Suddenly, the arsenal door slammed open like it had been kicked off its hinges.

  Ryu Seong-ho stood there, arms crossed, expression unreadable; but with a faint, almost amused smile at the corner of his lips.

  “Were you trying to increase your weapon mastery to max?”

  His tone was really casual.

  Jimin stiffened. “Ehh… No, Si-”

  Seong-ho abruptly cut him off, voice exploding like a gunshot. “Then why the heck are you taking so long? Get to the arena. Now.”

  “Y-Yes, sir!” The response left Jimin’s mouth before his brain even processed it. Almost instinctively.

  He scrambled out with the spear and throwing blades clenched tightly in both hands. His heart hammered in his chest as he hurried toward the arena, boots tapping against the hard floor like accelerating drumbeats.

  The moment he stepped outside, the noise hit him like a wave. The makeshift arena was already packed; students circled the drawn boundary but at a respectful distance; leaving a clear perimeter.

  The air vibrated with anticipation, excitement and hunger for drama.

  They were ready to witness blood. Some were already whispering.

  “Is he really fighting Dae-ho?”

  “Poor guy… he’s dead.”

  “Place your bets now; no refunds!”

  Their eyes followed Jimin as he approached, like he was a prey walking willingly into a lion’s den.

  From behind him, Seong-ho’s voice cut through the noise like a blade. “Make way.”

  Instant silence. They instantly obeyed the command.

  Students stepped aside immediately, parting to create a straight path to the arena, like he was walking through a corridor.

  Jimin felt dozens of eyes drilling into him. He swallowed and walked down the path.

  Every step felt heavier than the last.

  I’m actually doing this. No turning back for me now.

  ---

  Meanwhile, the male Assistant combat instructor, Lee Heong-jun approached Seong-ho and asked, “Sir, if you don’t mind, may I ask you something?”

  “What?” said Seong-ho.

  “Are you sure about this? That kid is just an E-1 rank. I heard he doesn’t have any skills on top of that. He is going to get hurt pretty bad. Why did you even propose this fight?”

  “I don’t know. I just felt that something interesting might happen,” replied Seong-ho with a slight grin.

  A mixed expression of confusion and annoyance appeared on Heong-jun’s face. What is this old geezer up to again?

  What the hell! That kid doesn’t have any skills? Who doesn't have any skills? Then, what was all that bravado about? Seong-ho thought in his mind while maintaining a poker face.

  Let’s just hope he has a useful unique skill.

  ----

  The moment Jimin stepped through the final gap, he looked up; and saw him.

  Kang Dae-ho was already inside the circle, standing at the opposite side. Sword hanging from his right hand, reinforced metal gauntlet on the other. There was no earth-like armor, but Jimin had a hunch; he could activate it at any moment.

  His arms were relaxed, but his eyes… His eyes were sharp and vicious.

  The kind of eyes that didn’t just want to win. They wanted to dominate; and humiliate.

  His gaze locked with Jimin’s. Cold; electric; almost tangible in intensity.

  For a brief moment, neither moved. Neither blinked.

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  Jimin inhaled slowly, then stepped into the circle.

  This time, he didn’t look away first. He refused to.

  The atmosphere thickened as the crowd leaned in. The circle was wide; big enough for movement, dodging, throwing, charging. But to Jimin, it still felt too small.

  Every student surrounding them, formed a wall of pressure, expectation, and bloodlust.

  Seong-ho stepped to the centre-edge of the arena circle. He announced, “I will be the referee for this duel.”

  His voice had authority that echoed off the walls.

  Seong-ho asked, “Are both parties aware of the rules?”

  “Yes,” both Jimin and Dae-ho answered at the same time.

  It was like the fight had already started and none of them wanted to lose at anything.

  Jimin’s voice was steady. More than Seong-ho expected.

  Seong-ho continued, “I remind both parties again; lethal blows are strictly prohibited.”

  His gaze cut sharply to Dae-ho, like a warning shot. The effect was immediate. A bead of sweat trickled down Dae-ho’s cheek.

