You're Gonna Be Really Stressed (3)
You're Gonna Be Really Stressed (3)
'Feels like standing before a mountain or the sea.'
If Everest and the Pacific were right in front of you, would it feel like this?
Circling around Lee Hyun-do clockwise, that was the only thought in Team Leader 1 and Choi Geuk-shin's head.
Of course, he too had crossed over countless death lines.
From the 2040s to the present in 2090, from his late teens to now pushing 70.
So he never flaunted it openly, but it would be a lie to say Geuk-shin lacked confidence in his martial arts.
However.
'No gaps at all...'
The "gap" a martial artist speaks of generally refers to the opponent's mindset.
The image of yourself inevitably victorious against any foe.
Or the combat logic of how to subdue the enemy.
Yet no matter what Geuk-shin imagined, he couldn't picture himself winning against Lee Hyun-do.
'Of course, I knew that already... haha.'
In Geuk-shin's eyes, Lee Hyun-do was just standing there.
Not assuming any particular stance, yet that in itself was the ultimate posture.
'That arm—looks like it's just hanging loosely without any strength...'
In other words, it was proof that all unnecessary tension had vanished.
'The legs... no tension there either. Can't tell where his center of gravity is.'
Predicting an opponent's movements means grasping their center of mass.
However, as Geuk-shin slowly circled Lee Hyun-do, he learned nothing until he returned to his starting point... almost.
Geuk-shin circulated his energy through his entire body and let out a sharp kiai.
"Hap!"
—ttaang!
Dropping into the lowest stance possible, Geuk-shin shot forward toward Lee Hyun-do like a bullet.
Targets: groin, solar plexus, chin, philtrum.
Full speed, full power strikes to the four vital points along the centerline.
This was the best Geuk-shin could offer right now, the surest way to shatter a human body... or so he thought.
—bwooung!
"?!"
The first punch aimed at the groin was blocked outright.
No, not just blocked—it completely whiffed.
Lee Hyun-do had stepped forward a bit, and his left leg had lightly swept Geuk-shin's wrist aside.
"Straight-line rushes are fast, but vulnerable to side interventions. Just a light push like that changes the trajectory."
It was Lee Hyun-do's advice to Geuk-shin, who now looked like he was throwing an uppercut at empty air—instead of a counterattack.
"Then...!"
How's this?! Geuk-shin thought, whipping a back roundhouse kick toward Lee Hyun-do's face.
If points don't work, go for area.
If straight lines fail, use curves.
He can't deflect this one like before... Geuk-shin figured.
—hwooung!
"Guh...!"
Yet again, Geuk-shin's attack hoarsely cleaved empty air.
Lee Hyun-do had simply taken one step back, as if he'd seen it coming from a mile away.
"Fuu..."
Staring at Lee Hyun-do, who still stood silently, Geuk-shin assumed his stance once more.
Left arm and left foot forward, his entire body screaming he was ready for more.
Geuk-shin wasn't the type to repeat the same choice and hope for a different result, either.
"I figured as much... but you're far more impressive than I imagined, President."
"Well... I won't deny it."
"Haha, speak comfortably, please. I know you're older than the Chairman."
"Hahaha, can't do that. You don't talk down to a captain just 'cause you're a private, right?"
"Hmm? But you were speaking casually just now?"
"That was... uh... in the heat of combat, it slipped out..."
"Hahaha, calling it combat makes me happy. Then, may I share this joy with my subordinates?"
"Of course. The more, the merrier."
"Thank you. Everyone, come out!"
Soon, eleven S-Class Hunters in black doboks appeared before Lee Hyun-do.
Feeling it still wasn't enough, Team Leader 1 glanced at Scarlet Kim, who was meekly hanging back.
"What're you doing? Change into your dobok."
"Didn't hear you right?"
"You heard me fine, so hurry up and change."
"Urgh... Fine..."
Finally, Scarlet Kim changed into her dobok and stood before Lee Hyun-do.
Team Leader 1 then surrounded Lee Hyun-do with the eleven hunters and issued another command.
"Anything goes! Use any tactic! Receive guidance from President Lee Hyun-do in front of you! Dismissed!"
"Yes!"
No sooner had Team Leader 1 spoken than the twelve S-Class Hunters charged at Lee Hyun-do.
'Haha, looks like five minutes was too optimistic after all.'
Before entering this dojo, I'd calculated I could take down all of Team 1 in five minutes—time to revise that.
Sure, individually, Scarlet Kim, the Team Leader, and the rest were only on the level of a single high-ranking demon.
But a properly commanded and coordinated group always exceeds expectations in power.
"Don't move recklessly!"
At the Team Leader's word, the eleven hunters instantly encircled me in a ring.
