Chapter 11. Mongrel
After wandering through several places, Ji-hyuk finally found Gunda. Strangely, the corner of his mouth twitched upward. His fingertips itched.
The hero Gunda gripped his spear and assumed a perfect battle stance. It was flawless, without a single flaw. A true textbook of spearmanship—.
Ji-hyuk wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth with his thumb. He first calmed the boiling excitement surging through him. He couldn't afford to make a mistake from getting too immersed in the fight.
He liked the unwavering, steely gaze beneath those thick eyebrows. That unyielding conviction that wouldn't bend until death—that's exactly what a hero needs, isn't it? This was the kind of guy he needed. Someone who could charge headlong at the Demon King's army without hesitation. So, he had to live. Ji-hyuk planned to spare the hero Gunda and let him live. Beat him senseless and stash him in some corner—he'd survive until the tournament ended. You won't die until I tell you to—.
Of course, the hero had no idea about Ji-hyuk's intentions. He was just focused on beating him. Ji-hyuk intended to give him a crushing defeat. With that conviction and resolve he'd shown in the back alley, he wouldn't break even in defeat. And that trial and despair would become the fertilizer to make him even stronger.
Ji-hyuk approached Gunda slowly, letting his sword hang loosely. The hero eyed him warily, gauging the distance with a tense expression. He'll come at me first, Ji-hyuk thought. A textbook fighter like him would definitely try to use the spear's reach advantage.
As expected, Gunda waited for his opponent to enter striking range. Come on, a bit closer... closer...! His aura was worlds apart from when he'd fought that suin woman moments ago. Gunda was fully committed to killing his opponent.
The hero was so cautious he barely even swallowed. But his opponent seemed utterly relaxed. ...Honestly, it stung his pride a bit. But getting swept up in emotions was a no-go.
A spear must always be emotionless. The moment emotion enters the spear, it's a failed strike.
Gunda's master had always emphasized that. Stay cold. Never let emotions shake you. He focused intensely. Just a little closer, and he'd be in range. The hero even held his breath for a moment.
But his opponent stopped right at the edge of that boundary. ...Like he knew.
Ah—.
Gunda's breath hitched for a split second. Now!
Ji-hyuk didn't miss that instant. He moved like a flash of light. Gunda swung his spear in a hurry, but that clumsy thrust couldn't even graze his clothes.
Ah...!
Gunda lost sight of his opponent in that moment. The speed was beyond imagination. Thanks to his extreme focus, he'd reacted somehow, but if he'd been even a fraction slower, his head would've been gone.
Never lose focus until the end. Never panic. Don't even think about defeat. The moment you do, the fight's over. That's what his master had said.
But this time, Gunda couldn't shake the negative thoughts. ...He's too fast. Too strong.
Ji-hyuk never gave the hero any distance. That was the key to beating a spear with a sword. Simple, but far from easy. The hero blocked the sword with his spear shaft using all his strength. He didn't lose focus until the end.
I don't want to lose. I don't want to die. If he got distracted even for a second here, he'd be dead. Gunda squeezed out every ounce of power.
Ji-hyuk could tell Gunda's talent surpassed even his future wife Mahushu's. If Gunda had been a suin mixed-blood, he'd have climbed to S-rank for sure.
Of course, there were shortcomings. He was too rigid, too stuck in patterns. His fundamentals were rock-solid, but he lacked the ingenuity to maximize them. It seemed tied to his personality—stubborn and inflexible, missing that fluidity.
A spear's nature changes completely based on tip and shaft control. In mid-to-long range where flexibility matters less, Gunda's rigid style worked fine. But up close, you needed adaptability. And that's where he fell short. Every move was textbook, inside and out.
The moment distance closed, Gunda couldn't win even in his dreams. Ji-hyuk planned to drill that into him brutally with his body. Even the strong grow by dancing on the edge of death.
— — —!!!
Gunda got swept up in his opponent's style, which incorporated not just sword but fists and feet. His movements grew chaotic. He'd already taken several punches and kicks.
Ugh, urk—.
Only then did the hero realize he was being toyed with. Gunda felt pathetic. ...Then, suddenly, that suin woman flashed in his mind. I can't collapse. Not here...!
The hero Gunda forcibly mustered his strength. With a roar—Raargh!—he swung his spear wide to create distance.
Ji-hyuk was satisfied with that unbreakable spirit. Yeah, that's the flavor of a hero...
He parried the powerful swing. Clang! Metal clashed fiercely.
Ugh.
The hero's face twisted from the rebound vibrating through his palms. ...Again! But he didn't stop. He poured that momentum into an even fiercer swing. Palms tearing? Worthless compared to his life.
Ji-hyuk instantly saw through the hero's desperate bid to widen the gap. But he had no intention of giving Gunda an opening. Instead, he'd turn the attack against him—feint a block, then slip aside.
Ah—.
Gunda, expecting a parry, realized his mistake as his opponent barely dodged the spear tip. But it was too late; Ji-hyuk was already closing in on his unbalanced stance. One more second, and his head would've been severed.
But instead of the sword, a fist flew. Rock-hard, it smashed into the hero's jaw.
