A large training ground located at the center of the academy.

    Seven professors inside the training ground.

    The first to notice that something was amiss was Professor Jung Eun-hye, who had created the artificial dungeon.

    “Hmm…?”

    “What’s going on, Professor Jung?”

    One of the professors from Class 2 expressed confusion.

    “Just a moment… Some systems seem to have gone offline suddenly…”

    Some systems going offline? What could that mean?

    Curiosity didn’t linger for long.

    “Uh… Why, why did the permissions suddenly…?”

    “…! Could you please provide a detailed explanation?”

    “Well, some commands I embedded while creating the artificial dungeon seem to be malfunctioning… No, not just malfunctioning, but the permissions themselves have disappeared.”

    “What does that mean…?”

    “The permissions that have vanished include the dungeon’s observation view, immediate recall upon suffering fatal damage, and…”

    She was the one who had conducted the final check just before the students participated in the training.

    Confident that there were no flaws in the formula she had created, it was supposed to be a safe dungeon.

    Sensing that something was amiss, Professor Jung Eun-hye urgently began to unravel and inspect the structure of the formula she had created.

    “…!? The emergency recall permission is gone?! W-What on earth is happening…?”

    With trembling eyes, she searched for the malfunctioning formula and eventually found a section completely erased.

    “This is… Could it be!?”

    “Professor Jung, have you figured it out!?”

    Visualizing only the faulty formula, she hastily began using magic to rectify the malfunction.

    After restoring some permissions, she checked the state of the dungeon and informed the professors.

    “The restraint on the 5th-floor boss has disappeared! Moreover, unidentified intruders have been spotted in some dungeons!”

    “Isn’t this dangerous! We need to stop the training immediately!”

    “It’s impossible! To activate the emergency recall permission, we need to imprint the coordinates of all students again, which will take time!”

    Restoring the emergency recall permission takes time.

    At that moment, Professor Baek Dan-yoon approached Professor Jung Eun-hye and asked,

    “Please inform me about the dungeon where the intruders appeared, the individual from that team, and the situation on the 5th floor.”

    “…Confirmed! There are a total of 5 unidentified intruders. Their locations are within the dungeons of Lee Hwa-young, Han Se-young, Kang Jin-hyuk, Shin Se-rin, and the last student from Team Hangeol!”

    She displayed the perspective of the 5th-floor boss room like a screen.

    Subsequently, she described the situation on the 5th floor.

    “A change in the 5th-floor boss detected! From an illusion… a boss with a physical form has appeared.”

    Only illusions made up the dungeons and monsters.

    The appearance of a physical entity meant that one could potentially lose their life.

    “Our professors will enter the five dungeons. Locking in the coordinates.”

    “I will reduce the coordinate designation… It will take a minimum of 5 minutes to lock them in.”

    Five minutes, whether fast or slow.

    “??? Team Hangeol has encountered the boss and engaged in combat!”

    Already, a team had reached the 5th-floor boss room amidst chaos, as Professor Jung Eun-hye urgently relayed.

    Shortly after, less than a minute passed, and it was reported that the remaining four teams had also begun combat with the boss.

    – Roarrrrr!!!!!!!!

    The boss, with its skin darkening and ferocity intensifying, let out a roar.

    “That’s… magic!?”

    “These lunatics!! What did they sprinkle around before coming here!!!!”

    Had they discerned the identities of the individuals who had already disappeared from sight?

    The professors quickly deduced the identities and ominous aura emanating from the dark purple figures appearing around the boss.

    “Ha…, are we left with no choice but to pray whether they will defeat or endure the boss…?”

    Professor Baek Dan-yoon gazed at the screen with a defeated expression.

    However, his expectations soon shifted.

    They were all outstanding students among the first-years, each with exceptional potential.

    A magi has appeared, but judging by its state, the amount of magi seems minimal.

    It only seems to have increased in strength from the original.

    As long as one does not let their guard down, although it may be difficult, they should be able to subdue it.

    “I’m sorry, but reality is harsh. So overcome yourself in that place. Take a step towards the goal of becoming a hero.”

