Support Ex-Rank
Jiikhoe’s special gym.
The special gymnasium is a training facility exclusively for dormitory students.
Of course, it’s designed to withstand most players’ special abilities.
The gym is also used for training and experiments involving energy waves, but the main purpose of it was to accommodate battles between students.
‘It’s my first time using this.’
I often train at the Jiikhoe Hall every morning and evening, but I mostly use the simulator room.
I thought it was more efficient to train in the simulator room than in the gym since the former lets me experience battling with enemies by virtual combat using the simulator.
While I was reading the rules for using the special gym in the hologram that popped up in front of the door, Sung Siwan talked to me.
“I can’t really stop you since Idam accepted your challenge… Do you really not need a referee?”
“Yes.”
“An AI will judge when to stop you guys if you won’t get a referee. There’s a limit to the AI’s ability to read the flow of a battle, so sometimes its judgment is a little wonky. There’s a risk of you guys getting seriously injured.”
“We can just get treated in that case.”
“No, I hoped you’d say you won’t get injured…”
Sung Siwan was more worried for me, understandably so because I’m a freshman.
That Gye Bastard is older than me so he has more experience as a player, and he belongs to the top ten players among the sophomores.
On top of that, Gye Idam famously has abilities optimized for overpowering players.
When Gye Idam first attacked an otherworld, he quickly overpowered a player who was in a state of confusion because of a boss enemy’s skill.
Gye Idam was a coveted talent in the Players’ Association’s rule enforcement department that deals with players.
‘I trusted that ability and voted for Gye Bastard during the Jiikhoe elections! I should’ve known better!’
Gye Idam’s reputation wasn’t bad, and since he never appeared in front of me, I didn’t recognize his rotten personality.
To reflect on my mistake, I had to challenge this Gye Bastard to a battle.
I felt sorry for making Sung Siwan worry about his hoobae getting hurt, but only that bastard will come out of here injured.
‘That Gye Bastard is Jiikhoe’s chairman now, so he should at least have a recovery item with him.’
If he doesn’t have one, then it would be his fault for lacking preparation.
He’d have no choice but to be taken to the nurse’s office after I make him suffer as much as I want.
I know how good the player specialist nurse there is, so I don’t have to worry.
I told Sung Siwan not to worry too, and he seemed relieved.
Park Seunghyun, who was standing in the back, had a subtle face.
“I think it’ll take a long time, can we postpone our appointment?”
“No, I’ll wait until the battle is over.”
“I think it’ll take a few hours though.”
“What? You think so?”
At my words, Gye Idam, who was stamping his student ID on the door of the gym, flicked his head to look at me.
His surprised face almost made me laugh.
Considering that I’ve been beaten by that Gye Bastard for more than half a year, of course, I’m going to make him suffer for at least a few hours.
Why’d he look so shocked?
Oh, is it because I’m shorter than he thought?
If that’s the case, then I can understand it a little.
“Euishin-ah, how are you going to deal with the battle broadcast? I think there will be a lot of people watching…”
Park Seunghyun spoke timidly.
I could see people flocking behind him.
There are already a lot of people, but there were quite a few more crazy students flying this way on illegally modified airboards.
‘They’re flocking here. I guess the rumors spread.’
My best guess is that someone posted about it on the bulletin board.
If it was advertised as a simple fight, this many people wouldn’t have come.
I’m sure my name was put on whatever post it was.
I didn’t look at the bulletin board, but it became clear when my device rang continuously, notifying me of incoming messages.
They could be messages of support or concern, but it’s difficult for me to go through them one by one now.
I didn’t mean to blow things up like this, but it’s already too late.
“We’ll battle behind closed doors.”
My words elicited sounds of disappointment here and there.
In Eungwang High where the atmosphere for learning and exchanging battle tactics was prevalent, having private battles were rare.
It’s a pity that people wouldn’t witness me beating up this Gye Bastard, but this much sense is left in my brain.
“Okay… Good luck Euishin-ah!”
Park Seunghyun cheered on me instead of Gye Idam.
Although Gye Idam is his sunbae in Jiikhoe, he has known me for a longer time, and perhaps because he heard from me earlier that this Gye Bastard is a malicious commenter.
As expected of my playable character.
Wiiing…
I saw Sung Siwan dispersing the crowd with a complex expression as the automatic doors closed.
Some people seemed to want to wait until the end.
Well, I don’t intend to stop them if they wish to see a messed up Gye Bastard come out of those doors later.
“…”
On the other hand, Gye Idam was staring out the window.
