Transcension Academy - Chapter 22

C22: Unfolding Wings (1)

Seo-joon’s sudden intrusion made the surroundings calm in an instant. Then there was a commotion and people began to question the current situation.

<Oh, what’s going on here? Suddenly, a strange man…>

“Student Kim Seo-joon, what are you doing?”

Only the referee grasped the situation and dissuaded Seo-joon but Seo-joon did not listen. He just spoke to Lee Jun-hwan.

“Put it away.”

“What?”

“Put it away.”

Lee Jun-hwan looked puzzled for a moment at Seo-joon’s sudden words. Then, when he realized the meaning of his words, he replied with a fishy smile.

“Oh, are you talking about stepping on this bug?”

“That foot. I said “put it away.”

Lee Jun-hwan showed a deeper smile and then.

“What if you don’t?”

Seo Jun threw the iron bar without hesitation at Lee Jun-hwan.

“You punk!”

Lee Jun-hwan blocked Seo-joon’s attack, but Seo-joon’s attack was not easy to stop with one foot fixed.

Lee Jun-hwan stepped back, taking off the foot that had on Min-ki.

Seo-joon looked at Min-ki, who was lying down with Lee-Jun-hwan behind him.

“Seo, Seo-joon…”

Seo-joon starred coldly at Lee Jun-hwan.

“Is it good to look down on people and laugh at them?”

“They think they’re going to be something…”

Lee Jun-hwan continued, twisting his face.

“Because they’re so annoying.”

However, Seo-joon asked without any change in expression.

“What’s the reason?”

“What?”

“I asked why you’re trampling on people like this.”

Then Lee Jun-hwan burst into laughter.

“Because they don’t know their place.”

“Are they not allowed to dream?”

“What? Dream? Did you just say dream?”

Lee Jun-hwan suddenly giggled to himself and burst into laughter as if he couldn’t stand it.

“Wow, there are people who still talk about that kind of nonsense in this day and age.”

Then he asked with a look of doubt.

“Do you even say that you can do anything if you try?”

“What’s the point of not being able to do it?”

“Ha-ha-ha-ha.”

Lee Jun-hwan burst into laughter for a long time and said,

“I’ll tell you what the world is about. There are people who can and people who can’t do it. Do you understand?”

“…”

“Have you ever heard of the word ladder? It means that the bugs below can go up. But what do you think it means to climb up the ladder?”

Lee Jun-hwan said with a fishy smile.

“The bug that climbed up doesn’t make a new ladder for the next bug. It kicks the ladder so that no one else can come up. That’s the world.”

“…”

“I have to trample on others to survive. There’s no dream in the process. There are only the ones who can and ones who can’t. Do you know the world now?”

Seo-joon looked at Lee Jun-hwan, who was smiling without a word.

The truth was not very different from Lee Jun-hwan’s words. In the last nine years Seo-joon endured a lot while preparing for the professional hunter exam.

Seo-joon had to face so many walls of the world and reality.

Talented people received scholarships for academies and those with money could buy talent. However, those who had no talent, money, or anything like Seo-joon could literally do nothing

So Seo-joon thought that the world was originally shaped like that and now, too, that idea remains unchanged but if there’s one thing that’s changed…

“Don’t talk big.”

Seo-joon stuttered and moved.

Not long ago, in a lecture of Shakyamuni.

[Do you think the world you live in really exists?]

At that time, Seo-joon shook his head and thought that the lecture was going to drive him crazy.

[What is the world around you? This small monk was once a human being in the dimension of Earth. And there were those who followed this small monk at the level of this earth.]

[Today, I want to start by telling the realization that a middle school student gave to this small monk.]

Shakyamuni told the story of the skull of Great Master Wonhyo.

While Grand Master Wonhyo was looking for water because he was very thirsty in the middle of the night, he drank water from a gourd nearby.

It was so sweet that he slept comfortably, and even the next morning, when he checked the water, it was actually contained in a skull.

[As he told this story this small monk realized that ‘Everything depends on making up your mind.’ However, this small monk thinks a little differently.]

[It’s not your mind, it’s an illusion created by your illusions.]

What he drank was water but the moment he woke up in the morning and saw the skeleton he was beginning to feel disgusted. That’s how he felt even though what he drank didn’t change.]

[Let’s expand this a little bit. The same is true of this world. All those things that make up this world are just the values you give.]

[If you draw a line on the land and give it value, patriotism is created on the land, and if you collect materials to make a building and give it value, it becomes a cultural property]

[But what’s the essence?]

[If the value you give goes away, it’s just wood, land, wind, and water.]

[We are especially sad when there is a scar on a tree. We are also angry and distressed when there is something wrong with the ground]

[Even though the essence is no different from the trees and the land on the side road we pass by casually.]

