NOVEL NEXT Chapter 43
The audience’s cheers were nearly drowned out by the fierce flames. The burning heat pricked at Lee Hyun’s back like a stinging sensation.
It was already a known fact that Yeon Minha enjoyed using the curtain of fire. She had been said to block the judges’ sight with it and then mercilessly toy with her opponents.
Dozens of students had shivered at the outrageous humiliation and challenged her to a duel up to now. However, by the time the curtain of fire was lifted, they all lay defeated on the ground in a wretched state.
Not a few had been carried off in a dying state due to serious injuries. The defeated students complained that Yeon Minha trampled on them while violating all sorts of duel regulations.
However, her thoroughly managed connections meant she had never been punished for serious violations of school rules.
But Yeon Minha didn’t know.
That she had just dug her own grave.
“It’s been a long time since someone applied for a duel. You must have some skills, right? Well, it makes sense; you must have some basics to get a recommended admission. You could have easily snagged first place by sneaking through the chaos.”
Yeon Minha scoffed at Lee Hyun.
“And when an elemental-type faces off against a circulation-type, the winning ratio for the circulation type is usually around 70% higher.”
Woosh!
“So, you were feeling confident and jumped in, huh? Well, you’ll regret it soon enough.”
With a single gesture from Yeon Minha, five blazing flames instantly formed behind her. It was a terrifyingly fast spell-casting speed that even overwhelmed particle arrangers.
Lee Hyun recalled the report he had seen in the past. Based on the magical properties she had displayed so far, it seemed she was currently commanding at least over 40 types of spirits.
Considering that the average spirit mage couldn’t handle more than a single-digit number of spirits, it was certainly an astonishing talent.
Among them, Yeon Minha particularly favored spirits that could mediate fire attribute magic. It suited that arrogant demeanor of hers rather well, adding an intimidating effect against her opponents.
The fear of fire was a primal sensation etched into the instinct of life.
“By the way, didn’t you know that the higher level you go, the exponentially higher the win ratio for elemental types becomes? Hmm?”
Lee Hyun raised his predictions to three routes for now. He intended to gauge her skill level. Today, he wasn’t even thinking of using his powers.
“A circulation mage not even launching an attack? Or are you plotting something?”
Looking at Lee Hyun, who didn’t move from his place, Yeon Minha had a smirk plastered across her face.
“Well, do whatever you want.”
With her gesture, the five flames flew towards Lee Hyun from all directions. They didn’t move monotonously but blocked various routes he could take to escape beforehand.
The seasoned and delicate control for a student was quite astonishing. Lee Hyun immediately moved along the edges of the curtain surrounding the dueling grounds.
However, the paths were so sharp that he couldn’t dodge all the flames. One blazing fire lightly grazed his neck. Soon, sharp pain and the smell of burning flesh began to rise.
He pulled out his blade and charged at Yeon Minha. According to the rules, merely holding it against that thin white neck would mean victory for him.
However, Yeon Minha did not permit his approach.
Boom!
Before long, a swirling current was generated right in front of her, transforming into a fierce wind that instantly blew Lee Hyun away as he drew closer.
One wall of the curtain of fire wavered in the wind, briefly revealing both their figures to the audience. Most displayed reactions that indicated they had expected as much, while disappointment was painfully evident on the faces of those who had hoped otherwise.
No matter how one looked at it, it was clear that Lee Hyun was struggling against Yeon Minha’s fierce assault.
“You definitely have some skill. You’re the first person who has ever casually brushed off my first attack. But… feeling a bit of pain, are we?”
Yeon Minha displayed her nasty personality openly. Lee Hyun didn’t respond and charged again.
This time, dozens of massive and sharp icicles formed in the air before flying his way.
As he tried to dodge, the solid metal rose from the ground, attempting to latch onto his ankles.
Yeon Minha’s smooth skin still had not a single scratch.
Lee Hyun certainly felt it was going to be a tough fight. A spirit mage, as long as the spirits they commanded met the requirements for different attributes, could wield all types of magic regardless of their own.
Yeon Minha was essentially maximizing the advantages of such spirit mages, appropriately mixing various types of magic to counter him.
“Your movements are too straightforward. Maybe it would work against monsters, but that kind of movement in a duel is the worst choice. Didn’t your benefactor teach you that?”
But that was all she said. Yeon Minha rambled on gleefully as if the outcome was already decided.
Lee Hyun didn’t respond but roughly gauged the time remaining. It seemed that half of the duration of the curtain of fire was left.
She had ended all her duels within that timeframe until now. And although it wasn’t intentional, it would go that way today, too.
Having roughly completed his preparatory work, he considered it was about time to finish the duel. He immediately raised his predictions to six routes.
Fwoosh
It seemed Yeon Minha also had intentions to end the match. The curtains around them were gradually closing in, increasingly leaving him with no space to dodge her magic. Behind her, 25 flickering flames formed once again in the air, doubling the amount from before.
“At first, I just wanted to cut off your limbs, but I’ve changed my mind a bit. How about I give you a few burn scars on your body, too? That’s quite manly, isn’t it?”
“…Well, I’m not really a fan of scars.”
At her smiling voice, Lee Hyun immediately responded. It was the first time he had ever spoken back to Yeon Minha during their spar.
“Oh, really? That’s too bad.”
Suddenly, those twenty-five flames flew at him like a barrage. With the space practically narrowed to nothing, there was nowhere to escape.
However, he had no intention of dodging. Instead, Lee Hyun lowered his posture and leaped straight into the barrage of flames.
“What…!”
