Ch.2929. The Reason for the Attack

Immediately after the incident, the Masked Cult dangerously brought Sung Min-woo to someone’s house.

“If we’re escaping, we should head to the forest or mountains. Why come to a place like this?”

Sung Min-woo coldly addressed the robed Masked Cult members.

“Because there’s something we need to do.”

One of the cult members answered calmly. But Sung Min-woo had already grabbed him by the collar.

“Right now, my body is itching. Drained of power, helpless in that fucking prison. And you’re giving me orders? What do you take me for?”

Sung Min-woo sent a murderous intent toward the cult member.

But the man whose collar was grabbed calmly deflected his hand.

Though he hadn’t been promoted, his skills were already S-rank—and he casually deflected Sung Min-woo’s attack?

Sung Min-woo momentarily wondered if his skills had grown rusty.

“You’re strong.”

But his judgment hadn’t dulled. He realized this robed man possessed extraordinary skills.

The robed man spoke with a voice mixed with mechanical tones.

“Your task is simple. From now on, enter Yeager Academy and test a student.”

“A student? You broke me out just to deal with some student?”

Sung Min-woo’s face showed nothing but contempt.

And he emitted an even stronger killing intent.

“What a waste of time. You must be quite bored.”

“You’re the only one we can use for this. More dangerous and ‘stronger’ criminals are difficult even for us to break out. Someone mediocre like you is perfect.”

“That mouth. It’s open but looks too narrow. Let me widen it for you.”

In an instant, a flash of light swept through the place. Subordinates were thrown about, some injured by cuts, creating chaos.

And as the robe came off during the fight, Sung Min-woo’s expression changed.

“You!”

“Shh.”

Suddenly, a hand transformed into a blade reached his neck.

The true face of the man without his robe was an identity that left Sung Min-woo speechless.

“I’m not asking you to just do it. Don’t kill him, just observe what skills and powers he has. ‘That woman’ said he seems to be hiding a lot.”

The Masked Cult man then pulled something from his chest.

It was an ocarina. A cute, small size perfect for playing.

Sung Min-woo’s eyes widened.

“This is your confiscated weapon, right? We retrieved it. If you want it back, test him. Just don’t kill him. I’d prefer to kill suspicious people right away, but that woman thinks differently.”

“Who is this woman?”

“You don’t need to know. You can meet her if you join the Masked Cult. Anyway, the traces of our fight are quite evident.”

He suddenly began searching the messy house.

“Well, the place we attacked happens to be the home of a Yeager Academy instructor? Here’s an ID that will let you pass through security checkpoints legitimately.”

“You planned this deliberately.”

The man was more calculating than he appeared. Sung Min-woo took the ID from him.

“But won’t my face be recorded at the checkpoint?”

“It’s difficult for outsiders to enter freely, but escaping from inside is easy. I guarantee it.”

At the man’s words, Sung Min-woo accepted the ID.

Then he took out new clothes and a human-skin mask from the house they had attacked.

“This is similar to what they call in martial arts novels. Go safely.”

“How far did you plan this? This isn’t something you can prepare in just a day or two.”

“I wish you luck.”

That’s how he managed to infiltrate Yeager Academy shortly after the incident occurred.

Sung Min-woo was by no means a fool. He first assessed the structure before moving. Knowing he had to avoid the dormitory supervisor at all costs, he silently destroyed half a wall in the lobby using his Silent ability.

While the supervisor and students gathered around the broken wall in confusion, he climbed up through the emergency exit on the opposite side, out of their line of sight.

Finding the location of Do Jong-hyun’s room wasn’t difficult.

He quietly turned the doorknob with his Silent ability.

But it opened.

‘He doesn’t lock his door. Well…’

In the safety of a dormitory, early in the evening, there was no need to lock it.

That’s how he had infiltrated and tested him just a while ago.

There, he was shocked to discover that his target could transform into something resembling a monster.

‘What kind of person is he? An experiment of the Masked Cult?’

His questions were growing when he heard:

“Hey! Du Jong-hyun! Why aren’t you answering? Are you playing around? Whose words are you ignoring? I can’t stand this kind of thing!”

Sung Min-woo was shocked by the female voice coming from outside.

‘A woman in the men’s dormitory? In my day, men and women were strictly forbidden from entering each other’s dormitories!’

While surprised at how times had changed and rules had shifted, the desire he had been suppressing began to surface.

‘I could kill her. They only said not to kill the boy, but anyone else…’

The task of checking his condition was already complete.

So now, the desire to kill the sweet-sounding woman he heard was rising.

‘How pathetic.’

But he was a man who had risen to become a vice-captain of a guild. He punched himself in the face.

Killing would be simple, but what then? This academy dormitory would switch to special defense mode and be sealed off during emergencies. He knew this from his own time at Yeager Academy.

It was best to stay put. He knew how to distinguish between the fantasy created by desire and reality.

So he remained quiet.

‘If there’s no answer, she’ll just leave.’

He made a common-sense judgment and waited, but unfortunately, Aerial was a woman quite distant from common sense.

At that moment, an X-shaped crack formed on the door.

“Hmm?”

With a kick, the door shattered, and Aerial boldly revealed herself.

The shocked Sung Min-woo could only think of one thing to say.

“Are you crazy?”

“Jong… Who are you?”

Aerial immediately grasped the situation and rushed forward at high speed.

