The practical skill test had begun. Each skill that the Gagseog had would be judged by an instructor although they weren’t sure how would they evaluate their abilities. Unlike the previous parts of the exam, this segment didn’t draw a clear line from winning or losing but since they would assess three people at the same time, it wasn’t completely ruled out.
As they said, this practical skills test was there to simply to measure everyone’s battle strength. It wasn’t just to determine their battle proficiency, they would also measure their knowledge and how would they utilize their greatest skill to support others in the middle of a fight.
“The physicality system applicants would be the first to start. Please come forward when I call your name. The first field would have number three and five. The second would have number ten and twenty-four and the third field would be for eight and eleven!”
The instructor called their names through the mic and those who were called stepped forward. The instructor got confused when he saw Jaehwang took a step, he didn’t want someone to end the game too fast and make it look like it was too easy even though the mana he spent would come back naturally.
Jaehwang was a little nervous when he walked into the third round field. The other person looked to be about two meters taller. He was one of the applicants in the physical strength system and his muscles were like armor by itself. Even his vitality was unusual, his eyes just looked through Jaehwang with a calm demeanor.
“I will now explain the rules of this game. You will be fighting with each other. Although bladed weapons are banned, you may use your artifacts if you had one. We have taken the liberty to offer you a selection of weapons that you may use but if you wanted to use someone else’s weapon then you would have to check with your assigned instructor in advance. Finally, refrain from reinforcing your cutting skills and if someone fights in a way that would risk the other combatant’s life, they would be automatically eliminated.”
The instructor went to the giant weapon shed and came out carrying a huge war hammer, a shield, and a typical arm armament. He wondered about what kind of skills his opponent had. Jaehwang knew about his own physical prowess but he would fight a high ranked applicant in the physical strength system.
Jaehwang took out his black fighting stick. His opponent’s weapon was very similar to his; small, thin and looked like it could break with just one hit. Jaehwang took his weapon of choice and gave it at the instructor standing in the middle of the field. It looked like was made from a tree branch but he was surprised to find that it was quite heavy.
“It’s quite sturdy.”
“Yeah”
“It’s great.”
The instructor shook his head and gave back the stick to Jaehwang. He won’t forget that one small word.
“Your friend’s would be using a shield and two tanker skills.”
Jaehwang was a bit surprised that he hadn’t thought of that. The instructor then smiled and followed,
“That’s all I can tell you or else the game won’t be fair.”
Jaehwang gave him a slight nod. He couldn’t imagine how the fight would go but he appreciated the instructor’s thoughtfulness.
“Begin!”
The three sets of fighters began to fight. The first two fields were filled with violent clashing sounds of metal, however, the third field remained quiet.
Jaehwang slowly walked towards the giant covered with a shield. He was skinny and wore shabby clothing and the person that stood in front of him was towering and were packed with muscles. He wasn’t that much stronger than him but he still felt that he needed to be careful.
Jaehwang stood on his ground and kept a light grip with both of his hands. It wasn’t exactly a normal martial arts stick. There was usually something at the tip that he would use to hit the opponent with but he was just using his stick for the sole purpose of blocking.
‘What a reckless gaze…’
He thought to himself nervously. He started to analyze his opponent’s habits even before the fight had started but all he had found out that his eyes behaved like an inorganic matter.
‘Darn it…’
He didn’t know Jaehwang’s intention walking up to him but he started the fight with a huge assault.
“Hayaa!”
He roared and dashed in front of him. It wasn’t just a simple run, there were layers of white energy protecting his body and it felt like nothing could break it. Jaehwang did not move to defend himself and instead, he ran towards him and started to spin his stick.
He took a big step and hit him in his armor. He was pushed back and felt like all of his strength had disappeared. He tried to pull his shield away but his momentum was broken when Jaehwang stabbed him in his elbow.
He panicked and used his other hand to smash his head with a war hammer. It was then stopped when Jaehwang smacked his wrist before wounding it up again to continue his attacks.
Papapag!!! Papag!
Jaehwang spun his stick at a rapid speed and continued to hit him with relentless strikes.
