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"Try using it once. I heard the story. You showed off my wind."

"...Amazing. To that extent with just one showing. Simply astounding."

"My disciples, my children, and even my grandchildren weren't at that level."

"As payment for surprising this old body, show me a little more."

"If you can apply even this, your level will rise one more step."

After that day when I first imitated Kang Minseong's sword. Those words he conveyed when he called me, and the other wind he showed.

I realized afterward. What Kang Minseong said wasn't wrong.

Because it was literally wind, following it was extremely complex and difficult. If I made even one mistake, it would scatter in the breeze and be erased without a trace. Finally, when I became able to create that wind, the energy felt in my body deepened by a layer.

It's the same now. Simply preparatory work for creating wind. To draw a path, a simple swing to newly clear the wind path. But the shadows approaching ahead are all cut down by that sword.

Peok!— Jjeong!—

...Is this really the sound of blade and shadow colliding?

Every time I feel the heavy impact transmitted from the sword tip, my concentration almost breaks. If even one shadow escapes from this wind path and heads toward my body. No matter how sturdy my body is, it would immediately be riddled with holes.

From above to below, from below diagonally, then forward again. A faint path is carved where the sword path is drawn. And wind passes along that created path.

"You, that thing."

When the wind path is drawn to some extent, Hyun Sujin's expression slightly hardens. It seems she's now noticed what I'm trying to do. She would have noticed a bit later, but anyway, as an Elder, her intuition is incredibly sharp.

'The attack trajectory has changed.'

Until just now, it was the shadows' combined attack that was close to perfect. Now it started pouring randomly, indiscriminately.

Kwang!— Kang!—

I even saw scenes of shadows colliding with each other and exploding on their way to me. Looking at just that, it could have been called Hyun Sujin's failure or my advantage.

The problem was that I completely missed Hyun Sujin's attack pattern I'd been adapting to. Since they were stabbing randomly among themselves, it was hell for the one receiving it.

'Damn it! Incredibly brutal!'

Just a little more, just a little more path to draw, but I can't proceed further. If I drag out time like this, the path I worked hard to make will scatter. If that happens, I'll have to prepare from the beginning again, and Hyun Sujin won't tolerate that.

Hyun Sujin's physical condition isn't normal. I can subdue her sufficiently. My plan was to go help that woman Irina afterward. At this rate, I might have to ask for help instead.

"You chose the wrong opponent to unleash that on. You shouldn't have even thought about it in front of me. Did I look like an idiot who insists on frontal combat like Kwak Hyuk? Huh?!"

Puuk!—

Damn it! I almost got pierced straight through from jaw to head by a shadow! It was fortunate that I felt an eerie sensation and raised my head up. If I'd been a little late... Fuck, it's terrifying how clear I can see what would have happened.

Front, back, side - these three are already overwhelming, but now top and bottom are taken too. If I jump into the air, Hyun Sujin's attacks become freer. Conversely, even staying on the ground, I can't endure because of shadows piercing up from anywhere.

I really wish I could handle shadows like that too.

I tried several times after encountering Hyun Sujin. Just like I could perfectly imitate Kang Minseong's and Kwak Hyuk's techniques. Wondering if I could also imitate Hyun Sujin's shadow manipulation.

But it was a great failure. I couldn't even approach the method. The most I could do was like just now, breaking through shadow boundaries and passing. A kind of assimilation. That was the limit, I couldn't manipulate them in large quantities.

Shuut!— Pit!—

A burning sensation from my shoulder area, then pain rushes in. I involuntarily gasped. I turned my head to check the injury condition once.

'...I shouldn't have looked.'

It seemed like just a graze, but seeing the wound, it definitely couldn't be called a 'graze.' Seeing it split open with red blood gushing out, I should have just ignored it.

"Where are you spacing out!"

Clearly Hyun Sujin's voice that had been in front suddenly comes from behind. Gritting my teeth and turning my body to prepare for the next attack...

'Huh.'

She's not there. I can't see Hyun Sujin who should have been behind. With a 'no way' feeling, I hurriedly looked up.

"...Fuck."

I was fooled.

Puuk!—

"Kkeueuk!"

Stepping back resulted in showing my thigh to Hyun Sujin. It was a misjudgment. I should have at least tried blocking with my sword. Thinking I could avoid it was a miscalculation. And the result wasn't very good.

"First one."

