The next day.
The students of Heukseok High Division awoke with refreshed faces.
“Damn! I think I slept better than I do at ho.”
“My body feels so light!”
At their remarks, Bango also checked over his own body.
Indeed—it felt lighter.
He stepped outside and surveyed the building.
Then he spoke.
“I didn’t notice yesterday, but now that I look closely, this structure has a formation engraved into it.”
“A formation?”
“Yes. I can feel the positive energy from all directions being drawn toward this place. These Baekyeong people... they were sincere in hosting us.”
“Exactly. I thought I’d wake up with sothing wrong with my body, but I feel even better. With this feeling, I think I could face anyone.”
Bango nodded in agreent.
“Since we’ve been treated so well, we should return the favor properly.”
“Huh? You an, not go easy on them?”
“No. That’s not the kind of hospitality they offered. They want us to fight with everything we’ve got.”
“They’re insane.”
“No—they’re true martial artists. We’ve had a huge misunderstanding about the South. Turns out it’s ho to so truly remarkable fighters.”
At Bango’s words, Seongwon smirked and nodded.
“Yeah, you’re right. We underestimated a place that has warriors like this.”
At that mont, an exclamation was heard from inside.
“Looks like they’re serving breakfast too—judging by the others’ reactions.”
“All right. Let’s eat and head into a glorious fight with Baekyeong.”
“Sounds good!”
****
After finishing breakfast, the sa Baekyeong student who had guided them the day before returned.
“Did you rest well last night?”
Bango nodded.
“Thanks to you. I appreciate it.”
As Bango offered his thanks, the student smiled.
“I’m truly glad to hear that.”
“Will you also be fighting today?”
The student nodded.
“Of course.”
“I thought so. Your composure told you weren’t ordinary. Which house are you from?”
“I am Noh Hojun of the Cheongeum Trading Group.”
“Cheongeum Trading Group?”
He knew the na.
The third wealthiest faction under Martial God Cheon’s sphere of influence.
“Was it your family that hosted us yesterday?”
“No. The hospitality was provided by soone else.”
“I see. Introduce later. I’d like to offer my thanks.”
“Hearing that you wish to give thanks ans you were satisfied.”
“Indeed. The boys even said they slept better here than at ho.”
“As expected! I heard the structure was built with great care—and its effect is extraordinary.”
“Effect?”
“Yes. That building you stayed in contains a formation called the Vital Energy Recharge Formation. It’s designed to recover the exhausted body and mind.”
“Vital Energy Recharge Formation, huh... The na fits. I do feel like I’m bursting with energy.”
“I’d love to experience it myself.”
“Doesn’t seem like just anyone can enter.”
“Correct. That space is reserved only for Baekyeong’s inner leadership.”
They had offered a space normally reserved for Baekyeong’s command.
‘We really were honored guests.’
“Since we’ve been treated so well, I intend to return the favor with everything I’ve got.”
“Phew...”
“Hahaha! Nervous?”
“Yes. I wonder if I’ll perform well today.”
“If it becos too much, just shout ‘surrender.’ We won’t touch you after that.”
“Understood. Thank you for the consideration.”
Bango smiled as he looked at Noh Hojun.
How far had they walked?
A large open area ca into view, where a group of students was gathered.
They were Baekyeong’s.
Only then did tension appear on the faces of the Heukseok students.
“I’ll return to my position now. See you shortly.”
“You’ve done well.”
Noh Hojun bowed and departed.
As Bango slowly moved forward, soone on the opposite side also stepped out.
“Are you Baekyeong’s top student?” Bango asked.
The figure stepped forward and replied.
“I am Sunwoo Baek, top student of Baekyeong.”
“I’m Bango, top student of Heukseok. I assu there’s no need to explain why we’re here.”
“Indeed. Today’s victor takes both the West and the South.”
“Claiming both with a single battle. I almost feel guilty for getting it so easily.”
“No need to feel guilty. You won’t be getting it anyway.”
