Chapter 28
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 28
Chapter Title: After the Spear Master's Defeat
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Aria Myers, the top student of Aqar Quf's fourth-years. And Yeom Seong-ha, the top third-year in the Spear Arts Department.
The arena's heat surged even higher at the appearance of these two students, who boasted top-tier fame and prowess among Babel's current enrollees.
-Now! Before the duel begins, shall we take a look at their records?
Riding the wave of excitement, Lan Fang grinned broadly as she summoned an info window in midair.
[Aria Myers] - 932 Matches | 932 Wins | 0 Draws | 0 Losses
[Yeom Seong-ha] - 1,238 Matches | 714 Wins | 128 Draws | 396 Losses
The moment the two fighters' records appeared in the air, every student in the arena gasped and turned to stare at Aria.
Yeom Seong-ha's win rate wasn't low by any means—considering he ranked in the top 10—but it was utterly incomparable to Aria's perfect undefeated streak.
-By the way, these two have dueled each other more than most. Officially, it's 256 matches. Add in the unofficial ones, and it's over 400! And the win rate is...
Lan Fang paused dramatically, then slammed her palm on the podium with a resounding thud.
-Aria Myers' perfect record!!!
Aria hadn't even allowed a single draw across more than 400 bouts.
The crowd in the stands murmured in awe, countless gazes filled with emotion raining down on the pair.
Watching the scene, Lee Se-hun naturally realized who the star of the day was.
'That guy's getting all this attention too, huh.'
Yeom Seong-ha was undeniably talented and skilled right now, but all anyone could say this time was that he'd drawn the short straw with his opponent.
-Ah, I've gone on too long. Anyway, enough chit-chat...
A hush fell over the arena. Without a word, Aria and Yeom Seong-ha raised their weapons, pointing them at each other.
Golden light and dark crimson mana erupted from their bodies, scorching the air.
-Begin!
At Lan Fang's shout, the two clashed.
Bang!!
Yeom Seong-ha's spear, wrapped in dark crimson mana, tore through the air. Instead of retreating from the ferocious thrust, Aria flashed a relaxed smile and swung her thin sword.
A single stroke shrouded in golden mana. The motion was light and fluid, like turning the page of a book.
Clang!
Yet Yeom Seong-ha's spear blade bounced back as if a bomb had detonated.
A glaring opening appeared in an instant. Aria moved to exploit it, but Yeom Seong-ha's mana reacted first.
Roar!!
Flames erupted explosively along the spear's trajectory, forcing Aria to halt briefly and swing her blade again.
Whoosh!
Another light stroke scattered the flames, giving Yeom Seong-ha just enough time to regain his footing.
The returning spear blade whipped out sharply once more, met by the thin sword's graceful yet forceful deflection.
Krunch!!
The flaming spear dominated the arena's center, while the golden blade danced through the gaps.
The spectators, stunned by the superhuman display, finally snapped out of it and erupted in cheers.
Amid the arena's blazing excitement from the very first match, Lee Se-hun watched Yeom Seong-ha fighting with everything he had.
'He's still young, after all.'
From raw physical stats to technique, nothing matched his Mad Dog days.
It was thirty-one years ago, so it made sense—but the issue was how far below expectations he fell.
'As the successor to the Crimson Ring Residual Flame Spear, I figured he'd get top-shelf support...'
Had he not received the full backing he'd deserved?
Even accounting for his age, Yeom Seong-ha's condition felt oddly lacking. Lee Se-hun eyed the shifting momentum of the duel.
'The distance is closing already.'
The spear's greatest advantage—reach—was dwindling.
Yeom Seong-ha knew it too and tried to maintain the gap, but Aria effortlessly pierced his defenses, closing in step by step.
'Where to even start...'
Having spent more time with Yeom Seong-ha than anyone, Lee Se-hun spotted flaw after flaw.
His chronic habits, the spear art's inherent weaknesses, the discord they created—plenty to critique.
But what grated most was the weapon itself, squarely in his domain.
'A cross-shaped guard for seamless offense and defense. Flexible shaft to handle close-range pressure like this.'
The dark crimson mana swirling along the shaft and the periodic shockwaves suggested it dispersed stored mana in all directions.
By craftsmanship alone, it was solid—no major complaints from Lee Se-hun.
'But no eye for quality.'
It didn't suit Mad Dog Yeom Seong-ha at all.
Clang!
The spear blade was deflected again, mana trailing its path and spewing flames.
Bam!
But Aria's glowing golden hand sliced through the residual mana first, compressing the distance in a flash.
His stance crumbled, and the spear's flame 'trajectory' broke.
The match was effectively decided. Yet Yeom Seong-ha's eyes blazed.
