Squad Showdown (1)
Team competition morning.
Do-gyeol was grunting intently, absorbed in something.
"No, you know that thing Seo Tae-yun showed us. I'm trying to imitate it, but it's not working out."
The beautiful yet deadly school of blue tropical fish he'd seen in the tunnel. He'd tried mimicking the ink-wash painting-like spread of their yeong-ryeok patterns, but all that emerged around Do-gyeol was faint, dusty scraps of spiritual energy.
"Any ideas? You guys called me a genius."
Doubts trailed after, but Do-gyeol ignored them and closed his eyes.
Image manifestation. Combining mental image and yeong-ryeok.
The moment he focused with utter seriousness—
Hummm—
Something stirred, then dissipated.
"Tch... Not as easy as I thought."
He sighed in disappointment and scanned the chat window. Anything else?
"Impossible?"
The chat's explanation was logical and firm.
"Tch, looked so cool though."
Do-gyeol clicked his tongue in regret.
*
"What a shitshow."
Kang Hak arrived at the exam grounds for the team competition and spat curses.
A ridiculous sight unfolded before him.
"Ah, feels refreshing. Harder."
Baek Seo-rin lounged comfortably on a student's back, legs crossed, while another fanned her vigorously with a giant leaf.
Human chair and slave, literally.
"You're here?"
Baek Seo-rin caught Kang Hak's gaze and smiled brightly.
"Wasting stamina before the exam? Face says it's not like me, huh?"
She cut in preemptively.
"Don't misunderstand. I didn't order it—they volunteered."
"Of course they should!"
"Yeah yeah! Keeping Squad Leader Seo-rin's condition at peak is our team's winning strategy!"
Her squad members sparkled with fervor.
Baek Seo-rin wiggled her hips seductively on the back beneath her and laughed.
"Plus, these guys perk up when treated like this."
Now that she mentioned it, they looked healthier. Especially the chair volunteer—his face was flushed beyond just good circulation.
"Fucking psychos."
Then, Squad 1 appeared from afar.
Doubt clouded Kang Hak's face.
Ha, maybe I should just drop out...
Squad 1 wasn't normal either. Not just Do-gyeol—Yun Ga-eun and Seo Tae-yun too. All three had their noses and mouths taped shut with blue tape.
"Psychos here, psychos there. I'm the only normal one in Je-ryeong Class—what a tragedy."
"You're not normal either..."
The moment one of Kang Hak's squadmates muttered under his breath—
Boom!
A sharp burst echoed as the guy's body flew off somewhere.
"Hey! Even if he's like that, the exam's about to start—how can you launch him?!"
"Shut up."
Kang Hak brushed off his clothes coldly.
"Don't need trash like him. Dead weight anyway. He got hit by that illusion before too. And I can handle these losers solo—what's the problem?"
His arrogant declaration rang through the grounds.
Then.
"Approach with that arrogance, and it won't end well."
A languid voice interjected.
"Forgot what I said during the first squad assignment already? Or are you the type who compensates for brains with brawn?"
"Which fuck—?!"
Kang Hak whipped around in fury, locking eyes with Pi Yu-jun.
Pi Yu-jun had the freshly launched squadmate slung over his shoulder like a sack of rice.
Thud.
The squadmate, face swollen, sprang up in front of Kang Hak's feet.
"Don't waste energy yet. We haven't even started."
Pi Yu-jun rolled his lollipop and scanned the students.
"Everyone's here, so let's go over the rules."
Pi Yu-jun tossed a map into the air.
Poof!
The map expanded massively, floating so all could see.
Training Ground 3 Map
"Placed three gui-mul amid hordes of Mongju-grade spirits throughout the grounds."
Do-gyeol peeled off his tape and muttered.
"What's a gui-mul?"
Before Yun Ga-eun could reply, Pi Yu-jun beat her to it.
"Gui-mul means any spiritual object excluding juggu weapons infused with yeong-ryeok. From cursed dolls to seemingly normal items—varied."
Pi Yu-jun pointed at the map again.
"Rules are simple. Acquire all three gui-mul on the map and return to start first—your team wins."
The additional rules followed.
If no team gets all within time limit, the one with most gui-mul wins. Tie? Most spirits slain wins.
"Of course, until returning, steal others' gui-mul or sabotage freely."
Tension rippled through the students.
"Real missions tire you more from sorcerers than spirits. Seeing if you can push through."
Pi Yu-jun's eyes chilled.
"But no irreparable fatal wounds. Cross the line, and it's expulsion plus banishment from the jujul world."
The kids nodded. Minimum safety guaranteed—welcome news.
"Sure, some might think killing simplifies victory."
Pi Yu-jun eyed Kang Hak.
"But aiming to disable without killing hones output control and precision. Real ops include capturing intact."
He addressed all.
"Finally, team battles are tournament style. Squad draw random."
Draw results appeared.
