Chapter 88
Chapter 88
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 91
Chapter Title: The Difference in Power (6)
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"The thing with Lee Eun-woo Hunter in the arena today wasn't a spar..."
Before Su-ho could even finish, Ronnie jumped in.
"Yeah! Cha, kick his ass!"
It seemed like the misunderstanding had only grown bigger.
"To be precise, it wasn't a spar—it was training. I'm planning to learn swordsmanship from Lee Eun-woo Hunter. So..."
"Oh, sword training? That sounds fun too."
We're doomed.
Everyone seemed indifferent to whether it was a spar or not. They just stared at Su-ho and Eun-woo with curiosity about how the two would train.
Eun-woo, meanwhile, paid no attention to the onlookers, his gaze fixed solely on Airin.
"Eun-woo, don't get hurt."
"Got it. And if the training drags on like last time, don't fall asleep here—go to bed in your room."
As Eun-woo showed this sudden tenderness only to Airin, everyone looked shocked. That's when Jin Seong-hyeok spoke to Su-ho.
'First, practice dodging Lee Eun-woo's sword. Train yourself to read his movements and patterns while evading.'
'Understood.'
With preparations complete, Su-ho took his position in the center of the arena. Eun-woo finished his long greeting and headed in as well. The watching Hunters and Helpers held their breath.
"What kind of spar is this today?"
Su-ho answered Eun-woo's question.
"Please attack me."
"Attack you?"
"Yes. Last time, I couldn't dodge your sword even once. I want to dodge this time."
Eun-woo nodded lightly.
"Then the Star Slash Sword won't do."
Eun-woo's main weapon was the Star Slash Sword. If stabbed by it, monsters couldn't regenerate. The same went for people. Su-ho, with his monstrous regenerative power, would heal eventually, but it would take ages.
Eun-woo unbuckled the Star Slash Sword from his waist, set it down, and picked up a secondary weapon.
"This is my backup sword. Less dangerous than the Star Slash."
The blade emerging from the black scabbard was clearly different from the Star Slash. No ornate constellations or inscriptions on the edge. Still, it looked just as sharp.
With calm eyes, Eun-woo swung the sword lightly. The motion flowed like water. From below to above, then diagonally down from above. Holding the sword, he slowly lifted his gaze.
Su-ho tensed, sensing an imminent attack.
"Begin."
Whoosh. The sword whistled past Su-ho's ear.
"I'll do my best."
Even thinking back, the movement made no sense. Faster agility should make the body quicker, but it often threw off balance. Yet Eun-woo's motions were smooth and unshaken.
Masa's eyes trembled faintly as he watched. As a fellow sword-using Hunter, Eun-woo was practically his rival.
He'd seen Eun-woo fight monsters in the field, but observing up close like this was a first. The impact hit Masa even harder. His own hacking, slashing style was worlds apart from Eun-woo's elegant grace. The light twist and thrust, the diagonal upward slice—everything made the spectators hold their breath.
Without a hint of disruption, Eun-woo spoke toward Su-ho.
"Like I said last time, you're too slow."
Then the blade flew again. By the time it registered in Su-ho's eyes, it was already too late—the edge had grazed past his neck.
"Su-ho... can't do a thing..."
Kwon Oh muttered regretfully, but Ji-young replied matter-of-factly.
"Physical and mental types are different here. Mental types usually rely on mental power, so their movements aren't that big. Physical types have to go toe-to-toe with monsters, so of course their agility and strength are top-tier."
And among physical Hunters, Eun-woo was famed for his speed. No matter who Su-ho was, he couldn't easily track those movements.
"Ugh."
A blade grazed Su-ho's forearm as he moved desperately. Through the torn Hunter suit, a straight gash welled with red blood.
"Try dodging faster."
Eun-woo lightly swung and regripped the sword, resuming his attack stance. He didn't stop even after Su-ho got hurt. He knew it'd regenerate anyway.
Whoosh—.
The blade grazed again. And again. The relentless sharp tip kept targeting Su-ho.
It was heartbreaking to watch. Eun-woo dominated with one-sided attacks, while Su-ho took them helplessly without dodging.
"Why isn't he using his power?"
Clark muttered in disbelief. He could've blocked with telekinesis or those fancy flame chains. But Su-ho used no skills, just scrambling to evade. Or rather, failing to.
"Ugh."
This time, a deep cut—Su-ho clutched his side and dropped to a knee. Blood seeped through his fingers; it looked serious.
Eun-woo gazed down calmly.
"Shall we stop?"
"No."
Su-ho gritted his teeth and stood.
"Keep going."
"Understood."
No sooner had he spoken than Eun-woo's leaping blade closed in on Su-ho in an instant.
'Don't chase the movements—predict them.'
Jin Seong-hyeok, unable to hold back, advised.
'Chasing will always be too late. Watch the direction and predict, then move accordingly.'
Predict based on direction?
Whoosh—.
His neck chilled. The blade had likely grazed it this time. Su-ho touched his throat—red blood stained his fingers.
