The team match proceeded swiftly.
It was already the fourth match.
The showdown between each team’s ace, Yoo Eunha and Jang Yunho, had begun.
The rule was bare-handed combat.
No weapons allowed.
Pa-bat!
Yoo Eunha and Jang Yunho charged at each other, their fists colliding. A clash between the 13th and 30th ranks.
At a glance, the 13th rank should have the advantage…
But what if it’s a battle between the 13th-ranked healer and the 30th-ranked martial artist?
Then the outcome flips.
A hundred times out of a hundred, the martial artist would win.
Boom!
Jang Yunho’s body was lifted off the ground.
The expected result was overturned.
The moment their fists crossed, Yoo Eunha tilted her head to dodge the attack.
Then, she delivered a clean hit.
A perfect cross-counter.
“…Ugh!”
That must have been an incredible impact.
But Jang Yunho proved why he was ranked 30th. Even as blood dripped from his nose, he staggered backward instead of collapsing.
Step.
Rather than following up with another strike, Yoo Eunha held her position and adjusted her stance.
“Come at me.”
With one arm extended at waist height, her posture was the fundamental stance of Bajiquan(Eight Extremities Fist).
It looked simple, but a stance passed down for thousands of years wasn’t for nothing.
It allowed seamless transitions between offense and defense. There was a reason it had endured for so long.
Jang Yunho, observing Yoo Eunha’s stance, let out a sigh.
No openings.
“Hey… Yoo Eunha, was it? Weren’t you supposed to be a healer?”
Yoo Eunha nodded.
“What kind of healer throws punches this hard…? I thought I’d get an easy win…”
Jang Yunho’s muscles twitched.
His aura surged. A fierce, overpowering energy befitting a martial artist erupted.
“It’s over.”
I muttered.
In the end.
Matchups matter. Yoo Eunha’s gaze sharpened upon sensing Jang Yunho’s mana.
…On a side note.
There’s a famous saying that over 70% of the human body is water. Meaning, our bodily fluids are constantly circulating.
Blood flows through veins.
Cells exchange fluids.
Water consumed becomes sweat and blood.
And Yoo Eunha—
As a special admissions student, her unique ability, Yin-Yang, allowed her to perceive these flows.
Water, which makes up 70% of the body.
Reading that flow made healing relatively simple. That’s why Yoo Eunha was the top of the healing class.
But that wasn’t all she could read.
She could also perceive the fuel that superhumans used.
The flow of mana.
Boom!
With a thunderous roar, Jang Yunho charged.
He realized from the cross-counter that normal exchanges wouldn’t work against Yoo Eunha.
So, he decided to bet everything on a single, decisive blow.
Drawing out every ounce of his mana.
Preparing to unleash the ultimate technique he had honed—
Swoosh…
Just before Jang Yunho could release his move, Yoo Eunha smoothly stepped forward.
Squish~
As if playing a prank, she stepped on Jang Yunho’s left foot.
His well-trained technique, executed with a conditioned body was suddenly interrupted.
Because the foot that was supposed to move forward had stopped.
“…!”
Jang Yunho’s expression stiffened.
Yoo Eunha read the flow. A powerful attack filled with mana was ironically easier to read.
The opening created by the foot stomp lasted only a moment.
But once interrupted, it was over.
Whether brief or prolonged, a gap was a gap.
Pa-ba-bat!
Yoo Eunha instantly went on the offensive.
Her fists, backed by overwhelming strength and agility, rained down.
Piiik—!
Soon, the referee blew the whistle.
“Match over! Winner: Yoo Eunha!”
“…My niece is the best!”
Kim Heum-heum, overwhelmed by emotion at his niece’s growth, shouted out. Yoo Eunha gave him a thumbs-up.
There was no need to hide it—they were family.
Surprising, yet not really. Their resemblance was too weird for anyone to question.
“Hehe, I won~”
Grinning, Yoo Eunha walked toward the bench. Her teammates were busy showering her with praise.
