Kim’s Party — Part 1
‘I was only planning to bring Baek Sorin.’
But an extra had tagged along.
Not just Janet, who had recently reached Level 4, but even Kali decided to follow as well.
The three of them kept giving me curious looks, their eyes practically sparkling.
“Is this the Colosseum?”
“So fascinating!”
“But isn’t this illegal? I’ve never seen it on TV before.”
“There are illegal ones, sure, but there are also legal ones. This place is legal.”
To be honest, it’s a gray area.
The arena itself is legal, but not everything that happens inside is aboveboard.
If it weren’t so murky, they’d probably broadcast this on TV, but they’ve completely banned that possibility. After all, people dying isn’t uncommon, and things like creating diamonds are outright illegal, making it impossible for this to be brought into the open.
They call it the Colosseum, but in reality, it’s a massive underground fighting arena.
“Black Tiger Swordmaster!”
A familiar face appeared for the first time in a while.
Junk Dealer from the Sinwon Market approached with a wide smile.
“Welcome! Are these people your disciples? They’re incredible! Two of them are Level 4, and the other is Level 3!”
That wasn’t entirely accurate.
Baek Sorin was on the verge of reaching Level 5.
“Are you here to participate in the Warrior Rankings? There are a few challengers who’ve just shown up. Why not wipe them out like you used to?”
“Not today. My disciple will be competing instead.”
“Your disciple?”
When I glanced at Baek Sorin, Junk Dealer followed my gaze. At first, his expression was skeptical.
But after carefully observing Baek Sorin, his eyes met the predatory gaze unique to the Heavenly Killing Star, and he flinched.
“Oh, I know who this is. Aren’t you the infamous Mad Tiger everyone’s been talking about?”
“Mad Tiger? What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Ah, well, you see, people started calling you that because you fight like a crazed tiger.”
Baek Sorin’s face twisted into a scowl.
Junk Dealer quickly shifted his attention to Janet, pretending to know her as well.
“Where the Mad Tiger goes, the Iron Goddess follows! It’s an honor to meet you for the first time.”
“Wait, why am I the Mad Tiger while Janet gets to be the Iron Goddess?”
“You can’t blame me for that…”
Junk Dealer gave a helpless expression, clearly uncomfortable.
I waved a hand at Baek Sorin.
“Let it go. Nicknames always change over time.”
“But why does mine have to be Mad Tiger!”
“Well… it’s not completely inaccurate.”
“Teacher!”
With her Heavenly Killing Star fighting style, it was inevitable for her to gain such a nickname.
Even in the game, she had similar ones. Among players, she was often called Crazy Woman or Psycho Woman.
Isn’t Mad Tiger better than Crazy Woman or Psycho Woman?
“We’re starting with the Warrior Ranking match. Get the registration done.”
“Yes, of course. But… are you sure?”
“Sure about what?”
“The rules require both men and women to compete wearing only their underwear.”
For men, that meant just their boxers.
For women, only a bra and panties.
Baek Sorin folded her arms and smirked.
“That’s fine. What difference does gender make to superhumans? Tell them to bring it on.”
“Whew, you’re confident. Still, you should be cautious. There are always some creeps who try to get handsy with female fighters.”
“If anyone like that shows up, I’ll break their balls.”
“Wow.”
“Sister, you’re amazing!”
Janet and Kali’s eyes sparkled with admiration at Baek Sorin’s fearless attitude.
‘You two find that impressive?’
I couldn’t understand their sense of admiration.
Thanks to the prior notice, the registration process went lightning-fast.
This would be Baek Sorin’s debut match.
Dressed in a white bikini, her entire body was oiled up.
Under the dim lights, her well-trained physique commanded everyone’s attention.
Her opponent stood across from her—a towering warrior, heavily muscled and at least a head taller.
“Woooaaah!”
“Pulverizing Fist! We’re counting on you again this time!”
“Rip her clothes off!”
“We trust you!”
This level of vulgarity was mild compared to the usual.
The underground arena’s female participants were relatively rare, which only made the reactions even more extreme.
Kali looked worried as she muttered,
“Umm… do you think sister can win? The opponent looks really strong…”
“She’ll win, no question.”
“But they’re both Level 4, right?”
“Level 4 doesn’t mean all Level 4s are equal.”
Baek Sorin’s traits were as follows:
[Heavenly Killing Star] [Indomitable] [Rampaging Train]
[Nine Lives] [Swordsmanship] [Slash] (TL note: Did a slight mistake when naming her traits previously)
While Slash and Swordsmanship weren’t easily usable without a weapon, the remaining four traits alone were overwhelming.
In comparison, her opponent’s traits were:
[Martial Arts], [Strike], [Endurance], [Vigor].
Not even R-grade.
At best, an N-grade fighter nearing their growth limit.
It was impossible to imagine an SSR-grade fighter like Baek Sorin losing.
“Hyaahhh!”
As expected, the match ended in an instant after a brief exchange of blows.
Thwack!
Baek Sorin’s palm struck down in a devastating blow.
A faint light flared, slicing through the air like a crescent moon, sharp and radiant.
