Chapter 49 – Rookie King (1)
‘Drum mania’ Kim Jin-pyo. He was awakened by accident while working part-time as a delivery man in Hongdae. Without checking his own abilities, he decided on his nickname ‘Drum Mania’, recalling his life in a band he once was in, and today he regrets looking at his palms.
“I’ll call you Super Saiyan.”
“Crazy. It’s starting soon, so get ready.”
His mentor was a D-class hunter who belonged to the [Amazing] Guild and was indifferent to everything, but he was a kind person. Kim Jin-pyo nodded at his mentor’s words and then got up from his seat. Next to him, his partner gave a thumbs up and said ‘fighting’ in a low voice. Kim Jin-pyo nodded his head and then moved forward.
The mentor rummaged through the pad and said.
“Is your opponent that guy? That Adda bomber.”
Ada Bomber Jung Soo-hyun was already a celebrity among mentors. This was true even though Jeong Su-hyeon had no special relationship with the other mentors. Kim Jin-pyo laughed at the mentor’s explanation and shook his head.
“Ah, that bastard’s ability is fucking shit. What did you say Did you block it with your left hand and reflect it with your right arm?”
“It says to absorb damage with your left hand and release it with your right arm.”
“Babe, I saw you use your abilities with your bare hands before, but that level is nothing special. What is my ability It’s an energy wave. Energy wave. If you just hit it a few times, it will roll around on the floor and surrender! Will it be like this?”
Kim Jin-pyo was confident. In the first place, his goal was not to win. Even if he only advanced to the finals, it was because he gave a pretty good evaluation in various guilds. Moreover, his ability was a long-range attack ability with high development potential and good application in many ways. He didn’t know about the finals, but he believed that his ability was enough to reach the finals.
“You’re in big trouble. I heard that he only trained with his teeth clenched.”
Seeing Kim Jin-pyo’s complacent attitude, the mentor frowned and warned him. Jinpyo shook his head. He was sure of his weakness anyway. Since he absorbed it with his left hand, if he only aimed for his right arm and fired only the beam, Jung Soo-hyeon would naturally fall to his knees.
“Because it’s okay. Oh, I’ll go and just put my fucking dick on it and come back. Brother. Do you believe me?”
The mentor didn’t say anything. He sighed deeply and waved his hand. Kim Jin-pyo smiled broadly at the gesture of his hand, like chasing away a mosquito, and tapped the mentor’s arm.
“Ah, why is that? Brother. Between us? Yes? Give me a fight Don’t you believe me?”
“Go quickly, kid.”
As if annoying, the mentor patted Kim Jin-pyo on the back and sent him forward. Jin-pyo moved his steps toward the brightly lit arena gate. Kim Jin-pyo felt that the brightness of the door hinted at his future.
It was a quiet arena with no spectators and only one B-rank Hunter as the referee. The preliminaries were held behind closed doors, and from the round of 16, the main round, it was broadcast on TV. At that time, this sandy stadium will be well polished, and the empty stands will be filled with voices chanting their names.
Kim Jin-pyo took a deep breath and looked at his front. Jung Soo-hyeon was walking from the stadium gate on the far side. Kim Jin-pyo relaxed in place and waited for him to come out. Something emerged from the shadows. A large shield appeared on the field in place of Jeong Su-hyeon.
“What?”
Kim Jin-pyo was so embarrassed that he forgot to warm up and stiffened his posture. It wasn’t a shield that moved alone. Jeong Su-hyeon’s ankles visible through the edge of the shield and the murderous eyes in his eyes let me know that he was holding the shield.
In his right hand was a long spear. Since it was a game, it was a spear with a heavy and dull pocket instead of a blade. Jeong Su-hyeon took a step in front of him, then pointed his spear at Kim Jin-pyo and raised his shield. Seeing this, Kim Jin-pyo exclaimed.
“Hey, you cowardly bastard!”
The referee looked at Kim Jin-pyo as he was about to announce the start of the game. Suhyun also sent a puzzled look over the shield. Kim Jin-pyo exclaimed.
“You ugly bastard! Do you want to use a weapon? Uh?”
“A cowardly bastard?”
Suhyeon, who was holding the shield, opened his mouth. He also had a lot to say about ‘cowardice’. Kim Jin-pyo nodded and shouted when Jung Soo-hyun opened his mouth.
“Isn’t this cheating? Uh?”
Jeong Su-hyun replied as if he was full of energy.
“A bastard who shoots a beam from his fucking hand, does it look like I’m cheating with a piece of wood?”
“No, that…”
“If you’re scared, get out, you sick bastard.”
“This fucking bastard…”
Kim Jin-pyo blushed at Jeong Su-hyeon’s provocation. The referee intervened in the emotional battle between the two.
“I registered the weapon for use two weeks ago, so it is not a foul.”
It wasn’t until after the words came out that Kim Jin-pyo kept his mouth shut even though he was annoyed. He raised both of his hands and looked at Jung Soo-hyun. As soon as it started, it was ready to shoot a beam at Jeong Su-hyeon’s face. The referee shouted.
“Now then, ‘drum mania’ Kim Jin-pyo vs ‘Ada Bomber’ Jeong Su-hyeon! Let’s start the preliminary match for the Rookie of the Year!”
The referee fired a blank bullet into the air. Along with the gunshot, Kim Jin-pyo shouted.
