As the match commenced, Si-Woo released the dagger from his grip dropping it into his, and activated the Deific Eye of the Storm.

Sol charged forward, swinging his sword with impressive speed. Si-Woo sidestepped, his senses heightened, narrowly avoiding the blade. He countered with a thrust of his dagger, aiming for Sol’s side, but Sol was already prepared, blocking the attack with the flat of his sword.

“Is that all you’ve got?” Sol taunted, pushing Si-Woo back with a powerful swing.

Si-Woo felt the sting of embarrassment wash over him, but he refused to back down. He focused on the flow of Serein coursing through him, feeling the energy resonate within the sensory field he had created.

“C’mon, Si-Woo! Show me what you can do!” Ha-Yoon cheered from the sidelines, her voice cutting through the tension in the air.

Fueled by her encouragement, Si-Woo found his resolve. He darted in closer, the dagger dancing through the air as he aimed for Sol’s side. Sol anticipated the move, spinning away and retaliating with a swift kick that knocked Si-Woo off balance.

Si-Woo stumbled but regained his footing quickly. He could feel the weight of the spectators’ gazes on him, their whispers swirling around him. Determined, he lunged forward again, this time with more precision, exploiting the openings he sensed in Sol’s defense.

With each clash of weapons, the dojo echoed with the sounds of their sparring. Si-Woo’s confidence grew as he adapted to Sol’s attacks, surprising himself with his own skill. The Deific Eye of the Storm allowed him to react swiftly, anticipating Sol’s movements as if he were reading a book.

In a moment of clarity, Si-Woo spotted an opening as Sol overextended himself in an attack. Seizing the opportunity, he sidestepped and struck with the dagger, grazing Sol’s arm.

The dojo erupted with gasps, and Si-Woo felt a surge of triumph. Sol glared at him, eyes filled with disbelief. “You got lucky,” he spat, though there was a hint of uncertainty in his tone.

Master Choi raised a hand to signal the end of the sparring match. “Enough! You both demonstrated excellent technique and adaptability,” he declared, a hint of approval in his voice. “Keep practicing. Remember, it’s not just about strength; it’s about strategy and resilience.”

As they stepped off the mat, Ha-Yoon rushed to Si-Woo’s side, her eyes sparkling with pride. “You did amazing! I knew you could handle it!”

Si-Woo couldn’t help but smile, the earlier tension dissipating. “Thanks, Ha-Yoon. I’m just trying to keep up.”

As they stepped off the mat, Ha-Yoon rushed to Si-Woo’s side, her eyes sparkling with pride. “You did amazing! I knew you could handle it!”

Si-Woo couldn’t help but smile, the earlier tension dissipating. “Thanks, Ha-Yoon. I’m just trying to keep up.”

As Sol joined them, still bristling from the unexpected challenge, Si-Woo hesitated for a moment before speaking up. “Hey, Sol,” he began, trying to be constructive, “I noticed that your sword is a bit too big for you. It seemed like it was wielding you instead of the other way around. Maybe you should consider using a weapon that fits your style better.”

Sol’s expression darkened at the suggestion. “Are you saying I can’t handle my own sword?” he shot back, crossing his arms defiantly. “That’s rich coming from you.”

“No, I’m just saying—” Si-Woo started, but Sol cut him off.

“You think you’re better than me just because you landed a lucky hit?” Sol sneered, the competitive fire in his eyes flaring.

Si-Woo sighed, realizing his intention had been misinterpreted. “That’s not what I meant at all. I just thought—”

This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

“Forget it,” Sol snapped, turning away. “I’ll show you who’s better next time.”

As Sol stalked off, Ha-Yoon shot Si-Woo a sympathetic glance. “You were just trying to help,” she said softly. “Don’t let him get to you.”

“Yeah,” Si-Woo replied, feeling a mix of frustration and disappointment. “I didn’t mean it like that.”

With Sol’s departure, the tension in the dojo lingered for a moment before fading. Si-Woo shook his head, pushing the incident aside.

