Chapter 235

‘I’d been vaguely sensing it since last time……’

My Phantom Body Trait was also gradually growing more powerful.

This time, it took less than a minute for Phase 2 to activate after I sustained a fatal injury.

That meant my body was being strongly influenced by the Phantom Body Trait.

“…Ugh.”

Luke, staggering under the influence of a Curse more powerful than anticipated.

No matter how monstrous his strength, having just taken significant damage to deal with me and then being hit by an extreme Curse, recovery would be difficult.

This was truly the moment the perfect opportunity had arrived.

Cheong Soha, catching that, immediately sheathed her sword and began reciting an Incantation as she released her Spiritual Power.

The Grand Art Purification Formation (Purification Formation), one of the unique Cursed Techniques engraved on the Azure-White Sword and arguably her ultimate technique.

Whether he understood the meaning of that action, Luke also desperately endured the Curse and began reciting the Incantation for his own Art.

‘…That’s also a Grand Art.’

A clash of Grand Arts, no different from a duel to the death.

To avoid being caught in the aftermath, I quickly pulled back and watched the two of them prepare.

The release of powerful Spiritual Power, and the atmosphere churning noisily.

At the end, both sides unleashed their completed Arts at each other.

Cheonghwa Formation”

Jihwayurinbon (Earth Birch Clamor Trample Origin)!”

Creeeak!

Kwaaaaang—!

A roar surged and my vision flashed white. I tried to focus and read the flow of Spiritual Power, but couldn’t discern anything even an inch ahead.

That’s how intense the clash of the two Arts was, and their power was beyond imagination.

It was a level where it wouldn’t be strange if one side was completely finished.

‘…What happened?’

The first figure to emerge through the dust was Cheong Soha, seemingly intact.

Apart from some torn clothing and minor scratches, there were no other noticeable wounds.

However, contrary to appearances, she seemed to have taken quite a hit, as she soon began to cough up black blood from the corner of her mouth.

‘To unleash that much power even while Cursed.’

I knew it, but it was truly a power that shattered common sense.

That became even more certain upon seeing Luke’s revealed state.

‘No major wounds.’

Luke also showed signs of damage, but compared to Cheong Soha, it was manageable.

In the clash of Grand Arts, he had clearly gained the upper hand.

‘This is dangerous.’

In truth, the arrangements I had planned for this battle ended here.

Everything else was improvisation; I had nothing else specifically prepared.

But if we couldn’t defeat Luke in this situation, all that struggle would be for nothing.

‘And Luke would return having obtained even greater power.’

I couldn’t just watch that happen. I had to finish him here somehow.

The only one who could create a variable for that was me.

‘Cheong Soha can’t unleash any more power than this right now.’

Meaning, unless I somehow added my strength, the outcome wouldn’t change.

But the method was the problem.

‘An Advanced Art naturally wouldn’t work.’

An Art Formula powerful enough to influence their Grand Arts—if I couldn’t manifest that, victory would ultimately be unattainable.

And with my current ability, as far as I knew, there was only one thing that could unleash that much power.

‘A Grand Art.’

That was the only key to victory against Luke.

‘Can I really use one?’

As I mentioned earlier, I was feeling a strange sensation within the new Phase 2 state of my Phantom Body.

And there were actual changes.

The increase in Level and stats had also grown compared to before, and accordingly, a formidable power was boiling up inside me.

‘A Grand Art isn’t something you can use just because you’ve learned it.’

Even if one’s Level exceeds the standard, there are countless who cannot wield a Grand Art.

Cheong Wooncheol, the second-in-command of Cheong Kibeom’s Faction, was like that, and Yoon Haecheol also couldn’t handle a Grand Art before Baek Woongkyoo’s death.

The supreme realm only accessible to those with talent and qualification—that was the Grand Art.

‘But……’

Strangely, it didn’t feel particularly impossible.

That might be a kind of illusion brought on by memories of playing the game in the modern era, or perhaps it was simply my own arrogance.

However, I didn’t hesitate and strode forward, using my Intracranial Spell Repository Trait to recall one Art.

After all, this too was a mountain I had to cross someday.

“…I won’t give you time for tricks.”

Proving he was indeed a Forbidden Arts Master who had surpassed the threshold, Luke had already suppressed the Curse’s erosion to a minimum and was regaining his original balance.

But Luke too must know by now that it would be dangerous if he didn’t end this quickly.

Thus, what Luke chose was to deploy a Grand Art once more to decisively settle the match.

World’s Utmost Hammer, Representative Fixed Myriad Principles Soul.”

As Luke began reciting the Incantation, a storm of Spiritual Power once again encroached upon the surroundings.

Cheong Soha also bit her lip and raised the Azure-White Sword again, soon recreating the same standoff as before.

If I failed here, the one who would ultimately be pushed back was Cheong Soha.

