The Weapon Genius: Anything I Hold Can Kill-Chapter 26: Unshakable

Jisoo moved first.

Her whip lashed out, the chain slicing through the air like a viper.

Ryu didn't flinch. He didn't even raise an arm. The steel links slammed against his shoulder—

CLANG!

The impact rang out like metal on metal.

Jisoo's eyes flickered with amusement. "Huh."

She twirled the whip back, fingers tightening around the handle. "Y'know, when I heard about you, I figured you'd be tough. But this?" She clicked her tongue. "You're really a brick wall, huh?"

Ryu rolled his shoulder. Barely felt that.

"It's called Iron Body," he said, voice calm. "Try harder."

Her grin widened. "Now that's an invitation."

She flicked her wrist. The whip snapped forward, but she didn't aim for the same spot. Instead, the chain curved mid-air—

Twisting. Redirecting.

Going for his legs.

Ryu shifted his stance. Fast. Efficient. His foot planted firmly as he braced for the strike.

CRACK!

The steel links coiled around his ankle, tightening in an instant.

Jisoo's grin deepened.

"Gotcha."

She twisted her whole body, muscles flexing—

And pulled.

The ground cracked beneath them. The tension snapped like a live wire.

But Ryu?

He didn't move.

Not an inch.

Jisoo's expression faltered for a split second.

Ryu tilted his head. "Are you done?"

Her lips pursed. Then—she sighed dramatically, flicking her wrist to loosen the whip.

"Geez, you're no fun." She twirled the chain around her arm, resting it on her shoulder. "This is why I hate muscle-heads. No finesse. No flair. Just standing there, looking pretty."

Ryu exhaled. "Surrender now, Jisoo. There's no need to keep fighting."

Jisoo raised an eyebrow. Then she laughed—soft and breathy.

"Surrender?" She leaned in slightly. "You're adorable."

Ryu's gaze hardened.

"I mean it," he said. "It's over. Give up."

Jisoo tapped her chin. "Hmm."

Then—she suddenly lurched forward, closing the distance fast.

Ryu reacted instantly, raising his arms—

But she didn't attack.

She stopped just short of him, staring up with a smirk.

"You're cute when you think you've won."

Ryu's brows furrowed—

Then he felt it.

The cold weight slithering around his wrist.

Jisoo's grin sharpened.

"You should really watch your arms, Officer."

She yanked.

The coiled whip tightened, locking around his forearm—before she spun, twisting her entire body, using his own weight against him.

This time, Ryu moved.

Not by much—just an inch. Maybe two.

But Jisoo saw it.

She grinned. "See? You can be moved."

Ryu exhaled slowly, testing the weight on his arm. "Cute trick."

"Thanks!" She tightened her grip. "Now, let's see how far I can—"

Ryu yanked back.

Hard.

Jisoo's feet left the ground.

Her eyes widened slightly before she adjusted, twisting mid-air, flipping with the momentum before landing gracefully a few feet away.

She blew out a breath, rolling her shoulder.

"...Huh."

Ryu raised an eyebrow. "Something wrong?"

Jisoo exhaled through her nose, shaking out her arms. Then—her lips curled into a smirk.

"Nah. Just realized something."

She flicked her wrist.

The whip uncoiled, snapping against the ground.

"If I wanna break a wall—" Her stance lowered. "I just have to hit the same spot over and over again."

Then—she launched forward.

Jisoo's feet barely touched the ground before she lunged again—

Fast. Ridiculously fast.

Her whip lashed forward, but this time—

It moved on its own.

Ryu's eyes narrowed. So that's how it is.

He braced himself—but the whip didn't strike.

Instead—

It coiled around his leg.

Shit.

The moment it latched on, Jisoo flicked her wrist, sending a pulse through the chain.

The entire whip glowed for a split second.

Then—

It tightened.

Ryu felt it immediately.

A force, like an invisible hand, pressing down.

Compression? No—it's heavier.

Jisoo's voice was smug.

"You like it?" she teased. "It's my little touch."

Ryu exhaled through his nose. "Your ability."

She twirled the handle. "Mmm. Something like that."

Ryu flexed his leg.

His muscles tensed—iron-hard—

But the pressure didn't ease.

If anything, it increased. ƒree𝑤ebnσvel.com

Jisoo hummed. "Your body's tough, yeah. But let's see how well it holds up under a few tons of pressure."

She twisted her grip—

And the force doubled.

The ground beneath Ryu cracked.

His knee buckled.

