Martial Arts Returnee’s Game Broadcast

Chapter 48

The 4th round match.
Ha Eun-eung, stepping onto the arena stage,
was met with the mocking jeers of the Yokai from all directions,
and the blatant killing intent of the opposing team players standing across from her.
Despite the deathly atmosphere that permeated the entire arena,
she did not waver or falter in the slightest.

‘The whole world seems to be pressing down on me, as if trying to kill one person. It seems they’ve already learned that I’m human.’

Given her flashy behavior up until now,
this commotion was to be expected.
The prince glanced back, worried that the Silent Swordmaster might feel the pressure,
but soon realized his concern was unfounded.

‘Mother’s composure is truly something I cannot match.’

Having faced the murderous intent of the entire martial world,
feeling this kind of pressure was unthinkable for her.
She was as calm as a still lake, undisturbed,
not a ripple of emotion stirring within her.
Her killing intent didn’t spread indiscriminately around her.
Instead, she was conserving all her strength,
waiting for the right moment, the right opponent, to unleash it.

[Story mode]

Her gaze, calm and composed, met her opponent's right after the story mode began.

[The match for the 4th round is a continuous battle!]
[In a 1v1 match, the winner will continue to fight the next player, and the team that defeats all the opposing team’s players wins!]
[Will the winner of the first match be the bastard prince who carries the Yokai King’s bloodline?]
[Or will it be the son of the Yokai General, Victor, one of the two leading powers of the current palace?]

A continuous battle in the 4th round.
Her first opponent, by a strange coincidence,
was the son of the Yokai General Victor,
who had caused tremendous damage on the way to the arena.

[Just because your father is the Yokai King doesn’t mean you’re special.]
[I’ll bring you down along with all the weaklings.]

Despite the arrogant declaration of Victor’s son,
the prince, recalling his mother’s composure,
found his own peace of mind.

[Imp. I know your wisdom is the best among us. Do you have a strategy for the continuous battle?]
[Two strategies. Send the strongest first and win consecutive victories, or save the strongest for last as insurance.]
[The first strategy hides the strength of our other gladiators, creating variables in the final round.]
[The second allows the earlier fighters to possibly win against stronger enemies, saving the strongest for later.]
[I see. What will you do, mother?]

With the prince’s question, the idea of a strategy arose.

?Interaction Options?
[1. Enter as the first fighter.]
[2. Enter as the last fighter.]
[3. I’m not the ace, so I’ll step in the middle.]

Depending on the order of entry,
there were pros and cons—
hiding the strength of the team or conserving stamina.
For a moment, her gaze drifted to the Boogeyman’s shadow,
but Ha Eun-eung quickly turned away.
Though the Boogeyman was undeniably strong,
he didn’t like stepping into the frontlines.
Unless he revealed his true strength,
the team’s ace would undoubtedly be Ha Eun-eung.

Take a break, you crazy idiot!!
222
After 62 hours of streaming, you’re going in first? That’s crazy.
You’re going to die like this!!
The streamer is literally holding their health hostage to threaten the viewers, lol.
Nah, Silent Swordmaster is insanely strong.
I agree, don’t think in terms of regular people.
Even non-regulars would die after 62 hours of non-stop work.
Coding slaves can work 160 hours a week, though?
That’s not a person, that’s a slave.
Lol.
Coding slaves aren’t even people, they have no human rights.
Why are you suddenly hating on them?
Well... because it’s fun.
The evil comes out of nowhere, lol.
The viewers, considering Ha Eun-eung’s health,
suggested she enter last,
but

[?1. Enter as the first fighter.]

As usual, Ha Eun-eung chose the option she wanted,
without hesitation.

‘It’s been a long battle, but I haven’t exhausted my stamina much.’

The key was in her blessings.

?Blessings?
[Perfect Power] - You don’t need to eat, sleep, or go to the bathroom to maintain your bodily functions.

She didn’t need food to sustain herself,
which meant she could absorb the necessary energy from the air as she breathed.
Her stamina and endurance allowed her to keep fighting in long battles, naturally recovering her strength over time.

?Curse?
[Poor Lung Capacity] - Your forced vital capacity (FVC) can never exceed 3.5L, akin to a patient with lung disease.
[Slow Heartbeat] - Your heart beats slower than most, negatively impacting blood circulation and explosive physical ability.

Though the Curse restricted her lung capacity and slowed her heartbeat,
it didn’t prevent her from using her internal energy in combat.
She might only use 70% of her strength,
but she could amplify it by over 500%,
utilizing her internal power to make up for the shortfall in her abilities.
The problem lay in how much internal energy she used up.

‘There are two matches left until the finals. I wonder if my internal energy will hold up.’

The sword styles she had been using
were the Plum Blossom Twelve Blades from the Hwasan school.
Compared to the legendary Plum Blossom Thirty-Six Blades,
this was a simplified, incomplete style,
but even so, it could make flowers bloom from the blood and flesh of her enemies.
While it lacked in power and versatility due to its incomplete form,
its low internal energy consumption allowed for great utility in multi-enemy battles.
However, when it came to one-on-one duels or powerful foes,
its weakness in destructive power was apparent.

‘For battles against powerful half-Yokai and Yokai, I’ll need more power.’

Now, she would have to face the most formidable Yokai and gladiators in the arena,
those with special strengths.
The Plum Blossom Twelve Blades had reached its limits.

