Chapter 68: The Star Festival
Koreans love comparisons. Maybe it's because they've lived crammed together on such a narrow strip of land. Or perhaps it's an instinct passed down from ancient times—who knows.
In any case, that long-standing tradition had carried over into the 21st century, settling into online communities as the 'VS meme.'
And this year, the pinnacle of the VS memes was none other than Yu Eunha.
From her debut right up to now, she'd been steadily compared to Isara, gradually building up data points.
[Isara VS Yu Eunha with a Holy Artifact and One Monica Chance]
[Isara VS Infinite Ether Yu Eunha]
[Isara VS Yu Eunha Casting One Spell Without Chant]
[Isara VS Club-Wielding Yu Eunha]
And finally, just a few days before the Foundation League kicked off, the following post appeared on the boards.
└ Anon: She’s already surpassed junior level lol
└ PinkAddict: True, she's pro-grade
└ Anon: Even the like-bait account agrees
└ PinkAddict: I said Isara's pro-grade, not that she beats Yu Eunha
└ Anon: ?
└ Anon: So Yu Eunha's pro-grade too?
└ PinkAddict: Yeah, 100%
└ Anon: Looking for experience in juniors lolololol
└ Anon: We know Isara's peak tho?
└ Anon: That was a year ago, she's different now.
└ Anon: Just a year?
└ SnackMouse: A year in juniors is like 3 in pros.
I smirked as I gazed at the navy-haired girl standing in the distance.
"At last, we meet—the brightest star shining in the junior ranks."
Isara shook her head at my words.
"Never thought I'd hear that nickname from the Black Snow Demon King himself."
I cleared my throat at the mention of Black Snow Demon King.
"I'd prefer you didn't use that term. It's not a title I fancy."
Isara and I cast our spells almost simultaneously.
[3-level Enhancement]
Stella Maris
[4-level Special]
Celestial Spear
I dodged the massive spear of light hurtling toward me and clicked my tongue.
"It's akin to Lee Han's Piercing Light!"
The elegant, fluid casting resembled Lee Han's. Knowing she was his sister made her magic overlap with his in my eyes.
"That was quite perilous."
"Hmph, you dodge easily and then talk big!"
"Far from it! That was truly close."
The smell of my singed hair wafted over.
Her magic's faster and more agile than expected. I thought a supernova image would make it heavier.Before I could fix my hair, Isara's signature spell—her star cluster—rushed in. The casting was so subtle and soft, even ether-sensitive me hadn't noticed.
Pabababak—
As I closed the distance while tracking the glowing stars' paths, Isara's demeanor shifted abruptly.
"……!"
Paak—
As if it were natural, she wrapped her body in ether and unleashed a kick. I blocked the face-aimed strike, then swung a punch at her side, but Isara smacked my arm away first.
Dodge the follow-up counter and create distance.As I moved on instinct, a spark hit my crown, pain surging through.
Paak—
One lingering star from the cluster had curved back to strike my head from above.
"Simple ether control~"
"Tch. You got me."
"If you think Battle Mage is your only hobby, you're mistaken. I'm a diligent PE student too, you know?"
Cheekily, she struck the ready stance I'd often used in my Mage Hunter days.
"……."
In an instant, Isara vanished from my sight, kicking up a dust cloud in the wasteland.
Paak—
Light orbs exploded from the tip of Isara's blocked foot. The moment I thought I'd barely blocked it, an overcharged ether fist slammed into my gut.
Ppeok—
I took the punch full-on, flying through the air and tumbling across the wasteland floor.
Martial arts based on movements a beat faster than human limits. It was clearly a variant of the Magic Suppression Arts from the military regime era.
Type I. No, closer to the upgraded Type II.Isara was using the same martial arts as a Mage Hunter. Whether by government design or her own will, one thing was certain.
"Ptoo."
If I just stood there lobbing shells, I'd be out in minutes.
"Looks like they've already started."
A voice came from afar. Turning, I saw Hong Jiyeon and Seong Jiho charging at me.
I let out a hollow laugh at the arrival of those two executioner builds.
"Heh, this just got annoying."
"Uwaaaak! Why are you naturally surrounding our master like that! You bastards set this up!"
As if announcing the disadvantageous situation, the commentator's voice drilled into my ears.
Ah, Yu Eunha's on pioneer build, so lots of AoE, right?
Yeah, she's been relying solely on Stella Maris for utility and defense.
With two executioners here now, there's basically no escape.
Right, Hong Jiyeon and Seong Jiho won't target hunter Isara.
This is bad for Yu Eunha.
Yes—build matchup advantage, spell level, even terrain! She needs one of those three, but everything's against her!
I clutched my chest at the commentator's words.
"Ugh! Can't argue with any of that."
At someone's chat, I hurriedly checked the leaderboard.
1. Hong Jiyeon 440 points
2. Isara 420 points
3. Yu Eunha 410 points
4. Seong Jiho 320 points
5. Park Hyunho 300 points
───────────────
6. Kang Euntae 290 points (excerpt...)
"Ah, yeah. Late game now, not many left anyway—two more pioneers? She might scrape into top 5!"
Real talk
"Huaa, please, just let them waste time without scoring points here!"
Shameless, but that could aim for 2nd or 3rd.
Just then, angles set, Hong Jiyeon and Seong Jiho charged at Yu Eunha.
"Aaaak, as expected! Can't we just draw? Huh? You're all top 5 anyway!!!"
Unlike the anxious Hajieun, Yu Eunha on screen looked quite composed.
In mere seconds, spells flashed.
Hong Jiyeon's four-spell combo that took down Kang Euntae easily.
Seong Jiho's 4-level hidden spell that cornered Eunbyeol.
Yu Eunha elegantly dodged them all.
"Ah?!"
Having evaded every spell, Yu Eunha floated into the air.
Dodged all that?!
D-did you see that detail? That's definitely Magic Suppression Arts!
Wait, massive ether converging on Yu Eunha!
Something's coming? Commentator?
The silent commentator suddenly blurted out.
Uh... hold on. That ether volume—it's equivalent to a 4-level spell at least...
WHAT?! Another 4-level?! Isn't this the Foundation League? Why keep pulling 4-levels!
In the hologram stage, airborne Yu Eunha slowly raised her hand.
"I did say it plainly. Strive to keep up with me."
Above Yu Eunha, an absurdly massive magic circle unfurled.
Everyone watching gaped, confirming its scale.
It was an overwhelming sight, unworthy of the Demon King moniker.
"Huh? Hologram glitch?"
As all eyes focused, Yu Eunha's small mouth opened.
"Rejoice! For you seem unlikely to perish even against this spell."
The words barely ended before a black sea surged into the wasteland.
[2-level Control]
Abyssorium
Yu Eunha's spell, never once used on a human (except Monica), revealed itself to the world for the first time.