The attack even made the air hiss with its intensity.
“Guhhk!”
Her opponent, despite his massive size, collapsed, clutching his chest where the palm strike had landed. Blood sprayed from his mouth.
Janet and Kali cheered enthusiastically.
“Wooow! You’re the best!”
“As expected of her!”
I couldn’t help but chuckle in disbelief.
Even for someone SSR-grade, isn’t this too much?
Executing a Slash—one of the most advanced techniques—with nothing but her bare hands?
That was impossible in the game.
Without equipping a sword, Slash wouldn’t even activate.
Baek Sorin stood over her fallen opponent, looking down at him coldly.
“That was quick, wasn’t it?”
“D-dammit…”
The defeated opponent obediently conjured a diamond as payment.
And so began her unstoppable streak.
One after another, Baek Sorin faced consecutive challengers, and none could stop her rampage.
Every opponent that appeared was crushed.
Of course, they were all Level 4, so the result was inevitable. Matches between different levels weren’t allowed outside of unlimited divisions.
After who knows how many fights, the leaderboard on the side of the Warrior-class arena changed.
[Level 4 Warrior-Class Ranking]
[No. 1 Mad Tiger Baek Sorin]
Where my name used to be, Baek Sorin’s now stood proudly.
“Huaaah!”
Back in the waiting room, Baek Sorin let out a deep sigh.
Her skin glimmered faintly, an unusual radiance to it.
The face I was so familiar with now looked subtly different.
She seemed a little taller, and although it was still undeniably Baek Sorin, there was an odd refinement to her appearance that made her look even more beautiful.
In a calm voice, I said,
“Sorin, congratulations.”
“Thank you, Teacher. It’s all thanks to you. Before meeting you, I never even imagined I could become a superhuman…”
“Why’s that? Did something happen?”
“Oh, could it be…”
Unlike Janet, Kali seemed to understand the situation.
“Sister! Congratulations! But doesn’t your body usually go through a reconstruction when you reach Level 5? Yours seemed to finish so quickly!”
“That’s true.”
“Wait, Level 5? Congrats! Wow, so that’s what it’s like to reach Level 5 so quickly?”
Realizing the situation belatedly, Janet also offered her congratulations.
Even Junk Dealer standing nearby gawked with his mouth hanging open.
“Amazing… Level 5, really? Both master and disciple at Level 5? Truly incredible, truly incredible!”
Starting from Level 5, one is officially recognized as a high-ranking superhuman.
In the Colosseum, Level 5 participants are allowed to compete in unlimited matches.
Technically, Level 4s can participate as well, but victory is far less likely, so it’s practically an unspoken rule to wait until Level 5.
The atmosphere grew lively with laughter and smiles.
Janet and Kali gazed at Baek Sorin with eyes full of envy.
‘How do I trigger her personal quest again?’
In the game, it was simple.
All you had to do was enter the Colosseum with a Level 5 Baek Sorin.
That would automatically prompt the Rank 1 warrior, the King of Destruction, to approach her and trigger the quest.
[So, you’re the one making waves lately?]
[Tsk, just a wet-behind-the-ears rookie.]
[What? You want to fight me? Beat the Rank 2 warrior first, then we’ll talk.]
[Then, and only then, will I acknowledge you.]
He’d say lines like that.
Winning Rank 2 in the unlimited division would unlock the finals, where defeating the King of Destruction’s party would reward you with a fragment of Mars.
A divine artifact containing the Mars Swordsmanship technique, which only reacted to the Heavenly Killing Star.
‘What if the King of Destruction isn’t Rank 1 anymore? Would he still hand it over?’
If not, would I have to chase down whoever held the top rank now?
As I mulled over the possibilities, a knock interrupted my thoughts.
Knock, knock, knock.
Someone opened the door and cautiously stepped inside.
It was a towering man, heavily muscled, wearing nothing but a pair of briefs.
A professional wrestling mask concealed his face.
The King of Destruction.
The same superhuman who had once been utterly defeated by me, losing the Iron Fist in the process.
He bowed respectfully when his eyes met mine.
“It’s been a long time, Black Tiger Swordmaster.”
Well, that’s unexpected.
I had assumed he’d still be bitter and seething after losing the Iron Fist.
“It has been a while. You’ve grown stronger, I see?”
“You flatter me, Swordmaster. Compared to you, I’m just a speck of dust. I’ve tried my best, but I still have much to improve.”
Despite his humble words, he had indeed become significantly stronger.
[Giant’s Strength], [Vajra Body], [Combat Training]
[Martial Arts], [Punch], [Kick]
The Vajra Body was a notable addition.
If he had gained an immortality trait to complement it, he’d be terrifying, but it seemed he hadn’t reached that point.
And then there were Punch and Kick, traits that, when combined with Martial Arts, formed the foundation for a combat specialist.
Give him a few more years, and by the time the game timeline begins, he might evolve into a combat expert rather than just a martial artist.
In that case, he wouldn’t be an SR-grade character anymore but an SSR-grade one.
Noticing my appraising look, the King of Destruction lowered his head politely again.
“My late master would be pleased.”
