Chapter 104 : The Power of Love
In the pitch-black darkness, countless figures were entangled together.
Swish—
It was clear that the attacks were focused on one person.
Although numerous people were attacking one person from all directions, it was truly marvelous that no one was able to land a successful attack.
Grind—
Seeing that, Hwang Dong-jae bit his lip.
'Why can't they subdue that one brat yet!'
The opponent was not even Namgung Il.
Knowing that he was a brat who usually stuck to Namgung Il's side like a lackey, Hwang Dong-jae was even more annoyed by this situation.
"How long are you going to be like that!"
"...!"
"Are you now struggling with another first-year brat, not Namgung Il?"
When Hwang Dong-jae shouted, the atmosphere instantly became solemn.
As he said, they themselves could not understand why so many people were struggling with Jong Seo-eon like this.
If the opponent had been Namgung Il, he might not have known, but to be held up by a completely different brat like this, it was understandable that Hwang Dong-jae would be angry.
"Uh... it's dark around here, and that brat's movements are faster than I thought, so it's not easy to subdue him."
Just then, a man standing near Hwang Dong-jae said cautiously.
As he said, although this side had the numerical advantage, since it was dark, it was actually acting as a disadvantage.
No matter how many people were on this side, the range in which one person could be attacked was limited.
Since a situation where an ally could attack an ally could occur if they rushed in recklessly in this darkness, in fact, they were not properly utilizing the advantage of numerical superiority.
Glare—
But that was not a reason that could make Hwang Dong-jae understand.
Although the man had said it as an excuse, on the contrary, it resulted in further provoking Hwang Dong-jae's anger.
"So what are you going to do?"
"...!"
"If you have time to make such excuses, go and subdue that brat!"
"I-I'm sorry!"
Just then, someone's laughter flowed from the front.
Who on earth was laughing without any sense in a situation like this?
Hwang Dong-jae turned his head to where the laughter had come from with a fierce gaze.
"It's no use even if you rush in from all sides."
The owner of the laughter was Jong Seo-eon.
Unlike usual, Jong Seo-eon said to Hwang Dong-jae with a face full of confidence.
"If it's to save Miss Wol-yeong, I will get up and fight even if my limbs are broken!"
"...What?"
"This is the power of love! No one can stop me now!"
Hwang Dong-jae looked at Jong Seo-eon, who was speaking as if he were looking at a madman.
What about the power of love?
Of course, Hwang Dong-jae could not understand those words at all, as if a dog were just barking.
"..."
Hwang Dong-jae's eyes, which had been full of excitement, instantly became cold.
"You there."
"D-did you call me?"
"Take more than half of the kids right now and search the surroundings."
Hwang Dong-jae ordered the man who had made an excuse to him earlier.
Hearing that, the man tilted his head as if he could not understand.
"Is it alright if we don't defeat that brat?"
"If we all rush in, can we defeat that brat right now?"
"Th-that's..."
"From what I see, most of the brats are just standing around uselessly."
As he said, more than half of the gang was standing awkwardly, surrounding Jong Seo-eon.
The reason was, as he had said earlier, because a situation where an ally attacked an ally should not occur.
Although it could be said that they were contributing to the fight to some extent just by standing there and surrounding him so that Jong Seo-eon could not escape, Hwang Dong-jae had been concerned about the whereabouts of the other one for a while now.
'Namgung Il. I'm worried that that brat's figure is not visible.'
In the first place, if no one had appeared here, he would have thought that Namgung Il had run away.
But hadn't a brat wearing Namgung Il's clothes appeared in front of him?
Although he didn't know what kind of scheme he had, he was sure that that brat was surely planning something.
"Be sure to find Namgung Il."
"I-I understand!"
When Hwang Dong-jae ordered, the man hurriedly took the people and ran into the forbidden area.
"W-wait! Where are you going?"
"..."
"Are you running away because you're scared of me?"
Jong Seo-eon shouted at the people who were running into the forbidden area.
But the people who were getting farther away without even pretending to listen.
