Chapter 43

Chapter 43

I Became the Only Non-mage in the Academy.

Episode 43: Class (3)

Should it be called a dungeon?

The structure of the test site was a large square with cross-shaped walls erected in the center.

The walls were not tall, but a magical barrier hung high, reaching up to a height of 30 meters.

Its width was about half the size of a typical school playground.

‘Really plastered with money.’

It suddenly became apparent.

Constructing a test site of that scale was difficult, especially considering the safety measures – it would require an astronomical amount of money.

It was something other schools couldn’t dare to match – truly extravagant spending.

“First, guide the Mist Falcons down with Bind…”

Seo Ga-yeon murmured softly, memorizing her strategy.

To put it kindly, Seo Ga-yeon was not on the smart side.

It was no coincidence she chose a physical path.

However, the Starlight Magic she possessed specialized in implementing magic just by imagining it, so I had recommended it.

Woong!

Suddenly, a wave occurred.

[The Tower of Trials is activated.]

[The test will now begin.]

[Do you wish to start the test?]

Everyone nodded.

It was the moment we were about to nod when another message appeared.

[Test difficulty adjustment… Lee Seo-ha is considered too strong for this test. Would you like to adjust the difficulty?]

‘…….’

Why single me out like this?

Startled for a moment, I soon realized it wasn’t a bad thing.

The Tower of Trials literally provided trials and rewarded correspondingly.

With just one reward, Korea Hero School reached the top position.

“This is……”

Seo Woo-ju, the instructor, looked momentarily confused, then turned to me.

“Lee Seo-ha. Do you consent to the difficulty adjustment?”

Instead of answering, I turned to Seo Ga-yeon.

“What do you want to do?”

“What does Seo-ha want to do?”

She returned my question with a question.

However, given Seo Ga-yeon’s personality, it meant she would respect my opinion more than her own.

Her dependent nature was to blame.

‘This isn’t my first time facing a difficulty adjustment.’

But I was uncertain about the extent of this “difficulty.”

The first Tower of Test couldn’t “measure” me.

Because of that, I cleared the tower with a record-breaking performance.

This time, it was different.

It seemed like the administrator had intervened.

Administrator.

The person literally managing the Tower of Trials.

‘That administrator is somewhat fair.’

Low risk with low return.

High risk with high return.

The weight was increasingly leaning towards the latter.

The difficulty was more challenging than expected. The Seven Evils had already appeared and planned to attack the school.

‘This attack is probably.’

A confirmation of the being trying to awaken the power of the stars.

Although I was particularly cautious, the announcement that I had broken the barrier was made.

This was also why I hadn’t captured a Mine capable of supplying the Energy of Defying Heaven.

But it was something that couldn’t be hidden forever.

Given this situation, the Seven Evils wouldn’t be able to move for a while, so choosing High Risk High Return was the right move to strike now.

“Increase the difficulty, please.”

“Understood.”

[The candidate’s will has been confirmed. Adjusting difficulty.]

[From the Mist Falcons, a tricolor tiger appears.]

A tricolor tiger.

Not bad.

“…You can still give up now.”

“I’m fine.”

At Seo Woo-ju’s words, I shook my head.

Looking at Seo Ga-yeon, I said,

“Let’s go.”

“Yes.”

Seo Ga-yeon didn’t say anything to me.

She just followed.

The tricolor tiger.

A quite troublesome monster.

It was a B-class monster due to its medium attack power, but its uniqueness required a higher rank to handle.

It inherently used all kinds of elemental magic and had corresponding resistances.

Red, green, blue.

Utilizing the attributes of fire, wind, and water, it could combine these colors to produce other elemental powers.

That was why it was tricky.

Elemental magic was fundamentally superior to regular magic.

Lee Seo-ha drew the Black Heavenly Demon Sword and stepped forward.

Seo Ga-yeon stood ready behind him, prepared to cast magic at any moment.

Sssss-.

The fog parted, revealing the silhouette of the tiger.

Step.

The advancing tiger displayed unique colors.

Red, blue, and green merged harmoniously.

I clenched the Black Heavenly Demon Sword tightly.

-Not bad.

‘That’s right.’

Lee Seo-ha concurred with the Black Heavenly Demon Sword’s assessment.

“I’ll give you the signal, so be ready with the Spear of Judgment.”

“Yes.”

The response came without a hint of tremor.

With unwavering certainty in that voice, I charged forward.

Taht!

-Grrr!

The tiger let out a roar at the same moment.

Green patterns glowed as the wind rose.

Black Shadow Step.

I channeled the Energy of Defying Heaven beneath my feet.

Ssaa─.

The Energy of Defying Heaven cloaked my body as I advanced.

Despite the velocity, I made no sound, like a shadow darting forth.

-Groan!

The tricolor tiger concentrated the wind around itself.

Leaping.

