Flames Against Blossoms

After explaining the purpose of sparring to the students.

Professor Kang looked around at them.

Some sat still, doing image training.

Others attacked sandbags mindlessly.

Each was preparing in their own way.

Just by watching.

Professor Kang could roughly gauge their levels.

“Look. It seems like those two are about to fight.”

At that moment.

He heard the students whispering.

Following the source, he saw two students facing each other with swords drawn.

‘Yang Ji-hwan… and Jung Woo-hyuk.’

Professor Kang recalled the information he had checked that morning.

Awakening of dimensional magic.

What many professors had doubted was now confirmed through Professor Han Tae-soo’s report.

Of course, the exact nature of dimensional magic was still unclear.

‘This will be interesting.’

Yang Ji-hwan.

Though he hadn’t stood out among his peers, he was certainly talented.

And above all.

Woo-hyuk’s combat was something to look forward to.

Tap!

The sparring began.

Yang Ji-hwan swung first.

It was fast enough.

But what shocked Professor Kang came next.

‘Sword aura!’

It was unmistakable.

An ability reserved for awakened individuals.

‘And not just any sword aura.’

Having seen countless examples, he could tell.

Woo-hyuk’s aura was different.

It was like watching a high-level hunter who had mastered it and infused it with his own characteristics.

And that wasn’t all.

‘He’s grown. Tremendously.’

During the practical exam, he hadn’t been at this level.

Speed, strength, technique.

Everything had improved drastically.

It was hard to believe he had been bedridden just days ago.

‘I’m curious.’

Professor Kang imagined Woo-hyuk after graduation.

He would undoubtedly shake the hunter world.

Clap. Clap.

“An impressive fight.”

Professor Kang stepped forward, revealing his honest thoughts.

“It seems you’ve all warmed up enough. Let’s begin the actual class.”

Boom!

“Ghk!”

Bang!

The real sparring class began.

Opponents were decided randomly by drawing lots.

Students fought in order.

The name on my slip was—

‘Lee Dong-hyo? He was on Cha Seo-yeon’s team during the exam…’

I recalled his face and looked around.

He was already looking at me.

And the moment our eyes met—

“Eek!”

“…?”

He immediately lowered his head.

‘Right. He’s pretty timid.’

Not weak.

Just lacking confidence.

Honestly, I wasn’t expecting much from this match.

Soon—

“Jung Woo-hyuk… and Lee Dong-hyo.”

Our names were called.

“Dong-hyo’s screwed.”

“Why did it have to be Woo-hyuk?”

“This is totally unbalanced.”

The whispers spread.

Dong-hyo couldn’t even stand up.

‘This won’t work.’

He was completely crushed mentally.

Encouraging him would only feel like mockery.

Thankfully.

The professor intervened.

“Dong-hyo, aren’t you coming?”

“P-Professor… but Woo-hyuk is…”

He hesitated.

The professor sighed.

“Hmm… the balance is off. Woo-hyuk, would you mind changing opponents?”

“I don’t mind.”

“Good. Then you may choose your opponent.”

“Haa…”

Dong-hyo let out a sigh of relief.

He was clearly relieved not to fight me.

At this rate, joining a guild would be difficult for him.

“Well then…”

I looked around the arena.

Everyone avoided my gaze.

Except three.

Yang Ji-hwan.

Won Jong-hyo.

And Cha Seo-yeon.

‘No point picking someone avoiding me.’

That would just repeat the same situation.

So the choice was between those three.

‘I already fought Ji-hwan.’

Cha Seo-yeon stared at me coldly.

The strongest student in the academy.

I was curious about her strength.

Next to her sat Won Jong-hyo.

Still glaring at me with a twisted expression.

‘Even if I don’t pick him, he’ll come anyway.’

The warnings echoed in my mind.

Better than getting ambushed.

“Won Jong-hyo. You.”

Better to face him head-on.

“Did you just call me?”

“What, scared? Want me to take it back?”

“Hah. Digging your own grave.”

Won Jong-hyo stood up.

As if he had been waiting.

And stepped onto the arena.

As expected.

Even if I hadn’t called him, he would’ve challenged me.

‘…Did Cha Seo-yeon just look disappointed?’

Maybe I imagined it.

Anyway.

The professor nodded.

“This will be interesting.”

The students reacted the same.

All eyes focused on us.

“Wow, they’re fighting?”

“Who’ll win? Woo-hyuk?”

“No way. That’s Won Jong-hyo, son of Cat Eye Guild’s master.”

“He’s been trained since before entering the academy.”

Opinions were split.

Won Jong-hyo frowned.

Those predicting my victory fell silent.

“So arrogant over a trick in the exam.”

“A trick? Can’t even accept defeat?”

“Did you just call me petty?”

“Why keep asking? Want me to clean your ears?”

“…Fine. I’ll crush you so you can’t even show your face again.”

Flare!

Flames ignited in his palm.

A fire mage.

An elite trained before the academy.

The professor stepped forward.

“No need to prepare. Begin.”

Tap!

I dashed forward instantly.

Against a mage.

Close combat.

Continuous pressure.

That was the textbook method.

Flare!

“You think I’ll just stand still?”

Before I reached him—

A wall of flames rose.

Fire Wall.

Too intense to break through casually.

“So you’re just a physical type, huh? Dimensional magic, what a joke.”

He smirked behind the flames.

No gaps.

Then—

Wooooong!

Like coating my sword.

I wrapped my body in mana.

Not perfect.

But enough for one push.

Tap!

With my agility—

I charged through.

The heat burned even through mana.

And beyond it—

“Told you.”

Boom—

“Ghk!”

A massive fireball.

Fire Ball.

He had anticipated it.

‘Second form, Butterfly Dance.’

I dodged.

Faster.

I couldn’t tank it.

So I moved.

“Ha! Struggle all you want!”

Flames rained down.

His aim—

No.

Prediction.

Was better than expected.

And my footwork—

Weak against wide-area attacks.

Even if I dodged.

Explosions still reached me.

Because it wasn’t designed for magic.

“Go on, struggle! I’ll roast you slowly.”

The textbook method?

It was meant for monsters.

Not trained human mages.

‘Tch.’

Fine.

At my current level.

Beating him wasn’t easy.

But—

“Monas.”

“I’ve been waiting.”

I wasn’t losing.

“Organize the dimensional stones related to magic.”

An eye for an eye.

A tooth for a tooth.

I had the mana.

I had the intelligence.

The gun was ready.

Now—

I just had to choose the bullet.