Chapter 133
Chapter 133: Rank 3 (13)
Hero Ji Gang-seok had frequently switched parties and guilds ever since he was a Rank 4 Hero.
In total, he had passed through 8 different guilds.
Among the Rank 2 Heroes in Korea, he was known to have the most frequent job changes.
In the hero market where the synergy of the party was essential, his frequent changes were by no means a positive factor.
The sole reason he boldly moved between guilds was his desire to climb to a higher rank.
After settling into the Knife Guild and having his name frequently mentioned in the media,
Ji Gang-seok had become a hero similar to those he had once admired in the past.
For him, the grade that was represented by numbers was his pride and honor.
He wasn’t sure if he could ever reach the terrifyingly powerful Rank 1, but
he felt quite satisfied with the highest rank a hero could achieve through hard work, Rank 2.
However…
At this moment, Ji Gang-seok’s pride was slightly cracking.
‘You blocked my attack with just a Rank 4 level?!’
Was it beginner’s luck, or a mere fluke?
Yoo Ji-han managed to block his kick fueled by his strength.
It definitely wasn’t an attack he was going to let slide lightly.
After all, he meant to make it so that the opponent wouldn’t die.
Had the opponent been his former self, the Rank 4 Hero Ji Gang-seok, he definitely wouldn’t be standing unharmed.
‘I can’t believe this.’
He had attempted an attack only to find his shin grabbed by the opponent.
He tried to reclaim the leg that was caught by Yoo Ji-han.
Crack!
But Yoo Ji-han wasn’t about to let him go easily.
With fingers like a powerful claw, he had Ji Gang-seok’s shin firmly gripped.
“That bastard…!”
With his face flushed with anger, Ji Gang-seok jumped off the leg that was still on the ground and attempted to attack again.
Yoo Ji-han let go of his hold on Ji Gang-seok’s foot and fell back in response to the opponent’s threatening momentum.
“You’re dead meat.”
He discarded any thoughts of taking it easy in the fight.
Now a free man, he immediately chased after Yoo Ji-han.
Iron-like fists and kicks extended continuously toward Yoo Ji-han.
Swish! Swish—!
Powerful attacks tore through the air, pushing the wind forward.
Yoo Ji-han’s hair and clothing fluttered as if a fan was turned on, narrowly avoiding the assaults.
Flick!
The side of Yoo Ji-han’s face was slightly torn as it brushed against Ji Gang-seok’s fist.
Seeing the small droplet of blood ooze from the wound, Ji Gang-seok couldn’t help but smile.
He thought he had caught up to Yoo Ji-han’s movements.
‘Seems like he doesn’t plan to go down easily.’
Yoo Ji-han wiped the blood droplet from his cheek with the back of his hand.
The attack from Rank 2 Hero Ji Gang-seok was infused with strong power but also fast enough that one couldn’t let their guard down.
Moreover, he was someone who had sparred with numerous heroes.
He unleashed unpredictable attacks, never giving Yoo Ji-han a moment’s respite.
‘He seems even stronger than those barbarians.’
Yoo Ji-han had to admit it.
This single hero named Ji Gang-seok was indeed stronger than the leader of the barbarians he had encountered in the department store.
‘Even the time to use sampling feels too precious now.’
The probabilities that sampling provided brought great stability to Yoo Ji-han, but
in this spar, even the brief moment it consumed for skill usage felt like a waste.
With the Sylph’s help stored in his pocket, he had applied a buff to himself.
He combined various bits of information entering his line of sight to read his opponent’s next attack.
Hook!
A punch rising from below, aiming directly at his chin.
In response to the incoming attack, Yoo Ji-han simultaneously pulled his upper body and head back.
Thud!
Followed by an attack aiming for his side, he swatted it away with his hand.
The shock traveling through his hand was considerable, akin to being hit by a solid object, yet he could handle it adequately.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Ji Gang-seok advanced bit by bit, relentlessly throwing punches.
Each one packed with powerful force!
On the surface, it looked like he was overwhelmingly pressuring Yoo Ji-han, who was retreating.
‘Is he going to dodge all of this?’
However, every attack targeting Yoo Ji-han continued to slice through empty air.
