The Goal is Total Annihilation
So Byeong-gam turned his head to look at the battleship named Bitter Regret: Im Bukjin. At that moment, his teammates were collapsed on the deck, foaming at the mouth and completely unconscious.
"What... what happened?" So Byeong-gam stammered in shock.
Baek Geum-un burst into a triumphant laugh. "How do you like the taste of my snacks? Those idiots of yours are all out cold because of the medicine I slipped into their treats!"
"..."
Bukjin stared at her, utterly speechless. That girl... isn't that exactly the kind of dirty trick I would use? Since when did her skin get as thick as mine? I'm definitely never eating anything she gives me from now on.
Watching his teammates twitching and foaming on the deck, So Byeong-gam suddenly grabbed the hem of Bukjin's trousers.
"Brother, I truly acknowledge your greatness. You are a man who far exceeds my imagination."
So Byeong-gam was in awe—first of the beating he took from Bukjin, and now of the sheer ruthlessness of Bukjin's teammates. In all his life, he had never been thrashed so thoroughly in a fistfight. Moreover, he was completely captivated by the sight of Bukjin's body regenerating every time a blue light flickered from his hands.
"Fine. From now on, don't go home even after classes end. I'll be waiting at the school gate to block—I mean, to find you."
Bukjin had almost let his true intentions slip.
"Brother, can't I just come to the 3rd Academy to find you? Why would you be blocking our school gate...? That sounds a bit scary," So Byeong-gam said, looking confused.
Bukjin let out a long sigh. "Phew. You wouldn't understand... it's a matter of vibes."
Just then, the time limit expired. So Byeong-gam returned to his own battleship. The two vessels parted ways, following their respective routes. So Byeong-gam scooped up seawater and splashed it over his teammates to wake them up.
His four teammates were eccentric in their own right. Upon waking, they burst into laughter at the sight of So Byeong-gam with his blackened eyes and swollen nose.
The sail bearing the words Bitter Regret: Im Bukjin fluttered in the wind. Looking at it now, the name seemed like a mockery of themselves. They had intended to inflict pain and regret upon Bukjin, but instead, they were the ones drowning in both.
"Sigh," So Byeong-gam exhaled bitterly. "I suppose this is just how life goes..."
The Academic & Martial Arts Competition continued. In the blink of an eye, only one hour remained until sunset. The rankings for each team were beginning to take shape.
Jo Pacheon had secured two flags at once by defeating Ya Mi-ang. Combined with the flags he had won in previous battles, the White Cloud now held a total of six flags. Meanwhile, Bukjin's team held four. Other teams had already tasted the bitterness of elimination. While the final victor was yet to be decided, it was clear that the first and second places would be contested between Jo Pacheon and Bukjin.
In terms of flag count alone, Jo Pacheon held the advantage. However, as the team battle neared its conclusion, the number of flags was becoming irrelevant. This was because the team that won the final confrontation would claim all the flags.
At that moment, the battleships of the other eight teams were returning to the harbor one by one. As they neared the port, speedboats were dispatched to ferry the students to the pier. Those who had been eliminated or had finished their matches could watch the final struggle for the top spot from the designated student viewing area.
Furthermore, the students who had finished their battles could use the Flowing Spirit Stones to review every aspect of the previous matches.
When the students entered the viewing area, representatives from various prestigious academies were already there, having earned the right to recruit. They were pulling out materials and offers prepared by their respective schools, actively scouting the students they had their eyes on.
The students receiving the most attention were undoubtedly Wang Hyung-yeo and So Byeong-gam. They were followed by So So-yeon and Ju Ga-a. The battle to scout talent was just as heated as the one on the sea.
And out on the water, the Ryu-chae Jewelry Merchant and the White Cloud were gradually drawing closer to each other. The final battle was about to begin!
The boys and girls who had returned to the spectator seats immediately used the Flowing Spirit Stones to watch the matches of the top contenders: Jo Pacheon, Bukjin, and Ya Mi-ang. They were profoundly shocked by what they saw. The students watching the events of the battles wore expressions of pure disbelief.
They were all roughly the same age, so while they expected some difference in skill, they never imagined the gap would be this vast. The prowess displayed by "monster" students like Bukjin and Jo Pacheon on the crystal screens far exceeded their wildest imaginations.
"I can't believe Jo Pacheon's cultivation has already reached the 4th Grade Martial Master Realm!"
"Im Bukjin's physical strength is just a total cheat!"
"It feels like they're playing a completely different game than we are."