[In the end, no matter how important and precious you are, it all exists only as an illusion in your head. The moment you give meaning, the fake becomes real.]

[I’m going to ask again. Do you think the world you see really exists?]

[Everything in the world that makes up your surroundings is a fantasy. The illusion you created]

[But why can’t you get out of that illusion and keep suffering?]

[What do you suffer for? What do you live for?]

[When we listen to a song, we don’t listen to it to hear the ending of the song. If we did, we would only find the songs that end the fastest.]

[And the same is true of existence. Existence has no purpose and no consequences. Existing, you fulfilled your purpose the moment you were born.]

[Existence does not want any process and consequences. Just serve its purpose as a being.]

[But what are the words you’ve heard? Be successful, try. Give your all to a virtual image. Didn’t you hear these words?]

[This little monk doesn’t say it’s bad. I just want to ask.]

[Don’t you think you’re missing something?]

[Your song is playing right now]

[Will you run to see the end of the song or will you hum to the song?]

[That’s your choice but keep one thing in mind.]

.

.

.

[Anyway, there’s no one who lives in this world]

People have different talents that’s why there are few things more miserable than clinging to something you shouldn’t even try.

Many times he hesitated while watching the people ahead.

Words cannot explain how he felt when he couldn’t even reach the tip of their feet even if he ran with all he had.

When you find yourself comparing yourself to others you can feel the way others are looking at you and can see yourself unable to stand in front of people.

There are also regrets about what it would have been like if you had done something else before. Then suddenly, you’re afraid of how long you can do this job.

Many people are frustrated in the face of reality.

‘What’s wrong with that?’

But that is not a reason to be insulted.

You may not be able to do it. You may be frustrated. But if there’s just a reason to do it, that’s enough.

Now Seo-joon thinks,

“It’s not something you can talk about and evaluate recklessly.”

Therefore, Lee Jun-hwan crossed the line.

It is said that you become mature as much as you are sick, but some wounds remain as wounds forever.

Seo-joon was so angry about it.

“Student Kim Seo-joon, it’s against the rules! Stop!”

The referee’s warning comes at the same time as he jumps on the ground. Seo-joon, however, ignored him and Lee Jun-hwan, who easily blocked Seo-joon’s attack.

“Bugs are disguising.”

“You’re the real bug.”

Lee Jun-hwan swung his sword against Seo-joon and as the metal tangled and sparks splashed a fierce battle in which no one backed down started.

‘It’s definitely different from Jang Deok-cheol.’

Seo-joon was able to experience Lee Jun-hwan’s skills in person.

To be honest, when dealing with Jang Deok-cheol he didn’t feel threatened or nervous. To exaggerate, he felt like he would never lose.

But against Lee Jun-hwan he closed his mind and fully focused on the battle.

“You punk!”

On the other hand, Lee Jun-hwan was surprised. To be honest, Lee Jun-hwan thought he would have no opponent here.

To be more honest, Lee Jun-hwan was confident of winning even if he fought against half-baked professional hunters. But this guy, Kim Seo-joon, who suddenly appeared…

“Cough!”

Lee Jun-hwan was awakened by the intense pain that poured into his side and Seo-joon was digging in at that gap.

‘There!’

Lee Jun-hwan hurriedly swung his sword to block the attack, and Seo-joon swallowed his disappointment and took a step back.

The two looked at each other.

“What are you doing now? Stop both of you!!”

The referee’s warning was heard again then and he came to stop the two.

“Don’t get in my way!”

Lee Jun-hwan shouted at the referee.

Lee Jun-hwan was a predator and a wild beast that devours the prey and reigns over it.

People crawled when they saw him but why did he have the same eyes as him? Lee Jun-hwan was very annoyed by it.

“Ha! Anyone can say such nonsense. Let’s see if you can talk like that in the face of reality.”

When Lee Jun-hwan used his mana a huge amount of momentum poured down on Seo-joon.

“Cough!”

He couldn’t see it.

Seo-joon lifted the iron bar at the cool sensation that he suddenly felt in his spine, and what he saw after that was Lee Jun-hwan’s sword that came over him as if it were weighing on his body.

“You blocked this?”

Lee Jun-hwan continued to swing his sword with a fishy smile.

‘It’s too much.’

That’s what Seo-joon felt when he blocked Lee Jun-hwan’s sword. There is no reason why people praise him. Clearly, the difference in level is different.

“Cough!”

Seo-joon had no choice but to admit that Lee Jun-hwan was better than him today.

Seo-joon admitted and accepted all the facts and put down his everything.

Maybe that’s why he entered into a trance.

