Chapter 82
Chapter 82
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 82
Chapter Title: Final Evaluation (3)
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A month ago, Jin Se-jeong had explained to Fuyuno Tsubaki just how formidable Ryu Jia truly was.
"Ryu Jia is insanely strong, insanely fast, insanely tough, and she never gets tired. Sure, I'm a bit faster, but everything else? She's overwhelmingly superior."
"My god."
Having to defeat an enemy who was strong, fast, tough, and tireless.
If it weren't for her goal of rescuing Yang Woo-bin, Jin Se-jeong would have abandoned the fight outright. Every strength she listed about Ryu Jia was simple, yet devastatingly powerful.
"...How do you even beat something like that?"
If there was no hope of victory, then this training—being separated from Yang Woo-bin for a whole month—would be utterly pointless. That's why Fuyuno Tsubaki couldn't help but ask the question that felt like a death sentence.
To save Yang Woo-bin, they had to defeat Ryu Jia no matter what. But the version Jin Se-jeong described offered no visible path to victory.
Yet Jin Se-jeong, who knew that despair better than anyone, just grinned and clapped a hand on Fuyuno Tsubaki's shoulder as she answered.
"If we combine my sword with your chill, it's more than possible."
"What?"
"Your role is especially crucial, Fuyuno Tsubaki. I'll just carve the path—you deliver the finishing blow."
"What do you...?"
The symbol of martial prowess, the head of the student council, had just mentioned her "special chill." Fuyuno Tsubaki was left utterly dumbfounded.
How could she, who couldn't even hold a candle to Ryu Jia—let alone Jin Se-jeong—land the decisive strike?
She couldn't grasp it at all, so anxiety gripped her, and she hunched her shoulders.
"It's fine. You can't feel it now, but I'll teach you through training—let your body learn. I've got a plan, so just follow me."
"..."
Jin Se-jeong patted Fuyuno Tsubaki's shoulder reassuringly once more.
Her leadership shone through, befitting a first-year who had risen to the top of Dabcheon's premier combat force, the student council, and restored order to the academy. But Fuyuno Tsubaki didn't like how reliable she seemed.
"Hm? What's with that look? Something bothering you?"
It was because she saw Yang Woo-bin reflected in Jin Se-jeong.
She already didn't like following Jin Se-jeong instead of Yang Woo-bin—and now Jin Se-jeong reminded her of him, too.
A surge of irritation boiled up, but Fuyuno Tsubaki skillfully suppressed it.
"No, nothing."
She had to follow Jin Se-jeong's plan to rescue Yang Woo-bin from Ryu Jia.
"Good. Now that I've explained the basics... let's start training."
With Jin Se-jeong leading and Fuyuno Tsubaki following, the two formed their makeshift alliance and dove into training.
The place where Jin Se-jeong and Fuyuno Tsubaki had trained over the past month was the Celestial Training Ground, reserved exclusively for cadets in the top ten.
This pinnacle of magitech, where targets, environments, and intensity could be customized at will, saw the duo focus on just one thing: person-to-person combat drills.
Against a magitech golem as strong, fast, tough, and tireless as Ryu Jia, they poured everything into filling their gaps and honing their rough edges over the month.
In the end, they perfected a synergy that complemented each other's strengths and weaknesses, toppling the Ryu Jia-simulating golem just 25 days into training.
This hard-earned triumph filled them with confidence.
Not satisfied, they battled the golem ten more times over the remaining five days, securing flawless victories each time based on their plan.
From that hellish month of training emerged two warriors, unburdened by hesitation or fear, driven solely by the resolve to save Yang Woo-bin.
"I'll smash her to pieces!!!"
"Fuyuno Tsubaki, incoming."
"Got it."
As Ryu Jia, usually so composed, charged in a frenzy, Jin Se-jeong and Fuyuno Tsubaki instantly quelled their emotions and moved in perfect sync.
Jin Se-jeong pulled her sword arm back, and Fuyuno Tsubaki infused the extended blade with her chill.
This was the foundation of their anti-Ryu Jia tactic. Fuyuno Tsubaki deftly channeled the extreme yin mana from her heart into Jin Se-jeong's sword.
Saaaa...
"Here I go. Get ready."
Thud!
Once Fuyuno Tsubaki's chill fully enveloped the blade, Jin Se-jeong called out and shot forward without looking back.
Fuyuno Tsubaki, without watching her charge, focused on gathering more extreme yin mana from her heart for her role.
Creeeeeng-!
Immediately, Ryu Jia's red-qi-clad fist clashed with Jin Se-jeong's blue-mana-and-chill-wrapped sword tip, unleashing a shockwave.
