The trainees, who had been hesitantly lingering, charged at Park Jinsung with a “whatever” attitude.
Aaaaaah!
Visually, it was quite a spectacle, except for the intent to lynch just one person.
‘Oh my. They tried to jump in heroically, but what a mess this turned out to be.’
Due to the pool’s depth reaching up to the navel, the collision was delayed more than expected.
The fact that 250 enemies hesitated slightly also played a big role. They didn’t seem to have any intention of leveraging their numerical advantage.
Above all, these fellows lacked a desperate resolve, probably because of their points. They were busy glancing around and gauging the situation.
That’s when it happened.
“Grab him! Suppress him with numbers! [The Stick That Keeps Getting Thicker!]”
“Press down! Overwhelm him with numbers! [The Stick That Keeps Getting Longer!]”
[The Stick That Keeps Getting Thicker]
World Soul Unit Grade System: C
It thickens only as much as the owner can bear.
Overall Combat Ability: C⁺
[The Stick That Keeps Getting Longer]
World Soul Unit Grade System: C
It lengthens only as much as the owner can bear.
Overall Combat Ability: C⁺
Male twins, each wielding a different stick, charged at Park Jinsung. Perhaps because they were identical, even their fierce expressions were perfectly aligned.
The twins at least fulfilled their role as the vanguard commendably, except for the gap that formed between them and the other trainees.
250 united individuals could be terrifying, but 250 clumsily gathered individuals were laughable.
‘Hehe. This is going to be fun.’
Park Jinsung envisioned the most efficient way to use the twins to his advantage in combat.
-Vroooom!
A pole as big as a utility pole on the right,
-Whoooosh!
And a bamboo-sized pole on the left flew towards him.
The bamboo pole, which only got longer, reached Park Jinsung before the utility pole pole did.
“Oh dear. What’s this? Is this a school festival?”
“Shut up shut up shut uuuuup!”
Though fast, the force was merely at the level of a yellow belt in Aikido. Park Jinsung easily pushed aside the bamboo pole and slipped between the two poles.
‘Stop flailing, right hand.’
Flap-flap-flap! Gurgling!
Park Jinsung plunged his wildly flailing right hand, reminiscent of a lively conger eel, into the water. He had to run with only his right hand submerged in the water because it kept trying to smash the poles first.
“Ugh! H-he’s coming!”
“Hehe. Yes, I am. It’s a journey towards you…!”
Despite Park Jinsung closing the distance recklessly, the twins were unable to respond at all.
The utility pole stick seemed heavy, which made its speed a complete mess. It appeared to have exceeded the owner’s strength limit from the start.
Park Jinsung ignored the bamboo side and aimed for the abdomen of the twin wielding the utility pole stick.
Thwack!
“Argh!”
Even though they were in the water, the feel of the hit was thrilling enough.
The upper body of the owner of the utility pole stick toppled over, causing the stick to wobble precariously.
“Ugh.”
“If you can’t properly hold it, why bother making it so big? This is how you use it.”
Park Jinsung forcefully pushed the utility pole stick.
Already at his limit just by holding the stick, the owner was pushed along in the direction Park Jinsung forced him.
Vroooom!
The utility pole stick, spinning like the hands of a clock, swept over the trainees.
“Aaaaah! It’s flying this way! Everyone, dodge!”
“No use! It’s too thick! Can’t dodge it!”
The trainees who had been charging forward desperately ducked their heads into the muddy water.
Those blocked by the person in front or who hesitated even for a moment to dive into the mud faced equally pitiful ends.
The bamboo side twin cried out in agony.
“Urgh! Brother! Snap out of it!”
“Oh dear. So the thicker one was the older brother?”
“How dare you do this to my brother!”
The bamboo stick lengthened and shortened repeatedly, aiming at Park Jinsung. But failing to even graze his upper body, it kept hitting thin air over and over.
“Is it my turn now?”
Park Jinsung, spinning the utility pole stick in a counterclockwise direction, once again overwhelmed the unfortunate trainees.
One Shot Dozens Kill.
“It’s coming again!”
“Argh! Must, must dodge…!”
The price for not stopping Park Jinsung with the bamboo stick was the other trainees’ tears.
Park Jinsung struck the abdomen of the utility pole stick’s owner once more.
Thwack!
“Urgh! L-Little Brother!”
“Where do you think you’re going. Keep playing the weapon shuttle, please.”
The twin brother was reduced to a scarecrow wielding the powerful utility pole stick.
Vroooom! Vrooooom!
Park Jinsung, now more adept at controlling it, plunged with the twin brother into the midst of the trainees, wielding the utility pole stick even more forcefully.
