CHAPTER 34: BREATHING

"First, it’s dragon stance, now, that’s Dragon’s Endurance."

"Being born in an awakened clan is really a blessing."

"While we struggle to find our own path, some people get trained from the cradle..."

Lucy’s strikes remained sharp and fast, but Lyle’s body seemed to be hardening like stone and his superior vitality started to show.

Despite his stats being significantly lower earlier, Lyle’s stats started to return to almost 3/4ths of his max numbers.

He grew sturdier and stronger with every second, as if the fight itself was waking him up.

’The Dross Clan, huh? People who inherit their ancestors’ techniques from the day they are born...’

Jack was quite amazed.

Jack watched Lyle’s stats creep upward on his system panel.

[Dracovores are humanoid beings infused with dragon essence since birth. They possess natural talent for combat, capable of short and powerful but also long consistent bursts of overwhelming power. They grow stronger the longer they fight, making them feared opponents.]

’Is Lucy going to be alright?’

Jack wondered.

Manager K had the same thought. ’I wanted to see more from the lass... but she just had to be matched with a Dross.’

Lucy lunged again and Lyle parried.

But this time, her next strike was heavier than usual, enough to force him back.

’???’

Then Lucy stepped back, spear lowered.

Her plump chest rose once—sharply—then her breathing shifted in a slow, deep and measured almost ritualistic rhythm.

Each inhale made her stats flicker, and each exhale locked those numbers permanently. For a moment, the air around her seemed to thicken—like the quiet before a storm.

Lyle’s brows knitted and stayed away cautiously.

On the opposite end, Lucy inhaled... exhaled... and again. Within seconds, her breaths became steady, rhythmic and ritualistic.

"Is she... catching her breath?"

"No, that’s—"

’!!!’

Jack’s eyes widened.

He recognized the pattern instantly.

’It’s the same breathing she used when she blitzed Sharon!’

He glanced around. The face of Manager K and a few others told him they recognized it too and soon whispers rose.

"What’s with these rookies?"

"I heard HR mentioned someone from Gunyang Province. Didn’t think it was true."

’Huh?’ Jack blinked. ’What about the Gunyang Province?’

Lyle’s face tightened hearing the murmurs, and then he returned his gaze at Lucy, who was controlling her breathing. From then on, he understood a little about what Lucy was doing.

There was something ancient behind it, something handed down in hidden temples high above the clouds.

Despite himself, Lyle lowered his stance.

Jack meanwhile knew that Lucy wasn’t normal and ordinary in the first place. He also knew that she introduced herself as someone from the Gunyang Province, but so what?

The only thing he knew about Gunyang was that it was a mountain province located at one of the highest mountain ranges in the country where the people was rumored to be still living like the old days.

If one would go there, it was usually for hiking, adventure, scenery and to visit old temples and traditional villages.

However, that was the information known to ordinary citizens. If it was different for awakeners, he wouldn’t be surprised.

’Gunyang... is that supposed to be a big deal? I thought her hidden name and age were just... quirks.’

David looked equally lost.

’Gunyang... huh?’ David told himself, also thinking about the wildlife like monkeys, snakes and panthers in a mountain range.

Both of their faces showed question marks were floating in their heads.

That was the same for most people as only a handful of people actually understood the relevance of the Gunyang Province to Lucy’s strange breathing form.

Approaching them, James’ voice then was heard.

"You guys clearly have no clue," James said flatly while standing just at the edge of the platform to talk to them while taking a look at the match.

"Gunyang Province has been home to awakened families with elven blood for generations. They train body and mind from childhood. One of their specialties is breath control which allowed their body to apparently push past their own physical limits."

His gaze sharpened. "Your teammate is obviously one of them. Didn’t anyone in your division tell you?" He then asked in curiosity and smiled.

Jack and David wore faces of amazements but also exchanged a bitter smile.

’Even if Simon and Captain Riot know everything... they probably won’t.’ They thought in unison, remembering how the two regularly acted at work.

Finally, before they could think further, Lucy found her center of gravity and moved like a ghost.

She was not invisible, but from everyone’s perspective, it seemed like she had faded, as if the world fell a step behind and—

THWACK!

The sound of the blunt monk’s spear hitting something like leather was heard as Lucy’s spear violently slammed into Lyle’s arm, which he used as a shield.

"!!!"

Sparks flew as Lucy unleashed a barrage of rapid strikes, forcing Lyle to counter even while taking hits.

"..."

It only became clearer that Lyle did not choose any weapons or guard. His whole body was the guard and weapon.

Yet only five seconds passed.

It was like two martial masters clashing with superhuman bodies.

Lucy’s stats had doubled, and her aggression surged with it.

She was the one overpowering Lyle now, striking from angles and at a speed he couldn’t fully keep up with.

The barrage irritated him, pushing Lyle to counter even if it meant taking a few hits in return.

But at the same time, Lyle remained calm.

"Hmph."

Pack!

Then he opened his mouth.

"The Gunyang breathing technique is impressive as always—"

His eyes glowed and narrowed.

Every muscle in his body was trying to adjust naturally to the increasing pressure.

"However, this isn’t my first fight against someone from Gunyang. You guys burn bright, but you burn fast."

He parried another strike, jaw tightening—not from fear, but confidence and irritation.

’Those from the Gunyang Province have biologically evolved to have bigger lungs allowing them to perform this strange breathing exercise, but it is still limited. When her lungs finally give out...’

A small grin tugged at his lips.

He parried another explosive strike with his palm strikes as he was pushed backwards.

’All I have to do is endure. And endurance is what the Dross Clan excels at. So go ahead—try to finish me!’

But then—

The crowd went silent.

A suffocating pressure washed over the arena.

Before Lucy or Lyle could unleash her next attack, a wide and strong hand reached in from nowhere, grabbed Lucy by the back of her hoodie, and lifted her like a stray kitten—cleanly stopping the fight.

Similarly, someone grabbed Lyle’s back aggressively.

Everyone froze.

A towering man stood on the platform with a face mixed with what seemed to be anger and boredom. And he was not alone. Four more people who exuded the same terrifying aura was there.

Five towering figures stood on the platform—all radiating a terrifying, crushing aura. Their uniforms bore the unmistakable markers of authority.

Someone whispered—barely audible:

"D-Division... Captains..."

The tallest among them glared at the division members around the platform like they had inconvenienced him personally.

His voice rumbled like a boulder sliding down a cliff:

"Are you all done embarrassing your divisions?"