Promising Mage Tournament (2)
‘Th-that bastard, why the hell is he here?’
Seo Inyong, a 3rd Circle mage. His eyes widened as if they might tear apart.
He was the guy who had picked a fight with Jehyun not long ago and ended up passing out in the bathroom.
He shuddered. Just recalling that day sent chills racing across his entire body. It had left him with a trauma about bathrooms.
But seeing Jehyun's face up close again brought it all rushing back.
Cold sweat beaded on the man's forehead.
‘I-I gotta run.’
Unbeknownst to himself, exposure to Dragon Fear had etched a terror of Jehyun deep into his soul. The thought of resisting was inconceivable.
That's why, just five seconds after stepping onto the stage, he immediately forfeited.
“Unbelievable! What just happened?”
“That contestant seemed to recognize Mage Kim Jehyun already. The moment he spotted him, his eyes started trembling uncontrollably, and he forfeited right away.”
The commentators were utterly baffled by the situation. Only commentator Bong Taemin had keenly read the fear in Seo Inyong's eyes.
Reactions from those watching Jehyun's match poured in, varied and colorful.
A flurry of opinions. Everyone wanted to dig into the truth behind that match, but they held off. There were more matches to come.
—Damn, didn't expect to run into that guy again in the first prelim.
‘Right? Talk about fate.’
If it could be called fate. Who would've thought he'd face the same punk from the bathroom brawl in his first prelim match?
An effortless win, even if accidental. Like picking his nose without lifting a finger.
‘If I can just keep forcing forfeits with Dragon Fear like this, it'll be perfect.’
Jehyun grinned. A plan for the tournament crystallized.
Level up Dragon Fear's proficiency while cruising to victory. Two birds with one stone.
The next match came up quickly.
Jehyun stepped onto the stage again.
“Yes, this is the final match of Group D's round of 16 in the prelims: Mage Kim Jehyun versus Mage Seo Seongju.”
“Commentator Seol Daejun, how do you see this one playing out?”
“Hmm. The previous match was such a mystery, it's hard to predict. Mage Seo Seongju dominated his round of 32 opponent pretty handily. He's been at 3rd Circle for a while, per his profile. Normally, I'd give the edge to him, but... who knows? Kim Jehyun's just too unpredictable.”
“Haha, same here. Can't wait to see if this guy pulls off another upset. And speak of the devil—the match is starting! Everyone, focus up!”
With the commentators' words, Jehyun's second prelim match began. Even more eyes were on it than the first.
“I don't know how you pulled off that first prelim win, but... guk.”
Seo Seongju tried to intimidate Jehyun, but his face drained of color.
The moment Jehyun casually extended his hand toward him, an unprecedented terror gripped him—one he'd never felt in his life.
‘Wh-what the hell is this?’
Just moments ago, Jehyun had seemed like nothing more than an odd 2nd Circle mage.
But now, to Seo Seongju's eyes, Kim Jehyun loomed larger than anyone—towering like an endless mountain piercing the heavens, his presence impossibly vast.
His instincts screamed.
Stay like this, and he'd die.
The fear forced its way past his paralyzed tongue.
“I-I forfeit.”
* * *
Jehyun blasted through the prelims with Dragon Fear, reigniting buzz around him in the Magic Tower.
Watching him crush 3rd Circle mages in seconds skyrocketed his reputation again.
Speculation leaned toward him acquiring a secret art like Twilight Terror.
“Those damn flies...”
Kim Hyeongjin ground his teeth reading the community reactions.
Jehyun's exploits were already grating on him. Now these nobodies were nipping at his heels too.
‘Time to show them definitively.’
Why he suited nobility. How he was born superior to the lowly rabble.
“But seriously... what the hell happened to that punk?”
Hyeongjin's eyes cooled. Watching Jehyun's prelim rampage chilled his boiling rage.
Time to admit what needed admitting.
Kim Jehyun—whatever encounter he'd had, he had the chops for the individual league.
“Mental magic, huh.”
Hyeongjin's face hardened.
Before 4th Circle, mental or illusion magic was among the trickiest offenses.
He pondered deeply, brows furrowing.
“Guess I have to use it.”
After agonizing deliberation, Hyeongjin decided.
A bit risky, but necessary to crush Jehyun for good.
Click.
He retrieved a pill from his private safe. The coin-sized elixir pulsed with thick purple energy.
“First time using it in real combat, but...”
He gripped it tightly.
“You'll still end up crushed under me.”
Hyeongjin was certain. No secret mental art would pierce the power of this pill.
* * *
Time flew. Prelims wrapped, mains began.
