Someone's Malice (3)
Eunho reorganized the formation. At the tip of the arrowhead-shaped assault line stood Nam Hwaseong and Geum Pyo, with Dongryong and Hong Saryeon following behind to prioritize defense in their stead. Centered around our squad members were those who'd been integrated into our squad, bringing up the rear.
"Let's go!"
With Nam Hwaseong's shout, Geum Pyo charged forward alongside him. Like a meteor spear piercing the city gates, they shattered the enemy formation in an instant and burrowed deep inside, where Dongryong, Hong Saryeon, and I would subdue the foes.
Clang! Thud thud thud!
Even though they were fellow Red Army members blocking our path, it wasn't for high scores. It was rage at us—those who should have stayed below—continuously climbing higher. Frustration and resentment at their own shortcomings, projected onto others as inferiority. And the dullness to not notice Cheol Sunjik's snake-like heart slithering into their weakened minds.
All these factors combined, driving them to shortsighted actions. They became puppets in others' hands, no different from scarecrow chess pieces.
Was their desire to see us kneel so strong they'd endure this? Had they ever once considered the efforts we'd made, the resolve we'd forged?
"Argh!"
"You fucking brutes!"
"You think you're the only ones who can fight?!"
Unfortunately, we had no intention of playing along with their malice like idiots. We wouldn't let our efforts be crushed by such petty jealousy.
That's why we pressed forward. Forward, and forward again.
"Go!"
I swung the Black Dragon Sword, knocking out two academy students, then unleashed the Yuyun Divine Art to snap another's wrist.
"Aaaargh!"
"Damn it!"
We showed no mercy to the fallen. The price of envying others was supposed to hurt down to the bone. We merely made them pay the just cost for the malice they'd unleashed.
"Representative!"
Jang Ujae, suddenly surrounded by enemy academy students, called out.
"At this rate, we'll be encircled."
"Doesn't matter! We'll break through like this!"
Those fueled by base jealousy had no real resolve. Content in their comfortable spots, they flinched and retreated at the slightest prick under their nails. Same as always. Their eyes burned with desire to kill us, yet no one truly stepped up. All talk, no action.
"Block them! Block them! Knock those bastards down!"
"You there! Don't fall back!"
"You fall back, you fucker!"
If they wanted to see us fall so badly—truly—then make us fall. Watch closely as your bones break and flesh tears.
"Th-this is too much, fuck!"
"It's just an evaluation!"
Meaningless outcries from hothouse flowers who'd never considered the cost of malice—never had to. But our squad, weathered by malice countless times, survivors like roadside weeds, shed a few teeth to silence their childish whining.
"Then fuck off!"
"You call yourselves men spouting that shit now?!"
I urged the squad onward, advancing step by step, smashing through those blocking our way.
"White Army!"
Passing the Red Army's chaos, the true enemy appeared before us.
"Charge!"
Nam Hwaseong and Geum Pyo didn't stop, even covered in wounds. Their goal was Cheol Sunjik at Baek Mountain's peak. Anything in the way was mere obstacle.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Those who'd never fought without internal energy exhausted themselves early, facing foes with sluggish, pathetic techniques. Fights by untrained civilians were like children's war games. Feeble punches, weak kicks. They gritted their teeth to endure, but their limits were clear. Without resolve or training, filled only with malice, they couldn't match their fury with skill.
"Guhk!"
"Urk!"
"Keurk!"
Eyes rolling back, noses bleeding, they collapsed. We pushed past, forward and forward.
"Senior Brother! The rear guard's broken!"
We weren't without weaknesses. Uncoordinated movements left gaps in the rear. But it didn't matter.
"Keep going!"
"You okay?"
I asked Eunho.
"How many in our squad got Wu in the written exam?"
"Two."
"Then just save those two!"
"......Understood."
Eunho clamped his mouth shut at my words, sharpening the sword formation even further. Our squad now pierced the enemy like a spear tip.
They'd overlooked two things. First, only Seong Moran and Geum Pyo in our squad were at risk of falling behind. In other words, as long as those two survived, the rest needn't worry about elimination.
Second, I was seasoned in such battles. The Small Justice Squad had never fought for full survival. We drew lots each morning to decide who lived or died, then did our utmost to save those chosen.
"Representative! The men's stamina is at its limit!"
