Someone's Malice (2)
"What the hell is going on here?"
Seong Moran's face hardened like stone. Having received a Mu evaluation, she was in real danger if she got eliminated in the practical exam.
"Fine, ignore the Blue and White Armies, but why the Red Army too…."
The academy students stationed at the Hong Mountain entrance were parting ways as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Everyone was left speechless by the absurdity.
"It's so blatant it's not even funny," Eunho said with a cold sneer.
"At least we can be relieved not everyone's moving together?"
As Eunho said, half the forces were still holding positions at Blue and White Mountains.
"It's like they're playing cat and mouse for us."
Fighting other armies early wasn't a good strategy. You couldn't steal flags or bolster your own numbers that way. In an exam evaluating strategy and tactics, blatantly ignoring the test's intent wouldn't reflect well on their own scores either—they had to know that. And yet they moved like this anyway.
There was no way to see it as anything but pure malice.
This slimy, insidious malice… it's been a while.
He hadn't felt malice this thick since life-or-death battlefields. But no matter what, he couldn't just swallow it lying down.
I turned to my squad and said, "If we wait here, we'll get surrounded. Let's move first."
"How?"
"Their intent is obvious, isn't it? Then we smash it to pieces."
I gripped my Black Dragon Sword tighter. As I took the first step, the Tae-eul Gate disciples fell into formation seamlessly. Without a word, they began forming the White Tiger Sword Formation.
Seong Moran and Namgung Seonhwa, who had taken the timed exam with me, took the left and right wings respectively, while Moyong Jaehwa nocked an arrow with an extra attachment onto his bowstring and climbed a tree.
Jang Ujae's group followed behind our squad.
"If you're not fighting, get out of the way!"
A few squads hesitated and cleared a path at my shout. Those who targeted our rear after we passed were struck down by Namgung Seonhwa and Seong Moran as they whirled around, collapsing to the ground.
Especially Seong Moran with her Iron Sword—every time she slapped their faces with the flat of her blade, teeth flew out gliding through the air.
"If you're not gonna fight fair, fuck off! No mercy!"
Her sharp, ringing voice made the attackers falter and retreat. With Seong Moran and Namgung Seonhwa showing such fearsome prowess, the number of rear attackers dwindled sharply.
But Red Army blockers were still plentiful.
Thwack!
I swung the Black Dragon Sword like a club, smashing a jaw. As combat began, Eunho stepped into the formation's center and shouted "Launch!" Our running squad instantly maintained the White Tiger Sword Formation while engaging the White Army.
Clang clang clang!
Blades clashed, but without internal energy, the attacks lacked sharpness. The rebound was greater than usual, exposing glaring openings.
I swung at an opponent's exposed jaw. Hitting with the edge risked decapitation if off, but precise strikes were devastatingly effective.
Thud! Thud!
"Gahk!"
"Yelp!"
Two went down with eyes rolling back in seconds. Swords fueled by shock and rage at losing comrades rained down like lightning.
I had plenty of time to dodge, but why bother?
Tang tang tang tang!
I had a sturdy shield blocking five swords for me.
"Shit! Using a shield is cheating!"
"Don't you know a warrior's honor?!"
Academy students, hampered by Gentleman Mountain Herb, spat curses, but Geum Pyo ignored them. He gripped his shield tighter.
"Then you use one toooooo!"
With a bellow of fury, Geum Pyo shoved back the blocked swords wholesale. Dongryong slipped through the gap.
Tae-eul Gate's Socheon Sword Technique was an efficient quick-draw sword tracing optimal paths. Straight thrusts were disadvantageous here, but not for Dongryong.
Thud thud thud thud!
Jaw, solar plexus, temple with the sword's ridge. Even without internal energy, a natural killer was a killer. Dongryong unleashed restrained bloodlust flawlessly, subduing foes in a flash.
White Army squads fainted from vital strikes or retched from gut-turning blows before they knew it.
"Hongtan!"
At Eunho's call, the formation shifted to an arrowhead. While Dongryong disrupted, Hong Saryeon leaped out, taking down others.
Whoosh—thud!
Two crumpled powerlessly under her hands. Whether from closed-door training or not, her breathing stayed steady despite the frenzy.
"Donggang!"
The arrowhead spread as Namgung Seonhwa and Seong Moran led left and right wings forward. Our squad enveloped the White Army squad like an embrace, dropping them all in one go.
One White Army squad combat-ineffective in a blink—Red Army squads sensed crisis and turned toward us.
Then.
"You fucking idiots!"
Someone struck from behind such squads.
"Don't you get it? Red Army winning is our ultimate victory! You thick-headed bastards!"
Clearly dosed with Gentleman Mountain Herb, yet roaring like a lion….
"Oh, that liver guy!"
"That damn liver, liver—enough already…!"
It was Nam Hwaseong. He joined our side, targeting other Red Army while yelling.
"Crack those morons' skulls!"
"Yes sir!!!"