At Sunwoo Baek’s provocation, Bango smirked with a cold glint in his eyes.
“You're confident. Your hospitality yesterday was excellent.”
“I’m glad to hear that.”
“In return, I plan to go all out today.”
“That’s what I was hoping for.”
“How shall we proceed? A representative duel? Or... a group battle? I’ll let you decide—that much courtesy I can extend.”
“Let’s do a group battle.”
“You sound confident. Can you handle a group battle?”
“Of course. The fight continues until one side calls for surrender.”
At Sunwoo Baek’s words, Bango gave a short laugh and nodded.
“Good! That works better for us too. So once we return to our sides, we begin?”
Sunwoo Baek nodded.
Bango turned back toward his group with a faint smile on his lips.
“Get ready. It’ll be a group battle.”
At his words, Seongwon asked,
“Seriously? That’s what they chose?”
“Yes.”
“They’re insane. Without a deep pool of talent, a group battle’s a huge risk.”
“They say they’re confident. We’ll see soon enough.”
“Fine by .”
Stretching his arms, Seongwon shouted,
“Everyone, get ready!”
“Who should we send out first?”
Bango turned his head.
He could see Baekyeong’s underclassn getting into formation.
“Looks like their underclassn will go first. We’ll do the sa—send out our underclassn.”
“Understood.”
“Watch their movents and adapt as necessary.”
“Got it.”
****
The underclassn of Heukseok High Division strolled out leisurely.
“Now we’ll finally get to see Baekyeong’s true strength.”
Bango murmured to himself as he watched the underclassn move forward.
But then—
The underclassn of Baekyeong charged toward them with terrifying montum.
Seeing this, Bango shouted,
“Get it together! The fight has already begun!”
At Bango’s cry, the Heukseok underclassn quickly snapped out of their stupor and moved to ready themselves—but they were inevitably pushed back by Baekyeong’s overwhelming assault.
Tukakakaka—
Baekyeong’s and Heukseok’s underclassn clashed in chaos.
Kwaaaa—
Jjeojeok—
Kwakwa-kwaang—
Energy blasts flew everywhere. Fists and palms t in fierce hand-to-hand combat.
Kagagang—
Weapons collided with the sound of screeching steel.
At first, it appeared evenly matched.
Kutanga-tang—
“Urgh!”
But those being thrown, slamd, and collapsing all over the battlefield were the Heukseok underclassn.
Bango’s eyes darted rapidly across the field.
“Damn it! Our kids are getting pushed back!”
At Seongwon’s shout, Bango clenched his fist tightly.
He had expected them to be strong—but this exceeded anything he’d imagined.
“I didn’t think even the underclassn would be this strong.”
“That one watching with his arms crossed seems to be their top underclassman. And he hasn’t even moved yet, but our kids are already being overwheld.”
“Where’s Gyeho?”
“He’s struggling against that kid who guided us here yesterday... Can you believe that?”
The sa student who had greeted and hosted them was now driving Heukseok’s underclassman leader into a corner with overwhelming pressure.
He didn’t seem like he’d lose, necessarily—but the real problem was that everyone else was just as strong.
Even if they sohow beat that student, there would be others just as powerful to deal with.
So many monsters... all in one division?
What on earth happened at Baekyeong this year?
If all the others were this strong, just how powerful was the underclassman top student, who still hadn’t moved?
“What do we do? At this rate, our underclassn are going to be wiped out!”
At Seongwon’s panicked cry, Bango responded:
“Deploy the mid-level students.”
The mont the words left his mouth, Seongwon shouted,
“Sa Taehyeon! Get in there and assist the others!”
It stung their pride to send in mid-level students first—but there was no other choice.
“Let’s go!”
Sa Taehyeon, the top mid-level student, led the others into the chaotic battlefield.
But Baekyeong still showed no sign of deploying their mid-level students.
“Those bastards... they’re being arrogant!”
Seongwon clenched his teeth, glaring at Baekyeong’s side.
“Don’t show any rcy—crush them!”
He roared toward Sa Taehyeon.