Accepting the pressure of that fact, I quietly focused my mind and drew up Spiritual Power.

From the extremities of my body to the extremities, perhaps even to units finer than that.

I unified the flow of Spiritual Power coursing through all that flesh and drew it together into one.

Next was fabrication.

Into the pure Spiritual Power that had now begun to take form, I endlessly poured my own unwavering will.

And sublimating that into an Art is the Art Formula and Incantation.

Reading the vast amount of knowledge unfolding in my mind, forgetting even the throbbing headache, I quietly recited the Incantation.

Great Tiger Song, Mountain Clear, Joint Benefit.”

Ridiculously, the first thing that came to my mind a moment ago wasn’t a particularly powerful or special Art Formula.

It was an Art used by a minor character in the original series’ fourth installment, barely meeting the standard to the point it was called the Grand Art cutoff line among users.

However, as no personal elements were added, its stability was high and its energy was also pure.

And for some reason, I felt a conviction.

With this, even if it was my first time using it, I could definitely wield it as I intended.

Cheonghwa Formation”

Jihwayurinbon (a type of traditional Korean paper, Hanji)”

Creeeak!

Once again, the two Arts were completed, and their aftermath began to shake the ground.

But this time, amidst it, a single clear line of light flew straight in.

Trust Shattering Shade (Trust Shattered Shade).”

Sssshreeeek!

Creeeeong—!

Because three Grand Arts mixed, an even stronger impact occurred than before. With the help of the Shikigami I had summoned, I barely endured it, grabbed my trembling legs, and stood up.

‘The result?’

Failure was not an option. I too had poured almost all my power into this strike.

If I missed this chance, such a perfect opportunity would surely never come again.

“Cough!”

From within the clearing dust, a bloody cough sprayed out.

What was revealed soon after was Luke, kneeling on one knee and spitting blood from his mouth.

‘…It landed properly.’

Luke’s pupils were so dimmed it was as if he had half-lost consciousness, and his appearance was also no longer intact, unlike before.

He had definitely taken a solid hit from this strike.

Behind me, clenching my fist in triumph, someone began staggering closer.

“I’ll definitely finish… him off.”

Though better off than Luke, Cheong Soha’s condition wasn’t entirely intact either.

But her expression was still filled with killing intent.

Cheong Soha also seemed convinced that if she didn’t deal with Luke here, he would return in the future as a threat she couldn’t handle.

“I’ll do it.”

“…Are you sure?”

In response to Cheong Soha’s question, I nodded.

Only then did Cheong Soha slump to the ground as if collapsing and let out a ragged breath.

“…Please be careful. He’s the type to bite your throat out even while unconscious.”

“Yes. I’ll maintain focus until the very end.”

Nodding at Cheong Soha’s warning, I slowly moved to Luke’s side with my Shikigami in tow and stared at his face.

Luke looked at me with eyes already half out of focus.

That appearance was pitiful, but on the other hand, it was also eerily chilling.

Because I could keenly feel that he still hadn’t let go of the thread of the match.

“You were a formidable foe.”

“It’s not… over yet. Cough! In a place like this….”

Luke’s ambition to shatter the current society and revert the world to a primordial state of power where Specters and humans killed each other.

Surely he too had planned and intended to execute numerous things going forward.

“But, you have been defeated.”

In the end, only the victor can see their thoughts through.

And the future world I desired was absolutely not like that.

“Can you feel this energy now?”

The noise of the battlefield.

The tens of thousands of wavelengths generated by the collision of Spiritual Power and Spiritual Power.

But aside from those, there was something else gradually enveloping the surroundings.

The final space of the Oracle Bone Casket is opening.”

“You knew… its true nature. As expected, you….”

“The world will return to its original state. Just not in the direction you think.”

The great calamity that runs through the latter half of Exorcism Academy Part 1.

It was now becoming reality and bearing down upon us.

“This… perhaps I didn’t even need to step in.”

Feeling a fragment of that calamity, Luke let out a self-deprecating chuckle and smiled with satisfaction.

That was a resentment entangled from his tragic past.

But that was something I had no need to know.

“The world you desire will not come.”

“…….”

“It’s not people like you or me, who have nothing to show, who will lead this world.”

Even in this era of chaos that has finally arrived, there will always be those who shine.

And that was, at least, neither me nor Luke present here.

“You were wrong.”

“…….”

Faced with my declaration, Luke closed his eyes with a vacant gaze, lost in thought.

And I too said nothing more.

After all, from here on, there was no choice but to prove it oneself.

“…Well then, farewell.”

The Hwang Family’s body enhancement Art, Protective Radiance, and the close-combat Art, Empty Blade Hand.

My hand edge, imbued with those two lights, cleanly split the empty air.

Swoosh!

Squelch.

One of the pillars that dominated an era, the Leader of Night School who harbored grand ambitions, Luke Pensalot.

The moment his journey came to an end.