Chapter 9 (Continued)

 

In the tablet screen, the referee had just stepped onto the dueling arena at Ahsung High.

 

Whiz! Sindo-rim drew his dueling sword.

 

Although it was a blade, it was blunt and closer to a thin cudgel.

 

─ Are both of you ready?

 

The referee asked, and Sindo-rim nodded while Woo-jin remained indifferent.

 

‘Ahn Woo-jin… Just from his appearance, he’s certainly an extraordinary fellow.’

 

Though unsure of his skills, Ahn Woo-jin exuded a noble and imposing aura befitting his position as the Disciplinary Committee Leader.

 

A tense atmosphere filled the dueling arena.

 

The students in the audience held their breaths, watching Woo-jin and Sindo-rim.

 

─ Then, get ready!

 

Sindo-rim took his stance.

 

─ Begin the duel!

 

At the referee’s declaration, Sindo-rim leaped towards Woo-jin.

 

“…!?”

 

Lee Je-ho’s eyes widened slightly, and his mouth dropped open.

 

The vice president, curious about Lee Je-ho’s reaction, moved behind him to watch the ShinsoTV broadcast together.

 

“Oh, shit.”

 

The vice president couldn’t help but utter a common exclamation.
It was immediately clear why Lee Je-ho was surprised.

 

Just a few minutes earlier, at the dueling arena in Ahsung High School.

 

The Sindo-rim Swordmaster felt a strong sense of intimidation the first time he saw Ahn Woo-jin. His mere presence made the air of the arena heavy.

 

With his striking appearance and shadowed eyes under the brim of his hat, his sharp teal eyes glowed coldly. His gaze was as keen, chilly, and rational as a well-honed blade.

 

There was no trace of hesitation or anxiety. His eyes showed no emotional fluctuation.

 

Sindo-rim swallowed dryly without realizing it.
Just as a prey instinctively recognizes a predator, his heart raced, and all his nerves were on edge.

 

Thus, Sindo-rim was certain.

 

The duel with the Disciplinary Committee Leader would elevate him to the next level.

 

So, he had no choice but to suppress his fear.

 

“Begin the duel!”

 

At the referee’s declaration, Sindo-rim charged swiftly.

 

Mana flowed into Sindo-rim’s dueling sword. Whoosh! Red flames ignited along the blade. It was the skill of a fourth-rank practitioner, the ability to convert mana into elemental power.

 

The burning flames radiated heat, heating the air. The blazing flames trailed behind Sindo-rim like the tail of an Eastern dragon wrapped in fire, creating a spectacular scene.

 

Meanwhile, Woo-jin just stood there, coldly watching.

 

“I’ll take the first strike!”

 

Thud! Sindo-rim planted his foot to stabilize his stance. Immediately, the red flames traced a precise trajectory.

 

Whoosh!

 

The flames surged forward.

 

But Woo-jin, with a swift motion, leaned back and effortlessly dodged the fiery strike.

 

“!”

 

Surprise filled Sindo-rim’s eyes.

 

In that moment, something was drawn from Woo-jin’s belt, producing a sharp, slicing sound.

 

Swish!

 

As Woo-jin’s weapon darted towards his chin, Sindo-rim reflexively retreated. He realized too late that the range of the weapon was very short.

 

It was a black baton.

 

In other words, a handle.

 

Woo-jin tapped the baton-holding arm with his other hand. Click! Two sections of metal rods extended from the baton.

 

It was a black three-section staff.

 

Crackle!

 

Mana flowed into the staff’s circuits, and it took the form of teal lightning.

 

No long thought process was needed. Sindo-rim charged again, the fiery sword slashing through the moment.

 

It was a dazzling dance of flames.

 

But unlike the ‘aesthetic’ sword dance seen in videos, this was a lethal technique meant to defeat the opponent.

 

Whoosh! Woo-jin gracefully dodged multiple sword strikes, moving expertly backward.

 

Sindo-rim concentrated.

 

If this continued, he could push Woo-jin back.

 

If he kept it up, he could land a critical blow on the Disciplinary Committee Leader.

 

‘I see it.’

 

Suddenly, he saw an opening.

 

Sindo-rim didn’t miss the moment.

 

Whoosh!

 

More mana flowed through the circuits of his dueling sword, igniting even stronger flames.

 

This should allow him to land an effective blow on Woo-jin.

 

He could turn the tide of the duel.

 

Sindo-rim was confident.

 

Thwack!

 

Crack!

 

“!?”

 

The fiery slash failed to even slice through the air.

 

A flash of teal light struck Sindo-rim’s wrist. It was a precise attack that exploited the gap in Sindo-rim’s movements.

 

Immediately, powerful lightning surged through Sindo-rim’s arm and spread throughout his body.

 

“Grrk!”

 

Sindo-rim’s movements faltered. He dropped his sword. It was difficult to regain his posture due to the electric shock.

 

Thud!

 

Thwack!

 

Two teal arcs flashed in the air.

 

Crack! The sound of lightning echoed. Sindo-rim had already received a powerful shock to his arm and neck.

 

“Argh!”

 

Woo-jin’s concise and disciplined movements were like a soldier’s drill, showcasing maximum restraint.

 

It was an attack refined like a well-honed blade, designed to suppress the enemy efficiently.

 

Woo-jin raised his arm. Whiz! He swung the three-section staff with force.

 

Bang!

 

With a sound resembling an explosion, lightning scattered, creating a powerful shockwave.

 

Whoosh! Sindo-rim’s body was thrown, skidding across the ground. He stopped just at the edge of the arena, avoiding an out-of-bounds loss.

 

“Huff…!”

 

Sindo-rim panted heavily.

 

The recent bang wasn’t a sound that could be produced by merely swinging a three-section staff.

 

The impact wasn’t something that a simple swing could produce.

 

“A shockwave…? How…?”

 

Clearly, the condensed lightning mana created a shockwave, producing a stronger physical force.

 

It was unbelievable.

 

A technique he had never heard of or seen.

 

Sindo-rim had assessed that Ahn Woo-jin was also a fourth-rank practitioner. He assumed so because Woo-jin only fought by enveloping his three-section staff with lightning mana.
He didn’t appear to possess the unique abilities that are a hallmark of the fifth rank.

 

Of course, within the fourth rank, there are varying levels of skill.

 

However, Sindo-rim considered himself skilled enough to fight Woo-jin, who was also fourth-rank, on equal terms.

 

…He was wrong.

 

Woo-jin’s mana manipulation was far beyond the typical fourth-rank level.

 

“……”

 

Woo-jin picked up the dueling sword that had fallen to the ground.

 

He casually tossed it back to Sindo-rim.

 

Clang. The dueling sword landed before Sindo-rim with a clear sound.

 

Sindo-rim, with a startled expression, looked back and forth between the sword and Woo-jin.

 

“Pick it up.”

 

Woo-jin’s solemn command resonated.