They were practically ready to worship her.
I, however, couldn’t join in.
I felt regret.
Yoo Eunha’s potential was truly incredible. Yet, in Chronicles of the Superhuman, she was merely a supporting character.
The reason was clear.
She never attained enlightenment.
If given time, she would undoubtedly break through, but this game didn’t wait for supporting characters to grow.
By the time Han Taepyeong truly set out to save the world—
Yoo Eunha became irrelevant. The gap in power grew too vast, reducing her to just an average healer.
Her survival rate was also quite low.
If taken into an early high-difficulty scenario, she would get swept away and die.
Because she never looked after herself.
“What a shame.”
In other words, she had no fortuitous encounters.
If someone could open the path for her…
Yoo Eunha casually brushed off the empty praises and walked up to me.
“Oh? You’re disappointed? What’s with that look, Kim Pirate? Are you sulking because I won?”
“…Yeah. You should’ve gotten beaten up a bit by Jang Yunho. Too bad…”
“Oi, you bastard?”
Yoo Eunha’s eyes flared as she reached to grab my hand.
Here it comes! The Golem Grip Squeeze!
I quickly retracted my right hand.
Because I saw Yoo Eunha’s trajectory.
“Huh?”
Yoo Eunha looked at her empty hand in confusion.
“What…? How’d you dodge that?”
Her disappointed look irritated me.
“Yoo Eunha, stop smacking your lips in regret. I’m up next, you know? Instead of harassing me, how about some encouragement?”
“No, seriously, how did you dodge?”
She could read the flow of a 30th-ranked fighter, yet she couldn’t grasp the movement of someone ranked 1111th?
Heh…
Because I expected to get hit! I just waited for the trajectory to appear and moved!
[Lucy… tears!]
[Lucy… pitiful!]
“Wait a sec! Kim Pirate! Yesterday, when you were playing F-COM… Hah! I got it! Your unique ability is Evasion, isn’t it?! I’m right, huh?”
“Who the hell would have such a pathetic unique stat?”
I fitted my mouthguard. If I was going to get beaten up, at least I’d protect my teeth.
Thanks to the previous match, the score was now 2:2.
Now, only one match remained.
Me versus Jung Muok.
Jung Muok.
That damn octopus who acted as a prayer leader in our party. My chances of beating him? 0%.
“Huff, huff!”
From the opposing bench, Jung Muok was warming up, exuding an ominous energy.
Did I piss him off somehow?
Why? What for?
[Lucy… cheering!]
[Lucy… clap clap clap!]
My teammates were barking like a pack of dogs.
“Ugh, why did we get stuck with a 1111th-ranked guy…”
“How the hell is he supposed to beat Jung Muok?”
“So frustrating…”
I ignored them.
In a 5v5 game, if you lose, the lowest-ranked player takes the blame. It’s an unchanging rule. It’s fine. I’m used to being the scapegoat.
At least they weren’t cursing my family.
I took out my mouthguard.
“Anyone here think they can beat Jeong Muok?”
Silence.
Only Yoo Eunha, oblivious as ever, raised her hand.
“Put your hand down, Yoo Eunha.”
“Oh… okay!”
Encouragement from teammates was useless.
What was useful, though, was this—
“Yoo Eunha, lend me your ear.”
“Huh? Oh, okay.”
Whisper, whisper.
I made a request to Yoo Eunha.
“All right, I’ll leave it to you.”
“Hehehe… That’s nothing! Leave it to me!”
Yoo Eunha readily accepted.
Reliable.
As I stepped into the arena, Jung Muok glared at me.
Holding a roman sword and a round shield, the bald-headed Jung Muok resembled a Spartan warrior.
A sword and shield.
His weapons alone revealed his specialty—Swordsmanship Legacy.
The department where Han Taepyeong and Shin Ohyul belonged.
…I wasn’t particularly attached to the Necromancy Department, but I had to say this—
“Hey, Octopus.”
