Chapter 33
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 33
Chapter Title: Seven Wheels Promotion
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A massive circular building reminiscent of the Colosseum.
Lee Se-hun stared up blankly at the structure, which boasted an unrivaled scale even among Babel's many towering edifices.
'Even before my regression, I felt it... but the sheer size is on another level.'
The circular edifice known as Aqar Quf's symbol and landmark. As he made his way toward the 'Flavium'—where all the martial departments gathered—Lee Se-hun glanced around.
'They've sectioned off the building for each martial department, huh. Though "sectioned" is putting it mildly; it's basically one seamless entity.'
Administratively, dozens of departments resided there, but in truth, the entire Flavium was a colossal collective known as the "Martial Departments."
Aqar Quf often grouped multiple departments like this, and the Flavium was the grandest of them all.
'No wonder it's ridiculously huge...'
As Lee Se-hun curiously surveyed his surroundings while heading toward the center, his eyes fell on the sight before him.
'So that's the park.'
A natural park nestled in the central area, surrounded by the building.
A vast lake and densely planted trees created an air of profound mystery, while cadets lightly jogged along the outer track.
"How many kilometers is one lap around there?"
"...Four kilometers."
"Damn, that's huge... How many laps do you do?"
"...About ten in the morning, casually. Same in the evening."
A total of eighty kilometers, treated as mere warm-up by Yeom Seong-ha.
He seemed abnormal in every way, but considering he was among Babel's elite, it wasn't all that strange.
"Anything else in the park? That lake looks interesting."
Having only heard stories of the place before his regression, Lee Se-hun peppered him with questions. Yeom Seong-ha furrowed his brow and shot him a glare at the barrage.
"I need to focus. Can't you shut up for a bit?"
"Nah. Can't do that."
"..."
"You've been focused all night. What's a little more gonna hurt? You'll snap to it once we hit the arena anyway, so rest up while you can."
Some people unraveled completely once they let go of tension, while others could refocus anywhere, anytime.
Yeom Seong-ha fell into the latter category, so it was better to let him unwind fully when possible, restoring his concentration.
Yeom Seong-ha stared at him steadily before sighing and answering.
"...There's a flower garden decorated with blossoms, though you can't see it from here. The lake? No idea."
"Who tends the flower garden?"
"The caretakers, I suppose. Cadets maintain their personal plantings themselves."
Lee Se-hun's relentless questions met Yeom Seong-ha's reluctant responses.
Other cadets passing by in the corridor gaped in shock, as if they'd seen a ghost.
"...That was Yeom Seong-ha sunbae just now, right?"
"And next to him... wasn't that Borsippa's first-year top student?"
"No way, what the...?"
Yeom Seong-ha ignored anyone without skill and even those with it outside of spars—no exchanges whatsoever.
For such a man to casually chat with a fresh-faced Borsippa cadet from this year?
Amid the stunned stares, Lee Se-hun smirked and asked,
"What the hell have you been up to that they're staring like that?"
"Just the necessities."
"Sounds like a total mess..."
Fight if worth it, ignore otherwise. Zero interest beyond growing stronger. As Lee Se-hun shook his head at that mindset,
"What about that auction happening today? Not going?"
"Hm? Oh, the second-years' one?"
The Forging Department's regular auction featuring the White Light Sword he'd made last week. Crucial for setting the first semester's budget, but...
"Eh, why bother?"
Lee Se-hun shrugged indifferently.
"The bidding won't spike just 'cause I'm watching. It'll sell itself just fine."
He was curious about second-year forging levels, but he could check anytime.
Right now, prioritizing Yeom Seong-ha's issue made more sense.
"I see..."
Yeom Seong-ha nodded silently, lost in thought. Grinning, Lee Se-hun said,
"Don't worry about me—focus on you. Don't waste that all-nighter."
"...Hasn't your attitude gotten awfully cocky since yesterday?"
"Want me to use honorifics? Yeom Seong-ha sunbae-nim~ like that?"
"Forget it. Sounds like mockery—don't."
Their banter carried them to the Flavium's first-floor communal arena. Lee Se-hun eyed the arrivals.
Training uniforms embroidered with flame patterns at cuffs and hems. Right shoulders bore flame wheel emblems etched with hanja numerals at the center.
'That number must be their flame wheel count.'
Scanning the neatly arrayed Flame Wheel Sect disciples, Lee Se-hun glanced at the man at the front.
'Seven means he's the one in charge.'
A lean man with sharp eyes.
He looked a bit gaunt, but the muscles peeking from cuffs and hems spoke of well-honed body and mana.
As Lee Se-hun sized him up, the man stepped forward and bowed.
