Chapter 102: Incompetence (2)

The atmosphere changed; Kang Min-hyuk pointed at Gu Gwang-mo, as he offered the ruler of Byeokgyemun a battle, disguising his opportunity beneath a veil of mercy.

“Moon-ju.”

Moon-ju’s gaze turned to Gu Gwang-mo. It was then that Gu Gwang-mo realized that something was wrong.

“You’ve planned all of this…”

Kang Min-hyuk knew the world of Ganghwa warriors well – a wizard couldn’t pull down the gate. No matter how much the value of the wizard had risen through the magical revolution, the pride of the reinforced warriors was still there.

Kang Min-hyuk trounced Park Cheol-woo, that the viewers were captivated, even if they weren’t pleased with the result. As a result, Kang Min-hyuk was driven to do more. Since Park Cheol-woo would not be his opponent, he called for others to take his place.

“This fucking guy…”

Gu Gwang-mo was in a dilemma. Before Cheol-woo’s humiliation, he would have gladly smacked the cheeky grin of Kang Min-hyuk’s annoying face. But the situation had become ambiguous. Throughout the fight, Kang Min-hyuk consistently showed a relaxed appearance as he used techniques none of the warriors had ever seen, including moving to cast. Still, that wasn’t the extent of Kang Min-hyuk’s power; that much was clear. Kang Min-hyuk controlled the board, and if another, higher power was to attack, he would indeed reveal more hidden cards.

The experience so far suggested that it wouldn’t be an easy fight. When he cleared his prejudice and looked at Kang Min-hyuk, he couldn’t respond to the duel. If they were defeated, the reputation of their wall would be damaged.

Gu Gwang-mo’s eyes trembled.

If he avoided the challenge, he would appear as a coward, and if he accepted, he’d have to deal with Kang Min-hyuk – a dangerous risk.

“I have just one question.”

“Yes?”

“Why the hell are you doing this? The relationship between the guardian gate and the wall gate was not good in the past, but it has nothing to do with you, who chose the wizard’s path. If you smash the signboard, you have nothing to gain. Although your skills are recognized, you will make many enemies in return.”

It was a warning. If he broke the signboard, he would become a member of the Cheolcheon Branch.

Gu Gwang-mo emphasized how dangerous the duel would be for Kang Min-hyuk.

Kang Min-hyuk laughed. Had he been like them, too? When he was the successor to the guardian gate, would he have looked at the wizard with such an arrogant attitude?

“From the moment I decided to walk my way as a wizard, I didn’t expect to live a dull life. This is a world where fortified warriors are at the top. If not today, the time would soon come where the wall – that neglected and refused to accept magic – would host me. Would you like to watch the signboard of the Byeokgyemun Gate smashed like this?”

Kang Min-hyuk’s reasoning fell on deaf ears. Besides, there was no way to escape.

“Come on, do whatever you want. However, the results will not be yours.”

Gu Gwang-mo came out, hesitating slightly, aware of the danger. However, as long as he decided to duel, Gu Kwang-mo had no doubts about his skills.

“I’ll deal with you directly, you little shit.”

Unlike Park Cheol-woo, Gu Gwang-mo was a real talent.

* * *

As those discussions were commencing at the wall, Jeong Min-gu, a reporter at S Broadcasting Corporation, received a call.

[Kang Min-hyuk – the former successor of Suhomun, will join a non-dance as a wizard. The first opponent is Byeokgyeokmun, so if you go in time, you can shoot a video. You better hurry.]

“Ugh?”

The content of the letter was too vague; he rubbed his eyes and reread it. It was clear. The sender was unknown.

“Ah, no way!”

The open-challenge battles were a tradition of fortified warriors. Those who wanted to prove their proficiency applied for a secret dance in a total of three literary schools. The defeated gate was smashed and closed for three months, but that was rarely the case. He thought it was nonsense. In a world where even reinforced warriors didn’t like non-dance, sorcerers had no chance.

Still, he did not know, so he contacted Eunpyeong-gu.

[I think you’re right? Kang Min-hyuk visited Byeokgyemun. From what I can hear, it seems that he has applied for the challenge. Come fast. I haven’t started yet, so you can get a video if you come now.]

“Ugh.”

Jung Min-gu’s eyes widened; it was a fantastic opportunity for him. Kang Min-hyuk’s non-dance? The topic itself was enormous, and if Kang Min-hyuk won, the impact would be massive.

“Kang Min-hyuk wouldn’t enter a fight he didn’t believe he could win. He must be confident that he can beat the reinforced warriors in a head-to-head. I suppose Gu Gwang-mo wouldn’t participate in the battle, so he’ll be dealing with Park Cheol-woo. Phew. Stay calm; this could be a good scoop.”

Jeong Min-gu always wrote factual articles about Kang Min-hyuk; they didn’t have a special relationship, but for some reason, he enjoyed the work, and it nourished him in some way.

He hurried. He was not too far from Eunpyeong-gu, but he didn’t want to miss any non-dance.

He arrived at Byeokgyemun panting a little, with sweat on his brow, but fortunately, he was not late.

When he hurriedly picked up the camera, the images of Gu Kwang-mo and Kang Min-hyuk, who had just started a duel, were captured.

* * *

Gu Kwang-mo wasn’t stupid. He had observed the last fight and seen mistakes that Park Cheol-wu had made.

