A Fine Talent Indeed

The raging whirlpool vanished. Han Bul-bu remained standing, his figure as unyielding as a mountain. He held his greatsword high, looking for all the world like a statue of a war god. To those watching, he projected an inexplicable sense of reliability and absolute stability.

"I’ll kill you...!"Jo Pacheon roared in a fit of rage. He lunged toward Han Bul-bu with terrifying speed.

Right then—

Crack!

The sound of shattering metal echoed through the arena. Han Bul-bu’s sword, which had been covered in cracks, finally splintered into a thousand pieces. The shards scattered in every direction, fluttering through the air like steel butterflies dancing across the sky.

Watching Jo Pacheon charge at him with murderous intent, a faint, bloody smirk played across Han Bul-bu’s rugged face.

"I concede."

As soon as the words left his lips, Han Bul-bu collapsed. Blood sprayed from the countless wounds covering his body. Immediately, officials from the Education Bureau rushed onto the stage to support him and help him up.

"Match over!" the referee shouted at the top of his lungs.

Jo Pacheon skidded to a halt. He forced himself to pull back the fist he had been throwing, his entire body trembling violently. It was pure, unadulterated rage. The moment he saw that smirk on Han Bul-bu’s face, Jo Pacheon knew he had lost.

In truth, he had felt an ominous premonition the moment Han Bul-bu had shouted his resolve and struggled to his feet. This match was supposed to be Jo Pacheon’s platform to humiliate both Han Bul-bu and Im Bukjin. Instead, the climax had been Han Bul-bu successfully blocking his attack and even pushing him back.

Though it was only a single step back and he had taken no damage, the shame Jo Pacheon felt was immense. It felt as though he had been slapped across the face in front of a massive audience.

He had intended to use the most cruel and painful methods possible to shatter every bone in Han Bul-bu’s body, forcing him to beg for mercy or forfeit in agony. But Han Bul-bu had conceded the very moment Jo Pacheon was about to unleash his most savage assault. By being pushed back in that final head-on collision, Jo Pacheon had lost his chance for a counter-offensive entirely.

He shook with humiliation. Jo Pacheon prided himself on his wit and strategic planning. He had planned to provoke Han Bul-bu with words, lure him into a trap, and use his suffering to bait Im Bukjin. Instead, he felt like a wolf that had fallen into a fox’s snare, ending up with broken teeth and a shattered reputation.

This wasn't a defeat of strength; it was a defeat of tactics.

All around the arena, the spectators rose to their feet, their thunderous applause directed not at Jo Pacheon, but at Han Bul-bu. The glorious ovation felt like one reserved for a victor. Without a doubt, Han Bul-bu was the protagonist of this match. Jo Pacheon, meanwhile, was being completely ignored.

Han Bul-bu had not only moved the hearts of everyone present with his swordsman’s spirit, but he had also proven his immense potential. The overwhelming advantage Jo Pacheon had held throughout the fight had turned out to be an illusion. His relentless pressure had merely served as a whetstone to sharpen Han Bul-bu’s blade.

The audience felt that because Jo Pacheon had pushed him so hard, Han Bul-bu—who had been like an unpolished gemstone—had finally been cut into a brilliant jewel. Jo Pacheon wanted to tear him limb from limb. Han Bul-bu had seized immense honor in an instant, while Jo Pacheon had been reduced to nothing more than the fertilizer for ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠his growth.

But Jo Pacheon could not attack. The referee had already declared the match over. If he struck now, his opponents wouldn't be Han Bul-bu, but the high-level officials of the Education Bureau.

"You won the match," Lee Cheong-hyeon, the referee, said to Jo Pacheon. However, his eyes held a flicker of pity as he looked at the boy. Shortly after, supervisors from the Education Bureau arrived to escort Jo Pacheon off the stage.

As he left the arena, Jo Pacheon raised his hand and waved to the crowd, desperate to remind them of his victory. But no cheers followed. People loathed those who used overwhelming power to mock the weak. Nothing about Jo Pacheon’s performance today sat well with them.

Gritting his teeth, Jo Pacheon disappeared into the tunnel leading to the locker rooms, his face dark with resentment.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the stage, Lee Cheong-hyeon and the medical officials were looking at the unconscious Han Bul-bu with expressions of pure shock. The bones throughout his body were shattered into countless fragments. His internal injuries were even more severe, and the massive blood loss had put him in a critical state.

A normal person would have fainted a hundred times over from such pain. Yet, in ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠this condition, Han Bul-bu had manifested a martial art so solid and powerful that it had pushed Jo Pacheon back. Lee Cheong-hyeon and the officials realized they were looking at a true talent among talents.