But then—
“Huh?”
Even with the mid-level students entering the fray, the tide didn’t shift.
It was as though the only thing that had changed was the nas on the Heukseok side—underclassn to mid-level students.
And Sa Taehyeon?
He was struggling to fight off three opponents at once.
“What the hell?! Even our mid-level students can’t manage? Who are these people?! Did a whole squad transfer here from Jungcheon or sothing?!”
It was unbelievable.
At this rate, they were facing the unthinkable—a scenario where they’d have to send in upperclassn against Baekyeong’s underclassn.
That could not be allowed.
Even now, Baekyeong’s underclassman top student still hadn’t moved.
It was enough to stir suspicion.
“Maybe that guy isn’t Baekyeong’s top underclassman?”
Just as that doubt surfaced—
“They’re getting pushed over there! Hurry and help! Hey! How long are you going to keep stalling? You wanna et up afterward for a little talk, huh?”
The underclassman top student, who had been silently watching, suddenly raised his voice.
And the Baekyeong students moved imdiately in response to his command.
That wasn’t acting.
They genuinely feared and followed him.
“Hold your ground! You know what happens if we fall here, right?”
At Shin Dowoon’s shout, the students trembled.
Then they charged with crazed eyes—like those who had nothing left to lose.
“Th-that... they’re insane! Our students are being crushed by sheer montum!”
Crunch—
Bango clenched his fist so hard it cracked.
Would he really need to send in upperclassn to deal with underclassn?
Jjeojeojeong—
A massive surge of qi exploded, and soone collapsed to the ground.
“Sa Taehyeon!”
The top mid-level student had fallen.
Seeing that, Bango spoke.
“Deploy... the upperclassn.”
A thought crept in—
That this battle... might be unwinnable.
As Bango gave the order, Seongwon yelled:
“Let’s go! All of you—follow !”
Seongwon led the upperclassn into the field, and Bango’s gaze locked onto the underclassman top student—Shin Dowoon.
Then, in a blur, he hurled himself straight at him.
If it had co to this, he might as well see the extent of this so-called underclassman’s strength.
Shuuak—
He darted in and unleashed a strike directly at Shin Dowoon.
Jjeojeojeong—
It was ant to blow him away in one hit.
But it was blocked—and Shin Dowoon held firm.
“You’ve got to be kidding !”
An underclassman... blocking his attack?
That ant Shin Dowoon’s level was also «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» Apex-Level.
Comparable to Bango himself—and still not Baekyeong’s top student?
Then just how strong was Baekyeong’s top student?
Bango’s eyes turned sharp and cold.
His pride was already shattered.
And he resolved to vent that seething humiliation on Shin Dowoon.
Whoooom—
Bango’s energy burst from his body like waves.
In response, a similar aura surged from Shin Dowoon.
They were indeed equals in cultivation.
Perhaps a rank below—or equal.
Now he understood why all the other high divisions in the West had fallen.
Baekyeong hadn’t won by luck.
They had won through absolute, overwhelming power.
“Even though you’re from another division, you’re an upperclassman—so I’ll address you as ‘senior.’”
At Shin Dowoon’s words, Bango gave a crooked smile.
If only soone like this had been at Heukseok—there would be nothing to worry about.
“Why Baekyeong? With power like yours, shouldn’t you be in Jungcheon?”
“Jungcheon’s no fun.”
“Are you the real leader of Baekyeong? And that guy over there’s just a puppet?”
“You’re saying sothing dangerous, Senior. The one over there is Baekyeong’s true top student. You mustn’t compare to him.”
To lower himself like that...
Bango was shocked.
It was genuine.
“You understand now, don’t you? This was never a battle you could win. Since you ca all this way, allow to face you with all sincerity.”
At Shin Dowoon’s calm declaration, Bango chuckled.
“Hospitality, even to the very end? Looks like you don’t even see us as real enemies. All right, then. Let’s see what kind of hospitality you’ve got in store.”
“I promise you won’t be disappointed.”
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