Chapter 84

Just as muscles tear and regenerate to become stronger, the Dragon Heart grows stronger through battle.

And it’s even better if the battle is so perilous that one’s life hangs by a thread.

“What?”

Surprised to see me, Jung Hye-in blinks her eyes.

“Could you help me with my training?”

Jung Hye-in slowly gets up from her seat.

The look she gives me is suspicious.

“···Right now?”

“Yes.”

Kwoong!

Another tremor rang out. That one was strong enough for any decent Awakener to feel.

Jung Hye-in frowned. She moved toward the entrance.

“I’m sorry. The situation seems… not very good.”

Did she say she was twenty-six?

The fine line drawn by her round forehead and sharp nose stands out. On top of that, she’s a woman of few words, with a strangely cold air about her.

That’s probably why she’s hard to approach.

But my situation isn’t so great either.

And I’m certainly not in the mood to work while trying to please someone.

“The situation isn’t good. That’s why I’m asking for your help.”

When I block the entrance, Jung Hye-in stares at me with a troubled expression.

I quickly added.

“You know I saved you, right?”

“···Thank you for saving me.”

“Don’t just say it, help me out. With my training. It’ll be a sparring match.”

“……”

Her eyes are filled with caution. The biggest reason must be the Demonic Energy.

She must have seen it clearly. How I used it liberally while saving her.

Fwoosh-

A flame ignited at my fingertip.

It was a color as dark as jet-black.

Durandal, in its ring form, hums as if whining. I ignore it and speak.

“I’m not a Demon. I’m just using it because there’s a lot of Demonic Energy here.”

In my other hand, Divinity arose.

If it’s Jung Hye-in, if she’s an S-Rank, she would know at a glance what effect this energy has.

As expected, Jung Hye-in’s lips slowly part.

Kwoong! Kwoong!

Jung Hye-in’s gaze, which had been fixed on my palm, especially on the Divinity, moves upward.

“If the barrier the Association President put up collapses… it’ll be a disaster.”

I can feel the urgency in her voice.

“Please move. The training… I’ll help you next time.”

“If I move, do you have a way to stop that?”

“……”

“I do.”

Clap.

I brought my palms together.

It looked as if the Demonic Energy was being crushed by the Divinity and bursting.

“But that method requires me to become an S-Rank.”

And to do that, I need Jung Hye-in’s help.

Someone skilled enough for my Mana Heart to react quickly, without killing me.

I need to spar with someone who has that level of Mana Control.

I transformed Durandal into a sword.

“Let’s have exactly thirty Sparring Matches. Then I can become an S-Rank.”

I left the choice to Jung Hye-in. If she refuses to the very end, well, I’ll have to find another way. For example, entering the forest that’s currently in an uproar, or maybe asking Seong Yo-han…

No.

Let’s scrap that one.

Or maybe have Ian’s Dream again…

Let’s scrap that one too.

Jung Hye-in really is the best option. Should I grab her by the pants and beg?

As I think this and look at Jung Hye-in, an unexpected answer comes back.

“Really… your Rank will go up just by sparring? And, if you become an S-Rank, you can fix the barrier?”

“Yes.”

“What’s the method?”

“It’s a similar method to how I entered the forest alone and saved you, Ms. Jung Hye-in.”

Jung Hye-in let out a deep sigh. I don’t know for sure, but I bet very few people have seen her sigh.

“I understand.”

Amidst the thudding vibrations, she walked back up to the Training Arena.

Her expression is not good. She must be half-believing, half-doubting my words.

Whatever. It doesn’t matter.

I also took my stance.

Bubble, bubble, Mana boils within me.

If it weren’t for the Mana Control I learned from Ian, my body would have exploded long ago.

Don’t worry. I’ll let you release it to your heart’s content now.

“I’ll go first.”

Last time, I lasted about 30 seconds, was it?

Pyooong-!

I threw myself forward.

If an S-Rank is a 10, then I am currently a 9.99.

Just a single sheet of paper apart. And it’s probably a very thin sheet of paper.

But that very small difference created a huge gap in a real fight.

Kwaang!

I only managed to withstand five exchanges.

In real-time, was it about 3 seconds?

She properly showed me what the full power of an S-Rank was like.

