Fighting Level: Eight (officially)
Faction: Nine Dragons
Veritas: To be the strongest
A reckless teen who only desires more phsyical power. A chance encounter with his master changes his life. Gangryong is the sole remaining practitioner of the Enlightenment Of Thunder and Lightning (EOTL). Though fairly dense, he shows an aptitude for battle and street smarts that seem well-suited to his underdog status at the Reunion school. Mouthy and disrespectful, he has a penchant for making enemies. He could be described as "people dumb". He was originally brought to the school by Fire Dragon's sponsorship in an attempt to topple Vera as student council president.
Gangryong is slowly making progress in his skills and with that the understanding and insight on those skills work.
As of the 4-month timeskip, he's now on-par with individual members of the student council and has been spending his time beating the crap out of Level 8 students coming at him in groups.
- Anti-Hero: Gangryoung seems like a moral and upright character when compared to the other students but still a Jerkass.
- Audience Surrogate: One of Gangryong's roles in the story, he was an Ordinary High-School Student before meeting Lightning Tiger.
- Badass Boast: Gangryong gives one when he gets first tested and also when he challenged Do-Hyup.
- Big Ol' Eyebrows: It's one of his trademark physical features.
- Book Dumb: He has a lot trouble getting theories behind his martial art.
- Determinator:Jeeha: "How did you get here in that body?"
Gangryong: "With one-legged hops of willpower, assholes!" - Fish out of Water: While he does have some Supernatural Martial Arts training he's outclassed by the other students when he transfers to the school.
- Heir to the Dojo: He's Lightning Tiger's only disciple.
- I Shall Taunt You: This is a vital part of Gangryong's fighting style.
- Meaningful Name: "Ma Kangryong" means, "Mighty Dragon".
- Now That's Using Your Teeth!
- Obfuscating Stupidity: Some of his idioticy is fake, making using mind games and taunting his opponent easier.
- Spell My Name With An S: According to Korean readers, Gangryong is really pronounced "Kangryong".
- Stranger in a Strange School
- Taught by Experience: Pretty much how Gangryong learns. He tends to have a lot of trouble the theories behind martial arts.
- Tragic Keepsake: LT's charred arm.
- Underdogs Never Lose: Subverted, he does lose a few fights.
- Use Your Head: Gangryong uses one just to avoid a fatal blow.
- Would Hit a Girl: Gangryong will hit a girl if she pisses him off.
Fighting Styles: Heavenly Five Paths (EOTL) and Northern Broad Strike
Yoochun aka Lightning Tiger, was Ma Gangryoung's martial arts master, who taught him EOTL. As a master of EOTL, one of the Heavenly Five Paths and a traditional martial art, Yoochun opposed the goals of the Reunion and became their greatest enemy. During a fateful night Lighting Tiger attacks the Reunion school, leaving a lasting impression that still affects Gangryong's life at the school. A fan of anime, he liked to imitate some of his favorite attacks. Yoochun did not believe that a practitioner of EOTL would benefit from artificial ki, as EOTL relied more on refinement of ki than on quantity. He is assumed to be dead.
- Good Is Not Nice: From what we've seen about him, he isn't all that nice. To be honest, he seems to be an even bigger asshole than Gangryong. Although that can be because we've only seen him interacting with his enemies, and people he didn't know.
- Mentor: Unlike most mentors, he's much younger than the standard.
- Never Found the Body: There's speculation that he's still alive. A skull was supposedly found that matched LT's dental records.
- Posthumous Character: There are several flashback panels that explain how Lightning Tiger affect the lives of several people and starts off a few subplots.
- Trickster Mentor: Before he trained with Gangryong, he messed with him by making do exercises.
- Worthy Opponent: He's this to Vera.
