Win-Win (2)
'Is he dead?'
Breathing in the gray smoke blanketing the circular arena and the acrid stench of gunpowder, Raguna Hamblton bit her lip anxiously. Her previous profession had been that of a war merchant. She dealt in goods that invited death, but she herself had always kept her distance from actual combat. In fact, during her first duel, when she'd been dragged in utterly defenseless, she'd been unable to do a thing and met a gruesome end.
Yet she'd climbed all the way to the 4th floor. Thanks to the peculiar unique skill she'd started with.
Death Merchant
Rank E — Combat consumables cost 50% less.
Rank F — Can move during countdown.
Raguna's formula for victory was always the same. Before the duel even began, hurling combat consumables like the thunderclap bombs bought from the [Sundries] section. Her opponents, bound in place, couldn't mount any real defense and ended up as mincemeat.
As the floors rose, total scores increased, and challengers grew stronger, but so did the rank of Raguna's thunderclap bombs, keeping the method effective.
Still, she was always anxious on some level. What if she encountered an opponent who didn't die in one hit? She had contingency plans, but best not to need them.
"……."
Whoosh.
A gust swept away the dust and smoke. Tension drained from Raguna's face as color returned. Head, arms, legs—everything scattered in pieces. A bloody spectacle that made her eyes water just to look at, but when it meant her survival, it was different.
Of course, she thought, clenching her fist. No one could survive in that state.
But why hasn't the victory message appeared...?
Her eyes sharpened. She was a merchant, after all—one who never took anything for granted, always verifying every detail.
Probably a challenger who'd invested heavily in stamina, making him tough. He'd stop breathing soon, and the message would pop up. Even as she reasoned this, Raguna kept her eyes glued to her opponent without relaxing.
That's why she spotted the signs quickly.
What the hell is that monster?!
The scattered limbs began mending slowly, drifting back toward the main body. Startled by the eerie sight, Raguna hurled another thunderclap bomb.
* * *
Boom! Boom-boom! Boom!
In the heart of the chain explosions, Yun-seok was too disoriented to grasp the situation. Had his body ever been this wrecked before? He couldn't see. Not that his face with eyes intact would have fared any better. All that came from where his arms and legs had been were signals of scorching pain.
Only then did Yun-seok realize his state. His body was in pieces. No other way to put it.
But fortunately, his core—the key to activating Blood Pact—was unharmed. If not for the D+ rank armor looted from Lee Chang-hoon, the explosion would have shattered it instantly, likely killing him outright.
Need to recover fast.
Yun-seok focused every nerve on regeneration. Legs first, then arms, while channeling magic to repair his shredded suit simultaneously.
But the explosions continued, refusing to let him. Damn it!
He switched tactics. Regrowing limbs right away was impossible. But if he could just protect the core in his lower abdomen, an opening would come.
Yun-seok curled into a ball, abandoning everything else.
Boom! Boom-boom! KABOOM!
Muscles tore away, bones exposed. Smoke rose as wounds knit shut. This cycle repeated hundreds, thousands of times over mere seconds of blasts.
A time of endurance, endurance, endurance. Long for him, yet terribly short for someone else.
"Why won't you die?!"
As the smoke cleared, Raguna stared in horror at Yun-seok. He was a pile of meat on the ground. Injuries that would have killed an ordinary person a hundred times over. But even that didn't make sense. An explosion like that should have left no trace, shredding him to oblivion.
And right now, flesh was sprouting from his blood-soaked wounds.
"Immortal...? What nonsense is this...!"
His eardrums hadn't regenerated yet, so Yun-seok didn't hear. If he had, he might have retorted: Moving during countdown? As if.
Watching Yun-seok slowly recover, Raguna agonized.
What do I do...?
She had one more C-rank thunderclap bomb. But if even that failed? She was done. No matter how many coins left, using up all consumables left her survival odds near zero next duel.
As she dithered, his legs reattached.
