Arena Chapter 137:
Chapter 137 – Harbor battle (Part 3)
It was the time for victory . I started making huge, flashy movements .
I raised both guns and adjusted their aim .
One at Heising’s head . This tactic was to draw Heising’s attention .
The other was aimed at the top portion of the aura net encompassing Heising .
Taang, tang!
Heising moved how I wanted him to . Reflexively, he just moved his head to the side and dodged while keeping his body in place .
But yet another bullet broke the top portion of his aura net .
And at the same time, Sylph shot the AW50F .
Taaaang!!
The aura net ripped from the bullet I shot and, through that gap, dove in the 12 . 7mm bullet .
Puuk!
“Kuuk!”
Heising’s appalling scream rang out .
‘Done!’
I got a thrilling pleasure .
Heising collapsed . From his back, red blood poured out spilling everywhere . A fatal injury .
‘Normally, the attack is so powerful that getting shot like that would cause someone to go flying . But maybe because he’s an aura master his body is heavier than a normal human’s?’
The fact he didn’t die instantly proved how amazing Heising’s body was .
But with this, my victory was confirmed .
While aiming both my guns at Heising, I cautiously approached .
I kicked away the healing potion Heising was holding .
“Kuk……!”
As the agony was overwhelming him, Heising simply grit his teeth .
Barely having turned his body, looking up at the sky, Heising blatantly stared at the gun I was holding .
“So I’ve lost……”
“Yes . ”
“I didn’t know I would die so soon……”
Heising let out a quiet sigh .
“Rather, you’re accepting your death a bit too easily . ”
“During the fight… . . I knew… . I had a feeling I’d lose . ”
‘I see . ’
Me too .
I had a feeling while we were fighting that I would end up as the winner .
Exactly when was when I realized I had the shooting power to rip through his aura net .
From that moment on I felt confident . So far, the skills and training I had experienced, it was the perfect culmination for this fight .
On the other hand, Heising running into someone like me for the first time caused him to lose his composure .
“Let me ask…… one thing . ”
“Ask . ”
“What you said earlier… Kul luk (cough)!”
In the middle of talking, Heising vomited blood .
He grit his teeth hard and continued speaking .
“Martial artist…… did you say his name was Kang Chun-sung?”
“So?”
“Is he not Chang Tian Seong?”
“I don’t know . I didn’t ever hear it in Chinese . Anyway, he was from Shanghai and trained in the fānziquán and Bāguà Zhǎng (eight trigrams) style . ”
“Bāguà Zhǎng … . Then it is……”
As if shocked from absurdity, Heising laughed .
“When I was young, he was a neighborhood Hyung I knew well…… we learned martial arts together…… he was skilled enough to be a teacher . ”
Heising’s voice kept softening .
“He was a really strong person…… someone like him is on the other side . Haha…… I guess I’ll see everyone there . Sure…… everyone eventually meets there again……”
Then his voice stopped .
I put my hand to his neck . I couldn’t get a pulse .
It was a surprise that he knew Kang Chun-seong .
There was that connection .
A guy like this, thinking about his childhood right before death . I can’t even describe my feelings at the thought .
But just like that, I got rid of Heising .
Let alone be burned to the ground, the hill we were on was only half of its original height . Standing atop it, I stared blankly into the distance .
I don’t know how long I’ll have to fight like this for .
‘I should have just killed him quickly . I had to listen to useless banter for no reason . ’
I feel disgusted and sad .
I sighed .
But I have to keep fighting . Because we haven’t won yet .
I called out to Sylph who was up in the sky .
Then I laid down and prepared to shoot .
Tang!
Any pirate I could see that was standing out, I shot no matter what .
Especially with dark hair and yellow skin, I killed them without hesitation . It was because they had a high chance of being corrupt examinees from the Chinese examinee group .
How many did I kill in this fashion?
At the shooting started again, the pirates seemed to have realized that Heising had been defeated .
The pirates who invaded the harbor with confidence began to retreat like a low tide .
I didn’t stop shooting until the **** were on their boats and retreating .
I thought of destroying all the ships so they couldn’t leave the harbor but I decided not to .
My energy was almost at rock bottom .
If the Chinese, who had lost their path to escape, decided to relentlessly counter my attack, I would have no choice but to suffer .
Deng deng deng-! Deng deng deng-! Deng deng deng-!
The bells rang consecutively .
With that, loud yelling from the harbor could be heard .
We’ve won .
Paat!
Right next to me, the exam door appears . The exams been cleared .
Ring, ring .
The transponder rang .
I picked it up and it was Cha Ji-hye .
-Are you safe?
“Yes, are you safe as well?”
-Yes, the exam door has appeared next to me . But did you get rid of Heising?
“Yes, barely . My door has appeared too . ”
-Before we return, we need to return the radios and synthetic muscle suits .
“Then first of all I’ll meet you at the inn . ”
-Yes .
I raced towards the Deport harbor .
The harbor was crowded .
The people that had evacuated outside of the city had heard the sounds of victory and were coming back in .
In order to blend in, I darted between them and quietly made my way into the harbor .
But as soon as I appeared, the soldiers pointed to me and shouted .
“It’s our hero!”
“He led us to victory!”
“He is a disciple? Of the count of Wolfenbrooke!”
And then the people started to gather around me .
“Wowww!”
“Hurray-!”
“Hurry for the hero!!”
People looked at me and rejoiced and clapped .
With all the sudden attention, I feel embarrassed and scratched my head before escaping the scene .
