Chapter 48
Chapter 48
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 48
Chapter Title: Training (4)
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"It feels like I've hit a wall."
"A wall?"
The long hem of the Omnipotent Being's robe fluttered in the air. In this empty space with no one but her and me, I conjured a chair out of thin air and plopped down into it. She turned to look at me as she stretched.
"What wall are you talking about?"
"I don't know how to break through my weaknesses. I'm clearly getting stronger faster than others, but it feels like my abilities are holding me back."
"Keep talking."
I glanced at the Omnipotent Being before continuing.
"Today, I sparred against a D-Rank Hunter in a hunter-versus-hunter match for the first time. But since she knew my abilities and targeted my weaknesses on purpose, I had no idea how to respond. It felt like my powers were actually a disadvantage in that kind of fight."
Our lessons with the Omnipotent Being usually involved her presenting an ideal scenario for reacting to an opponent's attack, then me figuring it out. It was like a sheltered flower thrust into brutal real combat. She looked at my dejected face and smiled gently.
"There is always a solution. Everyone struggles with their first real battle. Calm your mind and think it through carefully—the path will reveal itself. Now, stand up. Let me give you a hug."
She spread her arms wide with a warm smile. Without thinking, I dove straight into her embrace. My face sank into her soft, comforting chest. Captivated by the soothing sensation, I closed my eyes gently. My body relaxed more than ever. She stroked my head once and said,
"Stay calm. Let's start over. You can't break through the wall if someone just tells you how. We'll go back to where you got stuck, so you can realize it yourself."
She pulled away from me. Feeling a bit reluctant, I gave her chest a quick squeeze before standing up. Touching it seemed to give me a burst of energy. The Omnipotent Being smiled warmly and extended her hand to me.
"If you block an opponent's attack with your left hand, the damage charges into your right. So you'll want to block with your left as much as possible and attack with your right. In that case, I would..."
She fell silent. Her body blurred like mist and reappeared right in front of my nose. Her fluttering robe looked like butterfly wings. Her right hand flew toward my head. Instinctively, I raised my right hand to block.
A light pop like a balloon bursting rang out, and my hand stung. My right hand swelled red before quickly healing. The Omnipotent Being said,
"If I know your abilities, I'd naturally target your right side relentlessly. And since you have to defend with your left arm, focusing on your right would collapse your stance. What will you do? How can you overcome this?"
She stepped back and reset her stance. With a bright, compassionate smile, the Omnipotent Being told me,
"You have to keep clashing until you find the answer."
Her attacks came flying at me again.
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After days of meditation, I still hadn't found a solution. I entered the training hall with a troubled expression, where Seong Ha-yeon sat staring at her phone. It was 6 p.m. She looked a bit fatigued, probably from a gate raid.
"Please take it easy on me today."
"Oh, you're here?"
She glanced at me, pocketed her phone, and like last time, hiked up her training pants to tighten her belt before asking,
"Figured out how to beat it yet?"
"Not yet. Still thinking."
"Think hard. The answer might be simpler than you expect."
She could be right—maybe there was a straightforward fix. I nodded and took my stance. Seong Ha-yeon smirked, stretched slowly, and assumed her position. I tensed up watching her footwork.
She scanned my stance for openings with sharp eyes, tilted her head, and said,
"Getting private training somewhere?"
"Huh? No, nothing like that."
"Your stance is way better than last time."
The meditation training with the Omnipotent Being was steadily shaping my body. It influenced my unconscious stances and responses. It didn't make me brutally strong, but her power was nurturing my growth bit by bit.
Seong Ha-yeon nodded at my answer and gradually closed the distance, observing my movements.
The moment I shifted my foot, her kick whistled toward me, grazing my nose tip. I reflexively backpedaled, barely dodging the first strike. She straightened up, looked at me, and chuckled.
She advanced to cover the ground I'd retreated, then thrust her front leg for a follow-up. I thrust my arms forward to block desperately, but her raw power sent me flying back. I tumbled across the floor and looked up to see her charging with terrifying momentum, intent on finishing me.
