The night was coming to an end with only a single duel remaining. As Ji-ho looked up, staring at the moon. He wondered how Do-hyun would be able to keep up. Then again he also wondered if he would act recklessly like the other rookies behaved.
"Noo, no-no," he said scratching his cheek. It wasn't the time to cloud his thoughts with unrelated issues especially when the next and final battle was against him.
Just then as the troubled reaper was trying to change his line of thought, Do-hyun and an officer walked out of the main door of the mansion. Do-hyun was putting on some uniform which looked heavy on him as his movements were rather sluggish.
"Mister Ji-ho," the officer said in a robotic voice, "please follow me," he said, turning almost instantly as Ji-ho quickened his pace to catch up with the officer.
As he sprinted, he noticed Do-hyun wasn't carrying any weapon but that wasn't his concern for now
Ji-ho was escorted into a small room inside the mansion. His heart pounded in his chest, the air smelled like polished steel and aged wood. Weapons of all kinds were stored in a glass wall. Weapons like guns, swords, spears and all types of weapons.
Fascinated by this, Ji-ho took his time looking at them, as he looked at them he noticed there were stamps on weapons; Grade 4' the same was done for all weapons from grade 4 to grade 3. These were the weapons currently available in the mansion.
As Ji-ho traced his fingers along the weapons, "grade 4 weapons only," the officer spoke out. "Even if you can't use mana, we can't allow you to use a grade 3 weapon. It would affect you and the combatant," he added. Despite his stern tone, it wasn't to berate or warn Ji-ho but an oddly pitying remark from a veteran officer.
"Yes sir," Ji-ho replied continuing his search. As Ji-ho looked further his eyes caught an oddly grey, steel sword, its edges were chipped at all sides. It reminded him of his weapon. Ji-ho slid open the glass case as he reached in for the sword, "ohh that one?" asked the officer.
"Yeah this one," Ji-ho said grabbing the hilt of the blade and taking it out of the case. He tossed it a bit and made some practice-like behavior with it. Satisfied with what he had seen.
"Heyy take this too," the officer said handing Ji-ho another sword, but this type was blue in colour and glowing. "Isn't–"
"yes it's a mana infused weapon, a grade 4 level," the officer said cutting off Ji-ho as he handed him the sword.
"It might not be all that powerful, but it packs a punch," the officer said his voice slightly relaxed and cheerful than before. "Thank you," Ji-ho said with a smile before he took the sword.
"It only fires three times, so you use it wisely," the officer said. With a simple nod Ji-ho started walking towards the entrance. "Don't over do it kid!" The officer shouted waving off Ji-ho, he was inspired by his tenacity and confidence. Ji-ho simply smiled but he wasn't sure if the officer could see his facial expression.
The announcer voice rang through the arena, "for the final duel we'll have Baek Jae-hyun vs Seo Ji-ho and Lee Do-hyun."
The arena erupted into a frenzy, their voices more intense than the last, "the model is actually going to fight!!" One shouted from the crowd, "I thought it was some joke!" Another shouted.
"Who's the white haired guy!," someone shouted in the crowd, "I heard he's not an ascendant!" Another shouted.
"I think his model too, is the former EDC chief director really going out to make those two models fight trained soldiers to prove a point?!"
The noise started to grow louder every minute.
"Please be quiet," a voice came from the opposite end of the arena, his voice was low but the aura he exuded was enough to spread throughout the arena like a crushing wave dispersing almost immediately. Silencing the crowd This was the true power of Geon-woo.
"Please proceed," Geon-woo said with a hearty laughter. "Yes sir," the announcer said with a bow, "Combatants please step into the ring. And with that Ji-ho stepped into the ring accompanied with Do-hyun. He could still feel the lingering mana from the previous fighter.
Before the battle started Ji-ho walked towards Do-hyun and whispered to him, reluctantly Do-hyun did the same, "And what are you too whispering about," an unfamiliar voice spoke out.
"I don't believe you would like to share," Jae-hyun spoke out teasingly. Ji-ho unsheathed his steel sword as he positioned himself. Looking at the nervous Do-hyun, Ji-ho tapped his shoulders.
"Let's do our best," Ji-ho didn't say this to calm the nerves of Do-hyun but to keep him focused, if he was to win without exposing so much of himself he needed all the help in the world.
"Begin!" Jae-hyun grinned at the opposite end, he brought two twin daggers that glimmered under the arena light. The arena lights were suddenly dimmed. The arena became darker than before.
Jae-hyun positioned himself in a strange stance, which left Ji-ho and Do-hyun confused. Legs spread low, arms slightly raised with both daggers in hand, his muscles all coiled up, it was a strange stance at first until he sprang towards the duo like a bullet.
Moving at an incredible speed towards Do-hyun, Ji-ho instinctively pushed Do-hyun away, barely placing his sword in place to defend the attack. Not giving Ji-ho the pleasure of calculating his move, Jae-hyun attacked relentlessly, swinging left and right, steels clashing. Sparks flying due to the impact.
Jae-hyun was moving like a phantom, but Ji-ho was moving as fast as him, defending and retaliating with attacks of his own, they were fighting on even terms.
Jae-hyun smirked before flipping backwards creating distance between him and Ji-ho, "I might have underestimated you, pretty boy," he said in a jeering tone.
As the dust obscuring Ji-ho's view began to subside, Jae-hyun was gone. Ji-ho scanned the area but could not see him. "We're screwed he's too fast," Do-hyun said in a panic tone, beads of sweat pouring down his face.
