I Became the Genius Mage of the Martial Academy

Chapter 131 : What the Dead Left Behind (3)

Faced with the Black Dragon Unit, we swiftly formed a battle line.

From the expressionless eyes staring at us from afar, a thick killing intent could be felt.

I instinctively knew.

‘Every single one of these guys is at least at the proficient peak level.’

Although there were only about a dozen of them, each one was at least at the level of an instructor.

‘Our side has twice the numbers, but we can’t be careless.’

In particular, the aura emanating from the man standing at the center of the Black Dragon Unit was on a different level.

A gruesome energy wave, the kind I had only felt from a Blood Fiend, dominated the area.

‘A Transformation master!’

There stood a man with a scratch-style haircut, his head shaved clean on one half where he had a burn.

I recognized his identity and was horrified.

‘The Right Protector, the Crooked Strange Sword Demon, Nam Jeong-hwan!’

He was a key leader of the Demonic Cult and the captain of the Heavenly Demon's direct subordinate, the Black Dragon Unit.

‘Why is he here?’

In the original story, he was a character who had no reason to appear at this point.

External activities were usually delegated to the Black Dragon Unit's vice-captain, so for the captain himself to come in person was strange in more ways than one.

"Everyone, be careful!"

Just then, Gu Ja-beom, having finished giving orders via telepathy, aimed his greatsword and shouted aloud.

In an instant, the figure of Nam Jeong-hwan, who had been standing far away, disappeared and reappeared right in front of Gu Ja-beom.

A sword, bent like a snake, surpassed even the speed of sound and aimed for Gu Ja-beom's neck.

Kaaaaang!

When the greatsword, filled with a heavy momentum, met it head-on, a shockwave spread throughout the area.

Simultaneously, members of the Black Dragon Unit rushed in from all directions and clashed with our side.

I, too, launched a surprise attack on the opponent in front of me with a Flame Lightning First Blade Spear that I had secretly floated in my blind spot, wrapped in shadow.

The opponent's eyes widened in an instant, and a flash of light. It was a perfect strike.

"Damn it."

However, the scene that unfolded before my eyes was different from what I had expected.

It was a desperate surprise attack, but all it did was blow off one of the enemy's arms.

Since it was an attack that had taken down even a super-peak level monster, this was not a sign to be taken lightly.

‘This is no ordinary master.’

Of course, while the wound touched by the flame lightning was burning from the electric shock, I dug into his bosom and cut his neck, but the sight of him thrusting his hand to take me down with him was vivid.

The enemies' fighting spirit and movements were more threatening than I thought.

I looked at the battlefield, which had become a chaotic mess.

The instructors were responding in pairs of two, but as the Black Dragon Unit members also started to clump together and rush in, the formation broke.

It was the same principle as how it's easy to suppress a master in a 2-on-1 situation, but difficult to suppress a master who is attacking in a pincer movement in a 4-on-2 situation.

‘Damn it, that’s why I asked for more troops!’

Originally, for a mission with variables like these two groups, personnel should be assigned considering the worst-case scenario.

Meaning, in theory, we should have been able to face both the Black Dragon Unit and the Jinju Eon family at the same time.

Of course, it's not that our side's strength was weak.

We had gathered nearly 30 peak-level or higher combatants, including instructors and other advanced students.

It was a force that could chew up and spit out a decent mid-sized sect and a group of assassins.

The problem was that our leadership had overlooked two things about the Black Dragon Unit.

First, they hadn't anticipated that Nam Jeong-hwan, the head of the Black Dragon Unit who had been in seclusion within the Demonic Cult for five years, would appear.

Second, because they had only dispatched a small elite of single-digit numbers to the central plains for the past decade, they had judged their combat power to be 10 or less.

In the case of this matter, they seemed to have prepared with care due to the many peculiarities, but it was still not a troop deployment that assumed the worst.

‘That’s why I kept asking for more support troops, but at best, all that was added was Chief Instructor Jeong Muk.’

