Solo Leveling : Fire

Chapter 18

Choi Jong-In stood in the center of the training grounds at the Dragon Knight Guild base, surrounded by fifteen A-rank hunters. His eyes were covered, his breathing steady, and his stance relaxed yet imposing. He wasn't using any magic—just raw skill and instinct. This was how he trained, honing his senses and refining his combat prowess without the aid of his overwhelming magical abilities.

The battle commenced. The hunters lunged at him from all directions, their swords and weapons gleaming in the bright lights of the training hall. Yet, despite their best efforts, Choi barely moved. With a precise flick of his wrist, he deflected an incoming strike. With a small shift of his foot, he dodged another. His movements were fluid, effortless—an art in motion. Each step, each turn, each counter felt calculated, as if he could see every attack before it even began.

The spectators watching from the sidelines could only marvel at the sight. To them, their guild master was flawless. Strong, graceful, and untouchable. Even against multiple high-level hunters, he remained untethered, easily reading their movements without even using his eyes. Within moments, the battle reached its conclusion. With one decisive motion, Choi Jong-In disarmed all fifteen hunters, sending their weapons clattering to the ground. They fell back, exhausted and awed.

Then, a presence emerged from the entrance of the training grounds. Choi didn't need to remove his blindfold to recognize her.

"Cha Hae-In," he called, a slight smirk playing on his lips. "Perfect timing."

She stepped forward, her sharp gaze locked onto him. The supposed Vice-Guild Master of the Hunters Guild was an exceptional swordswoman, one of the strongest hunters in Korea. Unlike the others, she wouldn't be an easy opponent.

"Would you like a spar?" he asked casually, removing the blindfold and meeting her eyes.

Cha Hae-In nodded, drawing her sword without hesitation. "Of course."

The tension in the training hall shifted instantly. The spectators held their breath as the two strongest hunters took their positions. The match began with a burst of movement. Cha Hae-In dashed forward, her sword slicing through the air at blinding speed. But Choi met her strike with his own, their blades colliding with a sharp clang. He wasn't using any mana, relying solely on his physical abilities and refined swordsmanship.

Their battle was mesmerizing. Each attack was precise, each block and counter perfectly timed. The floor beneath them cracked under the force of their movements, yet neither showed any signs of faltering. Choi was fast, incredibly so, but Cha Hae-In matched him strike for strike. Their swords flashed as they weaved around each other in a deadly dance of steel and skill.

Then, in a split second, they both halted. Their blades hovered at each other's throats, a stalemate.

Choi smiled, lowering his weapon. "You've grown strong."

Cha Hae-In didn't lower her sword right away. She narrowed her eyes slightly before replying, "You weren't even using your full strength."

Choi chuckled. "Maybe." He sheathed his sword and stepped back, rolling his shoulders. "That was refreshing."

Cha Hae-In sighed, sheathing her own sword. "One of these days, I'll make you fight me seriously."

"I'll be looking forward to it," Choi responded, giving her an amused glance before making his way out of the training hall.

At the highest floor of the Dragon Knight Guild's headquarters, where only the sky stretched endlessly before him, Choi Jong-In sat cross-legged in meditation. Next to him lay his sword, crafted from the remains of a powerful dragon he had slain in the past. The weapon radiated with heat, reflecting its fiery origins.

Beside him, Ignel, his massive dragon partner, lay resting, his scaled body rising and falling with deep breaths. The beast opened one eye lazily, then scoffed before closing it again, unbothered by his master's presence.

Choi inhaled slowly, then exhaled, his body radiating a calming aura. Flames flickered around him, yet they did not burn. The heat was intense but controlled. He was refining his mana, sharpening his control over the fire that had become a part of him. His flames were no ordinary flames—they were an extension of his will, molded by years of training and combat experience.

Over the years, Choi had perfected countless techniques. He had drawn inspiration, incorporating elements of their styles into his own. From Yamamoto's relentless flame-based techniques to Captain Burns' explosive power and Benimaru's refined precision, Choi had forged a unique combat style that was completely his own.

Unlike conventional mages who fought from a distance, Choi had mastered the art of combining magic with close combat. His long-range attacks were deadly, but his melee capabilities were just as fearsome. He could cut down enemies with sheer sword skill alone, and if needed, he could unleash flames so powerful that entire battlefields would be reduced to nothing but ash.

Opening his eyes, he looked out into the distance. The world was changing. The dungeons were becoming more unstable, more unpredictable. And soon, the biggest shift of all would begin.

"The storm is coming," he murmured to himself, tightening his grip on the hilt of his sword. He had only a few months left to prepare.

Ignel grumbled in his sleep, as if sensing his master's unease. Choi simply smiled, reaching out to run a hand along the dragon's enormous jaw.

"Don't worry," he whispered. "We'll be ready."

With that, he closed his eyes once more and continued his meditation, his aura burning ever brighter, like a flame ready to consume all that stood in its way.