Faction: Nine Dragons/traditional
One of the leaders of the Nine Dragons Faction. Gangryong was put in the care of Honse by friends Rud and Jeeha. On the surface, he is a cowardly man who doesn't like getting mixed up with Gangryong's messes. However, beneath his foolish persona, he is very dangerous. He was, at one point, the third-strongest student at the school. In addition, he was a shrewd tactician who developed many techniques, some of which were specifically designed to counter the fighting style of Reunion such as "Half-step", he also helped Rud learn "Sharpened Sword force". Honse destroyed his own ki channels so that Guesong and the other members of the student council would spare his life and allow him to stay at Reunion until graduation, saying he had no where else to go, since he was an orphan. It was later reveled that it was all a ploy to make it look like destroyed his ki channels. Honse has been training himself with Southern Taek-Gyun.
- Cool Shades: Honse is never seen without his glasses.
- Crippling Overspecialization: Honse spent the past four years training for the sole purpose of being able to counter Vera's fighting style for one match. Against anyone else he'd be a complete wuss. That is why Gangryong, who has a knack for being able to tell if someone is strong or not, can't sense any strength in Honse.
- De-power: Honse faked this in order to fool the student council that he wasn't a threat.
- Genius Bruiser: He was this before he was forced to close his ki channels.
- Informed Ability: The manhwa has stated a few times that he's the one of the most powerful students at school but his abilities are never shown.
- Obfuscating Stupidity: While he does act like a fool, it's cover.
- Parental Abandonment: When Honse pleaded for his life, he claimed that he was an orphan and nowhere else to go.
- The Smart Guy: Honse has developed techniques to counter Reunion style martial arts, like the half step. He also help Rud make his martial art, Feline Claws, more powerful.
- Weak, but Skilled: While he's overly specialized in fighting against Heaven's Riches and weak against all the other martial arts, he's a genius at improving the other martial arts and seeing the weaknesses in techniques.
Fighting Level: 11
Faction: Nine Dragons/traditional
Leader of the Nine Dragons. Looks after Gangryoung at the start of school and guides Gangryoung as if he was an older brother. An iron hand hidden in a velvet glove.
A member of the council who is opposed to Vera Linus. Also the Second of the Nine Dragons Faction. Rud was a very frail child with little potential for fighting. His life was once saved by a girl named Anichella, who taught him basic martial arts techniques and arranges for his arrival at the school. She also provides him with information on the Feline Claws fighting style, because she was under orders not to pass on her martial art to anyone. He then pursues this martial art despite its inherent weakness.He develops a strong grudge against Guhoo Li after he kills Anichella in battle, and uses this motivation to rise to the top of the school. With Honse's help, his martial art becomes deadly enough a threat to Guhoo. He and Jeeha Shin have taken Gangryong under their wing, as they are also traditional successors. They seem to have a plan for revenge against Vera and her friends.
- Beware the Nice Ones: Rud; I don't think you know how much I'd like to kill you. Or, maybe you don't think I can kill a person?
- Chessmaster: It was Rud who actually came up with the plan to overthrow the student council.
- Combat Pragmatist: Uses the surroundings to his advantage in his fight against Guhoo.
- Determinator: Became one of the top fighters in schol with nothing but hard work and willpower.
- Heir to the Dojo: With the death of Anichella, it is possible he became this for Southern Taek-Gyun. Possibly hinted at, Southern Taek-Gyun is described as a physical fighting style. Rud showed very high prowess in hand-to-hand combat in his fight against Guhoo, easilly out-pacing his opponent.
Faction: Nine Dragons/traditional
Rud Han's friend, who is also a Traditional Successor. He is the Third of the Nine Dragons Faction. He likes to antagonize Shinra Yun by expressing his undying affection for her, and referencing a relationship they used to have. His martial arts style has reveled in part. He's one of the few students at school who befriended Gangryong.
- Informed Ability: It was reveled in a flashback that Jeeha defeated three council members in a match before Gangryong came to the school.
- Playing with Fire: He spent some time training under Director Fire Dragon and therefore can use fire in his fights.
- The Rival: To Shinra, he talks to her in a lovey dovey way designed to annoy her.
- Xanatos Speed Chess: When Gangryong interrupts the fight with Director Fire Dragon, finally sick of waiting for the test to begin, Jeeha convinces him that the fight is part of the test.
