1241 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

"Hah." At my words, Chu Yeongyeon's expression changed. It was only for a moment, but I clearly saw his face twist viciously. As if I had hit a nerve, he began grinding his teeth. "......Unbelievable." Creak. I heard a noise. It came from his body, perhaps from him clenching his muscles tightly. He applied that much pressure. It meant his emotions were extremely heightened. In other words, I'd struck a chord. "Did you say Baek Yangcheon?" "You remembered my name, what an honor." "I've heard the rumors." Crack. As he loosened his grip, Chu Yeongyeon spoke. "Your skills are quite impressive. I could tell from the duel. However, it seems you're somewhat unaware of your position." Huff!!!! The air changed. It seemed he was displaying his pressure. "Tsk!!" "Ergh... Such energy...!" "Indeed... the Divine Dragon Unit...!" Their staggering appearances left me speechless. I could barely sense the aura, so I just stood there. "Hah. So you do have courage, is that it?" That gentleman seemed to be misunderstanding something as he continued to distort his face. It wasn't as if I did it on purpose. "Hmm..." I scratched my head. "Does it really matter if I feel something or not...?" It was a quiet mutter. Of course, it was meant to be a private thought, but I might have spoken louder than intended because Chu Yeongyeon gritted his teeth. "Are you saying it's not worth feeling?" "Ah, that's not it..." It seemed I had misspoken a bit. "No... let's just leave it at that." I couldn't be bothered to explain. So, I tersely spat out the words. Was there really a need to clarify? It seemed fine to just leave it be. "You...!" In response to my attitude, Chu Yeongyeon said, visibly angry. "I can't let this slide. You seem overly self-satisfied after defeating the Vice-captain of the Flying Dragon Squad. Know your place. Do you even know who stands before you?" With a rustle, he gestured towards his chest. The character for "God" outlined in gold shimmered. Phew. "Why are you doing this... It's already visible." Honestly, what's his deal? I understand being proud of being part of the Divine Dragon Unit, but it was a bit much. "Ugh..." "......" The reaction of disgust seemed to loosen the fabric in Chu Yeongyeon's grip for a moment, but. Squeeze. He barely managed to tighten his hold again. "......I can't overlook this." Anger welled up in his eyes. "Step up." His bulging muscles revealed his true emotions. "I'll show you reality." I laughed upon hearing that. Reality. 'That word feels so out of place here.' The thought occurred to me without realizing it. * * * I ascended the martial stage. At this point, I've lost count of how many times I've climbed it. Crack. I stretched my body and assessed my condition. My muscles hadn't fully recovered. Exhaustion from several battles without rest had accumulated. At the end... 'The recoil from using my energy still lingers.' My body was startled from the sudden surge of energy. The stiffness came from the unfamiliar speed and strength I usually didn't employ. I shook it off and moved my hands a few times. 'Hmm.' Will I be alright? I should be fine. As I mulled over these thoughts, "Nervous?" Chu Yeongyeon called out to me. "Hmm? Nervous?" "Looks like you slightly regret what you said. It could happen." "......What are you talking about?" "I saw how you handled the Vice-captain of the Flying Dragon Squad. You must have identified a gap and caught him off guard. You forced him to perceive you weren't using your energy." "......" What is he talking about? I had no idea what madness he was spouting. 'A surprise attack?' Ah. Now I understood what he meant. 'He thinks I ambushed the Vice-captain of the Flying Dragon Squad.' He viewed my lack of frequent energy use and sudden deployment against the captain as a strategic plan. 'Hmm.' I suppose that makes sense. Although it wasn't intentional. Do others think that too? No wonder the reaction to beating the squad captain was so restrained. 