Hyun Sujin, who popped out from above rather than front or back, smiles. Watching that made me feel sick inside, but there was nothing I could do.

Erasing her presence, deliberately flowing backward, then occupying the top again. It was perfect deception. In that trick alone, it was clearly my defeat. And as payment, I suffered a large penetrating wound in my thigh.

It hurts like hell. Fighting or whatever, I just want to examine the wound first. I've been injured plenty until now, but I could never get used to pain.

Crucially, the wind path I'd been drawing was all messed up. My situation isn't good enough to redraw from the beginning.

Until before, I was barely drawing the path, but now one leg is gone. Even though I might notice the next deception, what I gave up was too big.

'Should I just endure like this and wait for Irina?'

Embarrassing but it was a reasonably rational judgment.

Rather than injured me fighting one Elder, injured Irina fighting two Elders has higher odds of victory.

But the problem is whether I can do that against Hyun Sujin. If that sharp woman notices my thoughts, it becomes very tiresome.

If I try to endure, Hyun Sujin can just go to Irina. Then Irina's win rate drops sharply.

No matter how much of an Irina she is, three Elders while injured is tough.

'Ultimately the conclusion is one. Do my utmost to keep that woman here.'

Thinking that way, my mind actually becomes comfortable. Pain becomes hazy, fear lightens, and hesitation disappears. Now all I see is only Hyun Sujin, the enemy I must block.

Sususu—

Suddenly feeling strange, I looked at my thigh. One long shadow completely piercing and stuck in my leg. Hyun Sujin's dagger that only she can use.

'This might be possible if done well.'

I could assimilate with shadows, but couldn't create those shadows. No matter how many times I tried, imitating Hyun Sujin's ability and its source was impossible.

But now, the situation is a bit different from before. Though it's stuck in my torso, ultimately a shadow was created, right?

- The Third Eye is activating.

◎ Sole Examination Officer : Trait is activating. : Target who hasn't received promotion from Baek Seojin. : Recognized as examination subject.

◎ Overtime Work : Trait activation conditions have been met. : Trait is activating. : Though undesignated location, examination is possible.

Fortunately, the Third Eye also backed my possibility. When the 'maybe?' thought turned positive, there was nothing more to hesitate about.

"...Kkeureuk!"

When I grabbed the shadow stuck in my leg, pain like my body being torn apart came. I almost let go without realizing, but forced myself to grip harder.

If I step back here, I'm breached. The opponent goes where they want. No way. Can't go. Where's someone who hasn't even been examined by me trying to go? Elder? S-rank? Cut the crap. Get a Silver badge from me first, then go.

…

As expected. Frighteningly growing but lacking real combat experience. When I threw deception, turning to look behind shows there's still much to learn.

I sent shadows toward Baek Seojin. If he blocks or dodges, he might live. If not, he dies.

"Kkeueuk!"

First, belatedly detecting my position was good. And extracting his body in that instant was also tremendous movement. But that's it. He couldn't perfectly avoid it.

Limping backward. I could feel his body trembling finely from pain. Looking at him, I thought I should finish it soon. I won't hesitate. Since I decided to become a monster, I should properly do monster things.

Sususu—

I drew out shadows to the maximum for a definitive finish. Whether it strained my body, dark red blood wells up between my lips.

There's what Irina hit me with, but drawing power to the limit was also a problem. I thought it would end quickly, but who knew it would drag on this long. I understood why Kwak Hyuk asked me 'Can you defeat him?'

But now it's the finish. In that state...

"Kkeureuk!"

...What. What. What? That bastard, what's he doing now? I thought I saw wrong. Wondered if I was seeing things.

Baek Seojin grabbed my shadow. At first I thought he was simply trying to pull it out. But that wasn't it. He wasn't grabbing it to simply pull it out.

'It's fading. The connection between that shadow and me.'

All shadows are my limbs. I can handle them at will with my intention. Until broken by the opponent, everything shares with me. But that sensation gradually fades. Control is being taken away.

"Keup!"

Chwaak!—

Red blood spurts and scatters in all directions. I see Baek Seojin breathing roughly with a big hole in his leg. In his hands, something black that can no longer be called 'mine' is writhing.

"First one."

Baek Seojin spitting out the exact words I said before.

"I'll take this well."

Watching that, hollow laughter naturally burst out. Crazy bastards. I thought it failed, but it wasn't.