Cat Mania

25. Matches for the Kids

"The other organizations arrived a month before us." Inhyuk walked down a corridor.

"They must be planning something." Seongha added on.

They both had a serious expression on.

Inhyuk agreed. "Since Shinhwa and the Union have been gaining influence recently, they must be vary of us. But that doesn't mean they can just band together unannounced!" Inhyuk became enraged.

"They've always been keeping us in check, but I didn't expect them to be this bold."

Inhyuk agreed with Seongha.

"Greetings, I am Giwook Jang. I will be your professor in the academy." A muscular man with a scar across his face stood in front of the unaffiliated kids.

'That's our teacher?' Jiwoo was awestruck, amazed. 'He looks cool.'

"When I get to you, tell me your name and ability." Giwook instructed. "You." He eyed the boy with dull red hair.

"Choi Gangwoo, super strength!" The boy said enthusiastically.

"Lee Jihye, psychokinesis." She smiled.

"K- ki Taeyoung... I can't do conbat.. but I can analyze things quickly..." He seemed down about his ability.

'Why's he so sad? Being able to analyze the situation and stay on the sidelines isn't bad.' Cale thought.

Giwook nodded. "Not all awakeners in groups are combat-related. Those who aren't usually lead the organization in public."

Taeyoung nodded nervously.

"Lee Jeongsu, enhanced strength. I can lift up to 200 pounds with one hand." Jeongsu said proudly. 'I have to impress the professors here.'

"You."

Jiwoo flinched. "Seo Jiwoo.. I won't be able to tell you my awakened ability." He looked strongly into the professor's eyes.

'Does he want to get on the professor's bad side on the first day?!' The other kids looked at him in shock.

"Why is that?" Giwook asked.

"I don't want to disappoint those who taught me how to hide my powers.."

Giwook sighed, "I will respect your decision as an awakener."

Jiwoo's face lit up.

"However, run 10 laps across the room."

"Yes sir!" Jiwoo started running.

Wooin followed behind him, but was stopped by Giwook.

"What're you doing?"

Wooin apologized, "I cannot disclose my awakened ability as well."

Giwook sighed, "fine."

Wooin continued.

"You."

"Cale Henituse, cat transformation." Cale said it as if it wasn't obvious from his oblivious cat ears and tail.

"We'll continued when they finished."

Huff huff.

Jiwoo and Wooin finished quickly.

"Today, we'll be testing your abilities. You'll be sparring with one another. Who will go first?" Giwook eyed them.

"I will." Jeongsu stepped forward, raising his hand.

Giwook nodded. "Then who will be his opponent."

"Me." Wooin stepped up.

The two faced each other in the middle as the others stood on the sidelines.

'I'll beat him to the pulp and gain the professor's recognition.' Jeongsu grinned.

"On my mark, start."

Jeongsu readied his attack, charging power onto one hand.

'He doesn't know his opponent's power or level yet he's going all out in the beginning?' Cale observed.

Wooin didn't move, standing still.

'Is he not going to get ready?'

The others students began to worry.

'He's a tough one, he's the strongest amongst the unaffiliated so far.' One of them assumed about Jeongsu.

"Start!" Giwook signaled.

Boom!

'What the!' Jeongsu was hit, right after the signal. Blood dripped from him head where he was shot. He didn't expect the blow.

Wooin stood there, hand extended where Jeongsu was injured. "..."

'You bastard!' Jeongsu was about to dash at Wooin when the professor interrupted.

"That's it. Wooin wins." Giwook stopped the spar. 'That kid.. I heard the Union brought him in, he has great control of his powers.'

Jeongsu's eyes widened, fear shaking in them, like his whole life would end there, "but I can still go! I haven't shown you everything I can do! This is a test right? Then give me another chance, please!" He pleaded.

Giwook sighed, "fine."

Jeongsu's face lit up with relief, "thank you!"

"You." Giwook eyed Cale. "You're his opponent."

'What.. why me..?' Cale obeyed obediently.

'Great!' Geongsu grinned. 'Just the person I wanted to beat up.' He was still mad at last time. 'Plus he looks weak.'

'What do cats do...?' Cale suddenly realized he didn't know what his supposedly "awakened power" does. He started panicking, wondering if he'll get caught. 'Since cats are fast, should I just use the "Sound of the Wind"...?'

"Start!"

Cale dashed towards Jeongsu, helped by the wind.

'He's fast!' Jeongsu thought.

Cale attempted to scratch his opponent, mimicking a cat. Of course, his attack was fast and sharp thanks to the compressed wind.

Jeongsu flinched, receiving a blow on his thighs. In that moment, he recovered and went for his first hit, striking a punch, but he was slow.

'What a newbie. Focusing all your power on one place when you have several weaknesses.' Cale easily dodged, dashing backwards to avoid. Connecting his movements, he went forward and dealt a few hits around Jeongsu's unguarded waist.

Jeongsu got back to his senses and tensed his body up, no longer receiving damage from the little yet impactful attacks.

Cale retreated as he lost his chance.

However, in that unguarded moment, Jeongsu already gained a substantial injury from the combination of attacks. 'Shit! I won't be able to show him anything at this rate!' He started throwing more punches at Cale.

'Why is he so persistent?!' Cale wondered desperately. Even with the help of wind, using his bare minimum of stamina drained both his physique and mentality. Cale dodged every attempt.

'Just one hit! Just one hit and I'll end you!' Jeongsu didn't stop.

Cale flinched.

He got hit, he finally got hit.

'Yes!' Jeongsu saw the moment.

Bang!

He definitely hit him, but Cale was fine.

'What...?' Jeongsu was left speechless. 'I hit him, I hit him! So why didn't he receive any damage?!'

"Cale wins." Giwook announced the end of this match.

"B- but!" Jeongsu immediately turned to Giwook.

"That's enough. I've seen everything I needed." Giwook stood sturdily.

"Yes..." Jeongsu walked back, disappointed.

Cale followed along. 'I could've almost died from that!' His mind was in shambles.

"Good job, Cale!" Jiwoo congratulated him.