Hwaak-!

Mana rose from his body.

With mana tight and fast running, Kang Min-hyuk also began casting of the 2nd circle.

“Fireball.”

Rumble.

Kwaang!

The crater burst.

Gu Gwang-mo rushed through the blazing fire, but Kang Min-hyuk’s attack was just the beginning of the full-fledged performance. Kang Min-hyuk expressed the power of fire while progressing to moving to cast. The flames responded to Kang Min-hyuk’s dominance, and dozens of flames turned into fire arrows.

“Hwawoo.”

Rumble!

Pop-pop!

However, the power never fell.

The best magic always gave more damage than expected, and Kang Min-hyuk’s spell was powerful.

The problem was Gu Gwang-mo’s resilience. Had he been such an easily shaken opponent, he would not have been the gatekeeper of the wall.

Thwack!

The flames scattered in waves of mana. At the same time, he spewed an aura. Just as Kang Min-hyuk, as Klinssman, kept Dominic Green in check, he tried to attack mana’s flow with fragments of his aura. To find himself, on the other side, was a fresh experience. During the half-year spent as Klinssman, Kang Min-hyuk faced numerous wizards as a reinforced warrior. It was the same tool he used every time. So, the wizards of the magical civilization observed how the aura fragments responded. The method Dominic Green used was suitable, but Kang Min-hyuk knew a better way.

“Wind Wave.”

Hwaahah-!

A wind, which contained the power of mana, rose and attacked Gu Kwang-mo, sweeping away the aura’s fragments. Gu Kwang-mo’s attack became a threatening weapon. When initially hit by this method, Kang Min-hyuk admired that the wind waves precise control could prevent the aura fragments. Experience had built up inside Kang Min-hyuk.

Gu Gwang-mo distorted his expression and jumped, his movements full of titanic energy.

Bang!

Rumble.

The wind was gone. At the same time, he suddenly darted in front of Kang Min-hyuk. He was speedy – the Wall Gate’s fame was not in vain. He had the right strategy to defeat a wizard. The moment Gu Gwang-mo’s sharp eyes turned to Kang Min-hyuk, he had an intuitive idea that Kang Min-hyuk’s next move would be dangerous, but he didn’t back down.

Blink?

Yes, for an opponent convinced that their attack would work, it was a simple route to victory.

When Gu Gwang-mo’s Tao split Kang Min-hyuk’s body, Kang Min-hyuk’s body disappeared as if the sand was scattering.

Pasa Sasak-!

Gu Kwang-mo’s eyes widened in the face of undiscovered technology. He hastily turned his gaze to find the position of Kang Min-hyuk.

“Thunder Cannon.”

Pak!

“Ahhhhhhhhh.”

He used powerful electric magic.

Gu Gwang-mo screamed and hurried back. He was a skillful person comparable to Suhomun’s golden generation, but there was no way to withstand exposure to fifth Circle magic. Gu Gwang-mo’s eyes trembled in the distance – he was perplexed.

“How?”

Kang Min-hyuk raised mana.

It would be shocking. Despite knowing a lot of magic, he struggled against Chris Kyle and lost to Dominic Green. So, would Gu Gwang-mo be tough?

Usually, the aura attack would finish a wizard, and Kang Min-hyuk tried to counterattack. Gu Gwang-mo put mana on his skin, but he couldn’t evade the Thunder Cannon. Fear began to bubble in his heart. Kang Min-hyuk saw his hesitation and used it as an opportunity.

“Memorize!”

Ultra-fast casting caused his head to feel tight, and he fired magic at his opponent before he realized what was happening.

“Damn it!”

Gwang-mo hit the ground. As he tried to avoid the magic, a thorn rock arose from the ground.

“Stone Edge.”

Puck!

It hindered his movement.

Gu Kwang-mo tried to approach Kang Min-hyuk once again by jumping over the thorny rock, but he was at a disadvantage from the moment the Thunder Cannon hit him. The Thunder Cannon was the starting point of hell, which plunged fortified warriors into the swamp. When Kang Min-hyuk’s mana emitted another thunder cannon, Gu Gwang-mo’s eyes turned upside down.

Pak!

Crackle!

Although he avoided the attack, the remaining electricity inside him drew in the Thunder Cannon’s power, and he was shocked by it.

“Heo-eok, heo-eok.”

Gu Gwang-mo’s complexion turned pale.

He gasped. He was a laboratory mouse. Kang Min-hyuk was putting him on the palm of his hand and was pushing him into a corner. For the first time in his life, he felt weak.

He, who had experience dealing with dozens of A-class monsters, could never be called a weak reinforced warrior. His lack of understanding and presumptuous attitude was to blame. Kang Min-hyuk’s combat method was bizarre according to the known techniques of the warrior’s world. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

“The wizard’s power…”

Kang Min-hyuk decided to give the reinforced warriors time, so he purposely called a reporter. He wanted a video to help with the analysis of his magic.

So, what would happen?

At the defeat of one of their strongest warriors, they would have to reassess their approach. Then, the finale would begin, and Min-hyuk would have to fight somebody stronger than Gwang-mo. Would they fall even if they were fully prepared? It was exciting to consider.

Kang Min-hyuk smiled. “Now it’s over.”

Gu Gwang-mo collapsed as the magic erupted. Jung Min-gu, who was filming the video, felt his legs crumple beneath him.