Jisoo's smirk deepened. "That's more like it."

She jerked her arm.

The whip pulled—dragging Ryu slightly forward.

A single step.

Just enough for her to close the gap.

Jisoo moved in a blur, dashing to his open side.

Her whip uncoiled from his leg—only to snap around his arm next.

In one fluid motion—she leapt, twisting mid-air—

And flipped over his shoulder.

The whip dragged him forward.

Off-balance.

For the first time—Ryu stumbled.

Jisoo landed lightly behind him, whip still wrapped tight.

She pulled.

"Time to take the big guy down."

Ryu didn't give her the chance.

Instead of resisting—he went with the pull.

He let the whip drag him toward her.

Jisoo blinked—

Then—

Ryu spun.

His iron-clad fist tore through the air.

CRACK.

Jisoo barely managed to pull back—

But not fast enough.

The edge of Ryu's fist clipped her ribs.

The sheer force sent her slamming into the ground.

HARD.

Dust exploded around her as she skidded back.

She let out a harsh cough, rolling onto her side.

"...Ow."

Ryu exhaled, rolling his shoulder.

"You talk too much."

Jisoo gritted her teeth, gripping her side.

Then—

She laughed.

Soft. Thrilled.

"Goddamn," she breathed, grinning. "That almost hurt."

Ryu's eyes darkened.

Jisoo twirled her whip, bouncing back to her feet.

Her stance had changed.

No more playing around.

She exhaled slowly.

Then—

Her whip ignited.

A dull, orange glow coursed through the links, pulsing like embers.

Jisoo rolled her shoulders, cracking her neck.

"Alright, officer," she murmured.

"Let's see what happens when I stop holding back."

The glow of her whip pulsed brighter.

Faint embers flickered from the links, trailing in the air as she swung it once. The weight of it felt different now.

Heavier. Denser.

Ryu's jaw tightened.

"You haven't even seen what I can do yet, officer," Jisoo said, voice light. "This? This is just the warm-up."

The iron in his blood stirred.

He rolled his shoulders, adjusting his stance. "Then why don't you enlighten me?"

Jisoo smirked. "Gladly."

[Displaying Combatant Information]

Jisoo Kwak

Rank: #2,204

Title: Unassigned

Class: Unassigned

[Attributes]

Strength: B

Agility: A+

Endurance: B

Perception: B

Intelligence: B+

Willpower: A-

Potential: B+

[Skill: Phantom Coil]

A manifested spectral whip that responds to her will. It can extend, retract, and move with absolute precision. More than just a weapon—it's an extension of her. By altering its properties, it can become heavier, sharper, or even electrified.

Ryu scanned the stats as they flashed before his eyes.

Her agility was sharp—faster than him.

Her willpower was high.

But it was her ability that caught his attention.

Jisoo saw his expression and grinned. "Cool, huh?" She flicked the whip, and it snapped through the air like a serpent.

Ryu exhaled slowly. No wonder she's dangerous.

She lifted the glowing chain higher, stepping forward. "It's called Phantom Coil."

Ryu raised a brow. "Dramatic name."

"Fitting, don't you think?"

Her stance shifted. The air around them felt heavier.

"My whips? They're not just tools. They're an extension of me."

She spun the handle once, and suddenly—there were two.

Another whip materialized in her free hand, glowing just as intensely.

"Two?" Ryu muttered.

Jisoo winked. "Did I forget to mention I could do that?"

Then she lunged.

CRACK.

One whip slashed forward—fast as lightning.

Ryu raised his arm, shifting just in time.

The whip collided against his forearm—

And stopped cold.

The moment it touched his skin, his body had already shifted—iron hard.

Jisoo whistled. "Damn. That defense is no joke."

"Figuring that out now?"

She twisted her wrist.

The second whip moved—looping around his back.

Ryu's eyes sharpened.

A feint.

He sidestepped, but not fast enough.

The second whip coiled around his torso—

And pulled.

The moment it tightened, Ryu felt it—

It was getting heavier.

Jisoo yanked the handle.

Ryu's feet left the ground.

She lifted him.

For the first time since the fight started—Ryu was airborne.

Jisoo grinned.

"See?" she said.

"This is how you take down a wall."

Then she slammed him into the ground.

HARD.

The impact shook the street.

Dust and debris exploded outward.

Jisoo exhaled, flicking her wrist. The whips uncoiled, retracting back into her hands.

She took a slow step forward, peering into the settling dust.

"That do anything?" she asked.

Then—

The dust shifted.

