"It's disgustingly cold again today."
Inside his room, Yoo Baekjun looked up at the sky.
Perhaps because of the snow, the sky looked especially dark. The temperature outside was probably below freezing too.
He slowly put on the Black Demon.
"Young master, are you sure you're alright?"
As he came downstairs, Choi Seungmin greeted him.
His face was full of worry. Yoo Baekjun gave him a faint smile and patted his shoulder.
"Just get dinner ready. Since it's cold, something warm would be nice today."
"…I'll prepare some hot soup."
"Sounds hearty. Good."
Yoo Baekjun left the mansion and headed straight to the outdoor training ground.
Family members, grandmasters, and other spectators were already gathered there.
Including Han Seonga.
"You've arrived, young master."
"What's with that look?"
She, too, wore an expression full of concern, much like Choi Seungmin. She let out a quiet sigh.
"I don't think you'll lose. I've seen how you train."
"Then there's no need to worry, right?"
"As you know, Lord Yoo Kangho is quite rough… Even if you win, I'm worried you'll get seriously injured."
Han Seonga took the Black Demon from him and handed him his uniform and reinforced gloves.
Equipment meant for the duel.
"How does my older brother's condition seem today?"
"He looks fine. Normally, he drinks every day, but I heard he abstained yesterday."
"Just one day of not drinking counts as abstaining?"
"For Lord Yoo Kangho, that's abstaining. He must think today's match is important too."
"Hmm. Well, he does seem in good condition."
Directly opposite stood Yoo Kangho.
His face was full of rage. Yoo Baekjun could feel he wanted to tear him apart at any moment.
'I've made sure to rile him up properly.'
He'd charge in like a mad bull the moment the duel started. And that would be Yoo Baekjun's perfect opportunity.
"By the way, Master Han Seonga, did you know? My older brother, when we were kids, he was such a wild child—always running around everywhere."
"I heard he was impressive."
"Right. One day, he ran into a monster, and that's when he got his right arm seriously injured. It was shattered, and it barely got fixed."
"Is that so?"
Han Seonga tilted her head.
Well, she wouldn't know. That happened before she joined the family as a trainee.
'I only know it because of the background story.'
It wasn't even a scene shown in the game.
Anyway, Yoo Kangho had seriously injured his right arm, and the marks still remained.
That's why he learned Joint Strike and Strike.
"Maybe I'll fight a little dirty this time."
Those skills would be especially useful in this duel.
Yoo Baekjun grinned savagely.
–A new quest has been generated.
At that moment, a message appeared.
[You have become the family's disgrace.]
Let Yoo Kangho, who bullied you since childhood, know. That life is a battlefield…
Defeat Yoo Kangho in the duel to complete the objective.
–Reward: 300P, Martial God's Book proficiency increase
Yoo Baekjun's eyes lit up as he read the quest.
The reward he'd been waiting for had finally appeared.
'The Martial God's Book is tricky because its proficiency doesn't increase like other skills.'
Normally, skills improve with frequent and prolonged use. But the Martial God's Book was different.
You had to complete quests or find remnants of the Martial God scattered across the world.
Or clear certain events.
'This time, proficiency's rising faster than I thought. Not bad at all.'
Yoo Baekjun clenched and then opened his fist.
He saw Yoo Moohak stepping onto the stage. He sat in his seat and gave a slight nod.
That was the signal.
"Are both participants ready?"
A master on stage shouted. Yoo Baekjun nodded, and Yoo Kangho did the same.
"Young master, go and return safely."
With Han Seonga's send off, Yoo Baekjun followed Yoo Kangho onto the stage.
"Then we'll now begin the duel. I'll count to five. One, two…"
Yoo Baekjun regulated his breathing.
Both wore uniforms. Their weapons were real swords.
There was no rule stating they couldn't kill.
'If I lose here, it's as good as death.'
Yoo Baekjun clenched his fists tightly.
And then—
"…Five!"
The duel began.
***
'I'll beat him to death.'
That's what Yoo Kangho thought.
He knew it was a duel. But there was no rule saying you couldn't kill.
The weapons were real swords.
To soothe this humiliation, he had to either kill him or at least cripple him.
"That's the only way I'll feel better, younger brother!"
Yoo Kangho raised his sword and charged.
He lowered his stance and dropped his sword low. Then, using the momentum of his charge, he thrust forward.