Whoosh!
All he could do was yell. He tried to endure it as much as he could since he couldn’t really block his attacks anymore. He knew that he needed to fight back but he needed to be extremely careful of his enemy’s movements. He had a plan and he couldn’t waste it, he needed to set it up for a perfect moment for a counterattack so he started to shift his weight by changing the position of his foot.
But his plans were foiled. Jaehwang’s attacks were light at first but it then got stronger so he placed himself back into defensive to shield himself away from the pain as much as possible. The only problem he had was that he didn’t know that there was a spirit guiding Jaehwang with his actions.
He got fed up of getting hit over and over again so he tossed his shield away to try and fight back. Jahwang then took this as an opportunity to attack his open arms and head before he pushed through and continued to strike his sides and knees.
“St… Stop!”
The instructor shouted but Jaehwang just got faster.
Papapag! Papapag! Papapag!
He took a step back, he wound up and grabbed the bottom end of his stick so he could do a full powerful swing. It looked like a blow that could dent his skull but he stopped right before it hit.
He stopped his movements.and the time had passed by was about thirty minutes. Their fight started late compared to the others but it ended much faster.
“Number eleven is the winner!”
The instructor waved his hand towards Jaehwang.
“Whew…”
He took a deep breath and gave him a nod before he went back to his spot. The instructor wore a frightened look towards the aftermath of their fight. He felt worried at first even though he knew about both of their skills but he didn’t know that this would turn out to be brutal and extreme.
The moment that he called the fight and made it stop, the others turned their heads in surprise.
“Whoa…”
It was a perfect victory. It was like a fighting scene in a movie and everyone was in awe. Jaehwang then just went back to his spot and sat with his stick resting on his knee before he closed his eyes. People then started to walk up to him and ask questions but it was clearly not the right time to approach him.
-Were you angry?
-What was that?
-How did you learn how to fight like that?
-Do I not know you?
Jaehwang just smiled at the spirit’s unenthusiastic questions. Some might have taken him to be gentle and forgiving in this world but he wasn’t that type of a person.
-I just… I just did it as I wanted to.
Jaehwang answered with all honesty. The thing that he needed the most right now was not the energy that he spent. Stopping to avoid his movements took a lot more effort compared to continuing and pressing on with his attacks. The spirit then asked how he could sense him with the end of his stick.
-Was it refreshing?
-To an extent…yes
-I didn’t know you could do that… So many people were so surprised. After doing something amazing like that, then you should give the arrow a try again…
-My energy would come back later. That’s enough…
-Fine.
There were no other participants that made as much as an impact as he did. He used all of his strength to win. After a one hour lunch, the magic system applicant test then started.
“Number eleven.”
Jaehwang kept his eyes shut as he walked over to the instructor. He then opened it up as soon as he heard his voice once more.
“Number eleven, since you’re an aspiring healer and magic learner, your job would be to heal someone when they get hurt during the game.”
Jaehwang replied with a nod.
“Got it.”
“And…”
The instructor then looked as if he was about to say something else but he just shut his mouth and stopped talking all of a sudden. Jaehwang then gave him a doubtful look but the instructor just gave him a smile before saying,
“If anything goes wrong, please fix it right away.”
“…”
He didn’t know what he meant by that and the instructor didn’t hear Jaehwang’s answer before he walked away. Jaehwang just smiled and closed his eyes once again.
***
The instructor’s head supervisor was expected to be observing from the second floor. He went up the stairs, opened the window and held onto its handle. He then heard the voice of the head supervisor from out of the open.
“What is it, supervisor?”
He said with a nervous note but the head supervisor actually seemed more nervous as he spoke.
“If it’s not an inconvenience, can I talk to you later about something?”
“It is a big inconvenience, I’m very busy.”
The instructor insisted. He didn’t know what head supervisor had to say, it could be something important but he felt that he was too busy for it. The head supervisor had a hard job at the Daegu Branch office so he had to say what he had to say. If he cant’ solve this problem then he would live in regret for the rest of his life.
Awarded Applicant Student 2, The end.