[Squad 1 vs Squad 2]
[Squad 3 vs Squad 4]
Kang Hak checked and sought Baek Seo-rin. She stared back.
"Too bad, huh?"
"I'll crush you myself in the finals—just don't lose."
"Worry about yourself."
Sparks flew between them again.
Meanwhile, Yun Ga-eun whispered gravely.
"Guys, be careful this time. They say no killing, but past competitions had fatalities."
"What? For real?"
"Yeah. Supervisors tightened up after, no deaths since, but serious injuries common."
Do-gyeol shivered dramatically.
"Brutal. Scary."
"...Your face says zero fear?"
Yun Ga-eun eyed him incredulously.
"Anyway, opponents are Kang Hak's squad. Remember our formation?"
Seo Tae-yun and Do-gyeol nodded.
*
Starting point. Kang Hak's squad waited tensely.
"What's our plan? Got something in mind?"
"Why need that? Teacher said no tanking."
I never said that...
Squadmates swallowed tears inwardly.
"Still, minimum..."
"Shut the fuck up."
Kang Hak cut them off.
"Blast them first thing. Scoop gui-mul leisurely after. That's it."
His gaze fixed beyond the forest—Squad 1's direction.
Seo Tae-yun...
Whatever you're hiding, PvP ain't time attack.
I'll stomp you quick, prove who's truly number one, then kill that Baek Seo-rin bitch in finals myself.
Kaboom!
Start signal—Kang Hak bolted.
"Kang Hak! Wait up!"
Squadmates scrambled after, but couldn't catch.
Pathetic losers.
Kang Hak didn't look back.
Don't need you. Trash. I'll end it solo swift. Etch in that teams are useless.
Kang Hak wove trees madly, raising yeong-ryeok to expand senses.
Soon, three cautious presences in distant woods.
"Found you."
His lips split in a grin.
Red yeong-ryeok exploded underfoot, kicking ground.
Kaboom!
Distance closed instantly—Seo Tae-yun, Yun Ga-eun, Do-gyeol in view.
Ambush panic slowed on their faces, etched slo-mo in his eyes.
Nice expressions.
Kang Hak clenched fist—plasma flames flickered.
Thrust—
BOOM!!
Explosion rocked forest.
But the tactile feedback wasn't human.
Sssshhh—
Fist blocked, spewing steam.
Barrier of blue tropical fish.
"You little—"
Kang Hak gritted as he reared for another—Seo Tae-yun widened gap, counterattacking.
Shrieeeek—!
Fish from barrier sharpened, diving.
Papapapow.
Kang Hak crossed arms blocking—each burst gnawed his flames with cold yeong-ryeok waves.
That shit, huh?
He swallowed calmly, but felt it. Bad matchup.
His attacks halved on contact with their aqueous energy. Plus, dispersing remnants blurred vision.
Getting cocky with scraps.
Irritated, Kang Hak whipped eyes.
Landed on Do-gyeol.
Crush that fucker first, shake their morale.
Seo Tae-yun caught the gaze shift, yelled urgently.
"Do-gyeol!"
Do-gyeol reflexively bolted.
Boom!
Explosion underfoot propelled him from battlefield.
Kang Hak's pupils dilated briefly, then vile grin.
Stupid fuck. Doesn't know isolated prey's easier.
Kang Hak ignored Seo Tae-yun, kicked toward Do-gyeol's flight.
Kaboom!
Yun Ga-eun gaped.
What? Thought Kang Hak's ego would force full fight with Tae-yun!
Chose pragmatism over pride. No chance to bait—he was gone.
Thought brute force only—beast-like combat smarts.
"Chase him quick!"
As Yun Ga-eun and Seo Tae-yun moved to help—
"Where to."
Kang Hak's two squadmates blocked late.
*
Do-gyeol flew tree-to-tree, detonating sole talismans.
Pre-planned strat. Draw aggro, split; Seo Tae-yun baits Kang Hak's pride.
But.
"Where you running, last-place bitch?!"
Pursuit killing intent closed faster than expected.
Glanced back—Kang Hak pulverized trees like gingerbread, charging fiercely. Creepy killer smile bonus.
Insanely fast! Now I get why I placed last in time attack! Got it, so stop chasing!
Do-gyeol sweated cold.
Barehand matching talisman flight—not human physique!
Then.
"Got you, rat!"
Kang Hak thrust condensed red yeong-ryeok fist at Do-gyeol's back.
Bone-shattering murder blow at least.
Can't dodge this...!
KABOOOOOM!!
Kang Hak's lips tore savagely.
Heavy impact at fingertips.
"Landed solid—"
Words cut short.
Dust cloud parting—Do-gyeol grinned.
"Whoa, thought I was dead."
Talisman in his hand. Blank, nothing inscribed.
As Kang Hak's brain raced to process—
"Spacing out? Round two?"
Do-gyeol grinned, tossing another talisman.
Most psycho smile ever faced.