“Octopus? Is this bastard out of his mind?”
“Why did you bring your weapon?”
“Because I felt like it.”
Jung Muok threw his sword and shield to the ground. Then, he took off his top.
Bulging muscles and thick, blue veins came into view.
…Why the hell is he stripping?
Does he think I’ll get scared?
Ha…
Mission accomplished.
Jung Muok of the Swordsmanship Legacy Department.
I felt dizzy. There’s no way that’s the physique of a 17-year-old…
I took out my mouthpiece. In front of those muscles, it wouldn’t make a difference anyway.
“Hey. Ghostface. You’re dead.”
“Jung Octopus, what’s with you? You couldn’t say a word when I was Han Taepyeong.”
“What are you talking about? Are you dreaming?”
I wish this were a dream too.
But it’s not…
“Wait, Jung Octopus. Are you mad about Miss Caulfield barging in yesterday?”
“……!”
“Oh wow, you are mad. If you’re pissed, you should take it out on Miss Caulfield, not on me…”
“You’re dead…”
Jung Octopus muttered under his breath. He must be trying to impress someone stronger.
At the same time, a strong stench of alcohol came from him.
I noticed it during the party too… This guy drinks like an old man, and his face doesn’t scream 17 either.
[Match begins in 5 seconds]
Five seconds until Kim Seungtae gets turned into dough.
My ally made their move.
“Kim Pirate, go get him! Crush that musclehead!”
“Guys! Look at Jung Muok’s chest! He’s definitely on roids! He’s a junkie!”
“Is that really the same pathetic Jung Muok? What the hell? Still looks pathetic to me!”
“Jung Muok! You’re bald on the inside!”
Yoo Eunha started trash-talking.
Thanks to her insane vocal power, there was no need for a mic.
Jung Muok’s face hardened.
He took pride in being the Prayer Room Leader. This kind of negativity would hit him hard.
[Match begins in 3 seconds]
“Jung Muok… Do you believe in past lives?”
I began my own tactic.
I had no evidence, but…
Guys like him are often surprisingly superstitious.
“What did you say?”
“Oh, nothing. Just… There’s a ghost behind you. Sticking out its tongue and going ‘bleh’.”
“…! What?”
“Oh, sorry! The ghost’s mad. It told me not to say anything. Ugh… Oh no, now it’s licking your crown? That’s why your hair’s—”
“HEY!!!! Cut that crap!!!”
“You.”
You must’ve sinned a lot in your past life. I whispered.
[Match start!]
Jung Muok’s fist shot forward like an arrow.
An arrow, sure—but the archer was drunk and pissed off…
Whoosh!
His iron fist just barely missed my head.
“Hehehe. What are you doing? Not using magic? Even a rank 1111 could dodge that.”
Of course, I dodged by reading his trajectory.
Jung Muok’s eyes flipped.
“UAAAHH!!”
He started throwing punches wildly. I could barely manage to dodge.
“The ghost…! On your crown…!”
“I SAID SHUT UUUUP!!”
It felt similar to fighting Ahn Eunhoon. No technique, no strategy.
Whiff! Whoosh!
Horizontal, vertical—
Jung Muok attacked like a robot, repeating the same motions.
Lucky for me. If he were in the Martial Arts Department, he wouldn’t be fighting this sloppily, no matter how mad he was.
The Swordsmanship Legacy Department believes only in the sword.
“Huff… Huff…!”
But still—
As sloppy as his attacks were, my body was just as weak.
Even with minimal movements, I was getting out of breath. Damn it. I swear, I’m starting endurance training tomorrow.
“Pant, pant… Hey, Octopus. What do you think Shin Ohyul would say if he saw this?”
Probably nothing much.
To him, we’re both trash.
Crack.
But Jung Muok thought differently. Veins popped on his forehead, and his aura flared like a volcano.
“You bastard!!”
His aura twisted.
The stench of alcohol thickened as his mana surged.
