# Chapter 52
The stands at the Zone 5 examination site were sparsely populated.
It was natural since the Mugunghwa Tier 3 exams were happening at the same time in Zone 6, not far away. Among the flurry of Tier 3 exams, the only people who would bother to watch a Tier 2 exam would be acquaintances of the candidates. It was convenient that even faces like Hyegang and Sano didn’t attract much attention.
The two, sitting casually on the empty tiered stands, immediately looked at the wide examination site located below the audience seats like a colosseum.
The test site utilized the terrain setting function to create a random terrain. Neither the spectators nor the examinees were given advance information about where the combat would take place until right before the test. Everyone would start fighting in a place they were seeing for the first time. Like a professional habit, Hyegang checked the map inside the examination site and unknowingly frowned.
“Ah… not great.”
The first thing to come into view was a river.
A seemingly deep river flowed through the center of the examination site, with a two-lane bridge over it. There was a wide floodplain connected by the bridge and residential area beyond it. It was terrain at the ambiguous boundary between city and countryside.
Sano looked at Hyegang after his muttered comment. Noticing the gaze, Hyegang explained.
“Hyung needs to draw pictures. Paper and water are natural enemies.”
The situation of unluckily falling into water and having all the paper get soaked was horrifying just to imagine.
Iyeon would likely try to move toward the residential area. Even if Hyegang were assisting as an operator, he would have guided him similarly. Still, considering Iyeon’s usual combat style, the residential area with its intricate alleys had its advantages as terrain.
As the scheduled time approached, examinees began appearing one by one in the testing ground. They were being transported using teleportation abilities. Hyegang kept scanning the examination site. Though his expression remained as impassive as usual, his eyes sparkled with anticipation.
“Oh, there’s hyung.”
Both turned their gaze in the direction Hyegang was pointing. They could see the familiar figure with a bag and goggles hanging around his neck. The distance was so great that he looked almost like a tiny Lego figure.
Iyeon had been teleported next to a utility pole on a road near the floodplain.
“That position really…”
Hyegang clicked his tongue. There wasn’t any cover to hide behind. Looking around Iyeon, they could quickly spot several others who had been teleported nearby. Although the rule was to space out examinees at a certain distance, it was still close enough to be attacked as soon as the test began.
“Well, if he can just hold out initially, it should be manageable.”
Sano subtly raised one eyebrow at Hyegang’s assessment.
“You have strong faith.”
“Do you think hyung will be eliminated quickly?”
To this playful question, Sano looked back at the examination site. The white, thin build appeared weaker than the utility pole beside it.
“That guy doesn’t even use his ability properly.”
Despite accompanying him for several weeks, Sano had seen Iyeon use his superpower impressively only a handful of times. And it wasn’t like his physical condition was good either… Even if his previous Jeong-Yeon results were good, it was hard to believe.
Hyegang lightly affirmed Sano’s words.
“Iyeon hyung’s ability is indeed not great for various applications.”
Drawing materialization seemed so static that it was remarkable anyone had judged it to have combat capability at first glance. It clearly wasn’t a technique that could be used while running.
“But Iyeon hyung’s Jeong-Yeon results are quite good.”
There was a certain conviction in his casual voice.
“Records don’t lie.”
“This position really…”
Iyeon, grumbling the same words as someone far away, put on a bracelet and checked the marks that appeared on his body. Left forearm, side of the waist, and right instep. Neither good nor bad positions.
The inside of the thigh would be better. Iyeon clicked his tongue in regret and took out a pen from his bag. Despite doing Jeong-Yeon regularly, he felt strangely a bit nervous knowing Hyegang and Sano were watching.
It was just human desire to want to show one’s best to acquaintances. Iyeon smiled slightly and did some light jumping in place to relieve tension. The feeling of blood flowing a bit faster through his body wasn’t bad.
[We will now begin the Superpower Combat Ability Evaluation Test, Zone 5, Morning Session 2.]
As the announcement played, the panel on the bracelet that read 90:00 changed to 89:59.
[We hope everyone achieves the results they desire.]
With that calm wish, people began moving all at once.
Loud sounds of destruction erupted from all directions in an instant. Iyeon remained still near the utility pole, checking people’s movements.
Right after the start of the test, everyone would be wary of their surroundings, and if anyone moved significantly, attention would be drawn to them. It was safer to move while others were fighting.
The unfortunate thing was that unlike others who were teleported beside buildings or benches, the area by the utility pole was completely exposed.
“Ah, this is too much.”
As soon as the announcement ended, three people rushed toward Iyeon. They probably thought he looked skinny and weak enough to eliminate first and score points.
Even if they were just lower-tier superhumans at Tier 2, there was a fundamental difference from facing low-grade mutants. Things like improvisation limits, physical ability gaps, or the gazes of others… That’s why Iyeon, who usually moved about casually, would come somewhat prepared for Jeong-Yeon.
Starting with a noticeable strategy wasn’t a good choice, but since the situation had become like this, it might be good to make such an impact that others wouldn’t dare to approach.
Iyeon identified the closest person. A man with short hair. His movements were unrestrained as he rushed forward, seemingly intending to end it quickly and decisively.
Small sparks could be seen on the back of his tightly clenched fist. Fire? Lightning? Either way, it was a flame-type. While estimating the superpower, Iyeon stepped back and rummaged through the papers in his bag, causing them to rustle and crumple slightly. One, two, three… It wasn’t difficult to take out the pages he had memorized in advance.
Iyeon’s eyes moved rapidly. Two round marks entered his field of vision.
‘Above the shoulder and next to the navel. Where’s the third one?’
The man quickly came within reach. Blue flames crackled as they wrapped around both his fists. This level was quite strong even among Tier 2.
His right shoulder was fully pulled back, adding acceleration from running. Just as that sturdy fist was about to draw a large arc toward Iyeon.
Iyeon whispered.
“Sorry for spraying this up close.”
When he strongly crumpled the paper, something sprang out from his fist. A long hose with a red cylindrical body. It wasn’t difficult to recognize what it was.
A fire extinguisher.
The moment the man hesitated upon discovering the spray nozzle aimed directly at him, Iyeon firmly grasped the hose and sprayed it straight at him.
Chiiiiiiiiik!
The extinguishing agent, sprayed for longer than a breath, covered the man’s upper body in white. Bang! The fire extinguisher made a loud noise as it fell to the ground. Having completed its task, the tool soon turned into numerous particles and disappeared.
Iyeon bent his waist and moved behind the man who was struggling to clear the gas blocking his vision. He confirmed the last mark. Right shoulder blade.
What came out of the newly extracted paper from his bag was a fly swatter with a short body.
People tend to think that if someone has weak stamina, their other physical abilities must also be poor, but strictly speaking, Iyeon’s physical abilities weren’t bad. Rather, his dynamic vision and reflexes were above average. It was just that his strength and stamina were so inadequate that it wasn’t noticeable.
Whack!
No special brute force was needed to remove the marks. The man flinched and reflexively turned at the light strike on his back. Judging by his naive movement, he didn’t seem familiar with combat. His narrowly opened eyes were filled with tears from trying to remove the foreign substance. Probably his first Jeong-Yeon. At best, his second.
Whatever it was, it’s appreciated when prey presents itself. Iyeon smiled brightly.
Whack! Whack!
Iyeon’s preparation was simple.
Drawing the tools needed for his strategy for Jeong-Yeon in advance at home.