Even as two minutes had passed since the spar began,
besides brushing his cheek briefly, Yoo Ji-han had yet to sustain any significant damage.
Considering the situations of the two men entering the sparring arena, this outcome was utterly unbelievable.
Yet, this incredible reality unfolded right before Ji Gang-seok’s eyes.
‘That rabbit-like guy!’
Managing to dodge every attack, and whenever he thought an attack succeeded, he’d slip away or deflect it.
After so many failed attacks, Ji Gang-seok felt a bit irritated and drove his front leg forward.
Yoo Ji-han attempted to retreat so that Ji Gang-seok’s arm wouldn’t reach him.
“Ha!”
At that moment, a sudden surge of magic burst forth from Ji Gang-seok’s hands.
He had compressed large amounts of magic within his clenched fist.
Boom!
What had failed to take the proper form of magic was merely a lump of magical energy.
Yet thanks to the reckless compression of magic, a loud noise echoed.
To escape any potential damage, Yoo Ji-han leaped back while covering his face with his arms.
‘Gotcha!’
Ji Gang-seok charged forward like a spring propelled by the magic he infused into his legs.
He was so fast that he caught up to Yoo Ji-han, who had jumped ahead.
‘This ends now.’
Crack!
Ji Gang-seok twisted his waist in midair.
As he reached Yoo Ji-han, he hurled a punch downward.
An attack that could burst flesh and shatter bones if it made contact anywhere on the torso.
[Wind Bomb]
But from above Yoo Ji-han, a wind bomb appeared.
With the powerful wind pushing him, Ji Gang-seok quickly landed on the floor of the sparring arena.
Boom!
Conversely, ripped off the ground by the wind, Ji Gang-seok collided with the wall of the arena before coming down to earth.
He quickly regained his stance and spoke incredulously.
“That was definitely magic…”
“Yes.”
“You could use magic?”
“Oh, didn’t you know?”
Yoo Ji-han smiled at Ji Gang-seok.
*
Kim Si-hu watched Yoo Ji-han with his mouth tightly shut.
Every moment shared between the two in the dueling arena was tense,
but it seemed Yoo Ji-han was holding up quite well, utilizing magic as well.
‘I wish I could help in some way!’
Kim Si-hu was not pleased with the current situation of their party leader sparring alone.
“We don’t have much time left.”
Kim Si-hu glanced at the clock on his mobile phone.
It had been three minutes since the duel began.
Only about two minutes remained.
“Hmm?”
“……Huh?”
A blue mist began to ripple from Ji Gang-seok’s hand, which had been chasing after Yoo Ji-han for several minutes.
Then the onlookers outside the sparring area gasped in surprise.
What now lingered in his hand wasn’t magic but an aura!
He had finally drawn an aura in the duel.
Min Yu-ri said somewhat flustered, “Isn’t this just a simple duel? Using an aura is a bit…”
“…….”
The emergence of aura, which would show tremendous lethality depending on usage.
Yang Ji-cheol, with a serious expression, looked at the timer.
Thanks to Yoo Ji-han holding up wonderfully, there was very little time remaining until the end of the duel.
But what would happen if they stopped the duel simply for the reason of using aura?
He couldn’t predict what kind of response Ji Gang-seok would have.
And…
Boom!
‘Just as I thought.’
Emerging from Ji Gang-seok’s hands was a green aura that clung to Yoo Ji-han’s hands.
As previously confirmed, he too was an aura user just like Ji Gang-seok.
“We will continue the duel.”
“But…”
“Stopping here would certainly be a disrespect to Ji-han.”
Yang Ji-cheol represented Yoo Ji-han’s feelings in the arena.
“Try running away again!”
Ji Gang-seok’s massive fist, infused with aura, extended toward Yoo Ji-han’s solar plexus.
Yoo Ji-han’s gaze was locked onto the incoming punch that tore through the air.
Thud!
The punch aimed at his solar plexus was blocked by Yoo Ji-han’s palm.
It wasn’t just luck that he managed to block it; he precisely read the opponent’s attack for a perfect response.
Ji Gang-seok had the slight upper hand in pure strength, yet he wasn’t pushed back significantly.
In response to Ji Gang-seok’s kicking attack that followed, Yoo Ji-han countered with the same kick.
