Translator: Nox
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: Strike First, Strike Hard
small note: if this novel gets some eyes on it i’ll drop 2 chaps a day
#1
Day two.
Team 13 didn’t wait for trouble.
They moved.
Swiftly, silently.
Hyeon-do’s strategy was simple: flip the game.
Attack while the others defended. Force them into reactive positions.
By midday, they had already raided two supply zones.
Both successful.
They left no trace.
And every time, Mo Seo-hwa’s poisons made retreat impossible for the enemy.
“I expected good defense from you,” Namgung Jin said.
“But this offense? Ruthless.”
“Thanks.”
“I meant that as a compliment.”
“I took it that way.”
#2
Around dusk, they received new intel.
An elite team was approaching — Team 3.
Built around the elite Namgung disciple, Namgung Tae.
A genius swordsman.
And a known threat.
“Brother of yours?” Hyeon-do asked.
Namgung Jin nodded.
“He’s better than me. Much.”
“And you’re here, not with him.”
“Politics.”
Hyeon-do grinned.
“Then let’s crush him.”
Namgung Jin blinked.
“…Understood.”
#3
That night.
As expected, Team 3 launched a surprise raid.
They were cleaner. Faster. More disciplined.
But Team 13 was ready.
“Wait for it…” Hyeon-do whispered.
As enemy scouts breached the outer ring—
[“NOW!”]
The same flash-smoke trap activated.
But this time, Team 3 adapted.
They rushed in, adjusting formation.
“Formation Delta!”
Namgung Tae’s voice rang out.
And then—he appeared.
One step. One flash.
He was in front of Hyeon-do.
Their swords clashed.
Lightning met steel.
Crack—!
Hyeon-do staggered back.
Strong.
No doubt about it.
But—
“You’re too rigid.”
[Thunder Fang — Pulse Break!]
Hyeon-do’s saber twisted mid-air, exploding sideways.
Namgung Tae barely deflected it.
His formation wavered.
That was all it took.
Yi Baek struck from behind.
Seok-hyeon locked the rear.
Mo Seo-hwa tossed a powder bomb.
Namgung Jin stepped in — sword raised.
Their duel was brief.
Tae was good.
But outnumbered.
And Team 13 was a machine.
They won.
#4
Later that night—
“You beat my brother.”
“I had help.”
“You didn’t kill him. You could’ve.”
“It’s a simulation.”
“I’m grateful.”
Namgung Jin looked thoughtful.
Hyeon-do didn’t press.
He didn’t need to.
Team 13 had just beaten one of the top teams.
And there was one day left.
Final match.
All teams remaining would be thrown into a single battlefield.
No rules.
Last flag standing wins.
Team 13’s was still untouched.
And Hyeon-do had one goal:
Win. Loudly.
【To be continued in Chapter 16】
