Chapter 35: A Commoner's Potential (2)

“First, I’ll demonstrate the Circular Swift Step.”

Matthew stood diagonally, his left foot forward and his shoulders angled at a shoulder-width stance.

Suddenly—

Whoosh.

A massive ogre wielding a club materialized before him.

Of course, it wasn’t a real monster.

So this training ground can manifest monsters too.

Just like Shinwa Guild’s S-rank training chamber, the Dragon Ascent Training Ground could conjure virtual creatures by consuming Mana.

[ It doesn’t seem capable of replicating entire environments like Shinwa’s facility though, ] Manager Mi observed.

Matthew nodded in agreement.

While it might fall slightly short of Shinwa’s capabilities, constructing such an advanced training ground within a renovated ancient temple was still a remarkable feat.

And yet—

“The Ringwalk Step is the foundational footwork for every technique in the Ascending Dragon Divine Fist,” Matthew said, gazing up at the nearly three-meter-tall ogre. “With just this technique alone, you can easily dismiss most monsters.”

Whizz!

The ogre, formed entirely of mana, swung its massive arm horizontally. Its log-like club sliced through the air, aimed at Matthew’s head.

Swoosh.

Matthew couldn’t quite grasp what had happened. Perhaps it would be more accurate to say he couldn’t visually perceive the split-second shift. His body simply swayed with fluid grace, like a willow branch in the wind.

Whoosh!

Just one step. The tip of the log brushed past his nose, widening the distance between Matthew and the ogre.

Whizz?!

The missed swing sent the monster staggering violently.

The ogre’s hideous face contorted with a mixture of panic and rage.

“Uwooooah!” it roared, swinging its club again and again. Each blow carried enough force to shatter a human skull in a single strike.

But, predictably…

Whoosh!

The attack missed by a mere inch.

Unable to close that tiny gap, the club sliced through empty air.

Despite the ogre’s hulking frame, Matthew moved with effortless grace, his movements fluid and relaxed.

“Krooooah!” the ogre bellowed, its rage boiling as it struck only empty air, caught in Matthew’s mirage-like movements.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Matthew, who had been casually dodging with his hands behind his back, finally made his move.

With a single, swift motion, he flicked his arm forward with effortless lightness.

Crack!

The ogre’s chest caved inward.

Its eyes bulged, and its tongue lolled momentarily over its protruding tusks.

Boom!

With a deafening sonic boom, the monster’s massive body hurtled to the far end of the training ground and slammed into the wall.

Hiss…

The ogre, embedded in the wall and trembling violently, disintegrated into mana and vanished.

Immediately, a voice drifted over.

“I didn’t use any killing techniques just now.”

Turning, I saw Matthew grinning, his fangs bared.

“I only used the Illusionary Phantom Footwork to move, and simply redirected the opponent’s own force against it.”

I nodded.

Then, I said exactly what Matthew clearly wanted to hear.

“Truly, the Ascending Dragon Divine Fist is remarkable. Even its footwork alone approaches divine skill.”

“Heh, does it seem that way?”

“Yes. It’s no wonder it’s called one of the Three Great Martial Arts.”

This wasn’t an empty boast.

In the early days of the Great Change, Hwarang lacked the vast capital, dazzling media coverage, and exceptional talent that propelled other guilds to prominence.

They relied solely on the Ascending Dragon Divine Fist.

That single martial art had carried them to their current position.

That’s why I’ve come all this way—because this martial art is so undeniably powerful.

I glanced down at the obsidian crystal hanging from my neck.

“I won’t deny it,” Matthew said, grinning like a wild beast.

But his voice quickly turned bitter as he continued, “Honestly, I’m deeply worried. Among all the disciples I’ve taught the Ascending Dragon Divine Fist, not a single one has truly met my expectations.”

To be honest, I found that hard to believe.

As far as I knew, the Hwarang Guild had quite a few A-rank Hunters ranked within the top 30.

Matthew’s three direct disciples, known as the Rising Dragon Elite, were renowned powerhouses even within the Hunter community. It was no coincidence that Hwarang was one of Korea’s top three guilds.

Yet, even these elite Hunters seemed utterly pathetic in Matthew’s eyes.

“Among the younger ones, Kang Gun shows the most promise,” Matthew said. “I’m pinning my hopes on him, but given his age, he’s still far too immature.”

