Chapter 11: Chapter 10 – Rule 6. The Leader Excludes Attention Seekers (3)
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Ahn Woo-jin.
From a young age, he mastered an efficient mana cultivation technique based on his gaming knowledge.
What is mana cultivation?
It's a training method that refines mana and meticulously crafts mana circuits.
The younger one starts, the more depth it adds to their talent, much like aging wine to bring out a deeper, richer flavor.
Once the body matures, it only serves to increase the density and operational capability of mana, so timing is crucial.
Among these, the method Woo-jin had repeatedly practiced was the training regimen of the strongest in Academy City: the very one instinctively mastered by the worst outlaw among the Six Sinners, 'Goliath.'
Woo-jin, equipped with gaming knowledge, poured in effort incomparable to Goliath's, constantly refining himself like a gem to be cut into a beautiful shape.
Yet, he couldn't become a monster like Goliath.
He didn't reach the fifth rank like other geniuses.
Thus, Woo-jin considered himself mediocre.
However, the training time Woo-jin accumulated gradually built up.
This was an undeniable fact.
In the end, Woo-jin's talent, potential, and skill—all of it—had reached a level far beyond what the Sindorim Swordmaster, who only possessed decent talent, could ever hope to achieve.
Woo-jin's teal eyes were cold as ice.
Occasionally, currents of electricity flowed through his glaring eyes, a sign of activated mana.
"Grrr…!"
Sindo-rim couldn't stay still any longer.
He picked up his sword and barely managed to stand, assuming a combat stance once more. Whoosh! Red flames again erupted along the blade, driven by his will.
"Argh!"
With his mana-enhanced, robust body, Sindo-rim charged at Woo-jin, letting out a battle cry.
His movements were swift. He accelerated his pace by propelling himself with fiery mana.
Whoosh! A sharp downward slash aimed at Woo-jin.
At that moment, Woo-jin released the lightning mana imbued in his three-section staff, leaving only the effects of simple mana enhancement.
To prevent an explosive reaction when fire and lightning collided.
Clang!
Woo-jin blocked the slash with his three-section staff. Swish. He immediately released the staff, which naturally landed in his other hand as it dropped.
Crackle! Teal currents surged once more through the staff.
Whack! Thud!
"Gah!"
The electrified staff struck Sindo-rim's body. It was a swift and precise attack.
The mana-enhanced three-section staff was far superior to the mana-enhanced body of Sindo-rim.
As a result, Woo-jin's moderate strike far surpassed Sindo-rim's defense.
One more time.
Woo-jin struck Sindo-rim again.
Bang!
A powerful blow created a shockwave, sending Sindo-rim flying. His robust body was rendered useless in that moment.
Crackle! The residual impact spread teal lightning through the air like chains, leaving an afterglow.
"Ah, agh…!"
The deafening explosion that filled the arena gave the spectators a sense of the immense pain Sindo-rim was experiencing.
"Huff, huff…!"
Sindo-rim groaned in pain, supporting himself on the ground.
At the start of the duel, Sindo-rim was burning with a spirit of challenge.
Even if it meant troubling Woo-jin, it was a chance he had seized.
He had vowed that dueling Woo-jin would provide meaningful combat experience and growth.
But.
After exchanging blows twice, the enormous wall obscured by fog finally came into view.
The difference in skill was overwhelmingly clear.
Mana control, combat sense—everything was excessively superior.
Sindo-rim had never fought against someone this powerful.
Was he really just a second-year student?
Before the duel, Sindo-rim had his doubts. Perhaps Woo-jin had used connections or cunning to outmaneuver Oh Baek-seo and become the Disciplinary Committee Leader.
Seeing is believing, as they say.
After confronting him, he could feel it unmistakably.
Woo-jin was already a genius monster, a different league altogether.
Thus, he realized.
Ahn Woo-jin was an invincible opponent, not even suitable for gaining experience points.
The mere fact that he challenged him might have been arrogance.
"Ah…!"
Crack! The goblin mask shattered from the impact and fell to the ground.
Finally, Sindo-rim's true face was revealed.
"Huh!? Sindo-rim's mask…?"
"Hey, isn't that Park Sung-tae?"
"Park Sung-tae? That third-year from the Chrysanthemum Hall?"
"I knew it! It was Park Sung-tae! I was right!"
The audience murmured.
The true identity of the Sindo-rim Swordmaster was exposed.
Park Sung-tae.
A third-year student at Ahsung High, known for his high grades among the gathered prodigies.
His face showed no trace of the challenger's bravado.
Only shock filled his expression.
"Damn it…."
Park Sung-tae propped himself up on the ground.
His body refused to move as he willed it.
He had endured multiple shocks and electric attacks, enough to knock anyone unconscious.
Yet, Sung-tae struggled to rise.
There was another reason he had challenged Woo-jin. This duel wasn't just about gaining meaningful combat experience.
