Chapter 20: Spearmanship – 20

It seems I might be seeing something futile.

I’m holding a replica of Gungnir , while Professor Karia is wielding a regular iron spear.

The difference in weapon performance is stark at a glance.

The moment the two spears clash, the image of the replica of Gungnir shattering Karia’s ordinary spear naturally comes to mind.

But craftsmen don’t blame their tools, as they say.

“Just now, the thirty-second time…!”

Professor Karia swiftly repelled the attacks of the Replica of Gungnir crafted by Otinuus with her cheaply acquired iron spear, claiming my life once again.

The thirty-two was how many times I had lost my life to her in this duel.

“Will you continue?”

“…Please.”

Professor Karia, who had initially refrained from asking to resume the duel, now looked at me with a worried expression as I revived again like mist.

After a brief pause, adjusting my stance, I demanded the start of the thirty-third duel.

At that, Professor Karia, after briefly pursing her lips, spoke.

“Student Seong Yujin, pushing yourself too hard isn’t good.”

“I’m fine.”

“…Even though this is a virtual reality, the experience of death gradually erodes one’s mind.”

I know. It’s not like in a computer game where you respawn after your character dies.

“How many times have you died since the duel began?”

“Thirty-two times.”

“…From now on, up to three more times, even if you seem to be in good condition after those three times, I’ll end the duel at a maximum of eight times.”

Her worried expression had become firm. In her eyes, a determination akin to resolve was evident.

Meeting her gaze, I couldn’t help but feel her passion. Nodding in agreement, I signaled my consent.

“Come.”

Professor Karia, aiming her spear lightly at me, spoke.

There was no reply.

Instead of taking the time to nod in agreement, I swiftly leaped towards her.

Magic burst from my toes. To narrow the distance even slightly faster, I propelled myself off the ground, detonating magic from my toes.

The explosive force propelled my body, accelerating it to cover tens of meters in an instant.

“Hup!”

With a concise thrust, a basic stab was delivered.

With a clink, Professor Karia twisted her body with a stepping sound.

Her spear shaft, spinning in her hand, deflected beneath the blade of the Gungnir.

“Urgh…!?”

The deflected replica of Gungnir began to veer off in the wrong direction.

This was Professor Karia’s specialty in this duel.

With minimal movement, she neutralized the enemy’s attack and cut off their breath with subsequent strikes.

Whizz—

Professor Karia’s spear was once again aimed at me.

But I couldn’t just stand there and take it.

I’ve died about seven times like this.

If we count indirect influences, it’s probably well over ten times.

Tchk—

Twisting my ankle, I desperately halted my advancing body.

As my body, which had been speeding forward, gradually decelerated, I turned around before it came to a complete stop.

I guided the diminishing speed along the rotation of my joints.

The rotating force flowed through the taut muscles, transferring through my hands into the spear.

But it was too slow. At this rate, I’d allow Professor Karia’s strike before I could start my counterattack.

To solve that situation, I modified the structure of the barrier’s magic formula. I added a new formula to the detection and defence formulas.

The newly added restraint formula restrained Professor Karia’s movements as she entered the barrier.

While I adjusted my posture, Professor Karia, who had been trying to stab me, momentarily froze in place.

“Hey!”

Slightly below the centre of the spearhead. I had arbitrarily altered the grip style that Professor Karia had taught me.

Grasping the blunt end of the spearhead opposite the blade, I swung with full force.

In addition, I momentarily deployed an interference barrier over the replica of Gungnir

According to the observation of the detection barrier, Professor Karia hadn’t enhanced her vision with magic.

Unseen by her eyes, the blow of the replica of Gungnir swung boldly.

“Swinging like that makes it easy to miss the spear!”

Professor Karia shouted.

She swept her spear toward where the fake Mjolnir was assumed to be in front of me.

Since the exact direction of the attack couldn’t be determined, she simply swept the trajectory where the spear would pass.

Also, despite Professor Karia’s warning, my blow was highly unstable.

After colliding a few times with the spear she wielded herself, the replica of Gungnir slipped from my hand.

With a clang, my right arm, which had been holding the replica of Gungnir, missed the spear and was pushed backward.

With that sight, Professor Karia, who had seized the advantage, closed the distance. Magic sparkled in her eyes.

“One more round!”

Professor Karia, confident she had taken my life, thrust her spear at me.

With my body wide open, weapon lost from my hand, and the gap rapidly closing…

None of these situations were advantageous to me.

Professor, can I use barrier magic in this duel?

Around the eighth time I died, I asked such a question.

Honestly, my expertise lies in barrier magic. The use of barrier magic greatly influences the outcome of close combat.

