I Got an Ex-Class Omnipotent System - Chapter 306
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 306
Chapter 306: Heavenly Martial Arts Tournament Top Four (1)
* * *
Dohyun had won his bout against Han Yurim, and Han Yurim, watching him, could only let out a short laugh.
She had blocked Dohyun’s Yu Seongchang without a single scratch, yet in one fleeting instant her spear had dropped. Dohyun had split that instant open, slipped right through it, stamped down on Han Yurim’s spear, and leveled his own at her throat.
She had lost to someone two Realms below her, yet Han Yurim’s expression was strangely refreshed.
In the Murim, the belief that Realm is everything was widespread, but Han Yurim had always thought that saying was wrong.
Even a master dies just as easily when a blind sword pierces him, so she had always rejected that saying, keeping herself on guard against complacency. Yet now it seemed even that stance had become a prejudice of its own.
‘Is this the end of my assumption that no genius grows in the middle of a fight?’
That was all the more so, because she had never imagined seeing someone who could learn Hubal Seonje mid-battle and even pick up Ihwa Jeopmok, a preposterous, almost ghostly talent like this.
Han Yurim herself was counted among the finest geniuses in the Murim, yet growing stronger in the middle of combat was an art possible only under very particular circumstances. Which was exactly why she had lost: an unconscious prejudice had settled in her, the assumption that Dohyun could not possibly do it.
That was all there was to it.
Having replayed the bout in her mind, Han Yurim spoke to Dohyun.
“Impressive.”
“Huh?”
“You’re going to rise far, kid. Higher than me, higher than that Platinum Sword King over there, and even higher than that old man.”
At her admiring words, Dohyun stared at her blankly for a moment.
He didn’t know much about her, but whatever her easygoing manner suggested, Dohyun knew well that saying something like that was no small thing.
So he met her gaze, grinned, and answered in kind.
“Of course. I’m going to climb even higher.”
“Quite the ambition.”
Han Yurim chuckled at Dohyun, who spoke as if making a bold declaration.
Under ordinary circumstances she would have assumed he was bluffing or putting on airs, but they had only fought a single bout. And yet, somehow, she nodded as though she had learned a great deal about him.
She found herself thinking that this kid might actually be able to pull it off, and said to him,
“If anyone can, it’s you. Good luck.”
Having said that, Han Yurim gripped her spear with the air of someone who had nothing left to hold back, and left the arena.
Watching her go, Dohyun could not help but acknowledge her in his heart.
‘I’ve learned a lot from you.’
Just as she had said at the start, he had gained much from the exchange.
He had been able to absorb the advanced principles of martial arts, and because of that, Dohyun had gained quite a lot.
[Due to ‘Yu Seongchang, Han Yurim’, your ‘Stature’ has increased.]
[Upon Analysis of your current ‘Stature’, it has reached a level higher than that of an average A-Grade Hunter.]
[Due to your ‘Stature’, the growth rate of your stats has increased.]
He smiled contentedly as he read the words.
And it was not only Dohyun whose Stature had risen.
Jiyuchan and Hezway, Dohyun’s party members, had also seen their Stature rise. It was somewhat lower than Dohyun’s, but according to Analysis, it had come close to the Stature of an average A-Grade.
Because of that, the growth rate of Ji Yuchan’s and Hezway’s stats had increased as well.
Thinking that coming here had been the right choice, Dohyun, who had secured his victory, silently conveyed something to Hanalin and Vera through Mind Speech before heading toward the Waiting Room.
When he arrived, Ji Yuchan, who had been waiting for him, looked him over with a smirk.
“Hey, Madman. Good work.”
He was mocking Dohyun’s nickname, and Dohyun turned sharp eyes on him.
“What?”
“…Ah, never mind.”
Hezway shook his head at Ji Yuchan, wondering why he bothered to show off when he would fold this quickly.
In any case, all the bouts of the Top Eight came to an end, and soon the Announcer’s notice rang out across the arena.
“All matches of the Top Eight have concluded. We will take a short break before beginning the Top Four!”
The first match of the Top Four would be between Hezway and the man called the ‘Yeom Je,’ Baek Hwain, so Hezway’s face tightened a little, though he soon relaxed into an easy expression.
The thought that he would die if he failed to win here had sent a tremor of tension through him, but with someone as reliable as Dohyun at his side, Hezway could finally loosen up a little.
Though he had worried that Dohyun might feel the pressure.
“Want me to tell you how to beat him?”
Dohyun said this with a grin, showing not the slightest trace of nerves, and that alone was enough to ease Hezway’s tension.
And then—
No need. I’ve sparred with Baeryujin before, so it’s fine.
Hezway had already sparred with Baek Ryujin, so he decided not to hear the strategy. Dohyun nodded as though he had expected as much, seeming to trust Hezway completely.
Hezway, though he knew he would likely lose, had resolved to give his absolute best regardless.
Dohyun, having said that to Hezway, turned toward Ji Yuchan, and Ji Yuchan, remembering what he had just done, flinched and shivered.
“W-why? What is it?”
Ji Yuchan had no further bouts ahead since he was already out, yet he was clearly terrified of Dohyun’s gaze.
Ji Yuchan had no further bouts ahead since he was already out, yet he was clearly terrified of Dohyun’s gaze, and when he asked the question, Dohyun looked at him with great seriousness.
Once the match between Hezway and Baek Hwain, the Yeom Je, was over, the second match of the Top Four would be between Dohyun and the Platinum Sword King, Cheonryuhwi.
“You’d better watch my match closely.”
“…Of course.”