'They're thinking I just outsmarted him.' Finally, it all made sense. "Ahah... Haha." "Why are you laughing?" "Oh, nothing. Just remembered something funny." What more is there to say to someone who can't see? I thought about why the Iron-blooded Swordsman and the Dishonored Venerable kept laughing while looking at me. And I understood now. "Are you done talking?" I spoke while loosening my legs, and Chu Yeongyeon scrunched up his nose. "Truly, you're hopeless. Yes, there are such times. Those moments when one mistakenly believes they're something extraordinary." Swoosh. Chu Yeongyeon extended his fist. "Everyone has those times. All those present here have had such moments. They were all called prodigies or talents in their own right." The Palgumdae of the Martial Alliance. Only those with exceptional talent could come here. As he said, those gathered here were all considered geniuses or exceptional individuals in their respective regions and spaces. "There's a time for arrogance and conceit. Then." Thud. He adjusted his stance. I felt his presence. "They face a wall and awaken to reality." "Hmm." I nodded slightly. "So, you're saying you're that wall?" "Don't think I'm too insurmountable. That's just how reality is." "......" A wall. Is Chu Yeongyeon a wall to me? There was nothing to say, so I just clenched my fist. 'Indeed.' It's always like that. 'Everyone talks a lot before getting hit.' Before taking a beating, they always have a lot to say. So what should I do? 'I should silence them.' That was the only answer. Recognizing that preparations were complete, the judge raised his hand. "Divine Dragon Unit Chu Yeongyeon, Blue Dragon Unit Baek Yangcheon." I applied strength to my thighs. "Duel. Commence." Thud!! With the signal, I propelled my body rapidly. The distance closed in an instant. As I dug into his abdomen, Chu Yeongyeon's gaze followed me. Sensing that, I threw my punch. Swish-! The angle wasn't bad either, but... "Hmph." With a disdainful snort, Chu Yeongyeon's wrist flicked my attack away. Thud-! The angle of my strike was deflected. Even with just a light hit on my hand, it stung. "I told you, didn't I?" My vision was momentarily obscured. Smack-!! "......Ugh!" My head snapped back. His knee had aimed for my face, and I barely blocked it with my palm. "I'm different from the others." The weight was substantial. It was hard to maintain my balance as my body was pushed back. Somehow, I managed to put strength into my feet. I barely endured it. I gathered strength in my abdomen and leaped. Swish-!! I rotated my waist and put power into my legs. Spinning once, I aimed my toes towards him, but— "...Didn't you understand?" Thump-!! He caught my flying ankle with ease. "Or is it that you still don't understand reality?" Whoosh-!!! Bang-!! "Ugh!" He slammed me into the martial stage ground. My back was buried in the wall. I could feel the bones cracking. Damn it, it's a lesson on the importance of protective martial techniques again. And it wasn't even over. "Argh..." My vision spun. While still holding me, he tossed me once more. The wind propelled me. At this rate, I would fly straight out of the martial stage. Forcing my body into position, I barely touched my feet to the ground. My soles barely scraped the floor. Friction exploded. Screeech-!!! I barely held on, but the remaining recoil had me rolling on the ground. Thud. At least I didn't fall out of the martial stage. "Hoo..." I let out a sigh as I lifted my head. My entire body was aching. Damn it, this is hell. Chu Yeongyeon stood before me, gazing at me. He hadn't moved an inch from where he originally stood. "Use your energy." He spoke as if issuing a warning. "There won't be a second chance." "......" Crack. I loosened my neck. He was certainly different. 'He's on another level.' The Vice-captain of the Flying Dragon Squad. He seemed stronger than that. The Divine Dragon Unit is indeed the Divine Dragon Unit. Their regular members were on par with captains from other squads. That's saying everything. At that moment, "The captain may think highly of you, but I don't." Unexpectedly, he brought up Tae Hoan. "You don't belong in that position. Captain? You're not meant to have that." "...Who said I was taking it? Even if it's given, I wouldn't want it, so why such nonsense? Oh. Perhaps." I looked at him with a chuckle. "Do you want it?" "......" "Must be true then." So, he was secretly eyeing the captain's position. No wonder he was fuming when Tae Hoan