Chapter 138: Traitors of the Reverse Heaven Sect (5)
"Hah, hah..."
Heavy breathing is practically the same as announcing my current state to the enemy.
However, regardless of my will, my ragged breaths showed no signs of stopping.
It was proof of just how difficult this battle had become.
"Damn it..."
At that moment, I heard Ryu Jin-oh’s irritated voice from beside me.
Glancing over at him, I saw that he, much like me, was drenched in sweat as if he had been caught in a downpour.
The small wounds carved all over his body were also clearly visible.
'Ha Eun-ha is healing us, but there are limits to what she can do.'
She was not just looking after one or two people here.
While Im Seong-cheol and Ju Ha-yeon were doing fine, she also had to keep an eye on Kim Su-hyeok and Oh Jin-eon.
Because of that, she could not help but leave the minor injuries unattended.
'I expected it to be tough, but I did not think it would be this bad.'
I had already anticipated a difficult fight before the battle even began.
However, the course of the battle was even more grueling than I had imagined.
Despite our efforts to divide and conquer to prevent the Apostles from helping one another, their teamwork was extraordinary.
'That is why we still have not been able to deal with the dagger user.'
Normally, Im Seong-cheol would have had plenty of time to finish off the Apostle wielding the daggers.
It should have been impossible for the dagger user to hold out against Im Seong-cheol in a one-on-one fight.
However, as individuals experienced in real combat, the other Apostles continued to find openings in our attacks to provide constant support to their comrade.
Furthermore, Im Seong-cheol was intermittently assisting Kim Su-hyeok and Oh Jin-eon whenever they were in danger, so it was not strange at all that the dagger user was still standing.
'...And their powers of observation are also outstanding.'
The situation was so urgent that I did not know how things were going on the archer’s side, but this side was certainly not easy.
The Apostle wielding the sword had accurately identified the weaknesses of both Ryu Jin-oh and me and was responding accordingly.
When facing Ryu Jin-oh, who used a greatsword, he moved with greater speed.
And...
'When he faces me, he persistently targets my left side...'
Yu-hyeon had told me before.
He said that anyone with a certain level of skill would surely identify my weakness.
He warned that a weakness identified in such a way would surely prove fatal.
Those words were the absolute truth, without a single lie mixed in.
'I am trying to compensate for it somehow, but...'
It did not go as I wished.
In fact, how many times had I almost caused a more dangerous situation by failing when I tried to use my left hand?
Therefore, contrary to my desire, I had no choice but to be vulnerable even while knowing it was my weakness.
'Damn it!'
Anger flared within me.
Was I angry at this situation that forced me to overcome my trauma? No, the one I was angry at was myself.
'What am I supposed to do if I keep staying shackled to the past...!'
I intended to ignore it if it did not become a problem.
However, it was clearly becoming a problem in this current situation.
Because of that, I could not help but feel a heavy psychological burden.
'If I fight while enduring the penalties of both my talent and my artifacts, a way might open up.'
However, that was not an element I could judge recklessly.
Was I hesitating because points were a waste? Was I afraid of the aftermath of the penalty?
How could I think such things during a battle to protect the hero I admire, of all things?
There was a good reason for my hesitation.
'Just as I have hidden cards, it is right to assume the enemy has them as well.'
On the surface, it might look like everyone is giving their all in this battle.
But that is a foolish thought.
I did not know if everyone was doing it, but I could tell that Ryu Jin-oh, Kim Su-hyeok, and Im Seong-cheol definitely had a hidden move up their sleeves.
Was it because they did not care for Ha Eun-ha?
Absolutely not.
'It is because we do not know the enemy's full strength.'
In a battlefield where many fight together, it is usually beneficial to reveal all the cards in one's hand.
If a flaw appears while revealing those cards, a comrade can simply fill that gap.
Yes, that would be true if this were just a fight to the death.
'But the ultimate goal right now is to protect Ha Eun-ha.'
That was why no one could recklessly reveal all their cards.
What if the enemies, once they were at a disadvantage, used all their remaining cards to try and kill Ha Eun-ha in a suicide attack?
If we had no moves left then, we would surely fail to stop them.
In short, while the battle looked simple on the surface, everyone was actually running complex calculations in their heads.
'Of course, it is not as if I am not using my talent at all...'
If I had not used my talent in the first place, I would have been knocked out long ago rather than just holding my ground.
Although I had improved a lot compared to before, my pure physical abilities were still not outstanding.
To be honest, I was probably around the top-tier of C-Rank players.
So, while I was fighting using Do Gang-ho’s physical enhancement, it was still not easy.