His arm clashed with her sword, producing the sound of metal striking metal.

‘This girl is strong. And beautiful.’

His desire began to creep up as he gazed at her red hair and proud eyes.

Thus, his martial arts and Aerial’s sword exchanged several blows.

‘With a long sword, the smaller the space, the more disadvantageous. And her side is quite exposed.’

Just as he, experienced as he was, identified Aerial’s weakness and was about to exploit it,

he sensed something unusual with his Silent ability. Silent not only suppresses sound but also allows him to sense other movements.

Now, he could see movement behind him.

‘It’s him.’

In that moment, Aerial’s sword grazed his cheek.

Blood trickled slightly, and Sung Min-woo felt more anger than ever before.

“You bitch!”

In that state, Aerial clashed swords with him, creating a standoff.

‘Dangerous.’

The guy who transforms into a monster is getting up? He didn’t want a 2-on-1 fight, and this was a dormitory. Most importantly, though the door was shattered and silent, what if someone passing by saw?

‘I’ve confirmed the mission. That’s enough.’

But seeing the blood flowing down his cheek, he looked at Aerial.

‘Beautiful body. If I could kill her…’

It would be the ultimate moment.

With killing intent mixed with desire, he could no longer hold back.

‘If I do it here, everything will fall apart.’

With superhuman willpower, he suppressed his urge. He deflected Aerial’s sword and aimed for her waist.

“Ugh!”

Aerial’s side was cut, and he regretfully fled the scene quickly.

*

“Are you okay?”

As I staggered to my feet, as if we were partners, she staggered too before falling into my arms.

“Ah…”

But Aerial groaned and stood up again.

“We have to chase him!”

“Wait. You’re hurt!”

“I can endure it!”

When was the door broken? Was it from the fight? Aerial went outside, and I ran to Jung Ju-sang.

“An intruder! Sung Min-woo was in my room!”

“What?”

Jung Ju-sang immediately sounded the alarm.

“Enter alert status! Students gather around the senior classes!”

His response was decisive. Originally prepared for monster invasions, but it applies to this situation too.

In an instant, the dormitory began to shake tremendously.

Like an earthquake, shields rose from the peaceful lawn visible from the lobby.

Of course, this level of security is necessary.

[Currently issuing a complete lockdown of Yeager Academy. All students follow your instructors’ guidance.]

Everything was happening according to procedure, but the problem was that Aerial wasn’t here.

Did she run out?

Looking at the senior class, Aerial was nowhere to be seen.

What an idiot—that guy is practically S-rank and stronger than you!

I don’t understand what she thinks she can do with an injured body.

“From now on, move in groups of three! Move as a group everywhere! Even when going to the bathroom, report and go together!”

Various voices echoed busily, and confusion was everywhere.

If I wanted to escape, now—only now—I should use this chaos.

While other students were all heading down to the lobby, I sighed.

Transforming here is dangerous, but necessary.

I need to fly, so I should change into an insect first.

In the now quiet place, I took out my main card.

I’ll track his escape route and move as well.

[Main Card]

-Half-Insect Asura

Transforming in an instant, I moved past the massive barrier that seemed to encompass the entire dormitory.

These compound eyes give me a wide-angle view.

If he’s escaping, where would he go?

Obviously to the forest.

The best place to hide.

So as I watched everything with my compound eyes, I saw flames rising in the distance.

That’s it. I could tell by instinct.

Though I couldn’t hear sounds, phenomena like flames couldn’t be blocked by his ability.

Flying there instantly, I saw Aerial being thrown back.

I couldn’t hear anything, but space itself was distorting.

But he too had a red trace of Gram marked diagonally across him.

“Shit!”

Inside the Silent zone, only Sung Min-woo’s voice could be heard.

Aerial had somehow managed to inflict damage.

Now’s my chance.

As he charged at Aerial in anger, I spread smoke.

[Wind-Cutting Slash]

I’ll finish him with one attack added to my smoke screen.

Obscuring vision with smoke, I launched Wind-Cutting Slash toward where he was, but he wasn’t visible.

“What’s this now?”

His voice came from above, as if he’d been waiting there.

[Adaptability]

-Nullifies opponent’s Silent ability.

Shockingly, my adaptability crumbled against his ability.

Without adaptability, an insect is statistically the weakest. With a sudden pain in my head, I crashed to the ground.

“A monster around here? But there’s no Brake… Could you be?”

Ignoring his questioning voice, I switched my main card.

It’s been a while.

[Dinosaur Asura]

I changed my main card along with the smoke.

As the sensation of his foot pressing down on me suddenly vanished, my entire body transformed again.

“You’re that guy from before! That monster transformation…”

“ROAAAR!”

With a roar, I swung my arm, and I saw him fly away.

Yes, with this monster.

[Special abilities are nullified in Dinosaur Asura.]

However, my abilities are being interfered with by his power.

My special abilities are nullified? Then there’s no need for special ability adjustment.

Strong but manageable. As I moved my dinosaur body forward, someone suddenly emerged from the mist.

“Huh?”

Aerial. This red-eyed woman met my gaze.

For a moment, Aerial froze as our eyes met.

Then she dashed off to fight again.

“You are…”

I heard something from behind, but I had no obligation to answer, nor should I.

I leaped forward in pursuit of Sung Min-woo.