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“Maybe Lee Joon-ho is influential? Kang Min-hyuk, representing the past, and Lee Jun-ho standing as an emblem of the future would be more than a battle – if Lee Jun-ho defeated Kang Min-hyuk, the symbolism would be profound.”

It seemed to be an appropriate match. Lee Jun-ho was a known genius and exceptionally gifted with a blade, but his ability to defeat Kang Min-hyuk was debatable. Cheon Mu-baek was mightier than Lee Jun-ho, so would the golden generation’s frontrunner be too much of a gamble for Suhomun?

Another option was Jeong Pan-ho.

Jeong Pan-ho would play the role of gatekeeper properly. Most people agreed that Cheon Mu-baek was a class below Jeong Pan-ho. Even when attacking the S-Class Dungeon Dark City, Pan-ho showed tremendous power to defeat the transcendental Death Knight alone. At that time, Kang Min-hyuk’s performance wasn’t bad, but Jeong Pan-ho’s skill in battle exceeded his.

Jeong Pan-ho seemed to be the ablest person to clear up the situation without compromising Kang Deok-cheol’s honor. The public also mentioned another possibility:

Could it be that the Guardian Swordsman himself could stand?

That option received the worst reaction. It seemed like a giant and unnecessary leap to use the Guardian Swordsman to battle a wizard, family bonds aside. Such an act would be seen as demeaning to the guardian gate. The only reason Mun-ju emerged for a non-dance was when those below him could not solve it – to fight would be to admit defeat of the rest of Suhomun. That was why Kwak Do-yeol sent out Thousand Mu-baek. It was, in short, bad etiquette. It was an unlikely event, but one that generated some interest as a hypothetical.

If the choice were down to the people, it would be Jeong Pan-ho. Despite their bond formed in Dark City, Pan-ho was highly capable of distinguishing between public and private matters. If he were chosen to defend the guardian gate’s honor, he would do his best to defeat Kang Min-hyuk.

Kang Min-hyuk, however, did not need to speculate. He already knew who would oppose him. He felt the truth of it deep in his marrow.

A man emerged from behind the gate; the crowds recoiled in reverence and fear as he drew his sword.

“I’ll deal with this myself,” Kang Deok-cheol said, as coolly as if he were about to step on a spider.

* * *

Kang Deok-cheol was a practical person – just as his decision to choose Lee Jun-ho as the successor for his mana talent, which his own son lacked, he viewed reality from a calm, detached perspective, unfettered by dramatic emotions. He knew that his son was strong. His defeat of Cheon Mu-baek had banished all suspicions that whispered otherwise. He was unwilling to make the same mistake as Kwak Do-yeol – if he sent out his right-hand-man, Jeong Pan-ho, it could end similarly to Chengcheon.

“I will sacrifice the first hit.”

Kand Deok-cheol turned an icy gaze upon Kang Min-hyuk, whose mouth was devoid of moisture. He had expected it, but the reality of the situation – the solid form of Deok-cheol standing before him as an enemy, not a father – made him feel strange.

The first strike could be decisive in a duel. His sacrifice wasn’t made as a father to son but as a confidence statement in his ability. By offering Kang Min-hyuk a chance, he communicated that his choice to fight was justified. Min-hyuk was reluctant to accept the favor, but he knew that his chances of winning were slim, at best. As Klinssman, when he had compared the talents of evolved wizards to evolved warriors, he concluded that even seventh circle sorcerers couldn’t beat Deok-cheol. He had blown the head off the Dark Lich and many other formidable monsters throughout his guardianship, so Min-hyuk estimated that only a wizard of circle eight or higher – heavenly states, indeed – would stand a chance against him. Kang Min-hyuk, therefore, was not about to decline the first strike.

Mana rose around him as he fixed his vision on Deok-cheol’s unmoving form. His mind spun in tight circles as he began a double cast – he immediately completed his magic, and the power exploded.

“Giant Hold!”

Pababak!

