Episode 128 Week 7 Mentoring, In-person Battle (13)
[Hong Yeon-hwa 688 points vs. Bukgung Han-seol 968 points]
Hong Yeon-hwa stared blankly at the names and scores that appeared on the scoreboard.
900 points.
It is a league for the skilled, where those who have won three consecutive placement tests gather.
There was a time when I was mad as hell that I couldn’t start at 900 points.
According to Hong Ye-hwa, this year’s promising players or those with similar skills all had their scores raised to the 900s.
I felt like I was the only one left behind.
That’s why it was difficult to accept myself fighting in a match with a score of 600.
Even if I won and my score went up, it still felt like it was far from 900 points, and if I lost, I would fall into an even greater sense of inferiority.
But now I think a little differently.
The head-to-head score is certainly a meaningful indicator of skill.
But you can’t judge a person’s skill entirely based on scores alone.
The living proof was right there in her group.
Kim Ho started with 1 win and 2 losses, scoring in the 300s.
Although her score was lower than Hong Yeon-hwa’s, when they actually faced each other, the difference in skill was so overwhelming that she couldn’t even do anything.
As another example, recently, opponents in the 600s have felt too weak.
Hong Yeon-hwa has fought two random opponents in Crystal duels this week, both of whom were knocked down before she could properly chain together her magic.
Looking back, I remember being hit hard when I was matched up with Kim Ho, but I think it was like this in most other head-to-head matches.
Now I think I know for sure.
As the semester progresses and she competes in competitions, her scores will only increase.
As a result, the desire for 900 points was considerably diluted, but a lingering sense of curiosity still remained.
How effective will your skills be against someone with a score of 900?
Did it work before? Now that it’s stronger?
We will check that from now on.
[3]
[2]
[1]
[Start!]
[Hong Yeon-hwa 100%] vs [Bukgung Han-seol 100%]
[Crystal 0%]
Hong Yeon-hwa stretched her wand forward.
The ruby glowed and instantly created a large fire pillar magic circle at her feet.
She already has an unrivaled casting speed, but lately it seems like the time has gotten even shorter.
As the completed Fire Pillar was absorbed through Overheat, Hong Yeon-hwa’s entire body was covered in flames.
With my physical abilities greatly enhanced, I kicked the ground a few times and quickly reached the top of the cliff, which was made up of many layers.
“… … .”
The figure of Bukgung Hanseol came into view on the cliff far across the way.
The first step is to go up and find the crystal.
Hong Yeon-hwa also quickly looked around,
‘Over there.’
We discovered a makeshift altar cleverly hidden between the cliffs.
I glanced at Bukgung Hanseol’s expression and saw that he was still looking around here and there.
Even so, he occasionally cast his gaze in this direction, and it seemed as if he would follow Hong Yeon-hwa right away if she found Krystal first.
‘then…….’
Hong Yeon-hwa pretended to flinch and flinch, making it obvious that she was looking for Krystal.
Then, bang bang bang! He stamped his feet and ran down the cliff.
Bukgung Hanseol couldn’t miss that sight, and she also started running after Hong Yeonhwa in the direction she was heading.
“joy.”
However, Hong Yeon-hwa went down the cliff and when they could no longer see each other, they suddenly changed direction.
The reason I acted so obviously was to give a fake.
The place where Bukgung Hanseol was sent is the exact opposite of where Crystal is located.
In the meantime, Hong Yeon-hwa herself leisurely moved to the makeshift altar, picked up the crystal, and headed straight for the sanctuary.
“Oh my, Hanseol… … .”
Kim Gap-du, who was watching the game, wiped his face.
How can you fall for such a shallow trick?
I hoped Bukgung Hanseol would quickly notice this fact, but she wandered around in the wrong place for a long time, just as Hong Yeonhwa had intended.
– Wheein—
Until you see the rays of light shining down from a distance, towards the sanctuary.
[Crystal 1%]
“!?”
Bukgung Hanseol was unable to accept this sudden situation and stood there blankly for a moment.
When did you get there?
Shouldn’t you be searching for me and Crystal around here?
And then, like a flash, a thought crossed my mind.
‘… … I got hit!’
Somehow, even though we were heading in the same direction, I couldn’t see Hong Yeon-hwa, let alone her shadow, so I fell for the fake.
[Crystal 4%]
Meanwhile, Hong Yeon-hwa glanced at the scoreboard and thought.
‘I guess you’re starting to notice.’
Since the sanctuary and the crystal were connected, everything would have been exposed.
They must be running like crazy towards me by now.
But I already have more than enough time.
The ruby embedded in the wand flashed red light continuously.
Every time you do that, a small magic circle appears on the floor.
Hong Yeon-hwa was taking control of the area by setting up fire magic circles one after another.
[Crystal 19%]
After a while, Bukgung Hanseol arrived at the palace and was about to rush towards Hong Yeonhwa, but he had no choice but to stop.
Because of the huge number of magic circles carved into the floor.
The whole area was a complete minefield.
All it took was one small trick to bring about this result.
‘No, you can.’
It’s still too early to be discouraged.
In the second game, didn’t Gwak Ji-cheol build a perfect fortress and lose to Ilgong?
You never know until you try.
While Bukgung Hanseol was burning with fighting spirit,
– Hwaruk,
Hong Yeon-hwa threw a small fireball as if it were a greeting.