'Looks like hunters specialize in group fights. Come to think of it, they said A-class Identification Magic Beasts take a team of five S-Class Hunters.'
'Yeah. Team 1 specializes in that kind of hunt.'
Truth is, I'm a group fight expert too.
Well... from the side facing overwhelming numbers, except when fighting Demon Kings.
So a 12-on-1 isn't anything special.
'Hmm, guess it's starting. Need a hand?'
'Nah, I'm good.'
'Got it.'
Right after wrapping up with Clare and Yeomhwa, the six hunters in front took a step forward.
The ones behind are timing their moves.
I took them all in my sight and shifted one step to the right.
—swish...
At the same time, all twelve hunters encircling me moved in sync.
'Means Team Leader 1's authority is rock-solid... but.'
In other words, right now, I hold command of this battlefield.
And... dealing with a group is surprisingly simple.
Just turn it into as many 1-on-1s as there are enemies.
I immediately spun and charged straight at Scarlet Kim, who was right behind me.
"Huh...?!"
"You're gonna get a lot of stress today."
I bestowed my loving guidance and attention on Scarlet Kim.
Specifically... a gut punch controlled not to injure, but enough to halt her movements dead.
Man, even with perfect power control, she couldn't respond at all.
—pwoock...!
"Guhuk...!"
"But you need that stress too."
Next up, naturally...
"Oh no...!"
"You'll be thinking about this a lot before bed, Team Leader-nim."
Against a coordinated group, strike the head fast and decisively.
Group fight basics.
Still, the Team Leader was a Team Leader—he didn't go down helplessly like Scarlet Kim. He assumed a defensive stance... sort of.
—crash!
I tripped his unsteady leg, then drove a fist toward his face... stopping right at his nose.
"Dead."
"...Yes. I'll think about it a lot before bed."
"Next."
Ten hunters left.
Sadly, no one else stepped up first for my guidance, so as a kind hero, I went to them one by one.
"You just gonna sit there resting?"
—ppak!
"Gahk...!"
"But resting's fine, technically."
—ppaak!
"Kuuk...!"
"Go in smooth and technical."
—pwoock...!
"Wuuk...!"
"This hurts the pride."
We can talk, right? Talking!
Sure, it's one-sided beatdown, but I'm really helping a ton, yeah?
With that in mind, I carefully tended to each one, and before I knew it, only one remained.
"U, uh...!"
"You can't just keep resting. No one's resting. What're you gonna do?"
"Uwaaaah!!"
"Don't just charge in scared. Go smooth and technical, wear 'em down with stamina. This really hurts the pride, right?"
Think about it a lot before bed.
Packed full of my caring attention, I gifted her another loving gut punch.
"Grrruk..."
Art. Pure art.
Staring alone at the twelve S-Class Hunters I'd laid out, the thought hit me.
I'm just too damn good.
'If all forty had come at you fully armed, it'd be a different story.'
'Yeah, probably.'
Of course, if they came at me for real like that, things would change for me too.
If they're gunning for my life, I'd have to repay in kind...
I shook off those stray thoughts and extended a hand to the fallen Team Leader 1.
"This enough?"
"Haha, yes. Please keep guiding us from now on."
"Will do. By the way, I heard hunters aren't just strong physically—they have special powers too."
"Correct. Of course, today was just light guidance sparring, so we banned abilities and weapons."
"I see. Makes sense—not good to have injuries or deaths in training."
"Exactly."
After helping Team Leader 1 up, I naturally went first to Scarlet Kim, the one I'd dropped first.
Weird... I definitely controlled my power perfectly, so why's she still clutching her gut on the floor...
"You okay?"
"Yeah..."
"Then why're you still lying there? You're worrying me."
"It's... haah...♥"
"...Nah, don't say it. I get it without words. Yeah."
Guess I underestimated Scarlet Kim's masochistic streak.
Who'd have thought a gut punch would send her into bliss.
'Isn't that kinda good in its own way...? No, no. What am I saying?'
Punching the gut is seriously dangerous.
Even for a master like me, something you never do lightly.
As I reined myself in like that.
Team Leader 1, having roused all the hunters, approached me.
"Shall we wrap up today's guidance sparring here, President?"
"Sure. So that's the end of today's schedule?"
"Haha, if I let you go like this, what would I even put in my report?"
"Ah, you want me to unpack my bundle a bit."
"Hahaha, yes. And we have a few things to show you too, so please spare a little more time."
"Got it. Can't refuse when you put it like that, Team Leader-nim. Shall I unpack first?"
"Yes, thank you. Looking forward to the eye candy, haha."
He's asking to see my skills and abilities.
The Chairman talk was just an excuse—the real reason's the curiosity any martial artist would have.
In that case, time to show these rookies what real swordsmanship is.