Faction: Reunion/Vera loyalist
Ki Level: Half of a Sexagenary (30 years worth of ki)
The student council president. An outwardly cold girl, she is the most powerful student at the school. Her sister, Yuri, is the head of Reunion. In the past, she fought Lightning Tiger, and the incident left a scar and a strong impression. Lightning Tiger discovered that Yuri put a seal on Vera to keep her from being a threat to her. Though he was her enemy, she regards him almost as a former lover. Her initial impression of Gangryong is that he is useless. That has since then evolved into anger against him. She blames Gangryong for the death of his master. She fights using the Arts of Heaven's Rich Strength. Vera opposes Reunion and Yuri's plan to take over the world.
She plans to be the successor of the Heaven Riches'. To this end, she has been meeting other Heaven Riches' factions and other martial arts masters for backing when she tries for title. Vera has been doing this behind Fire Dragon's back. What Vera has offered in exchange for the support from the other faction is unknown at this time.
- Asskicking Leads to Leadership: She's the student council president for a reason.
- But Not Too Foreign: Vera is half Korean with her being mom being full Korean.
- Emotionless Girl: She's so apathetic to the point of being a fault.
- Good Scars, Evil Scars: Vera has a large scar on her back. This was given to her by Lightning Tiger when he did his version of the Void Strike. The placement of her scar may give a clue to this character's development.
- Missing Mom: It's was explained that Vera and Yuri's mom died shortly after Vera was born.
- Not So Stoic: She goes into deredere mode over Lightning Tiger in chapter 73. In chapter 76 she breaks out in a fit of laughter over The Reveal of Honse's ruse.
- The Resenter: It's been shown that Vera resents her older sister, Yuri.
- The Rival: Her sister, Yuri, consider Vera to be this.
- Sibling Rivalry: This seems part of the reason she's against her older sister Yuri.
- The Unfavorite: Because of The Promise that her dad made to her mom that Yuri is the official heir of Heaven's Rich Strength, she's considered this by most everyone.
Faction: Reunion/Vera loyalist
Vera's second-in-command. She is fond of making very offensive comments whilst making a very nice face. She appears to have some history with Jeeha, and also is in a relationship with Guhoo. Her powers have yet to be revealed in full. She really doesn't like Gangryong on the account his master terrorized the school. It is reveled that she secretly in league with Fire Dragon. Being one of the four nameless disciples of Fire Dragon.
- Playing with Fire: It's hinted that her techniques use fire.
- The Resenter: She hates Gangryong because of his incredible rate of progress due to being lucky enough to become Lightning Tiger's disciple while she and the other students had to train hard for years to get to where they are now.
- The Rival: To Jeeha. She's also a rival to Gangryong due to their fighting styles.
Fighting Level: 11
Faction: Reunion/Vera loyalist
Another student allied with Vera in the school. Guhoo uses the Iron Spirit technique that was created by Reunion. It allows him to harden his skin to incredible levels, and eventually makes him impervious to pain. He uses very few actual fighting moves. He is in a relationship with Shinra, and has a history of conflict with Rud.
Fighting Style: Flowing Spirit (Reunion style Judo)
Faction: Vera loyalist
Ki Level: Three Sexagenaries (180 years worth of ki)
Veritas: Vera
A 19 year-old member of council who also worked as Reunion's tracker for Lightning Tiger. She seems to be the middle ground amongst the two sides of the council, as she works for Vera and has friendly relationship with Rud's group and has shown signs of having a crush on Rud. She is the one who scouted Gangryong during her hunt for Lightning Tiger. Her motives are unclear at this moment but she claims to be part of the council for their special privileges and is ranked amongst the Top 5 of the council. Her desire is for things to go back to the way they were before the division of the factions. Had a long stand feud with Guesong over him attacking Vera.
- Beware the Nice Ones: She does appear to be outwardly nicer than Shinra. Just don't shake her hand.
- Cute Bruiser: Very much with an emphasis on the Bruiser aspect. When she gets a hand on Director Fire Dragon, his reaction is panic. This, after manhandling Rud, Hayato, and Jeeha at the same time.
