Yoon Seo-ah, Hunter Association President (1): Deathmatch
"Oh my, having so much fun without me? You have to let big sis join in too."
Yoon Seo-ah, the Hunter Association President, drawled lazily. Like a cat yawning under the late afternoon sun. But her voice rang out crystal clear because the clamor of Artemis had fallen silent as if by magic. The frenzied roars echoing through the arena, even the VVIPs' crude grunts—all evaporated in an instant. A stillness like time itself had frozen. Her presence was that overwhelming.
Her red eyes swept the lounge. Everywhere her gaze touched, everything floating in the air crashed to the floor in unison.
Kwa-gwang-gwang-gwang! Glasses filled with fine wine shattered against the marble floor, heavy tables crumpling like matchboxes.
"Hmph. Looks like that headache of a woman I really didn't want to see showed up after all."
The S-rank puppeteer Ma Do-jun ignited invisible threads of mana from his fingertips, assuming combat stance.
"Long time no see, kiddos. Still playing house in this dingy underground?"
"Shut your trap, you old witch!"
"Oh, calling me a witch? Thanks, sweetie."
"You barge in without warning?"
Yoon Seo-ah didn't flinch amid the murderous intent. "Warning?" She exhaled a long plume of cigarette smoke, sneering. She looked utterly composed. "Do I need to announce myself patrolling my own turf? Or were you hiding something I shouldn't see?"
Mana concentrated in her hand, igniting into a massive fireball that scorched the air around it.
Hwarururuk! A house-sized blaze roared toward her. But Yoon Seo-ah didn't bat an eye. The space around her warped subtly into a spherical barrier.
The fireball lost form before reaching her, scattering like it had hit an invisible wall. Flame shards burst like fireworks, but not a single scorch mark marred her skin.
"My flames..." Yeom Hwa-rin gasped in shock.
Pa-a-a-at! At the same moment, Ma Do-jun's puppets surged from all sides. Ones with razor blades, others firing venom needles—dozens encircled her.
"Fools."
She raised her hand, and every charging puppet froze mid-air. Then, gripped by unseen hands, they smashed into each other viciously.
Kwang! Kwa-jik! Peo-peong! Blades pierced bodies, needles stabbed wrong targets, and they exploded alongside their fellows. A mass self-destruct. Without moving a step, she'd neutralized a pincer attack from two S-rank hunters like toys.
Ma Do-jun groaned watching his puppets detonate. "You planning to make enemies of every hunter here?!"
"I didn't strike first. I just want you to stop these illegal, inhuman antics. I can't turn a blind eye anymore as Hunter Association President. Free the slaves."
Master stepped forward from his silence. Like he'd foreseen it all, he began orchestrating the scene like moving chess pieces.
"We fully understand your noble intentions, President."
He clapped slowly, strolling ahead. "But if you want to 'liberate' everything here, there's only one way."
He pointed to the bloodstained sand at the arena's center.
"By Artemis's rules, I propose a deathmatch."
Everyone in the lounge held their breath. Proposing a deathmatch to the president? Suicide.
"Deathmatch?" Yoon Seo-ah let out an incredulous chuckle at his offer. "You wanna fight me? Even all of you together couldn't touch me."
It wasn't arrogance. As the pinnacle among S-ranks, it was fact.
Murmurs rippled around at his confident demeanor. Ma Do-jun muttered in disgust. "Hmph. Fighting that witch is the last thing I want."
Yeom Hwa-rin shook her head too. "Master, my flames are just candles against her telekinesis."
Master, dangling in mid-air, kept his cool. "Of course, we're not ganging up on you. That'd be too cowardly."
He smiled leisurely. "The rules are simple. Since it's an arena, I'll field a champion in my stead. You versus my champion—one on one."
"Oh... a champion. Why should I? I could just kill you."
Master's body floated higher, then compressed under pressure.
"M-Master!"
"Kuh..."
I'll kill her. I'll kill her! I nearly lost control, drawing my blade on Yoon Seo-ah in impulse. Her telekinesis was throttling his throat.
"...Remove that hand. Now."
"I said take your filthy hands off Master. Now."
My surging killing intent blanketed the coliseum.
