NOVEL NEXT Chapter 324: A Competitive Kiss
As they continued their walk, Lt Daemon casually passed by them, seemingly oblivious to the tension between Ty and JJ. In a moment of impulsiveness, JJ grabbed Ty's hand, leaned in, and kissed him swiftly on the lips before he could react. The grip of her hand was firm, yet her touch was gentle, revealing a mixture of courage and vulnerability.
Ty, caught off guard but touched by her gesture, managed a smile. "T-thank you, but now you have no one to be competing with. Let's focus on what we can control, and once this is all resolved, we can maybe figure out where these emotions lead."
JJ's face turned a deep shade of red, a clear sign of her inner turmoil. "Yes, of course, I – I just, I uh, Yes, sounds good. I will keep my head buried in the book," she stammered, trying to regain her composure.
As Ty gave her a reassuring wave and walked towards Lt Daemon's car, he offered her one last smile before getting in.
Ty's yawn was quickly replaced by a mix of confusion and annoyance as he addressed Lt Daemon. "What the hell was that, man? Why would you tell her an accident like that happened?!"
Lt Daemon, still wearing a mischievous smile, replied, "Women need to know they have competition to work toward; otherwise, they become stagnant. So now that she knows there's another woman who may or may not be competing for your time, she'll naturally work harder. This, in turn, is likely to help get you more money for the Arena."
Ty massaged the top of his head, trying to process the Lt's strategy. "I suppose that makes sense, but what is Yun-Jin going to think about that, anyway?"
The Lt simply shrugged, indifferent to the potential fallout. "That's all up to you. The best I can do is steer the ship, but the ship will do what the ship wants at the end of the day."
As they sped through the outlines of the outer districts, their vehicle eventually returned to the grassy fields. The car began to levitate over the grass as it had before until it once again made contact with solid ground
Ty pondered the lieutenant's words before asking, "So, what happens after the Arena?"
"After the 50 on 50, there'll be a short downtime for interviews, stat reviews, and moments to reflect and mourn those who fell, especially the volunteers who came in of their own free will," the lieutenant explained.
"But I mean after everything. After everyone has been defeated and we stand alone… then what exactly?" Ty probed further, seeking clarity on the larger picture.
As they came to a halt, the lieutenant offered a pragmatic response. "You can worry about that later. For now, let's just focus on getting you through the first round."
Exiting the vehicle, they made their way back to the dojo they had visited previously. Inside, Ty spotted Yun-Jin clad in silver armor, drenched in sweat as she practiced her archery with intense focus.
"Whoa, what is she doing?!" Ty exclaimed, surprised by her fervor.
The lieutenant replied, "I guess she didn't take her last defeat too well."
, she's been practicing non-stop since. She wants to ensure she's more than prepared for the next time you two face off."
Ty watched in amazement as Yun-Jin's focus never wavered, each arrow flying true to its target with remarkable precision. The intensity of her training was palpable, a testament to her determination to overcome any future challenges.
"Looks like she's taking this very seriously," Ty commented, unable to hide his admiration for her dedication.
The Lt nodded in agreement. "Yes, and that's the kind of attitude you'll need as well if you're going to make it through the Arena. Everyone here has something they're fighting for, something that pushes them to their limits."
As they watched Yun-Jin continue her relentless practice, Ty couldn't help but feel a surge of motivation.
As Yun-Jin turned around, she flashed a smile at Ty that caught him completely off guard. Without warning, she launched an arrow towards him, which he caught effortlessly. "What the hell was that?!" Ty exclaimed, surprised and slightly irritated.
"I wanted to see if throwing your emotions off balance would cause you to slip up like I did when we fought," Yun-Jin explained, her voice holding a hint of curiosity.
Ty, slightly taken aback, responded firmly, "No, I try to keep my emotions in check. Besides, that would never be enough to take me down."
"You know, no one else—" Yun-Jin started to say.
"Yes, I know no one has taken you down in a fight before, but why do you think that makes me care?" Ty interjected, his tone becoming more serious.
Yun-Jin's demeanor shifted as she heard Ty's point. "I'm thankful the Lt went out of his way to ask you to come out here and train with me… but if it's such a pain for you, I would rather you go somewhere else. The last thing I want is to be a burden. I understand you have a troubled past, but I'm not responsible for any of it."
Yun-Jin sighed, her expression softening as she acknowledged her misjudgments. "Yeah, I've come to realize that I might have put too much blame on you. Everyone makes their own choices in life, so I do apologize. But I don't believe you can be a good person with demon blood flowing in you. Even if you think you're doing good, it's not so easy for me to just wash away everything your kind has done."
Ty nodded, understanding her stance. "And that's okay. You've done enough for me and helped me understand the skill system, as Lt Daemon wanted. So, for all intents and purposes, if there is nothing else to be done, then this can be the last time we ever speak with each other."
At his words, Yun-Jin's frustration became apparent. She gritted her teeth a bit before her voice rose slightly. "Well, I haven't decided that this will be the last time we talk, okay?!"
Ty stared toward the sky, observing the purple haze marking the end of the daybreak. "What exactly do you want?" he asked.
"I want to know if I can truly beat you. But more than that, I want to see you break, to show your true colors and prove to me you're the monster the history books claim you are," Yun-Jin asserted, her gaze intense.
Your journey continues with M-V-L
Ty smirked. "And what happens when THAT never happens? Are you going to follow me around my entire life?"
"If your feelings are all jumbled over that kiss yesterday, just know it was an accident. The fight would have been much closer if I hadn't found that opening," he explained, attempting to clarify the misunderstanding.
Yun-Jin shook her head, frustration evident in her voice. "I could barely keep up with you. You countered all my moves, moves that have bested others time and time again."
"So you say, but a demon stealing my first kiss is a crime I can't forgive. I will prove you are an evil being, so I don't have to follow you around forever," she declared, her determination unwavering.
"That makes no sense," Ty stated, puzzled by her logic.