    Of course, there was no tension within the team that Ewayoung belonged to.

    ·····

    5th floor.

    Tap-tap-

    “Have those guys already reached the boss room? I can’t see them anywhere.”

    “If they’re at this pace, it seems like they’ve been running without a break···.”

    “At this rate, they might end up lying on the ground while fighting the boss.”

    We are leisurely walking towards the location of the boss room through the path cleared by the three inspectors.

    Since all traps seem to be destroyed, did they just forcefully break through?

    Once training is over, what should we do? Should we meet Jung Yuna and say hello? Everyone else except her has exchanged greetings.

    Anyway, now that we’ve enrolled in the academy, the main scenario will progress, and we need to review the details once again.

    First scenario, first chapter: Assigned to the academy class.

    Cleared.

    Second chapter: Practical training.

    In progress.

    ··· In progress?

    Wait, practical training? What was it about?

    Don’t panic, slowly recall the content.

    Practical training, betrayal, accident, trapped.

    ··· Oh no, is it happening now?!?!

    “Baek Chaerin, I have a bad feeling. Let’s pick up the pace from now on.”

    “··? Okay-”

    Kyaahhh―!!!!!!!!!!

    -Aaargh!!!!

    “Eeek!?”

    “Oh, seriously!!!!!”

    After telling Baek Chaerin that I’ll go ahead, I put strength into my legs and jump forward.

    Running at full speed, we soon see the boss room with the door wide open.

    Upon entering the boss room, we see the three inspectors lying on the ground, apparently unconscious.

    Surrounding their bodies are purple centipedes crawling and a hob goblin with black skin wielding a weapon.

    The hob goblin, who had an adult-sized physique, seemed even larger in its presence.

    It seemed ready to strike the fallen male students at any moment.

    I pick up the fallen sword at the door and throw it towards the boss.

    [Grrrk?]

    -Craaash!!

    The axe, which was about to strike down, deflects as it blocks the sword I threw.

    It would have been too heartless if it had died just now.

    Still, it’s fortunate that a complete balance collapse didn’t occur.

    I secretly wondered if the difficulty level would have increased due to my intervention as a being, but with a mediocre magi-holding hob goblin, such thoughts were unnecessary.

    “Han Gyeol, I’ll take care of it from the corner, so please start treating those guys first.”

    “···!! Okay!”

    Fortunately, Baek Chaerin also arrived, and although we don’t know the condition of those guys, we can be relieved.

    [Grrrrrr!!!!]

    Thud.. Thud..!

    Whether recognizing me as the owner of the sword aimed at it, the boss slowly walks towards me.

    The already fallen three are just bait, is that it?

    If it had ignored me and tried to finish off the fallen ones, it would have been more troublesome. It’s a relief.

    I also adjust my posture and prepare to respond to the boss’s attack.

    ‘Am I frightening right now?’

    My life is on the line in the first real battle.

    Am I trembling in front of the reinforced hob goblin with unstable magi?

    No, that’s not the answer.

    There’s no reason to be afraid.

    I could have easily cleared such a hob goblin with one hand while eating.

    ‘What are the chances of me defeating it?’

    What am I pondering about?

    Obviously, it’s 100%.

    -Snick

    “It seems like I’m following Kang Jinhyuk’s words… Let’s have a match!!”

    [Kieeeaaaahhh!!!!!!!!!]

    Thud! Thud! Thud!

    Agile movement speed that doesn’t match its size.

    With all stats boosted by magi, I just need to move faster accordingly.

    Raising the axe high and striking down as if to split the head in half.

    If I read the attack, all I need to do is dodge.

    Plunging diagonally to the right, I slash at the waist.

    -Shk!

    [Kiaaaa!!!]

    “Whoosh-!”

    I dodge the axe swinging towards me as I continue running forward.

    Just a scratch, nothing serious.

    Even with my current strength, enhancing my body would only result in such minor scratches.

    With my meager mana reserves, this will probably last about five minutes at best.

    Moreover, the professors are likely already assessing and handling the situation.

    If I take it slow, reinforcements will arrive, and the situation will be resolved.

