Ch.285280 – Divine Punishment

No one in the training arena dared to speak.

The physical difference between NoName and the middle school students was like David versus Goliath, but even more extreme.

At least David was a sturdy young man who could strike down lions and bears, but NoName appeared to be nothing more than a frail child in everyone’s eyes.

“Ah… no… how…?”

Even Professor Cheon Kyu-jin, who typically remained unfazed by anything concerning NoName, trembled slightly.

“Cheon Byong-ho! What exactly did you teach NoName?”

“How would I know! That’s her innate magic.”

“What? That’s innate magic? From NoName?”

Principal Gu On-yu covered his mouth with his hand, staring at NoName with a grave expression.

The two Altair students collapsed without putting up any meaningful resistance.

An unbelievable scene had unfolded in just three minutes.

NoName not only manifested her aura outside her body but seemed to handle it with expert precision.

The speed of her double casting was so fast that even active military mages couldn’t replicate it.

“This is…”

Extremely dangerous.

The emotion Principal Gu felt when he first encountered Ham Cho-rong 40 years ago resurfaced.

It carried a dual meaning.

One was that the surroundings of a child wielding such absurd power were dangerous, and the other was concern about the possibility of such a child being exposed to dangerous situations.

“Did NoName win…?”

“How could magic be so…”

“Did they really collapse? Those students who were so strong earlier?”

“What are those horns…?”

Her eyes darted back and forth rapidly.

Bewildered exclamations rippled through the audience.

Whether you understood magic or not, the result was astonishing either way.

“Is this even possible? She won! The NoName participant from Cephiron defeated two seniors seven years her senior!”

“Viewers, I dare say we’re witnessing a historic moment together! Did you see that small 8-year-old girl from South Korea controlling aura outside her body? I thought Jesus was making his second coming!”

“Looking at the history of Academy competitions, there’s never been such an upset! I guarantee it! The whole world might be buzzing about this starting tonight!”

“The external manifestation of aura, double casting, and even high-level 0-circle magic with circuit reconstruction to extremely conserve mana was truly marvelous. And get this! The NoName participant barely used any of her mana! The remaining barrier durability shows 99% for particles and 96% for mana particles. She’s showing us a near-perfect match. Is this student really 8 years old? Even the term ‘genius’ seems insufficient for the NoName student!”

The commentators’ broadcast booth was in equal chaos.

They even abandoned their chairs to get a closer look at NoName.

To make matters worse, streaming apps including Twissy crashed, causing people to flock to broadcast television.

More than 10 million global viewers had gathered, excluding China, Russia, and the Middle East.

At the center of the world’s attention, she stood up, placing both hands on the ground.

[Cast: Forge]

What emerged from the ochre-colored earth was a crude greatsword.

Its size was comparable to her height.

The two Altair students observed the scene with expressionless faces.

“Can she even swing something that heavy?”

Jo Su-yeon, Cardinal Benedetto’s grandniece, far from being frightened, moved her bright red lips with a mocking tone.

“Of course.”

The demon king’s hand helped wield the greatsword that her frail body couldn’t possibly swing alone.

A long shadow crossed the arena, falling at their feet.

“Why don’t you just advertise to the whole world that you’re Satan’s child?”

“Aren’t seniors your age supposed to like this kind of thing? Have you already graduated from your chuunibyou phase?”

“Name, sister is saying this because I’m genuinely worried about you. Do you want divine punishment from God for playing such pranks?”

“Divine punishment? I’ve been receiving divine punishment since birth despite doing nothing wrong.”

Kuung-!

NoName thrust the greatsword into the cold ground, suddenly frowning.

“Are you saying that me being trapped in a capsule was all God’s will too?”

There was no answer.

The end of conversation signaled the beginning of the clash.

Their gazes, which had met briefly, diverged.

Holy light emanated from Lee Jae-hwan and Jo Su-yeon’s bodies, splitting into two paths.

Dududu-

The vibrations of them crushing the ground as they charged made the outer walls tremble.

Toward the arc of light, the giant hand swung the greatsword horizontally.

Buwoong-

Though slow, its weight was anything but light.

Fierce winds whipped around the students, disheveling their neatly arranged hair.