Jung Hye-in’s fist, which had stripped away five layers of Ares’ Shield and the Northern Protective Aura on top of it, struck my chest.

Dudududududuk-

Without a chance to react, I was pushed to the end of the Training Arena.

If it had hit just an inch off, it would have been an Instant Kill, an Instant Kill.

No joke, for a moment just now, my consciousness almost crossed over to Ian’s world.

If [Past Life Lucid Dream] hadn’t changed into an active Skill, I would have been a goner.

I did ask her to go all out, but I didn’t think she’d push me so mercilessly.

I can taste iron in my mouth.

“Ptui.”

I spat out a mouthful of blood and got up.

“If you fought Seong Yo-han, who would win?”

“…I wonder.”

Jung Hye-in didn’t seem particularly interested in such things.

She’s like a robot. No emotions, and she seems indifferent.

Perfect.

“Please continue just like this from now on.”

“…Are you serious?”

“Yes.”

With those words, I ran.

Kwaang-!

Fist and sword clashed.

Red and blue energy shattered the Training Arena.

At the same time, my gaze darted around.

If I hadn’t supported my neck with Mana right before it snapped, it would have been an Instant Kill this time too.

I looked around.

What should be called a Training Arena was already being destroyed.

I pulled my body out from where it was embedded in the middle of a wall.

My hands trembled. My survival instinct was sending a strong warning.

But this is the kind of situation the Mana Heart loves the most.

“Twenty-eight more to go, I guess.”

If it weren’t for the protective magic I had cast, the entire spire would have been destroyed.

I got up from my spot. Brushing off the dust, I said.

“Let’s keep going.”

The situation was getting worse and worse.

-What’s the barrier’s level at?

“15 percent.”

Jeong Gi-hwan spoke into the receiver with a frustrated voice.

“When on earth is the Association President coming?”

It was god-awful timing.

At this very moment, an S-Rank Gate had opened in Seoul, and Yeo Ju-kyung had gone to handle it herself.

“Don’t tell me you’re just going to let us all die a dog’s death here?”

-No. Of course not.

Head of department Kim Yoon-joong said in a horrified tone.

He seemed quite flustered. It was understandable.

Even he, who was on-site, hadn’t expected the barrier to break this quickly.

“Let’s be clear, Head of department Kim. This isn’t a simple incident. Those things, I think they’re determined this time.”

Jeong Gi-hwan looked outside.

Below the spire, at the entrance of the forest, Lower Monsters were already crawling out.

The security guards quickly killed them.

For now, they were low-level, and few in number.

In a little while, C-Rank, and in a few hours, B-Rank. By tomorrow, A-Rank Monsters would be pouring out.

“Send reinforcements first. As soon as possible. We need at least ten more A-Ranks.”

Head of department Kim Yoon-joong let out a pained sound.

“You are aware that Seong Yo-han, Jung Hye-in, and Choi Gi-woong are all three here, right? The headquarters knows this, correct?”

Mentioning the three of them certainly had an effect.

The results of the executive meeting came out quickly.

-Right now, seven Squad Leader-level members and twenty A-Rank Hunters supported by private companies are on their way.

-In three days, four of the Oracle’s top-grade Chief Disciples will also arrive. Please just hold on a little longer.

Help from anyone else might be one thing, but the Oracle’s help is significant.

Perhaps if they came…

It was then.

Seong Yo-han, who had appeared out of nowhere, snatched Jeong Gi-hwan’s phone.

“Head of department. It’s me. Seong Yo-han.”

Jeong Gi-hwan, who had the hotline to headquarters snatched away from him, stared at him with an unusual glint in his eyes.

Seong Yo-han’s gaze, on the other hand, was directed outside.

Not at the things bickering with the Lower Demons, but at the five High Priests pounding on the barrier from far behind.

“Don’t send reinforcements.”

-What?

“We won’t last three days. We’ll all be withdrawing from here before then.”

Seong Yo-han spoke firmly and hung up without even listening to the reply.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

“Branch Director. Do you want to stay here and die a dog’s death?”

“…What?”

“If you don’t want that, pack your things. Right now.”

Jeong Gi-hwan grabbed the arm of Seong Yo-han, who was about to leave.

“If we leave, who’s going to stop them?”

“We’ll have to stop them on the Mainland. All of us together.”

