Chapter 34 End-of-semester Evaluation (4)
Kim Hyo-won had a hunch about his victory. Though he had worried about facing a magic-based or archer-based opponent, fortunately, his opponent was an assassin-type Holder. Among them was Do Jae-hyun, an intermediate-level student who leaned towards the warrior class.
Using the special item, [Corrosion Powder], his sword became corroded, making it difficult for him to prepare for the battle instantly. While as an assassin-type, he could also use [Daggers]… Kim Hyo-won’s attacks were coming in too fast.
‘I just need to win.’
As a lower-graded student within the warrior class, this end-of-semester evaluation was more crucial for Kim Hyo-won than anyone else. With everything being ambiguous in terms of stats and runes, this evaluation could potentially lead to his demotion to the intermediate level. Therefore, before the duel even began, Kim Hyo-won decisively used his special item.
‘It’s not even breaking the rules, right?’
To be honest, there was nothing to worry about. Dueling was akin to real combat. As a result, no matter what variables might interfere, the supervisors would not intervene, and if someone questioned the move as unfair, they could simply attribute it to the effects of possessed runes. In modern rune measurement devices, while they could confirm whether a Holder possessed runes, they could not identify which specific runes were held.
So, if Kim Hyo-won claimed, ‘This is my special rune!’, no one could argue against it. Of course, Holders who knew about [Corrosion Powder] might recognize it instantly, but anyway, as long as things proceeded this way, it would be Kim Hyo-won’s victory, fairly earned through his gameplay.
“What the…?!”
However, just as Kim Hyo-won’s sword was about to pierce his opponent’s shoulder, it sliced through the air with a fierce gust of wind. Do Jae-hyun dodged his attack with an instantaneous movement. Kim Hyo-won was astonished by his quick reflexes.
‘His speed is incredible…’
An extraordinary speed with astounding stats, combined with the support of related runes. But that was not all. What happened next was even more surprising.
“Oof…!!”
Suddenly, Kim Hyo-won groaned in pain from a sharp sensation on his side. A fist had struck his side. Following Do Jae-hyun’s swift footwork, a powerful body blow landed on Kim Hyo-won’s right torso, followed by a flicker jab! In an instant, Kim Hyo-won received multiple hits to his side and face and endured the pain, trying to distance himself from Do Jae-hyun as much as possible.
“Un…believable…”
He couldn’t believe it even though he experienced it firsthand. It wasn’t just an ordinary attack relying on strength; it penetrated his toughness stats and [Physical Defense] rune, dealing a clear and painful blow. Without the support of runes related to [Quadruped Combat], such a thing should have been impossible.
‘Does he have [Combat] runes…?’
Is that even possible? Even though he was a Multi-Holder, there had to be some limits. [Sword] and [Dagger] were within the shared area, and many Holders possessed both runes. Assassins used [Sword] runes, and warriors used [Dagger] runes. That was the reason why the Academy of different countries did not distinguish between the warrior and assassin classes. However, it was a different story with [Combat] runes. Although classified as part of the warrior class, it was essentially a rune close to the special class. A dueling style relying purely on unarmed duel, distant from [Sword] and [Dagger]…
A completely different type of main rune.
To think that his fellow student possessed such a rune was hard to fathom.
‘Why not just say there are [bow] and [spear] runes too?’
Such a Multi-Holder with so many runes felt unfair to Kim Hyo-won. He had gone through the trouble of corroding Do Jae-hyun’s sword, and it all turned out to be in vain.
“Has the confidence he had right after the duel started, disappeared?”
At a slight distance. Do Jae-hyun, who took a guard stance, said with a smile.
Kim Hyo-won bit his lip and replied.
“They said you’re a Multi-Holder, but you also possess everything.”
“I couldn’t help it if I wanted to play fair.”
“Is that fair play?”
“Then your cheating is fair play?”
He was lost for words. It’s true that he used a trick to corrode his sword to win the game somehow.
Do Jae-hyun said with a smile on his lips. “You picked the wrong opponent. Prepare to get beaten badly today.”
With those words, Do Jae-hyun’s full force was directed at Kim Hyo-won in a straight punch.
The break time was over, and the second round had begun.
***
ippotranslations
***
“It’s an interesting Holder duel.”
A Holder who lost their weapon was using their bare hands to defeat a warrior-class Holder wielding a sword in the duel. A man watching this peculiar scene made a comment.
It was Ko Yo-han, the scout team leader of the <Royal> clan, one of the three giant clans in South Korea.
“Occasionally, you come across Multi-Holders like that. They handle multiple main runes with almost different orientations.”
“Isn’t Seong Na-yeon from the Royal clan also one of those? She simultaneously wields wind magic and a sword.”
Similarly, Choi Gyu-hyuk, the scout team leader of the <Judgment of Fire>, one of the three giant clans, replied.
