Chapter 75

Chapter 75

I Became the Only Non-mage in the Academy.

Episode 75: Fierce Battle (2)

Evil Law.

It was a peculiar and twisted power from outer space, and those who wielded this power were mostly Mines. The reason was simple: the power optimized for mastering Evil Law was the very power that turned humans into Mines.

Like black paint.

This law, emanating from an alien power, was lethal to humanity.

That power was slowly rising within Tak Yoon-il’s body.

“Tak Yoon-il! Why have you—”

The cry of a fellow guild member echoed.

Mines were humanity’s arch-enemies.

They had to be excluded and eliminated from human society; coexistence was impossible. Their goal was the destruction of humanity.

“It’s simple. This world is doomed to destruction anyway.”

His voice was filled with endless despair, startling even the wailing guild member.

“Even that great and legendary hero only managed to create a ‘reprieve’ by sacrificing himself. It was just a matter of delaying the inevitable.”

So—

Tak Yoon-il looked at me and Kim Seo-hyun with hollow eyes.

“I have become a Mine, since this world is heading towards its end anyway. My role is to liberate you from this despair.”

Flash!

Two members of the Cheonryu Guild moved.

“Run away now! We’ll hold them off here!”

Two guild members, armed with a sword and a spear, stepped forward.

“Hyun-woo and Jae-woo, you were truly good humans.”

He smiled weakly. Tak Yoon-il raised his sword and spear.

“So I’ll send you off first.”

Tak Yoon-il began to move.

“Why would he…”

Kim Seo-hyun muttered with a betrayed expression, which soon changed.

“Let’s run.”

He said with determination.

If we ran now, those two guild members would die. But no one suggested staying to fight together. Park Woon-hyuk quietly nodded in agreement.

“…If we stay, their survival time might extend a bit. But we too will die. If we survive, we can somehow get revenge.”

Park Woon-hyuk clenched his teeth and spoke.

I looked at Tak Yoon-il. Those two wouldn’t last long against him.

“No, we have to fight.”

I gripped Black Heaven tightly and activated Nyeom.

We had to fight.

Now.

“What…?”

“There’s no other time.”

Tak Yoon-il was a Mine.

Mines usually indulged in their own desires. These desires often turned into murderous intent or lust. But once a Mine reached an upper rank, they gained control over their emotions.

“It’s too strange. An upper-rank Mine should be able to control their emotions, but this guy is showing off that he’s a Mine too openly.”

Who were the people here? Me, Kim Seo-hyun, and Park Woon-hyuk.

Kim Seo-hyun was the disciple of a transcendent being called the Thousand Sorcerer. I was a student cherished by Emperor Seo Ye-bin. Park Woon-hyuk might not have had ties to a transcendent being, but he was a top-tier hero and the son of the man leading the Sun Guild, one of Korea’s top three guilds.

If even one of us escaped, Tak Yoon-il would be finished.

If I had been Tak Yoon-il, there was no way I would have let us live.

“Sigh…”

Park Woon-hyuk let out a sigh of exhaustion mixed with a hint of relief.

“If I die, tell my father this. ‘Father, I was grateful to be your son.’”

“…Then, for me, tell my grandfather that I loved him.”

At the last words of Park Woon-hyuk and Kim Seo-hyun, I couldn’t help but give a bitter smile.

“Don’t worry. I will make sure you two survive.”

I gripped Black Heaven tightly and took a step forward.

“Phew.”

This game was damn hard.

Completing the game itself wasn’t difficult. But setting a goal and achieving it within the game was hard.

‘The annihilation of all humanity.’

That was when Kim Seo-hyun would awaken.

After everything was annihilated and the external threat was defeated, staring at the destroyed world with empty eyes.

That was the ending every player saw.

‘Difficulty level: Hell. Now I’m starting to get the hang of it.’

This world did not tolerate compromise.

Thinking, ‘This is good enough. I didn’t do too bad,’ was the moment you wouldn’t survive in this world.

The moment you compromised, you became stagnant and failed to challenge the trials. Thinking, “This is great. Others couldn’t have done it,” was when it truly ended.

This level of challenge wouldn’t even be remembered as a trial in the future.

If death was inevitable, it’s better to face it head-on.

“Let’s go.”

With a determined stride, we entered the battlefield.

Krrraaang!

A shockwave emanated outward. Half of Tak Yoon-il’s body was already radiating demonic energy, and the two guild members were nearly dead.

“Why have you returned?”

“It seemed like a trap, no matter how I looked at it.”

“Is that so?”

Tak Yoon-il chuckled.

I gripped Black Heaven tightly.

‘We need to make this a short battle.’

Fortunately, I excelled in brief encounters.

Fighting a high-ranking Mine is extremely troublesome. It’s challenging to engage in a prolonged battle with someone who has earned the title of ‘Master.’ His body, that of a Mine, meant he possessed greater physical endurance and more robust vitality than most monsters.

“We need to end this fight quickly.”

“Kim Seo-hyun, we need to carve out a path together.”