'If an opening appeared, I would try using Blue Nightmare.'
However, the opponent was not some random person but a villain with seasoned experience.
Even while constantly checking the flow of the battle, he never took his eyes off us.
Thanks to that, I was only using Blue Nightmare to replenish my lacking mana.
'What should I do...'
It was then.
CLANG!
The Apostle, who had briefly paused to catch his breath, lunged at Ryu Jin-oh once again.
At the same time, the Apostle opened his mouth, which had been firmly shut since the battle began.
"I will give you credit."
What exactly was he giving us credit for?
I took over for Ryu Jin-oh and focused on the man's words.
"At first, I thought you were just greenhorns who did not know their place, but my judgment was wrong. I will acknowledge that you have the skill to block us, even if you cannot kill us."
"What are you saying all of a sudden...!"
"However, you are merely greenhorns who know their place. In the end, the fact that you are greenhorns does not change."
Instantly, a sense of unease surged within me.
What was the reason for him to suddenly say such things?
Had he remained silent this whole time only to say this because he felt like it?
'That cannot be it.'
Is it true that you can understand a person by fighting them?
I had not known him for long, but I could at least tell that the Apostle wielding the sword was not that type of person.
Therefore, I heightened my tension even further.
"Now!"
The Apostle let out a loud shout.
Was it a signal they had agreed upon beforehand?
Simultaneously with the Apostle’s shout, an immediate reaction came from the archer and the dagger user.
"We have to block it!"
At that movement, Kim Su-hyeok shouted loudly and charged toward the archer. Im Seong-cheol, Oh Jin-eon, and Ju Ha-yeon also moved immediately, but...
"No!"
They failed to stop the actions of the archer and the dagger Apostle.
Even though they had acted by surprise, how could this happen when everyone was paying sufficient attention?
The reason was quite simple.
"Urgh!"
The targets of the archer and the dagger user were not the opponents in front of them.
The groans of pain just now did not come from Im Seong-cheol or the others, but from the archer and the dagger Apostle.
They had launched an attack toward Ryu Jin-oh and me even while enduring the damage dealt to themselves.
"Tsk!"
Thanks to that, a rain of arrows and daggers began to fall toward us.
I heard Ryu Jin-oh clicking his tongue.
Ryu Jin-oh would not have reacted that way if it were a normal attack.
'Was this the move they were hiding!'
These were not randomly fired attacks.
Every single one was a heavy strike infused with mana.
I did not know if it was an attack through a talent or a technique they had practiced.
However, one thing was certain.
'These are not attacks that can be easily blocked.'
But that was not the only problem.
Was there not another enemy right in front of our eyes?
The Apostle wielding the sword was already glaring at us and charging forward.
Therefore, I spoke aloud the best judgment I could make in the current situation.
"I will block those, so you focus on him!"
In terms of speed, I was far ahead of Ryu Jin-oh, who used a greatsword, because I was also using physical enhancement.
So, the most ideal situation was for Ryu Jin-oh to deal with that Apostle while I blocked the falling arrows and daggers.
Knowing this, Ryu Jin-oh followed my words without a complaint.
The only problem was...
'Every single one is an attack infused with mana.'
Therefore, mana was required even to deflect them.
However, my mana capacity was on the lower side. Even with Blue Nightmare, it was impossible to drink while striking those things down.
'I need to focus.'
The way to create the best outcome with limited mana was simple.
I just had to strike down only the attacks that were actually likely to hit us.
'The problem is that it is difficult.'
These were not arrows fired by a normal archer, nor were they daggers thrown by a special forces soldier.
These were all weapons launched by Players.
This meant that curved shots, which are realistically impossible, might be feasible.
Curved shots had actually appeared several times during the battle, so I could never let my guard down.
'So I have to focus properly.'
Not every attack would be like that.
I had to find the hidden moves mixed in between and eliminate them for sure.
If I were skilled enough to block every single attack, it would not be a problem, but I was not.
So, I began to strike down the daggers and arrows with maximum concentration.
CLANG! CLANG!
SCREECH!
The loud friction of metal against metal echoed.
Listening to the friction that sounded like someone's scream, I swallowed my joy inwardly.
'I can definitely block this!'
I naturally struck down the ones coming straight for us and focused on the others, striking them if they showed any sign of curving.
It felt like I was consuming a significant amount of mental energy, but I still had no problem blocking them.
It was possible because I was not trying to destroy them head-on but was merely deflecting them with minimal force.
However.
"That is why you are greenhorns."
I soon realized just how arrogant, conceited, and complacent that judgment had been.
