Chapter 14
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: Ranking Match (2)
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Before the second match began, the crowd started buzzing.
From ordinary spectators to guild officials and even broadcasters.
An overwhelming mana presence that could be felt just from their entrance.
Three students strode in, exuding such completeness that they could easily pass for active heroes.
"Oh my, has it already started?"
"No seats left."
"..."
The third-year Top 3 students.
People called them 'The Three'.
Notably, all but one were carrying swords.
The one with the hood pulled up was Han Seong-jin.
A mage.
Sky-blue hair poked out messily from under the hood.
I naturally glanced over at the opposite spectator seats.
Way over there, Han Ain was glaring at Han Seong-jin with a face like she'd just bitten into something foul.
It was obvious at a glance—Han Seong-jin was Han Ain's older brother.
For the record, their relationship was a total trainwreck.
I wondered who on earth Han Ain actually got along with.
And next to him was the stern-looking female swordswoman, Han Sia.
Her long hair draped down, covering one eye.
Her droopy eyes gave off a perpetually tired impression.
She was the number one of 'The Three'.
I looked back at Han Ain again, her face twisted in the distance.
Our very own twisted hero, Han Ain.
She didn't get along with anyone, siblings included.
Finally, Elena.
A blonde with her hair in twin rolls, looking like medieval nobility.
A rapier hung at her waist.
Ding-!
A bell rang, and holograms above the arena displayed portraits of the two students for the next match.
"That's the guy?"
"I heard he uses dual swords."
Even the guild reps and civilians around us started murmuring.
Seo Ji-ho, Orbis Academy's top first-year enrollee.
And his opponent was no pushover either.
Liu Kang, third in enrollment rankings.
The eyes of the people who looked Chinese sharpened.
"Is that student Liu Kang?"
"I hope you'll join our guild."
And snippets of an unfamiliar language drifted from the crowd.
This match was probably the reason so many people had gathered.
"Hey, who do you think wins?"
I nudged Yoo I-seol.
"How should I know?"
"Just say what you see."
At my words, Yoo I-seol looked at the two approaching from afar.
Her red eyes seemed to gleam.
"Seo Ji-ho takes it."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah."
Seo Ji-ho began walking into the arena from the distance.
Deep blue hair and a naturally kind face.
The kind of looks that would earn him "handsome" anywhere.
And from the opposite side came Liu Kang.
Thick eyebrows, sharp eyes, and a build 1.5 times bulkier than Seo Ji-ho's.
Shing.
Seo Ji-ho drew his swords from his back.
Not one, but two.
"Oho... dual swords, huh."
Liu Kang feigned surprise despite knowing already.
He assumed a stance simultaneously.
China's 'techniques' were geared more toward interpersonal combat than other nations'.
The reason? The 'Red Gate Incident'.
While countless heroes sacrificed themselves to block nation-destroying gates, smaller gates popped up unnoticed, spewing monsters.
Among them were intelligent monsters known as 'demons'.
All humans possess mana.
Which meant anyone could potentially become a demon.
China saw an explosion of them.
The problem was the crisis was so acute that they couldn't deal with each one individually.
Heroes entering gates often died to demon ambushes.
In a world where you couldn't trust anyone.
This led to techniques incorporating not just anti-monster moves but anti-human ones, making Chinese martial arts devastating in PvP.
Liu Kang's master, Liu Wei.
Creator of the Falling Blossoms Stream Fist and one of the 1st Grade Heroes.
Kwaaaang-!
Liu Kang stomped the ground.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
The arena floor started crumbling from under Liu Kang, spreading outward.
In an instant, the arena was wrecked.
Tadak-!
Liu Kang shot forward.
Flowing Water Duckweed.
Just like the name—a duckweed floating atop flowing water.
Liu Kang's movements looked exactly like that.
He closed in on Seo Ji-ho in a flash.
Shiiik!
Seo Ji-ho swung to deny any further approach.
Ting-!
But incredibly, Liu Kang deflected the sword.
Blossoming Lotus.
The foundation of all Falling Blossoms Stream Fist defense and offense.
As Liu Kang swept his hand from below upward, Seo Ji-ho's sword bounced outward.
Simultaneously, Liu Kang dove into Seo Ji-ho's guard.
But Seo Ji-ho wasn't an easy mark either.
In a blink, he crossed his two swords before his chest, then spread them wide to both sides while advancing.
Tadak-!
Liu Kang retreated swiftly.
Shing-!
With a sharp sound slicing air, Seo Ji-ho's sword arced toward Liu Kang's leg.
"Where?!"
