Team Competition (4): Inkborn Terror
“Let go of me?!”
The male student's voice was frantic. His face pale as a ghost, he strained desperately to wrench his hand free from Do-gyeol's grip.
“Why won't it come loose?!”
Even as he struggled, the vivid sensation of his yeong-ryeok being siphoned away only heightened his panic.
“Don't tense up so much. I heard somewhere that makes even doable things impossible.”
The student couldn't retort. His yeong-ryeok depleted, he lacked even the strength to open his mouth before collapsing limply.
Eh? Already over? Well, thanks for the meal anyway.
Do-gyeol casually released his hand and pocketed the spirit relic.
Contrary to the chat's fretting, his stomach felt perfectly fine. The haul was so underwhelming he didn't even bother imprisoning it in the makeshift cage he'd prepared.
*
“What the hell did I just witness...?”
A teacher's stunned gasp shattered the lingering silence. Everyone felt the same.
Do-gyeol blocking Kang Hak's attack with a talisman? Fine, that could be chalked up to luck and guts.
But this was different. No talisman this time. He'd effortlessly dodged a yeong-ryeok-infused ambush and turned the tables, dropping the guy flat.
Was this even possible? What the hell had happened since enrollment to make him grow this fast?
“Did you catch what technique he used? He just grabbed the guy's hand and down he went.”
“Nope, missed it.”
“We were all too stunned by the dodge to notice.”
The teachers buzzed, trying to dissect Do-gyeol's feat.
“Teacher Pi's hunch about him being a hidden gem wasn't just hot air after all.”
“His eye for talent is as sharp as ever.”
Pi Yu-jun merely offered a faint smile.
Talent scouting my ass. Anyone watching him blow up at the training ground would've sensed something off—even the neighbor's mutt.
He pushed the thought aside and eyed the fallen student.
So it was Sigyeong after all.
Exhaustion from total yeong-ryeok drain, most likely. Sorcerers who over-rely on it didn't always pass out from depletion, but it was common enough.
But that speed... how fast did he suck it dry to drop him this quick?
The opponent's reserves might've been low to begin with. Still, it was a sorcerer's yeong-ryeok—and fresh into the fight, no less. Instant knockout.
“Both teams opting for the same strategy. Gave us duels popping up everywhere.”
One teacher remarked with evident glee, only for the bearded one beside him to click his tongue.
“Duels? Use the proper Korean term: short-range skirmish.”
“Yes... my thinking was shortsighted...”
The bearded teacher's gaze snapped to a monitor showing the arena's center.
“Oh, looks like another skirmish about to kick off over there.”
*
Yun Ga-eun darted through the underbrush, her face brimming with confidence.
If I stick to the hidden route from the exam terrain guidebook, I can snag the relic before running into them.
Midpoint distance-wise, but the maze-like terrain meant Baek Seo-rin wouldn't come here. She'd prioritize quick clears and backups over navigating this mess.
No guidebook, no easy Strategy.
Even if Team 3 split up too, without knowing this shortcut, their arrival would lag.
“Yes!”
Beyond the thick bushes loomed a dilapidated shrine-like structure, the second relic gleaming at its heart.
Feels promising?
Ga-eun beamed, striding toward it—
Until something flashed into view and snatched the relic from her grasp.
“...!”
Her eyes widened.
“B-Baek Seo-rin...?”
“You look shocked. This what you wanted?”
Baek Seo-rin leveled her spear tip under Ga-eun's chin. The blade, covered in prior matches, now bared its lethal edge.
“Thought I'd go easy? As long as I slice just deep enough to recover from, it's fine, right?”
Ga-eun swallowed hard.
No, I expected this much.
With Seo Tae-yun on Team 1, Baek Seo-rin would go all-out. The cover in previous rounds? Probably smokescreen to lull them.
But the real shock wasn't that.
“Why are you here...?”
Not the farthest or nearest—why the midpoint of all places?
“Ah, that?”
Baek Seo-rin smirked faintly, lowering her spear.
“Figured you'd head midpoint. If you stuck to the same split tactic, you'd send Seo Tae-yun to far or near. Do-gyeol too.”
“...”
“No confidence facing me head-on, right? Your plan: zip in, grab the relic quick, back up the others.”
She grinned.
“So I came here. You're the easiest mark for me. Gotta snag it fast and help my team.”
Cold sweat trickled down Ga-eun's spine.
She read us perfectly.
The thought had barely formed—
Shwick!
Threads of yeong-ryeok-woven silk erupted from her fingertips: Jubaksa binding threads. The spell that had restrained even Kang Hak's teammates—and Kang Hak himself.
But—
Swish—!
The spear sliced air gracefully, like a dancer twirling a ribbon. The threads snapped limply.