Kang Deok-cheol was entangled in the web. Even with his mana strongly suppressed, Kang Deok-cheol’s expression never changed. He had the arrogance of a man who never loses.

“Explosion.”

The ungraded magic exerted great power against the immobile opponent.

Boom!

Kwa Kwa Kwa Kwang!

There was a massive explosion, and thick smoke swallowed up Kang Deok-cheol; Kang Min-hyuk used magic without stopping.

‘The power of fire.’

Flames gathered and transformed into dozens of fire arrows that penetrated the flesh of Deok-cheol, who remained standing; barely a flicker had passed over his face.

“Fire Arrow.”

Pow!

Rumble!

As both of Kang Min-hyuk’s brains rotated rapidly, he cast spells without pausing to breathe; he didn’t even check the opponent’s condition. It didn’t seem essential…Kang Deok-cheol would not fall at the first attack. If he had been such a weak opponent, he would not have risen to the top in a world dominated by power.

Passususu-!

The smoke subsided. When it dissipated, Kang Deok-cheol stood in its place, visible for the first time since the beginning.

“Are you finished?”

It didn’t matter. The transparent sword that twined around his body maintained its color even throughout the fire-bombs. Voices rose in a hum.

At a glance, the explosion Kang Min-hyuk used was at least six circles – possibly more. Deok-cheol looked uninjured and slightly bored following the attack. Suddenly, Kang Min-hyuk remembered the video of Kang Deok-cheol fighting the Dark Lich, who had strewn enormous magic. Even in such an attack, Kang Deok-cheol protected the Guardian Mundo with a transparent curtain – it was a power that only the Caju could use, called the shield of the Holy Blood.

The shield stripped Kang Min-hyuk’s magic of its power. All that he had accomplished were some futile fireworks. If the rest of the battle played out like that, he wouldn’t have a lot of fun. The shield disappeared. Kang Deok-cheol spoke, his voice seasoned with arrogance.

“Try to attack me again.”

It was then that Kang Min-hyuk realized. There was a purpose Deok-cheol had volunteered himself for the non-dance…he was a father disciplining his disobedient child. The crowds watched, fascinated. Kang Deok-cheol emitted a sense of pure authority. Faced with that, Kang Min-hyuk saw that his chances of winning were worse than slim, and most likely, zero. Kang Deok-cheol was, after all, Korea’s best fighter.

However, Kang Min-hyuk didn’t challenge Suhomun just to win. It was possible to prove yourself without wearing the shining crown of victory.

“Okay.”

He raised mana. From the underbelly of his consciousness, he sent a signal to the spirit.

“Spirit instinct (憑依).”

* * *

With a contract with the spirit, humans can use two powers: summon and dominate.

The spirit intent used by Kang Min-hyuk was a transformed method that invites Salamander’s mana into the flame circle.

Rumble.

The fire-mana overflowed around Kang Min-hyuk, and when the circle was filled with mana, he immediately used magic.

“Explosion.”

Bang!

Quarr, rumble.

The spell had tremendous power. As the circle of flames amplified the explosion’s strength, a vast sonic boom swept around – much bigger than the previous one. However, Kang Deok-cheol had already evacuated. He did not use the Holy Blood shield but blocked the aftermath with a general shield and quickly rushed toward Kang Min-hyuk.

‘Illusion.’

Kang Min-hyuk’s body was divided – a way to dazzle his enemy. At that moment, Kang Deok-cheol’s sword flashed and slashed the Illusion’s body. There was no time to escape.

Immediately, Kang Min-hyuk canceled the magic and escaped with Blink.

Pop.

But as soon as he returned from Blink, Kang Deok-cheol appeared in front. Kang Deok-cheol was the source of Kang Min-hyuk’s super sense, and he had mastered the method.

When Kang Deok-cheol tried to swing his sword, Kang Min-hyuk fell behind and activated the imprint.

“Giant Hold.”

“Thunder Cannon.”