Jehyun topped Group D, of course.
No match lasted over 30 seconds. Dragon Fear overwhelmed them all.
—So why the hand gesture every time?
Alkasha asked, puzzled. Dragon Fear activated on will alone, after all.
“Just to make it look like magic.”
From the reactions, they mistook Dragon Fear for something like Twilight Terror.
Perfect cover—no need to explain later.
He'd played along with their expectations, gesturing each time.
—Equating a dragon's authority like Dragon Fear to some low-tier spell like Twilight Terror? Laughable.
“They don't know it's Dragon Fear. Logical guess—the effects look similar at first glance.”
Twilight Terror toyed with fear emotions in the mental realm.
But Dragon Fear? A qualitative difference. Crushing souls with sheer hierarchical presence.
That was Dragon Fear.
At full power, it could shred souls.
Jehyun's was still toddler steps away, but with effort...
“Using it in real fights really boosts proficiency fast.”
He felt smoother than in the first prelim. Proficiency had crossed 1%, and his level rose too.
Better gains than expected.
—Real combat accelerates growth most.
“Yeah, spot on.”
Jehyun smirked, agreeing with Alkasha.
He'd joined for the top prize, but the Dragon Fear practice was a bonus.
“Alright. Let's milk the mains too.”
He nodded and took the main stage.
“Kim Jehyun! We support you! Win the mains too!”
“Kim Jehyun fighting!”
Mains were in a stadium with spectator seats, packed full.
The Magic Tower's annual event drew crowds.
The mains unfolded like prelims. Dragon Fear left opponents helpless.
Jehyun steamrolled to the finals.
One last hurdle to victory.
But his finalist was no slouch—having clawed through prelims and mains.
Bloodhound Chujiho. Later dubbed Mad Dog for his innate ferocity and tenacity.
Never backed down on any battlefield. Victory obsession terrifyingly intense.
And skills to match—a true prodigy.
He'd crushed all to reach finals. Without Jehyun, the sole winner pick.
In Jehyun's past life, Chujiho had dominated.
“Can't imagine Bloodhound tucking tail.”
“Doubt Jehyun's mental magic fazes him.”
Onlookers couldn't picture Chujiho folding like the others.
“Unpredictable.”
“Yeah.”
The finals began amid massive attention.
“You use some fun sorcery. But it won't work on me.”
Chujiho smirked at Jehyun, declaring war. Prepared countermeasures for mental magic, it seemed.
But Jehyun ignored it, unleashing Dragon Fear as always.
“K-krgh.”
A groan escaped Chujiho, exposed to 【Dragon Fear】.
‘Wh-what is this?’
Despair and terror filled his eyes as he stared at Jehyun.
Flicker.
A colossal shadow loomed behind Jehyun.
A being that induced shivers just by sight. Overwhelming greatness made all else seem insect-like.
‘D-dragon? N-no way... How could such a... being...’
That was Chujiho's last thought before blacking out, soul-melting terror consuming him.
‘Oh, impressive.’
Jehyun's eyes gleamed.
Chujiho reacted differently—not just crushed by presence, but glimpsing Jehyun's true stature.
‘No wonder he made a name later.’
Worthy opponent.
“K-Kim Jehyun wins!”
The finals ended. The judge, eyes trembling, stared at the stage and declared victory.
Silence gripped the arena briefly, then exploded in cheers and gasps.
“...”
“Kuh! See?!”
“Told you Kim Jehyun would win!”
“Even Chujiho down like that? Makes no sense.”
“Whoa, real 2nd Circle rebellion. Unreal...”
“Can't believe it's really 2nd Circle watching it.”
“Kim Jehyun! Kim Jehyun!”
Crowds mesmerized by Jehyun's dominance every match.
Even indifferents cheered his feats.
This prodigy league was Jehyun's stage, by Jehyun, for Jehyun.
‘Done.’
Victory sealed, Jehyun smiled inwardly.
The item for Mana Core Stage 3 leap—his soon.
Then.
Champion Match: Crush Kim Hyeongjin
You've won the Prodigy Individual League.
Now face last year's champion, Kim Hyeongjin, in the champion match.
He harbors deep malice toward you.
Mission: Win the champion match against Kim Hyeongjin.
Reward: Varies based on duel outcome.
‘Quest!’
Jehyun's eyes lit up.
His gaze locked with Kim Hyeongjin, seated beyond the stage, staring daggers.
Hyeongjin's face crumpled in rage, eyes blazing.
‘Bringing a parting gift, huh.’
To Jehyun, Hyeongjin looked like a wrapped present.
A smile curved Jehyun's lips.