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HELHEIM SCANS
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Chapter 121: Ability vs. Ability (4)
Swoosh—!
Jieun shot forward in a straight line.
Like a seabird folding its wings and diving toward its prey.
"N-Noona?!"
Jiwoong’s mouth hung open in shock, refusing to close.
It must be the first time he had truly witnessed his sister’s ability in action.
"Wow…"
"Your sister is amazing, huh?"
"She really is! Lending her my stats was worth it."
Seeing his admiration, I chimed in.
Jiwoong vigorously nodded in agreement.
"You lent her 10 agility stats, right?"
"Yeah!"
Before the match started, I told him to lend his agility stats to Jieun using his "Accounting" skill.
"I still have 3 left. Want me to lend you some?"
"Nah. You want to be stuck unable to move with zero stats?"
"Uh… no?"
"Keep at least 5. You never know what might happen."
As I glanced at him while speaking, Jiwoong grinned and said,
"Did you know? Noona talked about you a lot."
"Huh? About me?"
Was he talking about before the restructuring started?
Or after?
Maybe she wanted to reassure him that he wasn’t alone in this harsh new world.
Or perhaps she wanted to explain how she unlocked her skill while trying to save her coworkers.
Curious, I waited for an answer.
"Well, it's a secret."
Jiwoong just smirked mischievously.
Then, he turned back toward his sister, clapping as she passed the halfway point.
[ROK: 200m mark crossed!]
[ROK zone: Overtaking RUS!]
She even passed Russia.
In an instant.
Jieun was perfect for this mission—I was the one who suggested her, after all.
"Holy… that’s insane. Is this even fair?"
"There's a guy on a bike, too."
Jang Hanil, watching in disbelief, shook his head with an exasperated expression.
"She could’ve been our anchor, too."
"Yeah, but… just in case."
The anchor, or the final runner, is usually the fastest person on the team.
If they’re in the lead, they need to hold their position; if they’re behind, they need to overtake their opponents.
So technically, Jieun should’ve been our anchor.
But I put my name last instead.
Because my acceleration skill can handle any situation.
No matter what tricks our opponents pull.
Besides, I can run just as fast as Jieun’s flight—maybe even faster.
Both acceleration and telekinesis are formidable abilities.
The spectators seemed to agree.
【Multiple observers are satisfied with 'Lee Eunho’s' runner selection.】
【'The Raven of the Administration Bureau' is amazed, saying the female subordinate moves like a bird!】
【He advises that she must be recruited.】
"Recruited? Where?"
【Many observers shake their heads at one observer’s reckless comment.】
Hmm?
'Something’s up.'
Just as I was about to press for an answer,
"Summon."
Creak—!
A mechanical clanking noise echoed—something that had no reason to exist in this setting.
'!!'
A long, thick metal gauntlet covered an arm.
A red, segmented glove made of iron gleamed ominously.
Then—
Fwoosh!
Flames burst from its palm.
"Explosion!"
BOOOOM—!
Using the fire’s force, a human cannonball was launched forward.
"What the hell is that?!"
"R-Rocket punch?!"
Cries of shock erupted from all around.
We thought we had this in the bag.
[USA zone! Overtaking FRA!]
[USA zone! Overtaking ARG!]
[USA zone! Overtaking CN!]
A Western man with golden hair, tanned skin, and a muscular physique.
I had already noticed his aggressive aura, but—
'He was hiding that ability all this time?'
[USA zone! Overtaking RUS!]
[150m mark crossed!]
The owner of the rocket punch was right on Jieun’s tail.
Like a homing missile locked onto her.
Swoosh—
BOOM—!
The gap between them widened, then shrank, then widened again.
Jieun barely avoided being overtaken each time.
Even from this distance, I could almost see the desperation in her expression.
"Noona! Keep going!"
"Ms. Kim! Just a little more!"
"Wait, what the hell is that guy saying?"
The rocket puncher, struggling to close the last bit of distance, started moving his lips.
A decisive move to finish the race.
[USA zone: 'Water Bomb' activated!]