The real-time detection of the target’s movements and the defensive effects of the barrier were more significant than I had thought.

The protective barriers classified as debuff skills also help create significant gaps.

And to my question, Professor Karia replied like this:

“Do it with all your power. Otherwise, the duel won’t even be valid.”

In other words, I had to bring out all my cards just to step onto the stage of the duel.

It could have sounded insulting at first glance.

Even if you understand it that way, it was an acceptable statement.

But I felt no bitterness or resentment.

‘Because it’s true.’

A first-year student from Eden scoring a point against a professor in a life-and-death situation.

It’s impossible.

It’s like saying someone who’s only been boxing for a month knocked out Mike Tyson with a punch.

But this world is different.

I have a hidden trump card within me now.

With each death I’ve faced, I’ve acquired the courage to engage in close combat.

I’ve learned how to aim for vital spots while facing the twentieth death.

And I’ve prepared myself to make bold decisions even when facing the thirtieth death.

I didn’t defend against or dodge Professor Karia’s attack as it aimed for my heart.

“Come forth, Gungnir!”

[The replica of Gungnir responds to your call.]

As if responding to my cry, Gungnir, which had been flickering in the air, returned to my hand.

“What?!”

Professor Karia’s expression was filled with shock.

She hadn’t expected me to summon Gungnir here.

The golden blade of Gungnir, held in reverse grip, pointed towards Professor Karia.

But Professor Karia’s attack didn’t stop.

The sharp edge of her spear, aiming for my heart, closed in without hesitation.

‘She must be planning to take my life first to thwart my attack…!’

It’s already within my expectations.

I’ve erased all the formulae of the barrier and transformed them into the most effective formulae at this moment.

The barrier, now devoid of detection and defence functions, exerted the effects of newly inscribed formulae of restraint and debilitation more strongly within.

Professor Karia, now under the enhanced effect of the restraint formula within the barrier, made an impression with her movements noticeably slowed down.

Without missing the opportunity, I immediately wielded my magic.

Magic surged from my two cores within, pouring into the magic circuits of my body.

Pouring magic into the circuits, I exhibited the ability to block Professor Karia’s attack perfectly just once, using up almost half of my magic.

The mystery of space beyond the scope of barrier magic.

‘Open up!’

[The mystery of another realm responds to your magic.]

Crackle…

A crack appeared in the space between my heart and Professor Karia’s sharp blade, like glass shattering.

Snap!

The broken space shook like waves of shattered glass.

[A gate connected to the other realm opens.]

A passage so small that only my fist could barely fit through.

Despite consuming almost half of my magic, a meagre-sized gate opened.

“What…?!”

But that size is sufficient.

Professor Karia’s spear, aimed directly at my heart, passed through the gate of the other realm without any hindrance.

“Seal!”

[The gate connected to the other realm closes.]

I declared the closure of the entrance.

As the boundary connecting the two realms disappeared, space was severed and torn away.

Professor Karia’s sharp blade, passing through the boundary, lost its sharpness and degraded into a short wooden stick.

Simultaneously, I swung Gungnir, held in reverse grip, with all my might, using the proclamation of barrier severance as my momentum.

Professor Karia, affected by the restraint and debilitation formulae within the barrier, couldn’t move swiftly.

Crack!

Professor Karia’s body was engulfed in magic surges, but Gungnir pierced through even that magic.

“Guh…!”

The surging magic lost control and scattered like sparks.

Professor Karia’s body turned into smoke, mingling with the dispersing magic, and disappeared.

It’s a clear judgment of death.

The duel system showed me that my attack had succeeded in killing Professor Karia once.

Today’s duel record: 33 matches, 32 defeats, 1 victory.

It’s truly a heartening moment.

“…Well done, Student Seong Yujin.”

Professor Karia’s voice reached me, and at the same time, a headache struck me.

The aftereffects of duelling hit me as soon as the duel system ended.

[Willpower stat has increased.]

[Willpower stat restores damaged psyche.]

My once stagnant mental power stat suddenly started working hard.

The throbbing in my head gradually subsided.

“Your level of spear technique passes. Moreover, the fact that you managed to kill me once using your own abilities, including Gungnir and barrier magic, is truly commendable.”

Professor Karia’s words paused for a moment before continuing.

She doesn’t know about my mysteries.

It seemed like she lumped everything together vaguely as ‘abilities.’

“I’ll end today’s lesson here. I’ve been duelling for quite some time, so I’m tired. Take it easy today.”

With those words, Professor Karia turned her back and left the training ground.

Watching her calmly walk away, I silently cheered inside.

‘Yes! No assignments for today.’