613

[Chapter 163]

[Demon of Fireworks (3)]

When he first heard the match rules.

Eun-ha thought like this.

Then shouldn't I just pour attack magic while the crazy squid can't move properly at first?

If it was a student other than Eun-ha, they probably wouldn't have thought of a strategy that could be called cowardly while sparring with Twelve Zodiac <Yama > Kang Hyun-chul.

If it was them, they would have put their heart and soul into showing their skills to Kang Hyun-chul.

They would have shown sportsmanship even to receive Kang Hyun-chul's acknowledgement.

But the word sportsmanship didn't exist in Noh Eun-ha's dictionary.

─Platinum Cross

So Eun-ha launched Platinum Cross as soon as it started.

It was an opportunity to legally teach a lesson to the crazy squid who had annoyed him in his previous life too.

How much did I suffer because of this guy before I regressed?

The more he thought about it, the more his anger rose.

He who was called <Undead > never thought he would shudder at the name <Yama > and avoid him.

At least when Lim Ga-eul was the Fairy, this bastard kept some boundaries.

But after Baek Yeon became the Fairy, he didn't even listen to Baek Yeon's words...

Still, thanks to Fairy Lim Ga-eul being there, Kang Hyun-chul could be controlled to some extent.

But after Fairy Lim Ga-eul was impeached and Ha Baek-yeon ascended to the Fairy position.

Kang Hyun-chul didn't try to be controlled by Ha Baek-yeon who was much younger than him.

Of course, he didn't antagonize Ha Baek-yeon like other players.

But Kang Hyun-chul's existence just by breathing quietly─.

─This bastard is just a disaster itself. Causing accidents with a pure heart is worse than causing accidents with malice.

How many accidents did Kang Hyun-chul cause?

And how much did he annoy himself?

"Alright, eat this one more time."

But the bad relationship from his previous life seemed to continue in this life too.

It feels like <Yama > is involved.

He decided not to go easy on <Yama >, saying he would get rid of him this time.

Platinum Cross

Because he fought him to the point of being sick of it in his previous life.

Eun-ha knew the human Kang Hyun-chul <Yama > very well.

He was the incarnation of an immortal.

You shouldn't say 'Is he dead?' after attacking once.

Instead of saying such words, you should attack again with the mindset of not even being able to find the corpse.

Platinum Cross

Twice wasn't enough either.

Eun-ha used Platinum Cross again.

It was magic activated at close range.

Unfortunately, contrary to his heart, lethal magic was prohibited in the match, so.

Eun-ha maintained moderate output and launched the magic.

Nevertheless─.

"─S-shit... I thought I was going to die... You bastard, are you determined to kill me? What are you doing suddenly?"

"Tch."

Kang Hyun-chul was tenaciously alive.

His clothes were in tatters where he appeared as the smoke cleared.

His upper body was in a state that could be considered almost naked.

It seems he somehow blocked the attack by putting his greatsword right in front.

But that wasn't Eun-ha's concern.

Eun-ha's gaze was on the damage measuring device.

"...Only two destroyed? I thought he'd die from this much."

"Did you just click your tongue? Are you human? How can your face not change after trying to kill someone!?"

"You didn't die. And you survived well. Why are you talking so much?"

"Wow, shit, this kid is really annoying?"

The artifact measuring damage.

Eun-ha clicked his tongue seeing the artifacts on both of Kang Hyun-chul's wrists with only the crystal balls shattered.

Seeing that the artifacts worn on other parts were intact, it seems he blocked mainly with his two arms even though he could have died if he made a mistake.

He didn't run away in that situation, and endured by sacrificing 2 artifacts instead...

He's truly the god of fighting.

Eun-ha clicked his tongue.

"─I was going to just receive it at first, but that won't do. Hey, you! Looking at it now, you're planning to cowardly launch magic from afar using the rules, aren't you!?"

"Isn't that obvious? This is a practical strategy."

"Huh... practical strategy? Alright... You think you're the only one who can use that strategy?"

Kang Hyun-chul emitted an aura.

He was very angry.

Nevertheless, Eun-ha wasn't scared.

No matter how angry he got, he couldn't leave the area anyway.