“If it doesn't catch, that's that, right?”
Ga-eun bit her lip at Baek Seo-rin's leisure, firing another volley.
Futile.
“Your 'ambushed' face is so satisfying, I got chatty. Even gave you time to fight back.”
Baek Seo-rin twirled the relic lightly.
“I'll take this.”
She turned without hesitation.
Ga-eun targeted her blind spot again, but Baek Seo-rin didn't even swing. Footwork alone dodged the threads as she vanished into the woods.
*
Do-gyeol's steps back to base were light.
Almost there. Drop this off, and Team 1's set—better wrap it quick.
Then someone leaped from the trees, blocking his path solidly.
“...?”
Tilting his head, he met Baek Seo-rin's gaze. She cocked her head right back.
“...Why are you wearing that?”
She meant the relic: the purple Gonryongpo robe from the farthest point.
Do-gyeol hadn't carried it—he'd draped it over himself like a cloak.
“Oh, this?”
He spun, flapping the ornate golden-embroidered hem dramatically.
“How's it look? Kingly vibe? Destined for the throne?”
“You're nuts too? Who wears a relic they're supposed to retrieve?”
“Got reasons. Check it: to steal this, you gotta strip me. Way more hassle than prying it from my hand. Plus, my hands are free for fighting. And if you force it off and I resist, ripping the relic? Retrieval fail.”
Intrigue flickered across Baek Seo-rin's face. Foolish at first glance, but crafty.
“Smarter than you look?”
“Whatever. When I changed, I stripped buck naked underneath. Pull it off, I'm in my birthday suit. You game?”
Baek Seo-rin didn't blink. Her eyes curved seductively.
“Guess I'll have to strip you. It's the exam.”
“Your face looks dangerous right now.”
“What? Didn't come begging to be stripped?”
She gripped her spear tighter.
“Enough talk. Stalling 'til your team shows? Too obvious. I'll strip you quick.”
The spear thrust flew.
“Whoa!”
What speed! Faster than Kang Hak's opener!
“Knew dodging Kang Hak wasn't luck, but no talisman against me?”
Baek Seo-rin's eyes sparkled with interest.
“I'll admit it. Impressive.”
Do-gyeol didn't hear. His mind raced.
Why's Baek Seo-rin here?
Seo Tae-yun couldn't be down this fast. So she'd hit the midpoint, grabbed it.
Worst case.
Tae-yun couldn't rush here. Simple: he'd assume she went farthest.
Strategy was: retrieve without clashing, drop at base, then midpoint backup.
Finishes faster than needless fights on her side.
Relics in different directions from base. Splits avoided overlap—purely relic-focused paths didn't cross.
I'm totally isolated path-wise.
Tae-yun hits midpoint minimum, assesses, then joins.
Stall 'til then, and we've still got a shot.
His role: bait to buy time. Nail that.
“Wait, wait!”
Do-gyeol spread his arms wide.
Unlike Kang Hak, Baek Seo-rin neither heard nor halted.
Shwick.
The spear tip grazed his cheek hairsbreadth-close. Strands of hair fluttered free.
Insane. Won't last a minute like this.
“You trying to kill me?! Didn't you see Kang Hak disqualified?!”
Her spearwork showed no mercy. Utter confidence in her skill.
Burning the fresh yeong-ryeok I just drained to barely dodge... it'll run dry soon. Then it's over.
“Dodging well?”
Baek Seo-rin whirled her spear like a dance, voice soft and unruffled.
“But if I get too excited, I might slice wrong. So take a hit already.”
“What kinda crazy talk! You psycho bitch!”
“Scared I'll accidentally kill you.”
Then her eyes narrowed.
“More importantly, what's with that impure vibe radiating from you?”
Impure energy? The devoured spirits? Even post-wavelength shift?
Suddenly, Do-gyeol's lips curled.
The chat advice when he'd tried manifesting tropical fish resurfaced.
What if my own wavelength? Fuse devoured wavelengths and imagery?
Should work, right?
Weighing odds was luxury. No other plays.
Imagery...
Absorbed spirits surfaced. Beyond them: ink shapes from Tae-yun, dragon forms too potent for talismans.
Then—
Shoooo—!
Grotesque black smoke erupted behind Do-gyeol like an explosion, roiling ominously.
Inky blackness spread, blotting the air like spilled on hanji paper. Ominous aura.
This feel. It's working.
His grin twisted wickedly. He knew without looking—the overwhelming, sinister presence bursting from his back.
The ink cloud coalesced. Too ferocious for worm, too writhing for dragon. Near its head: countless eyes embedded amid horrific fangs.
Smoke-ink hybrid. A form begging exorcism.
“You just...”
Baek Seo-rin's spear halted. Her leisure vanished, smile wiped clean for the first time.