Blood Demon of the Past Life – Chapter 96

Chapter 96: Special Training （4）

Min Yeong-gi spoke.

“Kang San-nim’s skills? I acknowledge them. They were proven in the promotion test, and while receiving his lectures, I realized that Kang San-nim is a skilled individual who cannot be judged simply by rank. And if they are party members accompanied by such a Kang San-nim, their skills would naturally be outstanding. The problem is that, even so, the difference in numbers is unavoidable. It’s 6 versus 4, 6 versus 4. If we utilize our numerical advantage and launch an all-out attack, Kang San-nim’s party will have no choice but to focus solely on defense, let alone distribute their efforts between offense and defense.”

It was a logical judgment.

Min Yeong-gi genuinely believed that Jeong Hye-mi’s statement was wrong, not because he was biased.

“I would have accepted it if Kang San-nim’s party was significantly superior to ours, but just six months ago, they took the same ‘C-rank test.’ Unlike that test, where all six of us were granted C-rank, Kang San-nim’s party wasn’t, were they? Above all, the purpose of this training is to prepare to face Project A team. They also have 6 members, just like us, so I don’t think there’s a need to train with a numerical disadvantage.”

“I agree. That’s why I conveyed the same opinion to Kang San-nim that you just did.”

“And yet, he made such a proposal? Wouldn’t it be better to have Cheonsang add two more people to even out the numbers?”

Jeong Hye-mi laughed.

It wasn’t a mocking laugh.

This situation…

Even she found it absurd.

When she suddenly received a call from Kang San, Jeong Hye-mi had expressed her opposition to the 6 versus 4 proposal more actively. Because it didn’t make sense. She especially thought it wasn’t suitable for training against Project A team, but Kang San made a statement that instantly overturned her opinion.

“If you trust me, please accept these conditions.”

She sighed. Pooh.

Logically, she couldn’t persuade Min Yeong-gi.

Then, she had no choice but to appeal to the realm of the illogical that was Kang San.

“Kang San-nim said this. If you trust him, accept these conditions. Team Leader Min Yeong-gi, what do you think? Do you think we can fully trust Kang San-nim’s judgment, which we experienced briefly?”

If he refused…

Jeong Hye-mi intended to back down.

She didn’t want to force a decision she didn’t believe in.

Min Yeong-gi fell into deep thought.

After agonizing for a while over the polite question, Min Yeong-gi spoke with a look of resignation in his eyes.

“…I believe we can trust him. I’ll accept it. We’re at the edge of a cliff anyway, aren’t we?”

Two days later.

Kang San visited the Cheonsang training grounds with his party.

The interior was empty except for them due to the training with Project B team, and upon meeting Min Yeong-gi and his team members, he explained the training method.

“Starting today, we will conduct four training sessions per day, divided into morning and afternoon. The method is simple: engage each other, either defeating your opponent or making them surrender. If a match doesn’t conclude within 20 minutes, that round of training will be considered a draw. Any questions about this method?”

“…There are only four people in your party. Are you sure you’ll be okay?”

“It’s fine. Of course, if we determine that we can’t face Project B team with four members, we’ll add more members or choose a different method. But, for now, I think it’s enough.”

The words “it’s enough”…

provoked Min Yeong-gi.

No one would simply overlook such a statement, even if they were in a learning situation.

“I’ll give you 30 minutes to prepare.”

They turned and walked away from each other.

Min Yeong-gi called his team members together.

“Team Leader-nim, is this even proper training? Not only is it 6 versus 4, but the opponents… aren’t most of them D-rank?”

It was Lee Su-chan.

Even he, who acknowledged Kang San, glanced at Kang San’s party with a worried expression.

It was understandable.

He considered Kang San an exception, but Jo Han-byeol and Jeong Chan-woo were D-rank Hunters with nothing special on their profiles. Yeon Woo-bin was, at best, a top-tier damage dealer among C-ranks. However, it was difficult to overturn the numerical advantage by relying on just one Mage. Moreover, Project B team had three Mages, possessing overwhelming firepower.

Min Yeong-gi spoke.

“If it’s Kang San-nim, there must be a special intention. But even so, I’m not going to just accept this situation. The purpose of the training is to acquire the skills to defeat Project A team. But if we can’t do anything against a mere 4 members, then our defeat against Team A is inevitable without even trying. So, we must absolutely overwhelm Kang San-nim’s party in this training. We have to show them that it’s impossible to withstand our firepower with just 4 members. Only then will they acknowledge reality and try to match the numbers.”

“I agree.”

“That’s absolutely necessary. Even so, can a mere 4 members withstand our firepower, let alone counterattack?”

Everyone agreed.

It was a matter of pride.

Min Yeong-gi, observing Kang San, said,

“Our strategy is to go all out from the beginning. Remember, victory is the only way to prove ourselves in this training.”

On the training grounds.

Both parties took their positions.

They maintained a certain distance from each other, and the countdown signaling the start began on the electronic display board.

『3』

『2』

『1』

Ding━!

Pat.

Project B team made the first move.

Leaving only the main Tanker behind, Min Yeong-gi and the sub-Tanker closed the distance with the opponent.

And simultaneously.

“Fire Wave.”

“Wind Fist.”

“Lightning Spear.”

The three Mages immediately cast their spells.

Hwaruk.

Hwarurururuk.

Flames surged forward.

The violently rising flames engulfed Kang San, followed by a fist of wind and a spear crackling with electricity, attempting to swallow the beings behind him. Regrettably, the attacks were completely ineffective. Kang San, at the forefront, used the ‘Iron Man’ skill to block some of them, and the remaining damage didn’t even reach Jeong Chan-woo.

