Global Awakening: Only I Can Respawn

Chapter 36: Duel (1)

When he heard her voice, YuWon couldn't help but smile. She had always been like this, always coming to Hoon's rescue even before what happened.

Previously, every time Yeji asked him to stop, YuWon would quietly back down to maintain peace in the house. But things were different now, and he had no intention of backing down.

"Enough?" he asked, laughing bitterly. "You're telling me it's enough?"

Yeji knew she had overstepped by saying that, but she couldn't just let YuWon do anything he wanted. Now that Hoon was defenseless without his class and rewards, she had to step up and defend him.

Suddenly, YuWon stopped and glared at her. Everything she and her pretty boy had done to him came rushing back to his mind. He couldn't forget how they pushed him to the verge of ending himself.

It wasn't enough back then, but suddenly she decided it was enough when it was his turn for revenge?

"You never used that word," he hissed. "Not once did I hear you say it's enough when they treated me like trash for an entire year. You stood by and watched, and now you decide it's enough? Who the fuck do you think you are!?"

Everyone went silent. But all of them wished to disappear from there. YuWon was the strongest among them, and Yeji wasn't doing anyone any favors by irking him. To save their asses, everyone quickly turned against Hoon and Yeji.

"YuWon is right!" Someone yelled. "Hoon made his life hell. YuWon deserves to punish him."

"Hoon was always a troublemaker, but we turned a blind eye for your sake, Yeji," a professor chimed in. "But now that it has come to this, we can't ignore his actions anymore."

Yeji's face fell when everyone began blaming them. But YuWon smiled. It was something he had suffered through for an entire year. Even then, his treatment was way worse than anything Yeji would ever experience.

Seeing as the iron was hot, YuWon turned and repeated his request to the angel. The angel continued to smile, but her words didn't amuse YuWon.

"As hilarious as that would be," she said. "I'm afraid that won't be possible."

"What do you mean?"

"While you were wasting your time airing your grievances," she explained, "Hoon gained a sponsor. Since one can't claim someone else's pawn, I can't help you. No matter how entertaining it might be."

YuWon sighed. If he couldn't have him as his slave, then he would cripple him for life.

That won't work. Yeji would heal him no matter what I do. There has to be something else.

"However," the angel continued, "you two can settle your differences in another way. If your sponsors approve of it, that is."

"How do I contact—"

"No need," the angel replied. "I already sent them my suggestion. As long as... the mortals accept, a duel shall happen and the winner will get a slave—"

"I accept!"

Hoon jumped up and the opportunity. He showed no hesitation as he did, probably because he thought the sponsor would help him. However, someone had to object.

"Are you insane?" Yeji yelled at him. "What are you thinking? You don't know how strong YuWon is! You—"

However, Hoon wasn't interested. After having lost his powers, this was the quickest way to regain them. Besides, after slaying the monarch, his levels shot up and he thought he was stronger than YuWon as long as he had his class and achievements back.

"I killed the boss, Yeji! I'm level 20 now!" he boasted, but reduced his voice to a whisper. "There's no way YuWon can be stronger than me."

"Even so—"

"Don't worry," Hoon said, cupping her cheeks. "I'm the strongest there is!"

Yeji nodded, but looked at YuWon. The calmness in his eyes made her uncomfortable. However, no matter how much he tried reasoning with Hoon, her words fell on deaf ears.

Ignoring Yeji, Hoon turned to the angel and asked, "Before we start, can you restore my achievements and class? Just to make things fair."

The angel raised an eyebrow, unaffected by the request. She considered refusing Hoon, but after a moment, she glanced up toward the sky as if listening to some unheard voice. She sighed after a minute and then waved her hand.

"Fine," she said, sounding bored. "Your achievements and classes have been reinstated."

Hoon smiled as he felt a familiar sensation spread all over his body.

"Oh, yeah!" he exclaimed, summoning his spear. "Let's get this settled once and for all!"

Wasting no time, Hoon threw the spear at YuWon. But YuWon didn't move, but merely tilted his head as the spear harmlessly whizzed past his head.

"What the—" Hoon blinked. "It was the unmissable shot! My unique skill can't be useless!"

"The skill isn't useless," Hoon emotionlessly walked ahead, grabbing the monarch's sword. "You are."

As YuWon turned to face him, Hoon saw that indeed, the spear didn't miss. The thin line of blood on YuWon's cheek was proof it had hit him.

"You intentionally got hit!" Hoon yelled, pointing at YuWon before looking at the angel. "I demand a restart—"

Hoon had bet everything on his unique skill. Now that it had failed, he needed some time to come up with something else. Unfortunately, he wouldn't be given even a second of respite.

"The duel started when you threw your spear," the angel said. "There's no need to restart."

Hoon gritted his teeth before summoning the spear back to him. However, YuWon grabbed the spear's shaft, stopping Hoon from taking it.

"Drop it!" Hoon demanded. "This isn't fair—"

"Stop acting like a baby," YuWon retorted.

Hoon, desperate to get the weapon back, lunged at YuWon. YuWon didn't stop him either. But Hoon didn't care and tried to pull the spear back, but it didn't budge.

"Is that all you've got?" YuWon asked.

Hoon gritted his teeth and summoned all of his strength, trying to pry the spear out of YuWon's grasp. But no matter how hard he tried, YuWon didn't move an inch. It was like trying to pull the spear from under a mountain.

"Let it go!" he yelled.

"As you wish."

Before Hoon knew it, YuWon swung the monarch's sword, breaking the spear in half. Hoon stumbled and fell, staring at his broken weapon in disbelief.

"Don't worry," YuWon grinned. "I'll break you more diligently."