Bang!
A single punch echoed with a deafening shockwave.
Despite the devastating force, Taeseong didn’t even flinch, calmly observing the fist that stopped just inches from his face. The sheer intensity of the blow caused gusts of wind to whip through his hair.
“…”
“Why are you just standing there? Do you really have a death wish?”
“I didn’t see a reason to move.”
“Explain.”
“Exactly as I said. That punch wasn’t meant to kill me, was it?”
The team leader silently observed Taeseong.
“He read my intent?”
Despite the noticeable killing intent laced in the attack, the rookie had seen through it.
And this wasn’t just any rookie—it was his sister’s brother.
A spark of interest lit the team leader’s face.
“Your basis?”
“I don’t have one.”
“So, you’re saying it’s instinct?”
“Yes, something like that…”
Whether it was reckless bravado or grounded confidence, that would be revealed soon enough. The team leader’s lips curled into a faint smile as he extended a hand toward Taeseong. His massive hand dwarfed Taeseong’s, twice the size of an average man’s.
“Taesan .”
“Taeseong.”
“Follow me.”
With a firm handshake, the two men headed toward the administrators’ private training grounds.
Meanwhile, Ho-jin, who had been watching from the sidelines, collapsed from shock. Haeyoung rushed to his side, helping him up as she spoke.
“Ugh, there he goes again! Are you okay, Ho-jin? That must’ve startled you.”
“Ah, yeah… I’m fine. But, what did you mean by ‘again’? Does this happen often here?”
“Well, not exactly. It’s not like the team leader does this all the time. But whenever we get a new administrator, he kind of… tests them. Sort of like an initiation ritual.”
“An initiation ritual?”
Looking troubled, Haeyoung gave a wry smile.
“You probably already know how high the mortality rate is for administrators, right? Especially for new ones. So, after seeing so many rookies die early on, the team leader started testing them this way. He says, ‘If they can’t handle this, they don’t deserve to be an administrator.’ And any rookie who can’t pass gets dismissed immediately under his authority.”
“Can he really do that?”
“It’s a bit extreme, but he’s highly respected within the system. The higher-ups seem to turn a blind eye to it. But honestly, I think I understand. He may look scary, but the team leader is actually really kind. He probably doesn’t want to see any more rookies get killed.”
Ho-jin kept his thoughts to himself.
“Kind? He looks more like a complete menace…”
Haeyoung grinned.
“Terrifying, right? I felt the same way at first. When that giant fist came flying at me, I thought my legs would give out and my vision turned white. I just charged at him recklessly, thinking, ‘If I’m going to die, I’ll at least take one arm with me!’”
“How is that anything like my reaction?!”
Ho-jin reaffirmed his belief that all administrators were, in some way, unhinged.
“But this is the first time I’ve seen him personally take someone to the training grounds. Taeseong must be different.”
“Y-yeah, maybe…”
“Come on, let’s go watch!”
“…Do we have to?”
“Of course! You’re part of the team now. You need to properly greet the team leader!”
“…Fine.”
Reluctantly, Ho-jin followed. Deep down, he dreaded whatever might happen next.
But then, a thought crossed his mind.
“Maybe if I mess up here, I’ll get kicked out like the others?”
Oddly enough, the idea of being dismissed gave him a glimmer of hope.
At the training grounds, Taeseong faced Tae-san.
“So, you’re a returnee as well. Which world were you from? Martial arts? Fantasy? Cyberpunk?”
“I don’t remember.”
Crack. Crack.
Taeseong’s joints popped loudly as he stretched.
“You said it hasn’t been long since your return. It’s probably residual memory loss from dimensional travel. Don’t worry, it’ll come back eventually. It did for me.”
“…You’re a returnee too, Team Leader?”
“Yes. Like you, I came back from another world. Mine was a martial arts realm—the kind you’d read about in cheap novels. Swords that split mountains, fists that shattered boulders, and people who could sprint across the ocean… a world full of madness.”
“…”
“People laugh it off as fantasy, but you know it’s real.”
Taeseong nodded. Memories of his encounter with the primordial wolf surfaced in his mind.
“In that world, they called me the Blood Sea Fist Demon. All I did was fight to survive, but they gave me that ridiculous title, claiming I turned the seas red with the blood of my enemies. What nonsense.”
Even without seeing it firsthand, Taeseong could picture it—a lone figure standing amidst a sea stained crimson.
“Before I got dragged into that hell, I was just an ordinary athlete. My only dream was to win a gold medal at the Olympics. But when I returned… there was nothing left for me. No home. No family. No friends.”
“…”
“Unnecessary chatter, wasn’t it? Anyway, here’s the gist: if you’ve still got a place to return to, there’s no need to risk your life here. If you’re willing, I’ll help you as much as I can. You’re not like me. You have a family sti—”
“I’m fine.”
