Chapter 74

Chapter 74

I Became the Only Non-mage in the Academy.

Episode 74: Fierce Battle (1)

Kuooooo!

A giant water snake, roughly 5 meters long, reared up before us.

It was an elite monster that only appeared after all the other monsters on the first floor had been defeated.

“What should we do?”

“I’ll take the lead.”

Kim Seo-hyun stepped forward in response to Tak Yoon-il’s words. He brought his hands together.

Ssssshhhh!

A dragon, simultaneously cold and hot, materialized.

It was a dragon composed of blue flames—a Blue Flame.

‘Blue Flame?’

It was a power that possessed both cold and heat, a result of altered magical properties. Taken aback by this, Kim Seo-hyun allowed himself a smile.

“I saw this attack in a video recently and thought it would be fun to try out. What do you think?”

“…It seems unnecessary.”

Honestly, the Blue Flame felt gimmicky. It was less potent than using a single attribute since it combined heat and cold. Kim Seo-hyun didn’t need to resort to such tactics.

“Really?”

“Yeah, it feels more like a trick. Since you can use multiple attributes, it might be better to focus on one.”

“…Right.”

With a nod, Kim Seo-hyun moved forward. The Blue Flame dragon surged towards the giant water snake.

Chiiiik!

Crack crack.

Kieeeeeek!

The cold of the dragon turned the snake to ice while the heat charred its flesh.

Yet Kim Seo-hyun’s expression soured. The dragon, summoned through the Nine Heavenly Dragon Technique, was less powerful than he had anticipated.

“It’s true. How did you figure this out so quickly, Seo-ha?”

Well, that’s because I was Veritas.

“…I just saw it.”

“You have a keen eye as well.”

Tak Yoon-il gave me a peculiar look.

“Anyway, let’s finish this first, then we can talk.”

At my suggestion, everyone refocused on the battle.

“Haap!”

With a shout, Kim Seo-hyun summoned two Flame dragons using the Nine Heavenly Dragon Technique. The dragons roared as they charged at the giant water snake.

Kiheek!

With their intense heat, the dragons ravaged the water snake. Chiiiik—steam billowed, shrouding our sight.

But none of us were hindered by the steam.

“I’ll go.”

Park Woon-hyuk grabbed his spear and rushed forward. Fizz! Lightning concentrated on his spear, emitting a sonic boom. Squeak! He sliced right through the midsection of the giant water snake.

“Hmph, not much to it.”

“Don’t show off, just keep moving.”

I grabbed Park Woon-hyuk by the back of his neck with my Black Steps and pulled him back. The severed midsection suddenly swelled and then burst with a bang!

“What?!”

“It’s a kind of self-destruction using water pressure. It wasn’t in the briefing, but these creatures without bodies sometimes have this feature.”

Park Woon-hyuk looked shocked.

Such monsters with these features were rare.

‘Tak Yoon-il seems to have led us here on purpose.’

I glanced sideways at Tak Yoon-il.

Because he has a twisted sense of justice.

“It looks like it’s almost over.”

Kim Seo-hyun was overwhelmingly dominating the water snake. The flame dragons, now increased to three, had reduced the 5-meter-long water snake to less than a meter in size.

“…Impressive.”

“Well, it’s Kim Seo-hyun after all.”

A character in this world who was unreasonably loved by it.

A monster who was taught magic by the Thousand Sorcerer and inherited the millennium martial arts power of Murim.

Also, Kim Seo-hyun, despite his underdeveloped capacity and the dragon heart sealed within his heart, can manifest near-infinite mana.

Although he is still below Kim Ara, Ershil, and Hong Yu-hwa, once Kim Seo-hyun catches up to them, they will never be able to catch up to him again.

‘It’s a bit absurd.’

Kim Seo-hyun’s growth rate was similar to that in a game.

Of course, I was the standard.

He was growing at a level similar to mine, who received various fortunes and growth points.

Despite not winning first place in the Tower of Trials, Kim Seo-hyun had reached that point with his talent alone.

‘I should look more into these relationships.’

His growth rate was unexpectedly fast. If used well, I could accelerate the children’s growth faster than I thought.

“Shall we go underground then?”

“Yes.”

Tak Yoon-il led the group.

In the underground, there were water lizards half again as big as those on the first floor. Kim Seo-hyun and Park Woon-hyuk methodically took care of the water lizards.

“Are you conserving your strength?”

“Yes, I’m stronger in personal combat.”

“Really?”

Tak Yoon-il asked me in a meaningful tone. I glanced around. Tak Yoon-il and two guild members from Cheonryu. Those two were Tak Yoon-il’s subordinates, but if they knew he was a Mine, they would turn their swords against him.

Just before meeting the boss after almost clearing all the water lizards.

Tak Yoon-il said in a meaningful tone.

“What if you meet an enemy you can’t resist?”

“…I think I would run away for later.”

I looked at Tak Yoon-il.

His black eyes seemed to look into an abyss.

“You can’t win even if you plan for later. Even using all means, you can’t win. What if you meet a being so despairingly powerful that you can feel the gap just by looking?”

“…I don’t know.”

Tak Yoon-il’s voice was getting rougher.

I knew why. I knew how strong the beings invading from outer space were.

“Well, somehow, we’ll manage. Korea and the United States exist too.”

“Is that so?”

