novelraw Chapter 81 : Midterm Exams (2)
Chapter 81 : Midterm Exams (2)
"Not bad! Keep up with me a little more!"
"Eek!"
Kang Geon-woo was among the three cadets who survived the first minute.
Woong, pakagak!
Instructor Lim Yeong-jin dodged Geon-woo's rough hook with a slip, then grabbed his waist, lifted him up, and slammed him into the ground.
"Huk!"
The intense pain felt like all the air was being forced out of his lungs.
However, Geon-woo quickly recovered with the unique endurance and recovery abilities of a were-ape and got back up.
"Your striking is good, but are you planning to just take hits until the end?"
'I can't touch him.'
Geon-woo swallowed hard.
Combat sambo's wrestler-like monstrous strength and grappling techniques, combined with strikes to maintain various options.
'There's no weakness to exploit. He vastly surpasses me in every aspect.'
Were-bear.
Geon-woo's expression darkened as he looked at Instructor Lim Yeong-jin's enormous build and sturdy claws.
As could be seen from the case of Fedor Emelianenko, who dominated the world of combat sports as a sambo practitioner in the early days of MMA.
Sambo's high practicality and versatility were highly favored even among formidable lycanthropes.
'Here he comes!'
A takedown combination following a punch.
"Ugh!"
Geon-woo, whose attention was focused on defending his upper body, struggled to escape the pounding position after being caught by a single leg takedown.
"Whoa, whoa, stay still!"
Lim Yeong-jin solidified his top position and attempted an armbar after three consecutive pounding strikes.
'No!'
Geon-woo desperately inserted his leg and twisted his pelvis, successfully escaping.
No follow-up attacks came as Geon-woo hurriedly stood up.
"Huff. Huff."
Geon-woo's breathing became labored due to the significant mental exertion from the brief exchange.
'So my striking is still second-rate at best?'
Geon-woo had been honing his striking techniques even more after his complete defeat by Su-hyeon.
But against Lim Yeong-jin, he was on the defensive, with all his options in jab fighting, straight punches, and kick fighting being easily countered.
'Even in grappling, I'm outmatched in both strength and technique.'
Lim Yeong-jin didn't miss the despair of inevitable defeat that appeared on Geon-woo's face.
"You spiritless bastard!"
A jab following a low kick feint, then a waist throw while grabbing the collar.
Kwaaang!
After throwing Geon-woo down with a flowing combination, Lim Yeong-jin landed a pounding punch next to his ear, forcing Geon-woo to surrender.
"...I surrender."
"You lack fighting spirit."
Lim Yeong-jin released his animal transformation and helped Geon-woo up.
"Let me point out two things. First is the determination to fight, and second is selection and focus."
"Selection and focus, sir?"
"Don't try to do everything half-heartedly. Think about how to lead the fight at your own pace while clearly utilizing your strengths."
"......."
Lim Yeong-jin patted Geon-woo's shoulder as he fell into contemplation.
"Well, you did quite well."
"...Thank you."
[Exam ended. Next group, please prepare.]
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The pattern of the second group was very similar to the first group.
Most cadets couldn't withstand the first few exchanges and ended up on the ground.
Only two, Hong In-hyeon and Hwang Ji-su, were able to fight with the instructors to some extent.
"Take this too!"
Gugugu.
Seok Hong-jae's thick veins writhed as he pulled back his bow with tremendous strength to its limit.
Shiiiiik!
The arrow shot like that flew creating a sonic boom.
"Insane!"
Hong In-hyeon, aghast, couldn't even attempt to receive or deflect the arrow and desperately created a gust of wind at his feet to barely escape its trajectory.
Kwaaang!
It was such a powerful attack that it made the barrier dividing the spectator seats and the arena vibrate.
If there had been a building behind, it would have gotten an extra door that day.
"I'll die if I get hit by something like that!"
Hong In-hyeon shouted in horror.
"I didn't sharpen the tip, so you probably won't die!"
Seok Hong-jae calmly nocked the next arrow.
"Damn it!"
Hong In-hyeon desperately created a cutting wind and sent it, then additionally launched a whirlwind following the trajectory of his fist to try to block Seok Hong-jae's attack.
"Cute little wind!"
Seok Hong-jae pierced the core of the whirlwind with an arrow that flew like a boomerang with added spin, eliminating the wind, and then.
'Insane?'
Chae chae chae chaeng!
After deflecting the blade wind with his sturdy bow, he nocked an arrow he was holding in his other hand and shot it.
Swaaaaak!
The speed was so fast that even though Hong In-hyeon reacted to evade right after reading the movement, his shoulder was grazed by the arrow and started bleeding.