Just then─.

─Snap! Snap! Snap! Snap! Snap!

He snapped his fingers repeatedly.

At that moment, dozens of sparks bloomed in the air.

Kang Hyun-chul surrounded by sparks─.

"─Why don't you try dying too."

"That's not something a Twelve Zodiac should say..."

Kang Hyun-chul pointed at Eun-ha with his index finger.

Dozens of sparks immediately rushed at Eun-ha.

Thousand Steps

Sparks following him.

Eun-ha used Thousand Steps to avoid them.

But there were many sparks.

Also─.

"─Why don't you try running away until you die!!"

Kang Hyun-chul kept creating sparks and attacked the direction Eun-ha was heading.

Sparks chased from behind.

Flames rushed from the front.

In the end, Eun-ha had to deal with sparks rapidly increasing according to the flow of time.

Meanwhile, Kang Hyun-chul's first seal was released.

"Tch, it only increased by two steps at most."

Though his stride only increased by about 2 steps from the 2-3 step stride.

The change brought by 2 steps was considerable.

Kang Hyun-chul's attacks on Eun-ha became more precise.

Furthermore─.

"─Burn to death in the fire."

"...!!"

When almost the entire arena was covered by sparks.

Inevitably, the area Eun-ha could avoid was limited.

Kang Hyun-chul laughed like a villain and snapped his fingers as he entered that area.

At that moment, flames surged.

Flames too high for Eun-ha to jump over with his steps.

They surrounded him in a circle and fell on Eun-ha like waves.

Whoosh!!

In the end, the place where Eun-ha was became a sea of fire.

It couldn't be identified with the naked eye.

It was also difficult to grasp with detection nets because mana was heavily mixed in the surroundings.

Moreover, the heat was so intense it was hard to keep eyes open.

"Hahaha!! Burn brightly! That's what you get for provoking my temper!?"

Nevertheless, Kang Hyun-chul laughed very grandly.

He even turned his body and waved both arms to show on the monitor.

It was then.

Phoenix Transformation

Phoenix's Cloak

Something cried out.

A sound like a bird's cry.

Kang Hyun-chul turned his head.

"I thought he died..."

Kang Hyun-chul clicked his tongue loudly as if unsatisfied.

The sea of fire was violently rippling.

Then as if forming a vortex, the flames rushed fiercely towards the center of the sea of fire.

Soon the fire filling the arena joined the flow of the vortex.

A pillar of fire rose high enough to touch the arena's protective magic.

Then some form was walking out of the pillar of fire.

There was no need to check the identity.

"I held back my strength moderately, but it seems there's not even a scratch, damn it."

Kang Hyun-chul snorting.

He laughed seeing Noh Eun-ha with a cloak of flames on his shoulders.

He laughed, then let his guard down.

─Blast Cross

He thought he was just walking out.

But Noh Eun-ha was preparing a follow-up attack inside the pillar of fire.

"─This crazy squid is really trying to kill someone?"

What the?

Kang Hyun-chul had a lot to say.

But he had to face flames bigger than the flames he created.

Soon he was swallowed by the flames.

☆

"─Ahahahahaha!!"

""""..."""""

The battle between <Quick-witted > and <Yama >.

People expecting a match to determine superiority between the protagonists of 2nd and 3rd generation players.

They were shocked to see Noh Eun-ha suddenly launch a sword strike that looked like lethal magic as soon as the match started.

After that, they were at a loss for words hearing Noh Eun-ha and Kang Hyun-chul exchange words that couldn't be thought of as representing a generation of players.

"Ahahahaha!! Amazing!! Is this a match? Eun-ha is raiding the boss monster Kang Hyun-chul! Ahaha!!"

Something, different from what they expected.

They couldn't grasp how to speak facing such a battle where they seemed determined to kill each other.

They couldn't even laugh.

In such a situation, the only person laughing was Fairy Lim Ga-eul alone.

"Ah, I'm tearing up... It's been so long since I laughed like this."

Lim Ga-eul laughed out loud openly.

Priscis Memory sitting next to her also laughed faintly with her hand covering her mouth.

But she couldn't match Lim Ga-eul's laughter.

She even clapped as if watching a comedy.