"They're total monsters! No one in the history of the team battles has ever shown this kind of power! Im Bukjin and Jo Pacheon aside, even Ya Mi-ang, Wang Hyung-yeo, and that So Byeong-gam guy were all top-tier contenders!"
"This is insane!"
The genius students were reeling. This year's competition was far too intense—arguably the greatest in history. In particular, the skills of a few exceptional students were so far beyond the norm for their age that it didn't even feel real.
A massive crowd of recruiters from prestigious academies had already swarmed around Wang Hyung-yeo and So Byeong-gam, hoping to take them in as special-talent students. Even several principals were hovering near the two.
In the VIP viewing area, Dam Gogeum, the First Administrator of the Pung-eo Province, had a look of undeniable satisfaction on his face. He ignored the gazes of those around him. He was no longer engaging in any conversation with Im Gun-hyeon. Instead, he sat silently, tapping his fingers on the armrest of his chair and narrowing his eyes as he watched the match.
One strange thing, however...
At some point, the five provincial officials who had been guarding Dam Gogeum had vanished from their seats, along with Im Jin-nam, who had received a Spirit Document.
And right then...
"It's starting! It's starting!" someone shouted.
On the giant crystal screen, the final two battleships—the Ryu-chae Jewelry Merchant and the White Cloud—were shown slowly closing in on each other over the sea, which was now bathed in the crimson light of the setting sun.
Standing atop the mast, Bukjin gazed into the distance. A sea breeze blew from somewhere, tossing his long black hair. He watched the approaching White Cloud with a solemn expression. An irrepressible killing intent continued to radiate from his entire body.
Finally, this moment has come.
Looking at the sunset, Bukjin instinctively knew that this fight with Jo Pacheon would be the final battle of the team competition. Although he didn't know why Ya Mi-ang hadn't made it to the finals, facing Jo Pacheon as his final opponent was undoubtedly the best possible outcome for him.
I will completely crush that blond brat in a head-on fight. I'll settle every grudge with my own two hands. That is what a real man does.
Since transmigrating to this world, Bukjin had never felt such a powerful desire to fight using his own abilities, his own sword, and his own hands as he did right now.
"Brothers, sisters. Please get ready," Bukjin said, looking down at his teammates.
Baek Geum-un, Han Bul-bu, Ak Hong-hyang, and Mi Yeo-yeon looked up at him. Their eyes were filled with absolute trust—a steadfast faith forged through the many battles they had fought alongside him.
"Our goal in this battle is not the flags."
The corners of Bukjin's mouth twisted upward. With his long hair fluttering, he stared at Jo Pacheon's approaching ship and spoke with a clear, determined voice.
"Our goal is to completely trample those five pieces of trash on the White Cloud. Making them scream and beg before us will be the perfect ritual for our victory in this competition. We will overwhelm them, sweep them away, and seize the flags for a true victory!"
Bukjin's words were infused with a fighting spirit that blazed like a roaring fire. Even the usually rambunctious Baek Geum-un was moved by his intensity, her own desire for battle igniting within her heart.
"Our tactic is simple: divide and conquer! Leave Jo Pacheon to me. Mi Yeo-yeon, you take Im Yeok. Senior Han, you handle Dongbang Jeon. Junior Ak, you take Mo Wu-chon. And Baek Geum-un... I'm leaving Jeong Seok to you."
Bukjin handed down the assignments. His four teammates nodded simultaneously.
At that exact moment, Jo Pacheon, standing on the White Cloud, burst into a mad laugh toward the sky.
"Hahaha! Im Bukjin, you didn't disappoint me after all. You've finally earned the right to be my, Jo Pacheon's, opponent at the very end!"
The blond boy spoke from the mast of the White Cloud in a highly exalted tone.
"I'll admit, it's impressive that you managed to drag those pieces of trash this far. I'll give you poor souls one chance so you can't make any pathetic excuses later about not having an opportunity. Let's do this: a best-of-five series. One-on-one duels! I'll give you all a fair chance to use everything you've got. What do you say?"
Bukjin replied with a cold sneer.
"Not interested," Bukjin shouted back. "We don't have time to play around with you!"
Best-of-five? Dream on! Do you think a small fry like you deserves that kind of consideration?
Hearing Bukjin's refusal, Jo Pacheon doubted his own ears. He let out a mocking laugh.
"What? Are you actually afraid? Heh, I give you an opportunity and you can't even take it. Fine. Have it your way. I'll teach you that no matter what plans or tactics you've prepared, everything is powerless before absolute strength. Don't go resentment me for not showing mercy."
Bukjin didn't say another word. He swept his hand through the air. In a flash of light, the Iron Wall Bow and the Four Dragon Arrows appeared in his hands.