<Chiron Lecture Progress +1%…>

<Shakyamuni Lecture Progress +0.1%…>

<Xiang Yu Lecture Progress +2%…>

Seo-joon did not recognize himself growing momentarily in this fight but on the other side.

“You punk!”

Lee Jun-hwan couldn’t hide his surprise.

‘The more he takes the attacks, the more proficient he becomes.’

It’s like watching a monster growing up fighting. At first, it was hard to stop him, but he started to attack, and he was already fighting back.

And now.

“Oh, my”.

“Gulp!”

In the ensuing clash, Seo-joon and Lee Jun-hwan groaned and stepped back one step at a time.

On the surface, they exchanged attacks in the same way but Lee Jun-hwan knew that it was none other than himself who just lost the clash.

‘I’m… I’m getting pushed back by this guy?’

Lee Jun-hwan couldn’t bear to admit the fact.

“You bastard!”

At that moment, a tremendous momentum erupted from Lee Jun-hwan. It was incomparable to before and Lee Jun-hwan’s sword then began to have a bluish energy.

“The sword?”

“No way! A student could do that?”

Sword Aura.

Beyond coating mana on a weapon was the stage where mana is embodied so its destructive power was indescribable.

“I’ll kill you!”

Lee Jun-hwan runs at Seo-joon with a fierce murderous intention.

“Stop it! You have to stop it!”

“Lee Jun-hwan! Stop it right now!”

Officials rushed to the stadium.

Seo-joon thought while looking at the whole scene.

‘For now, there is no way I can win against Lee Jun-hwan.’

The only thing that can deal with sword aura is sword aura or at least a weapon coated with mana.

However, Seo-joon did not know how to handle mana yet, and all he is holding now is a crude iron bar.

A sword aura attack is on a different level from a simple sword swing and he could really die therefore he had to avoid it and run away until the officials overpower Lee Jun-hwan.

That was the best and most correct action in this situation but Seo-joon didn’t want to avoid it.

He felt like if he avoided it here he would be denying all that he had built up.

Seo-joon bit his teeth. Nevertheless, deep hesitation held Seo-joon’s ankles.

Just then Seo-joon heard Xiang Yu’s voice.

[Didn’t I tell you the other day when I heard the song of Chu all over the place? Hmm…Some of the students asked me. Why did you go to the enemy camp alone then? Wasn’t the fight over anyway?]

A four-sided song.

This idiom, which means that songs of the Chu Dynasty could be heard from all sides, was an expression of a desperate situation that refers to an isolated state surrounded by the enemy from all 4 sides and cannot be supported or helped by anyone.

[Yes. Actually, it was a fight that was already over. There was no way to survive. The defeat was fixed and there was no way to overturn it. And yet I fought. Why did I do that?]

Xiang Yu was the main character who created the idiom and the person who experienced the desperate situation in person.

[Trust? Justice? No. Don’t be naive. Those are just useless illusions.]

Hang-woo said how he felt at that time.

[Just]

[I just had to]

In addition, Xiang Yu said he was scared. He was so afraid that he would lose.

[I confess now that it was a setback I’ve never experienced before.]

But

[Children, even if defeat is decided, believe that you will win and go at it like crazy]

Xiang Yu fought.

[I had the power to separate the mountains.]

But he lost again.

[That’s…]

[Called fighting spirit.]

He could have been defeated but Seo-joon grabbed the iron bar as if to break it.

He knew better than anyone that he couldn’t win against sword aura.

Seo Jun flew at Lee Jun-hwan, who was approaching and at that moment, something rose from the depths of his heart.

Reverse divergence, the power to pull out mountains.

His momentum covered the world.

“What the…”

Lee Jun-hwan hesitated at the tremendous momentum from Seo-joon and at the same time, something appeared in a corner of his heart.

‘You think I’m scared?’

Lee Jun-hwan bit his teeth.

“Don’t make me laugh! I’m a predator! I’ll kill you!”

“Stop right now! Stop!”

“What are you all doing? Do you really have to kill someone to get a hold of yourself?!

“Lee Jun-hwan! Kim Seo-joon! Stop it now!!!”

The officials screamed but Seo-joon did not take his eyes off Lee Jun-hwan. In this large space, only Lee Jun-hwan could be seen in Seo-joon’s view.

“Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!”

“Die! You son of a gun!”

At the same time as the two clashed, a huge explosion erupted.

The officials stood there and were eager to pick up the aftermath of the explosion.

After some time, the dense dust fog subsided and the scene that unfolded was a stadium smashed in a big circle and the two beings standing in the middle of it.

The two stood facing each other and people watched them with bated breath.

Soon people could see that Lee Jun-hwan fell down and Kim Seo-joon was still standing.

After a moment of silence.

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.

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“Wow!”

“Ahhhhh!”

The crowd started screaming.