Matthew turned his piercing gaze back to me. “But you… with proper guidance, I believe you could master the Rising Dragon Divine Fist to my satisfaction within the next five years.”

“I’m not so sure about that,” I replied.

“Hmm?”

“I think you’re setting your expectations too high for me,” I said firmly. “I haven’t exactly demonstrated any particular abilities to you, Guild Leader.”

“Hah, a sparrow and a phoenix are different from birth. I’m not blind enough to mistake one for the other,” the Hwarang Captain chuckled, his eyes gleaming with amusement. “But no matter. I still have plenty more to show you.”

Grrr…

At that moment, a chilling beastly growl echoed through the Dragon Ascension Arena. From the mana-infused mist, a colossal wolf-like monster materialized—a Bloody Wolf, classified as an A-grade threat.

Its crimson eyes locked onto Matthew, its fur bristling as it sized up its prey.

Kaaah!

Without hesitation, the wolf lunged at Matthew.

In response, Matthew enveloped his entire body in crimson mana and opened his mouth.

“Once this demonstration is over…”

He planted his left foot firmly, then raised his right leg in a slanted arc, as if delivering a spinning kick.

The towering figure, nearly two meters tall, spun with featherlight grace.

Whoosh!

His leg, extended into the air, pulsed with a crimson glow like a lightning strike.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Kee-ing?!

The Bloody Wolf, leaping high to attack, was riddled with holes. The monster’s shredded remains dissolved into mana mid-air.

As the lingering mana swirled, Matthew declared with unwavering confidence, “You’ll probably end up begging me to let you join the Hwarang.”

I smiled bitterly to myself.

Maybe.

I stared at the obsidian crystal hanging around my neck. The soft purple mana emanating from its tip caught my eye before I shifted my gaze to the status window floating beside me:

[ Mimic’s Obsidian Crystal +10 ] activated.

Consumes 5 mana per minute.

Use with caution to avoid mana depletion.

Linked to [ My Physical Information ].

Lost in thought, I barely noticed Matthew summoning another monster.

“Next!” he called out.

“Next up. Feast your eyes and burn this into your memory.”

This time, it was an A+ grade monster: the Great High Priest of the Orcs.

Even for Matthew, conjuring a creature of this caliber would require a significant expenditure of Mana.

He’s really putting his all into this.

He must be determined to thoroughly impress upon me the power of the Rising Dragon God Fist. By showcasing such a magnificent display, he probably believes I won’t be able to resist becoming his disciple.

Naturally, a mere glimpse wouldn’t satisfy me. I’d be consumed by an insatiable desire to unravel the profound secrets of the Rising Dragon God Fist.

“Hraaaah!”

Matthew charged forward like a bolt of lightning, piercing a hole through the Great High Priest’s chest.

Once again, he glanced over at me with a triumphant glint in his eyes.

I nodded, my gaze filled with feigned admiration.

Sorry, Captain.

The Imitator’s Obsidian Crystal is currently recording the target’s movements.

Just watching your magnificent performance fills me to the brim.

”…You’re really going back?”

“Yes.”

Matthew stared at Taejun, who looked like a dog that had chased a chicken only to end up staring blankly at the roof. Taejun’s sweat-drenched face was pale, the result of demonstrating the Ascending Dragon Divine Fist for three hours straight. Despite his obvious exhaustion, he hurried to speak.

“Are you really just going to leave like this?”

“Yes,” Taejun replied, a puzzled expression on his face. “The sole reason I came here was to witness the Ascending Dragon Divine Fist firsthand.”

“No, that’s not what I meant.”

“Now that the demonstration is over, I should return.”

He had a point.

But still…

Matthew hadn’t expected Taejun to turn his back and leave without a second thought the moment the demonstration concluded.

“I expected you to kneel before me immediately and beg to be taken as my disciple.”

Matthew had been certain they could end their simple business relationship here and forge a new bond as master and disciple.

“Didn’t I say, before demonstrating the technique?” Matthew asked, his expression uneasy. “I said I’d gladly take you as my disciple if you only asked.”

“You did.”

“And I promised to impart every secret of the Ascending Dragon Divine Fist to you.”

“Yes.”

“But after witnessing its profound mysteries firsthand, you still don’t feel inclined to become my disciple?”

Taejun replied with a bitter expression, “I did consider it.”

“Then why not?”

“But the Hwarang has rules, doesn’t it?” Matthew shouted, his face contorted with anger.