The two of them had come out of the academy for a light exploration to see if there were any talents they could recruit for their clans in this end-of-semester evaluation.
… In truth, they were urged by Ah-gassi’s (Miss) from their clans, but the reason was different for each. It was because of the persistent Miss Kang Juyeon, and for him, it was Miss Moon Ga-eun.
“No way. Seong Na-yeon is completely different from this Holder. She is a strong Holder who became an A-grade Holder as a Multi-Holder, and isn’t this guy just a rookie who just entered the academy?”
“Well, that’s true. And what… It’s so unlike you to use strange examples like that.”
“Your weird examples haven’t changed either.”
Yo-han and Gyu-hyuk had been in a senior-junior relationship since their academy days. Both had long been interested in Holder administrative duties and eventually became scout team leaders for their respective clans.
“What do you think about it, from your point of view?”
Yo-han gestured toward the arena.
The Holder they seemed to be more interested in today: Do Jae-hyun. Despite losing his main weapon, the sword, he was using another rune, [Combat], to overwhelm his opponent, Kim Hyo-won.
Without using [Dagger] rune, he dominated his opponent easily with only physical abilities. I can’t believe he is a C-grade Holder….
It was a one-sided duel.
“Well. It’s normal so far.”
“That one?”
“Hard to say for now. The abilities of this Holder, Do Jae-hyun, are somewhat ahead. Also, Kim Hyo-won probably used the corrosion powder against him, thinking that he wouldn’t have to worry about a newly enrolled kid from the academy.”
“Ah? Did you also come because Kang Juyeon asked you? I’m here because of Moon Ga-eun nagging me non-stop.”
“Those kids are a handful, indeed. Really bothersome.”
While chatting, Do Jae-hyun’s combo erupted once again in the match. Jab, straight, backstep, and then straight, a three-punch combo. It was difficult to tell if it was a Holder duel or a martial arts competition.
“But [Combat] is unique, isn’t it? Both swords and daggers combined with Quadruped combat. It’s a Multi-Holder with various talents, a rare breed.”
“It’s not only that, Look… There seems to be a rune related to speed. Might be worth watching.”
Kim Hyo-won was not just being beaten. Somehow, he tried to use his abilities and [Sword] to continue the counterattack, but Do Jae-hyun, using [Agile Agility] and high speed, lightly evaded the attacks. Even if he was allowed to attack once, the [lizard’s scales] covered him. Not only in terms of abilities, but also in the use of runes… Also, Do Jae-hyun knows him accurately and applied it to the battle.
Choi Gyu-hyuk appreciated that.
It was definitely an extraordinary dueling sense for a promising Holder.
“But this… Kim Hyo-won will win?”
“Hmm… .”
Even the spectators, including the two of them, noticed it. On the other hand, Kim Hyo-won continued to allow attacks while relying on high toughness stats, [Physical Defense], and managing his toughness through [Endurance].
[Endurance] was a rune that helped him withstand prolonged duels, ensuring he wouldn’t tire easily. It was a common rune acquired by most A-grade Holders in the warrior class, who mainly focused on tanking. However, Multi-Holder Do Jae-hyun didn’t have [Endurance]. It showed, as he appeared to be getting more fatigued compared to Kim Hyo-won.
So, Gyu-hyuk predicted Kim Hyo-won’s victory. The difference in their abilities was still not much over time, merely slightly in Do Jae-hyun’s favor.
“Huh?”
However, something strange happened. Kim Hyo-won, who had been enduring countless hits, suddenly started trembling. At first, it was just a slight shake, but over time, his posture completely collapsed. It was hard to believe that the Holder who had been holding his ground so well could suddenly collapse so helplessly.
Seeing this, Yo-han was taken aback and asked in surprise, “What, what’s going on?”
“Crazy…”
Gyu-hyuk also couldn’t find an answer. As if trying to see it up close, he grabbed his head.
Finally, upon seeing Kim Hyo-won’s body collapse completely, they could confirm what had happened. His body was covered in a strange, blotchy pattern – it was clearly a state of poisoning. It seemed like another special rune possessed by Do Jae-hyun…
An attack related to poison.
Kim Hyo-won, who had been focusing solely on physical attacks, had no way to defend against such a sudden poison attack.
-Duel over. Assassin-type intermediate class Holder, Do Jae-hyun, wins. The Recovery Medical Team, please quickly check Kim Hyo-won’s condition.
Thus, the match ended with Do Jae-hyun’s victory. If someone unfamiliar had witnessed this, they might have thought that Do Jae-hyun had cunningly outwitted Kim Hyo-won. After nearly 15 minutes of dominating his opponent and then finishing the duel with a sudden poison attack, it would seem suspicious.
His rune utilization was so sophisticated that even the audience was in awe. Along with his almost flawless combat skills, Gyu-hyuk stared at him in disbelief.
Who on earth is this guy?
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