"This human really... He's disgracing the Twelve Zodiac all by himself. No, even if he charges like that, you should have maintained some dignity."

Meanwhile, <Holy Mother> Park Hye-rim barely came to her senses and gritted her teeth.

To her, the Fairy laughing next to her seemed to be reproaching herself.

It was a place where the Fairy was present.

But Kang Hyun-chul was fighting vulgarly like a ruffian in the marketplace, so she wondered how it would look in the Fairy's eyes.

Even if Lim Ga-eul was genuinely enjoying watching this match─.

"─You idiot... Really, you fool... You've eaten so many years, what are you doing in front of people?"

It was being broadcast nationwide.

It meant countless people were watching the match, not just those present here.

But a player who should receive people's admiration and awe was engaging in a barbaric fight.

Moreover, he's one of the Twelve Zodiac who should be devoted to the people and protecting the country.

"Oh my, who is the person showing on the screen now? It seems they fainted with foam in their mouth..."

"It's probably Blaze Clan's administrator, judging by the Eight Jades nearby."

Then Lim Ga-eul pointed at the monitor.

Priscis Memory told her the identity of the man whose shoulders were being shaken by the Eight Jades on the screen.

Park Hye-rim sighed.

She could understand why Blaze Clan's administrator fainted.

"Maybe fainting is fortunate..."

Then Park Hye-rim thought like that.

If she could, she wanted to just faint here too.

Meanwhile, Eun-ah next to her─.

"─That's, that's... He's crazy, really... Why did he do such a thing risking danger? What if he gets hurt?"

Eun-ah was very angry.

After Eun-ha donned the cloak of flames.

Eun-ha was charging in without avoiding Kang Hyun-chul's flames.

She knew the flames didn't harm him anymore.

Nevertheless, to Eun-ah's eyes, it looked like her younger brother was risking danger.

It was then.

"─Oh? Unni, we're showing on the broadcast now?"

"It seems they want to see your reaction since you're Eun-ha's noona."

"Ah, is that so?"

"Wave at the camera."

"Okay. But why is Summer unni pressing down her hat like that?"

"I don't like people filming me."

The monitor showing Blaze Clan.

Suddenly Eun-ah and Park Hye-rim appeared on the monitor.

For a moment Lim Ga-eul appeared on the screen too, but then only Eun-ah waving with a bright face remained.

"Noh Eun-ha! You're in trouble when you come home!"

While people were pouring out exclamations at her beauty.

Noh Eun-ah shouted loudly.

People's eyes seemed to see Noh Eun-ah's appearance as cheering for her younger brother, so they suddenly cheered for Noh Eun-ha.

Meanwhile, Noh Eun-ha and Kang Hyun-chul's barbaric battle continued.

To this, the match commentator said─.

[─Um... Ladies and gentlemen, you are watching a breathtaking battle between generations. Indeed, student Noh Eun-ha is having a neck-and-neck match with <Yama > despite his young age, enough to earn the alias <Quick-witted >. It's like seeing another <Yama >! This, this... The future seems a bit worrying...?]

You may be watching a future arsonist.

The match commentator spoke losing his mind.

☆

"Damn it...!!"

The second seal was released.

Nevertheless, Kang Hyun-chul cursed.

What's the use of increasing the area he can move in?

That bastard Noh Eun-ha kept pouring attacks from outside the area.

Of course, he responded too.

Snap snap snap snap snap!!

Let's see who wins.

Kang Hyun-chul snapped his fingers towards the flames he could barely see.

His animal-like senses were faintly detecting Noh Eun-ha moving rapidly inside the flames.

─Whoosh!!

Nevertheless.

Kang Hyun-chul's magic all ended in failure.

Noh Eun-ha's familiar wasn't taking damage from his flames.

I should have bought a familiar even if I had to go into debt!

Kang Hyun-chul regretted the past again.

He was in a situation where he couldn't make any attacks because of that bastard's familiar.

Rather, he was just being attacked.

Blast Cross

Fortunately, as the area he could move in increased.

Kang Hyun-chul could now avoid attacks to some extent.

However, he couldn't overcome the situation by just avoiding continuously.

He had to counterattack.

