"What the…!?"
Woo Taehwa flinches as he watches the dummy crumble behind the window. Chae Yuna is the same, except for Seo Hwigeon, who isn't surprised at all but rather impressed and amused at the sight.
'Shoot..! I didn't mean for that to happen at all!'
"Pupu…" Pouch whimpers, as if it senses what's about to happen next.
All Yeon Yujun can do is awkwardly turn his head around; everyone is too stunned to even move or speak at the sight.
"That' s… impressive," Chief Baek manages to say, almost awkwardly, as she claps.
"You may go back."
Yeon Yujun nods, returning to the line with the others. He watches as the Chief Examiner calls another awakener to showcase.
"You…You did g- good," Ahn speaks up, causing Yeon Yujun to turn his head toward him with surprised eyes.
"Ah… thank you." He bows slightly, politely, and Ahn does the same nervously.
Before Ahn can say anything else, Hong leans in close to Yeon Yujun' s side, casually wrapping his arm around his shoulder. The action makes Yeon Yujun wince in annoyance.
'Why is everyone getting so touchy with me today!?'
"Hey, you're strong. Even though you're an E + class awakener… Are you sure the system's not glitching on you?" he scoffs, patting Yeon Yujun' s shoulder, which only grates on his nerves.
"Pupu…" Pouch glares at the man, recognising that the arrogant man couldn't see himself at all. Yeon Yujun feels the same, annoyed and fed up with Hong.
Yeon Yujun swiftly shifts slightly, just enough for Hong to have no choice but to let go.
"Appreciate it. It might be better if you had some manners, kid."
'Talking and touching me so casually? Where did his manners go!?' Yeon Yujun thinks, like an old man seeking respect from strangers.
"I'm looking forward to fighting with cha, man!" Hong gives a thumbs- up, oblivious to the tense atmosphere between them. All Yeon Yujun can do is nod despite his annoyance.
It didn't take long for the Skill Demonstration Test to finish; most of the skills were impressive, based on what Yeon Yujun has seen so far.
Except for the arrogant Hong…
"Now that we are done with the second test, we will move on to the last test," Chief Baek announces as her eyes scan the nine participants lined up in attention, while Seo Hwigeon and the higher-ups continue to observe them.
Chief Baek crosses her arms against her chest, her sharp eyes settling on Yeon Yujun as she speaks, "The next and final test is the Combat Trial."
"And since we're missing one participant for this test, we will exclude the non-combat awakener," she points at the man who is an E-class supporter.
"You will receive your own personal training, and you're exempt for now," she adds, watching the man nod and walk to the viewing area.
She then claps her hands, commanding attention and focus. "Now that all of you are eight participants, I will group you into pairs to fight each other for the test."
"We will start in five minutes. I'm sure it will give you all some time to get acquainted and prepare for the final test."
Her gaze returns to Yeon Yujun, and she lifts her finger to point at him. "Mr. Yeon, you'll be paired with Mr. Hong."
'With… with him!?' Yeon Yujun could feel his patience breaking with the arrogant kid who treats no one with respect.
But he couldn't argue at all; he swallowed his pride and nodded. "Yes, Chief Baek."
"Hell yeah! Now we're talking!" Hong laughs, already moving to the ring where the combat trial will take place.
Yeon Yujun follows, sliding under the barrier of the ring as Hong—the arrogant man—starts cracking his fists and stretching his limbs.
"Hey, strong newbie! Your last name is Yeon, right? Why don't you tell me your first?" Hong extends a handshake, but Yeon Yujun casually turns him down by looking away before returning his gaze.
"No thanks. I think it's better if we don't get acquainted," he offers with a slight smile, humiliating Hong on the spot as he quickly pulls back his hand and glares at Yeon Yujun.
Just the reaction Yeon Yujun is hoping for.
"Damn it… Are you acting so cocky now? Are you a bigshot or what?" Hong seems easily triggered by Yeon Yujun's rejection, and all he can do is shrug.
"You could say that to yourself," Yeon Yujun smirks at the situation.
'He seriously needs to hear those words.'
"Why you…" Hong hisses, grabbing Yeon Yujun by the collar as if he's about to punch him.
Just in time, Chief Baek intervenes with a hidden zap skill that shocks Hong's hand with electricity, causing him to release Yeon Yujun's collar.
"Personal violence is not welcome here, Mr. Hong. If you cannot control yourself, you may leave the building immediately. This is my first and last warning to you." Chief Baek's words are final, prompting everyone to look in Hong's direction.