"It's been a while, Young Master."
"..."
Yeom Seong-ha's eyes narrowed briefly at "Young Master," but he relaxed and replied evenly.
"Indeed. Instructor Kang."
"Feels like half a year. You've improved markedly. The sect leader would be pleased."
Glancing at the smiling man, Yeom Seong-ha eyed the disciples lined up behind.
"And them?"
"Ah. Disciples handpicked by the sect leader. To broaden their horizons watching your bout with me."
"Evidently, you're second only to the heir apparent in talent..."
"Instructor Kang Hyun-woon."
Yeom Seong-ha cut him off evenly.
"No heir has been named. Mind your words."
"...Ah, my apologies. A slip of the tongue."
His mouth smiled, eyes didn't.
From Kang Hyun-woon's reaction, Lee Se-hun gleaned the sect's internal dynamics.
'Talk about being stranded like a duck egg in the Nakdong River.'
He didn't know the full story, but his master Yeom Jin-hyeon and Yeom Seong-ha weren't just marginalized in the Flame Wheel Sect—they were outright thorns in the side.
He'd known they were mistreated, but not this badly. As Lee Se-hun pondered with a headache,
"Anyway."
Kang Hyun-woon eyed Lee Se-hun beside Yeom Seong-ha.
"Your companion is one of the freshman top students. You've made quite the connection."
"...Just a passing acquaintance."
"Even that's impressive. Forming ties with such a promising talent... You've changed a lot in half a year."
Pretending admiration while sharpening his gaze at Yeom Seong-ha.
'The training-obsessed fool's finally using his head.'
Confirming Yeom Seong-ha's skill was precautionary, but he couldn't afford sloppiness.
Worried about noise in the settled succession, Kang Hyun-woon quickly composed himself and spoke.
"Then, shall we begin the skill assessment..."
"I request Seven Wheels Promotion."
"...Pardon?"
As Kang Hyun-woon blinked in bewilderment, Yeom Seong-ha stated flatly.
"Exactly as I said. Prepare."
He ascended the arena without further words. Kang Hyun-woon's eyes darkened deeply.
The Flame Wheel Sect treated Six Wheels holders as heirs externally.
Internally, one needed Seven Wheels, instructor qualifications, and peer support.
In short, Yeom Seong-ha had never been treated as heir material within the sect.
'Crossing the line after all.'
They'd tolerated him at Six Wheels as the founding master's disciple and foster son. Why self-sabotage?
Kang Hyun-woon's eyes chilled. Watching, Lee Se-hun smirked faintly.
'Seven Wheels onward, and they start caring.'
Yeom Seong-ha had dazzled Babel with his talent, drawing external acclaim as a prodigy.
Declaring for Seven Wheels and sect leadership here? The sect couldn't act freely under outside scrutiny.
"Unlike standard promotions, Seven Wheels includes instructor duels. I believe it's premature for you... Are you sure?"
"..."
"For Elder Yeom Jin-hyeon's sake, reconsider..."
"Talkative."
Yeom Seong-ha stared flatly, cutting him off.
"Scared of losing your instructor status?"
"...This is on you."
Kang Hyun-woon muttered coldly, ascending while tapping the hexagonal subspatial pouch at his waist.
Whoooong!
A red spear drawn smoothly, thrumming with infused mana.
Its blade was transparently crystalline, like cut gemstone, red mana exuding heat in wispy strands.
'Hmm. Hero-grade at least...'
Main material: hero-grade 'Dragon Flame Stone.' Fire-attuned with high durability—quite usable.
Rare stuff, so Lee Se-hun examined it keenly—until he spotted something, his expression twisting.
'...Who the hell made that?'
Such materials, that result?
As Lee Se-hun's face grew fierce, Yeom Seong-ha tapped his pouch, drawing twin short spears.
Whoooong—
From black space: longer one with straight blade glowing red, shorter with black-glowing cruciform blade.
No frills, impeccably maintained.
Simple yet revealing the maker's skill.
Kang Hyun-woon's eyes widened at the new weapons in Yeom Seong-ha's hands.
"Could it be... you've changed weapons?"
"Yes."
"...Explains the sudden shift. What to even say."
He chuckled incredulously, glancing at Lee Se-hun below.
"Rumors don't do you justice. Turning Young Master around with those 'crude' short spears. Impressive."
"...What?"
"I'll speak well of you to the sect leader. This should resolve a pesky issue nicely."
Knowing the change's cause, no need to fret. As Kang Hyun-woon turned,
"That spear."
Lee Se-hun flashed a chillingly bright smile.
"Better take good care of it."
"What do you..."
"It's cruder than mine, you bastard."