Yoo Baekjun stood still.
"Hmph!"
Yoo Kangho's arm moved.
It moved at a speed impossible to see, delivering five thrusts in a single motion.
It was Nine Dragon Fangs, one of the forms of the Heaven-Surging Sword Technique.
He wasn't skilled enough to unleash all nine, so only five came out.
'But it's more than enough.'
A blindingly fast sword strike.
There's no way someone who hadn't even learned martial arts could avoid it.
And indeed, it looked like he wouldn't—
But—
Zing!
'What's that light?'
Yoo Baekjun's leg glowed red. He kicked off the ground with full energy.
Did he put too much power and miss? Yoo Kangho sneered inwardly.
But then—
Shaaak!
"Gah!"
That wasn't it.
The stones and sand Yoo Baekjun had swept up with his kick slammed into Yoo Kangho.
His technique collapsed under the unexpected attack, and the stones struck his whole body.
"Aaagh!"
But something felt wrong.
It was just sand and stones—how could they cause such extreme pain?
Yoo Kangho opened his eyes.
"This is…!"
Then he saw it.
The sand and stones had been completely frozen—transformed into sharp arrowheads.
Yoo Kangho gasped.
Through the frozen storm, Yoo Baekjun closed the distance at lightning speed.
He had to defend. But he couldn't.
Thud!
"Ghaaack!"
Because Yoo Baekjun's fist moved first.
One of the only three forms of the Tri-Fist Technique, an uppercut that targeted an opening to smash the opponent's jaw.
His punch struck Yoo Kangho's jaw.
"Ugh…!"
His brain shook from the impact.
No matter how tough a man was, a blow that rattled the brain couldn't be endured.
Yoo Kangho's body staggered.
"Ssshh!"
Yoo Baekjun didn't miss the chance.
He quickly moved behind Yoo Kangho, clenching his fist. He braced his legs and lowered his fist near his waist.
'His right elbow, that scar.'
The spot Yoo Kangho had injured in childhood.
His arm had been completely shattered by a monster. It was barely healed, and the bones remained weak.
Yoo Baekjun's eyes gleamed.
'If the opponent has a weakness—exploit it until they're dead…!'
Mana gathered in his fist.
He drew his arm back like a bowstring, then released it all at once.
BAAAM!
"Ugh…!"
Yoo Baekjun struck Yoo Kangho's right elbow.
The passive Joint Strike, combined with the mana-infused Strike, made the blow devastating.
"GAAAAAH!"
His right arm broke in an instant.
The elbow bent in a direction it should never bend.
Unable to endure the pain, Yoo Kangho let out a wail.
"Y-you bastard…!"
But Yoo Kangho was still a son of the Sword Saint Clan.
He switched his sword to his uninjured left hand and tried to counterattack immediately.
Thanks to the injury in his youth, he was ambidextrous.
Slick!
But Yoo Baekjun retreated before he could.
With a light step on the ground, his body shot backward like a spring.
It was Swift Steps, a sub-skill of the Mobility Technique.
"You dare, you dare break my arm?!"
Yoo Kangho unleashed his footwork and chased after Yoo Baekjun.
His speed was nothing to scoff at either. He raised his sword aura and once again unleashed Nine Dragon Fangs.
"Kaaaah!"
Five thrusts aimed at Yoo Baekjun.
He calmly read the trajectory of each thrust. They targeted the head, shoulder, and chest.
Yoo Baekjun pushed off with his foot and leapt to the side.
'You think you can dodge this?!'
The thrusts missed their mark and stabbed at empty air.
But that didn't matter. Yoo Kangho had planned for this too. Yoo Baekjun's body, having leapt to dodge, was now midair.
"You won't be able to use your footwork while in the air…!"
The Heaven-Surging Sword Technique was organic. There were follow-up forms designed for when Nine Dragon Fangs missed.
Always expect your opponent to dodge or block, and continue your assault.
That was one of the teachings of the Heaven-Surging Sword Technique.
Shaaak!
Yoo Kangho shifted his grip and transitioned the thrust into a sweeping slash.
Moon Slash. As the name implied, the mana surrounding his sword arced like it was cutting down the moon.
"I'll slice off that arm of yours!"
Since he was in midair, Yoo Baekjun couldn't use Swift Steps. With no other choice, he spread his gloved hands wide.