We hadn't even climbed half of Baek Mountain, yet some were already dropping.
I shouted to those following me.
"From now on, no holding back!"
"Pardon?"
Jang Ujae looked at me with rabbit-wide eyes.
"If your stamina's hitting the wall, just get eliminated! Take one down with you and bail!"
Jang Ujae hesitated briefly, then nodded with pursed lips.
"......Yes, sir!"
He seemed to grasp my intent now, adding nothing more. Sharp as ever. Or perhaps fury from the practical exam had boiled over.
Slash!
"Arrrgh!"
"Ch-cheating! That's cheating!"
"Go Myeongjin! Eliminated!"
Squad members at their stamina limits crippled foes and withdrew. As excessive force erupted everywhere, enemies panicked openly. They should've resolved to endure anything if their scheme went awry, but they faltered at the unexpected.
"Kill them!"
"Kill them!"
"Kill them!"
Fury against malice blazed. Pain consuming the body fueled rage anew, exploding with maddening power. Panic crept onto the encircling White Army faces, reigniting our squad's wrath.
Was that all? That their resolve?
"Ha......!"
Freaking out at this little, yet spewing such base jealousy? Answering their rage, I bellowed.
"Kill them all!!!"
The squad roared back in response.
"““Kill them all!”””
The wrathful chorus echoed across Baek Mountain. Red Army men kept advancing even as they fell. I swung sword and fist relentlessly, the desperation like my past life's Righteous-Demonic War battlefield.
# Baek Mountain Summit. White Army Formation.
"Nngh......"
Cheol Hyeonjik of Jukhyeonbang groaned lowly.
"Shouldn't the orthodox strategy be to regroup, bolster forces, and defend?"
He spoke ambiguously, like to himself or a question, eyeing Cheol Sunjik beside him.
"......"
But Cheol Sunjik stared at the battlefield, lips tightly shut, lost in thought.
Moments later, he asked softly.
"What would Brother do......?"
Cheol Hyeonjik countered.
"If you were Jin Sowoon?"
"Yes. If our allies clear the path and enemies target only us."
"Hm......"
After pondering, Cheol Hyeonjik gave a textbook answer.
"He'd follow traditional strategy. Gather troops, build strength, focus on defense."
Cheol Sunjik shook his head.
"That would've led to early elimination."
"Oh? As expected?"
Staring at Cheol Sunjik a moment, Cheol Hyeonjik grinned.
"But I've got you, so no worries there. Right?"
"......"
Cheol Sunjik's stony face turned back to the field instead of answering.
Cheol Hyeonjik tilted his head.
"Why? Did I say something wrong?"
"......No. That's the average response."
Cheol Sunjik's voice was ice-cold. His gaze fixed on Jin Sowoon's squad again.
Descending Red Mountain, they entered Baek Mountain. Half their gathered forces were shattered, yet they stubbornly climbed.
Cheol Hyeonjik muttered puzzledly.
"No points that way."
Cheol Sunjik's fist clenched slightly at the doubt.
"......His goal isn't points."
"Huh?"
His face hardened as he added.
"Jin Sowoon's aiming to capture me, so he pushes for Baek Mountain no matter what."
Cheol Hyeonjik's eyes widened.
"No way....... He knows it's your scheme?"
"......"
"You didn't step forward at all......"
Cheol Sunjik recalled Jin Sowoon's casual oddities.
"He's an unusual man."
"Hm......"
Then he stared intently into Cheol Hyeonjik's eyes.
"Brother."
"Yeah?"
"Could you fight like Jin Sowoon?"
Cheol Hyeonjik's brow furrowed—what nonsense?
"Like what?"
Jin Sowoon always shattered expectations, forging his own path.
"Charge so fiercely toward your goal."
Beyond what mere mortals could mimic.
"Haha, what nonsense. Didn't you always say the unprepared scream 'all-out effort'? The prepared swing their swords leisurely."
"......True."
Cheol Sunjik smiled bitterly despite himself. The more he ignored it, the purer Jin Sowoon's light shone.
"Impressive, though."
Oblivious to Cheol Sunjik's thoughts, Cheol Hyeonjik eyed Jin Sowoon closely.
"A warrior that skilled in close quarters...... Looks like a northern army vet."