Nam Hwaseong, now battalion-sized, hit the backs of foolhardy Red Army. Even a sluggish caterpillar rolls when needed—with his fist and leg arts, he swept the field like a armored cart.
Thud thud thud thud thud!
Six academy students out cold in seconds. He became top target, soon surrounded by other Red Army squads.
I veered toward him, snatching flags from Red Army squads opposing us one by one.
"Gasp! W-when?!"
"Whatever plot you pulled, I'll hear it later."
"P-plot…?!"
"Tch, shut up and guard your position. If White or Blue takes it…."
I stared down the flag-less Red Army guys, mimicking slitting my throat.
"Your academy days are over."
Leaving their pale faces behind, I helped Nam Hwaseong clean up remnants.
"Huff huff! Jin Sowoon! Th-thanks…."
"Why're you panting like that? Didn't train without internal energy?"
His touched face soured into curses.
"F-fuck. Come to help and get that shit?!"
"Help properly then. Anyway, hand over the flags."
"…Fuck."
Nam Hwaseong looked like "What kind of guy is this?" But whatever, what could he do?
"What? Wanna go at it here?"
"…."
"You made battalion anyway—got enough points."
"…Fine, got it."
He handed over ten Red flags from his belt. I took them, nodding ahead.
"Know anything useful?"
"About what?"
"Why those bastards are moving like that?"
This wasn't normal. Some malicious scheme was afoot….
"Everyone just hates you?"
What? Bullshit?
"Who? Why? Where's a fine guy like me?"
"…You nuts?"
Nam Hwaseong gawked like he'd heard the sun rose west. Then he sighed.
"I fucking hate you."
"But you joined my side?"
"'Cause you promised…!"
"Yeah yeah. Promises kept. Nothing to report then?"
"Nope."
I shook my head at him.
"Man, what a useless liver guy."
"Fuck, gave flags and still?!"
"Enough! Turn your whole battalion this way."
"But the position…."
"Position matter now? We're all failing. Push White first."
"Got it!"
Hated me yet followed without question. Watching his back, I chuckled.
Soon his battalion flanked ours protectively.
"Charge!"
He'd gathered like-minded types—none resisted his order. Hell, some surged ahead of him.
And among them.
"Huh?"
Yaryul Geuk, who'd been in formation moments ago, was there too. When'd he slip out?
"You dog bastards!"
Yaryul Geuk struck mercilessly, like facing blood enemies.
Crack—thud!
"Argh!"
Without internal energy, top attacks included orchid finger joints and four-two thousand catty drops. Matching Nam Hwaseong's squad, Yaryul Geuk wrecked their lines.
Well, he's solid firepower.
While Nam Hwaseong and Yaryul Geuk led the White Army annihilation.
"Who could it be…."
I scanned the overall formation between foes. Hierarchies weren't even set, yet three-army battles raged. This irrational turn needed someone's intent.
Early elimination risked their own academy expulsion too. Our squad dropping out only threatened Seong Moran and Geum Pyo. Wrong tactics could boot them via scores.
Yet they defied intent to target us.
Ha, pissing me off.
Urge to crush the malice-mastermind bubbled up.
Then.
"Huff! Huff! Representative!"
Jang Ujae approached, sweat pouring like rain from exertion.
"Huff huff, urgent, but had to tell you."
"What?"
"Phew, weird rumor before test."
I turned to him.
"Rumor?"
"Yes. You didn't form rep team properly for your gain."
Rep team ops rumor… Cheol Sunjik's stiff face leaving office days ago surfaced.
Jang Ujae reported, watching front.
"Usual stuff, so ignored…."
Pieces clicked hearing him.
From absurd "committee" proposal onward. To this irrational exam ploy.
Cheol Sunjik won either way. Accept? He controls via committee. Reject? Excuse for malice ops.
Every scenario profited him.
"Ha…!"
Exact ploy from past Orthodox-Demonic War, now in academy.
"Damn crafty bastard."
"Pardon?"
"Ah, Cheol Sunjik."
I explained calmly to Jang Ujae.
"Caught in his scheme from start."
"He used that absurd rumor?"
Unbelievable, so his face made sense. But foe was Cheol Sunjik. He'd twist my words with snake tongue for fabrication, incitement.
I slowly scanned White Mountain. Sure enough.
Cheol Sunjik and crew formed battalion near White base. Scheming to drain us via proxies.
While leisurely building forces.
"Ha, haha!"
Hollow laugh escaped. Knew intent, still played. Rare to lose knowing foe's plan.
But no past despair. Instead, exploded rising rage.
"Eunho!"
Running formation, he turned instantly.
"Yes!"
"To White Mountain."
"Now?"
I nodded with quiet fury.
"Yes. Culprit's there."
He glanced, face hardening.
"Give Cheol Sunjik a smackdown?"
I smiled faintly at him.
"Yeah."
Past, powerless, dragged along. Now? No one's pulling strings.
Excitement boiled instead.
"He'll pull this anytime. Etch it in deep this time."
"Understood!"
Time to crack that skull for real.