Yusoha's Unstoppable Streak
Yusoha's consecutive victories in the Hwanryeong Grand Tournament had put many Awakened on high alert. The spectators in the stands, along with those watching the broadcast footage, shared similar reactions.
The Awakened community Transcendence, commonly called Ts, was burning brightly.
Eclipse found the sight rather amusing and let out a small chuckle. He was still watching his teammate from the same group, Cha Hyeonseong, being relentlessly driven back by bold yet solid swordplay.
“His learning speed is definitely fast. Could that be what they call talent?”
Yusoha was an exceptionally outstanding student. She absorbed everything he taught her and never neglected her training. To change this much after only a month of instruction proved just how exceptional her talent truly was.
Of course, Eclipse had also pressured her to repeat every movement the moment her posture faltered, but how many sword instructors wouldn't do the same?
His heart began to race. The anticipation of something new always stirred excitement in people. It was the same for him. Seeing the student he had taught display such excellence was more than enough to excite him.
In his previous world, he could never have felt this kind of joy. No matter how many soldiers he taught the sword to, most of them ended up fighting Terror and dying heroic deaths. Those who survived? They usually died in the next battle anyway. In other words, even if he had wanted to raise a proper disciple, the situation had never allowed it. The moment someone could hold a sword, they had to face Terror.
So how happy he was to have an outstanding student like Yusoha—she probably had no idea.
Eclipse shook off his thoughts. Yusoha would be arriving soon.
When Yusoha returned to the waiting room, her expression was refreshed. Cha Hyeonseong possessed the strongest defensive power in Hwanryeong Team 2, yet she had defeated him with ease. Eclipse's guidance had clearly been incredibly effective. Opponents who would have given her serious trouble before were now easily overcome.
Back in the waiting room, she smiled brightly—a rare sight—and grabbed Eclipse's hand.
“Thank you so much, Eclipse.”
“Soha. You did well. Your growth is visible with every real battle you experience. It was worth pushing you without mercy for the past month.”
“Yeah. Thank you. Thanks to you, I could easily defeat opponents who would have been difficult before.”
“That is all thanks to your own effort, not mine. Many people are taught but never put it into practice.”
“The fact that you're willing to teach me is what I'm grateful for.”
“How does the next matchup look? I heard the quarterfinals begin tomorrow.”
“It's Lee Mina.”
“Ah. Your team member. Or should I say your bodyguard.”
“Yeah. Her movements are quick, so she'll be tricky to face... but I can still win.”
“Then there's nothing to worry about.”
“Right. Once I get past Lee Mina...”
“Your sister will be waiting.”
“That's right.”
If Yu Danha won her match, the next bout would immediately pit Yusoha against her sister. The bracket had been redrawn upon entering the quarterfinals, leading to this outcome.
“So just wait a little longer. The time for you to truly shine will come soon.”
“Understood.”
“It seems there's no need to worry about Soha.”
“Is that so?”
Rumeorn smiled faintly at Yu Hajun.
“Yes. As expected of my granddaughter, her resolve is quite firm. Moreover, she's realized something new this time, so she'll put on a good match against Danha.”
“Now I'm even more curious after hearing you say that, Mother.”
Yu Hyeok, sitting beside them, nodded in agreement.
“Well, we just need to sit back and watch.”
“By the way, where did our daughter-in-law go?”
“Mina is... always busy. Unfortunately she can't make it today due to other work.”
“Tsk tsk. She should rest on a day like this.”
“Isn't this all because Hwanryeong has grown too large? My head already aches just thinking about the flood of work that'll come rushing in once the tournament ends.”
“Exactly. You should have handled everything during normal times. At least I never let my work pile up.”
With Rumeorn's scolding and Yu Hyeok chiming in from the side, Yu Hajun suddenly found his seat growing very uncomfortable.
“I didn't expect to make it this far.”
Standing on the arena, Lee Mina gazed at Yusoha with sharp eyes. Normally she was Yusoha's bodyguard, but right now she was acting as the Awakened Lee Mina. She took her stance with her rapier drawn.
“I'm sorry, Mina. Looks like you won't be advancing any further this time either.”
“I've become quite a bit stronger compared to last year.”
“You know I've improved just as much.”
“...That's true.”
Lee Mina was one of the few who knew about Eclipse's existence—and just how powerful he was. Because of that, she knew she couldn't beat Yusoha even if she died and came back to life. Still, she refused to give up. Backing down simply because the opponent was strong meant she had no right to call herself an Awakened.
Currently ranked at the top of B-class and expected to rise to A-class soon, Lee Mina knew that tucking her tail now would destroy her reputation. The way Yusoha looked at her would turn ice-cold as well. So she would give everything she had.
With that firm resolve, Lee Mina stared at Yusoha with unwavering eyes.
Yusoha liked that about her. It was no coincidence that she had specifically chosen Lee Mina as her personal bodyguard. By her standards, Lee Mina was more than qualified.
As soon as both took their stances, the referee signaled the start of the match. Lee Mina seized the initiative immediately. Dragging the fight out would only hurt her. She called upon her Guardian Star, the wind spirit Synea, to make her body even faster.
Synea's power simply accelerated her movements. But that alone was enough. It was how Lee Mina had reached this stage.
Her quick, light steps dazzled Yusoha's eyes. Her rapier-focused swordplay specialized in thrusts. The nature of a thrust meant that if you couldn't accurately strike a gap, you couldn't land an effective blow.
If it had been the old Yusoha, she might have given Lee Mina an opening or two. Her flashy but fundamentally weak swordsmanship had always been vulnerable to opponents who aimed for gaps.
But the current Yusoha didn't show Lee Mina even the slightest opening.
Lee Mina felt like she was facing a wall. An impenetrable wall. She had known that Yusoha had made tremendous progress under Eclipse's guidance. But facing her directly... the pressure was no joke.
No matter where she thrust, an immediate counter would come flying back. Even if she moved her feet as fast as possible, she wouldn't be able to break through Yusoha's defense.
The moment she hesitated, wondering what to do, Lee Mina's eyes caught a gap in Yusoha's guard. She stepped forward.
That gap was almost certainly a trap. Even knowing that, Lee Mina couldn't stop her advancing foot. The moment she hesitated, Yusoha's lightning-fast strike would come.
Sure enough, Yusoha's smile entered her vision first. Lee Mina clicked her tongue inwardly.
I lost.
But she didn't stop. A thrust like lightning raced toward Yusoha's throat.
Yusoha, as if she had seen through everything, wore a deep smile. Her swift parry happened in an instant. At the same time, Lee Mina felt terrible pain. Her rapier was sent flying through the air.
A single strike. Just one strike.
This was the danger of swordplay that relied mainly on thrusts. Once it was read, the chance of defeat multiplied several times over. Of course, if she possessed speed that surpassed her opponent's perception it wouldn't matter, but even with Synea's help she hadn't reached that level.
In the end, Lee Mina could only smile bitterly and accept her defeat.
Yusoha smiled faintly and offered her a hand. Even though she had known it was a trap, Lee Mina had thrown herself forward in search of a chance. That courage alone had earned Yusoha's approval.
With the match finally over, Yusoha lifted her head and scanned the arena. Her gaze soon found her older sister.
Yu Danha was smiling at her. Yusoha smiled back.
“This time will be different.”
Perhaps she had heard the quiet murmur. The smile on Yu Danha's lips grew even deeper.