“Ugh! Hey! Twin brother! Do something about your brother!”
“Just tell him to turn off his Edeya!”
“Urgh! Let’s just push Park Jinsung away together with the twin brother!”
The trainees’ opinions were scattered in all directions. Too many cooks spoil the broth indeed.
‘I knew it from the moment the couple duo came forward. Thinking only of their own safety like that won’t win them the fight.’
Despite the plethora of strategists, their ability to act was lacking. They only tried to avoid the utility pole stick, waiting for someone else to confront Park Jinsung.
“Move aside! Twin brother! We have to push through now! This could be our chance!”
“Don’t touch my brother! You bastards!”
Just as the trainees seemed to unite, the twin brother opposed them.
In front of Park Jinsung,
Or rather, in front of the panting utility pole stick,
“Don’t come any closer! You scoundrels!!”
The bamboo stick boldly took its position.
“Oh my. The plot thickens. Is this a morning drama by any chance?”
“Just push both the brother and the sibling together!”
“We outnumber them by far! Let’s go!”
Even with two less, the force of 250 remained.
The determination in their eyes became fiercer.
“Hehe. Thanks for your service, Mr. Utility Pole.”
“Uuugh…”
Thwack!
As the twin brother fell unconscious, the utility pole stick vanished.
Park Jinsung kicked the twin brother as elegantly as possible, sending him drifting towards the edge of the pool.
“Yoooou… You’ve been really asking for it!”
Dodging the bamboo stabs was as simple as a light body turn.
The splash caused by Park Jinsung’s spin spread beautifully across the muddy water.
“Round and round, round and round!”
With just two steps, Park Jinsung entered into the embrace of the younger twin.
Thwack!
“Urgh! Bro, brother…”
“Hard work pays off. Now, depart peacefully together, brothers.”
A feigned stomach punch sent the younger twin drifting beside his brother. Being twins, the feel in his grasp was remarkably similar.
“Huh? Could it be that I’m the villain? I wanted to be the good protagonist.”
All this time, Park Jinsung had been waiting for a shift in the trainees’ attitude.
His body, except for his right hand, had been trembling from exertion. He had been out of stamina from the start, necessitating minimal movements to confront his opponents.
“What’s everyone doing? Weren’t you all eager to jump in just a moment ago?”
His trained nonchalance was merely a bluffing effect, making it seem like he was in a better position than he actually was.
He felt as if his legs would give out first from being kept at bay for too long.
‘Come on. Hurry up.’
Only if the trainees charged first could a tournament-style confrontation proceed.
A battle that couldn’t proceed without a higher level of cunning than a quick resolution.
“Crack!”
With a defiant flick, Park Jinsung’s right hand, having escaped from the water torture, boldly raised its middle finger.
Even Park Jinsung found the sight of his wrist flopping around while flipping the bird somewhat detestable.
“Hehe, come on, come on.”
Park Jinsung also pulled a middle finger with his left hand.
-……!
After a moment of scrutiny, his right hand began to wiggle energetically again.
Double middle fingers!
This time, Park Jinsung had no intention of sparing these immoral comrades.
“Even if you come?”
This filthy pool is your Styx, your Jordan River, the river where your deceased ancestors wave you away.
Dear, please do not cross that river.
I shall send you across myself.
“…….”
Only Park Jinsung was the focus of everyone in the southern training field. Except for Ahn Sungho and Kim Seyun, there was hardly anyone whose jaw hadn’t dropped.
Shock upon shock which then birthed more shock.
“…….”
Except for the trainees within the trench combat arena, nobody dared to even twitch their mouths. They were all too busy watching Park Jinsung with bated breath.
The 10th platoon leader was especially unique among the spectators.
‘Jinsung… to think you’ve come this far….’
Tears from someone, unknown who, streamed down the platoon leader’s jaw that couldn’t be shut.
He was always the one being bullied. Just because his Edeya was F-class, even the teacher, himself, had given up on Park Jinsung.
He even tried to force the boy, who only asked to be allowed to graduate, to transfer schools.
“Krhuuk!”
Finally, the platoon leader couldn’t contain his stirred emotions and wept through his eyes and mouth.
Soul grade F, combat grade F.
To anyone, the boy seemed beyond redemption. But that didn’t mean it was right to give up on him outright.
[Teacher, don’t misunderstand, just curious and asking. Purely wondering.]
[Hmm?]
[Do you think there are ranks to souls?]
[Hahahaha! What kind of question is that? Of course, there are.]
[Ah, I see. But I think there aren’t.]
This was a conversation Park Jinsung had with the 10th platoon leader in the early first quarter of the year.
