Chapter 51

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Translator: MadScientist

Chapter: 51

Chapter Title: Grizzly Bear Punch

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Ding- Ding- Ding-

"Round one over! That's it!"

The first round ended amid the clamor of the bell.

Kim Jun-ho, who had been seen as a promising talent, trudged back to his corner, letting out a deep breath. His body was drenched in sweat, and his heart was still pounding wildly.

Huff- Huff-

'No way...'

What the hell just happened?

He still couldn't wrap his head around what had gone down in that round.

Up until he stepped into the ring, Jun-ho had been fuming with dissatisfaction.

The coach was supposed to be someone who'd produced some pretty famous pros, so he'd come in with high expectations. But showing up on a weekend, he felt totally duped.

He didn't like the idea of sparring with a woman in the first place. Sure, she was an Awakener, but not even a pro? Just a hobbyist?

It felt like an insult to his skills, and it pissed him off.

On top of that, he'd agreed to promotional video shoots, but no one mentioned a live internet broadcast.

If it weren't for the promise of proper one-on-one coaching afterward, he might've thrown his gloves down and stormed out.

"Sorry about that. Looks like there was a mix-up in communication. You sure you're okay with this?"

Even to Ga-eun, who apologized with a genuinely sorry look before they started, he gave a curt reply.

"Yeah, whatever. Just make sure no crap spreads about it later."

"We'll keep that locked down tight."

"Hoo..."

He said that, but the moment he clocked her in the face, his reputation would tank. No thanks to starting his career with a barrage of hate.

But those thoughts shattered the instant he took her first punch.

'Huh?'

His vision shook violently, and only then did it hit him.

Did I just get hit?

"Hm."

He belatedly created some distance, and Ga-eun nodded as if she'd figured something out, then closed in again.

And once more-

Whoosh-

'I can see it this time...!'

Unlike before, he could track it with his eyes.

But reacting to it? Still impossibly fast.

Luckily, it wasn't loaded with full power, so he managed to guard. A heavy impact slammed into his right shoulder anyway.

He belatedly swayed to slip the shoulder out, but she didn't miss the opening, unleashing a flurry of jabs.

'Nngh, this woman...!'

It was like calibration.

A term he wouldn't know, not having served in the military.

With one punch, Ga-eun had gauged the speed he could barely react to.

He tried to bait her into dodging and counter.

As she pulled back, he retracted his right arm and fired an uppercut, anticipating her dodge and prepping a hook with his left.

'What...'

But Ga-eun casually leaned left, deflecting the uppercut with the back of her right hand.

The incoming hook? A simple weave sent it harmlessly aside.

Swipe- Thwack! Thud!

Then two liver shots crashed into his wide-open right side.

Hits that would crumple anyone.

Ga-eun paused her right hook mid-swing, seeing that.

It had been less than a minute since the bell.

After giving him a moment to recover, Ga-eun raised both hands to her head and started stepping. Her feet had switched front and back somehow.

'Southpaw...?'

Ambidextrous?

Jun-ho quickly adjusted to the new tempo and stance.

But the vibe had shifted. No more trading blows—he was just desperately defending.

Quick, light taps of jabs.

He was parrying them with his hands, but now he knew.

These weren't just probes or feints. They were signals: brace yourself, 'cause it's coming.

Defense is the prerequisite to offense.

Normally, you'd follow a parry with an attack.

'But...'

Even if he lunged right after a parry, his straight would get blocked easily. Then a body blow, uppercut hook...

No openings.

As Jun-ho hesitated without countering, Ga-eun's eyes narrowed.

'Already scared, huh.'

A common issue with prospects.

No real beatings in the youth leagues, so arrogance creeps in unnoticed.

Taking a few hits in training doesn't cut it.

They're lighter weight classes, facing coaches or partners with flashier records, so getting pushed around feels normal.

Strong against the weak, weak against the strong.

So when they hit an unexpected wall beyond their level, they freeze up.

Ga-eun fit perfectly.

Inferior-looking physique, similar experience.

Yet her technique and footwork shut him down completely.

'At least he's trying to think a bit.'

Usually, Ga-eun's role was to force opponents to think nonstop with varied styles and unpredictable patterns, while keeping their focus sharp.

But this guy was different.

Using his head, some grit too, but no conviction.

Quitting after one block? Come on. Even if the first step crumbles, the next might hold.

'This why you brought him?'

Eye contact with the coach in the stands behind Jun-ho.

He just grinned, baring his teeth.

Coach Kim Cheol-ho usually brought vets on the cusp of pro bouts, 7-8 year guys. They'd taste brutal defeat, build stamina for weight shifts, and get a shock to the system.