Ji Yuchan seemed to sense it too, and answered with a serious nod. Dohyun quietly glanced toward Cheonryuhwi, the Platinum Sword King, who sat in the waiting room meditating while he waited for his turn.
According to Analysis, he was roughly on par with Yu Seongchang and Han Yurim, but Cheonryuhwi was judged to be a step ahead, so Dohyun tensed up a little more.
Of course, the strongest of them all was Yeom Je, Baek Hwain, but that was a problem to consider only after he had first defeated Cheonryuhwi, the Platinum Sword King.
As Dohyun kept his eyes on Cheonryuhwi, the man seemed to notice the gaze. He stopped meditating, slowly opened his eyes, and looked back at Dohyun in turn.
And then Dohyun understood.
‘My realm has risen.’
He could clearly feel that his realm had advanced right after the match against Han Yurim.
Of course, the next realm was only one thin membrane away, so once an insight came, he could rise at once. Conversely, if that insight never came, he could stagnate endlessly in that stage.
Some people remained in that very spot their whole lives, so Dohyun’s rate of growth was truly frightening.
While Cheonryuhwi was watching Dohyun like that, Baek Hwain, who had been observing the whole situation, also murmured to himself.
‘Interesting children.’
And as he thought this, he also reflected.
It seemed this Heavenly Martial Arts Tournament was going to see a considerable upset.
* * *
About an hour of rest passed.
Amid the spectators grumbling about how tedious the wait had become, Hanalin and Vera sat quietly in their seats, lost in thought as they replayed the battles they had watched so far.
The reason for this was none other than Dohyun.
After his victory over Han Yurim, when his realm had risen, the message Dohyun had sent to Hanalin and Vera through Mind Speech was no simple matter.
-Think about how we might ‘express’ our fighting through magic from now on.
So Hanalin and Vera had no choice but to chew over Dohyun’s words before the Top Four began, replaying the matches of Ji Yuchan versus Cheonryuhwi, Hezway versus Seo Munhui, and Dohyun versus Han Yurim, and thinking deeply about each.
Thanks to following Dohyun’s words, they had gained something.
“It really is different from martial arts and magic, isn’t it?”
“Indeed.”
The Principle of Hubal Seonje, or the Principle of Ihwa Jeopmok, as Dohyun and Ji Yuchan had just displayed, were principles magic could not replicate.
Still, they could come close to imitating them.
The Principle of Hubal Seonje did not end with simply examining a spell’s structure and casting faster than it; it seemed possible by probing the gaps within that structure and shattering its weak points. As for the Principle of Ihwa Jeopmok, what if one grasped the structure in the same way and cast a spell that amplified upon it?
Wouldn’t it become a structure that could efficiently wield a stronger spell using the opponent’s own power?
“We’re learning a lot, aren’t we?”
“Couldn’t we learn even more in the Top Four?”
“I think so, too.”
Unlike martial arts, which grow through experiencing real combat, fighting directly, and replaying those fights, magic demanded that one think for oneself, research, and give form to what one felt. That was why they could grasp so much simply by watching.
Of course, it might have been a bit short of what was needed to acquire a ‘Realm,’ but that was fine.
Dohyun had told them to keep thinking while watching him fight from here on, and there would be more chances, so Hanalin and Vera felt no regret.
Just as they were thinking there were still more chances to come, the announcer stepped back onto the restored arena and called out.
-Thank you all for your patience! Now, the first match of the Top Four, which can be called the semifinals of the Heavenly Martial Arts Tournament! From the Golden Generation, Hezway! Versus Yeom Je, Baek Hwain! The match is beginning———!!!
“Woooooah———!!”
“Yeaaah———!!!”
“Finally!!!”
“Wooaaah——!!!”
Cheers erupted from the crowd as Hezway and Baek Hwain, Yeom Je, stepped up onto the arena.
With the match seemingly about to begin, Hanalin and Vera looked at Baek Hwain as though they had seen something strange.
The moment he stepped onto the arena, Baek Hwain’s eyes met Hanalin’s and Vera’s, and then he looked at Hezway and murmured.
That murmur reached only Hezway, Hanalin, and Vera on the arena, as well as Dohyun and Ji Yuchan, who were watching the match from the waiting room.
-Where do you children come from?
At that question, which pierced straight to the heart of the matter, everyone froze and looked at Baek Hwain.
And when no one could answer, Baek Hwain changed his question.
-No, it doesn’t matter where you children come from.
At the moment his voice rang out with such resolute coldness, tension rose among everyone.
Baek Hwain continued.
-You are called Madman, are you not? I will ask you directly.
At his chilling, icy voice, the entire Overseer Party tensed, and then an unbelievable question came from Baek Hwain.
-Why is it that you practice the Eternal Flame Extinguishing Technique?
At those words, everyone held their breath and waited, and Baek Hwain spoke with a voice cold with rage.
-Depending on your answer, this girl will die.
As he said this, Baek Hwain’s gaze stayed fixed on Hezway standing before him, while Dohyun swallowed hard, looking uneasy at the resolute Baek Hwain.
Having never encountered such a thing in a dungeon, Dohyun didn’t know what to do, when Analysis extended a helping hand.
Author’s Note
Hello! It’s Taeho!
(>Д<)/
I've recovered well over the weekend, thanks to all of your concern!
However, since I've used up quite a few of my stockpiled chapters, and with another holiday coming up, I'll only be posting one a day until tomorrow…….
(ू˃̣̣̣̣̣̣︿˂̣̣̣̣̣̣ ू)
Starting Wednesday, I'll be back to posting two a day, as usual!
( ദ്ദി ˙ᗜ˙ )
Thank you always!
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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