Chapter Title: Martial God's Training
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Clank-clank-clank.
A grinding of gears echoed from somewhere. In the damp, dimly lit space, someone trudged forward.
It was a hulking brute of a man. His face was hidden behind a mask, but no mask could conceal the sheer mass of his body.
"Heh heh heh heh."
The giant chuckled as if something was endlessly amusing. His laughter reverberated through the chamber.
He walked for a good while before rapping on the door ahead.
Thud thud thud.
"Hey."
Thud thud thud.
No response, no matter how many times he knocked.
"Heh, come on."
Just as the brute turned to leave, indifferent to the silence...
Boom!!!
He swung his fist and shattered the door into splinters. Dust billowed, revealing the interior: a single bed and a figure lying upon it.
"...Hah."
The one on the bed scowled at the flying debris.
"You nuts?"
"That's why you should've answered. What's the point if a guy's calling and you ignore him?"
At the man's playful tone, the young man sat up. And in the same instant...
Whoosh!!! Dark flames erupted in his grasp. The brute smirked at the sight.
"Think that's wise for a patient?"
"If you're here to mess around, get lost."
"Hahaha. Mess around? Harsh words for someone who came out of worry."
"Worry? From you?"
"Yup, worry. Word is our world's top firebrand got his ass handed to him by some fresh-hatched rookie who just awakened. How could I not worry?"
"..."
Grind.
The young man gnashed his teeth at the brute's words.
"You look like hell. Where'd you pawn off that arm?"
The young man's arms appeared intact at first glance, but one hand was missing.
"Even one-armed, I can still take you down."
"I'm sure. But here's the thing?"
The brute let out a creepy laugh.
"I got no interest in scrapping with a patient."
"...So what's the business?"
The young man cut the chit-chat. Only then did the brute pull a sheet of paper from his pocket and toss it over.
"From the boss."
"...The boss?"
The young man's face soured at the mention.
"See, our precious mage kicked up a huge fuss. Boss says hole up nice and quiet for three months."
"..."
"Told you not to strut around so much."
"Shut it."
"Yes, yes."
The brute mimed zipping his lips obnoxiously.
"Message delivered. I'm out."
He waved a massive hand and turned to leave, but...
"Oh, right."
The brute paused and glanced back, eyeing the young man.
"That punk. Any good?"
Punk.
That word lit a fire in the young man's eyes.
Fwoooosh---!!!
Scorching heat enveloped him.
"Big guy."
His voice dripped with malice.
"Don't touch that one."
"Ooh, scary. What, you bond over a quick scrap?"
"He's my prey. Hands off."
"Hahaha."
The brute barked a rough laugh.
"Aw, man. Can't stand seeing the little guy suffer."
Once this psycho fixated, there'd be no end to it. Poor kid.
What was his name again?
'Park Jin-woo or Lee Jin-woo?'
Name didn't matter. He was worth watching since he foiled the plan, but...
"Don't sweat it. We ain't got eyes for some punk."
Things were different now.
'Martial God, was it?'
A monster out of nowhere. The organization was laser-focused on him.
"Punk can fend for himself. We don't care."
Thud.
The brute vanished.
"..."
Left alone, the young man glared with crimson eyes.
"...Any good?"
He cracked a faint smile at the brute's parting words.
"One hell of a fun guy."
The kind you just wanted to burn alive.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
A few days after sending word.
I'd been holed up in the hospital under the guise of recovery.
The internet was still buzzing with Martial God talk.
📰 Breaking News Holy Superhuman Martial God. Is He Really Korean?New S-Rank. Or Potential SS-Rank Superhuman.If Martial God Is Korean, Korea Could Boast World-First Two SS-Ranks...Superhuman Association: Unregistered Reincarnator 'Martial God' Poses Potential Risk...
"Delusional soup-slurpers."
I shut off the screen after skimming the articles. World-first nation with two SS-Ranks?
The public was already pegging Martial God as an SS-Rank Reincarnator.
The Association warned he was unregistered and thus required caution.
'...They're starting the search now.'
The moment Martial God appeared on the network.
They were compiling a list of everyone who awakened within five days before and after that point.
Some reckoned from his power that he'd awakened a while back.
Late to the network, maybe, but his strength suggested years of activity.
'Public opinion's still in my favor, at least.'
They were grasping at straws, so odds of them pinning it on me seemed low.
'Not bad.'
I let out a sigh of relief. Then.
"Jin-woo."
Someone called. I looked up to see my teacher.
"Oh, Teacher."
"Feeling better?"
"Yeah. You?"
"I'm good too."
She forced a smile, but she didn't look well. Word was she'd only just woken up herself.
"...You sure you're okay?"
"Of course. What about you? I heard it got dicey."
"I'm fine."
To prove it, I struck a pose and flexed my bicep.
"Hahaha."
She laughed at the goofy display.
"Jin-woo."
"Yes?"
"You did great. Worked your butt off, huh?"
