One Step Further (2)

"Do me just one favor!"

For a moment, I stood frozen at the sight of Han Yuri shouting loud enough to shake the training grounds. Then I snapped back to my senses.

"What kind of favor?"

"It's nothing weird! I'm not asking you to implant a chip in your brain or stick a microphone in your vocal cords!"

Look at this crazy woman's ideas.

"You want me to trust the person who tried to slap a tracking device on my body?"

"I already apologized for that!"

"An apology doesn't erase what happened."

"Ugh……"

Han Yuri bit her lip, at a loss for words after my blunt retort. I looked at her and thought it over. Granting Han Yuri a small favor in exchange for raising the odds of being appointed as Irena's disciple.

'Not a bad deal.'

Even if her request turned out to be complete garbage, I could always just refuse.

"Fine. I'll do your favor, so help me out. But if it's some bullshit request, I don't have to go through with it, right?"

"Yeah."

And so began my special training with Han Yuri.

"At first, mainly freeze the ground to keep her in check. After that, drop ice boulders. She can also shoot icicles, but the most annoying thing is……"

"Ice ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠vines."

"Huh? You know about them?"

She'd been spamming that one for years. It was also her most efficient attack.

"The hardest part about fighting Lee Seol is her skill activation time. Unlike me, who needs time to prepare, she can cast instantly. She activates her skills the moment she looks at you."

"So even if you know the strategy, it's hard to counter?"

"Yeah. Just think of her as a hell-difficulty raid boss."

Even Han Yuri, who usually snapped at me, was deadly serious right now. As Lee Seol's rival, she was fully invested in this discussion.

"So, the key is to keep it a speed battle…… Are you even listening?"

"Yeah. I'm listening."

I answered, but my entire focus was on the video playing before me.

'……'

Insane. That was the only word that came to mind.

Lee Seol effortlessly blocked every one of Han Yuri's attacks, a faint trace of composure even visible on her face.

'I have to…… beat this monster?'

The gap was enormous. Even hunters with considerable talent would be left speechless watching this footage. It was overwhelming. God-given talent. The phrase fit her perfectly.

As I watched the video, unconsciously biting my lip, Han Yuri let out a small laugh.

"Why are you so scared? Anyone would think this was a fight to the death."

"If you weren't scared after seeing this, you wouldn't be human."

"Believe in yourself. As long as it doesn't turn into a prolonged fight, you can win."

"Ha. Me?"

Against this monster? Against this wall? I could win? A hollow laugh was all I could manage.

Despite my expression, Han Yuri spoke with complete confidence.

"I guarantee it. You'll win."

"On what basis?"

Han Yuri simply smiled at my question, her face filled with more certainty than ever before.

The arena. Not a single student sat in the stands. Only professors occupied the seats. This unofficial match might also serve as the disciple selection round.

I sat on the bench in the waiting room, my leg bouncing with anxiety. In practice matches, teammates usually sparred to improve their skills. But I had never fought Lee Seol, nor even Han Yuri.

'Want to spar once?'

When Han Yuri suggested it, I had put it off, saying we'd do it later. Why?

'Because I'm scared.'

The trauma from the first timeline. The memory of being crushed like an ant beneath a giant's foot made my body hesitate. Of course, things were different now. They had changed. But my body still wouldn't move.

Seeing Lee Seol preparing on the other side made my heart rate spike even higher.

"Huu……"

I took a deep breath, but my heartbeat only climbed faster. My breathing grew ragged.

'This isn't good.'

My vision wavered.

'This isn't good.'

"Huu……"

Calm down. Calm down. Even biting my lip until it bled did nothing to ease the tension. If this continued, I wouldn't even be able to swing my sword properly.

'I need to find a way. Some kind of method……'

While racking my brain in a half-dazed state, a cool sensation touched my left cheek. Turning to look, I saw Choi Ahyeon holding a drink.

It was déjà vu. The same girl I'd met shortly after regressing. The same day I'd resolved that this timeline would be different, that I would definitely live happily this time. The ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠memory surfaced. That resolve. That determination.

Gradually, my pounding heart began to settle.

"I'm not nervous."

"Hehe. I knew you'd say that. Here, drink this and go win."

Zico. Whether by coincidence or fate, it was the same drink from the day we first met.

"Thanks. I'll enjoy it."

After downing it in one refreshing gulp, I gave Choi Ahyeon a smile and stepped into the arena. Lee Seol ascended from the opposite side as well.

