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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: Combat Class (4)
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Thud.
Thud.
"Alright, Mutt. Ready to get beat up?"
"If today's dog day, aren't you the one getting beat up, you dog?"
"Heh. Yeah, yeah. Talk all you want now. That way you'll be begging for forgiveness later."
Kang Dohui cracked her neck and ambled onto the sparring arena.
She looked relaxed, full of openings, but that couldn't be right.
"..."
I heightened my tension and tilted the scabbard at my waist.
Then, gripping the hilt, I leaned forward slightly, ready to draw.
The draw stance.
It wasn't a skill.
Just an imitation of a skill's movement.
But unlike when I'd forced myself to mimic Instructor Baek Seolhui's swordplay, it felt natural, as if ingrained in my body.
'No messing around in front of her.'
There was no room for stray thoughts, unlike my earlier spar with Lee Minyeong.
A single moment of carelessness, and I'd be the one sprawled on the floor.
Whoosh—
Red mana, as if imbued with fiery energy, shimmered around her entire body.
As expected of a Tier 1 dealer.
Her mana reserves were on a different level compared to regular cadets.
Gulp.
My pupils involuntarily trembled, and I swallowed hard.
'It's really on a whole different level from when she had that mana-restricting collar on…'
Inhale.
Exhale—
I watched her with composed eyes, then took a shallow breath.
'Alright, come on in…'
And like a hunter lying in wait, having set a trap, I bided my time.
Waited for her to enter the range of my sword.
'Just one more step.'
Then, just within reach of my sword.
Halt.
She suddenly stopped there.
CRACK—!!
In an instant, her figure vanished from my sight, accompanied by a light whoosh of displaced air.
'Tch, as expected, she's ridiculously fast!'
Swoosh—!
I gritted my teeth and drew my sword without delay.
Then, I thrust it straight towards my left flank.
CRASH!!
Her bare fist, unadorned by anything, met my sword. But I felt a daunting sensation, like swinging a sword at an unyielding boulder.
*
Fist and Foot Combat.
Kang Dohui's primary weapons were her fists and feet.
Unlike other Hunters, she didn't use any separate weapons.
She had tried wearing greaves or knuckles before, but they would all break or shatter after just a few impacts from her power.
She enjoyed the sensation of smashing monsters with her raw, unadorned body, so she felt no particular need for them.
Power drawn from the soles of her feet, planted firmly on the training ground.
From her solid lower body, through her waist, and up to her shoulders, a natural sequence of movements flowed towards the point of impact.
CRUNCH—!!
A sound unimaginable for a mere clash of sword and fist reverberated.
Jin Yuha gritted his teeth and blocked her attack.
Crrunch—!
A brief standoff ensued.
Suddenly, Kang Dohui lowered her body deeply and launched an upward kick.
Her heel aimed directly for Jin Yuha's chin.
WHAM—!
The sound of air exploding from the powerful kick.
Jin Yuha gasped, pulling his chin back, narrowly dodging the attack.
She then spun her body, unleashing a barrage of kicks at Jin Yuha with invisible speed.
Thwang—!
Thwang—!
Thwang—!
Once. Twice. Thrice.
His sword moved swiftly, blocking the kicks.
Each time, Jin Yuha's body was pushed back unceremoniously.
Whoosh!
Kang Dohui pushed off with her feet, launching herself into the air.
Whirl—!
This time, her fists seemed to multiply, raining down on Jin Yuha like a shower.
He seemed to try and deflect the attacks with movements like the dance he'd shown in the group sparring finals, but…
Each time a fist connected, his sword defense was miserably shattered.
It was clear Jin Yuha was being pushed back, yet Kang Dohui inwardly marveled.
'Huh, the Mutt is keeping up with my speed?'
She had clearly aimed for openings and struck, yet each time he somehow moved his sword to block or evade the attacks.
Jin Yuha's physical abilities, mana, and other stats were clearly inferior compared to hers.
Yet, how was it possible for him to continue fighting like this?
Kang Dohui pondered for a moment.
Suddenly, her smile deepened.
'Right. It's his vision?'
Jin Yuha possesses exceptional situational awareness.
Even while facing an enemy in front, he could issue timely commands to party members behind him, even dictating their movements.
'And he demanded quite detailed things from me.'
During basic training, Jin Yuha had given exceptionally detailed instructions, specifically to her.
At first, she hadn't been without resentment, feeling as though he was denying the abilities she had built up, but…
When she actually followed his words, she found she could move her body far more efficiently than before.