Liu Kang's gaze flicked downward.
The instant it did, Seo Ji-ho's other sword slashed diagonally from above—a pincer attack from top and bottom.
"Kuh!"
Liu Kang rolled across the ground to desperately evade.
And thrust a fist toward Seo Ji-ho.
Once.
Twice.
Thrice.
Falling Blossoms Chasing Shadows.
One strike became two, two became three.
It looked light and swift, like petals scattering in the wind.
Pababat!
Dozens of fists rained on Seo Ji-ho.
Each one packed real power.
Seo Ji-ho steadied himself, using his body as an axis to extend both swords horizontally.
Then he began spinning.
'I've been waiting for this moment!'
A smile crept onto Liu Kang's face.
Moon in the Water, Myriad Blossoms to Dust.
The air around Liu Kang shifted.
Wooong-!
He drew mana from within.
One step forward.
Kwang-!
Clench the fist.
Then another step.
Seo Ji-ho's lips curled up unconsciously too.
'I've been waiting for this moment.'
Kaaaang-!
A metallic clash boomed.
A mana-reinforced fist was several times stronger than metal.
But Seo Ji-ho's swords were mana-reinforced too.
And not stopping there, blue flames erupted from them.
Woooong!
Sword aura made of pure mana, not elemental.
The sheer volume made the space around it warp visibly.
Seo Ji-ho lowered his stance.
Cold sweat trickled down Liu Kang's neck.
The Seo Ji-ho he'd been fighting until now felt like a different person.
'This is a 'technique'.
Liu Kang knew instinctively.
A 'technique' was coming next.
"Huu..."
He exhaled, contracting his muscles to brace.
Wung-!
Reinforcing his whole body with mana.
But.
Kwaaaaang!!!
As Seo Ji-ho swung, a lethal sword trace scarred the ground right beside Liu Kang.
"...I lose."
"Sword aura like that already?!"
"No wonder he's top of the enrollment rankings!"
The crowd buzzed the moment Seo Ji-ho won.
Guild reps looked exceptionally busy.
A match of unbelievable quality for first-years.
Especially that final 'technique'—pro-hero level.
'That mana is brutal.'
The sharp blue sword aura gave me chills involuntarily.
As expected of the protagonist—insane mana reserves.
Already this strong, and once he unlocks 'that trait'? Unimaginable.
'Wonder what the other trait is.'
Protagonists have two traits.
One's confirmed, the other's unknown.
'Sword Saint, maybe?'
"Oho..."
"My, not bad at all."
"..."
The Three beside me—all but one—had surprised looks.
"..."
Han Sia, the blunt third-year with hair over one eye.
Third-year overall rank one, Han family swordswoman.
'She's gotta be insanely strong even now.'
If I had to pick Orbis's strongest student, it'd be Han Sia, no question.
Liu Kang and Seo Ji-ho together? She'd dismantle them in ten seconds flat.
"...?"
Staring too long, Han Sia turned to look my way.
Our eyes met.
'Ah, shit.'
I whipped my head away fast.
Step, step.
Footsteps approached.
'Huh?'
They grew closer, then stopped right in front of me.
"..."
I peeked over—Han Sia stood right there.
"Fun match?"
"Pardon?"
I played dumb, and her lips twitched up slightly.
Thought it was a trick of the light, checked again—back to blank.
Misread it?
Then she spoke.
"You could've won that easy, right?"
Yoo I-seol watched the match, her grip tightening unconsciously.
'Already that strong!'
She wanted to jump in and fight too.
Unfortunately, her match was tomorrow.
She sighed and turned to Lee Han-su for a deep dive on the fight.
'Huh?'
But his gaze was elsewhere.
Yoo I-seol cautiously followed it.
The Three.
The third-year Top 3.
Specifically, to the tired-looking woman with hair over one eye.
'...'
Yoo I-seol focused her mana into her eyes to examine her.
Flick!
The woman whipped her head toward Yoo I-seol.
Glanced briefly, then shifted to Lee Han-su.
And started walking this way!
'Wh-what...!'
Yoo I-seol panicked.
The woman finally stopped.
Not in front of Yoo I-seol, but Lee Han-su beside her.
"Fun match?"
'Do they know each other?'
"Pardon?"
Lee Han-su sounded confused, and the woman's lips curved up.
It snapped back to neutral quick, but Yoo I-seol saw it clear.
"You could've won that easy, right?"
Ting-!
The words ended, and Yoo I-seol felt a gaze from across the way.
"?"
A sky-blue-haired girl shot to her feet, staring in disbelief.
A mix of shock, jealousy, and irritation.