Chapter 44

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 44

Chapter Title: Declaration

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I was curious.

'How strong are you, really?'

Your childhoods, where no matter how hard I struggled toward the end of my first run, I couldn't even catch a glimpse of your shadows—what were they like?

While I, unable to attend the academy, scraped by at the bottom, how did you lot—who spent ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠those years in bliss—fight?

To satisfy my curiosity, I needed to see your skills with my own eyes. That's why I asked my master for short-term training.

But.

'So this is all you've got.'

It was incredibly disappointing.

Of course, they're still first-years, and this was just a duel for class rep, so not full sincerity—but it was the worst.

Their attacks were tolerable enough to take, and even with wooden swords, their swordsmanship itself was abysmal.

Arrogant swordplay born from never having faced criticism, truly believing themselves the best.

And there was no skill to back up that arrogance.

'Heaven-Earth Flip.'

Twirl.

With a single gesture, Rastel Apael's body spun and collapsed limply to the ground.

Strong for first-year level, perhaps, but overall? Pathetically weak.

At this rate, they couldn't even handle an Incomplete Humanoid Monster.

Bam!

"Kuhk!"

"You're no different."

In an instant, I closed in on Karan Max and threw a light punch that shattered the ice barrier he'd conjured.

"You think it's believable that you've been throwing your weight around with this level of skill?"

The Siberian Empire had indeed turned brutally harsh, unlivable for most creatures.

And yes, the monsters there were tougher than elsewhere.

But calling Karan a battle-hardened veteran who'd endured it all? Dead wrong.

"All you've done is tag along with your family's forces to the lowest-grade dungeons."

A rear-line mage faces less danger in lower-grade dungeons.

That dulls their reflexes unconsciously and makes them forget how to handle crises.

Karan was a perfect example right now.

While Rastel attacked, all he did from the back was try to seal my movements.

Once I got close, his one-dimensional defense was the end of his close-range countermeasures.

I couldn't fathom why someone with such pitiful skills acted so arrogant.

Crack!

"Kraaak!"

Not even imagining his ice wall would break, Karan froze on his mount—I followed up with punches to his face.

All he could do was wrap himself in Mountain Lord power to suppress foes, briefly unleashing Ferocious Tiger might.

Even that, though, Rastel and Karan couldn't withstand; they were getting pushed back so badly it embarrassed the one doing the hitting.

"Let's end this."

I pitied them too much to toy around anymore and decided to wrap it up quickly—right then.

"Let's see how arrogant you can get!"

Whether he'd been gathering power, an enormous burst of chill exploded from Karan's body.

This wasn't duel-for-rep power; it felt like monster-hunting strength.

"I'll freeze you solid and make you taste humiliation."

The chill turned to ice instantly, not just encasing me but dominating the surroundings.

Sharp ice spikes formed like a fortress, icicles poised to impale me at any moment.

Ice Prison—one of Karan's signature moves from my first run, where once activated, he believed no one could escape.

Yes, back in my first run, when I couldn't perform properly.

Whoosh, whoosh, rrrroar!

Flames erupted.

Shatter!

Before Kim Geon-ho revealed his power.

"What the hell? This is lame."

"Yeah, came to see first-year skills after that Little Giant kill... but this is meh."

The spectators couldn't hide their disappointment at Kim Geon-ho's seemingly feeble response.

Even when rumors swirled that he'd lucked into killing the Little Giant Pembr, they'd thought it more than luck.

But watching him get overwhelmed by Rastel and Karan's combo without resistance? Now it felt like pure luck.

But.

Shatter!

Kim Geon-ho flipped those thoughts like a pancake, reversing the mood.

"Was he holding back until now?"

"No way, right?"

No one knew how he'd done it, but Rastel was down in a flash, Karan desperately on the defensive.

It happened so fast, no one could even guess what occurred.

"As expected of Kim Geon-ho. Knew it."

Tatacum watched with unwavering expression from the start.

'You can't know unless you face him.'

First clash with Kim Geon-ho melts away all tension.

Because he looks so weak.

Gaps galore—too many, you suspect a trap, but colliding fills you with doubt as you're effortlessly repelled.

But that's Kim Geon-ho's trap.

He baits complacency, and the moment you relax...

Kim Geon-ho strikes.

"Tatacum, you're done for like that."

Too late to flee—you're already in the tiger's den, flesh torn by fangs when you try to escape.

Exactly like now.

"Wooooaaah!"

Then Karan suddenly unleashed massive power, seeming to turn the tide.

Proving top grades weren't for show—ice spawned indiscriminately, threatening Kim Geon-ho.

The surprise burst froze him solid.

Shatter!

"Kraaak!"

And he shattered it all too anticlimactically.

"Huh?"

Spectators panicked.

It looked like Karan would win, but now Kim Geon-ho attacked—cognitive dissonance.

Whoosh, whoosh, rrrroar!

His burning left hand melted and bulldozed every ice shard, advancing straight for Karan.

Twisted spiral flames converged, melting ice, crumbling Karan's barriers.

Blossoming like flowers to the sun, flames birthed steam, clouding the audience's view.

"F-F-Fire..."

Flames writhing alive, devouring Karan's ice, growing larger.

Kim Geon-ho wielded them freely, finally clamping Karan's throat with a crack.

"Had your fun?"

Now scram.

Bam!

"Uweeeck!"

With that, Karan—Heaven-Earth Flipped amid the steam—vomited and crumpled like Rastel.

Fwoosh!

Once the ranking shake-up ended.

Kim Geon-ho swept away the steam around him with flames, revealing himself to the crowd.

"I declare."

The audience hadn't even processed it yet, but Kim Geon-ho continued as if to say, listen up.

"Before the class competition, all other classes—forfeit."

"Duel over! Winner: Kim Geon-ho!"

The announcer timed the result just as Kim Geon-ho finished.

"Wooooaaah!"

"Kim Geon-ho's got balls of steel!"

"Love the Mountain Lords!"

"Kyaa! Oppa, let me join your class too! Jiggle jiggle!"

The duel for class rep ended amid wild cheers.

Winning the official duel cleanly was impressive, but his follow-up words were straight-up absurd.

Fiery conviction: 'That's how Mountain Lords roll.'

Even those indifferent to Kim Geon-ho became fans.

His declaration's impact was that insane.

Now the community split: '1:11 doable vs impossible.'

Kim Geon-ho, tossing fuel on the fire.

"Tatacum, you can handle potions, right?"

"Don't underestimate me. Tatacum fully immune."

"Good, relieved. Didn't wanna see you high on aphrodisiacs doing... gross shit."

Ignoring the community buzz, he prepped hard for the Succubus Dungeon.