Chapter 121. Ability vs. Ability (4)
Swoosh—!
Like a seabird folding its wings and diving for prey, Ji-Eun’s shot forward in a straight line.
“N-Noona?!” Ji-Woong’s jaw dropped and stayed that way.
It was probably the first time he had ever seen his sister’s abilities in full force.
“Whoa...”
“Your sister’s amazing, isn’t she?” Eun-Ho asked.
“Seriously! I’m glad I lent her some of my stats.”
He was so busy marveling that Eun-Ho couldn’t help but comment, “You lent her ten points of Agility, right?”
“Yeah!”
Before the match had begun, Eun-Ho had suggested Ji-Woong lend some of his Agility stats to Ji-Eun.
“I still have three points left. Do you want me to lend you those too?” Ji-Woong offered eagerly.
“It’s fine,” Eun-Ho replied. “Do you really want to end up with zero stats and not be able to move?”
“Uh... Not really.”
Eun-Ho glanced over at him as he said, “Try to keep at least five points in reserve. You never know what might happen.”
Ji-Woong grinned, his tone playfully conspiratorial. “Hey, did you know? My sister talks about you a lot.”
“Huh? About me?” Eun-Ho asked, surprised.
Is he talking about before the restructuring began or after?
Perhaps, she talked about him to reassure his brother that she wasn’t alone in a world more merciless than ever. Or maybe, she just wanted him to know she had unlocked a skill trying to save a coworker.
Eun-Ho couldn’t help but wonder, and found himself waiting for an answer.
“Well... Something like that,” Ji-Woong said, smiling slyly instead of elaborating.
Then, he turned to applaud his sister, who had already cleared half the section.
[ROK reaches the 200 meters mark!]
[ROK overtakes RUS!]
She had overtaken Russia in an instant. It had been Eun-Ho’s idea, but Ji-Eun was truly the perfect fit for this trial.
“Damn, that’s insane. Isn’t that kind of cheating?”
“Eh, who cares. There’s a guy doing it on a bike, so whatever.”
Jang Han-Il, who had been staring blankly at the display, groaned and shook his head. “At this rate, we could’ve used her as our anchor.”
“Yeah, probably,” Eun-Ho agreed and continued, “but we better not risk it.”
The anchor, the last runner, was usually the fastest on the team. If they were in the lead, they had to defend that position; if they were behind, they had to make up the gap.
Therefore, logically, Ji-Eun should’ve been the anchor. However, Eun-Ho had put his own name down for that spot instead.
My Acceleration skill can adapt to any variable.
No matter what tricks others tried to pull, he could handle them. Besides, Eun-Ho was confident he could run just as fast, or maybe even faster than Ji-Eun’s flight.
Acceleration and psychokinesis were both formidable abilities, and the observers watching seemed to agree.
[A number of observers express satisfaction with your runner selection.]
[The Crow from the Bureau of Management remarks that your female subordinate moves like a bird!]
[They also advise that you absolutely must bring that subordinate along.]
“Bring her along? To where?” Eun-Ho muttered.
[A number of observers shake their heads at the reckless comment.]
As if realizing they’d said too much, the Crow had quickly shut their beak.
Hmm... There’s gotta be something.
Just as he was about to press the Crow, a metallic screech rang out. It was sharp and mechanical, utterly out of place in the current setting.
“Summon.”
Clang!
Then, a long, heavy gauntlet wrapped around someone’s arm. Forged of dark red metal plates, gleaming with a sinister sheen. The next moment, flames burst violently from the open palm.
Fwoosh!
“Explosion!”
Booom!
Using that fiery force as propulsion, the figure shot forward like a cannon, or more like a cannonball in human form.
“What the hell is that?!”
“A r-rocket punch?!”
Cries of shock erupted all around. They’d all thought the victory was already secured until now.
[USA overtakes FRA!]
[USA overtakes ARG!]
[USA overtakes CN!]
It was a Western man with blond hair and bronzed skin, his muscular build barely hidden by his uniform. Eun-Ho had noticed his aggressive aura earlier, but didn’t expect him to be hiding this kind of power all along.
[USA overtakes RUS!]
[USA reaches the 150 meters mark!]
The owner of the so-called rocket punch closed the distance, trailing right behind Ji-Eun like a homing missile locked onto its target.
Whoosh—booom!
The gap between them narrowed, widened, then narrowed again. Ji-Eun barely managed to stay ahead, her movements quick but tense, as if she could feel him breathing down her neck.
Even from far away, Eun-Ho could almost see her desperate, determined expression.
“Come on, Noonim! You got this!” Jae-Hyuk shouted.
“Ms. Kim, just a little more!”
“Wait, what the hell is that guy saying now?” someone muttered, bewildered.
