The wind tore through every part of his body. Unless one experienced it firsthand, the pain and agony surging through the entire body while pushing through fierce wind were impossible to express in words.
Swish.
Nevertheless, I Han was pushing through the wind at considerable speed. It was thanks to maintaining his pace well on the [Upside-Down Road].
"Huff, hoo."
I Han's expression contorted.
'They're coming…….’
A tremendous pressure pressed in from behind. It was because a whopping nine warriors were staring at I Han's back, baring killing intent.
'Little by little…… they're getting closer.'
Although I Han held a physically advantageous position thanks to maintaining his composure on the uphill, he couldn't ignore those nine who had run with him from start to finish. There were many advantages to running together.
Using the runner ahead as a shield, one could be a little freer from the wind, and moreover, one felt pulled along by it, creating some breathing room. That was why they strove not to fall behind the lead group. Simply being in the lead group meant being pulled and pulling, becoming a shield, and being able to hide behind that shield.
Swoosh. Page 1/10
Date : 14.01.28 04:30Views : 9303/9311Recommendations : 76Rating :Favorite Works : 4076
I Han was alone. When those nine were together, he alone had endured the uphill and cut through the wind. Although he held a slight physical advantage, it was a situation where he couldn't guarantee victory.
Swish. Before he knew it, the nine athletes tightly bunched with steely determination were right on I Han's heels.
'It can't be helped.' The wind ends now.
'Here I go!' To shake them off, he had no choice but to increase his speed. It would be overdoing it, but it would become an even more grueling situation for the athletes behind him.
Swish. I Han made a spurt.
"Ngh!" Groans spread from behind. For a moment, the distance between I Han and the nine athletes widened. However, they gritted their molars and clenched their fists tightly. They would rather collapse and die here than ever give up.
Clench. Fingernails dug into flesh. Their bodies trembled and shook, and their stamina was rapidly depleted. Nevertheless, the nine athletes ultimately did not let I Han go alone.
"Huff, hoo." Page 2/10
I Han's brow furrowed.
Swoosh. He slowly reduced his speed and managed his stamina. 'One more time……!'
He hadn't run far, yet I Han was preparing for another spurt. Naturally, this action would overtax I Han as well. Because it was still an area where the wind hadn't ended, he had become a complete shield alone. Sprinting while facing the fiercely pushing wind alone caused enormous physical consumption. However, it couldn't be helped for the sake of victory.
Swish. I Han ultimately increased his speed once more.
"Hup!" He held his breath and sprinted with all his might. The wind became a spear that pierced his heart, but I Han endured firmly with his trained stamina.
'Just a little more!' There wasn't much left now. The point where the coastal road finally ended was approaching.
200 meters. 100 meters. I Han gritted his molars.
'More!' The muscles all over his body squirmed. They swelled as if they would burst at any moment, then contracted as if disappearing. That movement rapidly accelerated and soon became pain.
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Throb. He felt his muscles being pulled, but I Han merely kicked the ground even harder and endured the pain. In the meantime, the road of wind had come to an end before he knew it.
Fwoosh. In that instant, power surged into I Han's running speed.
Swish. He sprinted across the flatland with tremendous speed. Only then did I Han come to his senses and slow down. "Haa, haa..."
His muscles ached.
'But I can endure.'
It had always been that way. Today would be no different.
'Did they follow?'
He couldn't sense any sign of people yet.
'Should I check?'
If he turned his head and they appeared, and if the light in their eyes hadn't died, I Han would feel psychological pressure. "..."
I Han, who had been agonizing, bit his lip and looked back.
Swoosh. Just then, he saw the nine athletes who had broken through the wind. They had just emerged onto the flatland, but I Han's heart was uneasy. It was because their eyes flickered with madness.
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'They didn't die.'
Unable to hide his wavering gaze, I Han turned his head back to the front.
'They're following.'
Once again, the distance began to close.
Swish.
He had no choice but to increase his speed.
'Ngh!'
It was something that overtaxed even I Han, yet the nine warriors chasing from behind were enduring nonetheless. For the sole path called the Olympics standing at the end of this road.
They had already reached 40km.
'To go to the Olympics!'
I Han's wavering gaze froze. He was no different from the others. He merely ran along the path laid before his eyes. It was to advance toward the world that many dreamed of and desired.
'I run.'