All Hong can do is flush and feel humiliated. He clenches his fist. "Sorry… Chief Baek," he reluctantly apologizes as Chief Baek continues organizing the others for the test.
"You… I'm watching you," Hong glares at Yeon Yujun once more before turning away, shoving his shoulder, but Yeon Yujun barely reacts.
Seeing him humiliated in front of everyone is enough to satisfy Yeon Yujun.
His eyes return to the viewing area, where Seo Hwigeon and others are watching intently. Seo Hwigeon can't seem to take his eyes off him the entire time.
'What a weirdo…' Yeon Yujun rolls his eyes and watches the other paired participants get ready at their spots.
Once the five minutes were up, Chief Baek's voice cut through the air.
"The five minutes are up, we will start with Mr. Ahn and Ms. Lim." Chief Baek gestures at Ahn and the woman, Lim, at the other ring.
Ahn seems nervous, preparing himself with the bow while the woman grabs her polearm and gets into a stance. Ahn awkwardly does the same.
"Man… I won't be surprised if that stuttering boy loses against her." Hong mocks, chuckling slowly as if he just placed a deadly bet on Ahn.
Yeon Yujun ignores him and watches the battle that's about to start.
"You may begin."
Ahn quickly aims his bow, activating his skill.
Lim instantly charges forward before Ahn can aim at her properly as he gets knocked out by her polearm with one swing and without even using a skill.
"ACK!—"
Foam quickly forms at Ahn's mouth, dropping unconscious to the ground and Yeon Yujun winces.
"Bubu…!!" Pouch flinches from the quick fight, still perched on Yeon Yujun's shoulder.
'Must've been painful…'
"That's it? How weak, tch." Hong shakes his head in mocking disappointment, not surprised that Ahn completely lost the battle and failed the third final test.
"Ms. Lim, you passed." Chief Baek nods, impressed by the quick fight as the staff quickly retrieves the passed-out Ahn and takes him out of the center.
Chief Baek turns her head to Yeon Yujun and Hong, "You two are next. You may begin."
"Finally!" Hong exaggeratedly stretches his arms up in the air and rolls his head, as if he's going to an intense battle. But Yeon Yujun will definitely give him that if he doesn't go easy on him.
"You're dead meat!"
"Let's find out then, shall we?" Yeon Yujun quietly challenges him as Pouch holds onto Yeon Yujun tightly, ready for the battle to unfold.
( "[B+] Whirling Shadow" is now activated! )
Hong wastes no time aiming his swinging shadow blades at Yeon Yujun and he effortlessly dodges them while trying to get close to Hong.
His goal today is not to use any of his skills, but to depend on his agility and physical skills.
"Stop dodging!" Hong is starting to struggle, trying to point the attacks at him as Yeon Yujun jumps high, using his feet to kick Hong's face while he's distracted.
But before he could, a shadow blade came whirling behind Yeon Yujun and he instantly sensed it — avoiding the attack mid air before his kick finally landed onto Hong's face.
"Got you." Yeon Yujun smirks almost arrogantly.
"ARGH!"
Hong drops to the ground, but he quickly gets up and wipes the blood from his face. He lets out a humorless laugh, "What the hell!?"
The kick seems to have angered him more and probably embarrassed him too as he wraps the shadow onto his fists.
"I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!"
Hong uselessly lunges at Yeon Yujun and he avoids it swiftly before his grey eyes find the weak spot in Hong.
"You should be more attentive to your enemies," Yeon Yujun kicks his leg with one move from his own leg, causing Hong to fall to the ground face-first, slamming with a loud thud.
"Instead of rushing to them like a wild animal."
Yeon Yujun looks down at the unconscious arrogant man before shifting his eyes up to the crowd, watching him fight like that… It made Chief Baek doubt his E+ class rank.
Chief Baek clears her throat, raising her hand to declare, "Mr. Yeon, you passed."
While Seo Hwigeon and the others at the viewing area clap, surprised by his performance so far.
"He's so awesome! He should be at our guild right now!" Woo Taehwa's eyes sparkle in admiration as Seo Hwigeon looks up, looking at the three people viewing upstairs.
"You know that new awakeners have to wait at least months to get into a guild, y'know…" Chae Yuna sighs.
"Are those the
"Yes, they're here to see who Yeon Yujun is after hearing about the incident." Chae Yuna confirms, quietly impressed by Yeon Yujun's performance at the assessment test.
"I can't get one of them close to my kitten now." Seo Hwigeon chuckles underneath his mask, leaning his head back casually.
"We'll have Yeon Yujun in our guild, no one else can have him."