The Weapon Genius: Anything I Hold Can Kill-Chapter 64: Shield and Fang

The recruits were still murmuring about the last fight, their voices low but animated. Some were replaying the key moments in their heads, while others exchanged quiet theories on how they’d handle a fight themselves.

Jin was already scanning the group, deciding the next matchup, when Taesung stepped forward.

Jin’s eyes flicked toward him, his expression unreadable. "You volunteering again?"

Taesung rolled his neck, cracking his knuckles. "Yeah."

A few recruits shot him looks, surprised he was stepping up again. Most of them had barely recovered from their first match, but Taesung was choosing to go again.

Jin’s gaze sharpened. "You just fought. Why step in again?"

Taesung scoffed. "Because I didn’t actually get to fight."

The recruits reacted immediately. Jisoo let out a low whistle. "Man, just say you lost and move on."

Taesung ignored her, his focus on Jin. "I went against Haneul and he didn’t even use his skill, and I didn’t even get a real chance to use my skill either. If these fights are about testing what we can do, then that means we should go again."

Jin tilted his head slightly, considering him.

Taesung smirked. "Besides, someone has to fight twice, right? There are only 15 of us here."

Jin studied him for a moment. Taesung sounded cocky, but underneath the arrogance, there was something else—frustration. Not just because he lost, but because he hadn’t been able to see what he was capable of.

Finally, Jin nodded. "Fine. But if you lose again, no excuses."

Taesung’s grin widened. "Wouldn’t have it any other way."

Jin let the energy settle for a moment before shifting his gaze toward the remaining recruits. He wasn’t going to waste time—he already knew who was going up next.

Taesung rolled his shoulders, tilting his head from side to side until his neck popped. He was already grinning, his stance loose and cocky, as if this wasn’t even a real fight to him. His fingers twitched at his sides, his excitement barely contained.

Jinhyuk, by contrast, was completely still. His arms were relaxed, but his posture was firm, balanced. He didn’t waste energy shifting or adjusting—he just stood there, waiting.

Two completely different fighters.

Jin studied them both, then fixed his gaze on Taesung. "Your ability is dangerous. Some damage can’t be healed. Keep control of it."

Taesung scoffed, flashing a sharp grin. "Relax, I know what I’m doing."

Jinhyuk didn’t say anything, just gave a small nod. He didn’t need a warning. He already knew what was at stake.

Jin raised his hand.

"Start."

Taesung moved first.

The moment the word left Jin’s mouth, a sharp hiss filled the air.

A jet of acid launched from Taesung’s lips, shooting straight for Jinhyuk’s chest.

Jinhyuk’s shield snapped into place instantly.

A translucent barrier of pale blue energy flared to life in front of him. The acid slammed against it with a harsh sizzle, dripping down the smooth surface without leaving so much as a scratch.

Taesung clicked his tongue. "Tch. Figures."

But he wasn’t surprised. He already knew Jinhyuk was going to block.

What he wanted to know was how long he could keep doing it.

Taesung shifted to the left, spitting another burst—this time aimed lower, toward Jinhyuk’s legs.

Jinhyuk adjusted instantly. His shield tilted downward, the barrier expanding just enough to cover his feet.

Another direct hit. Another failed attack.

The recruits murmured, eyes flicking between the two fighters.

"Jinhyuk’s solid," Jisoo muttered, watching the fight carefully.

"Yeah," Yujin said, her arms crossed. "Too solid. He’s just standing there."

Jin listened but didn’t say anything. He was thinking the same thing.

Jinhyuk’s defense was nearly flawless, but defense alone wouldn’t win.

Taesung stepped in aggressively, testing Jinhyuk’s reactions.

"Hey, are you gonna do something or just stand there?" Taesung teased, flashing a grin.

Jinhyuk exhaled through his nose. "No."

Then he moved.

For the first time since the fight started, Jinhyuk went on the offensive.

Instead of waiting for Taesung’s next attack, he lunged forward.

Taesung’s grin faltered. He reacted instantly, spitting another shot of acid—but Jinhyuk angled his shield mid-movement, tilting it just enough to deflect the acid downward.

Taesung’s attack hit the dirt instead, burning small holes into the ground.

Before Taesung could adjust, Jinhyuk expanded his shield outward, turning it from a protective barrier into a blunt force weapon.

It slammed into Taesung’s chest.

The impact wasn’t enough to send him flying, but it was enough to knock him off balance.

Taesung stumbled back, coughing. "What the—?"

Jinhyuk didn’t stop.

He stepped in again, his shield flaring. Every time Taesung tried to spit again, Jinhyuk adjusted, shifting the barrier’s position, blocking and pressing forward at the same time.

The fight had flipped.

Taesung was now the one retreating.