“Master?”
“The Iron Fist—it was my master’s legacy.”
“Ah…”
“He always dreamed of making his name known while wielding the Iron Fist. Though it wasn’t me, seeing you bring such fame to the artifact would have brought him joy.”
This guy was suddenly pulling a guilt trip on me.
So, why was he here?
The King of Destruction raised his head, meeting my eyes directly.
His gaze burned intensely, like twin torches.
“I know I’m no match for you, Swordmaster. But I can’t just give up on the Iron Fist without a fight. I’ve come to request the rematch you promised me.”
“A rematch, you say?”
“Yes. Please grant me one more chance to learn from you.”
He clearly knew.
That I was on the verge of reaching the peak of Level 5 and breaking through the barrier to Level 6.
He also understood that once I surpassed that threshold, I’d be out of his league forever.
This was his only chance.
Even though his odds of winning were slim, he’d rather fight me now than face me after the gap widened further.
“Very well.”
I nodded calmly.
The King of Destruction had no way to defeat me.
[Giant’s Strength], [Vajra Body], [Undying]
[Mana Soul], [Close-Combat Mastery], [Sixth Sense]
I had filled my traits with top-tier abilities.
With a combination of triple synergy and double power traits, enhanced further by combat techniques and sensory traits, I was unstoppable.
In the game, such a difference meant I could win while eating ramen.
No, even if I left the fight to auto-control, I’d still win, just as I had been crushed by that heavily pay-to-win player back in the day.
At least he wasn’t coming into this rematch without some level of strategy.
The King of Destruction’s fiery determination was evident as he continued.
“The match will be an unlimited party battle.”
That’s right.
We had agreed on an unlimited match back then, hadn’t we?
But a party battle instead of a one-on-one?
“Not a one-on-one match?”
“No. Let’s be honest, would I stand a chance against you in a solo match? You’d knock me out cold in just a few hits. So, I’d like to ask for a small advantage.”
Fair enough. At least he’s being straightforward about it.
I preferred this honesty over any underhanded tricks.
“Fine. Let’s do it that way. When would you like the match?”
“If it’s within the near future, any time will do. But I hope you won’t make me wait too long. Black Tiger Swordmaster, you’re already overwhelmingly strong, and if you grow any stronger, even an unlimited match won’t be viable anymore.”
“That’s true.”
An unlimited party match.
And the relentless determination blazing in his eyes.
The King of Destruction had no intention of holding back.
No matter the cost, no matter the method, he intended to reclaim the Iron Fist.
‘This is troublesome.’
An unlimited party match hinges on the strength of your party members.
If three are strong, even one weaker participant can simply ride along.
Given the current strength of the King of Destruction, even if he didn’t perform well as a vanguard, he could still serve as an effective meat shield.
And the three people he must have recruited for this…
‘They won’t be his usual party members.’
In the game, when you face the King of Destruction’s final party, all of them are Level 5, equipped with high-level traits and top-tier magical artifacts.
The difficulty is fairly high, though not unbeatable.
But at this point in time, the other three likely hadn’t reached Level 5 yet.
They were set to be a bit weaker than the King of Destruction.
‘In that case…’
I narrowed my eyes.
A few names came to mind.
Legends of the past who could only be fought by recruiting the King of Destruction and his entire party while completing their personal quests.
The Ruin King, the Sky Dragon King, the Black Demon King, and the Angel King.
The masters of the King of Destruction and his companions.
By the time the game begins, they were all long gone from the world…
But right now?
At this moment, when the fates of major characters were intersecting?
“You must have recruited some extraordinary individuals.”
“Yes, indeed. They’re truly remarkable. Black Tiger Swordmaster, I hope you won’t let your guard down. I don’t want this to end too quickly.”
“That remains to be seen.”
“I’m serious. Though they’ve aged, they’re people who could still beat you in a one-on-one fight.”
He wasn’t bluffing.
The Ruin King was already dead, but it seemed like the Sky Dragon King, the Black Demon King, and the Angel King would be participating.
A Warrior at Level 5.
A Reinforced, a Mage, and a Priest at Level 6.
This wouldn’t be easy.
“I’ve made a rather bold request, haven’t I? In return, if I lose, I’ll give you this.”
The King of Destruction pulled a small fragment from his pocket.
For a moment, I almost shouted in shock.
A figurine of a naked man holding a sword and shield.
The figure’s body was lean yet muscular, with sharp definition.
A V-shaped torso, chiseled abs, and powerful thighs formed a perfect golden ratio.
It was Mars’s Fragment!
One of the three great sword techniques in Arcane Seoul, the Mars Swordsmanship, was sealed within it.
The very reason I had gone out of my way to recruit Baek Sorin, train her, and bring her to the Colosseum today—now it gleamed enticingly in the palm of the King of Destruction’s hand.
–TL Notes–
Tired of seeing Ads? Then please support me on Patreon! Any tier of subscription will make it so you won’t get any ads!
If you want to support me or give me feedback, you can do it at patreon.com/MattReading
Join my Discord! https://discord.gg/BWaP3AHHpt
Nice