004. Real Education
In public perception, the difference between Awakeners and ordinary people lay not just in their vastly superior physical abilities or skills compared to normals, but most strikingly in their "regeneration."
Things like reaction speed? Even among ordinary folk, the elite could sometimes match an Awakener. But regeneration was different. Awakeners healed from normal wounds at a speed visible to the naked eye—something civilians simply couldn't do.
Before regression, I barely trained outside of matches...
The effects were already showing. Muscles tore and regenerated at an overwhelming pace, thanks to being an Awakener. Sure, that played a part, but the real reason was this.
E (Unbloomed)
In its unbloomed state, the Bloom skill accelerates the Awakener's growth until activation.
An effect I'd forgotten about, since it had been so long since my initial blooming. The growth acceleration felt crystal clear now. If I remeasured my physical stats from last time, Strength would've definitely ticked up. And this was after just one day of training.
Of course, it'd only be like 0.1 or something...
Even so, daily gains proved exceptional growth potential. Sure, the increases would taper off to tiny fractions over time... but it was still leaps ahead of the known growth rates for Awakeners before regression. At this pace, hitting my pre-regression physical peak wouldn't take long.
It hit me again how foolish it'd been to bloom Bloom early last time. Though, it also fueled my expectations for just how far I could go now.
I wanted to cram practice until midnight, but... there were pro teams with permanent field access, and academies too. Evening rentals at Seoul Municipal Stadium were basically off-limits unless you were team staff.
Guess I need to find somewhere else to train solo...
Awakeners couldn't just practice anywhere, so scouting spots was a hassle.
Just then, my phone buzzed.
Today's casual stadium encounter had sparked more chit-chat than expected.
Seoul City Hall's restaurant district. Kim Do-jun was already waiting inside.
"Got money to burn, huh?"
"Enough to rot if I sit on it."
Not that I cared much, but his shrug confirmed it—this was the same narcissistic guy from before regression.
"Not a job for folks with shaky family finances anyway. Hunting sure as hell isn't."
I nodded in agreement. Bitter truth.
Just the tests to ID your skills and optimal role cost hundreds of thousands to millions of won minimum. And that wasn't the end—custom weapons tailored to your Awakener traits for league play? Prices were insane. All bespoke orders.
You couldn't win against other Awakeners with basic gear without knowing your skills.
Come to think of it, my family wasn't loaded until I made it big...
I didn't need tests—skills were all mapped out—but weapons? I'd have to figure that out separately.
"So. Why'd you call me out?"
"Huh?"
"Not like you think I'm broke and you're doing charity..."
Obvious reason anyway. How'd I smash that tank clone? He'd be dying to know. Especially after failing himself.
"Spot on. Dinner was an excuse—I'm curious as hell."
"Tank clone?"
"Yeah. Tried practicing, and it didn't go as smooth as I thought. Any tips on that setup you used...?"
His words trailed off. Kim Do-jun's face hardened, staring at something.
I glanced back—nothing special. Just some teammates in matching academy uniforms?
They fight or something?
Then came the rowdy chatter.
"No, listen—that thick-headed bastard was pounding the tank clone with a missilgeum."
"Weapon durability test?"
"Nah, funnier—he was dead serious about smashing it. I was watching like, what the hell? The banging was deafening."
Snickering loudmouths. No need to see—I knew exactly what they meant.
Guess he tried mimicking me solo.
Kim Do-jun, meanwhile, flushed beet red, head down. But they amped it up, like they wanted him to hear.
"Asked why, and he said he was showing his buddy. Hilarious. Should've asked if lasers shoot from his forehead. Heh."
"Watching idiots stick together ain't half bad, right?"
"Too bad that buddy wasn't there."
'The scariest are those with one book of knowledge and ironclad beliefs.' Yeah, nailed it.
Obvious who was the fool here. I'd summited enough to find it laughable, but letting it slide grated. Especially from nobodies I'd never heard of pre-regression.
So I raised my voice.
"Tank clone setup? No need to change it. Just needs the right trick—crumbles easy. Props for even trying to figure it out. Some idiots lump it all as 'fake' if they can't do it themselves."
Loud enough the whole place paused, eyes on us. Kim Do-jun's senior included.
No idiot would miss that as a direct clapback.
But I kept going in the silence. Maybe the thrill of a real challenge after so long.
"No one at the academy knows basic takedowns? Do-jun-ah, did that guy bribe his way in?"
"Chang-hyun, don't talk to my senior like—"
"Shut it. Name's Chang-hyun? Heh. Freshly Awakened academy punk mouthing off. Hit me, and no corpse left, junior. Givin' you three seconds. Act smart."
What cheesy line was that? Movie rip-off? Beg for mercy or whatever.
No plans to forgive, obviously. Instead, as he finished, I vaulted the table.
Free meal half-eaten... whatever, flavor of fist over food.
Three seconds? One thing to do.
Situations like this? Obvious.
My fist flew silent at his ugly mug.
Crack—
[S (Seoul) - Academy Han Ji-su]
That was me now. Seoul Municipal Academy student. It meant proven potential for the Hunters League, pro hunter track.
Top-tier Awakener rookie status. Even if someone picked a fight, I could brush it off with a smirk. Once they knew my power, they'd back down—even if I started it.
Guys relying on muscles might growl, but they never swung first. Instinct screamed they'd get pulverized.
"Givin' you three seconds. Act smart."
They'd grovel. Figured talk could fix it, so most begged forgiveness. Plenty grabbed my hand, bowing: "Didn't know you were Awakened. So sorry—how should I apologize?"
Not letting it slide easy, though.
Bribed into Hunter Academy? No quick pardon here.
That was the thought—
Uh...?
Suddenly, a fist in my face.
Crack—
"This fucking punk!"
Totally caught off-guard—too slow to dodge.
"Senior Han Ji-su to Do-jun maybe, but to me? Strangers. Anyway, Han Ji-su-ssi, cut the crap."
Lee Chang-hyun's opener was slow but dead-on, heavy. Fights favored first strike, naturally.
Proper haymaker landed; Han Ji-su swung wild without looking.
Impressive reflexes. But against a composed Lee Chang-hyun? Child's play to slip.
Sloppy, emotional swings bred openings. Lee Chang-hyun seized it.
Might as well teach proper.
No raw power, but fast, precise jab dove into her guard, rattling her jaw.
Didn't stop. Attacks weren't just physical for him.
"Han Ji-su-ssi, who leaves no corpse when hitting people. But can't hit back? Awkward."
Exaggerated mocking face. Her wild haymakers kept whiffing amid big motions; she shifted defensive.
Some learning curve. Calmed after a few hits?
Pausing to breathe, regroup—instead of rage-fists. Smart move.
But seconds later, he knew he'd misjudged.
"Filthy trash, no clue your place..."
Han Ji-su seethed with humiliation, rage, shame. This cocky nobody? Infuriating.
Emotions stripped restraint. She thrust her hand out from afar—impossible reach, looked dumb.
But...
This psycho for real?
Lee Chang-hyun saw it. Red warning ring expanding from her—Piercing Eye alert.
He dodged sideways.
Crunch!
Gravity attack...
Proved right instantly. Table, chairs, food crushed flat like under immense force. Blink-fast.
"Kyaaak!"
Onlookers, who'd buzzed watching, fled outside. Knew AoE could snag them.
Shop empty, Han Ji-su unleashed freely.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Dishes, tables shattered wildly. Her path? Wreckage.
Meant to rough him up light...
This crossed lines. Skill use outside league or Tower—on a person? Could hit civilians.
"Yo, Han Ji-su-ssi. Take your licks."
No cute-junior pass for this one.