Jung Muok gathered all his mana into his body.
“I’ll crush you!”
His attack changed from a trajectory to a whole plane.
It was big enough to engulf my entire body.
He was trying to body slam me.
One second until Kim Seungtae dies.
“GRAAAAH! YOU—”
Jung Muok never finished his sentence.
Because I beat him to it.
I body-slammed him first.
A cheap knockoff of Yoo Eunha’s momentum-breaking move.
“Kim Seungtae-style Momentum Break!”
I rammed my shoulder into Jung Muok’s solar plexus.
BANG!
Oww…!
To my shock—
I got bounced off and fell. It was like running into a statue!
I tumbled across the floor and looked at Jeong Muok. He was…
Slowly.
Falling backward like a Spartan statue.
“Ref! Start the count!”
I shot up and shouted.
“Ah… Yes!”
As everyone stared in shock, the referee—a cadet-looking guy—approached Jung Muok.
Jung Muok twitched awkwardly on the ground.
The referee face turned grim.
Because of the alcohol stench.
“One!”
“Ugh, urgh…! My body…!”
“Hehe. Jung Muok. Do you believe in past lives?”
“What?”
“Why can’t you move? It’s because of the ghost on your crown.”
“Whaaaaat?”
“Now you’ll never stand again. It’s the curse of your past life! You’re doomed!”
Juong Muok’s face turned white.
“Two!”
“Three!”
“Four! Jung Muok, you have one second left before defeat!”
“There’s a ghost! AAAAAAH!!”
Jung Muok swung his fists wildly while lying down.
He’s totally wasted.
“Five! Match over!”
Tweet!
At the referee’s whistle, Jung Muok suddenly sprang up.
He did a three-meter-high sergeant jump.
My jaw dropped.
“…If he hit me, I’d be dead for real.”
Jung Muok panted and shouted.
“I’M BACK! REF! LET ME FIGHT AGAIN!”
The referee shook his head firmly.
“The count is over.”
“What?! Bringing a ghost is cheating! Rematch!”
“Cadet Jung Muok, that wasn’t a ghost. Your mana backfired.”
“Mana backfire…? What’s that?”
“You should know best. It’s what happens when you recklessly use mana while completely drunk.”
Mana backfire works like this:
Drink too much + Get mad + Use too much mana + Get hit in the solar plexus = Mana backfire.
Even Han Taepyeong would be down from this.
“I’m not drunk!”
Oh, he’s drunk.
Jung Muok kept arguing, but the referee replied coldly.
“Denied. Maintaining condition is a superhuman’s duty! Especially for a frontline fighter like you. If you collapse in battle, your entire party is in danger!”
The referee was completely right.
Despite Jung Muok being twice his size, he didn’t back down.
“I got up at count five!”
“And that’s why it’s over. Jung Muok loses! Kim Seungtae wins! Yoo Eunha’s team… final score: 3 wins, 2 losses!”
The referee raised my hand.
His name tag read [Testarossa].
Tweet!
The final whistle blew.
I grinned and walked back to the bench.
“I survived, so I win!”
But the bench was dead silent.
Honestly, if I had lost, it might’ve been livelier.
Well.
It’s not fun when the guy you buried with politics hard-carries the match.
Only Yoo Eunha kept praising me nonstop.
“Wow, Kim Pirate, you’re insane! You were totally an F-COM boss today!”
[Lucy… Amazed!]
[Lucy… Faints!]
“Sorry, no pictures, but I’ll sign something for you.”
“…! Acting like a big shot already? But fine, I’ll take one!”
Only two people on the team were excited.
Then, someone approached.
A tall, blonde beauty in a white lab coat.
I freaked out.
This was the last person I wanted to see.
“H-h-h-how did you find me?”
I blurted out my real thoughts.
The person who appeared—
Dr. Rachel.
Professor Wrangler’s right hand.
This is why I didn’t clear F-COM…!
(Continued in the next chapter.)