Odd to bring a kid today (just a year younger than Ga-eun).

'Just a beatdown.'

'...No idea.'

The moment she glanced away, Jun-ho fired a sharp straight.

She flicked it away left-handed, and a fist came from the other side.

A slight twist deflected it with her knuckles. Then a heavy hook whistled from the left.

'Still got room to get mad, huh.'

Ga-eun slipped it with a duck, thinking leisurely.

She planned to hold back on crosses.

Then an uppercut flew in.

Jun-ho had no time for "it's a woman" anymore.

He pictured a grizzly bear in front of him!

The bear twisted its elbow up, deflecting the uppercut, then closed in tight.

Thud- Thud- Thud!

Relentless left body shots.

She backed off slowly, pounding him everywhere.

Arms drop from pain?

Head's exposed—hook incoming.

Raise the shoulders?

Shoulders hurt like hell too. Numb arm felt dislocated.

Slosh-

Pinned in the corner, nowhere to go.

After taking it all, a roar echoed.

"Head up! You quitting? Here to eat punches?"

'Feels like you called me to get hit.'

'Yeah, to make me take it.'

"Urgh!"

Jun-ho blindly tried a clinch on the woman.

Ga-eun backed off quick, landing two jabs and a stepping straight.

Thus, the three minutes ended...

Heave- Heave-

"How's that? Dying yet?"

Lost in the floating sensation, the coach snuck up, mocking him.

Jun-ho could only nod weakly, speechless.

"Still got potential if you watch close. Her physicals dominate, but Ga-eun's amateur too. Trade long enough, patterns emerge. Drag it out, she runs dry—falls back on instincts."

Problem was building the stamina and chin to weather it, plus reflexes for clean counters.

'Too green to corner yet.'

Harsh, but shaky towers need toppling.

Rebuild stronger on the ruins.

Guess viewers rarely see her fight live.

I might've seen more than them.

"Don't mess with Ga-eun from now on, guys."

A few raised questions when I used casual speech with Ga-eun.

"Hey, I might look young, but I'm an adult. Friends with Ga-eun, so we talk casual."

I didn't wanna broadcast my age to randos, but clarified to avoid weird assumptions.

"For real. I'm a college student. Met Ga-eun at Korea University first time too."

"How ol..."

"Don't answer every dumb question. Just ignore 'em."

Ga-eun sidled up, snatching the phone.

Sweaty, but breathing steady.

"No being rude to the guest, guys. You don't know what could happen. Even with filters, could be big trouble?"

Her sincere warning, thinking of that black full-face helmet. But these gremlins wouldn't listen.

Ga-eun sighed lightly, scanning the onlookers.

"So, how was it?"

"Yeah... impressive."

"Hm, what about you, Chan-seong? Any insights?"

"Magnificent. I thought she could hold her own against bottom-tier Hunters in movement. But she toyed with him effortlessly. Fluid, efficient power distribution—a truly beautiful display."

"Wh-what kinda talk is th-that ha ha..."

At the embarrassing praise,

Da-hye, who'd been quietly listening to "beautiful," twitched her brow slightly.

"Again with the nonsense! Always teasing, ignoring I'm a girl, but guy + girl = straight to the gutter? Ugh, seriously! Wanna hang ya next to the heavy bag and unload!"

She's got zero filter since turning adult.

Ting-

"Hey, one minute up!"

"Already over...? Anyway, no weird talk, guys. Back to it."

Ga-eun handed the phone back at the coach's call and returned to the ring.

"Bear......"

I watched quietly, then asked Chan-seong.

"Think you could mimic that?"

He stated flatly, no hesitation.

"No, impossible. My take, but Ga-eun's movement outclasses Ha Chang-hoon's. Combat overall? Hard to say with abilities."

As we chatted, bored Da-hye chimed in.

"Anyway, what's up with you two? Boxing outta nowhere."

"Hm, thought martial arts might suit Su-hyeon, so we came."

"Ah..."

"Doesn't it?"

I looked at Da-hye expectantly.

She nodded but countered negatively.

"Still, why learn melee when you're safe in the back? Not useless, but won't work on monsters—half-assed confidence could get you killed."

Logical pushback deflated me.

Thought it'd power Chan-seong up.

"B-but. Chan-seong's so righteous, he'd jump in anyway. Better to know some than none for safety? Plus manly, fits martial arts..."

"...?"

Her squirming words left me cocking my head.

Doesn't match what she just said?

"Round two!"

Ding-

The coach bellowed, bell signaling round two.

I stopped reading chat, eyes back on the ring.