closer with a soft smile. She closed the gap and cheered brightly. "I'll root for you?"
"...!"
Her hand had clasped his tightly. She shook it twice gently and let go. "Do your best."
Serena left the arena first. Seong Hyun-jin stood blankly for a while.
Then the awed-silent crowd erupted in boos.
"Hey, you shitty rom-com leads, cut the youth drama!!"
"Fight in the martial festival, not flirt!!"
"......"
Ignoring them, Seong Hyun-jin left the arena.