Honestly, This Is a Cheat
Honestly, this is a cheat. …………… Gaze Fixation.
Jeong Areum's awakening ability. The activation condition is purely eye contact, and the effect locks the opponent's gaze onto her body, binding them in place for a few seconds. In everyday life, it's an ability that's almost useless. There's no real gain from holding someone else's gaze for a few seconds during normal social interactions. According to her memories that I accidentally glimpsed, she hasn't even publicly revealed this awakening ability to the outside world.
But. In a duel, those few seconds where the opponent absolutely can't dodge an attack. This is, by all rights, an absurdly overpowered ability. It guarantees that pro wrestling moves—which normally require the opponent to sell them—will always land. For a pro wrestler, it's the ultimate dream awakening ability.
The moment Jeong Ilseok's body stiffened like a statue, Jeong Areum didn't miss her chance. She kicked off the ring ropes and launched herself, spinning in midair to snag his nape. Condensing her body weight and the pro wrestling suit's acceleration into a single point—she slammed him down to the mat.
Jumping Cutter. The move commonly known as the RKO.
BOOM! With a thunderous crash, Jeong Ilseok's massive frame flipped in the air and drove his skull-first into the ring canvas.
"""WAAAAAAAAAH!!!!"""
In the erupting roar of the crowd's ecstasy, Jeong Areum sprang to her feet and raised one hand high to the audience. The epitome of a champion's showmanship. Even in my inner world, the little thought-forms scattered popcorn into the void with cheers.
Behind the heated debate among the excited bunch, the fierce-eyed thought-form shouted urgently.
Behind Jeong Areum. That Jumping Cutter had hit dead-on—it must've hurt like hell—yet unbelievably, Jeong Ilseok was already on his feet. By the time she noticed, his hand had already gripped the collar of her pro wrestling suit. Before she could even react—
Collar lift and slam.
KABOOOOOM! The shockwave from Jeong Areum's body cratering into the concrete ring mat was so intense that front-row spectators reflexively shielded their faces with their arms. The entire ring shook like there was an earthquake.
Whoa, what a monstrous strike. Korea's strongest, the Musin—that nickname isn't just for show. A normal S-rank awakener would've been combat-ineffective from that one hit. At least the ring didn't shatter. They must've reinforced it to bunker levels, anticipating duels between S-rank awakeners.
"Niece. The word mu (martial) comes from stopping the weapon of war, the spear (geo). In other words, it means even the ultimate human struggle—war—can be halted."
Jeong Ilseok tsked as he looked down at his fallen niece.
"Compared to that, what is this game you play? It's mere entertainment to amuse children. Such games can't overcome a life-or-death struggle."
A game, huh. In the eyes of a true martial artist, pro wrestling must look like child's play. I wonder if Lee Sehee sees Jeong Areum's pro wrestling the same way?
Beside the pitifully crumpled Jeong Areum, the referee's count echoed across the canvas.
"One! Two! Three! Four!"
The little thought-forms in my inner world clutched hands tightly, holding their breath, while the crowd's cheers quickly hushed.
"Five! Six! Seven!"
Placards drooped limply, the wave spreading to the upper decks.
"Eigh— Nine—"
Just as the referee opened his mouth for the final count.
"Don't... make me laugh!!"
Jeong Areum grabbed the ropes and barely hauled herself up. A short gasp erupted from the stands. But—though she stood on both feet, her wobbling form looked precarious. Oof. Legs like jelly already. She's groggy.
But Musin Jeong Ilseok wasn't the type to show his niece mercy.
Thud. Thud, thud, thud. His massive frame charged like a beast, unleashing a merciless barrage without pause. Face, jaw, throat, solar plexus, ribs. Every vital point targeted, over 30 strikes painting the ring. Each blow drew screams from the crowd, and he used those screams as fuel to stack more.
The inner world's little thought-forms screamed and teared up. There, there. Calm down, everyone. I gently stroked each sniffling head. No need for hysterics. This is a real swordfight. Jeong Areum stepped into the ring knowing that from the start. And you all don't know her well enough. She won't go down from attacks like this. Because—she's a pro wrestler. The strongest champion among them.
I popped a caramel popcorn from one of the kids into my mouth. Nom. Alright, let's watch. The teary-eyed hysterics, seeing my chill vibe, gradually settled. Yeah. Focus on the duel.
Look closely at the ring, and you'll see the situation flowing differently than it appears.
Jeong Ilseok's relentless barrage finally halted.
