Chapter 11

Hambo planted his feet firmly on the ground, as immovable as mountains. His cold features remained unchanged, but a sharp glint in his eyes warned of an impending storm. He stared at Moryo with a contemplative look, as though weighing his strength on a precise scale. After a moment of silence, Hambo spoke in a calm but weighty tone:

"Let’s continue the event."

Hambo's expression gradually shifted, becoming sharper and more focused, as he assumed a perfect combat stance that displayed years of training and discipline.

Without warning, Moryo surged forward at a blinding speed, like lightning splitting the sky on a dark night. His movement was nearly imperceptible, as though the air itself tore apart from the sheer intensity. With equal swiftness, Hambo advanced toward him, both of them closing in like two arrows crossing paths midair.

Suddenly, Hambo’s hand glowed with a vibrant spark, emitting crackling noises that shook the surroundings. He shouted powerfully as he launched the spark directly at Moryo. But Moryo, with a calm gaze exuding absolute confidence, dodged the spark with a smooth and rapid motion, as though his body flowed with the wind. The spark continued its path at an incredible speed, heading straight toward Suero in the background.

The spark drew dangerously closer, igniting the air around it with intense heat. Suero felt the looming threat, his eyes widening in alarm as he leaped aside just before the spark hit the ground. The resulting explosion was deafening, scattering dirt and grass into the air and creating fierce winds that left a small crater emanating faint smoke.

Amid this chaotic scene, Moryo surged toward Hambo again, green sparks swirling around his fist like tongues of living flames. He concentrated all his strength into a swift punch aimed directly at Hambo’s face. The surrounding air trembled violently as though nature itself had paused to witness the clash.

When Moryo’s fist struck Hambo’s face, a massive air pressure wave erupted, scattering tree leaves and whipping up clouds of dust in every direction. Yet, Hambo remained rooted in place, unmoving like an ancient boulder, staring at Moryo with total indifference as though nothing had happened.

Shock flashed across Moryo’s face, and he murmured under his breath:

"What? How didn’t he budge?"

Hambo grabbed Moryo’s arm with sudden force, and with a motion as if he commanded the wind, hurled him away. Moryo flew through the air but regained his balance with astonishing agility, twisting midair before landing solidly on his feet. He stood, glaring at Hambo with a tense expression, analyzing the situation.

At that moment, Hambo turned his eyes calmly toward Moryo, who observed him from the opposite side. His gaze was as sharp as blades, carrying an inscrutable message.

Moryo thought to himself, his voice tinged with frustration:

"It's... the Eternal Mountain. Is that the Kurmo technique?!"

He then spoke aloud, his eyes fixed on Hambo:

"Are you from the Raimo Clan?"

Hambo began to approach Moryo with a deadly calm, his heavy steps striking the ground with a rhythm as steady as the drums of an ancient war. His gaze remained unshaken, piercing as though it could pierce one’s soul, while Moryo stood in place, a fiery anger bubbling within him.

Suddenly, Moryo exploded forward like a raging storm, leaping at Hambo with lightning speed. The air around him trembled from the violent force of his advance. Yet, despite Moryo’s speed, Hambo continued walking with unperturbed steps, as if time itself worked in his favor.

When Moryo finally reached Hambo, his arm raised to deliver a barrage of relentless punches, he attacked in a furious frenzy, his fists raining down like a storm. But Hambo evaded every strike with uncanny precision, shifting his body smoothly as though he were dancing between the lines of assault.

Moryo shouted in frustration and decided to end the fight with one decisive blow. He positioned his palm directly in front of Hambo’s face, bracing himself, and roared with a voice full of power and rage. Suddenly, a massive green spark erupted from his hand, radiating blinding light as it surged mercilessly toward Hambo’s face.

Moryo leaped back quickly, flipping to regain his balance, as thick smoke coiled around Hambo’s face like a dark fog. Moryo watched the scene intently, his breathing growing heavier with anticipation and anger.

But suddenly, Hambo emerged from the smoke, his expression unchanged, his face entirely untouched by the spark. His eyes resembled unshakable mountains, glowing with a cold, profound stare.