Just then, Hwang Dong-jae approached Jong Seo-eon.
"What is Namgung Il doing now?"
"..."
"Well, if you had answered obediently when I asked, you wouldn't have come here in such a state in the first place."
Thump—
"I'll deal with you myself."
Hwang Dong-jae said, lightly loosening his body.
'...By now, has the captain rescued Miss Wol-yeong?'
Even though Hwang Dong-jae was in front of him, Jong Seo-eon only had that thought in his head now.
If he hadn't rescued her yet, he would have to buy more time here.
Although it was fortunate that he was holding the enemy's leader, Jong Seo-eon was still concerned about the people who had headed to the forbidden area earlier.
Phat—
Just then, Hwang Dong-jae instantly closed the distance with Jong Seo-eon.
As if he had not expected him to show such speed with that build, Jong Seo-eon reacted belatedly and raised his two arms in front of his face.
Thwack—!
With a heavy sound, Hwang Dong-jae's fist struck Jong Seo-eon.
Jong Seo-eon, who was pushed back by the recoil.
Fortunately, thanks to raising his two arms and defending just before the fist was thrown, he was not directly hit by the attack.
Drip—
But as he lowered his two arms, blood was flowing from Jong Seo-eon's nose.
'A tremendous power.'
Although his reaction was a little late, still, he had perfectly defended Hwang Dong-jae's one blow.
But for the shock to be so great that it pierced through that and caused damage.
Jong Seo-eon could tell from this one blow that Hwang Dong-jae was on a different level from the enemies he had faced so far.
"Wake up."
"..."
"Just because my subordinates were struggling with you, do you think I'm a pushover too?"
Hwang Dong-jae said, glaring at Jong Seo-eon with sharp eyes.
Jong Seo-eon silently wiped his nosebleed with his sleeve and took a stance, and Hwang Dong-jae moved again with a bitter smile on his lips.
Whoosh—
Every time Hwang Dong-jae threw a punch, a threatening sound spread through the air.
Jong Seo-eon, who was dodging all those attacks at close range by a hair's breadth.
Perhaps because he had been attacked before, Jong Seo-eon was responding by prioritizing dodging rather than blocking.
'This person... is different.'
He was not an enemy that he could face with leisure.
Although he had been focusing on dodging the enemy's attacks and buying time until now, he thought that if he did that against Hwang Dong-jae, he might be sent to his grave in an instant.
Swish—
Now, he had to attack.
The moment Jong Seo-eon decided that, he dodged the punch that Hwang Dong-jae had thrown and stuck out his front foot.
Spin—
Using his extended front foot as an axis, Jong Seo-eon's figure spun quickly and instantly dug into Hwang Dong-jae's chest.
At the same time, the two hands that were thrust out as if stabbing.
Jong Seo-eon attempted a counterattack with the move of the Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms, the Ram Butting the Fence.
Bang—!
Jong Seo-eon's two hands were directed precisely at Hwang Dong-jae's solar plexus.
However.
Although the sound was quite loud, Hwang Dong-jae was blocking Jong Seo-eon's one blow with one arm.
"...!"
At that, Jong Seo-eon's face was quite surprised.
Just then, a smile of leisure appeared on Hwang Dong-jae's lips.
At the same time, Hwang Dong-jae threw a punch at Jong Seo-eon, who had approached on his own.
'Just blocking it won't do!'
Jong Seo-eon already knew that.
Jong Seo-eon did not raise his two arms and block like before, but moved his two hands as if they were bending.
Swish—
Jong Seo-eon's two hands moved as if they were wrapping around the one blow that Hwang Dong-jae had thrown.
The Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms, the Swan Goose Landing on the Ground.
In that brief moment, it was felt that the one blow that Hwang Dong-jae had thrown had become noticeably weaker.
However.
Thwack—
Jong Seo-eon could not respond to the attack that was directed at his lower body.
As Hwang Dong-jae's knee accurately struck his abdomen, Jong Seo-eon's posture could not help but collapse.
