Chapter 85

The first move.

As always, the first attack is mine.

Kwaaang-!

Durandal vibrates violently. This is the biggest advantage of having obtained Durandal.

Not having to worry about it breaking.

Unless it’s a powerhouse on the level of Yeo Ju-kyung, they wouldn’t even be able to scratch it.

As my thoughts continued, Jung Hye-in’s counterattack began.

She is a classic, ultra-close-range Dealer.

She uses neither sword nor spear. Her only weapon is her own body.

Her martial arts, honed in real combat, were something that would be fully recognized as a sword-art even in that other world.

Hwaak!

By a hair’s breadth, Jung Hye-in’s fist grazed past my head.

It’s a formidable speed.

I was reminded of my duel with Seong Yo-han. First came the wind pressure, and then the Aura.

Eudeudeudeuk-

If Jung Hye-in’s control was even slightly off, if I let my guard down for just a moment.

My body would be sucked into the center of that raging storm of power and crushed to death.

If that happened, S-Rank or not, it would all be over.

It was around the time my barrier shattered and even my protective energy was smashed.

I barely managed to duck my head and dodge the fist.

My clueless Mana Heart throbbed as if delighted.

Thanks to that. The energy of the Elixirs that had been running rampant inside my body naturally seeped into it.

Ten of the twelve Elixirs Wi Jeong-rak had given me were absorbed.

Only two remained.

With death so close, I forcefully held onto my consciousness as it almost passed over to Ian.

Slowly, the wall known as S-Rank began to crumble.

The third exchange.

From left to right.

Durandal shot out fiercely, as if to slice her waist in two.

Not only was it fully charged with an Aura Blade, but I had also poured in over five types of high-level Curse magic.

It’s something I feel anew, but an S-Rank is an S-Rank.

The Curse magic was dispelled the moment it touched her body, and Durandal, which had rushed in for the kill, was blocked by Jung Hye-in’s elbow.

Daaaaeng-

Durandal trembled. The air where they met exploded.

A piercing sound erupted, and a high-pitched ringing filled my ears.

My damn eardrums had burst again.

At the same time, I felt something just within my grasp.

Not much. Just one more time!

The fourth exchange.

My face lurches forward. I see a large shape.

Various senses sent information to my brain.

Jung Hye-in’s hand grabbing the back of my neck.

A pulling force. The large object is Jung Hye-in’s knee!

The moment I recognized it, I deployed Ares’ Shield with all my might.

Eudeudeudeudeuk-

Ares’ Shield broke without putting up a fight.

Just before her knee slammed into my face, Jung Hye-in pulled back her strength.

If she hadn’t, my head would have been crushed like a watermelon.

This is no time to be happy.

The aftershock of that force alone is enough to kill me.

The next moment after I felt my consciousness fade, I saw the ceiling.

My head had been forcibly lifted.

I staggered backward with the feeling of my skull being rattled.

Just as my vision narrowed to the size of a buttonhole, her combination attack was about to continue.

Just one more time.

I just need to take one more attack that could push me across the line of death.

The fifth exchange.

Until now, this was my limit.

Next, it was my turn to pass out.

When I passed out, Jung Hye-in would wake me up after a short while, and we would resume the Sparring Match.

But it’s different now.

It wasn’t just a feeling; the Mana lingering inside my body was actually stirring.

My entire senses trembled.

Kwaang!

“Ah!”

A gasp escaped in an instant.

The moment had finally arrived when my heart absorbed all of Wi Jeong-rak’s Elixirs.

The Mana Heart, which had been making such a fuss until now, was strangely calm at this moment.

It was as if a brat had finished its growth spurt and finally matured.

But I digress.

The Mana Heart grew larger.

Numerically speaking, ten times larger!

Suuuuk-

Did I say the difference between an S-Rank and me was a single thin sheet of paper?

Because of that single sheet’s difference, a new sensation I had never felt before enveloped my entire body.

It was an unfamiliar feeling, that I could control everything at will—my body, my surroundings, everything in all directions.

So this is S-Rank.

It wasn’t just about Mana.

I realized that in this moment, if I wanted to, my entire musculoskeletal structure could be redefined.

If so, I could also possess a physique befitting an S-Rank.

Should I call this a Complete Rebirth?

But I didn’t do it.

For this moment, I wanted to fully savor the expanded senses.

I can undergo a Complete Rebirth anytime.

