Step. Swish.
Dark blue clothes, with a blood-colored cloth with red embroidery on the shoulder. This was the outfit he was given after beating one of the members of the Blood Strong troops before coming here.
There is no need to openly reveal myself earlier than necessary.
Seol-Hwi did not know much about his competitors, so he thought avoiding exposing his abilities and limiting his contact with them as much as possible would be best. A hidden dagger was more dangerous than a poisoned spear.
Also the group training here was known to be famous for its harsh nature that he thought revealing his identity would cause more trouble than good.
Is it them?
Seol-Hwi, who arrived in advance, was looking around at his competitors.
Yo Su-gwang, Ju Seorin, and Ghost Incarnate.
In order to recruit the Bloody Death Warlord, the disciples of each faction were sent in, and they were already familiar faces, so even if Seol-Hwi did not know them personally, recognizing them was not so tough.
None of them were wearing the uniform of the Blood Strong Troops, and Ju Seorin was easily identified because she was a woman.
The two other men could be discerned by the weapons they held. The guy holding the hook was Yo Su-gwang.
It was because he was the one who was well known to specialize in handling such weapons.
“The leader is coming!”
“Trainees gather. Line up and take your spot!”
On one side, five to six people in red robes shouted.
They were probably the instructors who supervised the training.
Chak. Chak.
When the order was given, dozens of trainees moved in front of the stage, and when everyone stood in their spots at once, the instructors turned their gaze to one place.
Like it had been scripted, there was a middle-aged man walking out at a leisurely pace. He had thick traditional clothes and a short sleeved jacket on.
Step
He stepped to the podium and opened his mouth as he faced the trainees.
“I welcome all of those who gathered here on behalf of our academy!”
He spoke loud enough for everyone to hear.
“I am Shim Wan-chung and in charge of the theory classes for this collective education which is given. The topic that I will teach today is practical enough to be used right away.”
“…”
“So, if you cannot keep up with the progress of the class or your concentration slips for a bit, you will be weeded out right away, and of course, you will not be able to complete this collective education.”
He paused to look at the faces of the trainees and then continued,
“During the three week collective training program, there will be a total of six theory classes and training sessions! I assure you that this time with me will be like a dream like. Because all other classes will be ones pushing you to the line between life and death!”
Gulp
Despite the terrifying words, all the trainees looked at him, and no one looked wavered.
“Then let us begin our very first session.”
Shim Wan-chung went down,
And looking at the members he said,
“Double Force Divine Step. It is a martial art invented by our Warlord in recent times, and as its origin came from the Double Force Divine Cultivation, I will explain how it works in a simple manner, so listen carefully.”
The guy spread his arms wide and continued to explain,
“The meaning of it means to receive two different energies of nature. Starting with that, we intentionally cause conflict within our body. Of course, there will be repulsive force due to the act. However, we can use that energy to create a new movement. This expands the existing power by a minimum of five to a maximum of 20 times. From now, the information ends. Is there anyone here who can demonstrate this?”
“I will do it.”
Shhh
The warrior raised his hand like he had been waiting for this moment. Shim Wan-chung, who saw it, said,
“Ohh. Vice captain.”
The Blood Strong Troops had the tradition of giving up the position of captains and vice captains, including the squad leaders, when the education time began.
It was to reorganize the existing ranks according to the scores allotted.
If it was the vice captain who would lead the troops, then he should be the strongest among those gathered. There would be no shortage of demonstrations.
“Then I will let you know the rules.”
Shim Wan-chung whispered something into his ear.
After talking for a long time and then an exchange of a few words, the man stepped back.
And—
Shhhh
Faint energy began to move around the body of the guy who came ahead, and Seol-Hwi continued to observe it—
The energy gathered in his arms, more precisely in his palms.
The stance looked different, and perhaps the guidance handed down by the academy head had an effect.
Chiiing
The man continued to recite something which made the energy in his hands stronger.
Sak
After that, the man put his hands down and closed his eyes.
The moment he opened them—
Pat
His form disappeared immediately, and it all happened in the blink of an eye.
“Above!”
At the voice of someone, everyone’s eyes all looked up, and he had already jumped to the roof of the hall, and then he began to circle the wide space.
Papapat
In an instant, he returned to where had been originally standing.
“Wow…!”
“Amazing!”
“What did I just see!”
Clap! Clap!
Applause poured in with admiration. Most of the members had a mix of admiration and surprise on their faces.
That was how fast the movement was. Even those who had already received this kind of training a few times could see how quickly this technique was made.
“How is it?”
“Since it was my first time, I couldn’t do it properly, I apologize.”
The guy answered with his head bowed down. Even though he displayed such an amazing technique in a nice manner, his expression did not look good.
“Right. After a couple more times you will get used to it.”
Shim Wan-chung smiled and nodded his head.
The main feature of this technique was its speed. The stepping in through the space was enough to leave an illusion. And the acceleration was tremendous.
Shim Wan-chung, who confirmed that, was satisfied.
“This time, focus on learning the rules of it. Do not think about how difficult it is and how it doesn’t fit your body. It is a great benefit to just pass this as such, and if you people don’t learn this… the next class will be a huge let down for you.”
“…!”
The expression on the trainees changed.
According to the instructor, the class they take next would need this. And it made it possible to assume that the classes were connected. Because of that, everyone concentrated on listening to what Shim Wan-chung said.
Double Force Heart Step…
Seol-Hwi was analyzing the technique.
Even before he heard about the rules, he had a rough idea on how it worked.
The two different energies colliding and a new repulsive force which was used, this was the same as how the internal energy of Seol-Hwi had been working up until this point.
He was someone who had a lot of experience with such things, the flame arts and ice arts, and the pure energy and the demonic energy.