"Die!!!"
"...Hup!"
Kagagagang! Kaang!
After the massive clash, Ryu Jia retreated half a step, Jin Se-jeong three. They collided again, fist and sword tip meeting once more.
They'd traded blows before, ending in Ryu Jia's victory.
But this clash was perfectly even—no retreat from either side, unlike a month ago.
Kagagagak-! Kang! Kagagagang!
No, it was the opposite—Jin Se-jeong's sword was pushing back Ryu Jia's fist.
"Kuh?!"
A month ago, Jin Se-jeong had only shown potential, far weaker than her. Now, she overwhelmed Ryu Jia head-on with a barrage. A flustered grunt escaped Ryu Jia for the first time.
"Huuuuu...!"
Unlike the rattled Ryu Jia, Jin Se-jeong—who had devoted the entire month to taking her down—pressed forward relentlessly.
Azure Dragon Twelve Swords - Second Sword: Azure Dragon Thousand Thrusts
The sole continuous thrusting technique of the Azure Dragon Twelve Swords, unleashed while seizing momentum.
In the hands of an adult with a fully matured body, it carried the will and power to pierce and pulverize everything in sight.
True to its name of a thousand thrusts, countless sword tips filled her vision. Ryu Jia gritted her teeth and unleashed her red-qi-wrapped fists as fast as possible.
Kagagagagagagagagagang-!!!
"Kraaa!"
One sword thrusting, two fists striking.
Logically, two fists shouldn't lose in speed to one sword.
Plus, she could track every incoming tip visually, so Ryu Jia figured she could block the barrage.
Kagagagak! Kaang! Kaaang-!
"Wha—huh?"
But while her eyes followed the tips, her fists couldn't keep up.
Thwuk-!
"Kuh?!"
The moment one thrust slipped past her fists and struck her body, Ryu Jia realized it instinctively.
She could no longer counter the stolen momentum.
Thwuk-thwuk-thwuk-thwuk-thwuk-!!!
"Kr, uuuuuugh!!!"
Even as she raised her red qi into a defensive stance upon realizing she couldn't block, Jin Se-jeong's Azure Dragon Thousand Thrusts pierced through and struck her.
Being a dispersed barrage, the impacts weren't devastating, but that wasn't the issue.
Saaaa...
With every hit, a vicious chill seeped past her red qi—the uncontrollable extreme yin mana blanketing her body.
"Hup!!!"
Kwaaaang-!!!
No barrage lasts forever. Jin Se-jeong unleashed her strongest thrust yet—the culmination of the assault.
The final blow carried the greatest chill so far, along with massive impact. Ryu Jia felt bone-chilling cold firsthand as she was shoved back.
Kagagagak!
"Haa, haa..."
"Kr, huuuu..."
Jin Se-jeong had clashed head-on without rest, then won the exchange and landed her combo.
Ryu Jia endured it all, left only with scratches, standing firm on both legs.
At a glance, it seemed Jin Se-jeong had hurt her but come out worse—but it was still her clear win.
"Huuuu... To think you had this bullshit move up your sleeve... So damn annoying."
Ryu Jia's entire body was now thoroughly steeped in Fuyuno Tsubaki's chill.
Only after switching to defense and taking the hits did she understand why she'd lost the barrage.
Her movements had slowed from the chill.
She could track with her eyes but not her hands because her reactions and speed had dulled.
"H, huuu. Saying it after eating all those hits... Pretty pathetic, huh. Huuuu. But now that I've figured it out... Huu. It won't work anymore."
Her body steeped in chill, Ryu Jia shuddered, exhaling white breath.
It was late—after taking the full barrage—but for her, realizing it at all didn't matter.
She was tough enough that Jin Se-jeong's Azure Dragon Thousand Thrusts left only scratches.
"Huuuu. Now it's my turn to counter. Brace yourself three times over..."
Ryu Jia rallied her red qi, glaring at Jin Se-jeong who'd pummeled her.
"Haa, haa, huuu... You should watch your back."
"What?"
But Ryu Jia's counterattack declaration cut off with Jin Se-jeong's ragged breath.
Plap.
Simultaneously, a small, slender palm—devoid of any force—pressed lightly against her red-qi-clad back.
The instant that fragile hand touched her back, Ryu Jia felt an icy chill race up her spine, freezing her solid.
In vulgar terms, she was screwed. She flung herself away to dislodge it, but her chill-soaked body lagged half a beat slower than usual.
"Freeze...!"
That half-beat was plenty for Fuyuno Tsubaki to unleash the chill she'd gathered while Jin Se-jeong bought time.