The training field buzzed with excitement. Dozens of students gathered in a wide arena surrounded by mana-imbued glass barriers.
At the center stood Jinhyuk and Seo Mirae.
She held a crimson spear crackling with fire. Her battle outfit gleamed with enchanted fabric. She looked down on him with confident disdain.
"Last chance to back out," she said coolly.
Jinhyuk rolled his shoulders, his black school jacket still buttoned up.
"I'm already bored."
The crowd erupted.
"No way!"
"He's gonna die in five seconds!"
"She's an S-rank! That guy's got no mana at all!"
Mirae smirked. "Try not to die, transfer."
> [Mock Duel Registered – No Fatal Blows Allowed]
[System Status: Hidden]
[Warning: Power Limiter Active – Cultivation Concealed]
---
"Start!"
Mirae lunged.
Her spear shot forward like a dragon, flames roaring behind it. Most people couldn't even follow the motion.
But Jinhyuk…
He tilted his head slightly—and sidestepped it with surgical calm.
Whoosh.
The spear passed just inches from his cheek.
"What?"
Before she could recover, he stepped inside her guard.
One finger pressed against her shoulder—and her body froze.
> [Pressure Point Detected: Qi Disruption – Temporary Paralysis Applied]
Her knees buckled.
In a blur, Jinhyuk spun behind her and tapped her neck with the side of his hand.
The flames extinguished instantly.
> [System Note: Duel Complete – Opponent Neutralized]
Gasps.
Total silence.
Then—chaos.
"WHAT JUST HAPPENED?!"
"He didn't even use a weapon!"
"Was that martial arts?! No… it was something else!"
The instructor's hand trembled holding the tablet.
"...Impossible. She's top five in the academy…"
Seo Mirae staggered to her feet, face pale, eyes wide.
"You… you're not normal."
Jinhyuk leaned down slightly, voice soft.
"I told you. I don't like being bored."
He walked away without another word, leaving her staring after him, breathless.
And maybe... flustered.
---
Later that night, in the hidden data center beneath the school, Jinhyuk broke through five security systems and accessed the secret guild files.
> [Accessing "White Fang" Hunter Guild: Black Archives]
[Keyword: Father's Name – Lee Sangjin]
[Results Found: 1 File – Classified – Date: 4 Years Ago]
He opened it.
And froze.
On the screen… was a photo of his father lying in a hospital bed.
Surrounded by hunters wearing the White Fang insignia.
And next to them—
Was a smiling man with silver hair and red eyes.
> [Target Marked: "Baek Seojin" – Current Rank: SS]
[Title: White Fang Deputy Commander]
"So it's you…"
Jinhyuk's eyes darkened.
---