[A bomb is about to drop over the target’s head!]
"Water bomb?!"
"!!"
The air bubbled and churned like boiling water.
A massive sphere formed in the empty sky, woven together from countless strands of steam.
Then—
BOOOOM—!
A bomb dropped from above.
Whoosh!
Jieun, who had been speeding like a bullet, suddenly stopped.
Like someone slamming the brakes after flooring the gas pedal.
She barely regained her balance and stumbled backward just in time.
BOOOOM—!
The falling water mass hit the ground like a nuclear explosion made of liquid.
And in that instant, the American bastard surged ahead.
[USA zone! Overtaking ROK!]
"Break through already! What the hell are you doing standing there like an idiot?!"
"Fuck, don’t you know we can’t move if we get caught there? Didn’t you see the water flies earlier?!"
At someone's shout, the foul-mouthed one retorted, his face turning red.
"Noona! Please!"
"No...!"
Jiwoong and Jang Hanil shouted at the same time.
As if responding to their desperate cries, the water bomb quickly dissipated.
[ROK Zone, 'Magnet' Activated!]
[Catching up quickly with the opponent ahead!]
Jieun moved exactly as I had instructed.
Zzt—!
Sparks flew from Jieun’s body.
The American ahead of us was affected as well.
And then—
Whoosh—!
Jieun was yanked forward before she even had time to steady her slender frame.
She moved even faster than before, surpassing her physical limits.
Her thin, long limbs left behind contrails like a jet.
"It worked! She's almost caught up!"
"They’re entering at nearly the same time?!"
A cheer erupted from the anxious spectators.
Jiwoong let out a relieved sigh and asked,
"Hyung! Did you tell her to use the water bomb so she could immediately follow up with the magnet?"
"Ah, yeah. If she got too far behind, catching up would be tough."
Just like the French competitor who had activated his booster too late but still couldn’t reach Jieun.
[FRA Zone, 'Booster' Activated!]
[Speed doubles!]
"Ah…."
I gestured toward the French athlete, and Jiwoong nodded in understanding.
[USA, 400m Passed!]
The American team, having slowed down, passed the baton to their next runner.
[ROK, 400m Passed!]
Jieun also passed the baton to Jang Hanil’s junior before flying straight toward us.
"Noona!"
"You did great."
"…Not really."
The race ended with us placing second out of six teams.
Jieun's face was filled with regret.
"I should have widened the gap more… I didn't expect the Americans to have a flying ability user."
"It's fine. This isn't the end."
Jieun lowered her head.
Then, swallowing dryly, she added,
"And Eunho, the fourth runner for the U.S.… It’s him."
"Yeah, I saw."
The final U.S. runner was a giant.
A man the size of a building, who could cover several times my height in a single step.
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HELHEIM SCANS
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'Like a sparrow trying to keep up with a stork.'
Jieun must have had the same thought, her face full of unease and guilt.
But—
"I'm sorry…."
"Just rest."
I smiled.
Because…
"I'll win."
Even a sparrow has its own way of flying.
* * *
Waaaaah—!
I stood in the passing zone, waiting for the third runner.
Beneath the shadow cast by the American giant, the roar of the crowd echoed in my ears.
[ROK, 200m Passed!]
As Jang Hanil had feared, his junior wasn’t very fast.
Despite starting at the same time, he had already fallen far behind the U.S. runner.
The American athlete was getting closer, and the giant finally spoke.
"Hey."
A voice as deep as a drum.
The air vibrated.
"Are you going to sneak around like a rat again?"
"…What?"
"Invisibility… That's a pretty useful ability. Especially for stabbing people in the back."
I see.
During the cavalry battle, Yura had used her skill to turn invisible, and he must have mistaken it for my ability.
Even so, I couldn’t understand the sheer hostility radiating from him.
"Dirty tricks end here."
"So in America, even self-defense is considered a dirty trick?"
"…."
So, when they gang up on someone, it's fine, but when I prepare in advance, I'm a rat playing dirty?
At my retort, he had nothing to say and simply ended the conversation.
