Chapter 144: Rising Dawn, a Past Surpassed (6)
“Whew, it has been a while, so I struggled a bit.”
It had been years since I last held a sword with both hands.
Unfortunately, I could not swing it like I used to right away, unlike some manga protagonist.
So, it took a bit of time to recall my old sense of it, but muscle memory is a persistent thing, so it did not take too long.
I was focusing strength into my hands as I gripped the sword when it happened.
“Just who the hell are you?”
The question burst out from the Apostle I had been continuously exchanging blows with.
I tilted my head as if he were asking something obvious.
“I am a Glory cadet. A first-year, for your information.”
“…That is not what I was asking.”
Well, of course it was not.
I only answered that way to try and rattle him.
After all, upsetting someone’s composure is not something done with a single word; you have to land continuous emotional damage.
However, continuing with useless chatter would not have much effect, so I spoke up with a smirk.
“Does it really matter what you ask? We both just want to kill each other, so what use is knowing?”
“…I only said it because I have never seen a madman like you before.”
Hmm, a madman.
“Hearing that from a Villain like you makes me feel a bit unpleasant.”
“It is a fact that you are more of a lunatic than a Villain like me. No one in this world fights while letting holes be punched into their own body.”
“It made a mess out of you, so it was a wise strategy. Does ‘madman’ really fit?”
“The fact that you even think that makes you a madman.”
I suppose someone else watching might think so as well.
In fact, it was not just him; even the kids looked horrified.
But the thing was.
‘What is the problem?’
As long as I did not die, I would be completely healed.
What did that imply?
It meant I could take the easy way through a difficult path.
In reality, the only talent I was using right now was Do Gang-ho’s Physical Enhancement.
Furthermore, I was only using a small amount—about 20%—rather than going for high efficiency.
It was a brilliant method that avoided penalties which could lead to a disastrous situation while also saving my limited points. There was no way I would refuse it.
‘Well, it is not like there are no problems at all.’
The issues were things like the pain I felt when attacked or the risk of Ha Eun-ha’s healing not coming in on time.
But even those were not major problems.
I had absolute faith in Ha Eun-ha, and I could sufficiently endure the pain using the Persistence talent.
In short, it was a perfect strategy with nothing to be concerned about.
I was refusing to acknowledge the "madman" comment when it happened.
“AAAAHHHH!!!”
A single scream erupted amidst the scene of battle, where only the sound of tearing air from clashing metal had been raging.
It was a scream so intense that one could feel the owner had truly put their soul into it just by hearing it.
I immediately checked the direction of the scream, and upon seeing the source, I could not help but smile widely inside.
WHOOSH!
The source of the sound was where Im Seong-cheol was.
Since there was no way Im Seong-cheol would let out a scream like that, the owner had to be the dagger-wielding Apostle.
Just as I expected, the dagger-wielding Apostle was burning in Im Seong-cheol’s Blue Flame.
“That side is finished.”
Until now, the dagger Apostle had been running away so well that it made me wonder if he had put all his stats into Agility if this were a game, but it was definitely over for him now.
After all, although the conditions for applying Im Seong-cheol’s Blue Flame were difficult, it was not a fire that was easily extinguished once it caught.
The Blue Flame was a flame that fed on mana to burn.
As long as mana did not vanish from that Apostle, it would likely continue to burn.
‘Since mana does not just disappear from a Player, he is as good as dead.’
And the archer also seemed to be effectively finished.
Kim Su-hyeok had pushed himself, but since he could maintain his condition thanks to Ha Eun-ha’s healing, the balance on the archer’s side had also collapsed.
In the past, things might have been different, but the awakened Ha Eun-ha’s healing was not single-target; it was area-of-effect.
Area-of-effect healing with an overwhelming amount of restoration.
If this were a game, people probably would have cursed about what kind of broken character she was.
“Then shall we settle things here too?”
“…….”
“Everyone else is working so hard, we cannot be the only ones to lose.”
I spoke as I looked at the Apostle before me.
Of course, I could just parry his attacks moderately and wait for support.
Even though they were in a situation where they could not perform a pincer attack, unlike the other two Apostles, this guy seemed to still have energy left.
I suspected his individual skill might be the highest among them.
‘But there is no real need for that.’
In a way, it might look like recklessness.
Since I was refusing to wait when I could, it might feel like I was just impatient.
However, my judgment was by no means reckless.
‘The damage I have steadily accumulated is not going anywhere.’
One could tell just by looking at him.
Since he was hiding his face with a robe, I could not see his expression properly, but the veins on his hands were bulging excessively.
That meant he was putting more strength into his hands than before, an action that could never come from a normal state.
He was likely tense, thinking about the end.
‘So it is a final battle well worth the risk.’
Everyone must be exhausted, so I should not make them struggle more.
Even if Ha Eun-ha’s healing is applied, it does not mean the accumulated fatigue in the body disappears.