“In the meantime, Monsters and Demons will spread all over the country. It’ll be pandemonium.”

Even if he tried not to, he could picture it.

The image of those things spreading across the entire country, killing everyone indiscriminately, be they civilians or Hunters.

By then, even if Yeo Ju-kyung stepped in, she wouldn’t be able to stop the entire country from being thrown into chaos.

That was.

That was an apocalypse.

No matter what, that situation had to be prevented. Whatever the sacrifice.

“It’s better than dying here.”

But Seong Yo-han didn’t seem to think so.

“If we stay here, we’ll die. I can guarantee you that much.”

“If I was afraid of dying, I wouldn’t have joined the Association in the first place.”

“Branch Director. Two S-Rank Awakeners, and…”

After a moment’s hesitation, Seong Yo-han clicked his tongue and said.

“Choi Gi-woong will die too. Can you handle that?”

Without giving him a chance to speak, Seong Yo-han continued.

“And what’s next? After that, who’s going to stop them? Does the Association President have a hundred bodies?”

“Mr. Seong Yo-han.”

“I don’t think I’m particularly a bad person. I’m just making the obvious choice.”

“…Do the people who call you a hero know you’re acting like this right now?”

Seong Yo-han shrugged.

“I’ll be the bad guy, so you just get ready to leave by boat.”

With those words, Seong Yo-han went outside.

Jeong Gi-hwan collapsed into his seat.

He sighed at his own powerlessness.

‘Idiot. Too scared to even say what you need to say. I should definitely retire after this.’

It was just as he let out a self-mocking sigh.

Kwaaaaaang!

He shot up from his seat at the deafening roar.

He was terrified, thinking the Monsters had broken through the barrier.

But that wasn’t it.

Jeong Gi-hwan’s gaze went downward.

He suddenly remembered what Choi Gi-woong had said yesterday.

“He said to wait just one day.”

He had said in passing that he had a solution.

Absurdly, Jeong Gi-hwan had believed him. No, he had wanted to believe him.

Just like when he had sought out Jung Hye-in.

Maybe…

Kwaaaaaang-!

The floor shook once more.

Woosusu, stone-like debris fell from the ceiling.

In the command room, which was protected by S-Rank protective magic, no less.

“What in the world is happening?”

Jeong Gi-hwan hurried down to the underground training room.

Gulp.

I downed the remaining four Elixirs.

Jung Hye-in stared at me with surprised eyes.

As if asking if I was okay.

“Let’s continue.”

Jung Hye-in caught her breath.

Has it been seventeen hours already, without any sleep?

Jung Hye-in also just got up from her sickbed not long ago, so it must be tough for her.

As much as she struggled and suffered, my Mana was also definitely maturing.

“Now, the last one…”

Her eyes ask the question.

If she really faces me just one more time, can I become an S-Rank?

Her half-belief had, at some point, tilted decidedly toward doubt.

It was understandable.

In the past twenty-nine sparring sessions, I hadn’t been able to receive even five exchanges.

But the ascent to a new realm, like a blocked dam bursting, like water shattering rock.

It seems to happen all at once.

That once was right now.

“This time will be a little different.”

Like a lizard just before molting, the Mana Heart had finished preparing to shed its shell.

As long as there were no interruptions.

“Open up.”

It was a voice from the entrance of the Training Arena.

Someone turns the doorknob.

“What are you doing? Don’t you know the situation? I know you’re in there. Open up. Choi Gi-woong.”

Seong Yo-han?

“I’m a bit busy. I’ll come out on my own when the time is right.”

Seong Yo-han, who was silent for a moment, growled.

“If you don’t open it, I’ll open it by force. And if I open it by force.”

“……”

“I’m going to be very angry.”

“It’ll be quite difficult to undo that. It’s a barrier I put a lot of thought into casting.”

Jjeojeojeok.*

Seong Yo-han shattered the barrier with a single slash.

He broke that with one swing of his sword?

Damned S-Ranks.

“Congratulations. There are still fifteen more layers left, so good luck with that.”

It won’t be long before I ascend to that level myself.

Maybe that’s why my tone is uncharacteristically snarky.

No, is this my original personality?

Whatever, it’s fine.

I turned my head back to the front.

The way Jung Hye-in was looking at me was utterly strange.

“Let’s go.”

As always, the first move was mine.