Chapter 63

Chapter 63

I Became the Only Non-mage in the Academy.

Episode 63: Usurper (6)

Screens were installed in various places, broadcasting the Korea Hero School’s final exams for public viewing.

Editors would later refine the footage and upload it to broadcasting stations and platforms like NeuTube.

“Team leader, please look at this!”

“What is it?”

The team leader approached the screen.

Displayed was a boy who could pass for a gisaeng’s brother, donned in a black hoodie beneath a white blazer. Even from a man’s perspective, he was strikingly handsome.

Then, with a malevolent grin, the boy struck a distant Minotaur with a black sword.

-Kuoooooo!

In a fury, the Minotaur charged.

The boy darted towards his companions.

-Hey, hey!

-Toss.

His mischievous laughter rang out.

Vaulting into the air with public acknowledgment, he leapt again.

“Wow, he’s really something.”

“Did you see him creating footholds in the air? Is his talent related to wind?”

“Isn’t it the ice element?”

The spectators discussing the boy soon became quiet.

The battle commenced.

The Minotaur, ablaze with flames, was no ordinary monster.

Gamers would classify it as a sub-boss level creature.

It was a fitting challenge for a second-year exam, but those engaged with it now were the strongest of the first-year students, known as the Golden Riders.

-Uoooooo!!!!

The Minotaur let out a roar.

Park Woon-hyuk, Kim Ara, and Kim Seo-hyun quickly armed themselves and surged forward.

Kwaahhhhh!

Kim Ara’s greatsword met the Minotaur’s fist. The confrontation was between a 5-meter tall beast and a human barely reaching 2 meters. To observers, the beast appeared to have the upper hand.

Kwaah!

Yet, against all odds, Kim Ara emerged as the victor in this contest of strength.

-Kuo?

The Minotaur reeled back, two steps.

‘Terrifying.’

A cold sweat broke out on me.

I had underestimated Kim Ara, but she had independently grown stronger.

Her foundation, established by the Overlord, was so robust that he had purposely refrained from interfering in her development.

She was entirely capable of handling matters on her own.

Swoosh.

Kim Ara turned her head.

Her purple eyes gleamed as if harboring flames.

‘She must be very angry.’

Reflecting on it, I realized I had neglected her recently.

But her gaze quickly vanished. The flame-enshrouded Minotaur was not an easy opponent.

Flames swelled.

The Minotaur bellowed.

-Uoooooo!

The flames split.

Three small human figures, ablaze with fire, appeared.

“Hmph, I’ll take care of two of the flames.”

“Then I’ll handle the main body.”

“I will take Lee Seo-ha.”

“……”

Park Woon-hyuk, Kim Seo-hyun, and Kim Ara spoke in that order.

Ershil looked at me with a sullen expression.

“Instead of fighting, let’s quickly defeat them and chase them away. It’s annoying to be manipulated like this, and fighting with Lee Seo-ha while bringing that beast is like a suicide mission, right?”

“That’s true.”

I agreed with Ershil’s words, and the eyes around us sharpened.

“But what if we’re ambushed when we attack?”

“Then we’ll die, and so will Lee Seo-ha, right?”

“Really?”

“And be prepared for that.”

Ershil glared at me.

It looked like I would be pursued throughout this survival test.

‘What is this?’

I felt a strange sense of déjà vu.

I looked at the Minotaur.

The Energy of Defying Heaven within me reacted.

Telling me to kill the Minotaur.

I had felt this several times before.

And most of those targets were.

“Mines.”

I narrowed my eyes.

A Mine in the Tower of Trials.

‘Did they pull a trick back then?’

I had a guess.

One of the Seven Evils, the Vicious Abomination, had personally attacked the Korea Heroes School.

It was odd that he moved personally and only handled a small villain group, even considering the checks and balances from the boundaries.

‘It’s impossible to collapse or contaminate the Tower of Trials.’

That was impossible. Only an ‘Apostle’ level above the Seven Evils could attempt such a thing. So it meant they had partially contaminated it.

I kept a watchful eye ahead.

Twenty minutes into the fight.

The Minotaur, engulfed in flames, eventually fell to the students.

“Damn. Why is this damn beast so persistent?”

“Exactly. As persistent as Park Woon-hyuk.”

“What?”

Kim Seo-hyun and Park Woon-hyuk bickered.

I kept an eye on the Minotaur, but even as time passed, there was no change.

‘Was I too sensitive?’

I turned my back.

Suddenly,

I quickly turned back around.

My senses rang an alarm. The Energy of Defying Heaven, a power that defied the heavens, reacted most sensitively to forces that were unnatural.

Ershil and Kim Seo-hyun reacted a split second later.

“Everyone, run!!”

I saw purple flames. A peculiar power was felt, one that the living should not possess.

Death Energy.

It was the flame of a death spirit.

[A malicious intent envelops the Minotaur.]

[The Minotaur, shrouded in deathly flames, sets its target.]

The Minotaur with black skin was surrounded by purple flames.

[The Minotaur, temporarily resurrected from death, increases in rank.]