Tak Yoon-il nodded in agreement.

No, it wasn’t an agreement. It was a kind of resignation. Tak Yoon-il, who became a Mine, was that kind of person.

A being who saw the entities from outer space, became terrified without even fighting, and decided to mercifully end the students’ lives before they faced despair.

That was the Mine, Tak Yoon-il.

“It seems we’re almost there?”

Kim Seo-hyun said in a bright voice. He didn’t seem very tired. Even though sealed, the dragon heart within Kim Seo-hyun continuously supplied him with tremendous vitality and mana.

We went inside. There was a huge cavity.

“This is where the boss monster appears. A giant water snake with the power of cold. It has awakened the ice attribute, so be careful.”

Tak Yoon-il said this, cautioning us.

“Shall I take the lead this time?”

“Seo-ha, you’re going to step in?”

“You shouldn’t have a problem.”

Kim Seo-hyun and Park Woon-hyuk nodded in agreement to me taking the lead alone.

I stepped forward.

Instead of Black Heaven, I drew the Winter’s Sword.

Sleek.

The bright blue blade revealed itself.

“Hoo? That’s a rare treasure sword.”

Tak Yoon-il admired the blade.

-…Wait, master? Are, are you planning to abandon me?

‘Abandon? I’m just practicing.’

Ignoring the panicked Black Heaven, I moved ahead.

The Winter’s Sword emitted a cool magical power. I looked ahead.

A frozen snake, about 10 meters long, appeared.

I surrounded my body with the Energy of Defying Heaven, but I didn’t apply it to the Winter’s Sword. Because the moment I did, the sword’s power would weaken.

‘I need to acquire it quickly.’

Not the Energy of Defying Heaven, but that ‘power’ I had thought of earlier.

Saaaa-!

The giant water snake moved, enveloped in cold. Despite the distance, the temperature dropped. Frost began to form. The cold was less than expected because the Winter’s Sword was blocking it.

Click.

I switched on something in my mind. Divine Sight activated. The world took on colors. A world of vibrant mana colors.

Step.

I stepped forward with my right foot and tilted the sword to the left. My senses heightened. The snake slithered towards me.

I couldn’t use the Energy of Defying Heaven, but my body, honed by Black God Martial Arts, was powerful. Based on the standards of Korea Hero Academy, even without using the Energy of Defying Heaven, I could beat most students with just my physical strength.

Saaaa-!

My senses told me. I found a gap as the water snake approached. A step late, Divine Sight captured its weakness. I swiftly swung the Winter’s Sword.

The sword shot out like light. It didn’t contain the Energy of Defying Heaven, but my robust physique allowed me to move as fast as any martial artist.

Cheoooeoeng!

The Winter’s Sword clashed with the water snake’s body. The sound of steel striking was intense.

Kieeeeeek!

A shallow cut appeared on the snake’s body, soon followed by a creeping cold. The extreme ice power of the Winter’s Sword froze the wounded area.

‘If the wound of a frozen snake freezes, it doesn’t make much difference.’

I sheathed the Winter’s Sword and stored it in the void.

-Seo-ha, your handling was excellent, but only those with the Energy of Defying Heaven can use it like a treasure sword, unless it’s Black Heaven.

-Right, master. So, keep taking good care of my body too… Huk!

While I was handling Black Heaven with Dexterity, it moaned and blushed.

‘……’

Ignoring it, I infused Black Heaven with the Energy of Defying Heaven. Zing—the sword resonated with a strange sound.

Waves of sonic energy began to emanate from Black Heaven as the Energy of Defying Heaven wrapped around it.

“…This is truly an inexplicable power.”

“Isn’t that a peculiar external technique?”

“No. It’s a power of denial, but it seems to follow some rules. It’s not from outer space…?”

The Cheonryu Guild members looked confused.

“See? Seo-ha’s power is really unique, isn’t it?”

Kim Seo-hyun chattered excitedly.

‘Why are you so excited?’

Shaking my head in disbelief, I surged forward using Black Flash Step.

The water snake opened its mouth, gathering sky-blue mana inside, which I could see through Divine Sight.

Paat!

I leapt into the air.

Flipping my body, I thrust Black Heaven forward, channeling the finesse of the Black Flash Sword Technique.

An exhilarating sensation of a swift strike surged through Black Heaven. I created a foothold in the air and leapt again.

Chwaaak!

And just like that, I cleaved the water snake’s head in two.

“…?”

I was startled.

The water snake seemed poised to attack, but it died in a single hit.

-I miscalculated.

-It’s because the vessel of power you wield has grown. As you have ascended to an intermediate level, you can now contain more Energy of Defying Heaven at once, resulting in a tremendous increase in your attack power.

‘…Is that so?’

-Previous masters have experienced this too… but this time, it seems a bit more extreme.

A sparring session might turn into murder if I was not careful.

I didn’t want uncontrolled power. I pondered for a moment but then shook my head.

Tak Yoon-il was looking at me with dark eyes.

“You.”

His voice scraped like iron.

Kim Seo-hyun, Park Woon-hyuk, and the two Cheonryu Guild members who had come with us sensed something was off and were on guard against Tak Yoon-il.

“You’re the prophesied being, born to exterminate all Mines.”

His voice was sad, but there seemed to be a hint of joy in it. Tak Yoon-il laughed.

It coincided with the manifestation of divine judgment.