I Ascend Alone-Chapter 143: Ryzen vs. Ahn & Leon

I let out a low chuckle, pushing off the wall. "Scared? Of you two?"

Leon exchanged a glance with Mirae, a spark of mischief passing between them.

"Come on," Leon said, grinning wider now. "You're National-Level now. A mere pair of S-Ranks like us?" He shook his head in mock disappointment. "We're not exactly a challenge anymore."

Mirae spun her spear once, planting its butt against the floor with a soft thud. Her eyes gleamed. "That's why it'll be the two of us. Against you."

I raised an eyebrow.

"Two-on-one?" I repeated, amused.

Leon shrugged, unbothered. "Hey, fair's fair. You've outgrown the usual rules."

Mirae's voice was smooth, almost playful. "Besides, it'd be boring otherwise. Think of it as... stress testing."

I huffed a quiet breath, stretching my arms out in a slow, lazy motion. "You sure about this?"

Leon pointed his saber at me in mock challenge. "What's the worst that could happen?"

I tilted my head slightly, considering.

Two S-Rank Hunters—top tier, elite in their own right. Together, their coordination and experience were dangerous. Leon's tactical mind and Mirae's overwhelming technique would be enough to flatten almost anyone.

I dropped my arms and gave them a slow, measured smile. "Alright."

Leon whooped, twirling his saber once before settling into a lower stance.

Mirae didn't speak—she just adjusted her grip, her expression sharpening into something that made my blood stir a little.

I stepped forward into the center of the chamber, feeling the energy of the place react subtly to our gathering power. The reinforced walls hummed faintly under the tension.

Leon and Mirae shifted too—fanning out slightly, flanking me without a word needing to be said.

My hands dropped loosely to my sides, no weapon summoned yet. No stance taken.

Just waiting.

Leon gave a mock salute with his saber. "Don't hold back too much, National-Level Hunter."

I smirked. "I was about to say the same thing."

And then they moved fast.

Leon shot in from the left with a series of rapid, sharp strikes, forcing my attention his way, while Mirae blurred in from the right, her spear already spinning in a vicious overhead arc.

I slid back a step, letting Leon's first strike glance harmlessly off the air where I'd just been, while my hand flicked up, catching the shaft of Mirae's descending spear with two fingers—redirecting the blow just enough that it slammed into the floor with a heavy crack instead of my head.

The moment Mirae's spear cracked the floor, I pivoted on my heel and stepped inward.

Leon barely had time to react before my fist lashed out—not a full punch, not even close, just a lazy, almost casual tap.

But it landed clean against his ribs.

A short burst of force sent him skidding back several meters, his boots scraping against the reinforced flooring.

Leon caught himself, breathing sharply, eyes flashing.

Mirae reacted instantly, her spear reversing in her grip as she lunged to cover his retreat. But I was already moving, weaving under her thrust with ease, another lazy flick of my hand brushing her spear aside like it weighed nothing.

I could see it in her face—that precise, razor-sharp hunter's focus sharpening even further.

Leon straightened fully, rolling his shoulder once where I'd struck him. He met Mirae's gaze across the space between them, and something passed between them—silent agreement.

Without a word, they shifted into serious stances.

Leon's saber glowed faintly now, layered with a thin sheath of aura, its edge humming. Not enough to be lethal in this training room—but more than enough to bite deep if it landed.

Mirae's entire frame settled lower, her spear no longer twirling playfully but pointed straight at my heart. A thin spiral of arcane energy coiled around the weapon's shaft, the atmosphere tightening.

The air between us tensed.

I rolled my neck slowly, feeling the crack of my spine, then exhaled a long breath.

They came at me together, no hesitation.

Leon darted in low again, but this time he wasn't trying to bait me—he was aiming to lock down my movement. His strikes came faster, sharper, his saber singing through the air in brutal, clean lines that forced precision responses.

At the same time, Mirae circled, launching rapid precision thrusts with her spear, each one seeking the tiniest gaps in my defense.

I moved smoothly, dancing between them, parrying Leon's blade with the edge of my palm, redirecting Mirae's spear with the brush of a wrist, sidestepping attacks that would've torn through ordinary Hunters.

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Leon ducked low, feinting a strike toward my knee, while Mirae capitalized, thrusting her spear toward my exposed side.

I shifted my weight just enough, letting the spear slide past my ribs by inches—and caught it.

Fingers snapping closed around the shaft mid-thrust.

Mirae's eyes widened.

Without hesitation, I yanked, dragging her slightly off-balance—and Leon took the opening, slashing his saber in a tight, fast arc toward my throat.

I ducked under it cleanly, releasing the spear as I twisted my body low.]

I straightened, giving both of them a small, almost approving smile.

Leon wiped the back of his mouth with his hand, grinning savagely. "Tch. Bastard's even cockier now."