episode_0228

Once you swallow the spirit bead I’ve crafted from my Aether, its trace remains within your body. That’s because it’s made by squeezing out a part of my soul, the richest and most concentrated part. The color, the characteristics… there’s a reason I liken it to semen.

And that trace remained in Yuri. Just as I can exchange information with the Oracle from afar, I could pinpoint Yuri’s location outside the slightly warped dimension of the dungeon.

“How have you been?”

“Not good. I masturbated once yesterday, barely relieving my sexual cravings… then you suddenly appeared, and I’m all fired up again.”

“Once?”

“…Five times.”

*Chuckle*

I flaunted my ease, surrounded by countless cadets. I had something to test. Of course, there was also the reason to assert dominance over those who dared to touch my woman. Slightly, no, *very* much so.

I deliberately held Yuri close, stroking her hair. Or should I say, I messed it up terribly? With her disheveled hair buried in my chest, she hugged my waist tightly and rubbed her cheek against mine.

“Mmm~”

“What’s wrong with you, really? Starved?”

“Mmm… Really starved… ♡”

Yuri’s soft cheek pressed against my firm chest, her soft breasts against my taut stomach. It was a sensation I hadn’t felt in a while, and honestly, I was starving too, so I quickly reacted down below.

“…….”

No one around us dared to move during our display of affection. Not a single word was uttered. They simply watched, observing my every move, vaguely waiting for the tense atmosphere to shift to the next phase.

‘…This should be enough.’

I waited as well. For the Examination Management Department to fairly judge my [Transference] magic.

The lack of any sanctions, even after this amount of time, meant our prediction, Nix’s and mine, was correct. Re-entry to the dungeon was impossible only through the portal; re-entry by other means was not restricted.

We were already over 99% certain based on the rulebook and further inquiries, but I waited a little longer to gain final confirmation.

Repeating entering and exiting the dungeon, I slowly began to sense it—a kind of camera illuminating this mock dungeon, a ‘link’ transmitting the internal situation to the outside. It was vague at first, but now I can feel it clearly.

I waved to those watching from outside.

I waited a long time.

“Now… can I really do it?”

No reply came.

Silence is affirmation.

*Whoosh—*

[Myeongyeong Sword], [Myeongyeong Armor], [Myeongyeong Movement], [Soul Release], [Sacred Words], [Aether Barrier].

“Here I go—”

My body emitted a pure white light.

. . .

The battlefield was practically devastated. I knew Yuri’s skills had improved, but the results exceeded my expectations.

On the broadcast screen I checked just before entering the dungeon, there were quite a few cadets around her, but now almost all are gone, only a dozen elite remaining.

Scanning the traces of mana with the Detection Barrier, I saw remnants of mana connecting like a path. It meant she fought while moving incessantly. She must have pushed herself quite hard, thinking it was her last stand.

I’d moved Yuri to a safe zone beyond the range of the battlefield’s barrage. With less than three hours left in the exam, she could rest for a while and we could leave together.

“Kill that bitch—!!”

“Yeeeaah—”

Those guys are weaker than I anticipated.

They’re 2nd or 3rd-year students, based on my memory, but they appear to be at the bottom of the practical ranking. Their attacks are less menacing than our kids. Their movements are large, making their trajectories predictable; slow, and their mana isn’t impactful.

If Yuri had only paced herself better, she would have been the last survivor on this battlefield. If she hadn’t exhausted her mana in one go, but used a hit-and-run strategy, reducing their numbers one by one.

I placed Myeongyeong Sword in the air and evaded the alliance members’ attacks with light movements.

*Swish— Whirl— Slip— Bang—*

Their attacks, thrown with all their might, missed their mark resulting in more wasted energy than successful hits. Soon their attacks stopped, and they caught their breath, glancing at each other.

“Heave… heave…”

“Is it over?”

“Tch— Damn bitch…”

“Then it’s my turn—”

I released the Aether from my dantian as if shooting it from my toes. Using the downward force momentarily, I lightly pushed off the ground and leaped forward.

*Thump-*

My leap was light, but the force in my body was not. The forward momentum, the Aether gathering in my upper body from the recoil of colliding with the ground—I combined both forces, striking the cadets’ abdomens with my fist.

Floraine Martial Arts, Baekmuyeongeok!

A speed unseen by their eyes. Only after dashing through the crowd did the flash of the strike appear.

*Thwack— Thwack-thwack— Thwack-thwack-thwack—!!*

“Kaaaaah—”

I walked away, leaving behind the rising pillar of light. A proper lady doesn’t watch such explosive scenes.

*Shuffleshuffleshuffle-*

“Found her—! It’s really Narias—”

Enemy reinforcements arrived. Upperclassmen armed with various magical tools. They must have diligently hunted and explored until the very end, earning points. Their posture was better than the ones I just defeated, and the mana surging around them was much stronger.