"……."
Too late for anything now. Arms followed, then even minor wounds healed. Pristine, not a drop of blood. Raguna rationalized desperately.
Bad matchup. I never had a chance.
At least she'd saved the last bomb, clinging to hope for the next duel. Her one consolation.
So now I die, huh...
Memories of her first death flooded back. It hurt, hurt, HURT. She'd learned then just how much agony a human could endure.
Yun-seok approached warily, sword ready. Raguna trembled, pleading.
"Please kill me quick. Painlessly...!"
To show no resistance, she squeezed her eyes shut. Darkness fell. Footsteps grew louder, stopping right before her. The blade would sever her neck any second. She clenched tighter.
But then.
Huh...?
A hand slipped inside her robe. Untouched territory for any man. It roamed like it was exploring every inch. Raguna's eyes flew open in shock. But Yun-seok's hand was already withdrawing.
"This the last one?"
He held her remaining thunderclap bomb. Raguna nodded blankly.
"Risky combat style."
She flinched. She'd heard stories in chat rooms about female challengers. Some exploited the no-kill-no-end rule, sating their lust on defeated foes.
"Please, just kill me? Yeah...?"
She begged. But the refusal was firm.
"Sorry, can't do that."
Her face darkened. Polite tone or not, the intent was clear.
"Then sleep a bit."
Sleep? What would he do meanwhile? Terror-stricken, Raguna backed away. Yun-seok advanced the same distance.
Like this... really like this...?
Not the edge, but the flat of the blade swung down.
Thwack!
Even as consciousness faded, shame wracked Raguna's body.
* * *
"……?"
Yun-seok laid the unconscious Raguna gently in one corner of the arena and tilted his head. Clutching her front, shivering...
Cold?
Looked like she was freezing, but under this blazing sun? Yun-seok chuckled, turning to the thunderclap bomb in his hand.
People fight like this too, huh.
Combat consumables came in wild varieties. Scrolls with spells, poisons, even game-like potions.
But Yun-seok had no plans to buy them. One-use items meant AP loss long-term.
Still, the power was undeniable.
Without Blood Pact, I'd be dead...
Cheonma's words hit home now. Skill was just basics here? True. No matter his sword training or breakthroughs, victory came from his unique skill—system power.
It left him hollow. And he wondered: lifelong martial artists perfecting their arts—what did they feel?
If it were him, would there have been another way...?
No knowing. But Yun-seok steadied his shaken heart. Bad matchup this time; basics still mattered. Plus alpha, anyway. No ignoring skills or stats.
No reason to slack on training.
Time to practice.
Yun-seok swung at empty air. Feet danced busily, like fighting an invisible foe. A smile curved his lips.
Unnecessary worry.
"……."
Skills or stats—didn't matter. This joy? No reason not to.
* * *
Whoosh! Whoosh!
The familiar dawn sounds stirred odd nostalgia. Raguna opened her eyes silently. A faint hope it was a dream... but no.
No knights training visible from her window. Not her room.
"……."
She checked her state quietly. Clothes intact.
Again, huh...
This wasn't her first wakeup. Fourth time. Any sound or stir, and he'd sense it like a ghost, knocking her out before she could speak.
Yet no molesting while out. Just knockout. End.
Then what the hell is he doing...?
Training. Alone, with her knocked out.
Her common sense rejected it.
Crazy...?
Better than the alternative, at least. No horrors before death.
But how long? How much time passed?
Sky still bright. Useless for gauging. No nights here sometimes.
Her duels always ended pre-countdown; she couldn't tell if the sun dipped.
But hunger gnawed. First physiological sensation since entering.
Grrrrrowl—!
Startled by her stomach, Raguna glanced at Yun-seok. He'd stopped training, staring.
"……."
He approached. Awake? Knockout first.
Her face paled. She shouted desperately.
"Wait! Let's talk!"
"……."
"It'll help you too!"
"……?"