This was an unexpected turn of events.

The Vajra Warrior’s appearance alone was beyond expectations, but for it to target me specifically?

I wasn’t the only one caught off guard by this sudden development.

The people scattered across the ground all rose to their feet, their eyes fixed on the Vajra Warrior.

Yet even as they reeled from the boss’s sudden appearance, their eyes gleamed with greed.

“It’s a boss! Take it down!”

“We’ll get the First Clear!”

These people didn’t realize how abnormal this situation was.

Blinded by the prospect of a First Clear, they charged at the Vajra Warrior, oblivious to the danger to their own lives.

The Vajra Warrior, which had been glaring at me, lifted its foot as it registered the humans attacking it.

-Kwang!

“Ugh, aaagh!”

One stomp and the earth shook. The Vajra Warrior charged forward, kicking people aside like someone trampling an ant colony.

Its target was me.

-Kwang!

I swiftly retreated, dodging the massive Geumgangjeo.

It swung with the force of someone uprooting a pillar to wield as a weapon.

I dodged the attack and simultaneously activated the Hidden One.

“Ugh, gahk… what the hell is that thing?”

“Insane—they want us to kill that?”

People were scrambling to regain their footing.

In that brief span, the surroundings had been reduced to ruins.

The spot where the Geumgangjeo had struck was cratered as though a meteorite had crashed there.

Fighting the Vajra Warrior in this state was suicide.

Retreating from this position seemed like the best option, but the question still gnawed at me.

Why had the Vajra Warrior broken out of its zone to attack me?

The Vajra Warrior did prioritize attacking the target with the highest threat level, but something felt off.

The likelihood that someone had deliberately lured it out was high.

-Geoooo!

The Vajra Warrior was still directing its ferocious hostility toward me.

Even after I used the Hidden One, it detected my presence and resumed its barrage.

-Kung, kung!

Damn it—by the looks of it, fleeing would be difficult too.

I hadn’t planned on dealing with this so hastily, but I had no choice but to change my strategy.

I urgently spoke into the Ear Cuff.

“We have a problem. The boss has left its zone and is rampaging where I am.”

“[Brother, you okay?]”

“For now. Activate the device as fast as you can, and come to me through the boss’s room.”

The three zones were separated, but through the boss’s room, one could cross into other zones.

I could only hope the others would get here as quickly as possible.

But the Vajra Warrior wasn’t about to leave me alone until then.

-Kwang, kwang!

Every time the Vajra Warrior swung its Geumgangjeo, the terrain shifted.

I was managing occasional counterattacks with the Seven-Blade Sword, but…

[The target is immune to physical attacks!]

[The target is immune to physical attacks!]

[The target is immune to physical attacks!]

My attacks were useless.

Even when I managed to inflict hairline scratches, its auto-recovery function healed them instantly.

I needed a different approach.

I thrust my left hand forward and activated a Special Ability.

[Special Ability ‘Frost Flame’ is activating!]

If I used Frost Flame, a sorcery-type Special Ability, it should deal damage.

How much damage it would do, I wasn’t sure.

I burned through every ounce of my magic power and drove the Frost Flame down toward the Vajra Warrior.

-Hwareureuk!

Frost Flame blazed with a pale light and struck the Vajra Warrior’s lower body.

In an instant, rime began to form around the Vajra Warrior’s legs.

Even if I couldn’t deal damage, freezing it to seal its movements even briefly would be enough.

-Geueu…!

The Vajra Warrior looked down at its own feet as if in displeasure.

Then it twisted and thrashed its entire body, and the ice shattered with a shriek.

If anything, I seemed to have only stoked its fury.

Was my firepower too weak?

No—the firepower was sufficient.

But the continuous recovery effect appeared to be negating the frost damage.

[Auto-recovery activated!]

Its recovery rate was so fast that this level of damage couldn’t make a dent.

If only they would hurry and disable the enhancement device…!

Just then, a sharp voice crackled through the Ear Cuff.

“[Brother! I’ve activated the device! Physical attack immunity is down!]”

At the news, I let out a bitter smile.

I had hoped they would disable the other effects as well.

The Seven-Blade Sword would work now, but with continuous recovery still active, it would all be for naught.

Just then, the Vajra Warrior’s Geumgangjeo slammed into my body.

-Kwaang!

“Ugh…!”

I managed to defend, but I couldn’t negate all the damage.

As a trickle of blood ran from the corner of my mouth, voices drifted from nearby.

“Sect Leader, that Seo Kangrim… he’s weaker than expected.”

“See? I told you it’s nothing. The rumors about him being strong were all exaggerated.”

Members of Muhyeongpa were hiding nearby, watching me like rats.

They seemed to be enjoying watching me struggle.

“Still, that weapon looks pretty good.”

“He’ll go down soon—let’s grab it then.”

I scoffed at their reactions.

Whether I was weak or strong, people always wished for my death.

But I had no intention of granting them their wish.

[Special Ability ‘Frost Flame’ is activating!]

“That again?”

“That attack doesn’t work anyway.”

“Idiot. Must be all he’s got.”

Even as their mocking laughter reached my ears, I refused to let the flames die.

Frost Flame was a peculiar Special Ability that possessed dual Five Elements attributes: fire and water.

Having two Five Elements attributes was both an advantage and a disadvantage.

