am-books Chapter 162
Chapter 162
A complete stranger.
And, in a foreign land, a war hero called a national hero.
She said she wanted to watch a martial arts tournament, even if it meant sacrificing her lifespan by using her awakening abilities.
Even the participants themselves didn’t believe in their own potential, yet she believed in it.
She showed a noble resolve.
Her will surpassed the shallow desire to be noticed by the Silent Swordsman, and it made the contestants genuinely commit.
“Now, we have received the martial arts tournament entries for all 315 participants. Starting now, according to the random drawing of brackets, the announced contestants should come to the tournament stage.”
Although it was an impromptu tournament, no one criticized the lack of formality or the low level of organization.
The tournament, which began not under the organizer’s authority but the participants’ resolve, was unaffected by the procedure or venue.
Even with the procedural formality, the hastily constructed venue, nothing could quell the contestants' burning passion.
“Did we really have to call in a dentist again? These guys are unbelievable.”
“Well, there’s a chance the corn will get stuck, don’t you think? You’re just thinking ‘let's keep the peace’.”@@@@
Doctors from all fields were gathered, and the medical team was ready.
Thanks to the National Security Bureau's covert support, the makeshift medical beds and equipment were set up. Unless there were serious injuries or fatalities, the Saint’s help wouldn’t be needed.
‘I hope all this effort was worth it.’
While Min Woo-sung steeled himself, the tournament was underway with the contestants engaged in fierce battles.
“Muscle Arm!”
In the intense battle, a contestant using the Muscle Arm ability pushed down his opponent’s sword with his right arm, which had swelled up to twice its size.
The opponent, struggling and leaning, muttered coldly without attempting to fix his posture.
“Rewind.”
Like a video playing in reverse, the Rewind ability allowed the user to return to their position just one second ago, aiming their sword at the Muscle Arm user’s neck.
The Muscle Arm user couldn’t hide his frustration but eventually accepted defeat.
“Great ability.”
“Your ability is the same. If you had trained just a little more, you might have lost before you could even take a breath.”
“I appreciate you saying that. Even though I lost, it gives me comfort. I’ll cheer for you to win.”
The two contestants shook hands, and those waiting their turn, along with Haenampa’s staff, gave them a hearty round of applause.
‘Now, this is what a proper martial arts tournament looks like.’
Gashingan was deeply moved.
The previous qualifier, where hundreds of contestants scrambled for positions like wild dogs, was a nightmare.
Although it had been a stepping stone that boosted his own name, Gashingan knew the truth.
Last time, he got lucky because of Lightning Man.
If it weren’t for Lightning Man, who single-handedly wiped out half of the participants, Gashingan wouldn’t have had any competitors coming after him while he was waiting in the corner.
[Concept Post]
[Ascended Gallery - Gashingan the Silent Swordsman Tournament Hit Not Bad?]
[Author - 3 Dae 750]
[Views - 22,195]
[Upvotes - 840]
[Downvotes - 615]
“If you admit it, give it an upvote”
Cheat post, giving it an upvote anywayThe hedgehog was super annoying, yelling at everyone from a prime spot, lolDamn, how hard was it for Gashingan to be so sturdy, really felt bad about it, took a sweet nap for two daysHow could you sleep when it was so painful?Got stabbed so badly I slept for 48 hours straight to recoverAre you a masochist? lolSo this guy just naturally recovered without going to a hospital, hahaSeems like most of the martial-arts Ascended are a little crazy lolGashingan was okay, though. His face was just so ugly, but man, you could tell he worked hard to improve his skillsOh myThat’s some reverse-cheat moveSuddenly felt bad for Gashingan and gave him an upvoteIf your face looks like that, you really have nothing but money, so you might as well make it bigTrue
Gashingan’s actions, which had earned him easy praise online, were repeatedly mocked.
As a man, Gashingan had his pride. He didn’t want to be labeled as a lucky guy, so he participated in the interview.
And fortunately, it became the second Silent Swordsman Martial Arts Tournament, so luck was on his side.
“Next contestant has been recommended. B-class Ascended big match! In the blue corner, Gashingan!”
Gashingan boldly stepped onto the stage.
Wow, he really is uglyI heard his thorns are super sharp, right?Guess it’s because his thorns are so sharp, that’s why his face is so ugly
The assessment of his appearance in a competition of men pushed Gashingan’s mental state, but he steeled himself.
‘My face being ugly isn’t something new. I just have to endure today. I’ll make a name for myself as a skilled Ascended in this tournament.’
Once he succeeds, Gashingan’s signature won’t be his ugly face, but his impressive skill.
Even Lightning Man wasn’t that handsome, but didn’t he get called a “Well-Done Maker” or “Human High Voltage Fence” online?
It’s not just baseless hope.
Thanks to the realization from the previous tournament, Gashingan had leveled up and was promoted to B-class.
“Red corner, the strong contender for this tournament, facing off against Gashingan, is Mecha Samurai!”
Thud.
Gashingan’s thorns, which had boasted invincible durability, broke off.
“Fantastic! Despite the disadvantage of the countermatch, both Gashingan, who dominates the battlefield, and Mecha Samurai, who shows his skills against such a veteran, are impressive!”
[Though Gashingan gained an advantage in the exchange of blows.]
“Even with his thorns being exploited?”
Ha Eung Eung pointed to Gashingan’s other hand.
At the moment Mecha Samurai launched his sword attack, Gashingan extended his right hand in the shape of a sword, while simultaneously firing thorns from his left hand, which had transformed into the shape of a gun.
Sizzle.
Mecha Samurai belatedly discovered the thorns embedded in his arm.
His face, which had looked like a cold machine, contorted for the first time.
“Gashingan. You’re stronger than I expected.”
“I didn’t become a top contender in name alone.”
Mecha Samurai gripped his left hand and pulled the thorns out.
As sparks dissipated from his arm, the pierced area began to regain its original form.
“Recovery technique? This bastard is just cheating.”
“High-cost techniques come with severe penalties. I had to have something like this to manage it.”
“Then we shouldn’t give him any chance to recover. We need to finish it with the next strike.”
“No. You won’t get another chance.”
Gashingan’s abilities were exceptional in many areas.
Impressive durability.
High versatility.
Even the unpredictable thorn projectiles.
By developing the cost of his abilities in various ways, Gashingan could dominate against any number of opponents, regardless of the distance.
That’s why Mecha Samurai understood.
He couldn’t choose between attack and defense.
He couldn’t give up any distance.
He always wanted to win against any opponent.
With that greedy power,
With the ability that refused to give anything up,
He knew he could never withstand Gashingan’s fastest strike, his fatal blow.
“Ahh! An incredibly fast strike with such force that the shockwave destroys half of the arena behind Gashingan!”
Amid the excitement of the moment, Reporter Bang Ji-cheol grabbed the microphone and began his commentary.
“Gashingan lost!”
[No, he hasn’t given up yet.]
“Even though he’s in tatters?”
Gashingan’s broken thorn armor.
The blood flowing from the torn thorns.
He had become a bloody mess, almost unrecognizable.
“Ouch.”
Gashingan muttered weakly, as though his hand had been pricked by a needle.
“It stings, you bastard.”
Despite taking a fatal blow that could have taken him down, Gashingan didn’t kneel.
His fighting spirit caused a roar of applause from the other participants.