novelraw Chapter 10 : Martial Duel (3)
Chapter 10 : Martial Duel (3)
Chapter 10: Martial Duel (3)
Waaaaa!
Cheers erupted from the audience that had been silent as the grave.
An injury severe enough to cave in all the facial bones would normally result in at least a concussion, or even death from brain damage.
That was how horrific Gong Gyeon’s condition had been after being struck by Cheon Bigang.
Yet not only had he endured such a fatal injury—his shattered face had been restored.
The spectators stirred in shock.
“His face… it’s back!”
“How did he do that?”
“Martial arts?”
“Wasn’t Little Twin Fist paralyzed and retired?”
“I don’t know what trick he used, but he’s back!”
“Gong Gyeon! I bet everything on the Black Tiger Sect! Win!”
Gamblers foamed at the mouth as they cheered.
“Hmm.”
Cheon Bigang rubbed his chest where he had been struck.
As his title suggested, Gong Gyeon was small in stature, but the power in his fists, infused with internal energy, was solid.
If an ordinary person had taken that blow, their sternum and heart would have shattered instantly.
But what intrigued Cheon Bigang was not the fist—it was the absurd regenerative ability.
Gong Gyeon, wearing only fighting trunks on his bare body, spoke.
“Surprised?”
“Yes. It’s my first time seeing such a divine technique that restores shattered bones instantly. Is it a spell?”
“A spell? Of course not. Well? Want to try again?”
“Sure. This might be more interesting than I thought.”
At his answer, Gong Gyeon lowered his stance and raised his guard like a boxer.
Though he acted relaxed, inwardly he was anxious.
‘That first strike… I didn’t see it at all. Good thing it didn’t carry internal energy, but what was that…?’
Haaap!
He circulated his internal energy, preparing his whole body, waiting for Cheon Bigang to enter range.
‘His reach is long, but his body is big—more area to guard. If I evade the next strike and aim for the torso…’
As he stepped sideways—
Cheon Bigang suddenly loomed closer.
“What—?”
Boom!
He hadn’t let his guard down.
Yet even with his experience, Gong Gyeon couldn’t track the movement.
“Ugh!”
The moment the fist touched—
His arms were blasted wide open like a drum being struck.
‘Block—!’
But Cheon Bigang’s hand slipped through his guard like a snake.
Three targets.
Temple.
Philtrum.
Solar plexus.
Any one of them could end the fight.
Gong Gyeon strained his body backward.
At that instant—
His vision turned white as three impacts struck his head and chest.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
His temple dented, his philtrum crushed, his solar plexus collapsed.
Injuries that should have killed him instantly.
But this time, Cheon Bigang’s expression changed slightly.
“…?”
“Damn it… I didn’t want to reveal this.”
Slurp.
Gong Gyeon’s body began to melt and distort.
Cheon Bigang reached out—
Grabbing the shoulder.
Thud.
His fingers pierced into the pressure point—
But Gong Gyeon’s body slipped through his grip like liquid.
Slip.
Leaving behind a slick fluid.
Bending backward, Gong Gyeon extended only his arm and struck Cheon Bigang’s jaw.
Short reach—
But his arm stretched unnaturally and followed.
Thud!
Cheon Bigang was pushed back.
He looked at the slippery fluid on his hand.
“Not sweat.”
“Haha! You’ve figured it out, haven’t you? Why the duel was set as unarmed combat?”
“You… are you not human?”
“What nonsense! I am human!”
He snapped angrily.
“You just don’t understand. I am human—no, an evolved human!”
“What nonsense.”
“I accepted the blood of a god into this body. The survival rate was less than half, but I had no choice. Better to die than live paralyzed.”
“Blood of a god? What is that?”
“Artificial elixir!”
“Elixir?”
To Cheon Bigang, an elixir was something formed naturally over time.
But this—
“And humans made it?”
“Pitiful fool. It doesn’t matter. You’ll be the one dying here.”