Kwaang━!

Hwarurururuk.

It was an opportunity.

They hadn’t expected to defeat them with just the first attack.

As Min Yeong-gi tried to penetrate the space and attack Kang San, an arrow flew out through the billowing dust cloud.

‘Left.’

Hweg.

He turned his head.

He didn’t slow down.

As he leaped off the ground, the crude formation of only four members came into view.

“Heup.”

Pat.

Kwaang!

He plunged straight down.

Kang San calmly blocked the attack, but a smirk crept onto Min Yeong-gi’s face. The cracks had already begun to show. The reason Kang San said he could face six with four members must be because he trusted his defensive abilities. But if he actively attacked while magic was being unleashed… Could Kang San really afford to cover the other three?

Impossible.

That’s when the strategy would shine.

The sub-Tanker, who had passed Min Yeong-gi, launched himself at Jeong Chan-woo.

“Power Strike.”

Pat.

Kwaang━!

The attack landed.

Sub-Tanker versus sub-Tanker.

It was a man-to-man strategy.

If Project B team’s sub-Tanker tied up Jeong Chan-woo, the enemies would naturally be left with only two rear Dealers. And the attacks of Jo Han-byeol and Yeon Woo-bin would never reach the Mages. Since the main Tanker was holding the rear, their attacks would lose their power against the main Tanker. Kang San and Min Yeong-gi and one Mage, Jeong Chan-woo and the sub-Tanker, two rear Dealers and one main Tanker. While the numbers engaged were 4 versus 4, Project B team had two remaining members who could move relatively freely.

Among them.

Lee Su-chan drew upon his magical power.

“Lightning Spear, Amplification.”

Ppajik.

Ppajijijik.

A combination technique of magic amplification.

A tremendous amount of electricity surged.

In the midst of the chaotic entanglement, his target was precisely the rear.

Ppajijijik.

Kwaang━!

The attack was blocked once again.

Kang San quickly retreated and blocked the magic, and when Min Yeong-gi tried to follow up with an attack, Jeong Chan-woo filled Kang San’s position and blocked his path. For a moment, his expression contorted. He had pushed forward thinking he could defeat Jeong Chan-woo at any time, but Jeong Chan-woo wasn’t as easy to take down as he thought.

Furthermore.

Pat, papapat.

Jo Han-byeol’s arrows continued to be fired.

It was bothersome.

Yeon Woo-bin’s magic struck the sub-Tanker, preventing him from doing anything to Jeong Chan-woo.

And as Kang San switched positions with Jeong Chan-woo again, he naturally targeted the gap exposed by Min Yeong-gi.

“Blood Demon Sword Technique, First Style: Blade Kill.”

Beonteuk.

Kwaang━!

He was pushed back.

Min Yeong-gi raised his head.

“…This isn’t easy.”

It seemed that things wouldn’t go as planned.

Numerical advantage.

The situation was certainly comfortable.

The main Tanker was observing the situation without doing anything, and the three Mages in the rear were unleashing magic like crazy.

“Lightning Spear.”

“Lightning Spear.”

“Lightning Spear.”

Ppajik.

Ppajijijik.

Triple magic.

Intense bolts of electricity erupted, as if to blind them.

They fired them simultaneously, attempting to break Kang San at the forefront, but even though Min Yeong-gi frantically pushed forward to create blind spots, the attacks didn’t land properly. He dodged the attacks by a hair’s breadth. Or he blocked them with his shield. At times like these, it felt like Kang San had eyes on the back of his head.

He was solid.

A massive iron fortress.

Kang San didn’t allow himself to be pushed back, and the other three members of his party displayed organic teamwork.

‘Were they this good?’

The C-rank test.

While watching the test footage back then, he knew they were skilled individuals.

But Jeong Chan-woo, the sub-Tanker, showed a level of tanking ability beyond his expectations, and Jo Han-byeol’s arrows flew in at the most opportune moments, surprising him more than once. And Yeon Woo-bin’s magic. Whenever the intensely burning magic erupted, Min Yeong-gi had to stop everything he was doing and immediately throw himself out of the way.

It was perfect teamwork.

Even with three Mages providing fire support from the rear, the opponents showed no signs of falling.

That’s when it happened.

『Team Leader-nim, something’s strange.』

It was the voice of Han Eun-seong, the main Tanker.

He, who was at the rear, conveyed the situation through his earphone.

『It’s been 10 minutes since the match started, and the rear hasn’t been attacked even once. I think they’re just planning to hold out for 20 minutes.』

“What?”

For a moment.

His heart sank.

The fact that they hadn’t attacked the rear meant that they had allowed the three Mages to unleash their maximum firepower without interference.

He looked at Kang San.

At that moment, from his calm gaze looking down, Min Yeong-gi realized.

“…Don’t tell me, you meant for us to try to break through within the 20 minutes you mentioned, when you said it would be a draw if it went past that time.”

Kang San smirked.

No answer was needed.

That was enough.

With his pride deeply wounded, Min Yeong-gi spoke to Han Eun-seong.

“Eun-seong, join the front lines.”

Pat.

Kwaang━!

He attacked Kang San.

Seeing him withstand the attack without flinching, Min Yeong-gi couldn’t hide his heated expression.

“From now on, disregard defense and focus on making them surrender within 20 minutes.”

A draw.

Leaving aside the training, it was an absolutely unacceptable outcome.