    But…

    “No, that won’t do. I have to be the one to catch it for it to mean something.”

    Tap-tap-

    It’s crucial that I fight and defeat this creature to gain experience.

    Starting with this one, I’ll pave the way towards becoming a hero step by step.

    As I move out of the goblin’s attack range and lightly tap its shoulder with my sword, I ponder.

    A goblin reinforced with magic.

    My sword can’t deliver any significant blows to its body.

    Really?

    “There’s one spot left, right!!”

    This time, I charge towards the goblin first.

    The goblin extends its axe towards me,

    -Clang!!

    The axe stops right in front of my face, luring me into its attack.

    Then, it strikes the same spot on my right side where it had previously wounded me.

    [Kyaaaahhh!!!!!!!!!]

    This time, I manage to keep the axe at bay, preventing it from coming closer by swinging it around.

    “Feeling the sting? Let’s go again!”

    I rush towards the goblin once more.

    Seemingly intelligent enough to anticipate, it pretends to swing widely, waiting for me to dive in.

    I won’t fall for that.

    [Ki-ki-ki!!!]

    Same movements as before, same swings.

    Thinking its trick worked, it grins eerily while defending its waist from my sword with the side of the axe.

    Sorry.

    Thud!! -Thump!

    [Ki??]

    “What I was aiming for wasn’t just a single point of focus…”

    You’re an eye candy.

    -Thud!!!

    [Kieeeek!!!Kiaaaaaaahhh!!!!!!!!!!!!]

    Stepping on the goblin’s leg, then its arm, climbing up to its shoulder, I deliver a satisfying blow as it looks at me with eyes wide open.

    This time, it seems like a fatal hit as it grabs its eye with one hand, starts swinging the axe wildly, and goes berserk.

    Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump!

    Due to my dangerously low mana stats, prolonging this further could be risky.

    “Let’s finish this slowly.”

    One strike, and it’s over.

    I focus my consciousness, blink once, and familiar sights greet me.

    Blocking my view and standing facing the goblin, I assume the upper stance.

    The stance is similar to a vertical cut, so why is there a difference in impact?

    In the game, it’s the second-best grade from the top, so performance shouldn’t be an issue.

    But this is reality. What could be different?

    It lies in the unique mana manipulation of swordsmanship.

    Breathing in, I infuse mana into the sword.

    Exhaling, I compress the mana in the sword as if conserving space.

    Filling the void with mana so densely that no foreign substance can penetrate.

    While executing this process, I rapidly circulate mana to the limits through my body in optimal condition.

    Swordsmanship, which has lived hearing words of lacking talent, breaking the mold to build its own skill.

    Here, the end of swordsmanship’s technique, but at the very end, the swordsmanship that grasped the stars, the sword he wanted to leave behind for future generations.

    The skill he built up as his own talent merged with his sword.

    And now, what I am learning has become my sword.

    Operate the body explosively.

    Whoosh- Swish-

    Infuse mana into the sword. Compress it, then compress it again.

    Roar-!!!!

    Recalling the sensation of the star contained in the sword by the late swordmaster, I revisit the memories I witnessed.

    Contain the world in one strike.

    Contain death in one blow.

    Dedicate your lifelong dreams to the sword.

    When they gather and unite, until they become one.

    [One Stroke (一文字)]

    [Kyaaaaaaahhhh――!!!!!!]

    -Swish!!

    -Roar!!!!!!!!!!!

    Thud-thud-

    “Wow…”

    Han Gyeol stood in the center of the boss room, still in his vertical slashing pose.

    In front of Han Gyeol lay a goblin split in half, lifeless.

    The boss’s body was so mangled that it created cracks from the floor to the wall, unable to contain it.

    “Sigh…”

    Han Gyeol muttered quietly as he retrieved his sword.

    Time elapsed since the start of the battle: approximately 2 minutes, 23 seconds, 03 milliseconds.

    “Boss Goblin, extermination complete.”

    Battle concluded.

    0 Comments

    Heads up! Your comment will be invisible to other guests and subscribers (except for replies), including you after a grace period.
    Note
    // Script to navigate with arrow keys