“Fuck you, damn you!”
Along with his cry, two yellow bullets flew towards Jung Soo-hyeon at the same time. Jung Suhyeon lowered his stance, bending his knees and pushing his shield forward.
Tung!
The bullets hitting the shield gave a heavy impact and slightly pushed Jung Soo-hyeon back. Jeong Su-hyeon’s arm trembled, and his right arm shimmered. Kim Jin-pyo gritted his teeth and began to gather energy in his hands once again.
In the meantime, Suhyeon started to walk forward little by little. Jinpyo took a small step back to increase the distance. Yellow orbs gathered in his hand again. Kim Jin-pyo once again stretched out his hand.
Phut!
Two yellow bullets flew with a gong sound. Suhyun’s shoulders trembled a little from the impact of being hit by the shield. His forward steps were stopped. In the meantime, Kim Jin-pyo tried to take a step back.
But as he took a few more steps back, he too had to stop.
“If you go further than that, it’s an over-the-counter loss.”
Because the referee’s voice was heard. Kim Jin-pyo spat out abusive language at those words.
“Fuck!”
Jung Soo-hyun was approaching. The shield had scars here and there, but it still wasn’t broken. He moved like a chariot slowly cutting through a field. The heavy footsteps were pressing on Kim Jin-pyo. Jinpyo turned his body to change his position. He was in order to avoid the shield and attack.
However, no matter how he changed his position, Jeong Su-hyeon just turned around slowly and met Jin-pyo’s gaze with the shield. The lion pattern drawn on the shield really made me feel bad.
“Fuck!”
Once again, the bullets flew. One corner of the shield was crushed with a strange sound. The part that once supported the lion’s right mane shriveled and shattered. Kim Jin-pyo prepared the next room with a smile of repentance. Now, with just a few more shots, a few more shots, I was able to completely break that obstructive shield.
But Kim Jin-pyo’s joy was over in that moment. It was because the moment he gathered his anger and was about to turn again, Jung Soo-hyeon stepped up with all his might and narrowed the distance. Suddenly, the lion pattern grew larger, and he seemed to be attacking him.
When Jeong Su-hyeon, who had been moving slowly, suddenly increased her speed, Kim Jin-pyo could not adapt to the speed.
“Uh? Uh?”
I saw his right arm glowing brightly. Kim Jin-pyo unknowingly gritted his teeth and raised his arm. Because he felt there was no way he could escape it. The light from his right arm converged on the spear, and finally even the tip of the spear glowed white.
The lion pattern was faintly visible. The shield was pushed back, revealing Jeong Su-hyeon’s grinning face. A brightly shining spear flew towards Kim Jin-pyo.
“Aaaaagh!”
The forcibly lifted arm was twisted, and Kim Jin-pyo’s body flew through the air. A bright light came into my eyes. The brilliant light that seemed like his own future was tinted with a faint gray light. He was flying
The referee looked at Kim Jin-pyo with an indifferent face. Suhyun took off his shield and squeezed his arm.
“Aaaaagh!”
As Kim Jin-pyo rolled to the ground, the referee shouted.
“The match is over! Jeong Su-hyeon wins!”
Suhyun took a deep breath and spat on the floor. Kim Jin-pyo fell to the floor and groaned. He saw two women approaching Jeong Su-hyeon. When he turned his head, the mentor was walking in the shadows. The mentor looked down at Kim Jin-pyo and said.
“Did I tell you? You say you’re in trouble Did all the people who work hard look funny?”
“No, that bastard is cowardly with his shield and weapon…”
He still had the energy to speak. The mentor took a cigarette out of his pocket and placed it in his mouth. The referee, Class B Hunter, told him.
“Mr. Mentor. No smoking here.”
“Oh, sorry.”
He put the cigarette back in and laughed. Then he shook his head and went back into the dark tunnel. Kim Jin-pyo also barely got up. The referee said.
“Go to the infirmary there.”
“Yes. Thank you.”
He nodded his head and started staggering away. The dim lights in the medical room caught my eye. He tried to knead his arm, but the trembling arm wouldn’t listen to him.
******
On the way out of the stadium, Kim Yoo-jung said with a smile.
“Thank you for your effort.”
“No. It’s thanks to the senior. I think the training at Cheonma Cave definitely worked.”
“It’s all my own skill.”
“Soo Hyun-sang. It was cool.”
Ichi also helped out with praise. Jeong Su-hyeon felt that the two of them were in a relay of compliments. He asked.
“When is the Ichie match?”
“It will be held at the stadium next door in an hour.”
“Is it so? I will cheer you on.”
“I’m doing my best.”
Ichie nodded his head and said excitedly. Jeong Su-hyeon nodded and looked at the table once more and said.
“But I thought everyone would participate, but there are fewer participants than I thought?”
Compared to the number of enrolled students, the matchup, which consisted of 64 rounds, was somewhat lacking. Kim Yoo-jung said.
“Awakeners whose abilities aren’t suited to this kind of one-on-one fight won’t participate. For example, isn’t an awakening ability that heals an opponent when holding it with their hands at a disadvantage in a fight like this? Such people send me other special training during this time.”
“Special training?”
“Looking at the guilds, the Awakened supporters interviewing seniors from the same support department, and so on.”
“Okay.”
I looked at the bracket once again. Ichie’s next opponent was a friend I didn’t know very well.