Whoosh!
Gong Gyeon lunged forward.
His arm stretched with a tearing sound—
Cheon Bigang dodged.
But—
A fist appeared from an impossible angle and struck his side.
Bang! Bang!
“Come on! Fight back!”
Both arms stretched freely, raining blows across Cheon Bigang’s body.
From the witness stand, Jo Wol’s eyes widened.
‘Blood of a god…’
She immediately understood.
‘Enhanced serum.’
An artificial enhancement developed since World War II.
‘DNA from another organism… optimized for close combat.’
But knowing it changed nothing.
Just as martial artists once used elixirs without shame—
Modern people saw serum as personal choice.
‘Many died from side effects… yet he survived.’
Boom!
With each strike, the steel tiles beneath Cheon Bigang dented.
“Where’s your confidence now?!”
Grab!
He caught Gong Gyeon’s arm—
But it slipped free like boneless flesh.
The fluid made footing unstable.
Anyone could see—
Cheon Bigang was losing.
The Black Tiger Sect members mocked from the side.
“Hey! You’re next!”
“Kid, you’re coming with us today.”
“Sa Gyeom! I’ll split you in half!”
Sa Gyeom panicked.
“We need to run!”
“Why?”
“Are you blind?! We’ll die!”
“I’m not leaving.”
“Why?!”
“Because Master will win.”
“What nonsense—look at that!”
Sa Gyeom pointed—
The situation shifted.
Gong Gyeon’s limbs extended and wrapped around Cheon Bigang’s entire body.
“You monster! You trained your body well—but you won’t escape this!”
Like an octopus, he constricted him.
Crack!
Cheon Bigang couldn’t break free.
“I’ll suffocate you!”
His hand covered Cheon Bigang’s face.
Even the strongest must breathe.
“This is the end!”
Waaaaa!
The crowd roared.
Sa Gyeom cried.
“Get up! My life is on the line!”
At that moment—
Gong Gyeon heard a voice.
“Let go now, and I’ll spare you.”
“Heh! You think this is just a duel? This is nothing! Soon, Kowloon City will fall to them! I’ll kill you, then that kid!”
Crack!
He poured all his power into strangling him.
“…Then die.”
Thud.
Cheon Bigang grabbed both ears—
“AAAAAGH!”
Pulled—
And brought his face close.
Gong Gyeon saw—
Darkness writhing in those eyes.
“What are you—!”
Gasp—
Cheon Bigang opened his mouth—
And covered Gong Gyeon’s nose and mouth.
Then—
Blew.
Whoooooosh!
Like a balloon—
His body swelled.
“Ugh! Ugh!”
The crowd fell silent.
At the limit—
A needle.
Poke.
Boom!
His body exploded into blood and flesh—
Showering down on the Black Tiger Sect.
They vomited.
“Blegh!”
“Urgh!”
The match ended.
---
Rumors spread instantly.
Especially online.
―Anyone watch?
―Me
―Spilled my food
―Black Tiger → Explosion Sect now
―Who was that guy?
―Insane
―What technique?
―No idea
―They’re doomed
---
Black Tiger Sect office.
After the match, Joo Giyoung received a call.
From President Oh.
“…Damn.”
He answered.
“Yes, President Oh.”
“I watched. Disappointing.”
“I apologize.”
“That’s not why I called.”
“…Then?”
“I gave you enough chances. Your recklessness exposed us to the Hao Clan.”
“W-wait—”
“Handle what you can manage.”
“Please… one more chance…”
“…Fine. Last chance.”
“…Yes!”
“Stop wasting effort. Clear out all Hao Clan forces at the port. And the Blue Mountain Club as well.”
“But you said not to clash—”
“Things changed. Your son caused this. If I could, I’d kill you both.”
“….”
“Remember. This is your last chance.”
Joo Giyoung replied, drenched in sweat.
“I understand.”