It was the same link that Dominic Green had used. Min-hyuk didn’t think that kind of attack would work, but it earned him some time. As expected, Kang Deok-cheol did not suffer any damage, and Giant Hold’s bind was destroyed by force.

“Taesan.”

Thud.

Rumble.

Kang Min-hyuk changed the terrain. As the ground soared, Kang Min-hyuk activated the Transcendence Imprint from a high position.

“Fire Storm.”

The seventh circle spell’s power, blessed by the spirit intent, caused a raging, fiery tempest.

Kurrureung.

Rumble Rumble!

The power was astounding. The tempest swallowed up Kang Deok-cheol so that even people far away retreated from the heat. The flames arising from the eye of the storm turned into Fire Arrows and burst into the trapped Deok-cheol. Could this be the power of Hephaistos, the god of fire? The flames that obeyed Kang Min-hyuk’s hand were remarkable.

The explosion did not end. Hwawoo was activated, and the surrounding inferno became a weapon that threatened Kang Deok-cheol from every angle.

Hwaak-!

“That’s pretty good.”

Kang Deok-cheol was safe. He brandished his steel and broke through the firestorm, setting himself alight. However, he appeared to be in no pain. The Guardian Gate warriors were naturally opposed to magic – their skills specialized in protection, and they were excellent at blocking spells. Kang Min-hyuk’s vantage point, atop the rubble of Taesan, couldn’t protect him for long.

Deok-cheol sent mana straight to his legs and flew into the air, atop Taesan. His bright blade glinted as it swooped through the air. As it fell, the image of Kang Min-hyuk disintegrated.

Passususu-!

Kang Deok-cheol’s eyes adjusted sharply to the shifting visions of Kang Min-hyuk.

Kang Deok-cheol had accurately identified the endpoint of Mirage with the help of his super-sense. The moment Kang Deok-cheol’s sword hit the body, a smile came to Kang Min-hyuk’s face. He expected that Kang Deok-cheol would react in such a way, so he created a solution before the problem arose: Dig up. It was a challenging but convincing illusion. Kang Min-hyuk disappeared as a Mirage and simultaneously hid his body with Blink, creating a new fantasy, and leaving Kang Deok-cheol alone on Taesan Mountain.

Kang Min-hyuk appeared above him in the sky.

“Hear fire.”

All mana in the circle of flames was absorbed and merged with the surrounding elements of fire, causing an unbelievable explosion.

Kwarreung!

Kwa Kwa Kwa Kwa Kwa Kwa Kwang!

It really was disastrous. Taesan’s appeal was security, but even that couldn’t stand in the way of the blast. Even Kang Min-hyuk feared for his safety, but just before the hungry flames wrapped their molten jaws around him, he escaped using Blink. Most wizards could only use Blink a couple of times before the mana consumption became too much to bear, but Min-hyuk’s split-mind could use it quickly enough to evade danger.

The moment required the greatest power Min-hyuk could deliver; he filled the circle of flames with spiritual intent.

Dump!

He collapsed from the exertion – his skin blushing in the heat of the fire. As mana reached its limit, he gasped, exhausted. Hellfire had drained him of everything.

From the heart of the flames, Kang Deok-cheol strolled out, the shield of Holy Blood raised high. He seemed faintly shaken up, but that was all. He was safe and uninjured. Even the final blow that took everything Kang Min-hyuk had couldn’t harm him.

“Is it impossible?!”

Min-hyuk laughed. He knew that the attack wouldn’t work, but he had to fight to the end.

Hwareuk, Hwarreuk.

An aura rose; people watched, open-mouthed. They would see the strongest warrior win.

“Let’s finish it quickly.”

Kang Min-hyuk said coldly, as Kang Deok-cheol approached, sword shining, as wildfire danced in its reflection – it would be the final blow to announce Suhomun’s victory. He plunged his sword deep into his son’s chest, which cracked, spurting blood.

The crimson droplets marked the end of Kang Min-hyuk’s non-dance.