Moryo whispered in disbelief and shock:

"Impossible... how?!"

Breaking the silence, Hambo’s calm voice resonated, charged with a mysterious emotion:

"I used to think sorcerers existed to protect humans. But throughout my life... all I’ve seen is submission and humiliation before them. Why? Because I’m a sorcerer?"

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Moryo responded coldly, watching his opponent warily:

"I don’t care what you believe. All that matters to me is the outcome."

Hambo continued, his tone resembling a personal confession:

"I chose to continue my path as a sorcerer for Master Betma... because I... don’t want to disappoint him."

Before he could finish, the ground trembled under the weight of heavy footsteps. Moryo turned to see Suero approaching them with silent but determined steps, as though the earth itself quaked beneath his resolve. His face was filled with rage, his eyes carrying a deep darkness that seemed to consume the very air around him.

Suero walked past Moryo without sparing him a glance, heading directly toward Hambo. His voice emerged as a low growl, thick with suppressed fury:

"Shut up..."

Moryo glared at Suero and commanded sharply:

"Stand down!"

But Suero ignored him entirely, continuing his steady march. His fiery gaze locked onto Hambo, and he spoke in a deep voice filled with conviction:

"I don’t understand what you’re saying... but I know one thing for sure: I will never stand idly by when it comes to protecting the people I care about. I will never... stand still!"

Suero stopped directly in front of Hambo, his features taut with anger and determination. His fist was clenched tightly, and a small blue spark began to flicker around it, as if a hidden power was gathering within him.

Hambo, his tone calm yet piercing, asked:

"Would you dedicate your life to protecting them?"

Suero replied with unwavering confidence:

"If it comes to it... I’ll make myself bait to protect them!"

As the two exchanged charged gazes, Moryo stood nearby, his face a mixture of shock and intrigue. His eyes fixed on the faint blue spark dancing around Suero’s fist, and he muttered in disbelief:

"This... this is...!"

---

Flashback: (10 Years Ago)

Moryo, (at the age of 12 years), sat on a simple chair in front of Sbyam. He wore the standard blue robes of the sorcerers, while Sbyam was dressed in modern, stylish attire, exuding charm and elegance. Sbyam smirked mischievously and said with excitement:

"The Blue Sorcery Technique! It’s the most powerful offensive technique!"

Moryo looked at him with a calm expression and asked curiously:

"What’s that technique?"

Sbyam grinned slyly and said in an enthusiastic tone:

"The best offensive technique there is... if you were an ordinary person!"

Moryo raised an eyebrow, his tone skeptical:

"What nonsense are you talking about?"

Sbyam leaned closer and said:

"If you weren’t from the Raipozi Clan and the heir to the Time Technique, I would’ve taught it to you immediately!"

After a brief pause, Moryo asked:

"What makes it so special?"

Sbyam answered confidently:

"It’s an offensive technique that rivals the unique abilities of the three great clans. In fact, sometimes, it even surpasses them!"

He added seriously:

"The key lies in the punch wielded by its users. It’s called the Shrine Punch, one of the deadliest techniques in the world of sorcery."

Moryo focused and repeated:

"Shrine Punch?"

Sbyam nodded enthusiastically:

"Yes, it initially relies on luck, but if the punch is powerful and you suddenly reduce its force just before hitting your target, it creates a distortion in the air around it. This distortion massively amplifies its power, potentially reaching 3^3 × 1000 newtons!"

Moryo’s eyes widened in surprise:

"What?!"

Sbyam laughed and said teasingly:

"Don’t worry about the details... but don’t try it unless you’re ready to blow yourself up!"

---

Back to the Present...

Moryo stared at the flickering blue spark around Suero’s fist, his disbelief deepening. The spark wasn’t merely a reflection of energy; it seemed alive, pulsing with a mysterious rhythm. Suero, however, paid no attention to Moryo’s reaction. His eyes remained fixed on Hambo, his anger rising like a storm about to erupt.

Slowly, Suero tightened his fist, the spark intensifying in brightness. He raised his hand slightly, preparing to deliver a powerful strike. Time itself seemed to slow down. The sound of the wind ceased, and the rustling leaves froze in place, as if the world held its breath for the coming moment.

