Last time, Artlan had left once the drinks had run out. This time, Artlan remained even after the drinks were gone. Artlan wanted to teach him more.
They focused on training.
While Junhyuk rested from sparring with Artlan and Halo, Sarang and Vera sparred with their spells. They started with magic Sarang could use in the Dimensional Battlefield to other spells.
After Vera and Sarang were done, Nudra taught Gongon. It was strange to see Gongon learning from Nudra, but Gongon was doing well. However, Gongon was still getting the crap beat out of him.
Even if Gongon was a hatchling, Junhyuk thought that the fight was too one-sided. However, Gongon could now control the level of strength he used.
Someone else was going through much tougher training. Elise was learning the elfsâ special movement skills.
Layla could keep with with Diane fairly well, but Elise could not.
Layla ran up a wall twenty meters down and came down with ease, but Elise dropped to the ground many times.
While Vera rested, Elise discussed magic engineering with her. Running up the wall required magic circles, but the person had to move fast at the same time.
Elise had studied magitek and learned how to use it. She couldnât use high-tier circles like Sarang, but since it only required low-tier circles, she eventually managed to run up the wall with ease.
Diane chuckled at Elise and told her to keep up with her.
That was how they spent the week together. The week passed quickly, and one by one, they were called into the Championsâ Battlefield viewing room. Once everyone was back, Artlan said, âThe Championsâ Battlefield is different now that you are a hero. Iâm winning some gold, but not as much.â
Nudra, with his hands behind his back, added, âThanks to Veraâs analyses, our rate is better than 80 percent.â
âI can only about double what I bet.â
âYou might lose a lot more than that betting on others.â
Artlan laughed and turned to Junhyuk, asking, âDo you know of any teams with a good streak?â
âThereâs an Earthling called Ling Ling. Iâve been betting on her team.â
âHer winning rate?â
âSo far, she hasnât lost.â
âWhat are the returns?â
âRight now, three times.â
Artlan grabbed his chin and said, âNext time, Iâll bet on that team.â
The Championsâ Battlefield was unpredictable. Even if a champion had great powers, they might lose because of their items. On top of that, it was also possible for adversaries to become heroes during the battle.
Junhyuk had only told Artlan what he knew.
That time, when he had finished viewing the battle, Junhyuk had asked about Bebe, but Bebe had declined his request. The merchant had told him to get the items he needed in the next battlefield.
On his way out, Junhyuk bet all of his gold on Ling Ling. If she won again next time, he would win a lot more gold. There was no battle that week, so he didnât have where to spend his gold.
During the week, Junhyuk developed into a true hero. Artlan was firm, but he had taught him well.
Artlan turned to Nudra and asked, âHowâs Gongon?â
âHeâs certainly a dragon. He learns really fast and heâs mastered the basics.â
âHe should spar.â
âWith Junhyuk?â
âTransformed, he wonât lose a lot of health.â
âGongon has a lot of health.â
Gongon could match Junhyukâs acceleration with his speed. Gongon had been born with mana in his heart and lived surrounded by mana ever since. The dragon would be a difficult enemy.
âLetâs check it out. If they only spar with us, itâll be bad for their self-esteem.â
Junhyuk agreed with him. He still couldnât last more than five minutes against either Artlan or Halo. Artlan kept pointing out the weaknesses in his swordsmanship. He was fixing them, but he was losing confidence. Junhyuk lost more than ten times every day.
To learn where he was, he readily agreed to spar with Gongon.
Gongon stood in front of him and smirked.
âSorry. I didnât know I would be beating the crap out of a human.â
âIs that a joke?â
Gongon had been tossed about the floor the entire week by Nudra, so both of them could regain their confidence by winning.
Junhyuk stepped forward and brandished his swords. Gongon cracked his knuckles loudly. Everyone was placing bets on either of them.