said he'd offer it to me. "Wow... really." I can't grasp why they're so hungry for positions. What's so desirable about that needless honor? "I'm sick of it." Dusting off the stone fragments from my body, I admitted. "I'll acknowledge one thing." At least one thing was clear. "You are different." "......" "I can't win without using energy." He was different from the others. I felt I couldn't win without utilizing my energy. If this continues, I'll lose. So, I looked toward someone observing this scene. The woman in the stands wearing a mask, sitting alongside Mi Hyoran. I looked at my mother. A brief exchange of glances. I heard it then. 'Shall I help?' It wasn't a voice transmission; I merely read it. Her lips subtly moved in the gentle breeze, veiled by the mask. Seeing it, I nodded. 'Just a little.' In response to those words. Hwooooo---!!! My upper danjeon stirred. * * * 'Unbelievable.' Chu Yeongyeon thought as he looked at Baek Yangcheon. 'What makes him so impressive?' The captain, Tae Hoan, had made an extraordinary offer. He told a mere bottom-rank squad member that he would hand over his captain's position in the future if he joined the Divine Dragon Unit. It was an utterly absurd proposal. The fact that he was exceptional was something everyone already knew. After all, the disciple of the Dishonored Venerable was part of the Blue Dragon Unit. The Dishonored Venerable saw someone so outstanding that he moved to make him his disciple. It's understandable to think someone remarkable had appeared to that extent. 'But why him?' Handing over the captaincy was unthinkable. 'For someone like me.' How long had he waited to achieve that position? Tae Hoan was someone whose intentions were often a mystery, but this time he had gone too far. 'I can't give it to that little brat.' Not the captain's position, of all things? Whether or not he declined it didn't matter. That position couldn't be given to just anyone. It should belong solely to him. The next captain was destined to be him. 'Therefore.' He would crush this arrogant and disrespectful punk here and now. Had he shown even a sliver of courtesy, he might have let it slide. But he didn't know his place. 'He didn't even use his energy in the duel.' What a blatant display of disregard. He had the audacity to engage in a duel without using energy, and even took the Vice-captain of the Flying Dragon Squad by surprise. 'A cunning guy.' He manipulated the situation to make the Vice-captain of the Flying Dragon Squad lower his guard. It was all part of his ploy to challenge a captain-level opponent. But. 'I am different.' He was different. He wouldn't fall for such cheap tricks. Thus. 'Show me.' Even after displaying the disparity in their levels, would he persist in his folly? Or did he find defeat without using energy more acceptable for his pride? 'If so.' Then he'd have to break him thoroughly. Chu Yeongyeon had such thoughts as he looked at Baek Yangcheon. "......Hoo." Yangcheon let out a breath as he lifted himself up. It was then. A chill. "......!" Chu Yeongyeon took a step back. Clank-! Clank-! The sound of swords being gripped echoed from all directions. Everyone reacted instinctively. "......What?" This sudden sensation. What is this? Chu Yeongyeon checked his own hand. Tremble tremble tremble. It was trembling slightly. What on earth was happening? As Chu Yeongyeon's eyes began to shake, bewildered by this unknown feeling— "What was it you said?" Baek Yangcheon began to speak. "The wall, was it? Necessary to realize reality." 'Once you encounter a wall, you'll awaken to reality.' It was what he had said earlier. As Yangcheon invoked the words, he brushed his hair back. His bright blue eyes were exceptionally intimidating. "It's good advice. So, endure it well." "What—" Before he could finish his sentence. "......!!" Baek Yangcheon was right in front of him. The overwhelming speed rendered Chu Yeongyeon immobile. "You see, I usually—" Baek Yangcheon's punch connected directly with Chu Yeongyeon's side. Crack. "Ugh...!" With the sound of cracking bones, my vision darkened. In the midst of my wavering consciousness, Baek Yangcheon spoke. "I do have a penchant for breaking things... Whether that's a wall." Or a person, for that matter.