Chapter 122: Eun-byeol and Hong Ji-yeon

Hong Ji-yeon bit her lip, feeling the stinging in her head. Her red eyes glowed mysteriously under the influence of ether.

That damn gasna endured this...

Grouching inwardly, Hong Ji-yeon dodged the thin strands of ether flying toward her. Ether Drain—just one touch and your ether gets sucked away like crazy.

This is 4th-level magic, right?

Eun-byeol was casting high-difficulty magic right in the midst of her own flames.

Feels tougher than the Triad...

Hong Ji-yeon had sparred in friendly matches against Daniel and Kang Seo-hee from the Triad a few times. So naturally, she compared Eun-byeol to them.

Sharper than Kang Seo-hee, trickier than Daniel.

Raw destructive power was incomparable, but in terms of spell perfection and difficulty, she might even surpass those two from the Triad.

Biting her lip again, Hong Ji-yeon jammed more ether into her brain.

The magic that enhanced her magic circuits and thought processes unfolded in Hong Ji-yeon's mind, making her vision tingle and heat up. Minimizing her movements against the slowing ether strands, she cast two spells in succession.

Over the red flames scorching the entire arena floor, white-hot flames swirled like flower petals. As the two magics engulfed the arena simultaneously, Eun-byeol hurriedly erected a defensive spell in panic.

Slow.

The fireball Hong Ji-yeon hurled exploded massively right in front of Eun-byeol.

"Kyaaak!"

For the first time, Eun-byeol's scream rang out, and points began to drop.

She ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠barely dodged Hell Flame, but couldn't evade the 5th-level Canto Ignis or Explosion King. Still, in that brief moment, she'd managed to set up a defense—Eun-byeol was catching her breath inside a blue shield.

"Why not forfeit now? You can't win this fight."

In response to Hong Ji-yeon's words, magic came flying instead.

The arena floor froze over in an instant, so she leaped upward in a hurry and cast a spell.

Landing atop a massive flame shield, Hong Ji-yeon bit her lip.

I was just trying to buy time, but she's so stubborn. Won't even talk, huh...

Confirming her refined ether reserves were depleted, Hong Ji-yeon cranked her mental core to maximum. Looking down at Eun-byeol, who was grimacing—probably singed somewhere—Hong Ji-yeon snorted.

You ain't got what it takes against me.

Hong Ji-yeon's condition was perfect. She might even take down Yoo Eunha, the supposed best of this era. So there was no way Eun-byeol, the weakest of the Four Heavenly Kings, could match her.

Sharp and tricky? Sure, but ultimately low-level weak sauce.

"Sorry, but you and me? The time, effort, and grit we put in ain't the same."

Baring her fangs, Hong Ji-yeon floated fireballs around her. With refined ether back online, she planned to burn away all 700 remaining points with 5th-level magic.

"Try blockin' this puny cold crap of yours."

"......"

Glare locked on ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠each other, both Hong Ji-yeon and Eun-byeol finished casting simultaneously.

*

Eun-byeol gritted her teeth, enduring the scorching heat.

This match doesn't even make sense...

She could feel why the win rate was under 10%—just 10 seconds into the fight.

It's completely new magic.

Canto Ignis was a beautiful spell where dozens of flames danced like they were alive.

Problem is, brushing even one costs over 200pt.

Eun-byeol's eyes welled up with tears. She hadn't expected such a gap. She'd given her all every day, training fiercely, thinking she could catch up somewhat. Lee Sera had, after all.

But the time gap was so unfair. If someone had shown her the ropes from young...

No, if I'd met Eunha even a year earlier...

She might be in Hong Ji-yeon's spot right now. As that thought crossed her mind, Eun-byeol recalled Eunha's final words.

The greatest effort is in letting go.

Remembering Eunha's words, Eun-byeol felt her inner voice cut off abruptly.

"Ah."

It hit her hard, but she nodded. "I get it now, Eunha. That's what you meant..."

Feeling unburdened, Eun-byeol began casting. Clinging to unreachable heights was foolish. Hong Ji-yeon had practiced longer, had more.