At least a professor-level support should have been added here.

Even now, about three of the Black Dragon Unit members were mixed with super-peak level masters.

Among them, Cheon Ga-seong was facing one who seemed to be the vice-captain, and Baek Hasin was fighting another enemy with a dagger.

And the remaining one was aiming for me.

I hastily shot the retrieved First Blade at the opponent who was rushing in at a considerable speed, but it just bounced off.

I belatedly shot a spear of flame lightning that I hadn't had time to combine, but it was just cut in half and scattered.

Having no choice, I layered shields to make the opponent's feet flinch and then drew the Martial Arts Sword and thrust it.

Kaaang-!

But it was I who was pushed back with the shockwave.

The one who had counterattacked from an unstable posture was the other side, but I was the one who got hit back.

‘Is there really a difference with the super-peak level?’

I gritted my teeth and raised my sword qi. Right before my eyes, a blade imbued with powerful qi was digging into the Martial Arts Sword.

At this rate, the sword and I would be cut in two.

‘I have no choice.’

I gathered my mana at an ultra-close distance between the opponent and me.

The opponent, sensing something suspicious, deflected my sword and rushed in, but this side was a little faster.

A sphere of flame lightning, into which I had recklessly poured mana solely for close-range destruction, exploded, sending both of us flying.

Of course, since I had adjusted the direction of the explosion toward the other side, the impact wasn't that great.

I used the momentum of being pushed back to retreat. At the same time, the enemy cut through the flames and rushed in.

However, the guy stopped his rushing steps for a moment and swung his sword toward the back. Then, the First Blade, which had been deflected to the side, returned this way like a boomerang.

I had aimed for the back of the enemy's head, pretending to retrieve the First Blade that had flown away earlier.

As if noticing this, the opponent's killing intent deepened as he turned his head and glared.

‘A head-on fight is difficult.’

I could be sure because I had exchanged a single blow. A 1-on-1 with a master of that level was premature.

But to flee, I lacked the mobility. And the others seemed busy, so I couldn't ask for help.

But there are ways to make a way.

I kicked off the ground while running back to avoid the rushing guy.

And I stepped on the air and flew.

“…Walking on air?”

I heard the enemy, who was making a face like a dog that had been chasing a chicken, mutter from below.

He must be dumbfounded. For a student who wasn't even at the Hwagyeong level to be flying like that.

In reality, I was standing on a shield, but that was a trivial matter.

The important thing was that I was now floating 50m up in the air, and I was looking down on this entire battlefield.

Of course, since I was that much more vulnerable to sniping, I had put up a double and triple defensive barrier with shields.

‘Even if I fire magic indiscriminately from here, it’s only a check against a master of that level.’

It wasn't just the super-peak level; the other members of the Black Dragon Unit were the same.

Because each of them was a master at the level of Mo Yonghan or higher.

Although just a check could bring a significant change to the battlefield, I thought of another way.

To restore the concealment formation that had collapsed because the formation master and the core had disappeared.

This was a place where a natural energy vein flowed. And it was a region where a large amount of yin energy, specialized for concealment, had gathered.

‘I’ll use this to form a grand formation.’

I gathered my mana and recreated the core of the formation with myself at the center. And then I created a grand formation with a narrowed range to increase its power.

Jjeo-jeo-jeok-

Fog settled on the ground, and frost settled at my feet.

A Freezing Domain using yin energy. With that, the ground under the Black Dragon Unit's feet froze.

I had adjusted the formation with god-like control so that it would only affect the Black Dragon Unit.

For the enemy, since they had to pay attention to their feet during battle, it was difficult for a proper counterattack to be made.

Moreover, at a critical moment, ice would invariably get into their joints, so their forms would be distorted and it was easy to get caught up.

But to cover their feet with protective qi at all times for this, the power they could put into their swords would weaken. Moreover, since the consumption of internal energy would also increase, the Black Dragon Unit was, in a sense, fighting in the worst possible environment.

‘This isn’t the end.’

