Chapter 69

Creeeak!

Crash-crash-crack!

We had merely exchanged a few moves, yet Hectail had already swiftly noticed the change in me.

“…Impressive. What on earth happened in the meantime?”

Simply put, Hectail was indeed strong. In terms of specs, and in the current situation, he was not an opponent I could handle.

‘Even after fighting that much, I was hoping he’d be a bit drained by now.’

At this point, I almost resented the exorcists who were likely confronting Yoo Hyeyeon over there.

But apart from such sentiments, the situation was still far better than before.

“Who knows. No need to tell someone who’s about to die.”

【Challenger (B+)】

▶Grants a status correction the higher the level of the opponent fought.

• Effect is currently applied.

【Black Phoenix Earring】

▶An earring made from phoenix feathers. Contains the refined aura of a curse. Increases the wearer’s curse resistance and enhances the power of Forbidden Arts used by the wearer.

• Effect is currently applied.

Compared to before, my level alone had risen considerably. I was in a state where my stats received corrections from the Challenger Trait gained in the last battle and the Black Phoenix Earring.

‘Plus the damage correction from the Forbidden Technique Value.’

In short, the current me was receiving a ridiculous level of correction, akin to a priest character in a game fighting undead.

Furthermore, Kongsami and Black Yin, who were also participating in the battle, were Shikigami strong against Forbidden Arts or curses.

At this point, I was beginning to feel impressed by Hectail, who was still pushing me back even in such an unreasonable situation.

“As expected, the amount of Forbidden Karma accumulated on you is abnormal. No matter how I think about it, it shouldn’t be possible for someone your age.”

Hectail had long since noticed the unfair Forbidden Technique Value I possessed, but conversely, he wasn’t sure exactly how high it was.

He probably couldn’t even imagine that someone with a maxed-out Forbidden Technique Value could exist in this world.

“Look. Even after prolonged exposure to this Balor’s Death Eye, you’re enduring it all. Normally, it wouldn’t be strange if your soul were already worn down and shattered to pieces by now.”

We both possessed powerful spears, but at the same time, we also held corresponding shields.

In the end, it meant that half-hearted measures were no longer meaningful.

“I’d rather not waste any more time and risk being interrupted like last time. Let’s wrap this up.”

Without hesitation, Hectail began to draw out his full power.

It seemed he intended to settle things in one fell swoop with overwhelming force.

‘…So that’s how it’s going to be.’

Unfortunately, the current me does not possess a powerful single strike like Hectail’s.

In the end, what I could do then and now was only to receive it and return it to the opponent.

However, as if reading that thought, Hectail sneered and spoke to me.

“Do you think you can deflect it?”

“I don’t see why not.”

“Let me say this in advance. I will use a Grand Art here.”

“……”

“All to make sure I kill you, and only you.”

The Grand Art Hectail possessed was an extreme curse that gnawed away at his own life. Using it meant he was truly grinding his teeth in determination.

“Even if it were a 1st-Rank Exorcist, being hit by this would mean instant death on the spot. Without leaving even a handful of a soul behind in this world.”

That was no bluff. In the original work, exorcists who were directly hit by Hectail’s Grand Art invariably met their deaths.

Nevertheless, without hesitation, I drew up my Spiritual Power and took a stance.

‘Soul Combustion.’

Whoosh.

Whooosh.

Hwoom!

An extreme curse that even brings about the helpless death of 1st-Rank Exorcists, known to transcend humanity.

But, conversely, that meant…

“If I deflect it, it means I can kill even you.”

“Keh-heh-heh! You’re insane. Fine! Give it a try!”

Rustle.

As if pleased with my attitude, Hectail let out a laugh filled with glee and drew up all his Spiritual Power.

“Azure Mountain Bitter Poison Death Realm Delusion Curse.”

Hwoom.

Whooosh!

As Hectail began to recite the incantation, I felt a wave of power incomparable to any Art I had ever sensed before.

“The wheel of the Three Realms Six Paths wanders eternity.”

It was clearly on a different level. An indescribable aura of death took the form of a circle and slowly rose above Hectail’s head.

‘…So this is what facing a Grand Art in reality feels like.’

On one hand, it was so absurd that a hollow laugh almost escaped. Could a mere human really wield such immense power?

I had a contingency plan in mind, but honestly, seeing this before my eyes made even the confidence I had disappear.

