Chapter 24: Barrier Armament – 3

The duel between Hermod and me was set up in no time.

Considering the considerable distance between the lecture hall where the monster structure studies class was held and the second training hall, the speed was astonishing.

Now, Professor Roman is configuring the duel system in the second training hall.

Since this is a friendly match between students, he’s likely lowering the pain threshold and similar settings.

“Come to think of it, Professor Karia didn’t lower the pain settings much.”

I suddenly recalled the duels with Professor Karia.

They say nothing is gained without pain.

She believed that duelling without pain would impair judgment in dangerous situations and lead to reckless habits, so she didn’t lower the pain settings much.

If real pain was set at 1, she only lowered it to about 0.7.

Most of her blows were instant kills that could take my life in one strike, but the occasional sharp pain still lingers as quite a frightening memory.

“Are you alright?”

Cheon Yuhwa approached me as I was looking around at the gathered cadets.

“Yes, I’m fine.”

“…Actually, I had a hunch you were the top student.”

I wasn’t completely unprepared for Cheon Yuhwa to figure it out.

When Professor Karia handed me the World Tree’s Great Potion, she pointed out the two people chosen by the Principal.

Otiunus chose two students: Cheon Yuhwa, a special admission student, and me, the one who obtained the Gungjnir.

So I had long since noticed that Cheon Yuhwa had figured out my identity.

“I thought you had a reason for hiding it. I have my own reasons too. If you still don’t want to reveal your identity…”

Trailing off, Cheon Yuhwa met my gaze with a serious expression and suddenly raised her fist.

“I’ll handle it somehow.”

I managed to stop Cheon Yuhwa from resolving things by turning Hermod Beowulf into mush.

Instead, I asked for a bit of help at the end of the duel.

She seemed slightly dissatisfied, but after hearing my plan, she nodded in agreement and walked away, seemingly content.

I sighed in relief as I watched her back.

‘By the way, there are too many people here.’

The stares I felt from all directions were sharp.

Because of the bombshell revelation about the top student’s identity, the second training hall was crowded with students from all over Eden.

The attention and interest were overwhelming, but I wasn’t nervous about the duel with Hermod at all.

After all, the person I’d been fighting tooth and nail with for the past week was none other than Professor Karia.

I might lose to Cheon Yuhwa, who’s almost my nemesis, but I had no thought of losing to Hermod.

“The duel system is set up. Students, please take your positions.”

Finally, everything was ready for the duel.

Following Professor Roman’s instructions, Hermod Beowulf and I stepped into the duel arena.

The moment I faced Hermod, my Insight, now almost a passive skill, penetrated his stance and aura entirely.

‘Ugh, this feels unpleasant.’

Although he appeared to be casually swaying, he showed few openings.

Holding two daggers in a dual-wielding grip, he wore a confident smile.

His trademark squinted eyes matched his overall demeanor, creating a suspicious impression.

I turned my head slightly, feeling an intense gaze, and saw Cheon Yuhwa staring at me.

When our eyes met, she mouthed, “Whenever you’re ready.”

When I met her as a hidden boss, there was no one as terrifying as her, but now that she’s an ally, she’s incredibly reassuring.

“The duel will end when one side concedes defeat or experiences a simulated death. The duel can also be ended at my discretion,” Professor Roman said, asking if there were any objections.

I nodded, and so did Hermod.

“Exploration Major, Hermod Beowulf. Pleased to meet you.”

Exploration Major, just as I knew.

His combat courses were only his minor.

Responding to Hermod’s introduction, I also spoke up.

“Barrier Mage, Seong Yujin. Pleased to meet you.”

Hermod’s eyebrows twitched.

He hadn’t expected me to reveal my major so straightforwardly, but that was precisely my intention.

My foundation was in barrier magic, and that was essentially my major.

So I deliberately didn’t bring any weapons.

Unlike Hermod, who brought his usual preferred daggers, I was entering the duel empty-handed.

The absence of weapons didn’t go unnoticed by Hermod.

“Are you not going to use any weapons?”

He asked.

I answered by clenching my fists.

Seeing this, Hermod hardened his expression and got into his stance.

He crossed his two daggers in front of him and spread his legs, lowering his stance.

It was a stance designed to defend his torso while quickly closing the gap with his opponent.

“…Then, students, get ready.”

The walls and ceiling of the duel arena turned a familiar white and then gradually became transparent, allowing the outside to observe the duel.

Considering Cheo Yuhwa, I activated the barrier I had been holding back.

The barrier that covered the duel arena was responsible for detection and basic physical protection.

The information from Hermod’s movements was relayed through the detection barrier.

‘Shall I experiment with this opportunity?’