Thud!
Abandoning the shaft, he reset his posture and swung a fist—desperate tenacity born of obsession with victory.
But before he could move—
Swish—
Aria's golden thin sword rested against his throat.
He resisted to the end, but even that was denied. Staring at the blade, Yeom Seong-ha slowly spoke.
"...I lost."
"Good fight."
Aria sheathed her sword with those brief words. As if on cue, Lan Fang bellowed.
-Duel over!! Winner: Aria Myers!!!
Thunderous cheers exploded.
The students' eyes sparkled with uncontained excitement at the impossibly high-level clash between fellow Babel enrollees.
If active heroes had done the same, they'd just marvel at the distant future.
But these two were peers, separated by just 2-3 years. That relatability ignited the crowd's competitive spirits and drive to improve.
'Everyone's so fired up...'
Some would crash into the wall of talent disparity later, but true to Babel, a few might chase them down.
What a fascinating place. Glancing around, Lee Se-hun noticed the unusually quiet Erika beside him.
"...".
Her blank expression unchanged. At her dry reaction, he made a strange face.
"Not fun?"
"Yeah. Different fields, not much to learn from."
"...Then why'd you come?"
He asked incredulously. She replied flatly.
"Curious who you came to see."
"...".
She'd always been a bit off, but since their bond formed, she'd gotten weirder.
As he stared awkwardly, Lan Fang's voice boomed from the arena.
-Now, for post-match interviews... but due to personal circumstances for Cadet Yeom Seong-ha, we'll skip his and only do Aria Myers', then move to the next duel. Apologies!
With Lan Fang's announcement, Yeom Seong-ha bowed his head, the spotlight vanishing. All lights converged on Aria.
As if she were the true protagonist—which made sense, given the event's name: 'Aria Myers' 9 Consecutive Battles'.
"Fighting the rank-9 back-to-back is tough, so... skip the empty interview time and do a Q&A instead?"
Cheers erupted from the stands. Meanwhile, Yeom Seong-ha trudged down from the arena.
He looked normal, but having watched him for years, Lee Se-hun knew it was his 'pissed-off' walk.
'Damn kid...'
Still immature in many ways.
Chuckling, Lee Se-hun turned to leave. Erika blinked in surprise.
"Leaving?"
Never imagining it was for Yeom Seong-ha. Glancing down at the arena, Lee Se-hun saw Aria under the brilliant lights, shining radiantly.
Whether as the future Holy Swordmaster dubbed humanity's hope or still a cadet, her presence was magnetic.
Even strangers felt instinctive awe— an icon no Babel student could fail to admire.
But.
"Not my type."
Lee Se-hun gazed down at her smiling wave with distaste.
"She's obnoxious."
No need for more words. He turned and headed out. Erika's expression darkened slightly at his back.
Had he ever shown such raw emotion? His usual composure made it stand out more.
'Good thing it's not for Onii-chan, but...'
This bothered her a bit too. As she moved to follow, changing plans—
"...".
A strange sensation from behind. Erika slowly turned toward the arena.
"An interesting freshman? Who knows..."
Aria's eyes met hers—actually, tracking the already-departed Lee Se-hun's back.
"Maybe there is one."
Roooar!
Cheers echoed from behind—the rank-9 fight starting, but lower priority. Lee Se-hun scanned the surroundings.
'No way he'd head straight back with that personality.'
Yeom Seong-ha turned rabid dog when riled, but normally he was prideful, reasonable enough.
He valued face highly, so when upset, he'd stew alone until it passed.
'A spot he'd like...'
Dredging up pre-regression memories, Lee Se-hun wandered near the martial hall and spotted a young man in a secluded park corner.
"Hoo... hoo..."
Yeom Seong-ha, eyes closed, regulating his breath. Up close, Lee Se-hun felt an odd pang.
'He's alive...'
A bit of a mutt, but a pillar of the strike force—and he'd ultimately sacrificed himself to fell the Demon God of Annihilation.
Personality aside, a comrade in arms. Memories stirred.
'Well... he's not twisted yet. Maybe smoother this time.'
Crack the conversation open, leverage his knowledge, form the bond, secure the bond stone—like before regression.
As he approached—
"A freshman?"
Eyes still shut, Yeom Seong-ha spoke calmly.
"Watching the duel?"
"...Yeah. Sort of."
Lee Se-hun grimaced, forcing out the polite reply.
'Having to speak formally to him.'
It grated, twisting his gut—but this wasn't the Yeom Seong-ha he knew. Proceed carefully.
As he endured inwardly, Yeom Seong-ha slowly opened his eyes.
"Finding me... not bad skill..."
