Chapter 43
Cool air brushed across Chaeho's sweat-covered neck.
He lightly moved his wrist while testing the balance of the wooden training sword he had just been given.
"Move to the next location."
The participants leaving the reaction-speed arena looked completely stunned.
They still hadn't recovered from the absurd evasion and striking ability Chaeho had just displayed.
However, the staff member showed no interest in their shock and dryly urged them onward.
Chaeho quietly followed the group.
They eventually arrived at Training Arena Three, which was surrounded by thick soundproof walls.
The floor was covered in a black shock-absorbing mat.
Medical teams and treatment capsules stood ready around the arena in case anything went wrong.
Unlike the previous tests, this place had the unmistakable atmosphere of real combat.
The head evaluator raised his microphone.
"The fourth examination will be a practical combat evaluation. The rules are extremely simple."
His sharp eyes passed over the nervous candidates.
"Your opponents will be active B-rank hunters."
Several candidates visibly stiffened.
"If you can remain standing against them for the required amount of time, or land even a single valid hit, you will immediately pass."
Despite his claim that the rules were simple, heavy sighs spread through the participants.
Active B-rank hunters.
And if they had been chosen as evaluators for a promotion examination, they wouldn't be ordinary B-ranks.
They were experienced fighters who had survived countless dangerous battles.
For hunters only beginning to approach B-rank, landing a proper hit against them was nearly impossible.
That left only one realistic option.
Take the beating and somehow remain standing until the end.
"Move to the area assigned to you."
The participants separated.
Chaeho checked the tablet displaying his name and headed toward Area Three.
As he entered, a huge man approached from the opposite side with heavy footsteps.
"I'm Moon Gihyeok. I'll be conducting your evaluation."
He had short hair and broad shoulders.
His body was so massive and solid that the training greatsword in his hand almost looked small.
Moon Gihyeok.
Even among active B-rank hunters, he was known for his heavy close-range fighting style and powerful defense.
Merely standing there, he seemed to weigh down the surrounding atmosphere.
"I'm Lee Chaeho. Please take care of me."
Chaeho gave a small bow and raised his wooden sword.
Moon Gihyeok silently examined him.
He had already heard that Chaeho had achieved an incredible zero-hit result in the reaction-speed test.
But seeing him in person, neither his physique nor his mana felt particularly remarkable.
He wasn't excessively muscular.
Nor did he release enough mana to intimidate others.
I suppose he's simply good at dodging.
Moon Gihyeok angled his greatsword.
"I'll attack immediately once the signal sounds. If you don't want to get hurt, I suggest focusing entirely on defense."
It wasn't empty intimidation.
Even with a training weapon, a B-rank hunter's strength could easily break bones and tear flesh.
"Understood."
Chaeho's calm response was immediately followed by a sharp buzzer.
Beep!
Moon Gihyeok's massive body suddenly launched forward like a cannon shell.
His acceleration was incredible.
There was none of the sluggishness one might expect from someone of his size.
WHOOSH!
He closed the distance instantly and brought his greatsword down from above.
The training weapon tore through the air with a violent sound.
A direct hit would have shattered Chaeho's shoulder.
But Chaeho didn't raise his sword to block.
He knew better than anyone that his current strength and mana weren't enough to directly withstand the attack of an active B-rank hunter.
What he had trained since his porter days wasn't brute force.
It was his ability to read and control situations.
He took half a step backward and turned his upper body.
The greatsword narrowly passed in front of his chest and slammed into the ground.
BANG!
The elastic floor mat distorted under the impact.
Moon Gihyeok didn't pause.
Using the rebound, he shifted his weight into his lower body and swung the greatsword diagonally upward.
A powerful rising strike.
But Chaeho wasn't watching the tip of the sword.
His gaze remained fixed on Moon Gihyeok's rising shoulder, the subtle twist of his waist, and the direction of his eyes.
Before an attack begins, the body always gives some kind of signal.
Having noticed those tiny signs, Chaeho didn't waste energy by making large retreats.
Instead, he moved only the minimum distance necessary.
The blade repeatedly passed just beside his clothes.
WHIRR!
SWISH!
Each time the greatsword cut through the air, Chaeho narrowly stepped outside its path as if dancing.
The blade passed under his chin.
Over his shoulder.
Toward his side.
Yet not once did it touch him.
He looked like a fish calmly swimming through violent waves.
What the hell is this?
Confusion appeared in Moon Gihyeok's eyes.
Most promotion candidates panicked when placed under this kind of pressure.
They desperately tried to create distance.
Eventually, their footwork collapsed or they were forced into a corner.
But the man in front of him was different.
Without taking even a single step outside Moon Gihyeok's attack range, Chaeho was redirecting every sword path with terrifying precision.
This isn't luck.
He's completely reading the beginning of every attack.
A faint smile appeared on Moon Gihyeok's face.
As an evaluator, he was genuinely pleased to finally meet an interesting junior.
That unshakable calm couldn't be faked.
It was the gaze of someone who had repeatedly faced real danger.
"Good. Then let's see how you deal with this."