Joon let out a low whistle. "Didn’t think the guy with the shield would be the one pushing forward."

Seul nodded. "He’s not just defending. He’s controlling the fight now."

Echo smirked. "Guess acid spit isn’t as unstoppable as he thought."

Taesung gritted his teeth. This wasn’t how he expected things to go.

Jinhyuk was strong—too strong at reading his movements.

Every attack was blocked. Every opening he thought he had was shut down before he could capitalize.

If he couldn’t break through Jinhyuk’s defense, then he had to change the battlefield.

Taesung smirked. "Alright, let’s see if you can dodge this."

Instead of aiming at Jinhyuk, he spat directly at the ground.

The acid hit the dirt and sizzled, burning deep into the earth.

Jinhyuk hesitated slightly, just for a second.

Taesung kept going, spitting again, again, again, creating a corrosive field between them.

The recruits stiffened. Small craters formed where the acid landed, the dirt hissing and melting away.

Jinhyuk couldn’t step forward anymore.

Taesung rolled his shoulders, his grin returning. "Not so confident now, huh?"

Jinhyuk exhaled slowly.

He wasn’t backing down.

Instead, he was watching.

Calculating.

Jin narrowed his eyes.

This was the moment.

Would Jinhyuk hesitate and let Taesung take back control?

Or would he break through?

Jinhyuk didn’t move.

His eyes flickered between the acid-scorched patches on the ground, measuring the distance, the burn radius, how much space he had left to maneuver. The fight had changed again—Taesung wasn’t trying to hit him directly anymore.

Now, he was trying to trap him.

Jinhyuk exhaled slowly.

Retreating wasn’t an option. If he let Taesung keep this up, the battlefield would shrink more and more until there was nowhere left to stand.

That meant he had to end it now.

And for the first time in the fight, Jinhyuk charged forward.

Taesung’s smirk widened. "Oh? Brave move."

He spat another shot of acid, this time not aiming for the ground—he went straight for Jinhyuk’s head.

The recruits tensed. That was a kill shot.

But Jinhyuk was ready.

Instead of just blocking—he angled his shield mid-motion, tilting it just enough to deflect the acid to the side.

Taesung’s eyes widened. "What—?"

Jinhyuk was already in front of him.

Taesung had been so focused on keeping him pinned that he hadn’t expected Jinhyuk to redirect his own attack.

The moment Taesung hesitated, Jinhyuk expanded his shield—turning it into a concussive blast.

The energy surged outward, slamming into Taesung like a battering ram.

The impact sent him stumbling back, feet skidding across the dirt.

Taesung gritted his teeth, trying to recover—

But Jinhyuk wasn’t done.

He stepped forward again, his shield still glowing—and then he slammed it forward with full force.

This time, the impact was enough to send Taesung crashing onto his back, coughing.

Dust settled.

The fight was over.

Jin stepped forward, his voice steady.

"Winner: Jinhyuk."

Taesung groaned, rubbing his chest, his back still pressed against the dirt. He blew out a sharp breath, staring up at the sky like it had personally betrayed him.

"That shield," he muttered. "Seriously. What the hell."

Jinhyuk lowered his barrier, breathing a little heavier now, but otherwise calm. He took a slow step back, letting his pulse settle.

The recruits murmured amongst themselves. The fight had been different from the others—it hadn’t been about speed or brute strength. It had been a battle of control.

Jin walked over, looking down at Taesung first.

"You relied too much on your ability," he said simply. "It’s strong, but right now, it’s not the strongest. If your opponent knows how to counter it, you lose your advantage immediately."

Taesung sat up, frowning slightly. He didn’t argue.

Jin continued, his voice even. "You need more than just raw power to win. You should train with it more—see what other ways you can use it. You have the potential to be dangerous, but only if you actually learn how to apply your skill properly."

Taesung’s frown deepened, but this time, it wasn’t irritation—it was thoughtfulness.

Jin turned to Jinhyuk.

"You were resourceful. You didn’t just rely on your shield—you used it as a weapon. That was smart."

Jinhyuk dipped his head slightly. "Thank you."

Jin wasn’t finished. "But you need to be careful about how much energy you use. Your shield is strong, but if you were fighting someone faster, you might not have had time to react."

Jinhyuk exhaled slowly, nodding. "Understood."

Taesung let out a heavy sigh and flopped backward again. "Guess I need to rethink how I fight."

Echo snorted. "Yeah, considering you just got folded like a bad poker hand, I’d say that’s a solid plan."

Jisoo elbowed him. "At least he lasted longer than you did."

The recruits laughed, the tension in the air finally easing.

Jin let them have a moment before stepping back, his voice cutting through the chatter.

"Next fight."

The energy reset.

The cycle continued.

The training wasn’t over yet.