— — — —!!!!
Gunda's vision flashed white. His legs nearly buckled, but he held on. Yet he couldn't block the follow-up. It slammed squarely into his face. Crack—his nose shattered.
"Aaaagh—!"
Pain nearly made him drop the spear. Then a kick to his leg buckled his stance. Agh. Desperation fueled a wild spear swing for a counter, but its weakened power and speed were useless.
Ji-hyuk stomped the hero's hand upward. The spear shaft flew up; he snatched it mid-air, then booted Gunda's chest.
Aaak—!
Disarmed, the hero tumbled back. He scrambled up quickly, but his hands were empty. A warrior unarmed was a disgrace worse than defeat.
Yet Gunda didn't give up. His life hung in the balance. Fists clenched, he braced for the fight.
Ji-hyuk tossed the spear far away and closed in steadily. The hero swung wildly, but his untrained punches were laughable compared to his spearwork. Ji-hyuk dodged effortlessly, countering with light strikes.
Gunda flailed desperately for a hit, but his face became a bloody mess without landing a single blow.
Grk—.
Still, he stood his ground. Ji-hyuk grinned, then swept his leg to bow the hero's upper body. Grabbing his hair, he smashed his face into a knee.
— — — —!!!!
There, Gunda's strength drained, slumping. He hadn't passed out, but resistance was gone.
Panting, Ji-hyuk dragged the sprawled hero to the water's edge. Gunda struggled, but a punch to the face quieted him.
"Hah, hah, hah, hah."
Blood streamed from his face as he gasped raggedly. But he hadn't surrendered yet.
Ji-hyuk shoved his head into a puddle. Splash, splash—fierce thrashing. He pulled it up briefly, then dunked again without mercy. The struggles intensified.
Fuck, just pass out already—.
Ji-hyuk lifted as the movements slowed. Pfhaaa! Gunda spat water, gasping madly. Death's terror flickered in his eyes. His spirit finally broke.
Ji-hyuk slammed his face into the muddy ground several times. Blood poured wildly. Still not enough—he dunked again. Weaker now.
Satisfied, Ji-hyuk pulled him up. The hero's will was shattered. Good enough.
Ji-hyuk pinned his chest underfoot, staring down expressionlessly at the exhausted heap.
"I'm sparing you special. Don't die—hide in some corner. Got it? ...Got it, you fucker?!"
Roaring, Ji-hyuk startled Gunda into frantic nodding.
He dragged the hero to a stone wall and shoved him into a corner with his spear. Urk... Swollen-eyed, Gunda watched Ji-hyuk's retreating back in misery. Shame burned like a desire to die. His first defeat this brutal. The shock pierced his heart.
But his hero's fire was extinguished. He didn't want to fight anymore. He didn't want to die. ...He wanted to live.
Then, a nearby hider emerged slyly. Seeing Gunda's state, he approached axe raised. The hero laboriously gripped his spear. He couldn't die like this.
But his body was wrecked. Muscles screamed with every move. Ugh, damn it!
Suddenly, a blur pierced the axeman's skull with a spear. Ah...! A familiar silhouette—the suin woman from before.
He was thrilled yet mortified, wanting to crawl into a hole. His state was pathetic.
She eyed him, slumped against the wall, panting. Then approached slowly. One thrust, and he'd be done.
...But she didn't. Instead, she supported him and led him to safety.
"...Why...?" Gunda asked why she spared him.
She replied, "...You spared me too."
That was it. Repaying a debt. She left him and departed.
The hero stared blankly at the sky, hollow.
The mixed-blood suin Mahushu stealthily tailed a man. He was insanely strong—far beyond that spear guy. Kill him, and Father will acknowledge me—.
That's why she'd entered the tournament despite being the prize. To prove herself a true desert warrior to her father. Wash away the shame of being "merchandise." Win outright and show it.
Mahushu steeled her resolve. Gritting her teeth, she clenched her spear. I have to win. Prove it...! Only then could she erase the humiliations. She had to.
She waited for an opening. The moment he slipped.
Then, iron bars rattled afar. A massive monster roared out—far fiercer, stronger than before.
Its gaze flicked there. Now's the chance!
While distracted—!! Mahushu gathered all her power. Gripping her spear tight, she charged at max speed.
His back loomed instantly. Got him... success. Dead!
She'd waited so long. Thrust straight at his heart for instant kill. Undeniable.
He hadn't even turned. Back exposed. Spear tip nearly touched.
...But she stabbed empty air.
She couldn't comprehend. He'd vanished like smoke. ......What?
Pain exploded in her chest. She groaned, flying back tumbling.
But she sprang up nimbly, stance ready. The perfect ambush failed. He stood unscathed.
"Wondered when you'd show."
He cracked his neck sideways with a sinister grin.
"It was you. The one lurking."
Ah—.
Mahushu shivered at his killing intent. Her limbs trembled faintly. Danger. Real danger.
"Run now if you want. Last chance."
She gritted her teeth. Can't run. Must win. Prove I'm Father's proud daughter...!
She held her ground, battle-ready.
Ji-hyuk smirked crookedly. Attitude was good. Skill... he'd see.