Chapter 6: On the Path of Asura

At some point, there were actions I repeated countless times to become a master.

First, I threw punches.

Ten thousand times a day, until my shoulders ached from supporting my arms.

I kicked into the air, aiming at an imaginary foe.

Pushing my hips and waist to their limits, I sought the meaning of martial arts alone.

I wasn’t a genius who could master ten things at once, so I had to hammer the basics of martial arts into my body.

I believed that doing so would make me stronger someday.

I didn’t give up.

I swung my fists with resolve.

“No.”

I kicked the air with all my might.

“Hmm, that’s not it either.”

I repeated endlessly.

Because continuing to strive would surely yield better results than standing still.

Knowing that today’s me was better than yesterday’s, and tomorrow’s me would be stronger than today’s.

I didn’t collapse; I kept running forward.

But that didn’t guarantee I could surpass someone.

“You’re putting in too much force.”

She said.

“It’s good to give your all, but at this rate, your body will burn out before you reach the top. Your physique and inner energy are still immature, so instead of overpowering with strength, focus on controlling everything you have.”

The woman, just a year older than me, patted my shoulder with a kind smile.

“Don’t rush.”

She was my temporary master, a high-level expert far beyond anyone I could reach before my expulsion.

Someone I could never dare criticize, no matter what.

My master.

Before I collapsed from exhaustion, she was the only guide who showed me the right path.

But back then, I couldn’t understand her.

“Come on, try it.”

Why did someone as great as her take a failure like me as a disciple? How did she tolerate and wait for my foolish self? Why was she showing me this now?

Always looking at her back, I harbored deep doubts in my heart.

“You can do it.”

She drew her foot through the air.

A halo of light followed her trajectory.

The martial principles within were so distant I couldn’t comprehend them, but the result was clear.

She extended her foot.

—And the sky and sea split in half.

As if it were only natural.

‘You can do it.’

I still don’t understand her.

Suddenly, my consciousness surfaced above the water.

I opened my eyes.

“Oh, you’re awake?”

“…What?”

I blinked.

It wasn’t just the unfamiliar ceiling, but why was she here?

For some reason, a youthful-looking Cheon Yuha was waving her hand, looking down at me.

“Hey! Hey there? …Hah! Nurse, it seems this guy’s eyes are gone too.”

What, is this a dream?

Thrown off by the unexpected situation, I blinked and slowly retraced my memories.

Starting with Cheon Yuha’s wide-eyed face, I scanned my surroundings.

Seeing the infirmary I often visited during my school days, it finally hit me.

‘…Right, I came back.’

I don’t know why, but I’d returned to the past.

I shut my eyes tightly.

Not only was today the first day of school, but I realized the mess I was in.

“What a disaster.”

Yeah, this was a disaster.

I frowned at the casts tightly binding both my arms.

I’d started the first day of school waking up in a hospital bed.

My arms were wrecked.

“Hmm hmm hmm~ Hmm~ Hmmm~”

Pumpkinson, the full-time Sorcery Department professor with pumpkin-colored hair, was in a great mood today.

It was a lecture-free day, perfect for spending entirely in the research lab.

He could research all day, toss assignments to grad students when bored—a truly blissful day awaited.

“Hmm~♪ Hmm~♬”

With such a perfect day planned, Professor Pumpkinson headed to his workplace.

When he finally faced his research hall,

“…What the f*ck.”

Thud! His legs gave out, and he collapsed to the ground.

With trembling focus, he stared at the ruins, muttering in despair.

“…Why?”

The top-secret research hall, smashed in a straight line from the inner gate.

The statue that should’ve been at the entrance didn’t matter.

Because in that direction lay his far more important research lab…

“AAAAAHHH!!!”

Realizing the truth, Pumpkinson clutched his head and screamed.

He wailed.

His workplace was destroyed today.

No, perhaps yesterday.

His lab, his research materials—everything, gone.

It was a morning of countless staff members’ cries.

And someone had to take responsibility.

“What a mess.”

Whoosh! Every breath from his mouth made the air sizzle.

The secretary beside him watched nervously, fearing a fire might break out indoors.

“…Tell the construction team to fix that first. Complaints are already piling up on the communication orb.”

“Yes, understood.”

The red dragon, having given the order, shattered the magic mirror with a bang as if there was nothing more to see, then leaned back in his chair with a deep breath.

Creak! The chair screamed under the strain but held up.

Thanks to custom-made furniture and a room designed for the owner’s massive, hill-like frame.

The secretary, feeling like he’d entered a giant’s land, cautiously spoke up.

“What level of punishment should we assign?”

“…Educators have too damn much to think about. That blasted principal’s off gallivanting while I’m stuck here.”

Each sigh from Vice-Principal Andrey Dragunov shot small pillars of flame, but thankfully, no fire broke out.

Poking at the innocent chair’s armrest, he answered after a long silence.

“One week.”

“On-campus service?”

“Off-campus.”

“Yes, we’ll arrange the punishment soon.”

“By the way, is only one person listed?”

The secretary nodded.

The vice-principal rubbed his scaly chin and added,

“It’s lonely alone, so send both.”

And so, their fate was sealed.

“I almost died.”