Generally, when an awakened one’s Five Elements attribute matched that of their Special Ability, the effect was doubled.

However, since fire and water were opposing Five Elements, using this ability as a fire-attribute user would net me zero—plus and minus canceling each other out.

Under normal circumstances, that is.

[Five Elements attribute designated as ‘Fire’!]

[Five Elements attribute designated as ‘Water’!]

I possessed both attributes.

The moment I designated both Five Elements attributes, a painful sensation surged through my body as though fire and water were raging against each other inside me.

And along with the pain, an unfathomable power began to boil within me.

[Special Ability ‘Frost Flame’ is activating!]

[Five Elements attribute matched! Ability increased!]

[Five Elements attribute matched! Ability increased!]

-Kwaaa!

A flame erupted, incomparable in scale to the one from moments ago.

In an instant, frost and rime scattered across the surroundings.

The attack struck the Vajra Warrior dead on while it was caught off guard.

-Jjeojeok!

The damage had clearly landed—its entire body flushed red as though afflicted by burns.

Ice clung to the Vajra Warrior’s legs like countless hands grasping at it.

-Geugeuk…!

It twisted its body, but the ice refused to shatter.

However, cracks were slowly forming, even as the burn marks regenerated rapidly.

The device’s effects were even more potent than anticipated.

If that was the case, I had no choice but to burn it faster and more ruthlessly.

I drew upon every ounce of my magic power and amplified the intensity.

Frost Flame blazed ferociously and struck the Vajra Warrior.

-Kwagwang!

A mace forged of flame struck the Vajra Warrior squarely.

Ice had frozen more than half of the Vajra Warrior’s face.

And at that very moment, a welcome voice came through the Ear Cuff.

“[Master! I’ve disabled the continuous recovery!]”

The wounds that had been regenerating so rapidly halted, as though time itself had stopped.

Now the ice was spreading faster than the regeneration could keep up.

I gripped the Seven-Blade Sword with both hands and charged.

[Special Ability ‘Fighting Instinct’ is activating!]

My fighting spirit roared toward the colossal enemy.

I wanted to force that arrogant adversary to its knees.

The ice that had frozen the Vajra Warrior and its surroundings now served as my path.

I bounded across the ice, leaped into the air, and swung my blade.

[Special Ability ‘Sword Draw’ is activating!]

Its outer shell might be as hard as diamond, but beneath it lay bone and flesh.

And my sword knew exactly where to find them.

-Chwaak!

The Seven-Blade Sword raked across the Vajra Warrior’s neck like a saw blade, tearing precisely into its vital point.

Blood gushed forth like a waterfall.

The Vajra Warrior’s body began to be consumed by flame, ice, and blood.

-Geoooo!

I was battered and torn, but the Vajra Warrior looked like it had finally reached its limit.

I considered finishing it off then and there, but decided to wait for the others to arrive.

-Jjeok, jjeojeok…

Fortunately, the ice was enveloping the Vajra Warrior’s entire body, bringing it close to a frozen state.

Even so, the burns continued to spread.

At this rate, even if I just waited, it would die without issue.

So long as no one barged in to interfere.

“My, you’re quite impressive—just as the rumors say.”

As if to mock my hopes, a voice called out from behind.

I slowly turned around.

A man stood there—how best to describe him…

He had the air of a young noble.

Neatly attired with handsome features.

Even in the midst of this chaos, not a single speck of dirt marred his garments.

He held a somewhat unfamiliar bastard sword.

“…You used a Provoker on the Vajra Warrior?”

“Quick on the uptake, I see.”

The Vajra Warrior’s behavior had been strange enough that I figured someone had interfered.

Just as I suspected—he had used an item to lure the Vajra Warrior out and make it target me.

═══════════════

[Item] Provoker

[Rank] Third Human Grade

[Description] Forces a designated target’s threat level to increase, drawing demon beast aggression toward them.

═══════════════

The item ‘Provoker’ was primarily used during party hunts by tanks to draw demon beast attention to themselves.

Though some used it to sabotage others’ hunts.

The man walked toward me as he spoke.

“You’re not surprised to see me. Do you know who I am?”

“Western Branch’s top training cadet, Sung Uigyeol.”

The Education Facility was not limited to the Central Branch.

Five branches produced numerous training cadets, and among them, the top cadets achieved feats that drew attention in various ways.

Sung Uigyeol standing before me was also one of the select few Manshin.

“So you already knew. I’ve heard plenty of rumors about you as well, Mr. Seo Kangrim, the top training cadet.”

He spoke with an expressionless face.

No—expressionless wasn’t quite right. It was closer to a gaze laced with contempt.

If I were to define Sung Uigyeol in a single phrase, it would be ‘apostle of justice.’

In my past life, he was also a Manshin who performed numerous good deeds and helped many people, earning him widespread popularity.

“Why did you attack me?”

I posed the question to him.

Sung Uigyeol approached, holding a sharp longsword.

“As I mentioned, I’ve heard many stories about you, Mr. Seo Kangrim.”

“…”

“A top training cadet who also kills people and abuses his power… a villain, they say.”

A hollow laugh escaped me before I could stop it.

Right—he was none other than an apostle of justice.

It was only natural that I, known as a villain, would be a thorn in his side.

Sung Uigyeol regarded me with an icy gaze and declared.

“Villain Seo Kangrim, I shall strike you down!”