“Understood.”

Kim Seo-hyun scanned the battlefield with a grave expression, brandishing a sword that glowed with a blue light—the Winter’s Sword.

The Winter’s Sword had been lent to him by me. Kim Seo-hyun’s own sword was impressive but was a growth-type weapon. At this moment, the Winter’s Sword would be more advantageous in combat.

“If by any chance.”

“Yeah?”

“If we survive this fight, I’ll share one of my secrets with you.”

Kim Seo-hyun whispered to me.

I gave a subtle nod. Deep down, I suspected something.

That person, or rather, she was…

“Ha, look at these guys. You shouldn’t say such things. And my father always said, never declare ‘Did I defeat him, did I kill him?’ after winning a battle.”

“You do know all that’s just superstition, right?”

“There’s a reason superstitions exist.”

Park Woon-hyuk lightened the mood with an unexpected joke.

“Then let’s go.”

Pop!

Park Woon-hyuk and Kim Seo-hyun surged forward.

The Winter Sword shimmered.

Crackle! Crackle-crackle!

The Nine Divine Dragons of the Nine Heavens came to Kim Seo-hyun’s call as he summoned three water dragons. In response, the Winter Sword reacted, and with a crackle, the water dragons transformed into ice dragons.

“Ha!”

Tak Yoon-il twisted his lips while his spear vibrated, emitting a buzzing sound.

Swoosh!

A murky energy concentrated at the tip of the spear, sharpening its edge to the level of Sword Qi.

“Young master, I am quite saddened.”

The spear tore through space.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The ice dragons shattered into pieces. Below them, Park Woon-hyuk advanced with a stern expression.

“Hyap!”

The spear gleamed with power.

Fully condensed lightning and wind energy merged, creating a storm-lightning energy that formed the spear’s edge according to Park Woon-hyuk’s intention.

“Indeed worthy of the Sword Emperor’s offspring! You’re already glimpsing the upper rank!”

Tak Yoon-il laughed as he swung his spear.

Krrraaang!

The energies collided, pushing Park Woon-hyuk back, but Kim Seo-hyun stood firm behind him.

“Hyap!”

The Winter Sword radiated light as Kim Seo-hyun made his move, causing Tak Yoon-il’s playful expression to fade.

“I didn’t want to fight the young master.”

Spear and sword met in battle. Moments before impact, Kim Seo-hyun’s sword traced a peculiar trajectory, smooth yet brimming with fierce strength.

Ting.

A soft sound rang out as Tak Yoon-il’s spear thrust was deftly deflected.

“The Taeguk Sword is troublesome. It doesn’t get affected even when weapons clash.”

Kim Seo-hyun manipulated his sword in silence, taking wide steps.

Tak Yoon-il swung his sword. Swoosh—Kim Seo-hyun nimbly moved to dodge it. The sword pursued, but Kim Seo-hyun flipped away, stabbing with incredible speed!

“That’s why I hate fighting the young master. It’s like battling several people, not just one.”

Tak Yoon-il clicked his tongue and countered. He parried with his sword and thrust his spear forward. Kim Seo-hyun flipped once more, summoning water dragons.

Crackle.

The Winter Sword empowered the water dragons, transforming them into ice dragons.

Simultaneously, Kim Seo-hyun’s sword traced a mysterious pattern, imbued with the essence of illusion.

Krrraang!

Sword blossoms erupted. Frozen blue plum blossoms struck Tak Yoon-il’s sword, the Winter Sword’s movement slowing as it began to freeze.

-How many martial arts is he using? The Wudang’s Taeguk Sword, Kunlun’s Unyielding Eightfold Fist, the Jongnam Sect’s Silk Road Method…

Black Heaven exclaimed in surprise.

But I couldn’t respond. I enveloped Black Heaven with the Energy of Defying Heaven and concentrated my energy.

I formed something akin to temporary Sword Qi.

-Seo-ha, I will cast a spell for you.

‘Thanks.’

Eternal Heaven cast a spell. As the Energy of Defying Heaven infused me, my body felt lighter and my senses became keener.

I swallowed an elixir in one gulp.

My body lightened. My strength surged, my senses sharpened.

Clutching Black Heaven, I stepped forward.

“Handling you too seems a bit overwhelming.”

“No, it doesn’t seem that overwhelming.”

Tak Yoon-il chuckled at my words.

“Sometimes, when I look at you guys, I wonder. Maybe I made the wrong choice.”

Tak Yoon-il’s voice sounded gloomy. His form began to contort.

Half of his body.

The darkness-infused half began to swell, soon engulfing his entire form.

-Humanity will find hope in you. Perhaps you could match or even surpass the Seven Evils.

But Tak Yoon-il added.

-You don’t know about the beings above you. The power of ‘those’ who came from outer space. Even the great hero could only delay their invasion, which brings everything to despair.

Pitch black.

Like a shadow puppet, Tak Yoon-il pointed his sword at me.

-Come. I will be your final destination.