Chapter 75
Chapter 75
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 75
Chapter Title: Storm of the Golden Sun (11)
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"You want me to help you prepare for the final evaluation?"
"Yes."
"...You do know what the final evaluation is about, right, newbie?"
"Of course."
Ryu Jia stared at me with eyes that said she'd seen every weirdo under the sun.
And who could blame her? This final evaluation was a special joint event for first- and second-years.
"...You're a first-year, and I'm a second-year. Do you get what that means?"
It was a grade-level showdown—the content of this final evaluation.
Though calling it a showdown was generous; with Ryu Jia in second year, it was just a one-sided hunt. Dabcheon Academy knew that, so they set different scoring for each year.
First-years got points just for surviving the evaluation period. Second-years had to hunt first-years and force them out to score.
The same survival format, but one focused on endurance, the other on predation.
That was the gist of this final evaluation.
"I know. Once it starts, I have to fight the president, right?"
"Fight? You mean run. Anyway, you know that and still want my help? Isn't that weird?"
She had a point—my request was objectively bizarre.
I was asking Ryu Jia how to fight her.
But bizarre or not, in a world without Fuyuno Tsubaki, getting her help was my best option.
So I laid it out straight for her.
"If I want to fight the president, I need to learn from her. No one else can even touch her toes."
"Well... true."
Ryu Jia nodded at my odd but logical words.
But acknowledging it intellectually didn't erase her discomfort at having to oppose me in the evaluation. Her face soured with reluctance.
Her head got it, but her heart didn't. Time to convince the latter.
I dipped my head, averted my gaze, hunched my shoulders a bit, and spoke in a voice utterly lacking my usual energy.
"And... you're all I have, President."
"Uh, y-yeah?"
As expected, a flustered breath escaped her.
The guy who was always so cocky suddenly slumping and sounding defeated? That gap must've hit hard.
Timing was everything here, so I snapped my head up, locked eyes with her, and pressed.
"You'll help me, right, President?"
This was Operation Pity Party. All those home-cooked meals and massages had built up her favor for this exact moment.
Too talented, too privileged—Ryu Jia had no real friends.
She could do anything solo, so why bother?
Admirers flocked to her strength, but they were disposable. Followers? She didn't care if they came or went.
That made me special to her.
A cute underclassman who cooked killer meals and gave killer massages? Yeah.
Even dumb beasts know who feeds them. Betting on those meals, I doubled down.
"Help me out. Please?"
This time, I clasped her hands in mine, pleading desperately.
If this doesn't work, she's worse than an animal, I thought—just as her sealed lips parted slowly.
"...U-uh, yeah. Fine."
Her reply came out dazed, for some reason.
No reluctance this time, though. Satisfied, I stood.
"Alright, let's get to it, President."
Only a month till evaluation. No time like the present.
"Come on, President. What're you sitting around for?"
I'd opened the clubroom door and turned back to call her lagging ass.
She rose at my voice, face still blank like a hamster mid-ear-rub.
"Y-yeah, r-right... Let's go."
My first time back in the sparring grounds since the club entrance exam months ago.
I'd trained hard since and gotten stronger, but it didn't matter.
"...Newbie, this is what you asked for? You want me at full power?"
My opponent was Ryu Jia, Dabcheon's strongest cadet.
Just a week ago, she'd curb-stomped that brat unilaterally. No way I could win now.
So why face her, knowing defeat was certain?
To hone my senses.
The senses I needed to wield my ultimate weapon.
"Yes, full power, please."
"Hoo... Okay, your funeral. Don't blame me if you get hurt!"
"Uh, well... Go easy on me anyway. Wasted time healing's no fun."
Training or not, I insured a little mercy. Then I focused every nerve on her and took stance.
"Mm, I'll try."
Her affirmative came right after.
"Here I go."
Boom-!!!
True to her word, she charged at full throttle.
Crushing crimson battle aura cloaking her body, she exploded the ground like a red cannonball.
Straight-line rush—I knew it coming, senses locked on her—yet she was so fast I lost her motion for a split second.
Screeeech-!!!
But I knew her attack pattern cold. I swung my clenched right fist with all I had.
Now!
Crack—Boom-!!!
Fast enough to slip my sight? Timing was still readable. Like the entrance exam, I parried her clean.
Crash-tumble-rumble!
Parried again, she lost balance, tumbling under her own momentum—just like before. But that entrance-exam rerun ended there.
Unlike then, where one block won, this was sparring. No "I lose" meant no end.
Scraaaape-!
She jammed fingers into the ground mid-roll, regaining control and braking.
Her power and speed didn't weigh her down; stopping was quick.
"Nice, nice one, newbie! You're no slouch!"
Pre-spar, she'd worn that caring-senpai face. One launch later? Gone.
Just pure battle-lust from a worthy foe.
I swallowed dryly, refocusing every sense on her.
"Try parrying this!"
Boom-!!!
No mercy now—she bellowed, burning with thrill, and charged again.
My reflexes blanked on her motion again, but no sweat.
Charge patterns? Spot the start, counter easy.
"Hup!"
Smack-! Boom!!! Crash-tumble-rumble!!!
"Gwah!"
Another fist-swing explosion sent her rolling far.
"Damn it, how?! Doesn't make sense!"
No real damage through her aura, though. She recovered fast and charged anew.
Thwack! Boom-! Tumble!
Same result.
"Argh!"
Three repeats in, she adapted.
Straight charges wouldn't cut it. She zigzagged unpredictably, circled me, feinted stops for off-beat rushes—pattern shifts galore.
Crack! Bang! Rumble-tumble!!!
But as Reverse Hero Saga vet, I knew 'em all. Timing reads were effortless; parries landed smooth.
"Hah, hah, hah... Hoo..."
"...Ugh."
Success didn't stop fatigue—mine alone.
Her crimson aura? Unshaken. Breathing? Steady.
Still fine, though. Parries? I could spam 'em.
So thinking, I reset for the next charge. She rose from crouch, abandoning it.
"Hoo, charges won't work, huh. Got it."
Then she just... walked. Casual steps my way.
Ditching her strongest tool—aura-charged rush—the deadliest opener. Yet this tensed me most yet.
"Plain and simple. Close-range brawl it is."
The real spar started now.