‘Still, I have to do it.’

There’s nowhere to retreat anyway. Even if I ran from this spot, I couldn’t leave the academy due to the Seed of Solitude, and I’d just become prey again.

Of course, I don’t have a powerful single strike like Hectail’s, but fortunately, I had one last resort.

Sluurp.

Looking at my shadow, strengthened by absorbing numerous clones created by the Seed of Solitude, I too began to construct an Art Formula once more.

Hwoom.

Both of us finished all preparations, recognizing that the time of reckoning had come.

The first to move was, naturally, Hectail.

“Grand Art, Death Transcending Wheel.”

As the Art Formula completed, a massive wave of death energy poured towards me.

Kongsami spewed forth the Flame of Purification with all its might, and Black Yin poured out the power of the Divine Beast originating from the Haetae to create a barrier, but they seemed infinitely small before the despairing power before my eyes.

Crash.

Creeeeak—!

The moment I sensed the limit had come and shoved Kongsami and Black Yin into the shadow, that massive death curse finally struck me directly without giving me any chance to react.

“Kuh-heuk!”

I couldn’t think of anything. The prepared plan, the next move I had thought of in my head—everything was erased in an instant without a trace.

It felt as if my rationality was being torn to shreds and scattered.

Amidst that horrific pain, without even being aware of what I was doing, I unconsciously performed only the task I had planned.

“The mirror… of Counter-Grudge……”

That was the last thing I remembered.

“Keh-huk. Keh-heh-heh. To think you’d fire a curse of reflection even at the last moment……”

In the center of the utterly devastated training ground, Hectail wiped away the black, dead blood flowing down and muttered.

“…Truly a tenacious fellow. It’s been a while since I had such an enjoyable opponent.”

In the end, Han Kangyoon died.

Even in that moment of death, he managed to activate the curse of Repaying Resentment with Resentment, but because it wasn’t fully completed, Hectail was able to avoid a fatal wound.

Of course, the wound he received was deep, so he’d probably need to rest and recuperate leisurely for a while.

‘He was truly an incomprehensible fellow.’

The first meeting was during a request to deal with the successor of Daejin Industries. And even from that time, he was somehow extraordinary.

‘On the surface, it always seemed like I could kill him in an instant.’

Clearly, the stronger one was Hectail. There was a significant gap, beyond a simple distinction.

Yet, Hectail had always felt an inexplicable sense of crisis from Han Kangyoon.

‘His unique spirit? The subtle air of a strong person’s composure? No, thinking carefully, it wasn’t any of those.’

An unfounded conviction that if he didn’t kill him now, he would soon become a threat.

That’s why he even used the Grand Art he was reluctant to use even against formidable enemies.

‘…Even so, it seems it was just anxiety after all.’

Whatever the case, right now, Han Kangyoon was dead. His breathing had completely stopped, and all signs of life had already left his body.

It was an undeniable, certain death.

Hectail placed his hand on the Stone of Forbidden Karma at his waist and absorbed a few souls stored within it.

“Hoo-hoo.”

Clearly, through today’s battle, he had once again leaped over another wall.

Someday, he would be able to dye this Stone of Forbidden Karma an even deeper color.

Just as Hectail turned without hesitation and was about to leave the spot, suddenly, an unidentified vibration echoed all around.

Thump.

Thump.

It sounded like a heartbeat, yet also like something pulsating. A feeling as if someone was forcibly breathing life into a dying being.

Thump.

The source of that sound was precisely the corpse of Han Kangyoon lying on the ground.

‘…No, not the body.’

To be exact, the shadow stretched out from the corpse was the epicenter.

Facing Hectail, who had stopped moving due to the utterly incomprehensible situation, Han Kangyoon, who should have met his death, leisurely rose to his feet.

Thud.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

“Such a thing… can’t be possible……”

“If it were going to end with just Phase 1, I wouldn’t have even started in the first place.”

Hectail’s unease, whose identity had remained unknown all along, was now on the verge of becoming reality right here.

‘It’s over.’

Just by looking, it was clear Hectail had suffered considerable damage.

On top of that, he had cast a Grand Art, which inherently involved great consumption, leaving him drained.

He likely couldn’t display the same imposing presence as before.

And in contrast, due to the influence of Phantom Body Phase 2, all my stats had increased.

‘Appraisal.’

Ding!