And that's when it happened. Red chains Su-ho hadn't summoned erupted, shooting toward Eun-woo. Instinct had recognized the danger and countered.
Su-ho quickly raised his hand. The chains halted mid-air toward Eun-woo.
"Come back."
He flicked his hand down, and the chains were sucked back into his body.
"Sorry. They pop out on instinct sometimes."
Even in surprise, Eun-woo responded calmly.
"No problem. But that thing—does it have free will?"
"Ah... It seems to come out on its own when I sense danger."
Mental Hunters gaped in shock. A skill with free will? Protecting its user autonomously?
"Unbelievable."
Liu Xian muttered to himself, and Kai Qing chimed in agreement.
"Did Jin Seong-hyeok Hunter's do that too? The more I think about it, that Flame Chain is incredible."
"SSS-grade is on another level."
Amid the murmurs, Su-ho and Eun-woo stayed vigilant.
"Let's continue."
As Eun-woo gripped his sword and took stance, Su-ho recalled Jin Seong-hyeok's words with a nod.
Predict based on direction?
Until now, he'd chased with his eyes. From here on, he observed. He memorized the subtle shifts—sword raised to strike, preparation stance, every nuance.
Whoosh, whoosh. The blade kept moving, wounds accumulating on Su-ho's body. Everyone watched with pity. It was inevitable. A mental Hunter beating a physical one without skills? Slim odds. Especially against Eun-woo.
Breathing ragged, Su-ho's gaze stayed steady. It spurred Eun-woo on.
And Su-ho, rolling on the ground yet clawing back up into stance every time, showed no quit. Eun-woo had no intention of stopping either.
He swung lightly, regripped, and poised to attack again. Su-ho's eyes gleamed.
Whoosh—.
The sword moved—and so did Su-ho.
"Ah."
Su-ho's head tilted slowly aside. Eun-woo's sword missed.
'Success.'
Joy lit Su-ho's eyes at Jin Seong-hyeok's words. He'd finally caught the rhythm.
Eun-woo's sword arced diagonally—from bottom right, up to top left. Su-ho moved precisely opposite. In sync with the blade.
Eun-woo's eyes chilled. His actions sped up slightly. He swung more fiercely at Su-ho, who now evaded.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh.
A half-beat slower than Eun-woo, Su-ho dodged every strike.
He could read it now. Eun-woo instinctively switched patterns. The diagonal blade went straight this time.
Slash—!
The tip sliced horizontally across Su-ho's abdomen. As blood sprayed and onlookers gasped in horror, Su-ho moved.
"Guess I have no choice."
He snapped his fingers at Eun-woo.
"Sacrificing the body to win."
Boom—!
Just a finger snap, yet Eun-woo slammed into the arena wall far off, then crashed to the floor.
'Whew, that was close. Even controlling it.'
'You... right now.'
Jin Seong-hyeok trailed off in shock, so Su-ho explained.
'Yeah. Tweaked a skill I recently learned. Can't have Lee Eun-woo Hunter bursting.'
Matching Eun-woo's vibration frequency with force would've exploded him. Not the goal.
So, what if he sent a stronger pulse than the frequency? To blow him away, not destroy.
And Su-ho's idea worked perfectly. A vibration stronger than Eun-woo's—displacement, not destruction.
'And...'
This was a technique Jin Seong-hyeok had used before Su-ho. On Su-ho's body, even.
'You used this to blast Deadlock away.'
Su-ho remembered Jin Seong-hyeok hurling Deadlock and moving Hunters and Helpers through the gate. Jin Seong-hyeok burst out laughing.
'Feels like I raised a tiger cub.'
'Learned from the tiger himself.'
Eun-woo slowly rose from where he'd been flung. Sword in one hand, the other roughly sweeping back his hair, he spoke.
'Seriously.'
Eun-woo's lips curved faintly.
'Cha Su-ho Hunter... you make me want to fight.'
He gripped his sword again and stepped toward Su-ho.
"Hold on."
Ji-young strode into the arena, inserting herself between them.
"Things are getting too heated. This seems enough for today—what do you think, Airin?"
Ji-young winked at Airin. Regeneration or not, clashing in this overheated vibe could spark a real accident. Catching on, Airin nodded.
"Eun-woo, that's enough now. Watching so tensely made my heart race and head spin."
Airin clutched her head, feigning pain. Eun-woo's body whipped toward her instantly.
"Cha Su-ho Hunter."
Shing, sheathing his sword, Eun-woo continued.
"We'll spar again next time. That's it for today."
Su-ho nodded in acknowledgment.
"Thank you. I learned a lot."
"I learned too. Well then."
With that, Eun-woo scooped up Airin and vanished. Ji-young patted Su-ho's shoulder, left behind.
"Impressive, Cha Su-ho."
"Ah... no. Anyway..."
Eyeing his shredded, bloodied Hunter suit, Su-ho added.
"I need to change clothes."