The owner of the rocket punch, now burning brighter, began chanting. Clearly, he was ready to end it all in one move.
[USA activates Water Bomb!]
[A bomb will drop above the target’s head!]
“Water Bomb?!”
“What?!”
The air itself began to bubble, boiling like a kettle about to overflow. Steam rose from empty air—thick, white, and dangerous. Dozens of vapor streams tangled together, forming a massive sphere overhead.
Then, the bomb dropped.
Booom!
Ji-Eun froze mid-flight, like a bullet suddenly slamming the brakes. She lurched from the recoil, barely managing to throw herself backward.
Fwoosh—!
The giant water sphere crashed to the ground, exploding like a liquid nuke, spreading a wave of destructive force. The American used the chaos to sprint ahead, widening the gap.
[USA overtakes ROK!]
“Why isn’t she pushing through?! What’s she doing?!”
“Are you a fucking idiot? You saw what that water did! If she steps in that mess, she’s a goner for sure!” Swear-Master snapped back, face red with anger.
Ji-Woong’s voice cracked with desperation. “Noona! Please!”
“Nooo!”
Ji-Woong and Han-Il’s shouts echoed across the field. Then, as if in response, the boiling Water Bomb began to dissipate, steam vanishing into thin air.
[ROK activates Magnet!]
[Rapidly closing distance with the opponent ahead!]
Ji-Eun moved exactly as Eun-Ho had instructed.
Crackle—!
Sparks burst from her and the American’s, who was far ahead of her.
Swoosh!
Without even a moment to steady herself, Ji-Eun was pulled forward. She shot through the air, pushing past her physical limits, faster than before. Her slender frame and long limbs blurred, leaving streaks like contrails in the sky.
“She’s got him! She’s almost there!”
“They’re neck and neck now!”
The spectators, who had been holding their breath, erupted into cheers.
Ji-Woong let out a huge sigh of relief and called out, “Hyung! Did you tell her to use Magnet right after the Water Bomb on purpose?”
“Yeah,” Eun-Ho replied. “If the gap gets too big, it’s hard to catch up.”
[FRA activates Booster!]
[Speed doubled!]
He nodded toward the French runner who had activated his Booster too late and still failed to reach Ji-Eun.
“Aaah... I see,” Ji-Woong murmured, finally understanding.
[USA reaches the 400 meters mark!]
Rocket Punch, having slowed down, handed the baton to the next runner.
[ROK reaches the 400 meters mark!]
Ji-Eun also passed her baton to Han-Il’s teammate, before flying straight back toward their side.
“Noona!” Ji-Woong shouted, rushing up.
“You did great,” Eun-Ho said warmly.
“... No, not really.”
The race had ended with their team in second place out of six.
Ji-Eun’s expression was clouded with disappointment. “I should’ve widened the gap more... I didn’t expect America to have a flyer too.”
“It’s fine,” Eun-Ho reassured her. “This isn’t over yet.”
Ji-Eun lowered her head, gulping down dryly. “And Eun-Ho... America’s fourth runner... It’s him.”
“I saw,” Eun-Ho said quietly.
The American team’s anchor was the Giant. It was the man who could grow as tall as a building, each step carrying him farther than several of Eun-Ho’s strides combined.
A sparrow trying to race a stork, Eun-Ho thought grimly.
Ji-Eun seemed to be thinking the same thing. Her face was filled with unease and guilt. “I’m sor—”
“Get some rest,” Eun-Ho interrupted with a smile. “I’ll go win this.”
After all, even a sparrow had its own way to fly.
***
The crowd roared as Eun-Ho stepped into the passing zone, waiting for the third runner. Under the enormous shadow cast by the American Giant, the cheers echoed in his ears like the rumble of distant thunder.
[ROK reaches the 200 meters mark!]
Just as Han-Il had worried, their third runner wasn’t particularly fast. Even though both teams had started nearly at the same time, the American sprinter—a powerful black athlete—had already pulled far ahead.
As the American runner drew closer, the Giant said, “Hey.”
His voice was deep and heavy, like the beating of a war drum. The very air seemed to vibrate.
“Why don’t you pop out again like a sneaky little rat?”
“... What?”
“Invisibility, huh? That must be a handy trick, especially when you’re backstabbing people.”
Ah. So that’s it.
He had probably mistaken Yul’s ability from the Cavalry Battle for Eun-Ho’s own. Even if that were the case, the sheer hostility radiating off him was unnecessary.
“Dirty tricks won’t save you this time,” the Giant growled.
“Oh, so self-defense counts as dirty play in America now?” Eun-Ho shot back.
Apparently, ganging up on someone was fine, but preparing in advance was dirty. When Eun-Ho threw the question back at him, the Giant fell silent.