Because the gym is in private mode, the blinds are down on the super-reinforced energy glass.
After confirming that the blinds had come all the way down, I spoke to him.
“I’ll forgive you if you win.”
“…Really?”
Gye Idam immediately looked suspicious, but he smiled soon after, telling me the fish has taken the bait.
So he wants to be forgiven?
I guess some things never change — this bastard still has no conscience.
I won’t lose anyway, so there’s no forgiveness waiting for him.
“Yeah. But if I win, I’ll make you suffer until you graduate. No— even after you graduate.”
“Then that’s just plain bullying.”
“Don’t complain.”
“…Was your personality really like this?”
It’s annoying to hear it from someone who’s only a year older than me.
“What are the rules?”
“Use whatever skill or light skill you want. It’s over when one of us can’t fight anymore.”
“You’re not a ‘candidate’ but a ‘fit’, aren’t you? It’s obvious you have overpowered abilities, but you’re not gonna limit yourself?”
Gye Idam’s face elongated as he rumbled and grumbled.
I don’t know how I could put up with him any longer.
Indeed, even in his days as Gye Bastard, Gye Idam had always been talkative.
“I can win against someone like you even without using my light skill. You can use yours.”
There’s no way I’ll show this bastard all my cards.
A pawn is enough to deal with him, so why would I take out my queen?
After my provocation, Gye Idam frowned.
Even though this Gye Bastard apologized earlier, as expected, his bad temper still remains.
— Both players, take your positions.
The mechanical sound rang out.
The waiting time before the battle was almost over.
Two circles appeared at a distance inside the special gym.
The number shown on the circles decreased every second.
Step, step.
Gye Idam and I stepped on each circle.
He took a breath and then said something.
“Let’s stop this and find another way to—”
“No.”
As if his feelings got worse because I cut off his words, Gye Idam’s face became even more distorted.
The look on his face made me feel somewhat better.
Even if there are more efficient ways to deal with him other than a battle, I don’t even want to consider them.
The numbers above our heads slowly approached zero.
3,2,1…
—Start!
Fwaaat!
Almost at the same time as the mechanical sound, Gye Idam used his energy waves.
His energy waves turned into a dark fog and began to swallow the surroundings.
I flew back, but the gym was quickly filled by the fog and I couldn’t find where I should retreat to.
‘He’s faster than I thought! And…’
Through the fog, Gye Idam’s figure became blurred.
He wasn’t too far away, and I can still see him.
I was perfectly capable of attacking still.
But the problem was elsewhere.
‘…The energy waves in my body slowed.’
The further my body was exposed to the fog, the more difficult it became to use my energy waves.
Seeing that it interfered with my energy waves in such a short time, he must’ve used a light skill.
It’s similar to Do Sihoo’s light skill that can completely block one’s energy waves, but the effect was slightly different and the range was much wider.
‘The fog is too quick and spreads too wide. If it was similar to Do Sihoo’s chains, it would’ve been more troublesome.’
Click.
I heard a clicking sound.
It was the sound of an energy gun in Gye Idam’s hand.
It was cocked and loaded, and it was pointed right at me.
“You know your body’s condition now, right? Give up.”
“Why would I?”
“In this fog, your energy waves are slowed. The moment you use your light skill, it won’t be as fast as this gun.”
Gye Idam’s words were not very wrong.
The magic that I usually use involves converting energy waves into mana before casting a spell, but it wouldn’t be easy to do that in this fog.
And since the gun was pointed right at me, there was no way I could move as quickly.
However.
“I just didn’t move right away to see what you got up your sleeves though?”
“What…?”
I didn’t have to answer that Gye Bastard any further.
Because I already had a UR weapon item card, the Sangbosimgeumpa in my hand.
As if it was waiting for my cue, the Sangbosimgeumpa was immediately actualized.
Fwaaa!
Bang! Bang bang bang!
Bullets loaded with energy waves poured down on me.
Gye Idam tried to shoot my hand before the item materialized, but none of the bullets that were fired actually reached my hand.
In disbelief that not a single shot at this close range landed, Gye Idam’s eyes opened wide.
His gaze was on the Sangbosimgeumpa which blocked all the bullets that he shot.
He was startled.
“That’s a UR-rank item! You crazy jerk, that’s the Pig Clan’s head’s…”
Fwooook!
Before he could finish his words, the Sangbosimgeumpa hit him right on his abdomen.
He defended himself with his gun, but even the energy gun cracked, unable to handle the power of a UR-rank item.