As Cheol Hyeonjik said, Jin Sowoon moved not like one stripped of internal energy. Like a soldier who'd never learned it—or more precisely, a battle-hardened brawler from the arenas. Merciless swings, exploiting weaknesses. Academy students, untrained without energy, flailed at half strength before collapsing.
But how do you......
Yet Jin Sowoon moved more fluidly than usual, as if still using energy. The difference in class was stark.
Not just him. His squad showed proficiency in melee, contrasting sharply with Jeongdohoe and Baekdohoe elites dropping like flies.
"Still, no energy means limits. He doesn't realize."
Cheol Hyeonjik tsked, certain of victory. Fair point—the squad's advance slowed as they smashed through.
This wasn't a transcendent's battle overcoming numbers with power. With energy sealed, it tested pure strategy and skill.
No solo rampages like novel protagonists.
Then.
"Wh-what?"
Cheol Hyeonjik, surveying leisurely, frowned.
"What's that......"
Instructors outside panicked too. Fearless White Army halted. Some even retreated.
Cheol Hyeonjik spat a curse like a scream.
"F-fucking insane!"
He was stunned by the sight. Something new on the field: massive blood.
Despite rules—severe injury meant elimination—Red Army inflicted deep wounds freely.
"U-uaaa......!"
Unprecedented ferocity panicked White Army. Cheol Hyeonjik squeezed out words, looking to Cheol Sunjik.
"Without resolve to eliminate......"
Deep dismay etched Cheol Sunjik's face. Sudden shift. What intent......?
"......!"
Scanning wide-eyed, Cheol Sunjik realized. They weren't resolved to fall. Nearing stamina limits, they used blade edges—not flats—intentionally wounding foes to make elimination worthwhile.
"Insane......"
No loss if doomed anyway. They flipped constraints against foes. Unexpected devastation from enemies' view. White Army recoiled from the berserk Red Army.
"Wh-what are you doing?! Block them now!"
Cheol Hyeonjik bellowed, but none charged the blood-soaked Reds easily. Especially with Jin Sowoon's force beelining for Cheol Sunjik's position. Not targets, White Army retreated without hesitation—like early Reds clearing paths.
"S-sunjik, what now......"
"Can't you do anything without orders?"
"What......"
Cheol Sunjik's contemptuous gaze. Cheol Hyeonjik flinched, spilling resentment.
"Y-you said it'd work like this."
Cheol Sunjik ground his teeth instead.
Grinding.
Again...... unpredictable direction.
How many times now? Jin Sowoon had ruined grand plans for all, shattering centuries-stagnant Jianghu upheavals.
No backing down now. Cheol Sunjik commanded wrathfully.
"White Army—all attack!"
His company around the formation reformed instantly. Defense favored high ground. Unlike others, they blocked Jin Sowoon's squad fearlessly.
Cheol Sunjik clenched both fists.
"This time, it won't go your way."
He had goals. Couldn't fall to a mere pebble like Jin Sowoon.
The two groups faced off. Cheol Sunjik's eyes locked on the squad's forefront—someone who should've led his own squad or company.
"Nam Hwaseong......"
Now enemy, targeting his neck.
"Uaaaaah!"
No energy, but innate might crushed foes. Swords and blades gashed flesh, yet he pressed on—like staking life on this fight, burning final life madly.
How......!
Would he have fought so in the Twelve Peaks? Fleeting thought muddled his mind. Answer obvious without pondering. He avoided facing it—lest he understand Nam Hwaseong's actions less.
Grinding.
Instead, he poured resentment and fury on the culprit, shielded by Nam Hwaseong and Geum Pyo.
"Sunjik, stay back. Command from there!"
Cheol Hyeonjik's voice from behind faded. Cheol Sunjik saw only one.
"Jin Sowoon......"
Did he hear the low growl? Disheveled Jin Sowoon looked their way.
"Cheol Sunjik!!!"
His thunderous shout made Cheol Sunjik's hackles rise—and relief wash over.
Good.
He raged too. Not one-sided.
But his fury couldn't match Cheol Sunjik's. He'd kill Jin Sowoon now if possible.
Yes. That furious now.
"Jin Sowoon!!!!"
Cheol Sunjik did what he'd never: acted on emotion.
"Uaaaaah!!!!"
His feet madly dashed toward Jin Sowoon.