Im Jin’s Defeat and the Enigma of Ya Mi-ang
Several streaks of sword light flashed across Ya Mi-ang’s eyes.
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!
The rapid-fire succession of metal clashing against metal rang out across the arena. In an instant, a mysterious, phantom-like array of sword shadows had materialized behind Ya Mi-ang’s back. These sword shadows formed a dense, metallic wing that shielded her, effortlessly intercepting the spheres of fire.
Boom!
The fire spheres detonated, sending waves of orange flames surging in every direction. The high-temperature inferno roared like a tidal wave, and the crowd’s cheers reached a fever pitch. However, as the smoke and fire cleared, the spectators saw Ya Mi-ang standing perfectly unscathed behind the protection of her intricate wing of blades. She hadn't retreated a single step.
The crimson flames of Im Yeok’s sword had failed to pierce even a fraction of the defensive wing that had manifested behind her.
"This... this is impossible!" Im Yeok’s face contorted in disbelief.
At that moment, the wing of blades behind Ya Mi-ang’s back unfurled with violent intensity. An unstoppable, massive invisible force surged outward, sent Im Yeok flying. Faced with the raw power erupting from the sword wing, Im Yeok was like a flickering candle in a hurricane—utterly unable to resist.
Before he could even hit the ground, the sound of air being shredded reached his ears.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Sword light of incredible speed grazed Im Yeok’s arms, legs, and ears. By the time his feet touched the floor, strands of hair from his temples were fluttering away, and his sleeves and pant legs had been sliced open, revealing pale skin through the sharp tears. Cold sweat poured down his face.
Im Yeok realized that Ya Mi-ang had shown him mercy. Had she truly intended to harm him, those strikes would have severed his limbs and head. He would already be a corpse.
Eliminated... just like that? Im Yeok desperately wanted to deny the reality of the situation, but his thoughts were futile.
"...Her strength is completely off the charts!" Bukjin muttered, his brow furrowed as he watched from the waiting room.
He had believed that with the three swords he had prepared, he would have nothing to fear. He never imagined Ya Mi-ang would walk out with a wing made of what looked like hundreds of swords.
"Isn't that basically cheating?"
Moreover, Ya Mi-ang hadn't even revealed a hint of her true Hyeongi during that match. Her skill was nothing short of terrifying.
Im Yeok left the arena carrying a heavy sense of disappointment. After being defeated by such a casual move, he didn't even have the courage to draw his sword against her again. As he walked away, he felt the crushing weight of knowing that the glory of a top-ten finish in the Academic & Martial Arts Competition had slipped through his fingers.
My luck is just abysmal... His heart was filled with regret.
The faces of Im Jin-nam and his kin in the audience were equally grim. The Im Jin-nam branch had once relied on the Jeon-cheon-hu family and had prospered within Pung-eo-haeng-do. However, the moment the Jeon-cheon-hu were purged for their crimes, Im Jin-nam had abandoned his principles and conscience, tucking his tail to curry favor with the empire's bigwigs just to survive. Now, he desperately wanted to reclaim the glory the family had once enjoyed.
Im Yeok was the standout genius of his lineage. Im Jin-nam had expected him to break into the top ten, viewing it as the first step toward the family's revival. But before that step could even be taken, his goals had vanished like mist before Ya Mi-ang’s sword.
While he seethed with rage, he also felt a deep resentment toward Ya Mi-ang. Yet, as she was a priestess of the Sword Lord Temple, she was not someone he dared to challenge. He could only swallow his anger in silence. The thunderous cheers of the crowd felt like needles pricking the ears of the Im family.
Inside the arena, Ya Mi-ang stood with the grace of a spirit descended to the mortal realm. She smiled and bowed elegantly to the audience, causing the cheers to grow even louder.
Watching this from the waiting room, Bukjin was deeply dissatisfied.
"This makes no sense! Ya Mi-ang finished her match just as fast as I did! There was only a three or four-second difference! So why isn't anyone cursing at her? Fickle commoners, the lot of them!" Bukjin grumbled.
A moment later, the mystic array activated, and the names of the next two contestants flickered onto the crystal screen.
Han Bul-bu (3rd Academy) vs. Im Jin (Unmong City Government)
"Tsk, tsk, tsk! Han Bul-bu’s luck is truly..." Bukjin trailed off, speechless. Han Bul-bu’s opponent was none other than the genius of the Unmong City government, Im Jin.
In the spectator stands, the teachers from the 3rd Academy, including Ryu Gye-hae, were overcome with worry. While Han Bul-bu making it this far was already a monumental achievement, they couldn't help but hope for another miracle. However, against Im Jin, a miracle seemed far-fetched.