In any case, this current, unfamiliar sensation was an experience I hadn’t even felt in Ian’s body.

A strange feeling washed over me.

Because for this one moment, I felt like I had surpassed Ian.

All these changes happened in a very short time, in a matter of microseconds.

That was why.

Jung Hye-in, who hadn’t yet noticed my transformation, was flying toward me.

I remembered my hazing.

Back then, I couldn’t withstand that fist.

No, I couldn’t during all twenty-nine of our sparring sessions.

But now.

For some reason, I think I was smiling back then.

I looked forward.

No big movements are needed. I opened my palm and extended it forward.

Jung Hye-in’s eyes widened.

The next moment, her fist and my palm met.

Teob.

There was no loud sound effect.

“Did you let up on your strength?”

Jung Hye-in, thinking I had given up, had released her power right before impact.

A feeling of disappointment came first.

I can finally fight properly now, but if this is how it goes, it just kills the mood.

Just as Jung Hye-in, who was staring at me with a strange look, was about to open her mouth.

Kudangtang!

The door to the Training Arena was smashed.

It was Seong Yo-han.

His handsome face was cracked with fury, as if he was thoroughly enraged.

“Choi Gi-woong.”

Seong Yo-han strode over.

I looked at him.

Right now, if I fought Seong Yo-han, who would win?

My Mana Heart stirred. Fight him, hurry up and fight him.

I want to, too.

What would happen if he and I fought? Setting aside the bloodshed, who would win?

I want to plant a fist full of lightning power right in that face.

Since Seong Yo-han also wields a sword, it would be good to have a go with Durandal.

This is the problem with a War Mage.

The higher one’s level, the greater the desire to fight.

“What is it?”

I said, suppressing the rising bloodlust.

In contrast, Seong Yo-han’s gaze turned strange.

The way he scanned me up and down, the way he looked around the shattered parts of the Training Arena, his bewilderment was palpable.

Did he realize?

“You said you were angry. Why are you just standing there?”

“……”

Being strong is a good thing.

It means you don’t have to filter what you can and can’t say.

“Yes?”

I gently prodded his pride.

Swing your sword at me in a fit of anger. Let’s use that as an excuse to have a fight.

“…You.”

He couldn’t hide the bewilderment in his voice.

It was the same for Jung Hye-in.

Her eyes were asking me.

Was it real?

Seong Yo-han, who came to his senses first, tore his complicated gaze away from me and said.

“Pack your things and get out right now. The withdrawal order has been given.”

“Pack my things? Now?”

“We’re already late because of you, so hurry up…”

“I don’t think I can do that.”

“…What?”

Koong! Koong!

“Can’t you hear this? They’re breaking down the barrier right now.”

“So?”

“If we let them break through, Busan, Mokpo, and then the whole country will be thrown into chaos. How can we leave?”

Normally, at this timing, a murderous glare should have flown my way.

It wouldn’t be strange if he grabbed me by the collar while muttering something about an insolent bastard.

But it was different now.

He completely changed his attitude.

Seong Yo-han waved his hand as if he’d heard some tiresome nagging.

“You’ve lost your mind.”

He turned his back.

“Then you guys do a good job of blocking them. I’m leaving.”

I added one more thing to that.

“Who said you could leave?”

Seong Yo-han flinched.

The fuse is about to be lit.

Come on, come on. I chanted inwardly and continued.

“On whose authority. Are you leaving this place? Who gave you permission?”

He slowly turned around.

It’s clear.

He’s picturing a duel between me and him.

What was the outcome in his imagination?

Was it the same as mine?

Seong Yo-han’s hand went to the sword at his waist.

Good.

It would be good to sort this out for good while we’re at it.

If we clash head-on, the spire will be shattered, so it would be good to move to another location.

But the next moment, a deflating sound was heard.

“I will wait only until the High Priest enters.”

If the situation hasn’t changed by then, he’ll leave without delay.

He left with just that one remark.

It seems that in the virtual duel Seong Yo-han imagined, the result was similar to what I had in mind.

“Head of department. It’s me.”

-Oh, oh. Choi Gi-woong! Are you alive?

“I’m alive. More importantly, is support on the way?”

Given the situation, Head of department Kim Yoon-joong spoke with more urgency than ever.

-It’s absolute chaos. Even Hwang Mu-yeol has volunteered to save you! Hey! I heard you failed to recruit Hwang Mu-yeol!