So let go, and see the real me. That was the only way to win.

Not this time, but next... definitely.

Hong Ji-yeon was ready too—pure white ether gathered at her fingertips.

A tiny butterfly rose from Eun-byeol's fingertips. Smiling bitterly at Hong Ji-yeon's ruthless style, she watched her own magic flutter away. A small, translucent ice butterfly floated through the air.

"If you're gonna... hit me."

The moment Eun-byeol finished speaking, Hong Ji-yeon's magic shattered her survival spell. Boom— Arrogant as its name "Prologue of Creation," implying primal heat, it incinerated her arena barrier without mercy.

Just a bit more time...

She tried squeezing out ether for a protective spell, but it wouldn't budge. Her weak mental core was drained even by a single 5th-level spell.

"......"

It was deliberate, no doubt. For projectile magic, the density was absurdly high. A typical low-level mage—or Eun-byeol with her frail core—couldn't counter; it'd just steal their ether.

Bad taste.

Watching the flames burn brighter by absorbing her ether, Eun-byeol bitterly closed her ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠eyes.

*

Crack—

Sudden agony exploded from an ice crystal sprouting on her left shoulder.

"This is straight-up crazy, ya?!"

Hong Ji-yeon gnashed her teeth at losing 500pt in one go.

She'd won, but it didn't feel good.

3rd-level spell taking 500pt? And piercing a 3rd-level survival spell like nothing?

500pt was near 5th-level damage. Penetrating survival magic with that output using 3rd-level ether? Even with talent in ether control, this was broken.

And she's only had a personal mentor for a year.

Hong Ji-yeon fumed. Everyone was some kinda talent freak—Yoo Eunha, Eun-byeol. Her spot, built on pure effort, was shrinking.

Swallowing her rage, she stood. She'd won this year, but next year? That fear was starting to burn inside her.

She glared at the camera, eyes blazing with desire.

I won't let you catch up. Never. Got it?

*

Watching Hong Ji-yeon's venomous expression, I chuckled.

"Eunha-nim? What's up ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠with that?"

"Ah... just. This year's league's gonna be fun."

Checking the comments, I looked troubled as I watched Eun-byeol being carried out on a stretcher. Passed out—probably failed to forfeit after squeezing out that last spell.

She's ripe now... time to teach her Backflow.

Imagining Eun-byeol with Backflow, I couldn't help but grin. Hong Ji-yeon and Lee Sera would foam at the mouth chasing her.

Oh, Seong Ji-ho too.

The Junior Emperor on a 10-win streak in juniors. Unlike his old measured wins, rumors said he was crushing opponents overwhelmingly.

"Heh heh heh, most excellent."

Leading Hong Ji-yeon, Lee Sera, Eun-byeol, and Seong Ji-ho to conquer the Abyss? Not bad at all.

As I grinned lost in fantasy, Ha Ji-eun poked my side.

"?"

"Your face... you okay?"

The chat was flooded with black hearts at Ha Ji-eun's words.

"You just had this lovestruck girl expression."

"......"

"Ah. No. Guess it's time to head out."

"No can do. Eun-byeol's from my tower, gotta go take care of her."

"Yeah, if that's it, no choice. I'll solo stream the next ones."

Ha Ji-eun nodded and took a sip of water. After a moment's thought, I said,

"About Iolde Tower—wanna do an internal broadcast? Like that Bundang training hall time."

Ha Ji-eun spat out her water.

"Pfft!"

"Ugh, gross."

I slipped out of range and stepped back. Her spray hit the floor with a splatter.

"I-Iolde Tower? Introduce it? For real? On a stream like this?"

"Well, post-ranking wars, broadcast material dries up, right?"

Her eyes teared up at my words.

"Eunha-nimmm!"

Other stations and the Association had requested intros before, but I'd brushed them off as too busy.

"...If you've got time, film it before you go."

Ha Ji-eun hugged me tight, rubbing her cheek against mine.

"Eunha-nim, I'll be loyal forever. For real."

"Very well."