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Fake Nationality: Madoka Makihara would her seem Japanese but her real name is Korean
Factions: Nine Dragons/traditional
Ki Level: Three Sexagenaries (180 years worth of ki)
The head disciple of the Southern Yardplay Faction and member for 15 years, and the Fifth Dragon and eldest of the Nine Dragons. He has an almost fanatical obsession with Vera, at one point leading him to betray his allegiance to the traditional successors at the Reunion school. It was his idea to threaten and attack Honse, leading to the closing of his ki passages. His violent reaction to Vera's rejection led to a long standing feud with Madoka and deciding to keep whatever Vera holds dear away from her, since only then would she look at him. His reason for falling for her was to make her smile since ever since she was child she never did. He defeats Madoka in chapter 45 but is killed when Vera interfered in her place, finally getting a kiss. Only to find out that wasn't her first kiss.
- Love Makes You Dumb: He apparently screws up the plans with the traditional faction trying to get a kiss from Vera.
Fighting Style: Southern Yardplay
Fighting Level: Eight
Faction: traditional/Nine Dragons/Southern Yardplay
A member of the Nine Dragons with black hair, he is a level 8 in Reunion. He's a traditional martial artist of the Southern Yardplay Faction and their third strongest fighter. He fought Gangryong as part of the Nine dragons initiation test and defeated him as his last opponent by using Life Wish to implant Gangryong in the ceiling of his room. He uses palm wind attacks as a secondary skill but his primary skills are kicks and dashes and his specialty is "Life Wish". He is the only one of member of the Southern Yardplay faction that doesn't hate Guesong after Guesong turned his back on Southern Yardplay. He takes the title of Topper after the death of Hyeunmi at the hands of Vera.
Ki Level: two and half Sexagenaries (135 years worth of ki)
Faction: Nine Dragons
Veritas: Northern Broad Strike
A male student with short blond hair. He helped Guesong defeat Honse and later confirmed that Honse's ki channels were irreparably damaged. Hayato was apparently the person who stopped Guesong, which indicates that he is a powerful and strong martial artist in order to defeat someone of Guesong's caliber. Though we later find out that Hayato never really stopped Guesong so his level is still unknown but should be in the general ball park of Guesong and Madoka. The marital art he uses is Reunion's Restored form of Northern Broad Strike, which is said to be one of the two strongest Arts in Reunion. He's really a double agent for the Nine Dragons.
- Early-Bird Cameo: He first appeared in a flashback although he was faceless.
- Heir to the Dojo: He's the official heir to Northern Broad Strike.
Fighting Style: Heavenly Five Paths (Fire)
Faction: Yuri's faction
Veritas: Yuri
The director of the school, and another Heavenly Five Paths master whose element is fire. He was an old friend of Lightning Tiger's, as he was the one who reassembled the pieces of his arm. They split when Fire Dragon chose to side with Yuri in her quest to become a god. He could be the one who killed Lightning Tiger, as the bones of the arm were charred. He sponsors Gangryong's entry into the school in a long range plan to bring down Vera.
Fighting Style: Southern Yardplay
Faction: traditional/Southern Yardplay
She and Gangryong are the only two candidates for the student council.
Fighting Style: Southern Yardplay
Faction: Reunion/Vera loyalist
A female student who also helped Guesong defeat Honse as seen in the flashbacks. She has long, black hair, wears unusual knee socks with black and white stripes, and usually wears a hat. Yuhwa's martial art is Southern Yardplay specializing in puppeteer techniques.
- Early-Bird Cameo: She was shown in a flashback taking part in the beating of Honse.
Faction: Reunion
The older sister of Vera and a former friend of deceased Lightning Tiger. Using the resources of Reunion, she seeks to fuse her essence with nature, so as to control all natural phenomena and become a god. Like Vera, she fights using the Arts of Heaven's Rich Strength. Sometime when he was still alive, Lightning Tiger knocked her out and put her in a coma with a seal on it. She's now back.
- But Not Too Foreign: Yuri is half Korean with her being mom being full Korean.
