Chapter 15: Weapons Training and "Zone"

Suho Kang's POV

"Haaa!" Hansol screamed before falling to the ground.

"You have a good mindset for using weapons, but you too often forget that they are just tools, not something indispensable," Wang declared, observing Hansol on the ground.

"When you lose the weapon in your hand, remember that the world is your weapon," he said, helping him up.

"I must say, you're talented, but you've got a long way to go," he said before lighting a cigarette.

"What about me? When do I start?" I declared, sitting off to the side.

"Putting a professional player on an amateur field is counterproductive," he said with a smile.

"I'm done with them, and I'm starting your separate training," Wang Hao said, turning to Myeong Seong, who was panting with fatigue next to Rira Seo.

"Your turn now to spar with me. Like with Hansol and Rira Seo, I'll point out the mistakes you make," he said, approaching him.

I merely observed the scene without a word more. Wang Hao's training was surprisingly simple but effective from my point of view.

He first trained the bodies of Hansol, Myeong Seong, and Rira Seo with a long basic training for a few hours, then he began to explain how to hold certain weapons such as knives or bats and teach them how to move with them.

Finally, he did some sparring with them, explaining their mistakes during the fights. Although Hansol, Myeong Seong, and Rira Seo had real weapons to get used to the feeling of holding one as quickly as possible, Wang only had the wooden version of the weapon.

Despite this, he wasn't injured once.

"That's all for today with you. Now, you can approach, Suho," he said to me.

I complied, grasping a blade that seemed right to me and stood before him.

"You're holding it well. Have you practiced Kali Arnis before?" he said, observing my posture.

"That's exactly it, but without a teacher," I said honestly.

The original Suho Kang had faced many armed opponents in the Hanlim Gym universe and, obviously, he was able to copy many styles thanks to that, but it never integrated into his own style.

It seems he doesn't appreciate the use of weapons, which is a shame since the head of Hanlim Gym is an extremely competent man with weapons. I'd even say he has nothing to envy Manager Kim overall.

"I'm not going to waste your time with training for your physique, I can see that you're at the possible limit for your age," Wang declared, observing me from head to toe.

I was currently shirtless with just training pants that I had obtained here.

"I'm going to train you through countless battles. That way, I think you'll be able to better grasp the essence of armed combat," he said, taking a fighting stance.

Indeed, I could understand his words during our exchanges of blows.

Combat with weapons is really different in its essence from unarmed combat.

I had to be careful of Wang's wooden blade, but I couldn't neglect his body either, otherwise I'd end up suffering low blows from him.

We finally conducted several sparring sessions with various weapons. At the end of our training, Wang Hao was panting, and I was in a slightly better situation.

"You really have monstrous endurance, and I can see that you're competent with weapons, unlike your friends. Are you sure you need me?" he said, sitting on a nearby stair step.

In truth, I had already copied many of his techniques during our sparring, and I think I even fulfilled a good part of my objectives for weapons training, but I couldn't say that.

Moreover, I needed him for another type of training beyond those reserved for weapons.

"I underwent hellish training to achieve my current physique," I said nonchalantly, settling beside him.

"I also wanted to ask for your help with another type of training, Mr. Wang," I said to him after wiping my sweat with a towel.

"You didn't just want to train with weapons here," he said, frowning.

"It's also technically weapons training, but I'll blindfold myself and I have to sense your attack," I explained calmly.

This was a training that Yeongha Jeon, the rival of the original Suho Kang, had undergone in the Hanlim Gym manhwa. It had allowed him to be able to dodge attacks at the speed of sound.

I remember that the head of Hanlim Gym, Gwangcheon Lim, could dodge a bullet from a gun even when it was right in front of him.

Besides that, it's the training that can help me reach the zone faster, and it will be beneficial if I can use it.

The head of Hanlim Gym explained to Yeongha Jeon that he had reached his physical limit during the break of the national PvP tournament.

So normal training wouldn't work anymore for him to progress. He was thus in a situation similar to mine currently.

So he trained him to experience near-death several times so that he could control the resulting phenomenon and accelerate his progression towards the Zone.

The results were extremely fast: he was able to reach the zone in a few weeks.

I could have used this method a long time ago, but Hansu Seong would never have agreed to put me in danger multiple times.

However, Wang Hao is clearly different from Hansu Seong. He won't hesitate to potentially kill me if he has the chance, and it's this pressure that I need to reach the zone.

"Kid, I don't know if you've watched too many Chinese martial arts movies, but we don't train like that here," Wang Hao declared, rejecting my idea.

"If you agree to attack me with murderous intent while I'm blindfolded, I'll invest more in Chunwoong," I said, looking him in the eyes.

"You're really crazy, but alright, I'll help you," Wang declared, picking up a knife from among the weapons that were arranged for Hansol, Myeong Seong, and mine.

"Don't come crying if you get stabbed with this," he said, giving me a smile that I found slightly frightening.

"Don't worry about that," I replied, getting up from my spot to return to the field.

I had conducted several meditation sessions to try to improve my eyes of misfortune without illicit substances, but without success. Currently, I think all these meditation sessions will be useful now for what's to come.

...

After training, I took a shower and put on my high school uniform but was surprised by the number of bandages I had on me now.

The reason for this situation was simple: Wang Hao was too optimized during the training, I really struggled to preserve my vital points.

"Why are you doing this kind of training?" Rira Seo asked in a slightly worried tone.

Currently, we were all three on our way back to our respective residences, and if someone were observing us now, they might mistake us for zombies, given our gait.

"If I'm not strong enough, I won't be able to seize the things I covet, and I might even have them stolen from me, like you for example, haha!" I said, laughing at the end of my sentence.

In truth, my fight with Hansu had just awakened me.

If I couldn't beat or match him, then I risked having trouble if I meddled in Baek XX's plot.

I had to become strong quickly, even if it meant risking my life training with Wang Hao to reach the zone.

"Still, I found that you were exaggerating in your training," she declared before quickly moving away without saying anything more.

"I think the same as Rira," Myeong Seong simply said as he left.

"What about you, Hansol, do you think I'm pushing it a bit?" I asked the only silent one since our departure from Chunwoong.

"You're a big boy, but it would be unfortunate if we had to find a new leader," she said, shrugging her shoulders.

"Haha, it's funny that you worry about me, my actions are necessary for the Phantom Troupe," I said confidently before wanting to pat her head.

"Stop," she said, trying to resist but eventually resigning herself to her fate.

"I'll leave you, I still have to get home trying to avoid the old man," I said as I left.

"Idiot," Hansol murmured towards him.

(Image here)