"Hah, hah…."
Surprisingly, the one gasping raggedly wasn't the struck Jeong Areum, but the striker himself. Sweat dripped from his brow onto the mat.
Right. Full-power no-breath combos will tire anyone out eventually. Even the Musin. Amid that brutal storm, Jeong Areum still stood planted on both feet. Bruises mottled her face, a thin trickle of blood from her lip. But through her disheveled bangs, the drill-hair girl's eyes sparkled.
"Uncle, you're mistaken about something."
Jeong Areum wiped the blood from her lips and grinned fiercely.
"Pro wrestling is a game. But—a pro wrestler's game isn't just play."
"……Hmph."
In that instant, the Musin regarded the entertainer with wariness for the first time.
"We take our opponents' full-power moves straight to the body—no dodging, no guarding. All for—"
With her shout, Jeong Areum sprang like a coiled spring to the top of the triple ropes. The popcorn-munching thought-forms froze.
"—making people happy!"
The triple ropes bent under her feet like they might snap, then rebounded, hurling her body toward the arena ceiling. Superhuman pro wrestling world champion leg strength plus pro wrestling suit output—the leap transcended human limits. Shooting straight up, she grazed the arena lights, reaching a 30-meter apex.
At that peak, her body flipped once and plummeted vertically toward the ring.
Ooh, that's it. The flower of pro wrestling, its highest-difficulty aerial: Shooting Star Press.
"So—don't underestimate pro wrestling!"
With Jeong Areum's sky-rending shout, her awakening ability blanketed the ring once more.
Gaze Fixation.
"Kuh…!"
Jeong Ilseok's head jerked upward against his will. An inescapable shackle nailed his vision and body to the ring. Some Musin instinct let him cross his arms in guard at the last second, but Jeong Areum's move wasn't something human strength could block.
KABOOOOOM———!!
The explosion swallowed the cheers of tens of thousands in an instant. The Shooting Star Press crushed him guard and all, caving in the bunker-reinforced ring like a massive crater.
"Gahak—!!"
From the wreckage of twisted steel and collapsed mat, Jeong Ilseok spewed a mouthful of blood. His crossed arms twisted at grotesque angles, pupils unfocused, drifting shut.
The referee rushed over, checked his condition—then crossed and waved both arms dramatically.
"K.O.! Winner: Jeong Areum!"
Silence shattered as tens of thousands surged to their feet in explosive cheers.
"“““WAAAAAAAAAAH——!!!!””””
"“““Jeong Areum! Jeong Areum! Jeong Areum!””””
From the cratered ring center, Jeong Areum rose. Shaky, but she thrust both arms high to the crowd. Spotlights poured over her pro wrestling suit, making her drill-hair twin tails glitter. True superhuman pro wrestling world champion. Ring shattered, pain excruciating—she still kept the showmanship for the fans. Peak pro spirit.
I clapped hard from my corner seat with the little thought-forms. Clap, clap, clap.
But man. It ended too easily, didn't it? I get the logic of pro wrestler durability tanking the barrage. Still, the once-strongest-in-Korea Musin shattered by one hit?
> No choice but to be! Think about it!
> S-rank awakener full leg power launches 30m up, then body-slam down.
> Plus pro wrestling suit output boost, weight amp, descent assist, her own mass—all focused.
32-inch cannon, huh. Matches the caliber of those legendary super-dreadnought railway guns—one shot penetrates 27m of bedrock to blow an ammo depot. No wonder it pulped him straight-on. Guard or no. Surviving Musin held his own.
I rested my chin, gazing back at the ring. Jeong Areum's ability, Gaze Fixation. Just pinning a gaze for seconds. Used like she did, opponents have to sell the pro wrestling moves.
Suddenly, Lee Sehee's face flashed. From peeking Jeong Areum's memory shelf—countless clashes with her. Now I get why Jeong Areum won 7/10. Pre-immortal gene Lee Sehee, no matter how elite a fighter, couldn't tank that insane power.
Feet locked, railway gun to the face—how do you win? Impressive she even took 3/10. And maybe Jeong Areum instinctively chose pro wrestling among fights because her subconscious calculated it meshed perfectly with her ability.
On the ruined ring, Jeong Areum took a fan from a maid. Parading the front row for high-fives, fanning herself, she reached my row. Paused—then winked at me. Fan fluttered lightly, twin tails swaying playfully under the lights. I nodded back faintly.
Great fight, attachment human.
Hee hee.