“So, it’s as I thought…”
“May I ask a question?”
“Go ahead.”
“When we first met, you mentioned Sooah’s name. Do you know my sister?”
“Yes.”
“What’s your relationship with her?”
Taeseong’s cold eyes locked onto Taesan, making the latter’s competitive spirit flare.
“You’re curious? Then there’s a condition.”
“Name it.”
“I’ll give you exactly one minute. If you can leave even a scratch on me in that time, I’ll tell you what you want to know. If you fail, you’re quitting as a manager.”
“Understood.”
“When you’re ready, come at—”
Before Taesan could finish speaking, Taeseong sprang forward, unsheathing the sword at his waist in one fluid motion. His movements were so natural they caught Taesan off guard, though not so much that he couldn’t dodge.
“Not so fast!”
Taesan twisted his massive frame to avoid the strike and instinctively countered with a punch. This wasn’t just any punch—it carried a force leagues beyond the earlier one he’d demonstrated. As a returnee from a martial arts world, Taesan’s individual level was Gamma, a testament to his overwhelming strength. Even he was surprised at how much power he had put into the blow, his body reacting out of sheer instinct against the sharpness of Taeseong’s assault.
But Taeseong, unfazed, executed a move so precise it seemed like an art form, evading the blow and aiming his sword at Taesan’s chest.
Shocked that his punch had missed, Taesan raised his arms to shield his torso. While dodging wasn’t an option, he took pride in his body, which could withstand most weapons without so much as a scratch—a testament to his mastery of external martial arts, akin to the invincible state of Vajra Unbreakable.
‘A decent reaction, but there’s no way he can scratch me.’
Just as Taeseong’s blade neared Taesan’s arm, a greenish light radiated from its edge.
‘Is that… sword aura!?’
Slash!
The sound of flesh tearing echoed through the air as crimson blood dripped to the floor.
Drip. Drip.
Though he couldn’t sever the arm, the cut went deeper than a mere scratch, exposing bone.
Taeseong stared at the blood pooling on the ground before lifting his gaze to meet Taesan’s.
“Is that sufficient?”
Taesan, his expression unreadable, strode toward Taeseong.
“…Were you also a returnee from the martial arts world?”
“As I said before, I don’t remember.”
“You don’t remember?”
Taesan raised his large hand and gripped it down on Taeseong’s shoulder.
“I… lost.”
Then, to Taeseong’s surprise, Taesan erupted in hearty laughter.
“Ha! To think you could wield sword aura! I haven’t been caught off guard like this in ages. That promotion to Delta upon joining wasn’t just empty talk.”
Despite the blood still flowing freely from his deep wound, Taesan clapped Taeseong’s shoulder with a grin.
“That was an impressive fight. Honestly, I never imagined you could harm me. And yet, here you are…”
“Could you start by telling me about my sister?”
Though his tone was calm, Taeseong’s interruption carried an undeniable weight. Taesan, rather than being annoyed, grinned even wider. Clearly, he had already taken a liking to the newcomer.
“Fair enough. The loser should honor the winner’s request.”
True to his word, Taesan shared everything he knew about Sooah. As he listened, Taeseong’s expression subtly shifted but eventually returned to its usual stoic demeanor.
“That’s all I experienced. Honestly, it’s not some grand connection; I just dressed it up to provoke you. Sorry about that.”
“No need. I’m grateful you helped my sister.”
Taesan shook his head.
“I simply did what had to be done.”
At that moment, the training hall doors opened, revealing Ho-jin, Haeyoung, and a woman Taeseong hadn’t seen before. Ho-jin and Haeyoung looked like children caught in the act, their faces full of fear.
“Team Leader! What do you think you’re doing? Bringing a brand-new recruit to the training hall? Do you realize how much trouble—”
The woman’s words cut off as her eyes landed on Taesan’s arm.
“What…? Wait, Team Leader, what happened to your arm? The bone’s showing, and there’s blood everywhere… The floor’s practically a sea of red! Please don’t tell me you hurt yourself because you couldn’t contain your anger or something!”
She was clearly panicking, which wasn’t surprising—Taesan was, in her eyes, indestructible. The sight of him bleeding was unimaginable, yet here he was, grinning as blood dripped from his arm.
“Don’t tell me… the rookie? No, that’s impossible…”
The woman shook her head in disbelief.
Taesan’s booming voice interrupted her.
“Eunha! You’re right. This rookie did this! Ha!”
“Wait, you’re serious? The new guy did that to you? How…?”
Her wide eyes turned to Taeseong, who stood unscathed.
“Is that even possible…?”
Though it defied belief, the evidence was undeniable. After stopping his wound, Taesan ordered the team to return to the office. Just as Ho-jin was about to leave, Taesan called out.
“Kim Ho-jin.”
“Y-yes!”
“Let’s have a chat. Follow me.”