As they walked away from the mat, he felt a newfound confidence blooming within him. Today was a small victory, and with Ha-Yoon and Mai by his side, he knew he could face whatever challenges lay ahead in the dojo and beyond.

After the intense sparring session with Sol, the rest of the day at the academy continued as usual for Si-Woo. He kept to himself during classes, trying to focus on his studies while Ha-Yoon and Mai mingled with their own friends. Though the sparring left an unusual tension between Si-Woo and Sol, he brushed it off, heading to his final class with calm determination.

When the last bell rang, signaling the end of the day, Si-Woo felt a sense of relief. He decided to head to the restroom before making his way to his usual after-school training session with Minho. But as soon as he stepped into the dimly lit restroom, the sound of the door locking behind him made him tense. He turned to see Sol and his lackeys, their expressions twisted with malicious intent. It was clear they hadn’t forgotten the earlier sparring match or the "advice" Si-Woo had given.

With the door locked and nowhere to go, Si-Woo realized this was about to be more than just words.

Si-Woo stood still, taking a slow breath as he faced Sol and his group of lackeys. The tension in the small, dimly lit restroom was palpable, and he could see the smug look on Sol's face. Sol, gripping the door handle behind him, gave a cocky grin.

"So, you think you're better than me now?" Sol sneered, stepping forward, his lackeys spreading out to block any escape. "Giving me advice about my own weapon? That was cute, Si-Woo."

Si-Woo didn’t respond immediately. His mind was working quickly, recalling the training he had been doing with Minho. He knew he couldn’t use serein in a fight like this—it would only make things worse. Instead, he focused on the techniques he’d been honing, especially how to stay calm under pressure.

"I wasn't trying to insult you, Sol," Si-Woo said quietly, his voice measured. "I was just pointing out what I saw. It wasn’t meant to be a challenge."

One of Sol’s lackeys, a tall fae boy with short silver hair, laughed harshly. "Well, you sure made it sound like one."

"Enough talking," Sol interrupted. He moved closer, his burgundy hair catching the dim light. "You're always acting like you're better than everyone because you’re from another realm. But here? You’re nothing." He shoved Si-Woo hard against the sink.

The impact hurt, but Si-Woo kept his balance, not letting the pain show on his face. He’d been through this enough times to know how to brace for the hit. His calm demeanor only seemed to anger Sol more.

Just as Sol's fist clenched, one of the lackeys stepped forward, and Si-Woo knew they were going to try to overwhelm him. His body shifted slightly, preparing for their attack. The movements Minho had drilled into him were second nature now, and though he was outnumbered, he had become a lot harder to pin down.

Before Sol could throw his first punch, Si-Woo sidestepped, using his smaller frame to avoid the blow. The punch missed, and Si-Woo countered with a quick strike to one of the lackeys who tried to grab him from behind. The boy stumbled back, surprised by Si-Woo's speed.

"Still think you're better than me, huh?" Sol hissed, coming at Si-Woo again, this time more aggressively.

But now, Si-Woo was in his element. The training Minho had put him through was paying off, and he used the narrow space of the restroom to his advantage, keeping his back against the wall to limit how many of them could attack him at once.

It wasn’t long before Si-Woo had managed to dodge and parry several more strikes, his calm exterior unshaken. However, he knew he couldn’t hold them off forever. There were too many, and eventually, they would corner him.

Just then, a voice echoed from outside the restroom.

"Hey! What’s taking you guys so long in there?" It was one of the academy hall monitors.

Sol cursed under his breath, glaring at Si-Woo. "This isn’t over," he growled, his voice low and dangerous. With a sharp nod to his lackeys, Sol motioned for them to unlock the door. They filed out quickly, leaving Si-Woo alone, bruised but not defeated.

Si-Woo exhaled slowly, relieved that the situation hadn’t escalated further. His body ached, but there was a small sense of pride in knowing that he had fended them off without letting it turn into a complete disaster.

As he left the restroom and stepped into the hallway, he saw Ha-Yoon and Mai walking toward him with their friends, laughing about something.

They hadn’t seen what had just happened, and for now, he preferred it that way.

But he couldn’t shake the feeling that Sol wasn’t going to let this go so easily.