Lee Jae-hwan slipped through the gap in the greatsword, concentrating his aura into a single point with his index and middle fingers, and thrust forward.

Kagagak-!

A gap formed, penetrating through the greatsword and the giant hand as if pierced by a massive needle.

Jo Su-yeon dove into the perfect gap created by Lee Jae-hwan.

She spread her pale palm, injecting mana into a pre-inscribed magic circle.

[Cast: Longinus’ Spear]

Kugugugugung-!

The holy spear of light that pierced Jesus Christ,

Shot relentlessly toward NoName, penetrating through the greatsword and the demon king’s hand.

Belatedly, the hand regenerated and grabbed the trailing end of the spear.

A tense balance of power created in a critical situation.

Despite seeing the sharp blade right before her face, NoName didn’t even blink.

There was no time to catch her breath.

“Futile effort.”

In a split second, NoName severed the giant hand holding the greatsword and manifested a new aura.

Aura bubbled up from her back, and soon a wing emerged, wrapping around NoName’s body.

Longinus’ spear, which had been curving in like a bullet, stuck into the aura wing with a crack.

Jo Su-yeon released the spear’s handle and retreated far from NoName along with Lee Jae-hwan.

When their eyes met again, Jo Su-yeon wore an even more cunning smirk.

“And immediately blood and water flowed out. Boom.”

[Chain Cast: Longinus’ Spear – Explosion]

Kwaaaang-!

An overwhelming burst of light erupted from the spear tip, and a massive explosion shook the ground, assaulting the audience’s eyes and eardrums.

“Those who serve Satan shall receive divine punishment! Take God’s divine punishment! Kyahahahaha!”

Jo Su-yeon raised both arms and let out a maniacal laugh.

Pung-!

Pububung-!

Wine-colored streams of water burst forth, causing numerous chain explosions when they met the air.

Lee Jae-hwan twitched his eyebrow at the eerily calm series of explosions.

“Any reaction yet?”

“…Still there.”

“Damn tough. Alright, leave the rest to me.”

“Stop showing off.”

Lee Jae-hwan immediately knelt on one knee, burying his five fingers in the sandy ground.

[Formation: Barrier Setting]

[Area Cast: Red Woody Barrier]

A hemispherical dome covered the explosion point.

Mana threads modeled after sequoia tree roots shot up from the ground.

Chwaaak-!

Giant whips mercilessly struck down at NoName through the thick bloody mist.

As the dome gradually narrowed, the inside became densely packed with root whips.

“Name!”

“NoName!”

Unlike outside the arena, voices from the audience could be heard clearly inside.

NoName’s name was called out several times from the stands.

They must have been genuinely worried about the child being beaten by third-year middle school students.

“Shit, she should just stop resisting. How is she even tougher than Lee Min-young?”

Jo Su-yeon scratched her itchy nape with an irritated tone.

Certainly, the Red Woody Barrier and Longinus’ Spear were excessive measures to use against a young child.

But once they decided to reveal their carefully hidden magic, they had to show an overwhelmingly dominant performance.

That was the way to save face for the Green Party floor leader and the Cardinal.

Even if it was against an 8-year-old child.

There was no trace of worry or guilt on Lee Jae-hwan and Jo Su-yeon’s faces.

“What a shame. I wanted to play more. Is she physically weak after all?”

“I’m too tired from running around. Referee, please open the curtain quickly. My hair is a complete mess.”

The two students who were turning to head back to the waiting room suddenly paused.

An ominous killing intent grabbed their ankles.

[Cast: Arabesque Knot – Water]

“Kyaaaak!”

“Jo Su-yeon?”

“Kehek!”

Kudangtang-!

Jo Su-yeon, who had fallen on her bottom, was dragged toward the center of the arena as if pulled by a magnet.

Grabbing her increasingly tightening neck, she gasped for breath as her face turned bright red.

Her head, with blood rushing to it excessively, seemed about to burst.

“Earth gives rest to the dead, Metal gives rest to the fugitive, and Water gives consciousness to the deceiver.”

“Keuuuk… you crazy…!”

“Did you think you could fool the public with explosion magic using just ethylene oxide and propylene, talking about divine punishment?”

“Cough! Cough cough! You damned brat, let go of this right now!”