【Han Kangyoon】

▶Level 35 (41)

▶Stats

【Stamina: C+ (B-)】

【Spiritual Power: B- (A-)】

【Art Formula: B- (A)】

【Mental Power: B+ (A+)】

▶Traits (5/10)

【Phantom Body (S)】

【Soul Combustion (A)】

【Challenger (B+)】

【Intracranial Spell Repository (B)】

【Life Returner (B-)】

I was convinced.

The current Hectail, no matter what he tried, absolutely could not defeat me.

“Im… impossible……! A human cannot escape death. Such an Art does not exist in this world.”

Hectail showed an uncharacteristically flustered expression. And that wasn’t particularly strange.

Honestly, even I thought the Phantom Body Trait’s Phase 2 was unfair.

‘If I hadn’t absorbed the shadows sent out by the Seed of Solitude, I probably couldn’t have attempted this gamble.’

Originally, with the power of the Phantom Body Trait consumed at Yeongwoldo, I couldn’t guarantee the activation of Phase 2.

However, the shadow clones created by the Seed of Solitude helped me.

Since I succeeded in restoring the trait’s power beyond its previous state, Phase 2 naturally had to activate.

“I told you.”

“……”

“That you’d definitely regret it.”

“Grrk!”

Hectail must have also felt it during the battle so far. That our compatibility wasn’t very good.

Therefore, now that the situation had reversed, he absolutely could not defeat me.

“Secret Concealment Treading Aura. Hidden Shadow Capture Painting!”

Using a concealment art and an illusion-based art simultaneously seemed to indicate his intention to escape this spot for now.

However, anticipating this, I didn’t let Hectail run away so easily.

“Soul Specter Punishing Wolf.”

Screech!

Crash-crack!

“Kuh-heuk!”

Bihyeong’s signature art formula, known for its fast deployment speed and sharp power.

Hectail, struck by it, opened his mouth as if in disbelief.

“How did you… that art……”

“If I said I learned it from Bihyeong, you probably still wouldn’t believe me.”

“Keh, heh. What a… ridiculous joke.”

But that wasn’t a lie. To be precise, it was an art that Bihyeong, appearing in a later side story of the Exorcism Academy Series, directly taught to the player.

Hectail hurriedly tried to rise from his fallen body, but he clearly didn’t seem to be in normal condition.

In that case, I’ll just end it here. Drawing up the Spiritual Power overflowing throughout my body, I softly recited an incantation.

“The bitter poison of the Azure Mountain, the delusion curse of the Death Realm.”

“You bastard…!”

A high-level curse-type art that corrodes the opponent’s body and soul with intense curse power. The same art Hectail used on me during the previous Daejin Industries incident.

“The Azure… Kuh-heuk!”

Hectail also hurriedly began to deploy the same art, but I was faster.

“Clear Death Fragrant Poison.”

Screeeech!

Fssssshhh!

In the end, Hectail, directly hit by the intense curse, was flung back and laid his body on the cold ground.

“Kuh-heu, heuk.”

Fsshh.

Fssshhh.

The hideous Jooeon writhing and crawling up his entire body.

And the dark red streams of blood beginning to flow from his Five Orifices.

All of it signaled that Hectail’s end was approaching.

“Can’t… be. How could I… in a place like this……”

The light of life faded from Hectail’s eyes, and the Stones of Forbidden Karma hanging at his waist, shaken by the impact, rolled and fell before me one by one.

Tick.

Tik.

Roll-roll-roll.

With a bitter smile, I picked up one of them, held it in my hand, and showed it to Hectail.

The bead, dyed a deep purple under the influence of his Forbidden Technique Value, gradually grew murky, transforming into a complete black.

“Such… such a thing can’t……”

For a moment, a complex whirlwind of emotions swept across Hectail’s eyes.

The joy of finally discovering the realm he had aimed for.

But the despair of being unable to advance towards it any longer.

And finally, the fear of an unknown existence he had been unaware of.

Having slowly taken in all of that, I softly raised my hand, deployed an art formula, and bid farewell to Hectail.

“Actually, I was the one who moved Cheong Soha to kill Bihyeong.”

Spirit Devouring Formation, Soul Spirit Gluttony.

With that, the soul of Hectail, the Forbidden Arts Master, a member of the Night School, called the Devil of Illinois, completely vanished from his body without a trace.