Swish—
Hwang Dong-jae delivered the final blow to Jong Seo-eon, whose head was slightly lowered.
This time, the fist that struck his face directly without any defense.
Due to the shock, Jong Seo-eon's body was thrown back like an arrow.
Thud-thud-thud—
Jong Seo-eon's figure slid quickly on the rough ground.
After flying several feet, Jong Seo-eon was able to stop in his tracks, and he did not move at all, as if he were dead, while lying on the floor.
"Hoo—"
Seeing that, Hwang Dong-jae dusted off his hands.
Although he seemed to have quite some skill for a first-year, in the end, he was just at the level of a first-year.
Hwang Dong-jae pointed at Jong Seo-eon and said to his subordinate who was standing nearby.
"Drag that brat over here."
Two people immediately ran towards the fallen Jong Seo-eon.
Soon, Jong Seo-eon was dragged to where Hwang Dong-jae was, with his arms held on both sides and his feet dragging on the floor, and he stopped in front of Hwang Dong-jae, hanging like laundry.
"Get up."
"..."
"I said get up."
Hwang Dong-jae said and lightly tapped Jong Seo-eon's swollen cheek with his hand.
Then, as Jong Seo-eon frowned and opened his eyes, at that moment, Hwang Dong-jae's fist struck Jong Seo-eon's abdomen once more.
"Kuh—"
Even though he was being held on both sides, not only Jong Seo-eon, but also the two on both sides were thrown back.
Hwang Dong-jae said to the two who were holding Jong Seo-eon with a cold gaze.
"Hold him properly."
"I-I'm sorry!"
The two who had fallen got up again and forcibly raised Jong Seo-eon.
Hwang Dong-jae stuck his head out at the limp Jong Seo-eon and said.
"Hey, where is Namgung Il?"
"..."
"Speak. If you don't, you'll get hit again."
"...I won't tell you."
Thwack—
As he had warned, Hwang Dong-jae hit Jong Seo-eon without a moment's hesitation.
As if he were holding him for sure this time, Jong Seo-eon's body was not thrown back like before.
"Next time, it's two."
"..."
"Where is he?"
"I don't..."
Thwack— Thwack—.
Jong Seo-eon's back shot up.
After that, Jong Seo-eon only gave the same answer several times, and each time, Hwang Dong-jae increased the number and threw punches at Jong Seo-eon.
"...This time, it's ten."
"..."
"Speak."
"...No."
"...Haaah—"
At this point, the one who was hitting was getting tired.
Hwang Dong-jae realized that he could no longer open Jong Seo-eon's mouth with just beatings.
"...?"
Just then, Hwang Dong-jae's gaze turned to Jong Seo-eon's waist.
"Come to think of it, was this the sword that that brat, Namgung Il, was carrying?"
"...!"
"Give it to me."
In an instant, the Thunder Roar Sword was pulled out from Jong Seo-eon's waist.
"I don't know what you're thinking, but to entrust your sword to a moron like this."
"Give it back!"
"..."
"That's the captain's sword! He entrusted it to me, believing in me..."
Thwack—
Hwang Dong-jae's fist struck Jong Seo-eon's abdomen.
Because of that, Jong Seo-eon could not help but swallow his words, and Hwang Dong-jae lifted the Thunder Roar Sword and smiled a bitter smile.
"I asked you earlier, didn't I? Do you think I'm a pushover?"
"..."
"With this, Namgung Il is also finished. Since he has no weapon, that brat can't do anything now."
Hwang Dong-jae muttered and let out a disgusting laugh.
Crackle—
It was then.
At that moment, a mysterious light occurred, and the surroundings flashed.
"Kuh—"
Frowning at the sudden light, Hwang Dong-jae turned his head.
A moment later, the light that had instantly subsided.
Discovering the figure that was now emitting a faint electric light from its entire body, Hwang Dong-jae smiled meaningfully.
"You've finally appeared."
"..."
"I was waiting for you, Namgung Il."
(End of Chapter)