'Damn it! What kind of arrows are those!'
Arrows whose trajectory couldn't even be interfered with using wind.
In this situation, the advantage of wind, which normally has overwhelming superiority against ranged attacks, was significantly diminished.
'Besides overwhelming mass, was there a way to counter wind?'
A cold sweat broke out on Hong In-hyeon's spine.
On the other side, Hwang Ji-su was engaging Kim Cheol-han in ranged combat.
"Hup!"
Hwang Ji-su shot an enormous volley of ice picks that filled the sky densely.
'Someone who knows my ability would understand how meaningless such ranged fire is.'
Kim Cheol-han thought.
'Therefore, this is just setting up for a different attack.'
Then what was the real attack?
"Hmm!"
The ice picks that bounced off Kim Cheol-han's palm flew straight back toward Hwang Ji-su.
'Not even the cold is being transmitted.'
Bounce.
Simple yet absolute "deflection" didn't allow even the cold of the ice to intrude.
But.
'Now!'
Hwang Ji-su's real attack, targeting the timing when both hands were being used to reflect the attack, came from behind.
Kwaaaang!
Kim Cheol-han, sensing the ice lance piercing toward his back, stepped back to the left to avoid the attack.
'!?'
The ice sheet that had somehow been laid in that direction caused Kim Cheol-han's feet to slip.
'A double trap!'
An ordinary person would have already fallen, but Kim Cheol-han's superhuman physical abilities quickly recovered his posture after only a slight loss of balance.
Jeojeojeojeok!
During that time, Hwang Ji-su's cold aura occupied all directions and tried to turn the area into an ice capsule.
'Good build-up.'
Kim Cheol-han nodded inwardly.
'Did I get him?!'
Even Hwang Ji-su, who designed the attack, clenched her fist in anticipation, as it was such a smooth sequence.
"Hmm."
Kim Cheol-han's palm created numerous afterimages simultaneously, like Thousand-Armed Kannon.
Doong.
Each time, the struck air burst forth as shells in all directions.
Peng peng peng peng peng!
Jjangrang!
The cold aura closing in from all directions froze the air shells, only to be shattered by the subsequent air shells.
'Good heavens!'
Hwang Ji-su widened her eyes as Kim Cheol-han broke her attack in an unexpected way.
Kwa gwa gwa gwang!
Hwang Ji-su hurriedly raised an ice wall to block the dozen or so air shells flying toward her.
But she bit her lip as the ice wall shattered like thin ice before blocking even half of them.
'To think this is the power when he's holding back!'
Indeed, the homeroom teacher was truly the homeroom teacher.
Considering that the man before her was the result of decades of effort and experience refining raw gems like themselves.
She felt a bit hollow thinking about the immense gap.
"That was a good move. I'll give you credit."
Hwang Ji-su swallowed dryly as she watched Kim Cheol-han looking at her with eyes of unfathomable depth.
'Let me endure a bit more. There must be an opening somewhere.'
The two of them managed to endure longer than Geon-woo and successfully demonstrated some sharp moves.
"Heurp!"
Hong In-hyeon tried to distract the instructor using a whirlwind, then flew in a zigzag pattern, aiming for a one-hit reversal in close combat.
"I knew you'd come this way."
After being pinned to the wall by an arrow that exquisitely pierced his collar.
Pa ba ba bak!
He was completely subdued by Seok Hong-jae's divinely skilled archery, which restrained both his arms and legs by the sleeves with four consecutive arrows.
'The attempt to create a reversal itself was quite bold, but it's not yet at a level that can change the outcome.'
Seok Hong-jae concluded his evaluation and lifted the corner of his mouth.
"But you're quite promising, Hong In-hyeon."
Meanwhile.
"Eeek!"
Hwang Ji-su's attempt to somehow find an opening by binding both hands and freezing Kim Cheol-han's feet didn't reach him, as he saw through her intention.
"Ah!"
As a last resort, she tried to grasp his hands directly to freeze them, but that attempt was also completely reflected, causing her to freeze her own arms. She hurriedly deactivated her ability and sighed.
"It seems like I have nothing more to try. I surrender."
"Hmm. I thought you might have realized something, but not yet, it seems."
"?"
Kim Cheol-han muttered something incomprehensible and turned his back.
"Never mind. Good job. I can give you a passing grade."
"!"
Hwang Ji-su's dejected face brightened.
"Thank you!"
"Hmm. You almost got my marker."
In a year, no, even in half a year.
He would probably have had to give up his marker to Hwang Ji-su.
Kim Cheol-han's expression was bright as he walked down the steps.
[Exam ended. Next group, please prepare.]
And finally.
"It's my turn."