When I arrived at the infirmary, I had full-body fractures from the shockwave, and my arms were twisted like pretzels, nearly needing amputation.

I’m pretty sure the golem wasn’t supposed to use lethal force, but it sure felt like it did…

“Well, I did overdo it.”

Regardless, Seondo’s miraculous infirmary lived up to its promise of keeping you alive no matter what.

They poured several drops of the precious elixir into my body.

‘Infinite support for the strong and victorious.’

That’s Seondo’s signature policy.

Keep winning, and they’d keep healing and rewarding you like this.

Fail to prove your worth, and you’re out.

‘Not bad.’

Just keep winning.

I shrugged and strode out of the infirmary confidently.

Creak— The moment I opened the door, a ruffian barged into my face.

“Oh! You’re healed! I was worried all night—you looked like a corpse about to die!”

My red-haired classmate, Cheon Yuha.

The future Heavenly Demon, a lunatic obsessed with sparring and martial arts.

She circled me, chattering loudly.

“We didn’t properly introduce ourselves yesterday, so let me say it again! I’m Cheon Yuha. Hmm, your last strike was astonishingly splendid. So, about that… Hmm? Hey, why aren’t you answering? Don’t tell me your ears are gone too!”

She was always friendly as a student, but this cheerful, chaotic vibe wasn’t quite her back then.

She was so intense it was overwhelming.

I ignored her, pulling out my terminal to check the time.

‘Oh no, I’m cutting it close to homeroom.’

I had to hurry. I quickened my pace.

“Hey! Wait! Why are you ignoring me?!”

Cheon Yuha called out desperately from behind, but I ignored her.

With casts on both arms, seeing her fully healed made me a bit annoyed—or maybe I just wanted to tease her.

The guy who tagged along nearly died, and you’re perfectly fine? That’s not fair!

No, this isn’t comrade-like.

Why are you the only one bouncing back with transcendent healing?!

…Not that it was the only reason.

‘She’s a bit much.’

Tap tap tap!

Running in the school halls was against the rules, so I fled at a brisk walk.

Thud—thud—thud—thud!

Cheon Yuha persistently followed.

This lunatic was using an absurd technique, folding space with each step just to walk faster.

And her gaze was unsettling.

‘Great Shift of Heaven and Earth! Great Shift of Heaven and Earth!’

Her sparkling eyes seemed to scream that.

I was probably right.

The moment the mood relaxed, she’d definitely ask about yesterday.

‘…I only thought about beating the guardian, not explaining it later.’

Did her reckless nature rub off on me? I just dove in.

I racked my brain on how to explain a first-class warrior beating a near-transformation-realm golem, then clicked my tongue.

‘No way to explain this.’

Deciding to ignore her, I moved my feet faster.

But escaping a transcendent warrior with a first-class body was impossible.

Maintaining a one-meter gap, Cheon Yuha kept chasing, shouting.

“Hey! Stop! I swear I won’t hurt you! Just give me a moment!”

“….”

What to do?

I’d escape until she calmed down.

With that, I ignored her and kept fleeing, while she kept chasing.

This bizarre speed-walking (space-folding) race only ended when I reached our classroom, Class 3.

[First Year, Class 3—Path of Asura]

“…Hmm.”

I hesitated before the classroom door, old memories surfacing.

Heavenly Path, Human Path, Asura Path, Beast Path, Hungry Ghost Path, Hell Path.

The six class names, drawn from Buddhism’s six realms, reflected each homeroom teacher’s personality.

Simply put, Class 1—Heavenly Path’s teacher was angelic, while Class 6—Hell Path’s was demonic.

That meant Class 3—Asura Path’s teacher loved pitting people against each other.

Like staging dogfights.

That tendency didn’t spare the first day, and a brawl was about to erupt.

‘I got thoroughly crushed on the first day.’

In my past life, I was one of the weakest in the school, so it was only natural.

This could be my chance for revenge, but… oh? My arms are wrecked?

I stared at the casts sealing my arms, twisting my lips.

“No way I’d lose, though.”

To mere kids.

Seondo Student Council Hall, Vice-President’s Office.

Scribble scribble—

A woman diligently wrote in a notebook.

Her face beamed with unrelenting cheer.

Knock knock.

A sudden knock made her hair sweep the desk.

An aide entered, bowing with a professional air.

“Vice-President, it’s time for the observation.”

“…Already?”

Glancing at the wall clock, the woman chuckled and stood.

She donned the coat handed by the aide, smiling brightly.

“Time flies when you’re having fun, huh?”

“You’re the only person I’ve seen enjoy studying non-combat disciplines, Vice-President.”

“Hey, it’s because it’s new to me. People are most comfortable with what they know.”

Seondo’s student council vice-president, Lee Cheong, stroked her chin with a smile.

“Wonder when I’ll get used to this.”

“You’re the best vice-president I know.”

“Oh, stop with the flattery.”

“So, where to first?”

“Dodging the question, huh?”

“…Where to first, then?”

“Hmm.”

After a brief pause, Lee Cheong answered.

“Asura Path. Let’s start with the fight-crazy ones.”

It’s the most entertaining.

Murmuring, she stepped forward without hesitation.

A halo of light trailed her steps.