Calling us greenhorns once again, the Apostle lunged toward Ryu Jin-oh.
The posture of his sword swing and the way he charged were no different from before.
But the result when their swords collided was completely different.
BOOM!
"Ugh!!"
It was a roar as if thunder had struck the ground.
With that roar, Ryu Jin-oh’s knees, which had held firm until now, collapsed.
"Ryu Jin-oh!"
I was stupid.
Just as we were minding our opponents and trying to understand the battle, I had completely forgotten that the enemy would be doing the same.
Furthermore, because the attacks from the archer and the dagger user were so flashy, my mind had subconsciously forgotten one major detail.
That was the fact that the Apostle wielding the sword had not shown his hidden move yet.
"Damn it...!"
That guy must have acted with all of this calculated.
He knew I would step forward to block the attacks from the archer and the dagger user, and he knew I would have to focus only on blocking after realizing my mana was insufficient.
In that case, a situation naturally arose where he only had to worry about Ryu Jin-oh.
And he used his hidden move in a single strike.
A move powerful enough to force Ryu Jin-oh to his knees.
'I was conceited.'
I thought I had been participating in the battle while sufficiently observing its essence.
But that was my delusion.
My success in hunting a monster equivalent to B-Rank with Kim Su-hyeok, and my successful deal with Baek Ha-seong.
On top of that, receiving a medal and my special training with Yu-hyeon.
Because I had reached this point without a single failure, I had become conceited without even knowing it.
'So...'
Now it was time to pay the price.
The price for the conceit that I failed to prevent despite my efforts.
The problem was that the price was far too high.
'You bastard!'
Was it because he had dealt a fatal blow to Ryu Jin-oh?
No.
Even though it was obvious that a dangerous situation would have followed if he had delivered a follow-up strike, he did not touch Ryu Jin-oh.
Why?
Because the initial goal mentioned by the Sect Leader was...
"Ha Eun-ha!"
"Eun-ha! Run!!"
"No!!!"
It was Ha Eun-ha.
As soon as he broke through the wall that was Ryu Jin-oh, the Apostle ran toward Ha Eun-ha.
Ha Eun-ha failed to react to his charge in time.
'No, she wouldn't be able to dodge even if she reacted.'
It was not just his strength that had increased; his speed was also faster.
Ryu Jin-oh was in a state where he could not stand up due to the recoil.
Furthermore, Im Seong-cheol and the other students were too late to help Ha Eun-ha due to the persistent offensive of the other two Apostles, who did not even mind their own bleeding.
Even if I used my talent while enduring the penalty, it would take time to manifest.
Then I was supposed to just watch Ha Eun-ha die?
'I can't let that happen...'
If only I had not sent Yu-hyeon away, if only I had analyzed the opponent a little more carefully.
This would not have happened.
It was a situation that occurred solely due to my mistake.
To think that the hero would die because of me when I said I would protect her—what kind of sophistry was that!
"I will stop him."
I will stop him no matter what.
Fortunately, there was one way.
There was only one way to block the Apostle and protect Ha Eun-ha in this situation.
The only problem was...
'There is a high probability that I will die.'
Had I not said it?
That I am not afraid of death if it is to protect a hero.
Furthermore, this was a situation caused by my own complacent judgment.
Therefore, without a moment's hesitation, I immediately put that one method into action.
"Cohesion. To Agility."
It was Kim Su-hyeok’s talent, which I had purchased from the shop after the midterm exams ended.
Unlike other talents, it was a talent that was applied immediately.
That talent now began to manifest instantly through my voice.
"Phew!"
I did not have time to look at the Status Window, but I could feel it with my body.
I had surpassed the limits of my body and obtained a speed close to S-Rank.
If it were now, I would have no trouble reaching Ha Eun-ha.
"Urgh!!"
However, the price was also clear.
My heart felt like it would burst, my legs felt like they would break, and I could not feel my mana at all.
Because I had shifted everything to Agility, my other stats could not support me.
But.
'I just need to reach her!'
If I can just reach her.
If only I can reach her.
I can protect Ha Eun-ha.
With that, I poured all my mental strength into running toward Ha Eun-ha.
STAB!
"Ah..."
The Apostle’s sword thrust out with the sound of piercing flesh.
Then, bewilderment began to color the eyes of the expressionless Apostle.
"Wh-What."
The Apostle’s stuttering voice followed.
Seeing that, I was finally able to let out a smile.
"Damn it. I made it..."
The place the Apostle’s sword had pierced was not Ha Eun-ha.
It was my body, after I had pushed her away.
Somehow... I had succeeded in saving Ha Eun-ha.
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