"…Just because you won once, don't get cocky. We'll catch up soon."
His baton arrived.
Tap!
By the time the baton should have reached my hand, he had already rounded the final corner.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
[USA, 100m Passed!]
Boom! Boom! Boom!
[USA, 200m Passed!]
Boom! Boom! Boom!
[USA, 300m Passed!]
The giant had already covered two-thirds of the race.
Before I knew it, he had almost completed the entire lap and was approaching my starting line.
【’Prince of the Investigation Bureau’ clicks his tongue, saying the race is over before you even start."】
【"The ‘External Affairs Department's Rookie’ urges you to hurry if you want to at least get second place."】
【"The ‘Ferryman of the Administration Bureau’ wonders why you’re so calm."】
The observers were panicking, already assuming we had lost.
But—
'If I can run 400m in one second, I win.'
I still had one second—or rather, thirty-five seconds—left.
And—
"Summon."
I had an item to eliminate any remaining variables.
Flash—!
A round, pot-bellied bottle appeared in my palm.
A vial filled with a shimmering, pink liquid.
['Failed Awakening Potion (Agility Boost)' from the Genius Researcher is being consumed!]
I gulped it down in one go.
Gulp!
[Agility stat is doubled!]
[Time remaining: 59 seconds, 58 seconds… ]
As the final drop slid down my throat, the third runner arrived.
[ROK, Baton Touch!]
Tap!
I grabbed the end of the solid baton.
Before I knew it, the shadow of the giant had returned, looming over my head.
I was just getting started, but he had only one final step left.
A smile spread across the giant’s lips, and the spectators, as if giving up, shook their heads.
"This is the end..."
"Acceleration."
"Naaaaaahhhhh—!"
Ta-at—!
Before I could even move my limbs, my body shot forward.
As if my nerves couldn't afford the time to send signals from my brain, my limbs moved on their own.
Yet, my movements were smooth, without any unnecessary waste.
My legs churned like motorized wheels, never stopping.
100m.
Leaning slightly, I turned the curve of the track.
I was more suited for straight runs than cornering, but thanks to my agility stat, it didn’t make much of a difference.
The more I ran, the faster I seemed to get.
200m.
I overtook them one by one—
The cyclist.
The Chinese bodyguard.
The Argentine sprinter.
Even the Russian athlete built like a bear.
300m.
Running and running, I finally closed the gap to the giant’s back—so close my nose nearly crashed into it.
Tick!
Time snapped back into place.
[ROK, 100m passed!]
[ROK sector! Overtook FRA!]
[ROK sector! Overtook CN!]
[ROK sector! Overtook ARG!]
[ROK sector! Overtook RUS!]
[ROK, 200m passed!]
[ROK, 300m passed!]
A flood of delayed messages poured in all at once.
But the problem was—
'!!'
The giant’s foot had already taken its final step.
'Just a little more…!'
Acceleration could slow down time, but it couldn't stop it completely.
While I was covering 400 meters, the giant’s foot had already left the ground, lifted, and moved right to the finish line.
It was a fraction of a second.
The thin line between first and second place.
I couldn't afford to lose by such a small margin.
With that thought, I pushed every ounce of strength into my thighs and calves.
And then, the giant’s words flashed through my mind—
'That’s it!'
Ta-at—!
I kicked off the ground and leaped.
Onto the giant’s foot.
【'External Affairs Department's Rookie' shouts that direct attacks are against the rules!】
【'The Raven of the Administration Bureau' suggests killing everyone and just taking the penalty!】
【'Ferryman of the Administration Bureau' yells to stop wasting time and be satisfied with second place!】
It felt like I was on a Viking ride, my body floating midair.
Even without forcing my legs to move, I was propelled forward.
Using the momentum, I launched myself again, stretching out my hand—
Beyond the giant’s foot.
There was no time to think.
The only thought in my mind was crossing the finish line first.
Pop!
My outstretched hand sliced through the invisible line in the air.
[Race over!]
The race had ended.
[All rounds have concluded!]
[Announcing the final rankings!]
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HELHEIM SCANS
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