On top of that, with the addition of a barrage of lightning strikes and spears of flame lightning pouring down from the sky, the enemies couldn't bring out their full skills and began to fall one by one to the instructors' pincer attacks.

Since the opponent was already at a numerical disadvantage, the absence of one or two was huge.

Then, as the formation collapsed, the tide of the battle quickly turned.

‘The guy who was fighting me is…’

He was now fighting Jeong Muk.

It seemed Jeong Muk was also just stepping into the super-peak level, as he was facing the enemy with an unstable powerful qi.

However, due to the absolute difference in their realms, he was a step short, and he began to step back little by little.

I manipulated the Freezing Domain to keep the guy in check.

But the opponent was not to be trifled with. He blocked the check by exerting his protective qi whenever he felt a sign, so that I couldn't even interfere.

It was the optimal response, saving his energy by using it only when necessary.

However, such a feat would consume a considerable amount of mental energy.

On top of that, I shot a spear of flame lightning whenever Jeong Muk was in danger.

Since the distance was quite far, the opponent wasn't easily hit, but whenever he seized an opportunity, he would retreat or be unable to properly unfold his forms, and his range of movement narrowed.

The guy glared this way as if he was frustrated, but there was nothing he could do.

What could a guy with a sword do when I was this far away? Moreover, there weren't many who could afford to aim for me, who was floating in the sky, in the middle of a battle.

But they were also a trained group of assassins. As if they were talking to each other via telepathy, a few of them soon changed their target and stared at me.

‘I showed off too much.’

Simultaneously, daggers flew from all directions.

Chae-jae-jae-jaeng!

I drew the Martial Arts Sword and at the same time surrounded myself with the First Blade and shields to defend.

‘They made a bad move.’

To concentrate their forces on me in a situation where they were already being pushed back? The result was as clear as day.

The damage to the Black Dragon Unit grew larger and larger. Though I, who was enduring it, was at my wit's end.

Just then, Jeong Muk rushed toward the super-peak master of the Black Dragon Unit who was throwing daggers at me.

The sword of another instructor rushed in from behind the enemy who was lightly blocking it. The opponent, who had barely dodged it by twisting his body. By now, he must be keenly feeling the numerical disadvantage.

In the unfavorable situation, the enemy tried to retreat, but Jeong Muk and I did not miss it.

Jeong Muk pressured the enemy with a series of sword strikes imbued with powerful qi, and I flew a spear of flame lightning from above.

A choice between two. Finally, as if the opponent had made a choice, he endured the spear of flame lightning with his shoulder instead of blocking Jeong Muk's offensive.

However, my magic was not of a power that could be blocked by an unstable protective qi from a long battle.

Pa-ji-ji-jik!

The guy's movement, who was hit by the spear of flame lightning, slowed for a moment, and the swords of the two instructors who had aimed for that gap pierced his heart.

‘With this, the tide of the battle has completely turned.’

I looked down on the battlefield with an excited expression.

On one side, Baek Hasin was in a half-won state, having cut off the opponent's arm. Cheon Ga-seong was also driving back the opponent's vice-captain.

‘Then what about Gu Ja-beom’s side?’

I turned my gaze and looked at the battlefield where the biggest roar was coming from.

What was there was a scene of sword strikes that seemed like they would blow up the entire forest, clashing wildly. In an instant, blood splattered from the center.

Gu Ja-beom was being pushed back.

‘Damn it.’

Nam Jeong-hwan was a master who was said to be one of the top five in the Demonic Cult, excluding the Heavenly Demon.

It meant he was a difficult opponent even for Gu Ja-beom, who was famous as one of the hundred great masters of the central plains.

‘Damn it.’

I quickly moved from the sky toward the battlefield and aimed the Flame Lightning First Blade Spear.

It was a blow that had worked even on a Blood Fiend.

It took preparation time, but in a situation like this, it could be a blow that could turn the tables…

Seo-geok-

At that moment, a black energy wave passed by me.