"..."
Beyond expectations, Kang Hyun-woon blanked before scowling.
'Cheeky cadet...'
Top freshman or not, just a cadet. No match for an A-rank hero like him.
Such insolence. Mindful of the disciples, he prepared true killing intent—
"Kang Hyun-woon."
Yeom Seong-ha's mana crushed him first.
"Must I urge you thrice?"
Overwhelming in his divided state. Realizing the timing, Kang Hyun-woon withdrew his intent.
"...My apologies. Let's begin."
He glared once more at Lee Se-hun, then continued.
"This Seven Wheels promotion will be a Domain Duel. Victory or draw qualifies. Any objections?"
"None."
"Then commence."
Not mere Six Wheels—Seven Wheels required.
Even if reached before, leaping two stages overnight.
Other disciples would call it madness, but Yeom Seong-ha remained unshaken.
'Confirmation's done.'
Recalling dawn's sensations, he slowly infused mana into his twin short spears: 'Crimson Straight' and 'Black Cross.'
Vrrrrooom—
Mana surged up the shafts, gathering at the tips.
Gazing at the spears accepting it like extensions of his body, he swung at empty air.
Fwoooosh!
Dark-red flames traced a circle, accelerating to split into dual hues. Disciples gawked at the red flame wheel shrouded in black haze.
'What kind of flame wheel is that...?'
'Feels heavier than standard.'
'Unleashing Flame Wheel Petal Spear like that with short spears...'
Unseen weapons and form. As they panicked at the spectacle, Yeom Seong-ha formed five black flame wheels, entering the sixth.
Fwwoom!
His regression to five from six stemmed from two issues: faltering focus and imbalanced Red Flame Soul and Black Dark Soul ratios.
Long-suppressed Black Dark Soul's backlash wasn't easily overcome overnight. Thus, Lee Se-hun chose the simplest path.
Vrrrrooom!
Providing the answer directly.
Excess mana made the spears quiver faintly; Yeom Seong-ha instantly adjusted ratios, birthing a black flame wheel.
Fwoooosh!
Sixth formed, seventh guided seamlessly by the spears.
Perfectly completed seven black flame wheels. Across, Kang Hyun-woon stared grimly.
"Forgot the sect leader's order to suppress Black Dark Soul?"
"Suppressing it hinders. I changed."
"Such mongrel flames won't count as flame wheels."
True flame wheels used pure fire mana—the root of Flame Wheel Petal Spear. Yet Yeom Seong-ha replied flatly, unblinking.
"We'll see when they clash. Come."
"...You'll regret it."
Kang Hyun-woon muttered coldly, swinging to instantly draw seven flame wheels.
Fwoooosh!
Domain Duel for Seven Wheels: Equal flame wheels collide; last maintainer wins—an ancient sect tradition.
Seemingly brute force, but finely balanced power distribution among seven decided it.
Thus, Kang Hyun-woon was confident.
'Impressive reaching seven already, but completion's poor.'
Superior physique, technique, gear. Unbeatable. Recalling sect leader's words with other instructors:
'If Yeom Seong-ha challenges Seven Wheels, crush him boldly. I'll handle fallout.'
Sect internal affair. No outsider interference short of death.
Resolved, Kang Hyun-woon gripped tighter; mana surged.
'Pyro Acceleration.'
Vrrrrooom!
Embedded weapon skill activated, accelerating surrounding flame wheels' spin.
Resonating mana waves and heat. To overwhelm, he kicked off, thrusting spear and seven wheels.
KABOOOM!
Clashing black flame wheels erupted massively.
Kang Hyun-woon: over twenty years sect training, five-plus at Seven Wheels.
Yeom Seong-ha: mere days at Seven Wheels.
All knew the expected dominance—and reality followed.
Fwwoom!
With black haze devouring the flame wheels.
"Wha... what...!?"
Black haze infiltrating, staining his wheels inside out. Sticking, unburnable black flames. Kang Hyun-woon's eyes bulged.
Full power with weapon skill—yet devoured by mere haze?
'Impossible... no way...'
His seven dwindled to six, then five. Opposing black flame wheels stabilized, burning fiercer instead.
As if grasping more from the clash, growing monstrously. Beyond, Yeom Seong-ha gazed impassively. Kang Hyun-woon realized too late.
Crack—
The sect leader feared not the weakened founder,
CRASH!!
but this absurdly talented prospect before him.
"Ah..."
His seven flame wheels vanished entirely; spear tip obliterated.
Hero-grade spear, bought with years' savings—shattered irreparably. Kang Hyun-woon stared blankly down.
"Shoddy."
Yeom Seong-ha flatly echoed another's words.