1236 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

I was mistaken. After this much, surely I'd get a break. That's what I thought. I believed that those martial artists, with their endless pride, wouldn't call upon the same person again if they could help it. But, I was wrong. "I nominate Baek Yangcheon of the Blue Dragon Unit." "Damn it." These insufferable people always act opposite to my expectations. These maniacs began to target me. Why do these honor-bound people call in someone who's already tired from endless fighting? I really couldn't understand. "You should have used your energy." Soi provided the answer. "This happened because you didn't give it your all." "......." It seems they perceive that I'm not using my energy because I'm not up to par. A rookie who doesn't deem them worthy of using his energy. That sight infuriated them. They seem determined to make me use my energy somehow. 'Damn it.' It feels like I've unintentionally provoked them. Do they think I don't use it because I don't want to? I want to use it too. 'Sigh...' How many have it been already? After Beom Dong and Tang Cheon Gi, I've fought three more, making it five already. This one would make six. Yeah, I've fought six in a row. Does this even make sense? "Honestly, don't you guys have any conscience?" How did it come to this, fighting six people? Since when were these the rules? Who came up with this? Grinding my teeth, I headed back onto the arena. No, I hadn't been able to step down. Since defeating Tang Cheon Gi, I've remained here. "I am Jang Yu Cheon of the Iron Dragon Unit." "......Yes. I'm Baek Yangcheon." "This time will be different. I'll put an end to your arrogance." "......" I haven't been arrogant. I'm fighting harder than anyone right now, so who’s calling whom arrogant? I narrowed my eyes and looked at him. 'Hand form. Foot posture.' Assessing his stance. 'A spear user, huh.' As expected, he's someone who uses the spear as his favorite weapon. I don't know his nickname or his name. I just brought my fist to meet him. Swish-!!! At the familiar sound marking the beginning of the match, I lunged. I analyzed the swift spear tip with my vision. My body moved. As if entrusted to the wind, my movements flowed naturally away. Calculating the distance with the spear. The opening is too narrow to dive in straightforwardly. 'If.' If it's not there, find it. And if you can't see it even after finding. 'Create it.' Somehow, find a way. Whoosh-! Whoa whoosh-!! Due to its speed and elasticity, the spear appeared to bend. It probably does bend to some extent. Judging from its aura-clad appearance, its rigidity is significant too. 'If I deflect it head-on with my protective aura.' It’s obvious that it'll strain my arm. 'Not deflect, but parry.' I search for a method and modify it further. Seeing the spear thrust in, I instead launched myself towards it. "What the?!" Jang Yu Cheon was surprised. He seems startled because, instead of dodging, I charged in. But, it was the best option for me. In a fight with a spear-user, closing the gap is crucial, and there aren’t many ways to achieve it. I had to crash in. But as fluidly as possible. Slide-! With the palm of my hand, I lightly pushed the spear aside. The aura approached as if to tear my skin, but I shielded it with my mental energy. Although mental energy is said to be different from regular energy, there are unavoidable parts where it must be used, so complete defense is impossible. Plip-! Blood splattered. My skin was cut. Pain surged but I ignored it. The piercing wound from fighting Tang Cheon Gi was burdensome. “Ugh!" The now-closed distance. He tried to use his momentum to push me away. My focus was on his foot. I analyzed the angle of his knee and the torsion of his upper body. Aligning with the angle he was going to use to push me away, I moved my body accordingly. "What...?!" Rather than widening, the gap closed further. At this point, he would try to push back using an explosive technique. 'That's it.' I found the opening. The momentary strength he employed to unleash his energy. I targeted it and drove my fist in. Bam-!! "Ugh!!" Crack-!! With a crack, the energy broke down at a weak point, dislocating his shoulder. He struggled with the spear he was holding. I drove my foot to catch his knee. His upper body bent down. I lifted my palm and directly jabbed his chin. Whack-! “Ugh.” His mouth shut, and a grotesque groan leaked out. That’s how the spearman fell to his knees. He lost consciousness that way. "......Whew." I knocked him out and caught my breath. 'This...' Heat rises within my body. You might call it sweat-drenched? Unable to use energy, I’ve had to rely solely on physical strength. Where fatigue arises from reading every sensory detail of the opponent. It's piling up to the point that I was experiencing something I hadn’t felt in a while. '...This isn't bad, is it?' It's fun. It subtly felt that way. A sensation that seemed capable of yielding something. Getting ordered to fight yielded something more than I anticipated. The thought unintentionally brought a smile to my face. "......Is that guy smiling?" "He took him down without using even a lick of his energy. The Spear Guardian fell just like that?" "Is he mocking those he deems beneath him? That’s the only explanation for that face!" "Just who is that guy...!!" "Damn... This is infuriating...!" "..." It seemed like more misunderstandings were brewing. Hmm. I'm going mad. 