The academy was bustling with activity—students and teachers alike walking around.
Some students were handing out flyers for their respective clubs—but Ji Won and Sae Jaehyun ignored them. They only had one goal in their mind.
To see the leaderboard that the academy had for clubs since for both of them—the golden standard was obvious
'If the club isn't on the leaderboard—we aren't joining it'
Ji Won thought to himself before finally reaching a large blackboard set on the wall in the middle of an hallway—ten clubs written on it with white chalk along with their total number of members listed from bottom up.
From the second to the tenth, it were basic clubs—The Swordsman Club had 132 member, 90 in Mage Club, 100 joined the Alchemist Club. But they were forced to the bottom by one club that was ruled by one senior.
Copying Club: 1 member.
Ji Won—along with Sae Jaehyun stared at the member list with wide eyes and slacked jaws. They were flabbergasted by the fact that one kid out preformed 132 other students all alone.
Sae Jaehyun was the first to compose himself. Taking in a deep breath before turning his head to look at Ji Won
"Well. I'm not going there. He'll probably beat us up and reject us."
Ji Won clicked his tongue in annoyance—feeling like he had just been woken up by cold water.
"I know. But I think I have a trick or two."
He cut Sae Jaehyun off before the boy could say anything else
"And no, you can't leave. I won't let you."
Sae Jaehyun flipped him off in annoyance—but he was still reluctantly following Ji Won, like a kid getting dragged to school by his dad.
They pushed through crowds and crowds of people before eventually—they reached a few tents that had been set up in the courtyard. The smell of freshly made food and sounds of laughter coming through all directions.
Ji Won's eyes searched for the senior he met in the training hall—it was quite easy. Since everyone avoided his sitting self on a bench—like a bunch of thieves avoiding a police officer.
Sae Jaehyun looked at the young man with a sense of awe in his eyes—since after all this was the one who was at the top of the student pecking order in the academy.
Ji Won however was determined—his expression hardened in focus as he held Sae Jaehyun by the arm. Dragging the poor boy towards the young man who was staring at the sky. Looking up at the clouds with a bored expression.
"Hello? Senior-"
Ji Won began with a small smile on his face—but the young man just put his boot in front of both of their faces, cutting him off.
"Shut up. I don't need anyone. Both of you leave."
His voice was firm and held a tone of finality in it. He definitely need anyone from what Ji Won and Sae Jaehyun noticed
Sae Jaehyun didn't take offense to the foot in front of both of their faces—instead he tried to walk away. But Ji Won held his arm with his vice-like grip.
And he was most definitely annoyed. Lips pursed into a tight line, eyes narrowed at the young man.
"Well. I don't care. We're joining your club."
Ji Won replied in his usual unrelenting tone—trying to push down the senior's foot. But even after putting every bit of strength he had into it—it was like a wall he couldn't move.
Suddenly—Ji Won was attacked in the face so fast he couldn't even see the kick coming as he was sent stumbling back. Clutching his bleeding nose.
The senior slowly stood up, hands inside his uniform's pocket and boot steaming from the impact of the attack he just pulled off on Ji Won—his eyes flickering towards Sae Jaehyun for a moment.
"You want help your friend or are you going to be smart and leave."
Sae Jaehyun was conflicted—on one hand he definitely wanted to help Ji Won, but he was pretty outclassed by this young man. So he just.. Froze up in place.
The senior gave a small frown of irritation at Sae Jaehyun's indecisiveness but before he could say anything else—Ji Won punched him in the face.
The punch had nearly no effect—not even turning the senior's face a bit.
"Your bold. I like it."
A faint ghost like apparition of a pro boxer that was popular in America appeared behind him.
It mimicked his movements as he reeled back his hand before punching Ji Won in the face a few times in just a blink of an eye—his movements so fast and technique so perfect Ji Won couldn't even see them.
He took the punches without backing down as once more Ji Won attacked the senior's liver but the young man was unaffected—he even seemed a bit amused.
"So you know how to fight huh? Good. Let me show you a bit of true copying."
Ji Won was suddenly struck by a punch—but instead of the apparition of the pro boxer. It was his own one, his technique, his strength's and weaknesses all copied within just a moment.
Ji Won fell to the ground, clutching at his stomach as he gasped for air—feeling like his lungs had just become ten times smaller.
The senior looked down at the shocked Ji Won with a confused yet impressed arch of an eyebrow squatting down on the ground in front of him.
"You're pretty resilient. A normal guy would have ran away at the first kick.. You're an idiot."
He looked at Ji Won's hand—eyes filling with even more confusion as he grabbed it, pulling it closer towards his squinted eyes.
"Oh? A curse? And it seems a bit elven.. Are ya the kid who nearly died against the B-rank dungeon?"
Ji Won pulled his hand back—slowly standing up. Still clutching at his stomach in pain. His voice a bit raspy and choked.
"Yep.. Me and Sae Jaehyun over there."
The senior's eyes flickered over to Sae Jaehyun who was just standing there like a statue—still frozen in place. Body refusing to move.
For Ji Won it looked like he was just afraid of the senior. But in reality, he was incredibly terrified.
Sae Jaehyun was much more combat oriented and he was experienced in that field as well—and so, he realized that a person's presence was a dead give away of their strength and the senior's presence?
It was crushing, he was just a few inches taller than them both but it felt like Sae Jaehyun was in front of a mountain whose peak was invisible to mortal eyes.
'Is this... The peak of what this academy has to offer?'
He was pulled away from his thoughts as the senior tapped on his forehead with a knuckle, a small—faint almost imperceptible smirk on his face. He knew exactly how Sae Jaehyun was feeling.
"Gather your things. You're both staying with me in my dorm until we get a club building."
Ji Won's eyes filled up with excitement and happiness as he immediately stood up straight a smile spread across his face—but the senior quickly karate chopped the top of his head in a deadpanned manner.
"Don't smile too much around me. You'll ruin my reputation."
Ji Won sighed deeply—giving a small glare to Sae Jaehyun who was holding back his laughter desperately. Not wanting to get karate chopped to the top of the head just like Ji Won did.
The senior sighed deeply. Looking over at them both—already regretting his decision.
"Come to the dorm tomorrow. The door has Baek Yoosung written on it. So you'll find it pretty quickly."
Baek Yoonsung walked away leaving them both—his confidence in the way he carries himself evident.
"So.. Sae, mind explaining why you didn't help me?!"
Ji Won shouted in annoyance at Sae Jaehyun as soon as Baek Yoosung left—making the latter a bit guilty.
"Hey hey—you won't expect me to go against a badass like him right?"