A shadow rose from the crater.

Ryu stood.

His body gleamed silver.

Not a single scratch.

He rolled his shoulders. Cracked his neck.

Then—he exhaled.

His entire form darkened.

[Iron Body: Partial → Full Transformation]

Jisoo's smirk faltered.

"...Oh."

[Displaying Combatant Information]

Ryu Hwan

Rank: #992

Title: Unassigned

Class: Unassigned

[Attributes]

Strength: A- → S

Agility: B → B-

Endurance: A+ → S+

Perception: B

Intelligence: B

Willpower: B+

Potential: S

[Ability: Iron Body]

Passively grants enhanced durability. When activated, Ryu's entire body transforms into reinforced iron, making him nearly impervious to blunt and slashing damage. While transformed, his strength and durability increase dramatically.

Ryu cracked his knuckles.

His voice was even.

"Alright," he said.

"Let's see how much that whip of yours can really do."

Jisoo's fingers clenched around her whips.

For the first time since the fight started—her grin faded.

That iron body of his was a problem.

Her last move had been a gamble—putting everything into lifting him up and slamming him to try and break that impenetrable defense.

And it did nothing.

She exhaled sharply. Calm. Focused.

"Man," she muttered. "You really don't go down easy, do you?"

Ryu rolled his shoulders. The metal groaned under his skin. Solid. Indestructible.

"I could say the same for you," he said evenly. "But we both know how this ends."

Jisoo clicked her tongue.

She was running out of tricks.

Her whip lashed forward—not at him.

At the ground.

The moment it struck, the cobblestone beneath her fractured.

The force launched her backward.

Jisoo flipped midair, landing smoothly several feet away. Distance. Space.

She needed time to think.

She wasn't a bruiser like him—she was speed, precision, control.

And control was slipping.

But she wasn't done yet.

She spun both whips in her hands. It whirled, leaving bright afterimages in the air.

Her muscles tensed.

This had to be perfect.

She lunged.

One whip slashed toward his legs.

A feint.

The second wrapped around his neck.

Got him.

Jisoo's eyes flashed. She yanked.

But—

Ryu didn't budge.

The second she pulled, he planted his feet.

His body shifted—heavier, denser.

The whips in her hands stopped cold.

Jisoo's breath hitched.

What—

Ryu's fist lashed out.

Fast. Brutal.

The air split as he slammed his fist into her midsection.

Jisoo's whole body buckled.

A burst of pure force sent her flying backward.

Her back slammed into the ground, kicking up a storm of dust.

The impact left a crater.

Jisoo coughed violently, a sharp pain blooming in her ribs. Shit.

Ryu exhaled, stepping forward. "It's over."

Jisoo grit her teeth. Not yet.

She forced herself up, blood dripping from the corner of her mouth.

Her grip tightened on her whips.

Her mind raced.

She had to think.

She wasn't stronger than him.

She wasn't tougher than him.

But she was faster.

And if she could just—

"Enough," Ryu said.

Her thoughts stopped.

Ryu's gaze locked onto hers.

Not angry. Not mocking. Just final.

She saw it then.

The way he stood.

Calm. Unshaken. Unmovable.

Jisoo felt her pulse in her ears.

This guy wasn't just some brute.

He was a mountain.

And no amount of speed, tricks, or precision was going to break him.

Her lips parted. She knew.

And still—

Her hand moved.

A final attack.

A last attempt.

Her whip shot forward—

And Ryu caught it.

One hand.

Jisoo's whole body froze.

Ryu yanked forward.

She staggered, her own momentum betraying her.

Then—

His other fist swung.

A clean, precise strike—right into her gut.

Jisoo's vision blurred.

Her body collapsed.

Silence.

The fight was over.

Ryu exhaled, rolling his shoulders.

Then—

A notification flickered into his vision.

[Leader Defeated]

[The leader of a territory has been incapacitated.]

[Would you like to absorb the opposing territory?]

[☰ Y/N]

Ryu frowned.

His gaze flicked to where Jisoo lay, barely conscious.

A soft groan escaped her lips. She was out.

But her forces weren't.

Luckily he wasn't alone.

His eyes shifted to where Jin and the others were still fighting.

Ryu exhaled sharply and lifted his hand.

He pressed 'Yes.'

[Absorption in Progress…]

[Additional Condition Required: Subordinates must be defeated.]

His jaw tightened.

So that was it.

Taking out the leader alone wasn't enough. The system wanted all of them gone.

He had done his part.

The rest was up to the others.