Chapter 347
Chapter 347
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 347
Chapter Title: Divine Transcendence (4)
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For now, he was holding his own with physical ability alone, but as the level of his competitors rose, the gap would inevitably widen.
That was why the academy, despite knowing Rian’s situation, was hesitant to create a special exception for him.
“Group 1 will begin the evaluation. Groups 2 and 3, come out and warm up. The rest of you, rest.”
The cadets in Group 1 glared as they headed to the training grounds. When Kuan, holding the evaluation sheet, sat down and gave the signal, they let out monstrous roars and engaged in a violent hand-to-hand brawl.
As Kuan focused on the match, the cadets relaxed. As always, Tess found her way to the seat next to Rian. She enjoyed talking with him before an evaluation. It felt like being alone with a lover on a battlefield, so to speak.
But Tess’s small pleasure was shattered by Rockjaw's approach.
He walked over, his well-developed jaw jutted forward, and looked down at Rian.
“Hey, Rian. How’s it looking? Think you can avoid last place this time?”
“Mind your own business. It has nothing to do with you.”
“Haha! Of course. Last place is none of my concern. But a fun thought just crossed my mind. And it might have something to do with you.”
“What are you talking about?”
When Rian looked back, Rockjaw pointed a thumb at himself.
“How about you and I go at it? Wrestling. Who knows? If you defeat me, the strongest one here, maybe the school will finally acknowledge you. If you want to get out of last place, you’ve got to try everything, right?”
Rian turned his gaze away, uninterested.
“I don’t need anyone’s acknowledgment. If I have to fight, I’ll fight anyone, but I have no desire for a pointless show of strength.”
Rockjaw smirked faintly. It was the typical excuse of the weak, trying to avoid a fight while preserving their pride.
But this time, that very pride would be his downfall.
“Hmm. Are you sure you can stand by those words?”
With that, Rockjaw surveyed the training grounds. Noticing that the match for Group 2 was nearing its end, he seized the opportunity and raised his hand.
“Instructor! I have a proposal.”
“What is it?”
“I wish to compete against Rian. Please grant me permission. We have already come to an agreement.”
For a cadet to suggest changing the evaluation format was an incredibly audacious thing to do.
But this time, Kuan was unusually pensive. With Rian as the subject, it was an interesting proposition for him as well.
He was curious to see just how far Mental Transcendence could hold up against Rockjaw, who possessed the greatest physical ability among his peers.
“I will decide after hearing the opinions of your group members.”
Even if Rian and Rockjaw had agreed, the other group members might think differently.
But Rockjaw was confident.
Since no one could beat him in wrestling anyway, they wouldn’t refuse a proposal that could help them get a higher score.
As expected, Rockjaw’s opponent readily agreed.
Even though winning or losing didn’t affect the grade, facing an overwhelmingly superior opponent made it difficult to showcase one’s strengths.
Rian’s opponent had no reason to refuse either. Against Rian, a non-Schema user, the best he could hope for was breaking even, while a loss would be a significant blow.
As their respective interests aligned, the matter was settled. Kuan drew two lines through their names on the evaluation sheet and changed the pairing.
“Very well. Rian and Rockjaw will be moved to Group 17.”
As Rockjaw sat down next to Rian with a satisfied smile, Tess felt an inexplicable sense of unease.
In practical swordsmanship, few of their peers could subdue Rian, but Rockjaw in wrestling was truly dangerous.
She didn’t know what he was thinking by proposing such a match, but she could only hope it would end as just a part of the evaluation.
Rockjaw observed Rian’s stiff expression and spoke.
“So? It’s really happening. You’re not regretting it already, are you? If you’re scared, say so now. I’ll go easy on you.”
Rian didn’t answer. It wasn’t in his nature to make up words when he had nothing to say.
After that, the evaluations proceeded smoothly.
When Group 8 entered the arena, Tess from Group 10 began to prepare. Wrestling was a strenuous sport, and failing to stretch properly beforehand carried a high risk of injury.
“Rian, I’m off.”
“Alright. Do your best.”
Rockjaw added a comment.
“He’s nothing special. Go show him what a top-tier fighter looks like.”
Tess ignored Rockjaw’s words and headed for the training grounds. Still, Rockjaw wasn’t offended. It wouldn’t be long before she couldn’t send him those cold looks anymore. Once his match with Rian began, her eyes would burn with passion.
It was Tess’s turn. Her opponent was a man named Godim, a swordsman with a straightforward personality. He still maintained the buzz cut from his trainee days and blushed upon facing Tess.
In a school that taught the art of killing, it was foolish to distinguish between men and women. However, he felt there was no need to engage in wrestling, a sport with so much physical contact.
Nevertheless, once the match began, Godim’s eyes sharpened, like a warrior facing a wild beast.
Tess charged first and collided with Godim. He lowered his center of gravity and reached out with both arms, pulling at her thighs. Her legs were lifted for a moment, but Tess deftly spun once to neutralize the technique.
At the sight, Rockjaw smiled with satisfaction.
“Impressive as always, Tess. A truly magnificent woman. Don’t you agree?”
Rian also acknowledged Tess’s talent and skill. But Rockjaw's words were unpleasant. He knew that Rockjaw’s gaze was fixed not on her technique, but on her body.
“Why are you trying to fight me?”
“You know the reason, don’t you?”
Rockjaw sneered. Seeing the silent man finally speak, it seemed he was getting anxious about losing Tess.
“If that’s really the reason, don’t ever drag Tess into it again. If you want to fight, come to me anytime. I won’t run, and I won’t hide.”