His calm words trailed off as he focused on Lee Se-hun's face, eyes narrowing.
'What's his deal?'
The reaction was icy—worse than expected. Sensing trouble—
"Borsippa's department top, huh."
Yeom Seong-ha's voice dropped.
"What're you doing here?"
"Wanted to talk... a bit."
The Flame Flower Sect's future. Crimson Ring Residual Flame Spear improvements. The Three Dogs' unique 'aptitude'.
Mountains to unpack—not all at once, but he wanted to start ASAP.
But.
"Get lost."
No interest whatsoever from Yeom Seong-ha.
He turned away, closed his eyes, resumed breathing. Ignoring Lee Se-hun entirely. His eyes twitched.
"It's... good for you too, Sunbae. Just hear me out..."
"Since you don't get it, one time only."
Yeom Seong-ha cut him off, eyes still closed.
"I hate weaklings."
"...".
"Guys who can't do shit alone but think they're my equal 'cause they've got some half-baked talent? Even more."
Calm, contemptuous, resolute. A pre-regression memory flashed.
'Your role is making gear from the back. Don't get ahead of yourself.'
First meeting on the united front. He'd chalked it up to bad personality—but now he saw the truth.
"So whatever you want, fuck off."
Yeom Seong-ha wasn't just nasty.
"Blacksmith."
He was a foul-mouthed dog who wouldn't treat the weak as human.
'...Yeah. Figures.'
Lee Se-hun let out a hollow chuckle.
The Three Dogs might've been decent kids once. Naive hope—but realistically, rotten bastards stayed rotten.
Bone-deep realization hit. He eyed Yeom Seong-ha again.
'Still better than his Mad Dog phase.'
Pre-regression, he'd have skewered him for persisting. Showing patience now was progress.
Glimmer of redemption. Lee Se-hun pondered his move.
'No talking this out.'
Yeom Seong-ha needed a smack first. Problem: could he land it?
Gaps galore, but physical stats held him back.
'Tancha could boost it, but need the right item... ah.'
Gaze fell to his right hand. He recalled the wild girl he'd just met.
Unabashed talent display, bold approach to helpers. Lingering distrust fading.
Hum—
Insight triggered: soft glow from his palm coalesced into ore.
A vibrant ore of mingled hues.
An amplifier excelling at drawing out the utmost potential from blended materials.
*Enhances synthesized materials' potential.
Like haphazardly clumped enchantment palette dust—rough yet premium. Lee Se-hun's lips quirked up unwittingly.
'Nice.'
Useful now and later. Surpassing expectations. As he smiled—
"...Guess you're not leaving."
Yeom Seong-ha sensed the mana, opening his eyes.
"Your funeral."
He turned, done holding back. The pressure weighed down, but Lee Se-hun stared unflinchingly.
"Heard you once, so I'll say it once."
Yeom Seong-ha advanced indifferently, ignoring words. Calm, heavy. Lee Se-hun grinned.
"The Crimson Ring Residual Flame Spear ends with you."
Those words landed. Yeom Seong-ha froze mid-step, eyes bulging, breath catching.
No way he'd imagined such from a junior freshman—far weaker.
But realization dawned fully. He lunged.
Thoom!
One step closed the gap to Lee Se-hun's nose.
Fist clenched, crimson mana trailed. A hit would shatter his skull, body incinerated tracelessly.
Bond Engraving 'Tancha' activated.
Assuming he'd take it like an idiot.
Thwap!
Lee Se-hun's palms met the fist, softly redirecting rightward.
Mana in palms deflected power, left hand shoving the wrist. Clean guard. Yeom Seong-ha's eyes twitched.
'Deflected?'
Even a casual punch carried his mana—not something Borsippa's top first-year should block.
Yet this blacksmith parried as if scripted, nonchalantly.
'Department top for a reason.'
Hair flickering like flames, faint body heat—body enhancement, surely.
Acknowledging bare minimum qualification, his eyes gleamed.
'That's it.'
Fist missed, but trailing 'residual flame' mana lingered. The erupting blaze—that was the true art.
He pictured the cocky freshman rolling in the explosion.
Hum!
Lee Se-hun's right hand, channeling crimson flame, touched the pre-blast embers.
Kaboom!!!
Monstrous flames burst between them.
Yeom Seong-ha tuned mana to lower heat—no scorch marks—but shockwave snapped flowers, showered leaves.
Bomb-like aftermath. Smoke from the epicenter thinned, revealing them.
"Hoo..."
Lee Se-hun, hair and clothes disheveled by the blast.
"...".
Yeom Seong-ha, clothes singed here and there.
Stunned by the unforeseen outcome. Lee Se-hun swept back his messy hair, grinning.
"Told you, right?"