The training field reeked of iron and sweat. Disciples paused their sparring, blades lowering as they turned to watch the newcomer step into the ring.
Seo Jin could feel their eyes. Judging. Mocking. Waiting for his death.
The fox on his shoulder wiggled nervously. "Host, they all look like hungry wolves. Can you even fight with this body? You barely survived walking up the mountain!"
Seo Jin cracked his neck, smirking faintly. Yeah, my body's trash. But a trash body doesn't mean a trash brain.
His gamer instincts were already working—scanning opponents, judging reach, speed, weaknesses. He had done this a thousand times in competitive arenas. The only difference now was that dying meant permanent game over.
A scarred disciple—the one with the jaw scar who had spoken earlier—stepped into the ring first. His hand rested on his sword, his smirk dripping with disdain.
"This is the Lord's choice?" the man sneered. "I'll end him in three strikes."
Seo Jin tilted his head, voice calm. "Three? You'll need at least four."
Gasps rippled through the watching crowd.
The scarred man's eyes blazed, and he lunged.
Steel flashed.
Seo Jin barely shifted, his weak body screaming as he dodged by a hair. The sword hissed past his ribs, grazing cloth.
Too slow, Seo Jin cursed. I can't rely on brute force. This is like starting a game with level 1 stats against a level 20 mob.
The fox squealed in his mind. "Host, you're going to die! Roll away! Hide! Fake faint!"
Seo Jin ignored it. His smirk grew sharper.
The scarred man swung again, faster. Seo Jin ducked low, grabbing a fistful of dirt from the ground. At the third strike, when the blade whistled down toward his head, Seo Jin flung the dirt straight into the man's eyes.
The man cursed, stumbling back, blinded for a second.
Seo Jin surged forward, his fist slamming into the man's throat. Weak body or not, a strike to the throat hurt all the same.
The scarred man gagged, coughing violently, but his sword hand didn't falter. He slashed blindly.
Seo Jin twisted sideways, the blade grazing his arm, pain slicing through his skin. Blood welled, but he didn't slow.
Pain's real. Annoying. But pain means I'm alive.
He shoved his knee into the man's gut, knocking him off balance. Then, with one swift move, he grabbed the hilt of the man's sword.
For a breath, the two struggled, strength against cunning.
Seo Jin's muscles burned, his poisoned veins screaming, but he leaned close, voice low, cold. "Guess you needed five strikes after all."
He twisted, yanking the sword free. The man stumbled back, eyes wide, vision still blurred from the dirt.
Seo Jin leveled the sword at his throat.
The training field went dead silent.
Disciples stared in disbelief. This weakling? This half-dead body? He had disarmed one of the Lord's elites?
The fox wagged its tail furiously. "Host! You did it! You used dirty tricks, but who cares? Victory is victory! So cool!"
Seo Jin's lips curled. He pressed the sword closer. "Want to keep going?"
The scarred man's jaw clenched, humiliation flooding his face. But he didn't move.
Seo Jin stepped back slowly, tossing the sword to the ground. His chest heaved, sweat dripping, blood staining his sleeve. His body was trembling from exertion, but his smirk stayed in place.
Across the field, the Villain sat silently, black robes flowing around him like night itself. His chin rested on one hand, eyes unreadable.
But Seo Jin could feel it—the sharpness of that gaze, watching every move he made.
So? Am I interesting yet?
A voice flickered in his head.
[Ding! Mission Update: Gain the Villain's Favor – Progress 15%]
Seo Jin almost choked. Fifteen percent? I nearly died for that?
The fox clapped its paws together happily. "Host, fifteen percent is good! Keep seducing—I mean, impressing him!"
Seo Jin's face darkened. "Seduce your own grave."
The Villain finally rose, his presence sweeping over the field like a storm.
"Enough," he said, his voice soft but carrying power that silenced everyone.
His eyes lingered on Seo Jin, steady, unreadable.
"You're not as useless as you look."
Seo Jin smirked faintly, though his chest tightened. That's the nicest thing anyone's said to me since I got here.
The Villain turned, black robes trailing like shadows. "He stays."
Whispers exploded instantly, but no one dared argue. The Lord's word was law.
The fox wagged its tail, whispering gleefully. "Host, Host! Did you hear that? You're officially in! You're his!"
Seo Jin muttered under his breath, "I'm officially screwed."
But even as he said it, a spark of something—excitement, danger, survival—burned in his chest.
And the Villain's gaze, cold and sharp as ever, didn't leave him.
---
Cliffhanger End of Chapter Five.
To be continued....
Watch out for the next chapter....