-Uoooooo!!!!

It roared.

It was a simple roar, but I felt immense power within it.

‘…This is bad.’

My body stiffened.

I quickly enveloped myself in the Energy of Defying Heaven and looked around. Everyone was frozen.

A higher-ranked being was just like this.

It established its power in the world and shook the laws of the world.

With mere will (意念), it could kill ordinary people, and even if ten of those of a lower rank attacked, they could be defeated.

If it’s fortunate, it was fortunate.

Its hostility was directed solely at me.

-…It’s because of the Energy of Defying Heaven. A power that defies the heavens attracts hostility from all things against nature.

‘What about things that are in accord with nature?’

-They too are hostile towards it. Because the Energy of Defying Heaven ‘negates’ everything.

This was absurd.

I gripped the Black Heavenly Demon Sword.

Black Flash Sword Technique.

The Energy of Defying Heaven spread under my feet as I dashed forward.

‘I need time.’

Hong Yu-hwa was necessary. Seo Ga-yeon… I wasn’t sure. She was broadcasting with a drone at the moment, but at this level, Seo Ye-bin should have been able to wield her power.

‘Just in case.’

It was too soon for her to become a target of the Mines.

She needed to fully awaken the power of the starlight.

‘There is a way.’

I scanned the talents, abilities, and skills of the students around and evaluated the Minotaur’s capabilities. A multitude of strategies flashed through my mind.

‘The chances of winning are about 80%.’

That was a high success rate.

But the risk of failure still lingered.

20% wasn’t a significant probability, but this wasn’t a game.

No one should die in a place like this.

I ran simulations rapidly in my mind.

I increased my own risk.

I lessened the burden on the others. In the absolute worst-case scenario, only my death should occur.

‘This is still not enough.’

It was wise to prepare for contingencies, but I also created an opportunity for Seo Ga-yeon to harness the power of starlight.

The opponent was of a higher rank.

It couldn’t be underestimated. It was different from the case with Napak Cheon.

He had ranked quite high, but most of his body was in a damaged state.

In contrast, the Minotaur, despite being a monster of a higher rank, had a robust body.

I observed Hong Yu-hwa.

Her talent, the Usurper—if it fully awakened, it might be possible to enhance it further.

“Hoo.”

I steadied my breathing and focused ahead.

Thud. Thud. Thud.

The Minotaur, with its pitch-black skin and deathly flames, watched me intently.

I gripped the Black Heavenly Demon Sword.

I assumed a battle stance.

The sensation from the Sword Demon sounded an alarm. A single error could jeopardize my life.

‘When has it ever not been dangerous?’

I chuckled softly and charged ahead.

Seo Ga-yeon watched Lee Seo-ha in silence, her lips sealed.

-Don’t use the power of starlight yet. Not now.

Lee Seo-ha’s firm resolve was palpable.

A fleeting sense of dread surfaced. He was risking his life, forsaking the safer path.

‘It doesn’t have to be this way.’

Utilizing starlight power would draw the Mines’ scrutiny. Yet, she believed it would be okay.

She might forfeit her life, but she hoped Lee Seo-ha wouldn’t take such a risk.

Seo Ga-yeon silently prepared herself.

To harness the power of starlight when necessary.

Hong Yu-hwa gazed forward.

Lee Seo-ha was on the move. His typically calm expression had vanished. A palpable sense of urgency radiated from him.

Kwaang!

A resonant vibration reverberated. Kim Ara, Kim Seo-hyun, and Park Woon-hyuk darted toward the Minotaur with frantic looks on their faces.

‘Just a little longer.’

Was her body sluggish because she was aware of the rank?

Kwaang!

Lee Seo-ha was locked in combat with the Minotaur.

Yet he was being overpowered. That very same Lee Seo-ha.

His usual nonchalance had disappeared. He was desperately trying every tactic at his disposal.

He conjured several black swords to defend himself, cast spells and barriers, but the Minotaur demolished them all, relentless in its pursuit of Lee Seo-ha.

‘This is truly dangerous.’

Hong Yu-hwa bit down on her teeth.

She felt her body relax slightly.

Hong Yu-hwa took a step forward.

Considering her next action.

‘…What should I do?’

Offensive magic was her forte. However, it seemed futile against that entity. She could deliver a forceful blow, but her expertise lay in fire-based magic.

That was unavoidable.

Her inherent red mana dictated it.

Her power could easily incinerate flames of equal or lower rank, but it was strikingly ineffective against those of higher ranks.

-Your talent lies elsewhere.

Lee Seo-ha’s voice suddenly resounded in her mind.

-My talent?

-Yes. Usurper.

Her talent was a rare gift. The ability to usurp others’ powers. To strip away their talents and abilities.

It was a gift that contradicted her nature.

But was that even relevant now?

Hong Yu-hwa focused ahead.

Her friends were in immediate peril.

Grasping her magic tome, Hong Yu-hwa stepped forward.

A sense of anticipation loomed over her head.

The Crimson Lotus blossomed.