Shwaaaaa!
"What... is this killing intent?"
"C-Cold... Isn't the temperature dropping?"
"Kyaaaa! I'm gonna die!"
The remaining hunters fled screaming. If Master hadn't signaled restraint with a finger twitch, I might've lunged and severed Yoon Seo-ah's neck. Pure bloodlust from the First Sword witnessing her sole reason for existence threatened.
"Keurk...!"
"Ugh... ah...!"
Hyun-woo, Yumi, and the nobodies around them frothed at the mouth, collapsing in screams. They couldn't withstand an S-rank's pure killing intent. Only fellow S-ranks Yeom Hwa-rin and Ma Do-jun, Guild Master Kang Jin-woo, and top A-rank tank Cheol-ho oppa barely held their ground.
"Hoo..." Yoon Seo-ah looked genuinely intrigued.
"A very special 'sword' to entertain you with, President. If my champion loses, I'll free all my slaves and never set foot here again. But if..."
"No need to hear more. Just lock you up, right? Dr. Lee Hyun-seong?"
Kkak! Blood trickled from bitten molars, staining her lips. I barely suppressed the urge to charge her.
"Wait... you...?"
Guild Master Kang Jin-woo eyed me suspiciously, the source of the bloodlust, but I had no time for that.
She lowered Lee Hyun-seong trembling from mid-air. "Not bad. I like you, bitch."
But Yoon Seo-ah seemed hooked by the proposal. "So, that ridiculous woman steps up?" Her gaze swept us from above, lingering on me.
"Yes."
"Fine."
Finally, she accepted. "Not a bad way to kill time. Let's do it."
"Thank you."
"If your champion loses, everyone withdraws."
"Of course. And if you lose?"
"Me? Lose? Hilarious." She gestured at the other itching hunters. "Prep the next round too. I'll smash you all."
"Then we'll prepare briefly."
"Do whatever."
We headed to the prep room reserved for coliseum gladiators only.
"Strip."
I shed the latex suit. Slaves wiped me reverently with damp towels like holy water. Under their ministrations, I donned my armor piece by piece in sacred ritual: greaves, waistguard, breastplate, arm guards. A full-face helm encased my head.
I knelt on one knee before Master.
Thud. Marble met knee. I prostrated at his feet. Not slave's submission. A knight's deepest oath to her lord.
I bowed lower, pressing my forehead to his shoe tip. Dogeza.
One thought dominated my mind now. Victory. Slice the enemy before me.
"Master's First Sword, Sia Seong."
I vowed. "Master's First Sword, Sia Seong. I accept your command. I will bring victory. I'll sever that arrogant bitch's head for touching your sacred body and lay it at your feet."
I didn't raise my head. Until his permission, I was merely a blade at his feet.
"...Good. Win, and I'll reward you."
"No reward needed. My blade, my body, my soul—all staked on victory for you."
I strode without hesitation toward the arena tunnel. My heels echoed in the silent corridor.
Clack, clack. Like a condemned prisoner to the queen's judgment seat. Or a procession heralding a new empress.
"Waaaaaaaaaah!!!"
As I mounted the ring, the revived crowd erupted in frenzy.
"Tonight's main event has changed! Master Lee Hyun-seong's champion versus Hunter Association President Yoon Seo-ah!"
They went mad for the historic duel they'd witness. Most already knew me. Coliseum packed again for Sword Princess Sia Seong versus President Yoon Seo-ah.
Across the ring, Yoon Seo-ah awaited. Cigarette butt at her feet crumbled to ash on its own.
"That's more like it. Let's see who's the true top S-rank."
"..."
Invisible telekinesis swirled around her like a storm. Arena sand and pebbles floated, clumping into thousands of bullets aimed at me. Each honed petal-sharp, brimming with lethal intent.
My cells thrilled, sensing the massive battle ahead. My heart pounded like a forge hammer. This was the fight I craved.
I drew my sword from inventory.
"Hoo, now that's a worthwhile glare."
I gripped tighter, pointing the tip at her. No words. I inhaled deeply. Blood and sand scent filled my lungs to the core.
This was my sword's song for the queen. Sword Princess's blade dance offered to Master.
I'll kill you.