Learning My Clones' Moves (2)

Lee Seung heard the sharp, rapid clatter of sticks as he and his clones walked down a narrow corridor. The air was thick with tension, and the sound echoed off the walls, growing louder with each step. When they reached the end of the passage, the space opened up into a wide training ground teeming with activity.

The strong scent of methylated spirits hung in the air, mingling with the smell of sweat. Several men were scattered around, treating fresh wounds, while others halted their sparring to look over at the newcomers.

A tall, muscular man stepped forward. He was half-naked, his chest glistening with sweat, and even from a distance, the sharp definition of his abs and arms was clear. Lee Seung's breath caught for a moment, but he quickly composed himself.

'I can't afford to look impressed,' he thought, stepping deeper into the room. Any sign of weakness could make him an easy target.

"Welcome, young men," the man greeted them, his voice deep and commanding. Lee Seung could feel the weight of his presence as he shook the man's hand.

"Good morning, sir. I'm Lee Seung," he said evenly. There was no question—this man was the leader.

"Nice to meet you," the man replied, his eyes briefly flicking to the clones. "I see you brought company. Do you prefer freestyle sparring or something with rules?"

"I'm not here to fight," Lee Seung replied calmly. "I'm here to evaluate their skills. They'll fight without restrictions. And everyone here is invited to challenge them."

A murmur of surprise rippled through the crowd. Some men smirked, while others tightened their grips on their wooden swords, eyes gleaming with interest.

"A general challenge?" The leader chuckled, walking to a chair on the far side of the room and sitting down. "Anyone interested, raise your hand."

At first, only a few hands went up, but after some hesitation, the room filled with raised hands. It seemed everyone wanted to test these newcomers.

The leader stood again and walked back to Lee Seung. "Since everyone's in, here are the rules. First, you can use whatever skills you have. Second, the last one standing wins. Simple as that."

---

In the Eclipse Hunters Guild office,

Kim Eunji sat in her office, the city skyline visible through the large window behind her. The room was quiet, save for the ticking of a wall clock. After closing a file, she picked up her phone, her expression cold.

"Good morning, Director Seijin. We've identified a suspect," she said, her voice polite but firm.

"He's an employee of Mr. Choi Minho, named Lee Seung. According to the Awakening Company's records, he Awakened a few weeks ago and is now an E-rank metahuman."

Kim Seijin then said, "That's weird. Okay, look into him and Choi Minho."

---

Back at the training ground, two adult men circled the clones, wooden swords hanging loosely at their sides. Their faces showed amusement, clearly underestimating the frail-looking teenagers in front of them. The clones, however, stood still, their expressions calm.

Lee Seung leaned casually against the wall, appearing relaxed as he trimmed his thumbnails, though his eyes remained fixed on the clones.

'They're not even in a serious stance,' he observed. 'Are they just waiting to see what happens first?'

The referee's whistle blew, signaling the start. The clones immediately shifted into a knight's stance, their wooden swords held level with their eyes. The room grew tense as both sides waited for the other to make the first move.

Lee Seung quietly mused, "The first one to move risks exposing themselves to a counterattack. In a last-man-standing fight, that's a dangerous gamble."

Finally, one of the adults, his patience worn thin, shouted, "Enough of this!" and lunged forward, dagger aimed at one of the clones. In an instant, the clone somersaulted over him, landing several meters away with a solid thud.

"Impressive stamina your friend has!" the leader called out to Seung, a grin on his face. Lee Seung nodded slightly, still focused on the action.

The man who missed his strike stood stunned, but quickly recovered, spinning his weapon and charging again at the clone. Meanwhile, the second adult engaged the other clone, the clash of wooden swords filling the room.

WHACK!

A loud crack rang out, followed by a cry of pain. One of the clones had struck his opponent's head with a swift, precise blow. The man crumpled to the ground, clutching his head.

"What?! He took down Mister Yu?!"

"Who are these guys?!"

"I can't believe what I'm seeing!"

The spectators broke into shocked whispers, their earlier confidence shaken. Lee Seung's attention shifted to the second clone, still locked in combat.

Suddenly, the clone sidestepped and grabbed his opponent by the waist, effortlessly tossing him across the room. The man landed with a heavy thud beside his fallen comrade, groaning in pain.

'Amazing!' Lee Seung thought, a grin spreading across his face. 'These guys are even better than I thought!'

The injured men were quickly helped to a corner of the room, where first aid supplies were waiting. The leader, now standing beside Seung, watched the clones with newfound interest.

"This might have been luck," he announced loudly, "but let's see if it holds in the next round."

He signaled to a group in the back, and six more men stepped forward, forming a circle around the clones. Their eyes burned with determination, ready to prove themselves.

Lee Seung smirked, noticing how his clones remained unfazed, their expressions calm and confident.

"Let's see if it's really luck," he muttered, his excitement growing.