And ever since, she had diligently worked to make what he taught her into habits.
'So, it means this Mutt knows my movements better than anyone right now.'
Jin Yuha hadn't caught up to her speed.
He had simply utilized his god-like judgment to read her movements in advance and react a beat faster.
Thus, even with inferior physical abilities, he was keeping right on her heels.
A man who knew her movements better than she did herself—wasn't that truly exhilarating?
'Ha.'
Kang Dohui's lips curled into a wide, amused grin.
'Yes, this is how it should be! If he's the head of my party, he should at least be able to do this much…!'
Before she knew it, she had forgotten her initial objective and was completely engrossed in the spar with Jin Yuha.
CRASH—!
Kang Dohui spun, striking Jin Yuha with her heel.
And the guy actually used his hand to brace the flat of his sword and block it.
Terrifying mana clashed with mana, scattering her red hair.
'This is fun.'
How long had it been since she'd moved her body like this?
She had thought it would be enough to just ignite his fighting spirit in this spar, but sparring with him was instead igniting her own.
Honestly, among her peers, she had no match.
Therefore, Jin Yuha holding out this long was also unexpected.
The difference between him and her was clear.
Nevertheless, the reason Kang Dohui had followed Jin Yuha's commands without resistance until now.
Firstly, because she had caught a glimpse of Parandis Guild Master Choi Hyeso in him.
Secondly, because his leadership abilities transcended ordinary levels.
And lastly, because she preferred to use her own body to its fullest rather than standing above someone and issuing commands.
Thus, she had thought she didn't expect much from Jin Yuha in terms of combat power.
With his extraordinary leadership, she thought his current level of strength was sufficient.
However, she was mistaken.
'Yes, if someone is going to stand above me, they should at least be able to contend with me on equal terms…!'
Just like now.
But perhaps the difference in physical abilities was simply insurmountable?
In Kang Dohui's eyes, Jin Yuha's movements seemed to gradually slow down.
CRUNCH—!
A powerfully thrown punch.
Jin Yuha blocked it with his sword, but his feet scraped against the training ground as he was pushed far back.
Screeech—
"Urgh!"
He bit his lip hard, letting out a groan.
He, who had previously twisted his body to somehow evade powerful attacks, was now blocking them with his sword more frequently.
'…Is this all?'
She was thoroughly satisfied with this.
Because she had seen the potential for Jin Yuha to rise to an equal standing with her.
'Excellent, Mutt.'
Before she knew it, Kang Dohui had forgotten her initial objective and genuinely acknowledged him as a worthy opponent.
So much so that she couldn't wait, eagerly anticipating how exhilarating their future party activities with this man would be.
'Still, time to end this.'
That's enough for today.
Since he was also taking this class, there would be many more opportunities to spar and contend with him in the future.
Each time, she would be wary of him catching up from behind, growing together as rivals.
Whoosh—!
A red aura, burning more vividly than before, shimmered around Kang Dohui's fist.
And just as she shot her tightly clenched fist towards his face.
Jin Yuha's expression shifted, as if he had been waiting for this very moment.
'…!?'
She heightened her tension, wondering if he had something prepared, but…
He adopted the same defensive stance as before, raising his sword to block the punch.
Clink.
What she didn't expect happened the very moment her sword and fist clashed.
'Clink…?'
Jin Yuha had abruptly let go of his sword.
The sword flew backward without resistance.
Kang Dohui's gaze involuntarily followed the flying sword.
For a moment, Kang Dohui was flustered by the fact that he had let go of his sword.
In that instant, she lost track of Jin Yuha's movements.
Chill—
Then, a sudden, unfamiliar sensation at her waist.
A man's arm wrapped around her midsection.
Tight.
Jin Yuha was holding her in a tight embrace from behind.
'Wha—what—!?'
The first time she had ever felt such intimate skinship from a man.
Her usual calm poker face shattered, and an unprecedented look of bewilderment spread across her face.
"Mu-Mutt! What in the—!"
She turned her head, shouting in a shrill voice.
Then Jin Yuha leaned into her ear and whispered.
"Kang Dohui."
"...Huh?"
'This Mutt, what in the world is he doing during a spar…!'
"You still can't do grappling, can you?"
"What…?"
Jin Yuha lifted her body just as she was.
Thus, Kang Dohui's body, caught off guard, was airborne.
He then arched his back, slamming her down onto the floor.
CRUNCH—!
'That's a German Suplex, you bitch!'
And astonishment spread across the faces of the cadets watching.