It had been a month and a few days since the incident with the Poison King. Soojin's mood had taken a dramatic turn after learning that everyone had been cured. One moment, he was nervously sweating bullets, and the next, he was yelling at the Poison King.
“It was quite the scene,” Cale thought as he walked through the forest, green grass crunching under his polished black shoes. “Just a few minutes before that, Soojin had been so nervous he looked like he was about to pass out.” A faint smirk tugged at his lips, though his expression quickly turned neutral.
“I just can’t understand how Soojin’s mind works,” Cale thought, shaking his head. “One second he’s nervous, the next, he’s throwing insults like he’s the king of the world. His mind is weird.”
The forest around Cale was dense, with tall, thick trees standing like ancient guardians of the land. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, creating specks of gold on the grassy ground. He was dressed sharply in a dark business suit layered over a crisp white shirt. The jacket hung loosely over his shoulders, its buttons undone, exuding a calm yet authoritative aura. He adjusted his cuffs slightly as he glanced at the tall, imposing figure beside him.
“After resolving all the problems in Korea, I decided it was time to move forward,” Cale thought, his eyes briefly meeting those of the man walking beside him. “I took a private plane with Minho and arrived in Japan just yesterday. And now I find myself here, standing beside Haruto.”
Cale cast another glance at the man beside him. Haruto was tall and broad-shouldered, with a powerful, well-built physique that radiated raw strength. His crimson robes swayed slightly with his movements, and his intense, sharp gaze betrayed a fierce, indomitable spirit.
“After meeting Haruto, we agreed to clear a -B-Rank Fracture together,” Cale mused. The thought brought a slight glimmer of excitement to his otherwise calm expression. “Display,” he thought, and a yellow system panel materialized before him.
[Information (Info):
Name: Haruto
Rank: -B-Rank
Age: 28 (Male) (Human)
Level: 40
Status: Calm
Title: Strongest Man of Japan. Martial Fanatic.
Trait: Blessed Martial Body, Blessed Dantian.
Stats:
Strength (STR): 40
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Agility (AGI): 40
Intelligence (INT): 30
Endurance (END): 40
Perception (PER): 40
Vitality (VIT): 40
Charisma (CHA): 31
Wisdom (WIS): 30
Qi: 130,000
Skills/Techniques:
Archmies Combat Technique (B-Rank), Qi Blade (-B-Rank), Cloud Steps Technique (B-Rank) and Regeneration.]
“Well, I am impressed,” Cale thought, dismissing the panel with a wave of his hand. His gaze lingered on Haruto as they continued their walk. “Not only is he almost as strong as me, but he also possesses two B-Rank techniques. That’s no small feat.”
Cale raised an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued. “Just how hard did he train his body to be that big and strong? He must’ve put himself through hell to wield B-Rank techniques while still being -B-Rank.”
...
Two Days Earlier
Inside the private plane bound for Japan, Cale and Minho sat across from each other in the spacious cabin. The hum of the engines filled the silence as both remained quiet. Cale sat near the window, gazing out at the endless expanse of sky, his thoughts miles away. Minho, sitting across the table, stole glances at his older brother.
“Big Brother Cale,” Minho finally broke the silence, his voice hesitant but curious.
Cale turned to look at him, his calm demeanor unchanging. “What is it? Ask away,” he replied, resting his chin on his hand.
“If you and Haruto fought, who would win?” Minho’s eyes gleamed with intrigue as he leaned forward slightly, eager for the answer.
Cale tilted his head, considering the question seriously. “Well,” he began, his voice measured, “if you’re talking about sheer strength, technique, and experience, then I might lose.” Minho’s eyes widened at this, but Cale continued without pause. “But if it comes down to Qi, I’m not sure yet. If I use my full power, however, I will definitely win.” He leaned back, closing his eyes as a small smirk played on his lips.
Minho blinked in awe, sitting back in his seat as he muttered, “Wow, I see...” He stared down at the table in deep thought, while Cale opened one eye and smiled faintly, amused by his younger brother’s reaction.
Back to the Present
Cale and Haruto moved through the forest in silence. The air was crisp and carried the faint scent of pine and damp earth. Their footsteps were light, yet the ground seemed to tremble slightly under Haruto’s imposing presence.
“How is Japan treating you?” Haruto suddenly asked, his deep voice cutting through the quiet. He spoke in Japanese, but Cale understood him perfectly.
“A new experience,” Cale replied, his tone calm and even. “It’s a lot better than I expected.” He glanced at Haruto, who seemed pleased with the response.
“Thanks,” Haruto said with a grin. “I’ll take that as a compliment to my strength, then.”
Cale raised an eyebrow, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. “Sure, you can take it that way if it makes you happy.”
The conversation fell silent again as they continued walking, their senses on high alert. After several minutes, Haruto stopped abruptly, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the dense foliage ahead.
“Cale,” Haruto said in a low, grave tone.
“Yeah, I know,” Cale replied, his voice steady as his own gaze locked onto the trees ahead.
A large figure emerged from the shadows, its scaled body glinting in the dappled sunlight. The creature was humanoid but reptilian, standing nearly seven feet tall with glistening blue scales and a deadly iron spear clutched in its clawed hands. The Lizardman’s eyes burned with ferocity as it let out a low growl.
Haruto glanced at Cale. “May I?” he asked, his voice calm but laced with anticipation.
Cale gave a small nod. “Yes, you may.”
Without hesitation, Haruto launched himself forward with the speed of a bullet, closing the distance between him and the Lizardman in an instant. Before the creature could react, Haruto’s hand shot out, grabbing its face and slamming it into the ground with a resounding crack.
“Oh?” Cale muttered, raising an eyebrow in mild surprise. “Not bad.”
The Lizardman roared, scrambling to its feet and thrusting its spear forward in a desperate counterattack. But Haruto dodged the strike with ease, his movements fluid and precise. In one swift motion, he delivered a devastating punch to the creature’s face, shattering its skull. The lifeless body crumpled to the ground in a heap.
“There goes the first blood,” Cale remarked, his voice tinged with disdain as he eyed the corpse. “What an unlucky fellow.”