People on both sides made way for me but didn’t’ forget to clap and rejoice for me .
Like that, feeling as if I was a general returning from war, I returned to the inn .
“You’ve returned . ”
“Yes . ”
Cha Ji-hye must already have changed all her clothes because she handed me her synthetic muscle suit and radio .
I think her scent was slightly embedded in the synthetic muscle suit and it made me embarrassed .
“What is the matter?”
“Huh? Oh, it’s nothing . ’
“Is it because it smells?”
“Ku huk! Um, no! It’s not a bad smell……!”
Only after saying that much did I realize I’ve dug my own grave .
“That’s a relief that at least it doesn’t smell bad . ”
Kuaccck!
Her businesslike tone made me more embarrassed .
I felt like she laughed a little, but there was no way to verify if it was my own delusion .
“I’ll wait outside, you change too . ”
“Yes……”
While Cha Ji-hye waited outside, I sighed at myself while taking off the synthetic muscle suit .
After I put all the suits and radios into the virtual space bag, I called Cha Ji-hye back in .
“Board summon . ”
Cha ji-hye summoned her board and said .
“I will end the exam . ”
Paat!
And then the exam door appeared .
We opened the door and in turn, headed through it .
***
Bboo- boo-
“Congratulations!”
Welcomed the baby angel, obnoxiously blowing his trumpet .
“Your repertoire is too predictable, can you do anything else?”
I asked and the baby angel said .
“Then next time I’ll blow some fireworks .
“Do what you want . ”
“Anyway, examinee Kim Hyun-ho . Wow, this time too you had a big role, no?”
“You keep giving me exams I can’t pass unless I go big . ”
“So did that make it impossible?”
“… . . It was possible which is why I’m alive . ”
“See . How many times have I said we don’t give impossible exams . ”
I suddenly got a bad feeling .
“By any chance . ”
“Yes . ”
“…?!”
“That maybe that you are thinking of…that’s right . ”
The baby angel read my mind and replied first .
I felt I had a long way to go .
The question I wanted to ask was this .
I’ve become must stronger from this exam . Does that mean the next exam’s difficultly will be increased by how much stronger I’ve become?
The answer was apparently yes .
This wicked exam system predicted how much I’ll grow and gave me an exam I would barely be able to pass .
“On top of that, examinee Cha Ji-hye has also gathered quite a large sum of karma, that will probably be included (in the next exam grading) as well . Get the wrong amount of karma and you’re in trouble . ”
I got an urge to shoot the annoyingly smiling baby angel .
“Now now, go home and rest comfortably . Regrettably, I’ll see you again in 100 days!”
I guess the rest period will be 100 days again .
***
We’re back in reality .
Having awoken in the Nordic exam group headquarters basement, I felt a sense of safety .
‘Should I see how much I got?’
I killed a lot of corrupt examinees, I perfectly cleared the exam too and looked forward to seeing how much karma I got .
It was when I was about to summon my board .
Kwang Kwang Kwang!
Someone outside was roughly banging on the door .
“Hyun-ho! Open the door Hyun-ho!”
It was Marie Johanna .
I sighed .
As soon as I opened the door,
Plunge!
Like a protective charm she hugged me .
“I missed you!”
Marie was hanging around my neck like a sloth and wrapped her legs around my waist and lightly moved towards my back even .
“How are you Marie? Did you clear your exam?”
“Yup! But it was tiring having to be by Odin the whole time . ”
Right .
Marie’s mission was to personally protect Odin . If Odin returned safe and sound, Marie would clear her exam .
“Mr . Kim Hyun-ho!”
Odin’s lively voice rang out .
Also cleared the exam, Odin welcomed me .
“Did you eradicate the pirates?”
“Yes, and I got rid of Heising . Have you heard of Heising?”
Then Odin’s face was overcome with shock .
“Heising, ranked 13th in the world for having the most karma?”
“13th?”
“Yes . According to the records released by the Chinese exam group last year . He became a corrupt examinee and afterwards was not able to gain karma so his rank fell, but at one point he was ranked 8th in the world . ”
I had no idea he was such big fish .
Then again, he must have been which is why he was rivals with Lee Chang-wee .
“Amongst the Chinese examinees, he was the viable rival for Lee Chang-wee, I had no idea you would get rid of someone as big as him!”
Odin looked at me with surprise .
I’m now an 8th turn examinee .
That I could fight and win over a top 10 ranked publicized person, it was interesting enough .
‘So Heising was ranked 13th in the world?’
I gained confidence .
In a full on combat battle against Heising, without resorting to any trickery, I was able to win .
Now, I don’t have to be conscientious of others’ gaze and I can say I’m a strong person!
“If Heising is dead, the Chinese examinees are now under the sole control of Lee Chang-wee . ”
I thought the same .
Not on purpose but I have helped Lee Chang-wee achieve the situation he wanted .
For me, I just did my best to clear my exam but eventually, the benefits would be returned to Lee Chang-wee .
‘But for me too, my situation has improved quite a bit compared to before . ’
I killed Heising .
Even for Lee Chang-wee who couldn’t belittle a strong person Heising, killing him cemented my own strength .
Meaning Lee Chang-wee could no longer think so little of me either .
From the position of Lee Chang-wee, who has achieved his goal, there was no reason to have me as an enemy anymore .
Following that, when Lee Chang-wee has complete control of the Chinese examinees they won’t come after me anymore .
‘Anyway, let’s see how much karma I got . ’
I summoned my board .