“You shouldn’t be able to use a skill right a-away though…!”
He’s right.
My energy waves are disrupted by the fog, so even though I held the Sangbosimgeumpa in my hand, the usual system message for my Use Objects skill wasn’t heard.
If I only relied on that skill and neglected my training, I probably wouldn’t have been able to use the Sangbosimgeumpa on time.
But I learned how to use it from none other than the mythical Tiger Clan.
On top of that, the weapon itself acknowledges me as well.
Even if I can’t handle the Sangbosimgeumpa as perfectly as I do when using my Use Objects skill, I can still activate one or two branches of it.
“Haven’t you played the game? There’s a stage where energy waves were blocked. I’ve got a plan.”
My steps were light as I ran across the gym.
The fleeing Gye Idam’s movement was infinitely slower than that of Baekho-gun’s.
And unlike in Eunryeongwan, there’s no Baekho-gun here ready to obliterate my limbs with his sword.
Without hesitation, I swung the Sangbosimgeumpa wide and aimed for Gye Idam.
The blade of the Sangbosimgeumpa shot toward Gye Idam with a sound that seemed to tear the air around us.
“Keuhk…! You’re already…!”
It was too late for him to evade, so Gye Idam couldn’t do anything but raise his already cracked energy gun to block my weapon.
It was a clueless move, one that clearly doesn’t know how the Sangbosimgeumpa works.
As expected, the crack in the gun gradually opened and exploded.
Screeech! Bang!
Gye Idam’s face was bewildered as he witnessed his energy gun become completely wrecked.
He must have a spare gun, and I’m sure he knows how to fight physically without weapons, but he didn’t seem to be thinking of making another move.
He looked as if he lost his will, as expected of a spineless bastard.
Before I claimed my victory, I commented on something that irked me the most.
“Are you a fan of Ahn Dain?”
Gye Idam’s shoulders shivered, telling me that I was right.
“You were bad at shooting but you chose an energy gun for your weapon? You really like taking what’s not yours.”
Energy guns were common, but seeing that Gye Bastard’s rubbish shooting skills in military training, of course, I’d doubt why he chose it.
He gritted his teeth, ashamed that I saw right through him.
“…I lost.”
“Of course.”
“…?”
Gye Idam didn’t seem to understand.
“The battle’s not over yet. Get up.”
“You, don’t tell me…!”
“I said it only ends when one of us can’t fight anymore!”
Fwook!
The battle turned into me one-sidedly beating him up.
Still, I made sure to thoroughly control my power so that Gye Idam wouldn’t collapse in one shot.
Although he lost his fighting spirit, he reflexively blocked the UR-rank item from hitting his body, making the scene still resemble a battle.
I aimed mainly in areas that were covered, but I hit him in the face a few times.
‘Would Gye Bastard’s face return if I hit him in the face?’
I always thought of Gye Bastard’s face as repulsive, so I hit him moderately, not wanting that disgusting face to return.
“Keuhk, ah, n-no just listen to me once…!”
“I don’t care.”
Words from a malicious commenter don’t matter to me.
It would be a waste of time to hear anything he’d say.
But then, when I saw him trying to speak, something came to my mind.
“The rhinoceron that appeared in the Nameless Supporting Role’s Tutorial level. You remember, right? That level got a lot of bad comments, right?”
I managed to solve most of the cases in this world, but that tutorial level was different
If it wasn’t for luck, I would’ve been wiped out.
“Yeah, I know. So I should spare you because of that?”
Reminded of Jang Namwook and Yoo Sanghoon, my eyes began to turn.
I turned the Sangbosimgeumpa, prepared to teach this bastard a lesson.
“Oh, please, just listen to me! It was from that day that I realized that I was in the PMH world. And it’s not like I wasn’t there!”
Worried that I’d cut off his words, Gye Idam spoke without taking a breath.
He ‘realized’ that he was in the PMH world that day?
There were a lot of things in his words that bothered me, but I asked what bothered me the most.
“What are you saying? I didn’t even see you there.”
“I would’ve been suspected if I came forward. I didn’t have a chance to step up!”
“A chance?”
“There was a playable character who arrived before I did…! I saw him and then I went back.”
A playable character that arrived before Gye Idam.
His words brought back that day’s events.
Baekho-gun arrived in front of the smashed gymnasium door.
His eyes shined white as he held the White Fang.
“Tell me in detail.”
I decided to listen to Gye Idam for now.
But I still beat him up, just to the point that it wouldn’t interfere him speaking.
Support Ex-Rank