“... Don’t get cocky just because you placed first once,” he finally muttered. “I’ll catch up soon enough.”
Right then, his teammate arrived with the baton.
Tap!
The towering figure snatched it with a massive hand.
[USA! Baton touch!]
“Haa—!”
By the time the Korean baton finally rounded the last corner toward Eun-Ho, the sound of pounding footsteps was shaking the ground.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
[USA reaches the 100 meters mark!]
Thud! Thud! Thud!
[USA reaches the 200 meters mark!]
Thud! Thud! Thud!
[USA reaches the 300 meters mark!]
The Giant’s race was already two-thirds done. He charged straight toward the very starting line, where Eun-Ho stood waiting.
[The Prince from the Bureau of Investigation clicks their tongue, saying it will be over before you even start.]
[The Newbie from the Bureau of Corporate Relations urges you to hurry if you want at least second place.]
[The Ferry Man from the Bureau of Management scolds you for being so damn calm.]
The spectators were panicking, convinced the match was lost. However, Eun-Ho wasn’t worried.
I just need to cover four-hundred meters in one second.
That was all it would take. After all, one second for him could last thirty-five.
“Summon.”
Besides, he had an item to remove even the slightest margin for error.
Fwoosh—!
A small, round glass bottle appeared in his palm. Inside shimmered a soft pink liquid, glowing faintly.
[You have consumed the Genius Researcher’s Failed Awakening Agent (Agility Enhancer).]
It was the vial he had stolen from Iro’s lab. Without hesitation, he downed it in one gulp.
Gulp!
[Your Agility stat has doubled!]
[Remaining duration: 59 seconds, 58 seconds...]
As the final drop slid down his throat, the third runner arrived right on cue.
[ROK! Baton touch!]
Clack!
Eun-Ho’s hand closed firmly around the baton’s end, solid and sure. Before he even realized it, the Giant’s shadow had loomed back over him—dark and heavy, stretching across the track.
When Eun-Ho was about to start, the Giant only had a single step left to take. The Giant grinned smugly. Around them, the spectators shook their heads, conceding defeat.
“This is the e—”
“Acceleration,” Eun-Ho whispered.
“Eeeeeennnn—”
Swoosh—!
Before his limbs could even react, he surged forward. As if his nerves couldn’t keep up with his own command, his body moved on pure instinct. Yet, every motion was sharp and precise. His legs spun beneath him like the motor of a wheel.
Passed the 100 meters mark.
Eun-Ho leaned into the curve, turning smoothly along the track. He had always been more suited for straight sprints, but with his Agility stat boosted, the difference was negligible. The more he ran, the faster he seemed to get.
Passed the 200 meters mark.
One after another, he passed the others—including the cyclist, the Chinese bodyguard, the Argentine runner, and even the grizzly Russian.
Passed the 300 meters mark.
Then, finally, he was close enough to almost breathe down the Giant’s neck.
Tick!
Time snapped back into motion.
[ROK reaches the 100 meters mark!]
[ROK overtakes FRA!]
[ROK overtakes CN!]
[ROK overtakes ARG!]
[ROK overtakes RUS!]
[ROK reaches the 200 meters mark!]
[ROK reaches the 300 meters mark!]
All the delayed announcements flooded the air at once. However, the Giant had already taken his final step.
Just a little more! Eun-Ho thought desperately.
Acceleration could only slow time, not stop it completely. While he’d dashed through four hundred meters, the Giant’s lifted foot had come down, closing in on the finish line. It was a razor-thin difference, the kind that decided first from second.
I refuse to accept losing by a fraction of a second!
Driven by that single thought, Eun-Ho pushed harder, his muscles screaming. Then, like lightning, the Giant’s earlier taunt flashed through his mind.
“Why don’t you pop out again like a sneaky little rat?”
Right. That will do.
He kicked off the ground and leapt, landing squarely on the Giant’s foot.
[The Newbie from the Bureau of Corporate Relations shouts that direct attacks are against the rules!]
[The Crow from the Bureau of Management suggests just killing everyone and taking the penalty!]
[The Ferry Man from the Bureau of Management yells for you to stop doing stupid things and settle for second!]
Eun-Ho ignored them all. For an instant, he felt weightless, like a Viking riding the crest of a wave. Without moving his legs, he was being carried forward by the Giant’s momentum.
Using that rebound, he threw himself once more into the air, reaching and stretching his arm past the Giant’s massive foot. He didn’t have time to think nor blink. All that mattered was crossing that finish line first.
Fwoosh—!
His outstretched hand sliced through the invisible line.
[The match is over.]
It was over.
[All rounds have concluded!]
[Final rankings will now be announced!]