Therefore, I stared at the Apostle and spoke in a low voice.
“If this damn cathedral were just a bit smaller, it would have been over sooner. It took a long time, did it not?”
“…You bastard.”
“For your information, this will be your grave. Do you have any last words? If you do, I will listen. Just listen.”
The Apostle could no longer endure my provocation, which I delivered with a mocking tone.
“Fine! Even if I die here, I will make sure to cut off the head of the brat who ruined the plan!”
Hmm, did his true nature come out now that he is cornered, even though he was quiet at first?
It was a comment that did not really need an answer, but since it seemed a bit pathetic for a final statement, I decided to give him a special reply.
“Go watch some movies or read some novels. I have never seen anyone who talked like that actually succeed. Haha.”
Of course, with 100% pure sarcasm.
“You!!!”
The Apostle, his anger finally reaching its peak, rushed toward me while radiating killing intent.
Unfortunately, only his momentum was good.
“Do not ignore me, you insect.”
As soon as he saw the guy move, Ryu Jin-oh blocked his path.
It was the same formation as when they had attacked Ha Eun-ha earlier.
CRASH!
But the result was completely different.
“Ugh!!”
“You dare ignore me with that level of skill?”
The Apostle’s attack was blocked with perfect precision.
The Apostle let out a groan.
And then there was Ryu Jin-oh’s provocation, delivered in a voice full of annoyance.
There was not a single thing that was the same as before.
It looked like he had used Declaration of Domain; Ha Eun-ha was not the only one who had changed.
“Then I should go as well.”
An admired hero… no. Before that, my colleague and friend is fighting.
It would be wrong to just watch from behind.
If a close friend has raised his sword for me, it is only right that I raise my sword for him in return.
Therefore, I lunged toward the Apostle, who was slightly stiff after being pushed back in the contest of strength against Ryu Jin-oh.
“This will be a bit different from before.”
With those words, I swung my sword as if to end the enemy’s life in a single stroke.
My stance was low, with the sword aimed at the opponent’s lower body.
However, even if he was not in top condition, the opponent was someone who had rolled through countless scenes filled with death.
“Do you think I will fall for such an attack!”
He immediately changed his stance and blocked my attack by planting his sword into the ground.
I was not flustered, however.
I had not rushed in with confidence just to swing this one strike.
“Ryu Jin-oh!”
As my sword and his clashed, a shout erupted from my mouth.
I only called his name.
But if it was Ryu Jin-oh, he would understand the meaning behind my shout.
“Tsk! I told you not to try and give me orders.”
My prickly friend responded with irritation in his voice.
But it did not really matter.
He was that kind of guy to begin with.
“You really are a good partner.”
And he read my thoughts perfectly.
“Shut up!”
Why would I have taken a low stance?
Normally, even if you are aiming for the opponent’s lower body, taking a low stance is not a very good choice.
This is because it is difficult to put power into a sword swing when your stance is low.
Despite that, there was a reason I insisted on the low stance while rushing in.
THUD!
It was to launch an attack from two directions.
Not from left and right, but from the two directions of up and down.
Ryu Jin-oh used my low-stance back as a platform and leapt upward.
“His jumping power is quite impressive, isn't it?”
Ryu Jin-oh’s jumping power was far greater than I had imagined.
Well, considering my back—which I had offered as a platform—was stinging, there was no way his jumping power would be weak.
Because of that, the Apostle’s voice became even sharper than before.
“You bastards……!”
A greatsword is a weapon that relies on great strength.
And Ryu Jin-oh, who uses such a greatsword, was launching a downward strike from the air?
If it were me, I would have cursed as well.
He was already being pushed back slightly when they clashed head-on, and now he had to face Ryu Jin-oh with the help of gravity.
‘Of course, there is a disadvantage.’
A downward strike from the air.
It was devastating, but at the same time, its weakness was clear.
What if the attack came to nothing? He would have no choice but to allow an immediate opening.
That would be a fatal mistake that could lead directly to defeat in battle.
Putting all your weight into it meant the recoil would also be fierce if it failed.
But.
“That only applies when you are alone.”
Was this a one-on-one battle between Ryu Jin-oh and the Apostle?
No, I was here as well.
In this place, I—the one he trusted—was also here.
“So.”
Should I not repay that trust?
I had to repay the trust of the one who rushed in without hesitation, even while knowing the weakness and accepting the risk.
Therefore, without a second of hesitation, I immediately activated the ability.
“Final Petition.”
The second ability of the gloves I wore, and an ability I had never used in actual combat since obtaining it.
That ability began to manifest through my voice.
And the owner of the talent I was borrowing was…….
‘Yu-hyeon.’
Normally, you cannot borrow the talent of someone who is not present, but there is an exception.
That is when you have a record of borrowing it once before.
Had I not used it recently during special training with Yu-hyeon to see what talents he had?
