Splish-5

Sticky red liquid soaked the soles of Se-Hoon’s shoes.0

At first, the pungent smell that filled the air caused his face to scrunch up involuntarily, yet barely any time had passed and he already no longer registered it.0

“It’s so red.”0

The ceiling, the walls, and the floor were all completely red. It was almost impossible to look at this place and believe that it was once the world's largest martial arts hall.0

Absorbed in the surroundings, he stared quietly at the surreal landscape that seemed intentionally colored. But he soon focused again on the sound of a voice.0

“Stay focused.”0

The one who warned him was the gruff brute walking ahead, the Mad Dog.0

“For someone of your combat level, the moment you lose focus, there’ll be nothing but your blood left behind.”0

“I know that much.”0

“If you really knew, you wouldn't have come all the way here. Why can’t you understand your place when you’re so weak?”3

“…”0

The fact that the Mad Dog wasn’t saying that out of malice but rather because he genuinely did not understand why Se-Hoon was so weak and unaware of his own limits, was more infuriating than outright mockery. 1

However, for today, Se-Hoon made no retort; he knew better than anyone that a blacksmith like him, who should be hiding and hammering, being at the forefront was undoubtedly madness.2

“Just bear with me for a while. We'll check this place out and be out soon.”0

“There's nothing to really bear, though. It'll just be annoying to find someone else to handle the repairs for my equipment if you end up as a puddle of blood.”0

“…”0

At that remark, Se-Hoon seriously considered smashing the Mad Dog’s...0