“Rules? Didn’t I tell you? If you ask me, I’ll change the existing danjo…”

“That’s precisely the problem,” Taejun interrupted, meeting Matthew’s gaze with unwavering seriousness. “A rule that has been meticulously upheld for so long is being overturned for the sake of a single person.”

“So what? Are you afraid of retaliation? Don’t worry about that…”

“It’s not retaliation I fear,” Taejun replied firmly.

Matthew froze, a strange expression hardening his features.

Taejun continued calmly, “If the rules are bent once, it will set a precedent. Future generations will question the value of tradition.”

“To begin with, I don’t believe any member of the Hwarang Guild would hold such petty grudges against me as to sabotage my position. I’m sure the Guild Leader wouldn’t have accepted such a fool as a disciple.”

“Then…”

“I’m giving up my ambition to become a disciple because it’s clear I would undermine the unity of the Hwarang Guild.”

“You would undermine their unity?”

Taejun nodded silently.

“The Guild Leader and Kang Gun Hunter might understand, but to the other members, I’m just an outsider who appeared out of nowhere. Nothing more, nothing less.”

He was right.

As long as the Union Headquarters continued to conceal the truth about the rigged evaluation…

“To them, I’m just a slightly skilled Hunter who obtained a B-rank license through special promotion.”

Despite shattering viewership records with over 100,000 viewers during his promotion review stream, achieving the highest score in the review’s history, and the media revealing he was a specially selected candidate, none of it mattered.

“In the end, he’s still just a B-rank Hunter.”

At twenty-seven years old, he was practically too old to be considered a rookie. Yet their revered master, the one they trusted and followed, would break the Bicheon Guild’s established rules just to bring in a single B-rank Hunter, and then immediately attempt to impart the Ascending Dragon Fist Technique to him.

“The existing members would be consumed by self-doubt.”

The Hwarang Guild members were renowned for their detachment from worldly pursuits. They sought only one thing: recognition of their martial prowess by the world. And to achieve that, they inevitably needed Matthew’s approval.

“After all, the Guild Master’s disciples relentlessly dedicate themselves to that sole purpose.”

But what if their master suddenly lavished attention and affection on an outsider, despite their own efforts?

The members of the Hwarang Guild would inevitably begin to doubt their own abilities.

Before long, frustration would overwhelm them.

“That would ultimately destabilize the entire guild. Naturally, I don’t want that to happen,” Taejun concluded calmly.

“I wouldn’t want to burden the Guild Leader with that, nor would I want to bear that burden myself.”

Matthew remained silent, his lips pressed tightly together.

He had no response.

He acknowledged his oversight.

He hadn’t considered the situation from that perspective.

His mind had been consumed by a near-obsessive desire to claim Taejun as his own.

Perhaps you’re placing too much expectation on me.

Suddenly, Taejun’s earlier words pierced his thoughts, echoing in his mind.

That’s right.

No matter how deeply impressed Matthew had been by Taejun’s performance in the Demon Sealing Cave, Taejun was still just a B-rank adventurer—a late-blooming rookie, nothing more. He had single-handedly defeated a Lich, but Matthew hadn’t even witnessed it firsthand.

So why?

Why was he so consumed by ambition?

Because of an instinctive feeling.

Lee Taejun… that man…

He was certain Taejun would grow to satisfy his ambitions in no time.

But that also meant he was neglecting the Hwarang members who followed him, all because of a mere hunch.

”…I was short-sighted.”

Clenching his fist, Matthew lowered his head.

“I keep showing you only pathetic sides of myself.”

“That’s not true,” Taejun said, waving his hand. “If I hadn’t already been affiliated with another guild, I would have begged you to take me on as your disciple right then and there.”

“Bicheon, wasn’t it? The guild that held you captive for seven long years.”

“That’s right.”

“I suppose I can’t just march over there right now, beat the Bicheon Guild Leader to a pulp, and demand they erase your membership records.”

Taejun smiled bitterly, prompting Matthew to chuckle. “Just a thought. Half-serious, though.”

“I know,” Taejun replied.

“Well, this is just… ugh.” Matthew sighed quietly. “It’s like I just spent hours showing off in front of an outsider, boasting like a fool.”

“Not at all,” Taejun said, smiling brightly. He gently stroked the Obsidian Crystal hanging around his neck. “You’ve done more than enough for me.”