This is a good thought, but the amount of completion varies a lot.
From Seol-Hwi’s eyes, the explanation of the instructor could be imagined but the actual execution was different. It was said that they would bring in different energies and collide with them, but in his view, it was the technique of uniting the internal energy by using two different external energies.
In other words, it was a way to temporarily use the body’s potential based on the external energy the body could get.
That was one which would not be effective.
It was easy to get exhausted when one used both external and internal strength, and because it was a footwork which suddenly used the repulsive force, there could be injuries to the joints and ligaments.
Still, it will be useful in short term combat. It is a technique which works well for surprise attacks and one hit kills. To the point of creating something…
The nature of the Bloody Death Warlord.
At the time, he was dismissed as a warrior of the physical, but seeing the martial arts be created like this, he seemed to be a man who used his mind.
“Now. Then I will tell you.”
While Seol-Hwi was thinking about such things, the instructor began to recite it, and the trainees memorized it.
Obviously it would not be easy to just remember the explanation.
Some used their hair, some cut their clothes with their fingernails, all to try and summarize what was said.
It can be done.
Seol-Hwi gazed at the people selected by the disciples.
Yo Su-gwang.
His expression did not change much. so knowing what he was thinking was hard.
Next was Ju Seorin.
Her face was bright. She seemed like one who was smart enough to understand it after listening to it just once.
Finally, Ghost Incarnate.
It was hard to know what expression he was making with his head lowered, and his long bangs covering the eyes.
“…That is all.”
When the teaching was done, the panicked voices came in.
“Uh, just once more…”
“Ah. I missed the middle.”
They were all on the same level for them to be taken in here, but remembering something orally was not easy no matter how many times you heard it.
And these were all unfamiliar points and theories for them to understand considering how long it was.
“Then. See you in the next class. By the way, the complex training will be done outside.”
After saying it once, the guy went out and the rest of them looked lost.
Whisper
Thanks to that, to get points from those who listened, the place turned noisy. And people began to recite it back since their memories were hazy.
“Now. Wha… what is the second line?”
“Ah, shit. Go away! You are confusing me too!”
There were people who were asking anxiously and the asking interfered with their concentration.
Among them, there were those who completely memorized the technique, and those who could quickly implement it.
Shhh
Seol-Hwi’s gaze was directed to his rivals, especially to the tall, skinny man known as Yo Su-gwang.
Shhh
He turned his head to crack it and then moved his arms. It looked like he was trying to warm up.
Did he learn it in one go?
Seol-Hwi was curious about it. The composition was quite complicated for him, and there were things to be careful of.
Were there not also ambiguous things which even the trainee who showed them earlier asked?
He wondered how this guy could understand it.
Papat
An instant leaping movement—
Also a motion which seemed like the body was pushed back. Moving back and forth the guy was back to his usual position.
“Ah! Someone already learned it!”
The eyes of those around fell on him.
After the technique, he groaned a “hmm” under his breath and then did not bother any further as he left.
Ghost Incarnate…
Papat!
Even before Seol-Hwi was curious about the man, the guy moved. He too walked out and practiced the footwork.
The trainees who were still trying to learn, were wide mouthed.
Well, they were selected by the disciples of the Heavenly Demon… that much is expected.
Seol-Hwi nodded again and tried to move naturally, right then—
“Ehhh, it is my first time seeing you… you are the member sent by the disciple of the Heavenly Demon?”
“You seem nice? This must be meant to happen, let us have a talk.”
Ju Seorin…
Seol-Hwi’s eyes turned to her.
It was like dogs in heat all around. And members of the Blood Strong troops were flirting with her.
“Is there anything that is difficult? Can I help you?”
“I just memorized all the things. Do you want to know?”
Tuk
A member of the troops slowly raised his hand and approached her.
Ju Seorin stopped there. She normally would have frowned, but oddly she had a bright look.
“Thinking about it, I think it is fine.”
“Oh. Is that so?”
“Yes. If you learn from us…”
The flirting men stopped.
Paaaah!
The two heads floated in the air. And as he fell to the ground, fountains of blood burst from the severed necks.
“Woah! What!”
“What did you do!”
The trainees all looked shocked at this sight. No one thought that anyone would do such a merciless act in a place of teaching.
“Why? Are there rules which speak against killing?”
Ju Seorin looked at the men and then smiled as she licked the bloody blade with her tongue.
It seemed like the faces of the people who were enjoying it, turned into ones of shock.
She already learned it.
Seol-Hwi saw it.
What she did to kill the two men just a second back, she used the technique taught now.
“What are you doing!”
“I heard that someone else is training with us… how dare you assassinate our people?”
“Fucking bitch. You die today.”
Is it because of the death of a colleague? The Blood Strong Troops around them began to gather one by one.
In Seol-Hwi’s eyes, it looked like an action based on discipline and not revenge for a colleague.
That was why she was an assassin.
“Now. Even if I kill all you people that will not affect the class. There are no such rules either way.”
She told them confidently.
Step
As soon as she took out her weapon, the energy began to rise, and in the midst of such thing—
Someone else caught their attention.
“Hooo. The members are dead?”
Shhh
The one who appeared next to her looked at the corpses and he laughed at the situation.
He is skilled. And strong…
Seol-Hwi immediately recognized their existence. It was a mature man who appeared in rag-like clothes.
“What wrong did I commit?”
Ju Seorin also noticed. Unlike with the others, she spoke politely.
“What cannot be done? This is the sect’s disciple who is known to be strong. If is only natural that the weak die.”
He sat down and spoke to everyone.
“Everyone come out now. The second class is waiting for you.”
He did not care that two people just died.