Since he happened to have the most suitable talent for the current situation, there was no need to hesitate.
“Of course, the penalty is not light……”
Unlike other penalties, it did not place a physical burden on me, but it was a talent seal.
Furthermore, a duration of one hour was a penalty that could never be taken lightly.
But.
“Five minutes is enough.”
The enemy before my eyes is the last one.
If anything were to happen, my other comrades are here.
When I thought that way, the penalty was well worth enduring.
That was how much Yu-hyeon’s talent would be of help in this situation.
“Whew……!”
As I took my stance, Yu-hyeon’s talent finally began to dwell within my body.
It felt as though I could sense it instinctively.
Regardless, once the talent was in my body, it meant the countdown had begun.
I no longer hesitated.
“One Who Walks the Demonic Path.”
The first thing I used was "One Who Walks the Demonic Path," which possessed an ability that was more than just broken.
As if to prove it, my vision changed drastically the moment I used the talent.
‘Ugh……!’
For a moment, I felt nauseous and my head throbbed with a stinging pain.
This was likely because I was not adjusted to the talent.
Unlike my Embodiment of Admiration, the talent borrowed through the gloves did not come with any correction.
‘By the way, is this the world Yu-hyeon sees?’
The drastically changed vision showed me a new world.
It felt as if the world was made of mana.
Not only that, but I also felt as if I could dominate all the mana surrounding the world.
‘It is not just a feeling; it is a certainty.’
He is the guy who broke through the sealed space on his own without the caster’s permission.
So this was not just a feeling, but a certainty.
That was why I could see it.
I could see that this Apostle was about to use a trump card.
‘Mana suddenly began to fluctuate and gather around him.’
The amount was not small, either.
It was an amount that suggested it was not a minor technique but a final move.
It did not show on the outside at all, but mana never lies.
The foundation of all talent is mana; to manifest a talent, whether in small or large amounts, mana is essentially required.
‘It is not very surprising.’
I had actually been expecting it.
Based on everything he had shown so far, it would be stranger if he did not have one.
So, I also moved as I had first prepared.
“Next, ‘Demonic Path Opening’.”
An ability derived from Yu-hyeon’s talent, One Who Walks the Demonic Path.
Since I said it was "derived," it might sound weak, but that was not the case at all.
WHOOSH—!!
A wind suddenly began to rage like a storm.
Of course, it was no ordinary wind.
This was not a wind generated by atmospheric currents, but a wind generated through mana.
‘At the same time, it is a wind that will consume that guy.’
Demonic Path Opening, meaning to open the path of the demonic/mana.
It is an ability that can momentarily increase the total amount of mana allowed to oneself.
However, that only applies to those who are qualified to walk the demonic path.
If one cannot pass a certain threshold, all their mana will be consumed instead.
“Why all of a sudden……!!”
Just like the Apostle currently before my eyes.
The Apostle spoke in a flustered voice as the final move he had been preparing vanished.
‘It went as I thought.’
Even if my inherent mana was insufficient, I was fine because I had been granted the qualification through One Who Walks the Demonic Path, but the Apostle was different.
The qualification mentioned in the talent’s description was at least Mana Affinity S-Rank.
Was there any chance that Apostle had received such a qualification?
In the first place, if he were someone with Mana Affinity at S-Rank, we would have all been dead long ago.
‘Of course, since it does not distinguish between friend and foe, Ryu Jin-oh’s talent was also cancelled, but…….’
It was not a problem.
Ryu Jin-oh is one who, despite possessing brilliant talent, never became arrogant and instead endlessly polished himself.
In short, his basic physical abilities would shine even without his talent.
I could guarantee that in terms of pure strength alone, even the academy instructors would have to take a back seat to him.
And that meant—.
“Die, you who is not even worth being called an insect!”
“You bastards—!!!”
The victory in this battle belonged to Ryu Jin-oh.
SKREEEE—!!!
The fierce shouts of Ryu Jin-oh and the Apostle were directed at each other.
The sound was so large it could drown out even those shouts, a thunderous roar that made my ears ache.
The sound of their swords clashing was that immense, to the point where all the other kids turned to look.
And naturally, the winner was…….
“Tsk, what a dull conclusion.”
It was Ryu Jin-oh.
The Apostle, who had trusted his talent and intended to counter-attack, had been unable to pull his body away in time.
In the end, that judgment led to a contest of strength against Ryu Jin-oh, and as a result.
THUD—.
He had no choice but to lose an arm.
Originally, it was a strike that would have cleaved his body in two starting from the shoulder, but perhaps it was the result of his desperate twist at the last second.
However, what did that matter?
“AAAAHHHH!!”
The arm that was essential for a swordsman had been severed.
At the same time, thick blood poured out like a dam releasing water.
This implied only one thing.
“It is over.”
Finally, this battle, which had seen many, many events, had reached its conclusion.
Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!
Use arrow keys (or A / D) to PREV/NEXT chapter