He could still feel the momentum of the nine athletes chasing closely behind, but he decided not to care anymore. Although they had faced him as opponents called enemies, they weren't the real ones.
'It's not a fight between you and me, but a fight between me and myself.'
The real one was himself, his very self.
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At that moment, something surged up.
Humm.
It was a miracle. His rough breathing and the muscle pain that had screamed in agony disappeared like magic. His trembling shoulders stood straight, and his pounding heart quietly settled. The faintly trembling tension had turned into calm before he knew it, and the sweat that had blurred his vision was blown away and washed clean by the wind. Things that couldn't be seen were now visible, things that couldn't be heard were now audible, and things that couldn't be felt were approaching through his entire body.
'Ah...'
The second wind, the second wind was blowing.
A week had already passed since the national team qualifier ended.
Fortunately, I Han, who had won the competition, was confirmed as a national team member. And several athletes who had steadily accumulated points in previous competitions were also selected for the national team.
"Hup!"
Currently, I Han was immersed in weight training.
Twitch.
His biceps swelled as if they would burst. I Han applied even more force, making his biceps taut. His muscles screamed that it was painful, but I Han gritted his teeth and endured. If he stopped now, his muscles wouldn't grow and would merely be
maintained. That's all it would be. When moved beyond their limits, muscles become stronger.
"Hoo."
I Han put down the dumbbell, exhaled a long breath, and took a short rest. Just then, An Onho entered the training room. He frowned upon seeing I Han. But he soon changed his expression and waved his hand.
"Senior I Han!"
"Yeah, you're here?"
An Onho was someone he had known for a long time. Of course, they became rivals where the competition started, so they didn't acknowledge each other. But during regular training, they often talked.
"Were you working out alone?"
"I had nothing else to do."
"Tch. As expected, Hyung is a practice bug. I'll have to work harder if I want to catch up to you."
"What's with the practice bug."
I Han, who had been conversing, moved to another machine. An Onho followed him with a smile.
"Senior."
"Hm?"
"We're already in our mid-twenties."
"We sure are."
"I couldn't make it to the competition this time... but at least you have to win, Hyung."
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At An Onho's words, I Han nodded. Then, seeing An Onho's wavering gaze, I Han uttered a word.
"Don't force yourself."
"Huh?"
"I know it's hard."
"I'm fine."
I Han tapped An Onho's shoulder.
"Yeah, let's make sure to go together next time."
The moment I Han said "next time," a sharp light flashed in An Onho's eyes. But it disappeared in an instant, so I Han didn't notice.
"Ah, right. I heard new equipment came in today?"
"Really?"
"Yeah. Come here."
An Onho pulled I Han. I Han was led by his hand and arrived in front of a piece of exercise equipment.
"This?"
"Yeah. What do you think?"
The equipment was similar to a running machine. But there were several strange cords connected on both sides, giving it an odd feeling. It seemed one was supposed to attach them somewhere on the body and then run.
"You attach this round part to your chest where your heart is, this one to your side, and this one below your ear."
"And then I just run?"
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"Yeah. If you look here, it shows things like muscular strength, stamina, flexibility, agility, and even cardiopulmonary endurance as numerical values."
"Hoo."
"Nice, right?"
I Han nodded. Then he got on the running machine and attached the stickers to his body as An Onho had instructed. Shall I try it?
When he pressed the start button, the machine began operating. I Han moved his feet along with the speed. Tap.
The machine's speed began to increase little by little, and I Han's running speed also rose. Fwoosh.
Hot air spewed out from deep in his chest. An Onho, who had been watching that sight for a moment, gave a crooked smile and opened his mouth.
"Ah, Senior."
"Hm?"
"I'll go to the bathroom for a moment."
"Sure."
Although An Onho left, I Han's training continued. Then he looked down and checked the numbers converting his physical abilities into numerical values. A satisfied smile
spread across I Han's lips. At the same time, the will to put in a little more effort also arose. Fwoosh.
Once again, hot air burst out. Then, a strange sound came from the machine.
Screech, screech.
The moment puzzlement surged in I Han's eyes, the machine collapsed.
Thud!
Unable to keep his balance and falling, one of I Han's legs got caught in the machine.
"Aaaaaargh!"
His knee twisted at a bizarre angle. The fallen machine was still moving, and his leg was enduring unceasing pain. However, the unbearable pain filled the training room with nothing but I Han's screams.
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