Upon witnessing his sudden action, a look of surprise crossed Yeon Minha’s face for the first time.
Boom!
The collision between him and her magic created a tremendous explosion. His protective suit was now shattered and no longer served its function.
His body, emerging from the explosion, was in tatters. The sizzling sound and the smell of roasting flesh wafted everywhere.
Although intense pain stabbed into his skin, he paid it no mind. In fact, he felt a sense of accomplishment.
This meant that the groundwork he had prepared was going perfectly.
“You…!”
Despite briefly being taken aback by his outrageous action, Yeon Minha reasonably quickly regained her composure.
She attempted to create a metallic barrier to block his approach. Then she prepared to blow him away with a gust of wind. In the air, dozens of ice javelins started to form for a finishing blow.
And just as the metallic wall was beginning to rise from the ground, right before the current could whirl together…
Lee Hyun had, before he knew it, reached right in front of Yeon Minha.
“What…!”
Before she could even finish that thought, Lee Hyun clenched his fist and condensed particles within his body, increasing their intensity.
Then he aimed and launched it straight into Yeon Minha’s abdomen.
“Keugh…!”
A sharp, horrific pain immediately struck her stomach. The shock caused her to tumble to the ground, rolling a few meters away.
Though it was the most intense and vivid pain she had ever felt, she still attempted to get back up and retaliate.
However, Yeon Minha, by now, was being choked in midair, a grip locked around her delicate neck.
“Keugh…! Cough…!”
Lee Hyun lifted her by one hand, squeezing tightly to cut off the oxygen reaching her brain, making logical thinking difficult for her.
Just as his other hand was about to rain random blows upon her cheeks and chin, he quickly recalled his objective and summoned forth superhuman patience to lower it again.
It was best not to leave any visible scars on areas that could be seen.
Instead, he aimed for her torso and the bordering areas of her limbs, well-hidden beneath her clothing.
Thud! Thud!
Within the blazing wall, only the muffled sounds of strikes and someone’s fragile screams could be heard.
Thud! Thud!*
“Ugh… cough…!”
Lee Hyun continued to hit Yeon Minha without concern. He particularly targeted joints and nerves, places where pain would multiply.
He knew precisely the intensity and location to inflict horrible pain without killing his opponent.
Once, he had watched as a brutish demon knight bit his tongue and died. A member of the people’s liberation front captured by him spilled various secrets in less than ten minutes.
This was a technique he had acquired in the northeastern region through numerous real battles, all done in secret from his squad leader and sisters.
“You… damn you… How dare you… agh…!”
Lee Hyun felt he was on the brink of success. Despite spewing curses, fear had already filled Yeon Minha’s fierce gaze.
Before she blossomed, she must have lived in extreme caution. The risk of incomplete blooming rises dramatically against powerful talent.
After blooming, it was likely that nobody had dared to lay a hand on her body. Because her overwhelming talent overshadowed thousands of trials.
As he supposed, Yeon Minha was a being who had never experienced being preyed upon.
At the very least, this would be her first time taking such a brutal beating.
Thud! Thud!
“Cough… ugh…!”
The situation could no longer be called a duel. Lee Hyun lifted her up and threw her to the ground. Then he focused all his strength to stomp on her internal organs repeatedly. He kicked her ribs, shattering one or two with ease.
Meanwhile, Yeon Minha’s face and limbs remained smooth as ever.
Thud! Thud!
“Wait a minute… cough… ha…”
Yeon Minha’s furious curses slowly morphed into pleas laced with tears.
It felt like it was about time, but it still seemed a bit lacking. Lee Hyun continued to rain down blows.
Thud! Thud!
“…Just a moment… ugh…”
Thud! Thud!
“Ugh… it hurts… agh…”
Lee Hyun suddenly glanced around. He noticed that the upper part of the fire curtain was gradually lifting.
In other words, it was time to wrap things up.
After taking a moment to breathe, Lee Hyun walked closer to Yeon Minha, who lay sobbing on the ground.
When she spotted him, fear clouded her expression.
“Ugh… h-hic… aah!”
Thud!
Her attempt to push back with her hands to gain some distance was thwarted when Lee Hyun stomped down hard on her thigh.
“Let’s get up, senior. Do you really want to be lying down like this in front of your junior?”
“Ugh… please stop…”
“I’m sorry, but I can’t quite make out what you’re saying when you’re shaking like that. Could you say it a bit louder and clearer?”
“Stop… please stop…”
“Shall I? Honestly, I’m getting a bit tired myself. So, are you admitting defeat?”
“Ugh… that’s… agh…!”
Since no immediate answer came forth, Lee Hyun delivered another solid punch to Yeon Minha’s belly. It seemed he still had a bit more to do.
“I asked if you’re admitting defeat.”
“Agh… I’ll admit it…! I acknowledge it…! Please… please just stop… h-hic…”
Got it.
Finally relieved, Lee Hyun halted the recording device in his pocket. He needed to prepare in case she tried to change her story later. After all, the official victory would be hers regardless.
“Ugh… it hurts… ha…”
Yeon Minha collapsed to the floor, a disgraceful sight, sobbing. Her hair was a mess, and her head hung low, making it hard to see her face. Drops of tears continuously fell to the ground.
Lee Hyun plopped down right in front of her. Her body trembled at his approach.
He reached out and grabbed her chin, lifting it to meet his gaze.
Now, only the small, delicate prey remained. Her will had shattered and was nowhere to be seen.
In a whisper, barely louder than a murmur so that others wouldn’t hear, he said to her.
“Clear the room.”