“I said I failed to recruit him into the Association. And?”

Besides him, Ilseong, JW, Oracle…

Upon hearing my news, support was pouring in from all over.

Looking at the members, I figured it would be enough.

The time it would take for them to get here was 24 hours at most.

We just have to hold out until then.

-But the problem is whether you can hold out until then…

Head of department Kim Yoon-joong pointed that out.

-What percentage is left?

I looked at the monitor. The number 8 floated precariously.

Through the window, a dome was visible in the empty air.

The dome Yeo Ju-kyung had created was cracked all over like glass on the verge of shattering.

While I was cooped up in the Training Arena, the situation had deteriorated more rapidly than I thought.

-Block them! Don’t let them in!

At the entrance to the forest below the spire, mid-level Monsters were starting to appear.

“I expect A-Rank Monsters will also start coming out in about an hour.”

A pained groan was heard.

After a moment of thought, Head of department Kim Yoon-joong spoke in a parched voice.

-It’s hard for me to say this, but what Seong Yo-han said wasn’t entirely wrong. Everyone packing up and withdrawing isn’t necessarily a bad choice.

Head of department Kim Yoon-joong said in a placating tone.

-It might be a better method to block them all together on the Mainland.

“While we’re blocking them, the Mainland will be devastated.”

-That might be better than losing Seong Yo-han, Jung Hye-in, and Choi Gi-woong. If you all die, what happens then?

It was a realistic answer.

“Don’t worry. We can hold out.”

From the beginning, what I had in mind wasn’t whether we could hold out.

It was to completely blow up and eliminate the Demon Realm Forest here.

That’s why I asked about support.

Head of department Kim Yoon-joong let out a hollow laugh.

-Why is it that when you say not to worry, I feel like I can trust you?

“I’ve shown you a lot, haven’t I?”

Another laugh burst out.

-Yeah. You have shown a lot. I get it. Do your best. We’ll be there soon, too.

“What are you doing?”

Kang Min-jeong asked, looking at Oh Jeong-hun.

“What are you writing on that paper? A will?”

“Yeah.”

“What, a will? For real? You’re planning to die here?”

Oh Jeong-hun lifted his bowed head.

“Are you planning to live then? How much time is left until our shift change?”

“10 minutes. Aish. Maybe I should write one too.”

Kang Min-jeong looked at her European trip itinerary, then tore it to shreds.

“I’m going to die without even getting to use my savings.”

“How much do you have?”

“Don’t ask, I’m already annoyed.”

Oh Jeong-hun chuckled.

Even when talking about death, the agents showed no great hesitation.

If they had been afraid of such things in the first place, they wouldn’t have joined the Association.

“And you never know. Maybe Choi Gi-woong will pull something off again. I saw the Branch Director believed in him completely earlier.”

“You think Choi Gi-woong can stop a High Priest-level Demon? Hope is nice, but you have to face reality.”

Oh Jeong-hun scoffed and clicked his tongue.

“Still, Choi Gi-woong, I see that guy in a new light. Honestly, I thought they would run away, at least just the S-Ranks. Did you hear him on the phone earlier?”

“I wonder who it was that was dissing him so hard, saying he was playing hero and would be just like Seong Yo-han.”

At Kang Min-jeong’s sarcasm, Oh Jeong-hun’s mouth twitched before he stopped.

It was true that he had been prejudiced against Choi Gi-woong.

“Maybe I should apologize before I die…”

Kang Min-jeong’s words were cut off.

Koong! Koong!*

The vibrations were now so strong they could be clearly felt.

“They’re really going at it.”

Oh Jeong-hun said, stretching his stiff body.

Outside, the moon had risen.

Tonight would be the critical point.

Probably soon, in a short while, a Monster Wave would overwhelm them.

Only a very small number would be able to survive it.

Or maybe it would be a total annihilation.

“Let’s head out now. By the way, what are you looking at?”

Kang Min-jeong, having gathered her Items, asked with a tilt of her head.

Oh Jeong-hun’s gaze was fixed on the monitor.

“This value.”

He asked in a reluctant voice.

“Wasn’t it at 5% earlier?”

“Yes. Five percent.”

Kang Min-jeong said, checking the barrier value records.

Oh Jeong-hun pointed at the monitor.

The number 6 was clearly displayed.

It was then.

Another number ticked up.

To 7.

“…Why is it doing this?”