Suero dashed forward at an incredible speed, his fist aimed directly at Hambo’s face. But with calculated precision, Hambo shifted at the last moment, nudging Suero’s hand slightly. This subtle movement altered the punch’s trajectory, slightly reducing its velocity. However, at that critical moment, the spark around Suero’s fist changed from blue to a dark, menacing red.

When the punch connected with Hambo, a massive explosion echoed across the field, accompanied by a deep, resonant sound resembling the roar of ancient beasts. The air itself rippled, sending a violent shockwave across the area.

The ground beneath Hambo cracked into deep fissures, and dirt shot up like a geyser, accompanied by flying gravel and dust. Nearby trees trembled violently, some uprooted and crashing to the ground. Leaves scattered in every direction as though caught in a fierce storm.

Hambo was flung into the air like a ragdoll, his body slamming into a massive tree trunk. The tree couldn’t withstand the impact and slowly toppled, crashing into another tree behind it. Hambo continued to crash into subsequent trees before finally hitting the ground, motionless. Blood poured profusely from his nose, mingling with the dust that now clouded the battlefield.

Suero stood motionless, staring at his hand in utter disbelief. The dark red spark that had surrounded his fist gradually faded, returning to its original blue hue.

He whispered to himself, his voice barely audible, his eyes wide with shock:

"What... was that? I just..."

From behind him, Moryo approached with measured steps and stood beside him. His cold eyes remained locked on Hambo, who lay still on the ground. In a low, confident voice, Moryo said:

"That... was the Shrine Punch."

Suero turned toward Moryo, his voice a mixture of confusion and disbelief:

"Shrine Punch? What do you mean?"

Without breaking his gaze from Hambo, Moryo replied:

"It’s a rare technique... something not easily learned. But you’ve shown it now, which means the Blue Sorcery in you is far more potent than you realize."

Suero, still trying to process what had happened, recalled the words of his mentor Kamasi about the Blue Sorcery. With a hesitant voice, he said:

"Yes... he taught me the basics. But he never mentioned anything like this!"

Moryo gave a faint smile, his tone steady yet sharp:

"Perhaps he didn’t think you were ready for it. In any case, it seems you’ve successfully incapacitated Hambo."

But Suero didn’t feel victorious. He looked at Hambo and then asked:

"The rules were clear. No serious combat... have I just broken the rules?"

Moryo’s cold demeanor didn’t waver as he replied:

"Rules? I believe the situation now calls for us to surpass all rules."

Before either of them could say another word, the barrier surrounding the arena trembled. Strange sounds began emanating from it, like a deep hum reverberating through the air. The glowing lines that formed the barrier started fading, as though being drawn toward a central point.

Suero was the first to notice, his voice low and filled with unease:

"What’s happening?... The barrier is opening?"

Moryo’s voice, losing some of its usual calm, followed:

"This isn’t part of the event... is it?"

The other students across the arena began noticing the anomaly. In one corner, Jan and Baysal exchanged puzzled glances. On another side, Camyo and Rita stared at the barrier in shock, while Veb and Alia remained silent but alert.

The atmosphere grew increasingly tense. The opening of the barrier wasn’t just a change in the setting; it was an announcement—something unexpected was about to occur.

---

Outside the Arena

Beth stood, his lips curled into a sly smile as he watched the barrier’s opening. Beside him were Campeis and Darwin, their expressions revealing different shades of anticipation.

Beth’s mocking tone broke the silence:

"The barrier has been opened!"

Campeis, his voice calm but firm, said:

"Remember the plan. You and Darwin will distract the students while I infiltrate the Mana Organization’s castle to retrieve the crystal orb."

Beth chuckled maliciously, responding with confidence:

"An easy task for me."

Darwin, looking less confident, asked with suspicion:

"But how did Spailo know this event would take place here?"

Campeis replied with indifference:

"He studied here. He knows everything about this place."

Beth’s grin widened as he turned to walk toward the arena, his steps exuding self-assuredness.

"Well then... let’s begin the raid."

—

End of chapter.