Boom!
The legs of both, charged with aura, crossed in an X shape, unleashing a powerful shockwave.
“Urahhhhh—!”
Rapidly extending punches and kicks!
A far fiercer exchange of blows ensued between the two than before.
The spectators could only keep their eyes glued to the attacks.
“Hmph!”
Yoo Ji-han managed to evade all attacks he could avoid perfectly.
Nevertheless, he similarly built up an aura barrier against any that seemed like they might graze him.
Utilizing the limited magic of the Sylph efficiently, he operated the aura.
Thud! Tap! Tap!
Every time their auras clashed, small sparks of aura flew around them.
‘Something feels off?’
Ji Gang-seok, who had been throwing rapid punches, frowned.
Was it just his imagination, or did it feel like his aura was diminishing with every clash against Yoo Ji-han’s?
It turned out it was indeed a reality happening before him.
The green aura infused with Sylph’s magic was steadily wearing down his aura.
‘Did it have such an effect?’
After several clashes, Yoo Ji-han gained a renewed understanding of the power he possessed.
He maneuvered tight against Ji Gang-seok, seeking frequent engagements to make the most out of the aura effect.
“1 minute remaining!”
Yang Ji-cheol’s voice rang out, announcing the remaining time.
Ji Gang-seok, feeling more anxious, pressed Yoo Ji-han even harder.
But then it happened.
‘A gap?’
Yoo Ji-han spotted a massive opening in Ji Gang-seok.
How could there be such an obvious gap?
It seemed the condition he had set for himself—his own time limit—had turned into pressure for him.
The goal of this duel was simply to endure for five minutes.
Thus, even though there had been numerous chances to attack, Yoo Ji-han had focused primarily on defensive and evasive maneuvers to buy time…
‘How can I ignore such a blatant opening?’
Unable to disregard the perfect gap in his opponent’s defense, he thrust in an attack.
“Gah!”
Yoo Ji-han extended his leg targeting Ji Gang-seok’s abdomen.
Having been struck directly in the stomach, Ji Gang-seok’s waist buckled momentarily.
However, Yoo Ji-han chose not to launch a follow-up attack and instead created distance again.
There was little time left until the duel’s end.
“Damn it…!”
Flick!
At that moment, Ji Gang-seok muttered something under his breath as a small light began to twinkle from his hands.
Soon after, a splendid gauntlet adorned his bare hands.
It wasn’t just an ordinary piece of equipment, but an artifact bestowed with special effects.
‘First an aura, now he’s pulling out an artifact too?’
Ji Gang-seok, who had declared he would not use skills,
had suddenly summoned an artifact despite not even using any weapons.
Yoo Ji-han’s eyes lowered as he sensed a big change occurring.
Crack.
Ji Gang-seok positioned himself low and let his arms droop down.
In his line of sight, only Yoo Ji-han remained.
“Start!”
At that moment, Chilla, who had rushed in on all fours, appeared with a shield to block in front of Yoo Ji-han.
“Stop it!”
“It’s over!”
Following Chilla, Kim Si-hu and Min Yu-ri entered the dueling arena, each aiming their staff and bow at Ji Gang-seok.
Yoo Ji-han’s comrades looked ready to retaliate at any moment.
Outside the arena, Yang Ji-cheol waved his arms vigorously.
It was only then that Ji Gang-seok realized the five minutes had passed.
Flick!
As his gauntlet transformed into light and disappeared,
Yoo Ji-han asked him, “Is that a pass?”
“…… Yeah. It’s a pass, you bastard.”
Ji Gang-seok replied in a tone laced with dejection.
The moment he took out an artifact out of irritation against Yoo Ji-han,
he had effectively thrown away his pride as a Rank 2 Hero.
‘Better than Moon Kyung-jin, though.’
Contrary to their conversation during the interview, it was a clean acknowledgment.
As Ji Gang-seok glared at Yoo Ji-han, he exited the dueling arena first.
“Ha, damn. What a disgrace…”
As Ji Gang-seok completely disappeared from view,
Yang Ji-cheol turned to Yoo Ji-han and said,
“Congratulations on leveling up to Rank 3.”
The moment of confirmation for his promotion to Rank 3 had arrived.