*Chuckle*

But to me, they were just golden goblins with a lot of points and magical tools. Unlike ordinary golden goblins, they’re forming ranks and surrounding me—smart golden goblins, I suppose.

I lightly leaped up, loading my right foot with Aether, raising it high into the air.

With my landing, I drove it straight into the ground.

“Hmph—”

Floraine Martial Arts, Changcheonggak!

*Clangclangbang—!!*

The ground cracked and vibrated violently, centered on my strike. The cadets charging forward lost their balance and stumbled as if an earthquake had struck.

Pure white light erupted from the cracks beneath their feet.

“Kaaah—”

*Boom— Twang—*

Before they could properly scream, a second light appeared, the pillar of light signaling their elimination.

Then.

“—!!”

I sensed an intense surge of mana. When I turned my head towards it, Eve’s magic circle filled the distant sky.

. . .

“Leave the rest to me.”

*Chuckle*

Eve smiled faintly and collapsed. I hugged her body and laid her down in the nearby grass. Even with the shadow of the tree darkening her face, her sharp nose bridge and full lips remained the same. Seeing her face this close was unusual after so long, causing a strange feeling, but I quickly dealt with her, turning to my unexpected guests.

‘I see.’

I understood why the alliance forces heading towards Yuri were weaker than expected. Most of the strong ones had gathered around Eve.

If I were in the same situation, I would have deployed my forces the same way. Yuri employs fast and annoying techniques, while Eve uses brute strength straightforwardly. In terms of fighting power alone, Eve is stronger, but conversely, Yuri presented a greater challenging foe.

‘It means to finish the easier ones quickly.’

The alliance was no joke. Most of their strong fighters were 3rd-year students ranked highly in practical skills, and some 4th-year students about to graduate. Judging by their faces, they include the descendants of the Northern Grand Duke. I also spotted Raymon and Hercules from the exit zone battle.

I needed to quit playing around.

As if accustomed to commanding such battles, they deliberately used their weaker troops against Eve—meat shields to diminish her strength. It’s a somewhat cruel tactic, but such things happen countless times in real warfare.

I have no experience in warfare. They aren’t to be underestimated. I firmly clad myself in the Myeongyeong Armor, taking tense steps forward.

“Nice to meet you again, seniors.”

“…Tch. To think you’d even use Transference magic. We seem to have underestimated you. My apologies.”

“Kek, the daughter of the Namjak family. What’s so great about having four-attribute mana…”

“Don’t push it. You’re quite pretty, perfect as a servant for our Ford Marquis family. I will personally pamper you.”

“Now that I look at you, you’ve got quite large breasts. Are you a virgin? Kek…”

I was surprised by the variety of responses. They, too, didn’t particularly want to achieve a joint victory for the alliance. Their goals were points and individual victories.

And I was somewhat disappointed; I thought those who came to the academy valued effort and growth, but they only saw talent and bloodline.

That look in their eyes. The same greedy, filthy gaze used to erase my mother’s history and drive me to the brink.

*Chuckle*

“I seem to have overestimated you, seniors. To think you couldn’t even defeat a single Eve, what a pitiful state.”

“You bitch—!!”

I laughed with a double meaning: mockery towards losers who hadn’t reclaimed first place once during my absence, and contempt towards their cheap pride that fell for such a pathetic provocation.

I was completely serious.

“You know, because everyone only talks about talent, bloodline, and power, you seem to know nothing… I wasn’t always like this.”

“Why are you telling us this now—”

“Shut up and listen, you pig. I’m telling you. I couldn’t use magic originally. I achieved this through hard work and the help of those I love.”

“This vulgar woman… how dare you speak so disrespectfully to me—”

The man’s words didn’t get delivered. My aura, pressure, and Aether completely dominated the surrounding air.

『Aether control has reached a certain level.』 『Trait, [One Who Loves Mana] changes to [One Who Rules the World].』 『Trait, [One Who Has Transcended Natural Order] is activated.』 『Skill, the ultimate technique of [Shadow Domination], [Shadow World], absorbs its attributes.』 『Skill, [Aether Manipulation], [Aether Barrier], and [Shadow World] attributes are merged.』 『Acquiring new skill: [Domain of Soul Aether]』

“So… you pigs, feel this.”

The skill’s effect already spread around. I flicked my finger, adding a sensational effect.

*Click-*

[Domain of Souls].

A world infinitely different from the phenomenal world where they lived.

Their physical senses dulled; their souls were constricted by the Aether filling the surroundings. The unfair world where their mana, something they could always maneuver like their own limbs, was subjugated under my rule.

I am the ruler of this world.

“A perfect helplessness… where you cannot move even a single finger of your own accord.”