Jo Su-yeon, losing her composure, rolled on the ground trying to untangle the thread.

Each time she did, NoName pulled the thread around Jo Su-yeon’s neck tighter, gradually stopping her resistance.

“On second thought, facing two opponents at once is too challenging. Let’s go one at a time.”

[Cast: Forge]

[Innate Magic – Estasha Style First Form – Adella]

Once again, she drew a sword in the shape of a wooden stick.

This time she chose a sword that matched her height.

NoName bent her knees in a ready stance, pointing the sword tip containing a magic circle at Lee Jae-hwan’s head.

A serene silence fell over the chaotic arena.

One step forward with her short legs, then two steps back.

The sword followed, dancing lightly.

Everyone’s gaze was drawn to her graceful movements, like a sword dance.

But the beginning and end of each movement were clearly defined.

Kang-!

A clear sound like striking an anvil.

Kang-!

Not fast, but nimble.

Kang-!

Not strong, but precise.

NoName’s sword, striking at exactly the right moments, was flawless except for its power.

‘Where on earth did she learn swordsmanship… wait, sword…?’

Belatedly, Lee Jae-hwan realized this was the preparation process for Adella.

Gritting his teeth, he hurriedly tried to create a barrier formula.

His nails became ragged from scratching the ground.

But when Adella’s magic circle clicked and completed one rotation,

Waves of mana that had circled several times rushed in furiously.

[Innate Magic – Estasha Style First Form]

[Adella – 20 Consecutive]

[Break]

Chwajajakjak-!

“How…!”

The life-bearing roots he created were helplessly cut down by the straight sword strikes.

A blade honed to extreme sharpness penetrated through the flimsy wall.

Lee Jae-hwan’s eyes shook greatly.

‘I can’t accept this. How could she create such magic by herself…!’

While geniuses might be abundant in this world, Lee Jae-hwan was also one of them.

He always maintained a top position in the academy’s yearly rankings.

For what purpose…?

NoName had achieved at just eight years old what mages dream of—creating their own innate magic.

‘Then what have I been doing at the academy all this time?’

Fragments of jealousy disturbed his mind.

[She’s not human like us. I guarantee, if we lose today, we’ll never beat her.]

“Kuuuuuk! I can’t lose like this! Never!”

Shuaaaak-!

Lee Jae-hwan, releasing even his rarely used aura, was fortunately bounced outside the sword’s range.

“…!”

While NoName was distracted, Jo Su-yeon grabbed her leg tightly, restricting her movement.

NoName staggered before regaining her balance.

“Lee Jae-hwan! Now!”

There was no time for deep thought.

He charged toward the girl who seemed to be the personification of talent.

“Aaaaaaah!”

With a desperate scream, he swung his arms vigorously back and forth.

The magic that emerged in this most critical moment,

Was neither the strongest magic learned at the academy nor the most complex magic learned from the party,

But the magic most familiar to him since childhood, searched on the internet with his small hands.

[Cast: Ignition]

Hwaleuleuk-

He covered his entire body with fire.

Lee Jae-hwan’s mana particle barrier was being depleted in real-time.

At this rate, he would receive a disqualification judgment before even reaching NoName.

But if he could just inflict defeat on that child!

His unwavering gaze met NoName’s.

In a confined space, it would be nearly impossible to counter such a reckless suicide attack.

Especially with such a short stature.

“That’s impressive. That’s how a man should fight.”

A final question bloomed in Lee Jae-hwan’s mind.

With both hands and legs restrained, where did that composure come from?

The answer was on her head,

“No, look higher.”

It was in her horns.

A 2-circle magic circle forming automatically above NoName’s head.

The collision energy of positive ions heated the cathode, raising the temperature.

Thermoelectrons from both horns created sparks that emitted bright light,

And the extremely intense mana energy condensed above her head was released at once.

[Innate Magic – Demon King’s Horns]

[Cast: Arc Discharge]

Pajijijijijik-!

“Uuuuaaaaaaah!”

Lee Jae-hwan let out an unbearable scream.

NoName suddenly kicked the back of his knee, knocking him to the ground.

As his face slammed into the ground, the noise disappeared as if by magic.

NoName could only desperately hope that the mana particle barrier provided by the competition would serve its purpose.