The Ultimate BGM
"Aaaah!"
A sharp scream erupted from Baek Geum-un. The heavy greatsword had slipped from her grasp, and Jo Pacheon’s blade was already whistling through the air, aimed directly at her dantian.
This is bad!
Startled, Bukjin moved instinctively. Flash!
Harnessing the Cloud-Piercing Rain movement technique, he soared through the air in a blur, closing the distance to Jo Pacheon in an instant. He summoned the Doran Sword into his hand and unleashed the first form of the Jesujeon Sword Technique to intercept the lethal strike.
Clang!
Sparks showered the arena. A colossal pressure surged through the Doran Sword, threatening to swallow Bukjin’s entire body like a tidal wave. He poured every ounce of strength into his movement technique, diffusing the impact as he skidded backward. Simultaneously, he wrapped his left arm around Baek Geum-un’s waist and retreated thirty feet in a single breath.
Even after landing, Bukjin was pushed back another ten feet before he could finally steady his stance. The entire sequence had unfolded in the blink of an eye.
Jo Pacheon didn't pursue them. He simply stood there, sword in hand, a cold, mocking sneer etched onto his face as he glared at Bukjin. In the world of martial arts, interrupting another person's duel was equivalent to issuing a direct challenge. By stepping in, Bukjin had effectively made himself Jo Pacheon's new opponent.
"Are you okay?" Bukjin asked, looking down at the girl in his arms.
Baek Geum-un’s head was spinning, and her vision was swimming in darkness. She gasped for air, her chest heaving.
"I... I think I'm alright..." she managed to stammer.
Her heart was pounding, filled with a sudden, overwhelming surge of gratitude toward Bukjin.
"If you're fine, then get lost and stay out of the way," Bukjin snapped.
Even in her pained state, Baek Geum-un felt her temper flare. Bukjin didn't wait for a response; he unceremoniously dropped her onto the ground.
"You stupid girl. Why do you keep throwing yourself at him when you know you can't win?"
"You...!"
The gratitude that had been swelling in her heart vanished like smoke in the wind. If she had the strength, she would have loved nothing more than to smack him on the back of his head.
"Hehe, Im Bukjin. Do you have something to say?"
Jo Pacheon’s murderous gaze locked onto Bukjin.
"You jumped in and stopped my duel of your own volition, so I'll take that as a formal challenge. According to the rules, you are now in a position where you cannot refuse to fight me."
Bukjin felt a wave of irritation. He realized he had walked right into Jo Pacheon’s trap. Looking at Jo Pacheon’s reaction and Baek Geum-un’s current state, he could draw only one conclusion.
Baek Geum-un had never actually been in mortal danger. Even if things had turned truly dire and Cho Heun or Jeong Sam-seok couldn't intervene, Mi Yeo-yeon, a high-ranking official of the provincial government, wouldn't have just sat idly by. Bukjin had overlooked that simple fact.
To think that I, with a brain that works better than anyone else's, would get played by this cunning bastard...
"Hehe, what's wrong? Do you still think you can decline this fight?" Jo Pacheon sneered. "If you refuse to duel under these circumstances, you'll be breaking the rules of the Sword Covenant. That would mean the forfeiture of your victories in the previous two rounds, along with all the prizes you won—the three swords and the Dark Green Storage Ring."
Bukjin habitually rubbed the bridge of his nose.
"...It seems I don't have much of a choice, then," he said with a bitter smile.
Jo Pacheon let out a triumphant laugh. Bukjin let out a long, weary sigh, sounding genuinely regretful.
"I really hate making a scene for no reason. I was planning on staying quiet... but why do you keep insisting on getting on my nerves?"
How can one man be so shameless?
He hates making a scene?
Was everything you did earlier something a 'quiet' person would do?!
The spectators inwardly hurled curses at Bukjin as they listened to his nonsense.
"I take it you've finally found the courage to face me?" Jo Pacheon said, unable to suppress the competitive fire burning in his chest.
Bukjin clicked his tongue.
"I was trying to be a nice guy and let you have your moment of glory this round, but you just had to push it. Are you too stupid to understand kind words? If you're that desperate to be humiliated, then fine. I'll give you a proper lesson today."
"Stop talking and draw your sword," Jo Pacheon commanded.
"I'm worried that if I go first, you won't even last a single move. I'll be generous and give you the first strike," Bukjin said, nodding to himself. "It looks like I'll have to reveal the secret technique I've been hiding all this time."
Bukjin’s expression and tone were incredibly solemn. Many in the crowd grew tense, their curiosity piqued. The young swordsmen and swordswomen focused all their attention on him, and even the veteran masters felt a surge of intense interest. Even Jo Pacheon tensed up, circulating his Hyeongi and taking a defensive stance, ready to react to whatever Bukjin threw at him.
And then, the next moment...
Something happened that absolutely no one could have predicted.
A bizarre melody began to radiate outward from Bukjin.
Dang-dang-dang—! ♬
Ah! How lonely it is to be invincible!