I sprang with all the strength the Energy of Defying Heaven could muster.

Then, the red pattern on the tricolor tiger brightened intensely.

Whooosh!

Flames converged, forming a fireball larger than a person, which hurtled towards me.

I ‘leaped’ once more to evade it.

[Whisper of the Spirit (B)]

Contains the power left by the wind spirits.

: Adds 3 agility.

: Generates a wind field up to 3 times a day.

These were the first gifts I had received from Seo Ye-bin.

They could create a wind field.

I sidestepped the fireball and held the Black Heavenly Demon Sword in a reversed grip.

Then I struck, imbued with the Energy of Defying Heaven.

Ssssh!

A black energy cloaked the Black Heavenly Demon Sword.

Black Mirror.

I enveloped the Black Heavenly Demon Sword in the rapidly amplified power of the Energy of Defying Heaven.

The tiger’s patterns lit up.

Green and blue, both at once.

Crack.

Frost began to form around. It was the power of ice, a combination of wind and water.

This power was crude and non-threatening, unlike that of a gentle woman.

Soulbreaker.

The tricolor tiger froze momentarily.

I didn’t fully understand its effect, but when I used Soulbreaker, the opponent felt extreme pressure.

Even Seo Woo-ju, who possessed more than medium attack power, felt as though his life was threatened for a moment.

The tricolor tiger crouched down.

I swung the Black Heavenly Demon Sword, covered with the Energy of Defying Heaven. A step late, it formed an ice barrier.

The black power shattered the ice.

Just before touching the Black Heavenly Demon Sword, the Energy of Defying Heaven negated the ice. The shattered ice pierced the skin of the tricolor tiger.

-Groan!!

I thrust the Black Heavenly Demon Sword into it and pushed the Energy of Defying Heaven into the spot.

The concentrated Energy of Defying Heaven created ripples.

‘As gently as possible.’

I kept it barely alive to finish it with the Spear of Judgment.

The Tower of Trials judged fairly and publicly, and this way, it would be considered that I alone captured the tricolor tiger.

The moment I was about to use the Black Mirror with the Energy of Defying Heaven, ripples appeared around me.

The green pattern shone, and a strong wind blew.

Tsk.

I clicked my tongue and stepped back.

However, the remaining Energy of Defying Heaven tore through the body of the tricolor tiger.

“Ready.”

“Then I’ll attack once more, so strike whenever you see an opening.”

I omitted the detailed explanation.

Even though she was at the bottom rank, Seo Ga-yeon was one of those who had passed to be here.

It was unlikely that Seo Ga-yeon, with her high mental strength, would make a mistake.

Trusting Seo Ga-yeon, I moved forward.

-Grrr.

The tricolor tiger was on guard because of the damage from a single attack.

I lowered my stance.

Click.

With the sound of something powering up in my head, Divine Sight activated.

Black Shadow Step, once again.

I released the Energy of Defying Heaven beneath my feet, then halted.

‘What’s this?’

A foreign sensation washed over me.

It shot through my mind like a bolt of lightning.

An exasperating feeling.

Guided by Inscrutable Talent, I fine-tuned the Energy of Defying Heaven.

Tap.

-What?

Just one step.

It was a mere step, yet the Black Heavenly Demon Sword understood.

I had added a piece to the puzzle that it had not taught me.

[You have fully mastered Black Shadow Step (C+).]

[You have awakened the secret technique of Black Shadow Step – Black Heavenly One Step (B).]

Divine Sight wavered. My field of view turned ‘black.’

‘What’s this.’

The Black God Martial Arts.

This technique harnesses the Energy of Defying Heaven, challenging the celestial realm.

Yet, the scene before me was unfamiliar.

I had witnessed this talent previously.

Everything was enshrouded in black, with white lines sketching out the contours of the space.

‘Could it be that the Energy of Defying Heaven is…’

I cleared my mind.

There would be time for contemplation later.

Clutching the Black Heavenly Demon Sword, I advanced.

In an instant, the darkened view vanished, and I was back in the vibrant world.

And with a single motion.

Swoosh.

The Black Heavenly Demon Sword thrust into the eye of the tricolor tiger.

That marked the finale.

Whoosh!

The magic that had shaped the tricolor tiger dissipated into the atmosphere. A cloud of blue particles dispersed, signifying the beast’s demise.

[Unbelievable speed! You’ve unleashed ‘part’ of the true potential of the Energy of Defying Heaven. An additional 5,000p awarded.]

[You completed the test first. Your achievement has impressed all instructors and students. 3,000p awarded!]

[You’ve unlocked Black Heavenly One Step. 1,500p awarded!]

[You’ve partially unlocked Black Flash Sword Technique (B+).]

My gaze shifted to Seo Ga-yeon. I saw her beaming smile.

And then, I understood.

Because of my realization, I had taken away Seo Ga-yeon’s credit…