Nam Jeong-hwan had flown a powerful qi, aiming for the moment this side approached.

“Keo-heuk!”

I had blocked my vitals with the Flame Lightning First Blade Spear and the Martial Arts Sword that I was preparing, but my shoulder and waist, which were at the end of the diagonal line, were cut, and blood flowed out.

Taking advantage of that gap, daggers flew from below again. They were persistent bastards.

I raised the Martial Arts Sword and barely deflected them, then stopped the bleeding.

Blood flows from my abdomen and pours down on the ground like rain.

‘I was careless. The Right Protector was a stronger master than I had imagined.’

Even in the same Transformation realm, he was a being of a different class from the likes of a Blood Fiend, but the several successes I had had recently had made me overlook that.

I quickly widened the distance and got away from Gu Ja-beom and Nam Jeong-hwan's battlefield.

Below, I can see Jeong Muk cutting down the member of the Black Dragon Unit who had thrown a dagger at me.

‘This is teamwork.’

And so, while this side was tending to its wounds, the situation below was changing rapidly.

Finally, Cheon Ga-seong, who had cut the neck of the opponent's vice-captain, joined Gu Ja-beom.

Baek Hasin also rushed in, imbuing the Black Moon Sword with an even denser powerful qi.

Nam Jeong-hwan watched that scene for a moment and then turned around. Leaving behind the blood-soaked Gu Ja-beom.

At the same time, the other members of the Black Dragon Unit also began to flee. The number of survivors on that side was less than half.

We could chase and deal with them, but we also had many dead and injured.

“Don’t chase!”

In an instant, Gu Ja-beom’s voice echoed throughout the area.

The fact that he had shouted with his voice and not via telepathy must mean that they were also meant to hear it.

It was a roundabout declaration of a truce.

Because if we chased now, our side’s sacrifices would also be great. We had already killed the key figures of the Jinju Eon family and even taken the secret manual.

Since we had accomplished our goal, there was no reason to overdo it.

“We’re going back.”

Gu Ja-beom, who had recovered from his internal injuries, stood up from his seat and ordered.

And so, my first battle with the Demonic Cult came to an end.

***

On the way back to the Martial Academy, with Go Mi-ju’s body loaded in the luggage compartment.

I, who had been summoned to the first-class carriage, was sitting in an awkward mood inside, alone with Gu Ja-beom.

He, with his upper body wrapped in bandages, kept silent for a long time and then cautiously brought up the matter.

“Your ability is truly beyond imagination. To think you could turn the tide of a battle by yourself.”

“The truly important opponent was handled by the chief professor. I just did what I had to do.”

When I showed humility, an unexpected answer returned.

“That’s what’s important. Your role is not something anyone can do. On the surface, you succeeded in the mission, but in reality, you saved the instructors. You did. If it weren’t for you, several times more would have died in that situation, or in the worst case, they would have all been annihilated. Thank you.”

He then bowed his head. Even though I had come as a student, there was no need to be so polite.

I had a thought that perhaps this uprightness was actually his personality.

“With you, we might be able to fulfill our long-cherished wish.”

Gu Ja-beom held out a book he had taken from his bosom.

“Originally, I was supposed to give it to you after we returned… but this is a reward for your performance. Take it.”

I accepted the book, on which was written the character ‘念’ (Thought/Mindfulness).

It was the secret manual of the Heaven-Shattering Demon.

“I don’t know what’s inside, but if there’s something to learn, learn it and become stronger. The enemy won’t wait for us.”

Gu Ja-beom said so and then closed his eyes. And then, with a word not to mind him, he soon fell into a deep sleep, snoring.

To think there was a person who could really fall asleep in 5 seconds.

That strange feeling soon scattered at the sensation of the leather-bound book in my hand.

念 (Thought/Mindfulness)

A secret manual left by the Heaven-Shattering Demon in the period before he reached the realm of Profound.

I was looking forward to what kind of enlightenment it contained.

I opened the secret manual with a tense expression.

(End of Chapter)