Ji-ho was sure Ye-rin would have loved Do-hyun humiliating himself to go on, but he needed Do-hyun to win. Ji-ho swung his palm across Do-hyun's face knocking him to the ground, smack! He froze, his eyes now fixed on Ji-ho.
Not caring about the crowd Ji-ho spoke out, "would you lose here like this? Lose your fame and pride or go down fighting?" Ji-ho said his eyes stern and determined.
After a few seconds, Do-hyun stood up to his feet, "right," he said pounding his fists. "Hmm that actually worked," Ji-ho said to himself grinning. It would seem he had a kick for slapping people into reasons.
"Argh!" Do-hyun cried out collapsing to the ground, blood splattered across the ground. Do-hyun's right leg was bleeding. Ji-ho gripped the hilt tighter, he wasn't fighting a demon he was fighting a human. Even though the demons were stronger, humans unpredictability made them even more formidable.
In a split second just before Jae-hyun could attack Ji-ho jumped backward, "from the shadows!" "Correct!" Jae-hyun shouted in amusement, swinging his daggers at Ji-ho.
Ji-ho used the force of Jae-hyun's strike to launch himself into the air. . As Ji-ho floated in mid air, he took out the blue glowing sword and swung it at the spot Jae-hyun appeared.
The water blast impacted on the surface of the ground, creating a small shockwave, leaving dust and debris on the ground. But Jae-hyun was gone, "damn he's gone," Ji-ho scowled clicking his tongue.
Ji-ho stood still which stunned the crowd, he tried to concentrate. Heightening his senses and focus. Erasing all attack and noises. A whisper of movement, an attack.
Sensing the movement of flow, Ji-ho reacted almost instantaneously to his attack which came immediately, giving him only a medium to defend the attack but it grazed his ribs. "Ughh," Ji-ho groaned as pain jolted towards his brains.
At the same time Ji-ho swung the glowing swords at the exact spot where Jae-hyun struck, but he was gone. It was a desperate attempt from Ji-ho's part which bore no fruit.
Jae-hyun jumped out again, catching Ji-ho off guard this time. Ji-ho could only defend with his hand, giving Jae-hyun the opportunity to tear his skin bit by bit.
Ji-ho was bleeding rapidly, as he tried to push Jae-hyun back but he ran back to his shadow. Playing a hit and run attack.
Ji-ho glanced an eye towards Do-hyun, he was trying to stand up but the pain was evident on his face. He had torn a bit of his uniform and tied the wound. He almost looked like a veteran soldier if not for his pretty face.
Ji-ho couldn't help but feel pity for him, the differences between their powers were far too great. Despite his handsome face, riches and fame, they were all meaningless in a situation like this.
Jae-hyun struck again, but this time Ji-ho was able to guess where he would strike. Grabbing hold of his right hand, in a moment of surprise Ji-ho struck a devastating punch square in Jae-hyun's face. Sending him flying a few meters away, as he rolled on the ground trying to regain his composure.
Jae-hyun smirked, "you are a lot stronger than I thought, pretty boy," he said wiping off the blood on his face. Ji-ho bent towards Do-hyun and whispered, "we are dealing with a shadow user," he said in a whisper.
"That's pretty obvious," Do-hyun said clicking his tongue in frustration. "Your powers might actually be useful, but you will have to trust me," Ji-ho said in a blunt manner.
"Tsk tsk fine, just don't go behaving like it's a death match," Do-hyun responded. Even though Do-hyun hated Ji-ho he couldn't afford to look bad in front of his fans and boot lickers.
"What are you guys talking about?" Jae-hyun asked, curiosity getting the better of him. Using the sound of his voice, Ji-ho swung the final slash towards the direction of the voice, as the sword shattered almost immediately, It could only handle three strikes before shattering.
"Too slow," he shouted moving back into the shadows, but Ji-ho moved almost instantly, striking the area with an immense strength which sent a shock wave just enough to tip Jae-hyun off balance.
"Now!" Ji-ho shouted, suddenly the entire arena was covered in a bright light. "Shit!" Jae-hyun hissed moving back like a cornered prey. "I guess the one I need to eliminate first, is you Prince charming," Jae-hyun shouted now running towards Do-hyun who stood still emitting a bright light.
Just as Jae-hyun was about to strike against Do-hyun, Ji-ho stood before him, blocking his attacks. Despite the injuries, Ji-ho's attacks were getting faster and sharper than Jae-hyun as the defender now became the attacker pushing Jae-hyun into a defensive stance.
"Just how is a non- ascendant this strong?" Jae-hyun shouted shifting his position to the right, "pretty sure you're holding back," Ji-ho said loudly attacking furiously. He knew Jae-hyun's pride would never let him admit he was weaker and he used that to his advantage.
"Hurry up," Do-hyun shouted, unable to keep the high level of intensity anymore. Jae-hyun swung his sword in a clean arc, but Ji-ho side stepped evading his blows and countered. Landing a decisive blow and Jae-hyun left hand causing him to release one of the daggers.
For a brief moment, Jae-hyun had lost his footing, completely unguarded. As Ji-ho lunged the final blow towards Jae-hyun, the lights flickered and the arena went dark again, giving Jae-hyun just the tiniest of margin to escape and Ji-ho's hand phased through the air.
"You're an interesting fighter Ji-ho," Jae-hyun said with a stern voice of acknowledgement and respect. "Argh," Ji-ho gasped. A sharp pain pierced through him as blood spilled from his mouth.
Jae-hyun's dagger had already gone through his body.
Everything blurred.