Damn it... Even if I want to counterattack, my sword needs to reach that bastard!

Kang Hyun-chul gritted his teeth while somehow blocking the flames spreading in a cross shape.

Just as his flames weren't causing any damage to Noh Eun-ha now.

Noh Eun-ha's flames weren't attacking Kang Hyun-chul currently either.

But even if he wasn't taking damage, the damn artifacts were still accumulating impacts.

That was why Noh Eun-ha was just launching magic from far away without entering the area.

"Hey!! If you're a man, let's have a proper fight!!"

Finally getting too angry.

Kang Hyun-chul shouted loudly.

If it was a normal person, intense heat would have rushed into their respiratory system and melted their internal organs.

But Kang Hyun-chul with the gift <Flame Flower> could endure in the flames as if breathing.

It was when he thought that.

No, wait─.

A thought flashed through his mind for a moment.

Kang Hyun-chul got distracted from the battle and fell into thought.

Why can I breathe naturally in the flames?

Even without using protective magic.

It's because of the <Flame Flower> gift.

His mana was made of flames, and his heart that produced mana could be called an ignition device that created flames.

In other words, his body itself was flames.

My body is made of flames, and my mana is converted to flames.

Eventually Kang Hyun-chul reached such a realization.

Furthermore, he─.

"─If my mana is converted to flames, shouldn't the opposite be possible too? Changing flames... into mana."

Kang Hyun-chul had a crude thought.

Surprisingly, he didn't doubt the thought he had at all.

Therefore─.

─Blast Cross

As the flames rippled once.

When the cross-shaped flames suddenly rushed at him.

This time Kang Hyun-chul didn't avoid.

"Mere flames like this─!"

─I just need to turn them back into mana.

Like doing mana drain.

Like manipulating the flames he created.

Kang Hyun-chul reached his hand towards the huge cross.

His hand was enveloped in flames.

It wasn't hot anyway.

High-level Control Technique

He began complex calculations.

This magic is under Noh Eun-ha's control.

So use high-level control technique to first bring it under his own control.

Thus he made the flames grasped in his right hand his own.

He couldn't make it all his own, but that wasn't very important.

As long as even part of it was in his hands, it was no different from something he could absorb.

Whoosh!!

Chomp chomp

Kang Hyun-chul, like eating food greedily.

He crudely put the flames he grabbed with his hand into his mouth.

Strangely, the flames screamed in a weird sound as if terrified.

But Kang Hyun-chul didn't care and chomped down the flames until all the embers entered his mouth.

"Kuaaaaaaah!! Shit! It's so hot! But power is rising!!"

It felt like his insides would burn up.

Kang Hyun-chul endured the pain.

Manifesting his internal mana, he told his heart.

No, he threatened it.

That his heart and body were made of flames.

Did those words work?

"Ugh─."

The flames spewing from every hole in Kang Hyun-chul's body subsided.

Soon he exhaled flames from his mouth and nose, then showed a more relaxed attitude.

"I ate well and am full. It's good to be able to recover mana without potions. Does this mean I can also absorb and convert the magic I use back into mana?"

"..."

"Papa..."

The flames blooming in the arena disappeared.

Noh Eun-ha was dumbfounded at this.

Buldak seemed shocked too. Buldak, who had returned to being a bird of flames, sat on his shoulder unable to close its beak.

Regardless, Kang Hyun-chul─.

"─Eh, can't my magic be converted back? That's too bad. No... It seems like it might not be impossible if I try hard enough..."

Snap.

He created a spark and tried to experiment if he could convert it back into his body.

Kang Hyun-chul licked his lips in regret when the experiment ended in failure.

Then he finally turned his gaze to Noh Eun-ha.

"─Hey, now your flames won't work on me, so what are you going to do? Will you still attack from far away?"

Just then the third seal was released.

Now he could move quite a bit.

Kang Hyun-chul laughed gleefully.

Noh Eun-ha─.

"─This never happened before..."

"Papa..."

"What is this? Why did he get stronger? What on earth caused this?"

Noh Eun-ha was greatly flustered.

And he instinctively sensed.

That he might have to live being chased by Kang Hyun-chul in this life too.