"Ha!"
Yoo Kangho scoffed at the sight.
Trying to block a skill with bare hands? His sword would cleave those palms in a single strike.
That's what he thought.
Kaaang!
"What the…?!"
The sword wrapped in aura collided with Yoo Baekjun's palm. And then—a strange sound rang out.
The sound of metal crashing against metal.
Kagagak!
The sound of a blade scraping.
Yoo Kangho looked at Yoo Baekjun's palm in shock.
It was wrapped in searing, blazing energy like scorching fire.
"Th-that's… aura?!"
Yoo Kangho's eyes widened in horror as he recognized it.
It was aura. And not just ordinary aura—this aura had an attribute.
A skill that required far more advanced comprehension than regular aura.
"W-when did you…?!"
Yoo Baekjun grabbed the blade.
The searing heat transferred to the blade, making even the hilt too hot to hold.
But Yoo Kangho couldn't even feel that heat anymore.
"I did a bit of training while you weren't looking, elder brother. What, didn't think I could use aura?"
Crunch! Yoo Baekjun tightened his grip. The sword groaned and began to shatter.
"How does it feel to lose to a loser who's only trained for a week?"
"You bastard…!"
Kwaang! Yoo Baekjun's surprise punch slammed into Yoo Kangho's stomach.
His body was sent flying.
Yoo Baekjun chased after him midair.
Pababat!
Gale Steps.
Then he unleashed a brutal barrage.
With legs swinging like whips, he repeatedly struck Yoo Kangho's body.
Finally, one last kick slammed into Yoo Kangho's back.
Kwoong!
"Kehek, kuk!"
Yoo Kangho crashed to the ground.
His appearance was a mess. His right arm was broken, and his abdomen—struck multiple times—had fractured ribs.
Blood dripped from his lips from internal injuries.
'W-what the… what is this…?!'
Yoo Kangho was stunned.
'Aura…! And such unorthodox methods!'
He hadn't even been given a chance to fight back.
It had been a completely one-sided beating.
Each attack was unconventional, yet all connected fluidly.
'That Yoo Baekjun did this?'
Yoo Kangho staggered and got up.
With trembling hands, he gripped his sword.
"And what will you do with just a handle?"
"Ghh, haah, urgh…!"
Yoo Kangho's eyes had already lost their focus.
He was half-unconscious. Yet he stood—likely because his pride wouldn't let him lose to Yoo Baekjun.
"You look pathetic, elder brother."
Yoo Baekjun slowly walked toward him.
"Do you know why Father didn't stop you, even after all your disgraceful behavior?"
Yoo Kangho didn't respond.
Though faint, a sliver of clarity was returning to his eyes.
"It's because you had talent. Enough talent to get away with all your disgrace. But you wasted it."
Yoo Baekjun came to a halt.
"And now, you will pay the price."
"S-shut up… you worthless bastard…!"
Yoo Kangho growled as he gripped his broken sword.
Just a handle now—no threat left.
Yoo Baekjun let out a breath and took a stance.
Hoooh!
Air hissed from his lips.
He dove straight into Yoo Kangho's space and drew back his right fist.
BAAAAM!
"Kaah!"
And struck.
A Strike powered by his full momentum slammed into Yoo Kangho's stomach.
His back arched violently.
Yoo Baekjun then raised his elbow and brought it down hard on that arched back.
Kwoong!
The second form of the Tri-Fist Technique.
Yoo Kangho crashed into the ground.
He tried to rise, but his body no longer obeyed him.
Yoo Baekjun grabbed a fistful of his hair.
"In the Sword Saint Clan, it's survival of the fittest. The strong devour, and the weak are devoured."
Their eyes met.
"I've become strong now. And you, elder brother, are the weak. So…"
Yoo Baekjun growled like a beast.
His fierce gaze looked ready to tear Yoo Kangho apart right then and there.
"Your mansion, your wealth, your position—I'll take it all."
Because that's the victor's right.
Thud! Yoo Kangho's head was slammed into the ground.
His limp body showed he had completely passed out.
Yoo Baekjun scoffed as he stood up.
"...…"
He slowly looked around the stage.
Everyone had gone silent.
His family, the grandmasters—they all stared in shock.
All but one. Yoo Moohak.
Their eyes met.
"Hmm."
The expressionless Yoo Moohak quietly smiled.
Ever so softly.