Sung-tae had always considered himself a genius.
He believed that his outstanding talent had allowed him to achieve high grades even within Ahsung High School.
However, the spotlight always shone on his juniors.
Especially on Oh Baek-seo, an unparalleled genius, and Ahn Woo-jin, who had surpassed him to become the Disciplinary Committee Leader.
He acknowledged the difference in talent.
But Sung-tae wasn't willing to accept being considered mediocre.
He had resolved to use another genius as experience points to rise above.
Only then…
'I must defeat him to prove myself….'
He wanted to show the audience that his belief in his own talent was not misplaced.
Sung-tae managed to stand up and took his sword again. Whoosh! The flames responded to his call once more.
"He's pretty tough…."
"Does he really need to go this far, though? Doesn't seem like it."
"The Disciplinary Committee Leader is amazing, isn't he? Sindo-rim doesn't stand a chance."
"I didn't expect it to be this bad…. How is his mana control like that…?"
The audience started praising Ahn Woo-jin.
Their interest in Sindo-rim waned rapidly as his identity was revealed and the duel turned one-sided.
But Sung-tae focused solely on Ahn Woo-jin.
He couldn't hear the murmurs of the audience with the towering wall right in front of him.
Click, clack.
Woo-jin walked forward.
His steps were resolute.
Sindo-rim instinctively held his breath.
"If you're my senior, I should have shown more respect."
Woo-jin spoke in a monotone voice.
"I'll stop holding back now. Let's finish this quickly."
"...!"
Sung-tae's eyes widened.
"You mean, you haven't been serious at all…?"
"Unfortunately, senior, you're not an opponent worth my serious effort."
"Grr…!"
Park Sung-tae gritted his teeth.
"Don't be ridiculous!"
Sung-tae charged at Woo-jin again with a fierce cry.
Thud!
What followed was the expected conclusion.
Sung-tae's sword strike was effortlessly deflected, and the electrified three-section staff plunged into his body.
Teal arcs flashed through the air, accompanied by five rapid, dull impacts. Crackle! The lightning mana enhanced the strikes with greater force.
'What…?'
Sung-tae couldn't comprehend what was happening.
The audience watched in shock, mouths agape.
Bang!
With a final swing of Woo-jin's three-section staff, a booming sound echoed as Sung-tae was sent flying out of the arena.
Whoosh! The wind pressure spread. As his hat threatened to fly off, Woo-jin caught it and put it back on.
Crash! Sung-tae hit the wall and collapsed, unconscious.
For a moment, silence filled the arena. Woo-jin stood quietly, watching Sung-tae.
"D-d-d-d-duel over…!"
The referee's shout broke the silence.
"The winner is Disciplinary Committee Leader Ahn Woo-jin!"
Students who had been in a daze started clapping one by one.
Healers administered basic healing magic to Sung-tae and carried him away on a stretcher.
Rumble. Woo-jin wiped the blood off the three-section staff with a handkerchief, retracted the metal rods, and reattached it to his belt. Adjusting his hat, he extended his hand to the referee.
"Um…? Would you like to say a few words…?"
Woo-jin took the microphone from the referee without responding.
He spoke towards the camera filming the duel.
"I hereby declare: any student who issues another challenge to the Disciplinary Committee will be severely punished according to school regulations. Please take note."
Woo-jin's voice was solemn.
After delivering his warning, he returned the microphone to the referee and stepped off the arena.
The referee and audience watched his back in stunned silence.
"Goodness… he's something else."
In the audience, Lee Se-Ah smiled brightly.
She had known he was strong, being the Disciplinary Committee Leader and the one who single-handedly quelled the subway incident….
But she hadn't expected this level of power.
Watching the duel, she felt a constant chill.
Considering his mana level and combat sense, Woo-jin had long surpassed the typical fourth rank.
Though he didn't possess a unique ability to qualify for the fifth rank, evaluating Woo-jin's strength solely based on rank was misleading.
Se-Ah's desire to have Woo-jin grew stronger.
If she could recruit him, he would undoubtedly become a formidable ally.
"Yesong, why aren't you going to your boyfriend candidate?"
"I've always disliked that senior. I was fooled by the mask. He's out of the running…."
Woo-jin left the arena with Vice President Oh Baek-seo and Officer Ha Ye-song.
At this moment.
In front of the city's big names who were watching, Woo-jin established himself as an 'unknown powerhouse.'
…
A woman watched the duel between Woo-jin and Sindo-rim on Jtube.
It was a video she had replayed countless times.
She paused the video and enlarged the screen, gently caressing Woo-jin's cheek with her finger. The screen moved with her finger's motion.
The sensation under her fingertip was that of the hard screen, not Woo-jin's soft skin.
"He's gotten so strong, Woo-jin. This much…."
Kim Dalbi smiled contentedly, continuing to gaze at Woo-jin.
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