'Let's give up.' It seemed increasingly pointless. 'Besides.' There's little reason to continue. I've fought six already. If the goal is the Blue Dragon Unit's victory, I'd say I've done my part. 'My father is here, after all.' Circumstantial evidence suggests my father can secure victory. That bothersome Flying Dragon Deputy Commander… ‘But.’ For some reason, I was certain my father could do it. If you consider the atmosphere and presence he displayed earlier. ‘With that being said.’ Can I finally stop now? That's what I was thinking. 'If I strain any further, my recovery won't keep up.' The injuries I sustained on my arm from Tang Cheon Gi, and all the scratches from these many battles, would surely heal quickly if left alone. But I couldn't afford to neglect them for long. 'Without using energy, if I've done this much, I've done well enough.' Further battling would likely bring more harm than gain. With that in mind, I looked at the referee. And then I voiced what I had prepared to say. "I’ve fought three more. At this point, shouldn’t I be allowed to choose as well?" "......Choose?" "Yes." I've fought so many already. Being singled out every time felt unjust. So, let me have a turn to choose. In response, the referee glanced somewhere. He was looking at the head of the council responsible for these matches. "It makes sense. They should be allowed to choose someone too." The response came from Cheolhyeol Buseon, who was staring at me with an excited glint in his eyes. He looked like he had discovered something significant, while Pae Jon beside him frowned at Cheolhyeol Buseon. "It is allowed. Choose as you wish." Even without Sword Venerable saying a word, Cheolhyeol Buseon granted permission. Fortunately, Sword Venerable seemed to be of the same mind, nodding in agreement. "Make your nomination." The referee then turned to me. As soon as I heard that, I pointed. I had already decided on my opponent early on. "I choose him." "...Hm?" The target of my nomination scrunched his face. "......Hah." Perhaps understanding the situation, he seemed quite displeased. "I'll select the Simple Dragon Deputy Commander." The person I nominated was the deputy commander of the Simple Dragon Unit, who had spouted nonsense at my father. "This is ridiculous." He ascended the stage with a clear look of irritation. "Don't let your victory against one of my subordinates go to your head. Do you think I'm no different?" It seems he knew that Beom Dong had been taken down. Or maybe— 'Perhaps it's because he dislikes my father.' He seemed quite annoyed by my nomination, likely due to his disdain for my father. "It's not really like that." If I had to provide a reason, 'He’s a deputy commander, after all.' He was someone significant enough to provide justification in case of defeat, making it easier to negotiate or reach an agreement with the Blue Dragon Leader. "It’s just that......you caught my eye?" "......Hah." Regardless of what I said, he'd take it badly. So there was no need to say more. Swoosh. The Flying Dragon Deputy Commander unsheathed his longsword as he stepped onto the arena. "Defeating my underlings has made your head swell, has it? To show such arrogance before me... you're exactly like your deputy commander." "Oh really?" I smirked. Being told I resembled my father wasn’t something I heard often, but it wasn't bad. "...Are you laughing?" Even my demeanor seemed to irk him, and the Flying Dragon Deputy Commander exuded subtle hostility. "Do you perhaps underestimate us just because we’re a recon unit, kid? We’re not someone you can so easily dismiss." "I don’t underestimate you." I shrugged in response. He's right. Though the Flying Dragon Unit focuses on intelligence, they aren't weaklings. Of course, 'They're definitely the weakest among us.' Comparatively, they might not differ much in terms of combat ability from the Wind Dragon Unit among our battalions. Though, I suppose it's different with a deputy commander... 'Okay.' I decided to put up a decent fight and then lose. With that thought, I clenched my fist. But I couldn’t lose too obviously; I had to gauge my level correctly. While I was thinking that, "Let the match... begin." With a familiar call, the Flying Dragon Deputy Commander looked at me. "I'll grant you the first move. I’ll show you the difference in our levels." "........" It was an unnecessary gesture of courtesy. "Ah, yes. I'll gladly accept then." Thwack. I charged quickly. Clearing the first strike away and exchanging a few moves, I rolled on the ground. That was the goal. Extending my clenched fist without hesitation. There was, as expected, no energy involved. Which meant the force wouldn't be significant. Surely. Before it reached the Flying Dragon Deputy Commander, just shy of contact— It should have been that way. -Yap. A rather cute sound rang next to my ear. Whoooooosh--!!! "Huh?" Could that have been the issue? "What?" A sharp energy enveloped my fist. Energy? Energy, really? Before I could acknowledge the unexpected sensation— Thump-! Crack-!? "Gah!?" My punch, now moving with unprecedented speed, landed squarely on the Flying Dragon Deputy Commander. I tried to pull back my strength belatedly. But— Boom-!!! With a violent sound, the Flying Dragon Deputy Commander was sent flying into the air. "Oh." Watching him soar high, I thought, "I'm fucked..." Something had definitely gone wrong again.