‘Something like this.’
Bukgung Hanseol stared at the rapidly approaching fireball and raised his air power.
A cold chill gathers in one hand.
This is where the season she learned, the Ice and Snow Soul Palm Technique, comes into play.
Fire and ice are in conflict with each other, so the stronger one will push away the other.
With the right amount of cold infused into my hands, it shouldn’t be a problem to knock down a ball of flame like that.
The moment Bukgung Hanseol struck the fireball with such a light heart,
– Whoosh whoosh!
The flame that should have gone out with a pick caught fire and consumed the tension, catching fire in my hand.
“Huh, huh? Th, this is it.”
Bukgung Hanseol desperately tried to raise the cold air, but it quickly burned up and disappeared.
As I became more impatient and applied more force, only then was I slowly pushed back.
I succeeded in putting out the fire, but the internal energy consumption was more severe than I thought.
‘What a firework… … .’
Completely ignoring the relationship between the two, he overwhelmed and melted his own coldness with just a handful of small sparks.
Then, I remembered one more thing that I had forgotten.
A powerful trait that Hong Yeon-hwa has mastered, and that is very rare even among the pyromancers of the Ruby Tower.
‘Aqua Flame!’
Now that I look at it, it seems like I got properly countered.
Meanwhile, Hong Yeon-hwa was looking at the other person with an arrogant attitude.
But inside,
‘What? Why is he like that? What is it?’
Likewise, I was quite embarrassed.
It was a fireball thrown without much thought, but Bukgung Hanseol hit it and his hand caught fire, causing him to thrash around on his own.
He eventually shook it off, but there seemed to be a hint of fear in the eyes looking at him afterwards.
I thought long and hard about how this happened,
‘That’s right, Aqua Flame. It became C-class.’
In Hong Yeon-hwa’s memory, Aqua Flame remained as an E-rank.
At that time, the rank was low, so even if you used fire magic on cold-attribute enemies, the enemies would respond to some extent.
But now, by melting the eternal iron alloy, its grade has risen by two levels, to a whopping C-rank.
At present, the upper limit of skill/trait rank for first-year students is usually C-class, and the average is around D.
If it’s a C rank, it’s a level that can be used against all opponents in the first year.
Although I knew this in my head, I have never encountered an ice-attribute opponent, so I am only just now getting around to testing its exact power.
But who would have thought that someone with a score of 900 would be struggling so much just to shake off a single fireball?
Aqua Flame may be a stronger trait than you think.
It was Hong Yeon-hwa who had hit the counter without even knowing it.
Bukgung Hanseol hardened his face and looked at his opponent.
‘You must avoid it at all costs.’
You must never be hit by any fire magic.
If she had this much trouble with a roughly hurled fireball, then a properly cast fire spell would be beyond her ability to handle.
So, that means I have to approach Hong Yeon-hwa and steal the crystal while avoiding all the pouring magic spells… … .
Is that even possible?
Bukgung Hanseol took in the magic circles that filled the battlefield.
To her eyes, they looked not like magic circles, but like fiercely burning flames.
[Hong Yeon-hwa 100%] vs [Bukgung Han-seol 94%]
[Crystal 34%]
But time was not on her side.
The crystal charge is still increasing moment by moment even as I ponder it.
If you don’t move, you will lose anyway.
Bukgung Hanseol gathered up all his internal energy, held it in both hands, and then poured out his strength as he charged forward.
– Papapapat!
Hong Yeon-hwa thought as she took in the tensions flying towards her threateningly.
‘Should I avoid it?’
If I get hit, it might hurt a little, right?
So I tried to move my body to the side, but then I changed my mind.
Let’s quickly cast the spell and hold the wand forward,
– Kwaaaa—
A stream of fire shot out like a flamethrower, swallowing up the tension.
As expected, since it was a flame with Aqua Flame added, it was easy to resolve Bukgung Hanseol’s long-range attacks.
“… … !”
Bukgung Hanseol’s eyes widened in shock, as if he had not expected his attack to be blocked so easily.
However, it was already too late to stop, so they did not slow down their attack.
Just as she was about to let out her tension again,
Hong Yeon-hwa snapped her fingers.
Then, the magic circle located right in front of Bukgung Hanseol turned red,
– Kwaaaaah—!
“!!”
A bright pillar of fire rose up.
Bukgung Hanseol barely managed to use his quick reflexes to avoid being hit by the fire pillar and retreat.
But she was already deep in enemy territory.
The whole area is filled with magic circles.
There’s even one installed right under your feet, and it glows red.
‘Red… … shining?’
– Kwaaaaah—!
Bukgung Hanseol desperately ran to avoid the pillars of fire rising from all directions.
It was more important to survive than to target Hong Yeon-hwa, who was located at the center of the camp.
– Kwaaaaah—!
She ran here and there, but eventually escaped the range of the magic circles.
Bukgung Hanseol thought while catching his breath.
‘Well, that’s still quite a drain.’
The magic circle you set up will disappear once you cast the spell.
With the frantic running just a moment ago, I activated dozens of Fire Pillars, so if I do something similar a few more times, wouldn’t I be able to reach Hong Yeon-hwa?
But what immediately caught Bukgung Hanseol’s eye was new magic circles quickly filling the empty space.
Bukgung Hanseol suddenly wanted to go home.