Artlan and Halo had taught him well, but Gongon was a dragon. His basic stats were much higher than Junhyukâs. On top of that, Nudra had taught Gongon. It wouldnât be easy for him.
Everyone shouted out their bets, and Junhyuk said, âThen, letâs begin.â
Gongon ran toward him. The dragonâs movements were strange.
Previously, Gongon would attack by taking the shortest distance to his target, but now, Gongon was showing some restraint.
Junhyuk swung Akshaâs Longsword at the dragon, but Gongon sidestepped it easily. His movements were extremely refined now. He appeared to be moving slowly just like Nudra, so Junhyuk slashed with Dentraâs Magic Sword.
At close range, he couldnât release the wind blade, but there was some distance between them. Junhyuk used the wind blade, but Gongon punched it.
Bang!
The fist dispersed the wind blade. Gongonâs fist was surrounded with mana. It was a mana strike.
Gongon had learned well. Having learned martial arts from Nudra, the dragon closed in on Junhyuk.
Gongon had started by moving slowly, but now he was incredibly fast. Junhyuk swung Akshaâs Longsword at the back of Gongonâs head, and Dentraâs Magic Sword at Gongonâs body, preventing him from getting too close.
Junhyuk couldnât allow a martial artist to get too close to him, so he slashed with great speed. At the same time, Gongonâs eyes beamed.
Gongon was wilder than him. He was a dragon, and they were the monsters at the top of the food chain.
His wild nature still persisted, and now that he had learned martial arts from Nudra, Gongon was incredibly powerful now.
The dragon punched through Junhyukâs openings, and Junhyuk smiled.
Junhyuk was leaving opening intentionally. Halo had pointed those out to him already, and he had fixed the problem. The openings were very small, so hardly anyone could exploit them. However, Gongon had used those openings to punch him.
Junhyuk swung Dentraâs Magic Sword without hesitation, triggering dozens of wind blades as he did.
At the same time, Gongonâs scales flared up and mana got released from them, and that mana slammed against the wind blades, destroying them.
Junhyuk hadnât expected a move like that.
âSo cool!â
It was nothing more than Gongonâs basic strength, so Junhyuk changed his techniques for the moment. He attacked the dragon continuously and ferociously instead.
Gongon was only fighting Junhyuk, but the dragon felt like there were ten of him.
Gongon had learned a lot from Nudra, but his training wasnât complete. At the beginning, Gongon fought with what he had learned, but now, he let himself be taken by his natural instincts.
Junhyuk had been waiting for that. A dragonâs instincts were extremely powerful, but they were also controllable.
Junhyuk showed another opening, one that had been pointed out to him by Artlan, and Gongon attacked him. Gongonâs fist was overflowing with mana. Junhyuk tried to counter, and Gongon infused his fist with even more mana.
Gongonâs scales flared, and mana rushed out of them, even more than the amount surrounding the dragonâs fists. Gongon was planning to put him down with a single strike.
Junhyuk blocked with Dentraâs Magic Sword and attacked Gongonâs scales with Akshaâs Longsword.
Clang!
Junhyuk was thrown off by Junhyukâs sword. The dragon was releasing a lot of mana, but Akshaâs Longsword was a legendary sword, and it was very sharp.
Bleeding, Gongon rushed toward him. Junhyuk took a step back, but soon started running toward the dragon.
The two closed in quickly, and suddenly, two shadows appeared between them.
Boom!
Gongon was launched into the air, spun twice and went rolling across the ground. Junhyuk blocked the sword attacks, but he was thrown against the wall behind him.
âI told you to spar, not to fight to the death.â
âSorry.â
Junhyuk got up. By then, Gongon had healed himself and walked toward him.
âIâm a beginner. Thatâs why I lost.â
âI used my items. I canât say I won on my own.â
Gongon smirked and said, âLetâs do this again a week from now.â
âRight!â
Junhyuk wondered if he could win against Gongon as he walked toward Artlan.
Artlan smiled at him and said, âYouâve done well.â