Su-hyeon, who had been waiting in the third group, got up.
"Let's go."
"Yes."
Su-hyeon and Lee Yu-jin walked toward their respective opponents.
"I'm in your care."
"Welcome."
Instructor Lim Jeong-tae, who was waiting for Su-hyeon wearing a combat cloak and various belts equipped with diverse weapons, smiled.
"Let's have some fun."
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To Instructor Lim Jeong-tae, Su-hyeon was a very interesting subject of observation.
'He defeated Kang Geon-woo in unarmed combat and matched Lee Yu-jin in sword-to-sword combat?'
To have achieved that level of martial arts at the age of 17.
Wasn't it like seeing his own younger self?
'He wields a hwando with his right hand, surrounds his left hand with a Mana Shield to use like a gauntlet for both offense and defense. In emergencies, he grabs the collar and applies jiu-jitsu techniques, and even uses both footwork and kicks with his two legs.'
If used clumsily, it would be nothing more than a jack-of-all-trades, master of none.
But Instructor Lim Jeong-tae could tell just by looking at Su-hyeon's stance that his combat method had been created through quite precise deliberation.
'Let's test his physical strength.'
Juchum juchum.
Lim Jeong-tae aimed his three-section collapsible spear at Su-hyeon, who was cautiously keeping his distance, then suddenly closed the gap with linear footwork reminiscent of fencing after testing the waters.
Chae chae chaeng!
He thrust twice, then spun around once and strongly struck the side with the spear shaft.
Su-hyeon deflected the trajectory of the thrusts with minimal sword movement, then gripped his sword with both hands to receive the horizontal attack.
"Hmm."
Lim Jeong-tae nodded as he watched Su-hyeon take a step back.
'So that's his strength level.'
He lowered his power a bit more, sharply thrust at Su-hyeon's mid and low sections, then retreated and struck downward at his head.
Kagagang!
Su-hyeon's eyebrow twitched as he accurately watched the spear tip and blocked the three consecutive attacks.
'He reduced his strength.'
"Ah, sorry. I can't go any weaker than this."
"It's fine."
Su-hyeon nodded nonchalantly.
"But it seems you don't intend to subdue me in one go."
In that short time, ten cadets had already surrendered to the instructors.
"Well, that's right. It wouldn't be fun to end too quickly, would it?"
Lim Jeong-tae smiled as he twirled his spear.
"Try to receive this well too. I have expectations."
Kagang! Kagagak!
21 consecutive strikes in just 10 seconds.
Su-hyeon, holding his breath, narrowly responded to the barrage of spear attacks using his sword, left hand, and footwork.
"Ho!"
Lim Jeong-tae let out a light exclamation of admiration as Su-hyeon received all of his spear strikes without being grazed once.
'His reflexes are remarkable.'
No, perhaps.
'Does he have good dynamic visual acuity?'
Lim Jeong-tae narrowed his eyes and thought.
'His eyes were accurately following my movements. It's as if he "sees the attacks." Good eyes.'
Moreover.
"Hooh."
Lim Jeong-tae's eyes lit up as he watched Su-hyeon take a side step to the left, following the direction of his left hand holding the spear.
A movement that understood the characteristics of spear techniques, which required forward and backward steps to adjust distance, and guided a situation where he too had to keep turning.
'It's the behavior of someone who has experienced the spear weapon a lot.'
"Indeed."
It was remarkable that a 17-year-old freshman could fight at this level.
'This guy is intriguing.'
He's fast.
He's strong.
His technique is skilled.
But it was a different sense from those.
"Fun."
That's what Lim Jeong-tae said, but.
'Shall I land a hit now.'
Su-hyeon attempted a light counterattack.
'He's coming first!'
Instructor Lim Jeong-tae attempted a standard middle thrust toward Su-hyeon, who had entered the spear's range on his own.
'I knew you'd come like that!'
Su-hyeon, who had perceived the timing and quality of the attack, instantly dodged the thrust as if deflecting it and approached.
Kaang!
He struck the spear shaft with his sword and burrowed into close range.
'This guy?'
A surprise move that nullified the long range, the spear user's greatest weapon.
'That's the correct answer.'
Lim Jeong-tae happily put down his spear, then drew the sword at his waist to block Su-hyeon's attack.
Kaaang!
The two with swords pressed against each other.
Lim Jeong-tae, who had allowed the closest distance today, declared.
"You pass the first stage, cadet."
Faced with that shocking level of confidence and composure, that gap.
Su-hyeon smiled slightly.
'He's smiling?'
Looking at Lim Jeong-tae, who was intrigued by this unexpected reaction, Su-hyeon said.
"I look forward to the next stage as well."