RUUUMBLE!
Cho Il's inner qi-filled palm technique exploded with a thunderous roar, jolting the renowned masters of the orthodox to their feet.
"Hey! How dare you use inner arts in an external arts duel!"
"Stop at once!"
Despite dominating the fight, he was uneasy.
Shouts erupted from every side, but Cho Il paid them no heed. His palm was already bearing down on Geo Sangwoong's face.
Cho Il pulled back at once, telling himself that it was just a fluke.
"S-Sangwoong!" Geo Ilsan, who had been watching the duel happily, screamed in horror and sprang to his feet.
"Senior!"
Things were no different now that they were allowed to use qi.
The Five Young Azure Dragons nearest the stage rushed forward instinctively, but Baek Suryong stopped them.
"Wait. Do you really think Sangwoong is the kind of man who would be brought down by something like that?" he said coolly, completely unfazed by the events on stage.
He was not the only calm observer. None of the peerless masters—any of whom could have leapt onto the stage in a single bound—so much as twitched. Everyone simply sat back and watched the situation unfold.
After all, the target himself, Geo Sangwoong, was smiling like he had expected the ambush all along.
The crowd buzzed at the Azure Dragon Hero's unexpected proposal. The corners of the Heavenly Martial Principal's mouth lifted, while Namgung Su furrowed his brow and glared at Baek Suryong.
"I just knew you'd pull a stunt like this."
No one understood Cho Il's hidden nature better than Geo Sangwoong, so he had already anticipated that his opponent might stoop to such cowardly tactics.
He braced himself, fully prepared to meet the attack head-on. As Cho Il struck, Geo Sangwoong thrust out his own palm, and their right hands collided.
Geo Sangwoong originally intended to counterattack, but the powerful qi shoved him backward helplessly, leaving long drag marks across the stage.
BOOOOM!
A sound like a bursting drum accompanied the shockwave, which flapped their uniforms so violently that the cloth almost tore.
For the first time, Geo Sangwoong staggered backward, rubbing his throbbing, swelling palm. "Hmm. You're at least halfway decent now that you're using inner arts."
"Don't get so high and mighty. All you've ever had to show for yourself is that big body!"
Cho Il bared his teeth, poised to strike again at any moment. He had spent years concealing his identity as a Blood Cult spy and infiltrating the Heavenly Martial Academy. His life had been one of continuous success, even while keeping his ultimate techniques in reserve. The alias he had earned, the Fist Tyrant, was at once an act of deception toward the orthodox sects and a source of genuine personal pride.
How could I lose to a mere punk like him?
His opponent was Geo Sangwoong, the same fat fool he had crushed mercilessly two years ago. The thought of giving up his alias to someone so insignificant filled him with unbearable rage.
.and was blocked a second time.
Still, he knew that going any further now was dangerous.
Barely choking back his anger, he glared at Geo Sangwoong. "...If this were the Dragon and Phoenix Tournament, where inner arts are allowed, you would already be on your knees, begging me for mercy."
Geo Sangwoong met the glare without flinching, his eyes smoldering with undiminished killing intent. "Oh yeah? Then why don't we just settle it right here..."
A cold voice cut their war of words short.
"That's enough, both of you."
Namgung Su landed lightly between them, his hands clasped behind his back.
WHOOOOSH!
A cold wind swept across the stage, cooling the heated atmosphere. Namgung Su leveled a gaze colder than the winter chill at Cho Il. "Student Cho Il, should you persist in using cowardly tactics against a fellow student, I will not stand by any longer."
With so many eyes watching him, he can't use the Soul Reaping Demonic Art, but the Soul-Severing Yama Art is no less powerful.
"...!" Cho Il shuddered. The moment he looked into Namgung Su's golden, lightning-filled eyes, he knew he couldn't defy the man. He could only grit his teeth and swallow his rage.
Namgung Su turned toward Geo Sangwoong. "The same goes for you, Student Geo Sangwoong. Calm yourself."
"...Yes, Mr. Namgung."
After cooling the tense atmosphere, Namgung Su turned to address the Principal of the Heavenly Martial Academy. "As you saw, Student Cho Il of the Heavenly Martial Academy used inner arts in an external arts duel. The grounds for disqualification are clear."
Nods of agreement spread throughout the audience.
The Heavenly Martial Principal, watching with great interest, announced, "Begin whenever you are ready."
Cho Il clenched his fists, unable to accept this outcome. Ultimately, however, another brush with Namgung Su's piercing gaze forced him to bow his head.
Before they cause trouble elsewhere."