'I can do this.'

Over the past few days, I had perfectly analyzed her. Lee Seol's combat style. Her skills. Strength flowed into my right hand gripping Eve.

"This match will be decided by the first clean hit. We will now begin the practice match!"

Beep!

The moment the whistle blew, I kicked off the ground. An ice pillar erupted from where I had been standing. The speed of her skill activation was astonishing. The words "crazy bitch" almost slipped out.

But when it came to speed, I wasn't losing either.

In an instant, I appeared behind Lee Seol. It was a speed even Irena would struggle to react to. Yet—

"As expected, Hyun is ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠fast."

Lee Seol was keeping up with my speed.

Clang!

My sword was blocked by an ice wall. As I tried to follow up with a second strike, a shadow fell over the ground. Immediately—

I moved to the far end of the arena once more. The moment I did, an ice meteor shower rained down on my previous position.

BOOM BOOM BOOM!

"Haa… haa…"

Using Thunder God twice in succession made my head throb with pain, but I couldn't tear my eyes away from the scene before me.

"This is……"

Lee Seol. Overwhelming versatility. Overwhelming skill activation speed. She stood at the complete opposite end of the spectrum from Han Yuri. That was Lee Seol.

"As expected. It really is you, Hyun. You even dodged this."

Lee Seol's eyes shifted to my side.

'Vines!'

I kicked off the ground again. Dozens of ice thorn vines erupted from the earth, chasing after me.

"Wow……"

Lee Seol's impressed voice rang out, as if she hadn't expected me to notice that either. Then—

"Kuh!"

A vine shot toward the left side of my ankle. Her eyes were clearly fixed forward, yet—

'A feint……!'

The moment she confirmed I was reading her gaze to predict direction, she locked her eyes directly on me. This was a pattern she had frequently used in the future. Realizing that sent a shiver down my spine.

A pattern that hadn't appeared in the video. So even when fighting Han Yuri, she hadn't been going all out. I pushed aside unnecessary thoughts as the vines closed in right behind me.

'Stay calm. This much is within expectations.'

I had fewer skills and abilities than her. There was no way I had any other tricks. In that case—

'Break through head-on!'

The ice vines momentarily lost their direction. Lee Seol had lost track of me, even if only briefly. Possibility. Hope. I saw it.

Zigzagging, I circled around to prevent Lee Seol from pinpointing my location.

Faster.

Stronger!

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

The sensation of becoming one with the wind. That feeling Choi Ahyeon always mentioned took hold of my body, if only for a moment.

'Once more!'

Blood burst from my nose. My head grew unbearably hot. Even so, I accelerated once more.

"Kuh!"

My vision flickered and turned white. My brain couldn't handle it anymore. But it didn't matter. I no longer needed visual information. Only sensation. Only instinct.

'I just need to cut you down.'

A small sound. Lee Seol drawing a sharp breath. Proof that she had lost track of me. Finally, the opportunity I thought would never come had arrived. I immediately stepped forward toward the source of mana I could feel. As my body shot forward, I swung my sword.

CRACK!

Shatter.

My sword pierced through an ice wall and struck something. A sensation so hard it couldn't possibly be flesh.

"Ah……"

As expected. It was impossible after all. Limits. No matter how many times I regressed, no matter what opportunities I obtained, my essence remained unchanged. With the vessel called Lee Seonghyun, I could never defeat Lee Seol. Never defeat a Witch.

'Damn it……'

As my vision cleared, the scene before me came into focus. My sword had been stopped by Lee Seol's outstretched hand. Her hand, reinforced with ice, and—

The edge of my blade had barely grazed her hand after piercing through the ice. Just 1mm. My sword had touched her.

"Ugh. Hyun, isn't that speed a bit too much for a human? My eyes almost hurt to death. Hyun……?"

"……"

"Hyun. Are you okay?"

I couldn't speak. No, the words wouldn't come out. I had surpassed her—the one I had given up on, convinced it was impossible. All those days of screaming, despairing, and wailing.

"H-Hyun, why are you crying like that…? Huh? Th-That's weird. Hyun?"

Every moment I had doubted my efforts, wondering if this would be enough, if it was all for nothing—none of it had been in vain. I realized that now.

"Hyun. Why? Why are you like this? Huh? Hyun. Stop crying……"

Today, for the first time in my life, I had defeated her.