“Haha! So confident. But will there be a next time for you?”
Rockjaw decided to get to the point. With Tess gone, this was the perfect opportunity to reveal his true intentions.
“Ogent Rian. I’ve heard the rumors. They call your training the ‘Demon’s Regimen.’ Staking your life on victory, is that it? Well, fine. In that case, how about the loser of this match backs away from Tess?”
Rian snorted as if the idea was ridiculous.
“You think Tess will choose you just because you beat me?”
“That doesn’t matter. You leaving and Tess choosing me are two different things. I’m asking about your resolve.”
Rian deferred his answer and watched Tess. Her wrestling style was different from Godim’s. She used flexibility and balance, not strength, to disrupt her opponent’s breathing.
Tess’s talent was undoubtedly real. He, on the other hand, had neither talent nor a future. In this situation, pondering what she meant to him was a luxury he couldn’t afford.
“I don’t bet on people’s hearts.”
“Hmph. Turning tail because you’re at a disadvantage?”
“But I will tell you this.”
Rian’s eyes flashed as he glared at Rockjaw.
“Even if you kill me in this match, I will never resent you.”
Rian’s fighting spirit was genuine. But Rockjaw, with his naturally strong build and soldier’s constitution, felt more belligerence than fear.
“Haha! Big words. You think I can’t do it?”
Just then, a thud echoed from the training grounds. Rian and Rockjaw turned simultaneously. Tess was holding Godim’s arm, having slammed him to the ground.
Godim looked up at the sky, his expression bewildered as if he didn’t know what had just happened, then his face reddened as he sat up.
“I lost. It was a good match.”
“Whew. You did well too. That last move was a gamble, honestly.”
An over-the-shoulder throw, using the opponent’s momentum against him. A misjudgment would have left her back wide open, but there was no way Tess, with her sensory-type Schema, would fail to detect the shift in her opponent’s center of gravity. Godim knew her words were a courtesy to the loser and gracefully accepted his defeat.
Returning to Rian, Tess made a V-sign with both hands.
“Hehe. I’m done. It’s vacation time for me now.”
But the atmosphere was quite different from before. Rian’s expression was even colder, and a murderous glint flickered in Rockjaw’s eyes. Something had clearly happened while she was away.
“Rian. Why the long face? Rockjaw, what happened?”
Rockjaw shrugged his shoulders, playing dumb.
“Why ask me? I didn’t do anything.”
Tess shot Rockjaw a suspicious look before reluctantly sitting down. She knew he was lying, but Rian wouldn’t answer even if she asked.
As Group 15’s match began, Rian, from Group 17, entered the training grounds to warm up. Rockjaw, pretending to follow, turned back to Tess and said:
“Tess. You’ll find out soon enough. Just how much of a fraud Rian is. And what a great man I am.”
“What nonsense are you spouting? Nothing you do will ever make you look cool in my eyes.”
“So harsh. And we’re friends. Did you know? I made a bet with Rian just now.”
“A bet? What kind of bet?”
“We agreed that the loser of this match would give you up. Thought you should know in advance.”
Tess scoffed and shook her head.
“Rockjaw, Rian would never use another person in a bet. That’s the difference between you and him.”
Rockjaw was displeased by Tess’s blind faith but didn’t let it show. This, after all, was the very charm that had fueled his numerous romantic escapades in high society.
“Is that so? Well, just you watch.”
In any case, it didn’t matter, as the match was set. When Tess saw Rian being miserably beaten in front of all the cadets, she wouldn’t be able to hide her shame. In that respect, wrestling was the perfect event. It allowed him to slowly torment his opponent over time.
When Group 17’s turn came, Rian and Rockjaw faced each other in the arena. Comparing their shirtless bodies, the difference in their builds was nearly one and a half times. Rian was by no means small for his age, but Rockjaw’s bulk was so intimidating that it looked like a match between an adult and a child.
The cadets fixed their eyes on the two, like people anticipating the cruel act of predation one could only see in the wild.
Rian was going to be devoured. The disadvantage of not being able to use a Schema was that fatal in every aspect.
The reason Rian was acknowledged was that he kept up with his physical ability alone; in terms of actual skill, he was by no means the best.
Rockjaw cracked his thick neck and spoke.
“Shall we begin? You’re ready, I hope?”
“Anytime. Since it’s come to this, let’s have a good match.”
As Rian and Rockjaw took their wrestling stances, Kuan set aside his notes and focused his attention on their match.
The moment the starting signal sounded, the two collided.
Once their bodies touched, anything was fair game. But Rockjaw led with his head, delivering a powerful impact right from the start.
*Crack!*
The sound was unsettling, making one worry that a skull might have fractured.
Kuan didn’t consider it a foul. Collisions were common when trying to close the distance.
Rian hadn’t been unprepared, but the moment their heads clashed, sparks exploded in his vision, and his upper body was thrown back.
In this kind of collision, weight was everything. It was why Rockjaw had worked so desperately to bulk up.
As Rian staggered, Rockjaw immediately followed up, grabbing the back of his neck. Rian hastily regained his senses and did the same. It was like two bulls locking horns. Holding their breath, their faces turned red. Gradually, Rian’s feet began to drag, pushed back across the ground. Once again, weight was the deciding factor.
“Hrrrrngh…”
A breath escaped through Rockjaw’s clenched teeth. He had heard the rumors, but facing him was a shock. Rian couldn’t use a Schema. He should have been sent flying from the very first impact.