“Human woman. I’ve heard rumors about you running wild in the streets, but you’re clueless about your place. After seeing this, you’ll have no choice but to understand.”

The monkey-like Yokai’s appearance reminded Ha Eun-eung of the dangerous monkey Yokai the Imp had spoken of.

‘Could this be a Yokai from the lineage of the great sage?’

With the magical staff that stretched freely and the ability to create clones with hair,
combined with excellent combat skills,
this Yokai was certainly formidable.

“My bloodline comes from the Gaguk. We kidnap human women, impregnate them, and then return them after they give birth!”

It wasn’t the infamous Sun Wukong,
the legendary Monkey King,
but still a dangerous foe.

Is this a monkey?
This is Yasushi!
This is a crime, you crazy bastard.
Are they all in heat?
Finally, the heir of the Demon Lord appears!
Patience will pay off.
Typical RPG games: Lose the battle, get a sex scene.
This isn’t an RPG, though.
What the hell? You’re giving the Monkey Yokai to the Silent Swordmaster?
Why is he revealing the true name and inheritance?
I don’t know!
“Match begins!”

At the announcer’s declaration,
the battle restarted.

[Player mode]

The Gaguk’s eyes gleamed with lust,
scanning Ha Eun-eung’s body from top to bottom.
Despite her thick, bloodstained warrior’s robe,
her cloak, and even the straw hat she wore,
the subtle fragrance she emitted couldn’t be hidden.
Her natural feminine curves were evident,
and despite her disguise,
the inheritance of the “female detection” skill
immediately revealed her gender to him.
He unleashed his Yokai bloodline’s full power.

“Uwoooo, you’re so strong! Even though your chest is small, you’re a perfect beauty worth possessing!”

His muscles swelled to twice their size,
and veins popped out,
while his unnatural strength increased,
fueled by his desire for her.

“This is bad! The new inheritance added to the Gaguk’s bloodline allows them to grow stronger based on a woman’s beauty!”
“Mother, you’re strong.”
“But you’re also dangerously beautiful, my lady. This will make the Gaguk even stronger.”

The prince’s face went pale at the Imp’s words.

“The Yokai General has sent a Yokai to humiliate mother!”

The prince’s team had built up knowledge of exploiting opponents’ weaknesses,
but this time, the matchup was horribly mismatched.
Ha Eun-eung’s beauty was used against her,
and now her opponent, a Yokai who normally would have been weak,
was empowered by the inheritance.
The result was a powerful blow to Ha Eun-eung.

“Mother, forfeit!”

The prince urged her to surrender.
It wasn’t too late yet.
She could aim for the next match.
But if she insisted on fighting,
she could be harmed by the enlarged weapon of the monkey Yokai.
Even her purity could be taken from her.
Despite the prince’s heartfelt plea,
Ha Eun-eung silently drew her sword and prepared for battle.

“Ha ha ha! That’s it! Show me that spirit! I like you, woman. I’ll make sure you can’t even stand on your two legs, I’ll break you completely!”

Excitement reached its peak,
and with explosive strength,
the monkey Yokai leaped toward her,
his massive arms and oversized weapon aiming to overpower her.

‘His physical strength is impressive. His body resembles that of the demon kings or even surpasses them.’

Ha Eun-eung made a quick judgment.
His strength was formidable,
but how well could he control it?

“Uwoooo!”

His eyes widened as he tried to grab her with his powerful charge.

Ha Eun-eung remembered a man who had taught her the Hwasan martial arts.

The Empress will be forced to give up her purity by the Emperor’s will. It is a tragic fate.
The Hwasan martial arts won’t be able to help her, the Emperor’s order will make even the elders oppose it.
However, as a martial artist from Hwasan, I cannot turn my back on the woman who asked for help. I’ll teach you a few of the Hwasan techniques.
As she performed the Plum Blossom Sword technique,
with the grace of a flower blooming in winter,
and the techniques of the Hwasan school,
her movements turned into a battle dance,
avoiding the gaze of the Emperor and the Golden Guard.

‘The flower that blooms in the most difficult times is the true symbol of grace and dignity.’

In between the flashy beauty and the flaw in his stance,
she shifted her angle and moved with precision.

The Plum Blossom Twelve Blades shattered the limits
of what she had learned and thrust into the bloodlines of her opponent.
The powerful Yokai’s force was interrupted as his energy rushed backward,
failing to reach his intended destination.

With a loud burst,
the Gaguk’s body exploded,
his upper half burst open like a balloon,
and his blood splattered all over the arena.

Ha Eun-eung, with her cloak raised,
watched the body of the monkey Yokai,
now in the shape of a plum blossom,
fall from the tree like a broken flower.

“That was a close call. I’ll forfeit.”
“I didn’t sign up to fight that monster. I forfeit.”
“I forfeit.”
“I forfeit.”
“This is a pointless fight. I accept my defeat.”

One strike.
Against a Yokai who had boosted his strength dramatically,
she destroyed him with a single cut.
Instead of facing a master swordsman,
the opposing team players all forfeited in unison.

“Wow, this is unbelievable! The human woman gladiator from the bastard prince’s team defeated all the opponents with a single sword strike, causing the entire team to forfeit! What an unexpected victory!!”

The announcer’s declaration of victory
was met with roaring cheers from the Yokai crowd,
and explosive reactions from the viewers in the chat.
With this, Ha Eun-eung and her team advanced to the finals of the arena competition.