"..."
The sudden praise made me grin sheepishly.
"Nah. Just did what I had to."
"Not everyone sees it that way. Impossible for most. Only you could pull it off. Your parents would be... "
She trailed off mid-sentence.
I gave a faint smile at her reaction.
"Yeah, I think they would."
"...Yeah."
"When do you get discharged, Teacher?"
"Tomorrow, probably?"
"...Tomorrow?"
Already? She'd been bedridden for three days straight with major injuries.
"Tougher than I look, see?"
She mimicked my pose from earlier, and I couldn't help but laugh in disbelief.
'...Right, gotta remember.'
Teacher looked delicate, but she was a B-Rank Superhuman. Her recovery outpaced any normal person's.
"Straight back to work then?"
"Gotta be. No one else to teach the kids."
I nodded at her words.
Few could train Superhumans. Folks said school teachers and instructors were basically volunteers.
'Hunting as a Superhuman pays better.'
Those who taught anyway? Pure volunteer work.
As I mulled that over...
"What about you, Jin-woo?"
Teacher asked me.
"Me?"
For years, this question always got the same answer from me.
The one that never changed.
"I'm gonna be a knight."
"..."
She looked at me like she already knew.
I'd told her dozens of times.
Even when she said it was hopeless.
"Got it."
Unlike back then, no worry in her eyes.
"You'll make it happen."
"..."
Her faith hit hard. I swallowed dryly.
"...Thanks. I will."
I forced a smile. For the first time in this harsh winter, I'd taken a shaky step toward spring.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
After chatting with Teacher, I headed back to my room.
'When do I get out?'
Unlike her tomorrow discharge, I'd be stuck a few more days.
'Body's all healed, though.'
No pain anywhere. A bit stiff, maybe, but stretching fixed it.
'...Wasn't even that hurt to begin with.'
Not crushed like Teacher—just passed out. Could leave anytime.
'Feels like they're holding me back.'
Almost like they didn't want me discharged.
"Hm."
Something nagged, but I brushed it off.
'When else do I get a solo luxury room like this?'
Rent strained me as is. Might as well enjoy.
"Alright then..."
I plopped onto the bed. An hour or two till meals or checkups.
"Time to try this...?"
I lay back and flicked my finger.
Ding.
An alert chimed, and a window popped up.
The reward item from the achievement, not long ago.
⚔ STATUS ⚔
[■ Martial God's Training 1 (EX)]
[■ Would you like to use it? Y/N]
"...Hm."
EX-Grade item. The name screamed connection to my Reincarnation.
'Looks like a consumable.'
Hit to use, probably. So...
'What happens if I do?'
Curious. "Training," but no details on effects.
'Well.'
They gave it to use, so...
I tapped Y carefully.
That instant.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [■ Accepted use of Training 1.] [■ Ticket consumed.] [■ Gate unlocked.] [■ EX-Grade Gate. Martial God's Mental Image released.] [■ Entering Gate.]
"Huh?"
Gate?
My mind blurred like last time, alerts flashing.
When I opened my eyes again...
"...What the hell is this place?"
I stood in somewhere unimaginable.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Around when Lee Jin-woo entered the Gate.
Hiss.
Beyond the cameras trained on his room, someone watched the feed.
"...Zoom in more."
It was Superhuman Association's Green Smoke Sword, Jeon Yu-seon.
The screen magnified.
Lee Jin-woo sat up from the bed, then lay back down.
Nothing special.
'...No harvest again.'
Jeon Yu-seon frowned.
'Same after days of this.'
Days of surveillance on Lee Jin-woo, no red flags.
The president ordered close watch, but she saw no point.
'Pointless, no matter how you slice it.'
The president's insight pierced souls, and he'd deemed Lee Jin-woo's rank low.
Low-Grade Superhuman, confirmed.
No need for this scrutiny, but...
'Still...'
That footage showed power beyond low-grades. She acknowledged the anomaly.
'Mostly the exploded safety devices, though.'
Association analysis pinned it on the barriers, not his skill.
'Sure, but...'
It was the president's word. Veteran of countless battles—that carried weight.
'Maybe he suspects...'
This kid's the Martial God? Timing and nationality fit, but...
'No way.'
She'd seen the footage herself.
Leagues apart.
Power, presence—nothing alike. How could this be Martial God?
'Must be something else.'
Irregular at best. Special case not yet public.
As Jeon Yu-seon rationalized and stared...
Bzzzzt.
Her phone buzzed.
"Jeon Yu-seon, Superhuman Association. What is it...?"
The voice from the receiver twisted her face.
"...Who?"
She thought she'd misheard.
Impossible not to.
"...Hail Irene applied to enter Korea? Suddenly why...? What?"
America's icon, one of the world's three SS-Ranks—the strongest. Coming to Korea.
"If denied... she'll force her way? What the hell."
By very aggressive means, at that.
Read more free chapters on NovelsHub.org