The Heavenly Martial Principal rose to his feet. "Student Cho Il will face disciplinary action for using inner arts during an external arts duel in due course. It is a shame that the bout between these two exceptional students should end this way, but..."
"Wait. Do you really think Sangwoong is the kind of man who would be brought down by something like that?" he said coolly, completely unfazed by the events on stage.
He frowned, looking mildly disappointed that such an interesting duel had been cut short, but he recovered quickly.
Glancing toward the Azure Dragon Academy, his eyes curved into small, smiling crescents. He foresaw many more enjoyable duels still to come, fueled by the competitive spirit of the Five Young Azure Dragons and the other students.
"...I declare Student Cho Il disqualified. Student Geo Sangwoong is the victor of this duel."
Fierce qi swirled around Cho Il's fists. As if to shut that mouth for good, he charged in and repeatedly drove his fists into Geo Sangwoong's chest and gut.
The audience broke out in cheers and sighs at the declaration.
"Wait! I have a proposal!" Baek Suryong shouted, raising a hand up high.
Unable to stop himself, Namgung Su rubbed his temples. His colleague was clearly scheming up something again.
Baek Suryong waited until everyone was looking at him, then swept his gaze across the audience and said, "Neither the winner nor the loser looks satisfied. How about we let the duel continue? This time with no restrictions on inner arts."
The crowd buzzed at the Azure Dragon Hero's unexpected proposal. The corners of the Heavenly Martial Principal's mouth lifted, while Namgung Su furrowed his brow and glared at Baek Suryong.
The Heavenly Martial Principal rose to his feet. "Student Cho Il will face disciplinary action for using inner arts during an external arts duel in due course. It is a shame that the bout between these two exceptional students should end this way, but..."
Baek Suryong ignored Namgung Su and pressed on. "Anyone who watched the duel can probably tell that these two students harbor a deep personal grudge against each other. Wouldn't it be better to let them settle it decisively right here? Before they cause trouble elsewhere."
His words carried a strange, persuasive weight. The fight between Geo Sangwoong and Cho Il was filled with such intense killing intent that the idea of a grudge between them seemed plausible. Everyone agreed that it would be safer to settle things here, under the watchful eyes of so many masters, than out in the open, where a clash could leave one of them seriously injured.
The Heavenly Martial Principal nodded. "Are you certain you wish them to fight again, without the ban on inner arts, to decide victory or defeat? Should Student Geo Sangwoong lose..."
"I just knew you'd pull a stunt like this."
"Excuse me? What are you talking about?" Baek Suryong tilted his head, seemingly baffled. "The external arts duel was clearly Geo Sangwoong's win. You can't just overturn an already settled result. I'm talking about an exhibition duel with the students' pride on the line."
"Hmm..."
Nods of agreement spread throughout the audience.
Baek Suryong grumbled inwardly, Obviously, a win is a win. What kind of nonsense is he even spouting?
He turned to look at Geo Sangwoong, and his most senior student nodded confidently to show his readiness.
Grinning, Baek Suryong raised his voice for the whole crowd to hear. "Either way, if one side simply takes the win like this, people are bound to say the match was unfair. So why not nip that in the bud by settling this decisively?"
Swayed by the Azure Dragon Hero, the audience began shouting for the duel to continue.
Nods of agreement spread throughout the audience.
"That's right! If he's going to take the alias, they have to fight with everything they've got!"
"...I declare Student Cho Il disqualified. Student Geo Sangwoong is the victor of this duel."
"I can't wait until the Dragon and Phoenix Tournament! Let them fight now!"
"As expected, a proper martial artist must harmonize both internal and external arts!"
"Decide who the real Fist Tyrant is before the day is out!"
The Heavenly Martial Principal smiled broadly, while Namgung Su sighed deeply. Mae Geuklyom, the Acting Principal of the Azure Dragon Academy, agreed to the duel if that was what both students wanted.
"I'm fine with it!" Geo Sangwoong answered first, nodding gratefully at Baek Suryong for understanding his feelings and stepping in.
"...I'm fine with it too," Cho Il said.
He had no other choice. To salvage even a shred of his honor, he had to win—and win overwhelmingly. If he lost or fought to a draw, the title of Fist Tyrant would go to Geo Sangwoong, the man he had crushed two years prior.
Of course, he was certain that wouldn't happen.
"I'll show you just how far apart our levels are," he growled.
Geo Sangwoong smiled. "Just don't disappoint me the way you did last time."
The two boys glared at each other, their eyes brimming with killing intent.
The Heavenly Martial Principal, watching with great interest, announced, "Begin whenever you are ready."
KRAKOOM!