Strictly speaking, Iron Arm's ranking match could be called a success. After all, he, a B-ranker, had managed the great upset of defeating an A-rank Esper. Overcoming a difference in tiers is an incredibly difficult feat, and Iron Arm had done it.
However, his face had not brightened once since the ranking match.
‘At this rate, I'll just be a burden.’
When he faced Gu Geon-yi, he had to painfully realize his own powerlessness. He had hoped to land at least one solid hit, but far from a solid hit, he couldn't even inflict the slightest bit of damage. As a result, when Cheon Hae-seon's arms were torn off, he couldn't provide any help.
The members of the Irregular team had supported Cheon Hae-seon with their respective abilities when he was in crisis. Kang Jeong-hyeon blocked the secondary damage until the tree he summoned rotted away, and Maria and Bi-soo did not withdraw their skills even while coughing up a bowlful of blood. But what about him?
All he did was lie in the healing chamber, barely breathing.
Parasite.
The word Gu Geon-yi had used for him had turned into a blade, stabbing his heart day after day. After the ranking match, Iron Arm had spoken seriously to Cheon Hae-seon. He wanted to become stronger, no matter the cost.