Historically, the students who left the deepest impression on the audience in the Academic & Martial Arts Competition weren't always those with overwhelming skill. Rather, they were the ones who refused to yield even when faced with a massive gap in power, pouring their entire being into a display of unbreakable will.

"Han Bul-bu! Han Bul-bu!"

"Han Bul-bu!"

Six thousand spectators chanted his name. This scene would be recorded in history, and Han Bul-bu would eventually see it for himself. He had once said he wanted his name to remain in everyone's memories. That wish was being fulfilled at this very moment. Though he was unconscious and couldn't see it with his own eyes, he would be able to watch the recorded footage over and over again.

Doctors and priests rushed out. Medicine and recovery magic—the two primary methods of healing—began to work on the body of the day's most honorable youth.

"Han Bul-bu! Han Bul-bu!"

The crowd continued to chant, as if their voices could lend him strength. After some time, Lee Cheong-hyeon stood up and signaled that Han Bul-bu’s condition was stable. Only then did the chanting stop. Han Bul-bu was carried out on a stretcher to receive further treatment.

The subsequent matches continued, but because Han Bul-bu’s performance had left such a profound impact, the following bouts failed to capture the audience's interest. The lingering emotions from the previous fight occupied everyone's minds.

In the VIP seating area.

"That boy, Han Bul-bu—which academy is he from?" asked ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Wang Yeo-ui, the Principal of the National Imperial Junior Academy, turning her head.

Lee Ung-bu replied, "He is from the 3rd Junior Swordsman Academy. He is a boy of upright character and a will of steel. A fine piece of timber who never flees from injustice. It’s almost regrettable that I didn't recognize such talent until now."

Wang Yeo-ui smiled and nodded in approval. "He is a very fine talent. While his current skill might be average and his raw genius isn't necessarily 'unprecedented,' he possesses the mindset a true genius must have. With the right guidance, he will surely become a late bloomer. Our Imperial Junior Academy must take that student."

Lee Ung-bu was overjoyed to hear this. It was a momentous occasion. In the North Sea Empire, the education system held ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠immense authority. Academies were divided into four ranks: Special, High, Middle, and Junior. Since Unmong City was a small coastal city, it only had Junior Academies. Historically, it was extremely rare for a graduate from Unmong City to be admitted to the National Imperial Junior Academy, which was considered the best in the Pung-eo Province. If even one student made it in, it would be a massive achievement for the Unmong City Education Bureau.

"Hahaha! Principal Wang, why are you in such a hurry?" On Da-rim, the Vice Principal of the Haean 1st Junior Academy, interjected with a laugh.

"The Hyeongi that boy awakened is of the Earth attribute. He would fit perfectly with our academy. Ho ho, if he chooses to enroll with us, we will provide a full scholarship and cover all his living expenses."

Lee Ung-bu couldn't believe his ears. 'What is happening? Are the heads of two elite academies competing over our student?'

The Haean 1st Junior Academy was also one of the six most famous academies in the province. Lee Ung-bu, the Chief of the Education Bureau, had never dreamed that a student like Han Bul-bu—whose name he barely knew until today—would garner so much interest from such high-ranking figures. The brutal match from moments ago suddenly felt incredibly valuable.

"Ho ho, I understand Principal On's desire to scout talent, but isn't the student's own will the most important factor?" Wang Yeo-ui said with a calm smile. In truth, putting everything else aside, the four words 'National Imperial' already placed her academy above all others.

On Da-rim replied with a confident smirk, "That boy is sharp. I’m sure he will make a wise choice."

At the same time, inside a hidden VIP room that no one else could see, a smile appeared on the face of a figure sitting as still as a stone statue.

"A fine talent indeed. He is worth absorbing," the figure muttered to himself.

The individual matches drew to a close. There were a few minor upsets in the rounds following Han Bul-bu and Jo Pacheon. Im Hyeon, who had shown great strength until now, was defeated by a girl named Gun Mong-ham, failing to make the Top 10. Many were shocked, but since Gun Mong-ham was already ranked in the Top 20, her victory wasn't entirely incomprehensible. At the very least, it was easier to accept than Im Jin losing to Han Bul-bu earlier in the tournament.

After the individual matches concluded, the list of the final Top 10 was announced.

Several among them had shown dazzling performances. In the case of So Byeong-gam, a genius of the So Clan who hadn't stood out much until now, he had displayed overwhelming combat power in the second round of the individual matches. He had stunned the audience and secured his place in the Top 10.

The Patriarch of the So Clan, sitting in the VIP section, couldn't stop smiling.

"Hahaha! To think such a brilliant grandson would come from our family! I must make sure to brag about this in front of that arrogant Im Tae-heo!"

The So Patriarch’s grin was so wide it practically reached his ears.