Ah! How empty it is to be without a peer!
Standing alone at the peak, facing the cold wind!
Who could ever understand this solitude of mine?
A deep, booming male voice belted out the lyrics, the sound echoing through the area. Jo Pacheon’s face twisted in confusion, a look that clearly said 'Something is very wrong here' crossing his features. The countless people who had been waiting for Bukjin's "hidden secret technique" all furrowed their brows in unison. It was as if a giant question mark had appeared over the entire Unmong City government office.
His hidden technique... is a song?
The crowd assumed Bukjin was using a Mystic Sound Stone to play a recording.
'Who could understand this solitude of mine!'
The song was reaching its climax. Baek Geum-un covered her face with her palms. Cho Heun did the same. Even Jeong Sam-seok... Bukjin might have been immune to shame, but these three certainly weren't. They looked like they had a collective migraine, wondering how on earth Bukjin could have chosen such a cringeworthy song. Especially since the lyrics were so... excessive.
Meanwhile, off to the side, Elder Hae’s eyes were sparkling.
"As expected of the talent I scouted! Such arrogance! Such audacity! I love it!"
Nearby, Im Ji spoke up.
"Jin-ah. Hold your brother back. Tight."
"Why?"
"Because if you don't, I might just run out there and beat your boyfriend to death."
Bukjin’s behavior had officially transcended common sense. Im Jin replied to her brother's threat with a straight face.
"If you hit him, Brother, I might have to hit you back."
"..."
Inside the solemn Unmong City office, the song with its unbearable lyrics continued to blare.
'Ah! How lonely it is to be invincible!'
'Ah! How empty it is to be without a peer!'
As the music roared, Bukjin simply stood there. He even had his eyes closed, a look of profound solemnity on his face, as if he were deeply moved by the melody.
Yes. This is the stuff!
As he listened to the music, Bukjin felt as though he were receiving a powerful buff in a video game. The blood in his veins began to boil. The flow of Hyeongi through his meridians grew even more violent. An uncontrollable, surging power erupted from every muscle in his body. Even his heart was pounding with a rhythm that sounded like a dragon’s roar in his ears.
"Shin-shin, turn up the volume."
Bukjin gave the command to his voice-activated AI.
As long as my BGM is playing, no one can defeat me.
Yes, Master. Increasing volume to maximum.
The music that made everyone else want to curl up and die grew even louder. The young swordsmen winced and covered their ears.
"It's too loud!"
Jo Pacheon finally snapped, unable to take it anymore.
"If this ridiculous song is the 'hidden skill' you were talking about, then I—"
Right then.
"EVIL DRAGON'S ROAR!"
KRAAAA-OOOOH!
A thunderous roar erupted from Bukjin’s throat. It was the Evil Dragon's Roar, a mental suppression technique he had discovered and mastered in the 3rd Academy's library. The moment the roar left his lips, a massive, invisible shockwave blasted forward.
In that instant, a terrifying vision unfolded before Jo Pacheon’s eyes. The face of the man he was looking at suddenly transformed into the hideous, gargantuan visage of a dragon. The evil beast bared its razor-sharp, snow-white fangs and flicked its blood-red tongue as it let out a world-shaking roar. The thick scent of blood seemed to choke the air.
Jo Pacheon felt as though he were about to be swallowed whole by the monstrous dragon.
"Aaaagh!"
He screamed as his entire body froze in terror. His mind reeled from the massive psychic shock, and his muscles locked up under the crushing tension, slowing his physical reactions to a crawl.
This is bad!
Jo Pacheon’s instincts were sharp. Realizing this was a mental attack, he desperately circulated his power to break the trance. He managed to recover his senses in a fraction of a second—but Bukjin wasn't about to let that tiny opening go to waste.
"Shin-shin, now! Screen Mirroring!"
Activating Screen Mirroring function.
As the AI’s voice rang out, the Screen Mirroring function activated. Suddenly, an identical copy of Bukjin appeared to Jo Pacheon’s right, lunging forward with a sword thrust.
"Aaaah! Get away from me!"
Pushed to the brink, Jo Pacheon let out a panicked shriek. He forced his stiffened muscles to move, ignoring the risk of internal injury as he poured all his Hyeongi into a desperate swing. His eyes burned with a ferocious, murderous light.
Swish!
Jo Pacheon’s full-power strike tore through the duplicate. A look of pure joy flashed across his face—but it was immediately followed by a wave of doubt.
What? Why didn't I feel anything on the tip of my blade? It was like cutting through air...
The moment that thought crossed his mind, the real Bukjin made his move.
With the buff from the Music app, Bukjin’s power had reached a peak that far surpassed anything he had shown before. He was currently exerting force equivalent to the absolute pinnacle of the 1st Grade Martial Warrior Rank.
"Secret Art: REVERSE COLD!"
Bukjin unleashed the hidden killing move he had realized through the Jesujeon Sword Technique. It was the single most powerful strike he was currently capable of delivering.