How an F-class student became so powerful, no one knew. There must have been more to it than the training seen at school.
“Krhuuk! I’m truly sorry, Jinsung!!”
Perhaps he was always strong.
But considering the scorn and pain up to his sophomore year, what thoughts had he lived with at such a young age?
Moreover, Park Jinsung not only changed himself but also transformed others in similar straits.
“Jinsung, you even change others…!!”
The appearance of the Mad Zombie Squad was the biggest event this survival training had highlighted. It was the most desirable change in terms of the essence of the training.
“Krhuuk!!”
The 10th platoon leader intensely reflected on his past self.
He was someone who did his job carelessly, filled with a desire for promotion.
He had abandoned his students during the Pest incident.
This sullied platoon leader had initially wanted to become a teacher for the students.
“Sob, Jinsung… what you’re showing us…”
The platoon leader himself realized he was a person blessed with great fortune. He had the opportunity to start over without losing all these blessings.
“Charge! Park Jinsuuuuuuung!!”
The platoon leader, who had come to genuinely respect Park Jinsung, burst out with all his might.
“Come on, come on. Everyone, come on over!”
Crack! Flick!
Park Jinsung’s right hand gestured for them to come closer.
“Aaaaah! [An Arrow That Always Hits!]”
“Enclose them and strike at once! [Spread to Enclose!]”
“[Just a Swing Becomes a Full Swing?!] Wait a minute! What about the people close to Park Jinsung!”
[An Arrow That Always Hits]
World Soul Unit Grade System: B
Overall Combat Ability: C⁺⁺⁺
[Spread to Enclose]
World Soul Unit Grade System: C⁺
Overall Combat Ability: C⁺
[Just a Swing Becomes a Full Swing]
World Soul Unit Grade System: B⁺
Overall Combat Ability: C⁺
“Wow. Only good Edeyas here. Each one is better than a dagger, isn’t it?”
Park Jinsung turned off his dagger and then pulled it out again with his left hand. It would be troublesome if his right hand accidentally inflicted a fatal wound.
Click! Click! Click!
The disarmed right hand delivered a series of flicks to Park Jinsung.
“Ow! That hurts, geez!”
Originally, ten individuals with an A-grade overall combat ability could oppose up to 1,000 individuals without A-grade.
Meaning, an A-grade can handle up to 100 people.
Theoretically, that’s the case, but the unfolded reality was not so simple.
Alone, with an A⁻⁻⁻ grade, he had to handle as many as 250 enemies. The terrain was unfavorable, and his stamina was depleted.
“Ugh.”
The trainee with [Just a Swing Becomes a Full Swing] was the first to directly confront Park Jinsung.
A resilient net immediately covered the two, and the arrow that started last reached Park Jinsung faster than both the net and the full swing.
“Got him!”
It was an arrow that always hits. Regardless of the owner’s skill, it was guaranteed to hit its mark at least once.
Pwook!
The arrow pierced through Park Jinsung’s right palm. Sensing danger, the right hand changed its course to take the hit itself.
“Sob. I appreciate you blocking it for me, but it still hurts me, you know.”
“Please, just fall with this one hit!”
After the pwook came a thwack.
While the right hand was pulled by the arrow, the full swing trainee swung his fist.
“Ouch! What’s this! Is this a real one-inch punch?”
The fist, which becomes a full swing with just a little swing, smacked right into Park Jinsung’s abdomen from close range.
“One more hit!”
Thwack, thwack, thwack!
“That’s not one hit!”
Park Jinsung managed to guard with his left arm, avoiding a direct hit. However, his left arm quickly bruised, creaking in pain.
‘Too many…?’
There were too many Edeyas.
The trainees’ relentless bombardment continued without giving Park Jinsung a moment to plan his next move.
“Ah! Wait a minute!”
After the arrow and fist came the net.
The anticipated net finally engulfed Park Jinsung from above.
Instead of floundering, Park Jinsung chose to dive into the muddy water.
“Park Jinsung is running away!”
“Don’t let him escape! Catch him!”
Where there wasn’t a net, trainees were already densely packed, and even where there was a net, they swarmed like ants.
Waaaaaaaah!!
The trench combat arena was literally the intersection of the net and the trainees.
‘Whew… Still, this is manageable. I never expected a 1:1 tournament from the start.’
With just his nose peeking out, Park Jinsung stealthily began to move.
Everything was going according to plan.
Snap!
“Aaack! My noseeeee!”
Suddenly, the trainee with the full swing, whose nose was smashed, was carried away by other trainees.
“What, what! Where is he!”
“Behind us!! He’s ambushing from the back, aaaaah!”
Trainees clutching their noses began to fall sporadically here and there.
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