Dodging was out of the question time-wise, and blocking in this unsteady pose felt like it'd snap something. I glanced around and spotted a chair to my left. I hurriedly grabbed it with my left hand to block her kick.
Clang!
"Shit!"
Seong Ha-yeon grimaced and cursed. She stepped back, shook her foot. I winced at the odd sensation in my left arm. She checked her foot and said,
"Damn, using a chair there?"
"Sorry. Felt like it'd kill me if it landed."
She shook her head at my apology and said,
"Nah, doesn't matter. This isn't a martial arts tournament—grab whatever and fight however. You did good, actually. If you can't block with your body, use a tool. That's obvious."
I rubbed my right arm. It glowed faintly white. Use a tool if I can't block with my body? I thought for a moment and said to Seong Ha-yeon,
"Hey, do you have a big shield around here?"
"A shield?"
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"So that's it."
A crack marred the shield. My right arm glowed white. The result of Seong Ha-yeon mercilessly smashing the shield I'd held in my left hand. My ability didn't just apply to my arms—it absorbed impact to my right arm equally from anything I held in my left. Seong Ha-yeon peered at my arm in amazement.
"Pretty cool."
I swung the massive rectangular shield, big enough to cover my body, and felt satisfied. The reason left-hand blocking was a weakness was the limited coverage. But with a shield that shielded my whole body? Seong Ha-yeon asked,
"If absorption works through the shield, doesn't emission work with a weapon too?"
"Probably."
And if I used a long weapon to keep distance? I asked Seong Ha-yeon,
"Got a spear?"
"Spear? I have a staff."
"Staff should work."
I gripped the wooden staff tightly with my right arm, which glowed as if fully charged. Seong Ha-yeon watched with keen interest. I took a deep breath, then hurled the staff in my right hand with all my strength. The power drained from my arm, and the staff began glowing white.
Bam!
The staff slammed into the smooth wall, denting it in the shape of its tip. At the hammer-like thud, Seong Ha-yeon nodded in admiration. She seemed excited by the small mark my staff left.
"Not bad? This has real potential. Hey, hold on. I know a hunter who uses spears. You're hopeless barehanded anyway, so go with this. Most rookie tournament kids haven't trained in combat before. Train with the spear from now, and you've got a shot."
I grinned at Seong Ha-yeon. She patted my shoulder laughing. Finally, I could see a path forward.
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That night, I sought the Omnipotent Being in meditation again. She gazed at me with her usual serene expression. Just meeting her eyes warmed my heart. I looked at her and said,
"I found the answer, Omnipotent Being."
"Really? What is it?"
I imagined a shield and spear in my hands. Black shadows rose from beneath my hands, clinging and forming into spear and shield shapes. The Omnipotent Being watched me. I showed her the weapons and said,
"Spear and shield. I just use weapons for what my hands can't do."
Weapons were legal in the tournament as long as they weren't guns. I'd checked with Yu-jeong sunbae—weapon registration could be changed up to two weeks before. The Omnipotent Being nodded at my creations and said,
"So that's a way."
"Yeah, this method..."
Mid-sentence, I looked at her. Sensing my gaze, she turned her head slightly and said,
"I was thinking of a different path. One where you gain enlightenment through your own power, without relying on weapons."
"I see."
I replied indifferently, and she looked a bit flustered.
"A-Are you doubting me?"
"I didn't say anything, Omnipotent Being."
She relaxed then and continued,
"Fine. So from today, you'll train with that spear and shield?"
"Yes."
The Omnipotent Being smiled. I threw myself into training with the spear and shield. With weapons and strategy set, all I could do was train hard.
One week before the tournament, I checked my first opponent via the academy's official notice. 'Drum Maniac' Kim Jeong-pyo. His ability was a dirty, underhanded one that shot beams from his hands.
Kim Ju-seong was participating too—if Ichie won her first match, he'd be next.
"No Kim Chun-bae?"
Yu-jeong sunbae tilted her head at the name.
"Who's that?"
"Kid with decent skills. Not entering?"
Maybe his weaknesses were too obvious?
Leaving my questions behind, the tournament loomed close.