  He hid it well. But not well enough.

  Jimin noticed.

  So he really is scared of Seong-ho… even if just a bit.

  Seong-ho clasped his hands behind his back.

  He continued, “Are both parties ready?”

  “Yes.” They said loudly.

  The crowd fell silent. Even breathing seemed to stop.

  Seong-ho started the countdown, “Three.”

  Jimin steadied his stance; spear angled for a thrust, body lowered, grip firm. Dae-ho also steadied his stance. Lifted his sword and raised his gauntleted arm; like a perfect guard.

  “Two.”

  Jimin started pulling out both of his throwing blades with one hand, from his back-pocket, hiding them behind his palm. Dae-ho clenched his sword and gauntlet even harder.

  “One.”

  The blade in Jimin’s right hand “slipped.”

  It fell, tumbling toward the ground.

  Both he and Dae-ho flicked their eyes toward it.

  Confusion flashed across both faces.

  Dae-ho thought in his mind, Did he just drop his weapon? What a loser!

  Seong-ho waved his hand downward once.

  “Start.”

  Everything exploded. Dae-ho charged forward instantly.

  He reinforced his chest and forearms with earth-armor; almost like a second skin, almost instantly. The ground beneath his feet cracked with the burst of acceleration.

  He was fast. Faster than Jimin expected.

  “Shit!” Jimin jerked back and threw his remaining blade out of pure reflex, aiming at Dae-ho’s face.

  Dae-ho didn’t even flinch.

  With his gauntlet, he swatted the blade aside easily. The blade spun harmlessly into the air and dropped at a distance.

  It barely had any power behind it.

  But it was enough to slow him for a heartbeat. Just enough.

  “You thought I’d let you surrender?” Dae-ho roared, swinging his sword downward in a vicious vertical slash.

  Jimin steadied his spear just in time and thrust the spear forward, aiming straight at Dae-ho’s stomach. “Take this!”

  Dae-ho’s eyes widened, surprised by the sudden attack, but his instincts kicked in. He twisted; his blade snapped sideways to deflect the thrust.

  “Wha...” Jimin gasped.

  But Dae-ho didn’t give him a breath’s time.

  Another follow-up vertical slash came down, as Dae-ho shouted, “You’re dead meat!”

  Jimin somehow managed to block the attack with his spear.

  The two weapons collided. The metal clanged violently.

  The slash was so heavy, it shook Jimin to his core and he was pushed back. The vibration ran through Jimin’s arms, down his spine, into his teeth.

  His knees buckled.

  He stumbled back three steps more, teeth clenched, arms screaming in protest.

  But Dae-ho didn’t stop pushing.

  He pressed forward, sword grinding against the spear, trying to overpower him with brute strength.

  Students screamed in excitement.

  “Damn. Dae-ho’s too strong!”

  “That E-1 can’t handle that!”

  “This is over!”

  Jimin felt the weight bearing down. His muscles trembled. His grip started slipping.

  But he dug his heels in and still pushed back, locking the shaft of the spear against Dae-ho’s sword.

  Their weapons were stuck; the edges grinded as both strained.

  Dae-ho leaned in, grinning wide, breath hot and booming, “How did that feel, Trash?”

  His voice dripped with arrogance. His grin became even wider.

  But then-

  Dae-ho’s face suddenly twitched and he started groaning.

  The entire hall went silent suddenly.

  Dae-ho looked down.

  He saw that a shard-like blade was buried deep in his thigh. His pupils were dilated. His mouth opened, but only a strangled sound came out.

  But before he could react-

  A second blade, suddenly stabbed straight into his butt.

  Dae-ho screamed, “AGHHHH….! What the hell?”

  His entire body recoiled. His groaning became louder.

  But behind the clash of weapons, behind the shock on every student’s face, behind the confusion twisting Dae-ho’s expression; Jimin grinned faintly.

  He started pushing back slightly and slowly. And then, he leaned in; with a grin on his face and gave Dae-ho a reply he never expected.

  “Ask that to your ass, Dipshit.”