Chapter 97: Road To the Finale [1]

*CLANG*

*CLANG*

*CLANG*

In quick succession, I parried three slashes from Professor Sooyung before immediately leaping backward, placing some distance between us.

As she prepared to slash at my neck once again, I widened my stance and pressed down on the ground with my right foot.

*CLANG*

As my blade met hers, she immediately withdrew her sword and aimed a counter-jab at my chest.

With my right foot carrying most of my weight, I exploded forward to the right around Professor Sooyung, her sword whizzing by my left shoulder and missing by an inch.

Taking the chance, I aimed a jab diagonally downward at her knee, but before I could even thrust my sword, her left leg suddenly flew upward into the air.

*BANG*

In an instant, her knee hit my chest hard, sending me flying backward into the air and knocking the wind out of me.

Taking deep breaths in and out, resisting the urge to open my mouth to puke, I forced my eyes wide open through the pain in my chest and the burning in my throat.

Keep your eyes open.

Keep your eyes open.

As I flew backward into the air, I found Professor Sooyung already sprinting toward my airborne body from the right.

*BANG*

As my body hit the ground shoulder-first, I resisted the pain and used the momentum to tumble to the left, my entire body aching as I hit the ground over and over again.

In the next moment, her sword pierced the ground that I would have landed on if not for my tumbling.

Using my sword as a cane, I hoisted myself upward, my entire body shaking and my breath frantic and uneven.

Staying still for a moment, Professor Sooyung glanced up at me and said seriously.

"Do more short sprints and work more on your explosive movement. Your footwork also needs some work."

Seeing her pause silently and begin to lower her sword, I frowned and pointed my sword at her, panting like a dog.

"..."

Looking at her, I said.

"I-It h-hasn't been an hour."

Her eyebrows raised, Professor Sooyung glanced at me.

"You attack, then."

Nodding my head, I mustered the last of my strength and sprinted at her.

Ripple Step.

I knew it was the only way.

Leaping forward, I landed just out of range of her sword before pushing myself back into the air with my right foot.

Staying completely still, Professor Sooyung simply jabbed her sword at my legs, attempting to knock me out of the air.

Barely reacting in time, I slammed my sword vertically downward, the tip of her sword meeting the edge of my blade.

*CLANG*

My sword flew right out of my hands and over my head from the impact, but I continued in the air, letting momentum carry me right past Professor Sooyung's figure.

Finally landing behind her, I immediately took a deep breath and pivoted with my right foot to face her.

As I faced her back, I honed my intent, sending the golden particles coming out of the orb in my stomach downward and into my legs.

Facing her defenseless back, empty-handed, I threw my right fist forward, aiming a punch at her left shoulder.

Had it worked?

Did she lose track of me?

Did she even know I was at-

Before my fist could even get close to her shoulder, her left leg surged backward, the sole of her shoe immediately hitting my kneecaps.

My left leg surging with pain, I instantly fell backward, collapsing onto the ground back-first while gritting my teeth.

Turning around and glancing at my body lying below her, Professor Sooyung shook her head.

"You're easiest to predict in the air. You can only move forward, and with an improvised acceleration formula, I already know your exact landing spot."

Glancing at her smartwatch, she added.

"Stop being so eager to go up into the air like a bird. You should really get rid of that habit of yours."

*BZZT*

Not even bothering to glance at my vibrating smartwatch, I caressed my left knee and looked up at her.

"I have to...it's part of my technique manual."

"..."

Slowly looking up from her smartwatch, Professor Sooyung met my gaze, narrowing her eyes.

"Then, figure out how to fight and block attacks in the air or be ready to defend yourself when you land."

After sending me another few exercises to do, Professor Sooyung gave me a short wave before walking out of the training arena, leaving me lying on the ground.

"..."

After a few minutes, I managed to stand up, having to limp forward as my left leg still stung from her attack.

"..."

Without my gift giving me amazing healing abilities, there was no way I'd be able to run tomorrow.

Shaking my head, I slowly limped out of the training arena and into the nearly empty cafeteria.

"ANDDDDDDDDDDD THE GRANGE TAKES IT IN THE LAST MINIGAME! THEY NOW ADVANCE INTO THE ROUND OF EIGHT!"

Shaking my head, I ignored the massive holographic screen blaring in the cafeteria and ate in peace.

The grand finale between the Sunken Pearl and The Grange would be determined by the twenty versus twenty hedge-maze minigame, where the first team to have all their students touch the trophy in the middle of the maze would win.

However, unbeknownst to everyone, touching the trophy wouldn't transport you out of the maze but into the drin headquarters.

In the novel, Ren had defended the trophy with his life, even from his own teammates, until Haerin arrived and used her magic-nullification gift to break the enchantment on the trophy.

That plan would still work, so there was no need to change it.

I still felt...somewhat uneasy, though.

After all, I'd be watching all of this from the outside.

If anything went wrong due to the butterfly effects...there was nothing at all I could do to help.

"..."

Sighing, I clicked on my smartwatch and opened a chat window.

[Ash: Hey, Ren.]