I had already designed the spells and usage methods, and now it was time for a practical test.

Barrier Armament.

Instead of unfolding barriers as surfaces, they were deployed as lines, woven into various and specific forms like stitching.

The barrier itself could serve as Armor, a shield, or a weapon—an all-encompassing technique.

A unique barrier that the barrier mages of <World Savior Online> couldn’t use but one that I had conceived in this possessed world.

With a perfect test subject right in front of me, now was the time to try it out.

“Begin!”

With Professor Roman’s signal, the duel began.

As soon as it started, Hermod charged at me, kicking off the ground.

Watching him charge straight at me, I reached out my hand.

A blue thread extended from my fingertips.

XH-!

“Ugh…?!”

A thin thread of magic that seemed easy to cut at first glance.

Hermod boldly swung his dagger to sever the thread, but instead, sparks flew with a loud noise.

The defensive barrier I deployed in earnest was strong enough to be acknowledged even by Professor Karia.

Many people prepare shields for bodily protection, but a good shield is also a formidable weapon.

Similarly, a sturdy armour not only protects the wearer but also delivers a heavier and more powerful impact when colliding with an opponent.

Whirr!

Whirrr!

“Grrr!”

The threads of the barrier began to dance as my magic moved.

Hermod quickly gave up the entanglement and leaped back.

But I had no intention of letting him go.

I manipulated the threads of the barrier, the basic element of barrier armament.

Several additional threads extended and lashed around the training ground like whips, just as I intended.

‘This way, he has only one option left.’

Hermod’s eyes were drawn to a deliberately exposed gap among the extending barrier threads.

Now, Hermod had a binary choice.

He could either keep dodging my barrier threads, waiting for an uncertain opportunity, or…

“Hup!”

…he could boldly exploit the gap he found.

Clang!

“What the…?!”

The moment Hermod’s dagger collided with the barrier thread again, sparks flew once more.

Unlike the mere entanglement earlier, this time Hermod’s dagger shattered entirely.

Hermod’s squinted eyes widened, revealing his green pupils.

His grinning expression turned to one of shock.

‘This is just the beginning.’

However, it was still too early for him to be shocked.

The barrier threads I summoned were merely the basic elements for constructing barrier armaments.

In other words, they were just the raw materials.

Though this state was sufficient to easily block Hermod’s attacks, weaving the barrier threads into a structured form is the true essence of their power.

‘I’ve roughly confirmed their strength, elasticity, and manoeuvrability.’

Indeed, it is more convenient to have a test subject for verification.

Suppressing a sinister smile, I finally gazed at my first barrier armament.

“He made a pillar out of magical threads.”

“What kind of sorcery is this?”

“I don’t know, I’ve never seen such a technique before.”

Among the students watching the match outside the arena, there were murmurs of admiration and speculation.

And some students broke out in cold sweat, recognizing the true form of the barrier armament I created.

“But that… isn’t that a sword, not a pillar?”

Indeed. The first barrier armament I created was not a mere pillar, but a sword.

A sword so large and massive that it could be mistaken for a pillar.

It was so massive that it barely resembled a sword.

It was tall, thick, and lacked any sharp edges, making it appear crude.

‘Creating an edge with the barrier is still impossible.’

Perhaps if I learned slashing magic and overlaid it on the barrier’s surface, it might work.

But it’s impossible to form a blade with the barrier alone.

Still, even without an edge, it’s sufficient.

The term ‘mass weapon’ in war isn’t used lightly.

They say ‘size matters’ for a reason.

Above all, the barrier armament I created is unparalleled in its sturdiness.

‘There’s no benefit in dragging this out, so I should end it and dispel any doubts.’

I don’t intend to hide the fact that I’m the top freshman forever, but it’s not yet the right time to reveal it.

I have a planned time and place for that.

I’ve also asked Cheon Yuhwa to handle the aftermath of this event.

Grrr.

As I raised my hand, the sword of the barrier, embedded in the ground, floated into the air.

Like an absolute master in a martial arts novel wielding a flying sword, the gigantic sword danced in the air according to my gestures.

The sword, large enough for a dozen grown men to lie down on, pointed at the pale-faced Hermod.

‘Finally, I get to beat this guy with my own hands.’

Because of this troublemaker, there are at least dozens of storylines and quests ruined in each playthrough.

Every time my plans were disrupted, I swallowed my tears and made a vow.

If the gods ever grant me the chance to personally thrash this bastard, I would do my utmost to crush him.

“Fire.”

A chilling proclamation escaped my smiling lips.

Hermod, frozen in terror, and me, grinning ear to ear.

Finally, the barrier sword was unleashed.