The moment Im Jin stepped out of the tunnel and onto the arena floor, a roar of cheers erupted like a massive tidal wave. The heat of the crowd was no less intense than when Bukjin had first appeared. Many citizens had heard the rumors that the most beautiful girl in Unmong City was Im Jin, but few had ever seen her in person. Now that she was here, most of the audience stood dazed.
Im Jin’s beauty was of a caliber that the crystal screens could not fully capture. Only those seeing her with their own eyes could truly grasp the extent of it. Her beauty was noble, cold, and as fierce as an unquenchable flame. If Ya Mi-ang possessed the aura of a spirit with a warm, healing smile, Im Jin’s beauty was lethal—an absolute, overwhelming presence that commanded awe. Looking at her, one couldn't help but feel the urge to kneel and offer their life in her service.
Standing quietly in the center of the arena, she looked like a single ice flower blooming in a chaotic world. Her transcendent beauty caused the audience to hold their breath instinctively, as if fearing that the sound of their own breathing might defile the sacred, pure goddess before them.
Even Bukjin, who had never harbored any romantic feelings for Im Jin, felt his heart waver for a fleeting moment as he watched the cold beauty stand silently in the center of the stage.
Han Bul-bu, standing opposite her, seemed like nothing more than a background element meant to highlight her presence. No, he wasn't even a background—he felt like a minor prop used to decorate the scene.
"Student Im, I look forward to a good match," Han Bul-bu said, steadying his heart and raising his sword in a respectful salute.
Im Jin gave a slight nod but remained silent. This was her habit; she rarely spoke to anyone other than Bukjin. Han Bul-bu didn't mind. He drew his sword and circulated his Hyeongi, taking the opening stance of the Mountain-Moving Sword Technique.
A moment later, Han Bul-bu initiated the first form. The Hyeongi he had awakened was of the Earth attribute—an element known for its profound power and defensive capabilities. The Mountain-Moving Sword Technique was a style he had personally chosen and learned at the 3rd Academy after his awakening, as it was perfectly compatible with Earth-attribute energy.
Han Bul-bu’s sword thrust forward, accompanied by a sound like a crumbling mountain. Although it was only a 2-star sword art, its internal variations were incredibly subtle. It was a style designed to attack and defend simultaneously. Only seventy percent of his power was committed to the offensive strike; if the opponent countered, the remaining thirty percent would combine with the initial force to transform into a powerful defense. It was a stable, defense-oriented technique that grew stronger the more powerful the opponent's attack was.
Im Jin drew the sword from her waist and parried Han Bul-bu’s strike.
Clang! Clang! Ch-ching!
Sparks flew as the blades collided. Han Bul-bu felt the impact traveling through his sword grow increasingly intense. He felt as though he were being swallowed by a rising tide of waves that grew larger with every passing second. He poured everything he had into the Mountain-Moving Sword Technique, gritting his teeth and refusing to back down.
Clang!
The sword lights continued to clash. To the spectators, it looked like a continuous exchange of flashes where neither blade could touch the other's body. This stalemate lasted for a full twenty exchanges.
Han Bul-bu felt half of his body go numb from the shocks vibrating through his weapon. His sword arm was already tingling, and he felt he might lose his grip at any moment. He pushed his defensive forms to their absolute limit to withstand Im Jin’s onslaught.
Just as Han Bul-bu, who was being pushed back steadily, was about to lower his sword and concede defeat, the crushing pressure that had been binding him suddenly vanished like smoke.
"My attacks cannot pierce your defense. Therefore, you are the winner."
Im Jin spoke in a light voice as she sheathed her longsword. Without a moment's hesitation, she turned and walked out of the arena.
"Student Im...?" Han Bul-bu stammered, completely bewildered. But in the blink of an eye, Im Jin’s figure had vanished into the tunnel.
The entire stadium was frozen in shock. It was only after the referee, Lee Cheong-hyeon, announced Han Bul-bu as the winner that the crowd snapped back to reality.
Winner: Han Bul-bu (3rd Academy)
Reason: Forfeit by Opponent
"What just happened?"
"She admitted defeat herself?"
"What the... it looked like Han Bul-bu was the one about to give up?"
"Is there some kind of conspiracy going on?"
"Don't be ridiculous! She's the genius of the City Government! Who would dare conspire against her?"
A commotion broke out in the stands. The other genius students waiting in their respective rooms were equally stunned. Im Yeok, in particular, looked ready to spit blood. He couldn't understand why, out of forty students competing fairly, only Han Bul-bu was blessed with such luck. To anyone watching, it was obvious that Im Jin had simply handed her victory to Han Bul-bu.
Im Yeok felt a surge of bitter resentment toward his own reality, having had to face Ya Mi-ang while Han Bul-bu walked away with a free win.