I Entered an Academy in a Ruined Game

Chapter 103 : Remarkable Growth (2)

The landslide caused by Park Duseong had turned the situation quite unfavorable for the academy's side.

'Many are injured.'

Because the landslide occurred so suddenly and unexpectedly, many cadets suffered injuries both large and small.

Among them, quite a few cadets were rendered unable to act.

Nevertheless, Su-hyeon wasn't overly concerned.

'These guys didn't come to kill the cadets.'

Unlike the large-scale surprise attack by the Sword of Belphegor.

MK-1, who had undertaken this attack under Hwang Won-jae's coercion, harbored different intentions.

'They plan to subdue as many cadets as possible, take them hostage, stage a hostage situation to secure means of escape, and slip away quietly.'

Their plan was to make their name and cause known through this, gain fame instead of the Sword of Belphegor, and give both sides the finger.

'This is a feasible idea because they don't yet know Hwang Won-jae's ability exactly.'

Even if their original plan succeeded, Su-hyeon knew that definite destruction was the only thing awaiting them.

"You should have gone easier. Shouldn't you keep more hostages alive to get a higher ransom during negotiations?"

Jang Manchun was a bit taken aback by these words that penetrated their intentions.

"What bullshit are you talking?"

"Jang Manchun. You're here because it's more advantageous for you, not because you have even the slightest sympathy for Chu Jinhong's cause, right?"

"...!"

At this point, even his poker face couldn't help but waver.

"You, how do you know my name?"

"Is that surprising?"

Su-hyeon feigned ambiguity.

It was indeed surprising for him, as most MK-1 members, except the leader and a select few, weren't yet famous and didn't even have nicknames given by the Execution Force.

"Looking at your record, unlike your appearance, you're quite fearful and timid. Is it because your original form is a herbivore that you're such coward?"

"Haha, this kid. Seems like you know a lot for a cadet."

Jang Manchun wore a sneer.

"Don't get too cocky. Do you believe I won't kill you? Trusting a Ma-in shows you lack the qualities for the Execution Force."

"You're the one who shouldn't be arrogant."

Su-hyeon said as he took one step forward.

"If not for the landslide, those two alone could have captured you."

"Huhehohoho."

Jang Manchun laughed like a madman.

"Where did a kid like you learn such swagger? Looking at you now, you're just a thoughtless brat."

Although Jang Manchun had been wary due to the surprisingly strong kick he had received earlier.

As soon as he thought of himself as the stronger one, he easily cast aside his caution.

Whether he did or not.

'Senior Lim Eun-seo would like those horns.'

Thinking they would make good materials, Su-hyeon further amplified the energy imbued in his hwando.

Chaeng!

Su-hyeon's sword and Jang Manchun's horns collided in mid-air, sending sparks flying.

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Kwajijiik!

As the skinny Ma-in, who easily stood over 2 meters tall, swung his fist, tree trunks burst from the inside in a spiral pattern.

"Damn! What ability is that now!"

"Kuoooo!"

Kwajik! Kwajijik!

Each time the Ma-in swung his fists randomly, rocks twisted and trees warped and burst.

Ma-in, Yang Inbeom.

He was an executive of MK-1 with the characteristic of twisting whatever his fists touched in a spiral pattern from the inside.

And in front of him.

"Kuhek!"

Kwak Dong-ho, the tanker who possessed "Healing Factor" and trusted his recovery ability to charge head-on, spat blood and collapsed.

"Damn it, uuuugh."

It felt like the organs inside his struck abdomen were being twisted whole.

"Huu. Huuu."

Recovery ability and damage are separate things.

With the shock of pain he had never experienced before, the shock Kwak Dong-ho felt had already exceeded his limits.

"Hmph, weak guy. Get lost."

After taking down Kwak Dong-ho with random attacks, Yang Inbeom threw the unconscious cadet against a tree.

"That's far enough."

Lee Yu-jin, who had followed the trail of destruction created by Yang Inbeom, diverted his attention by shooting a sharp spirit.

"What is it, kid? You're next?"

"No, you're next."

Yu-jin said.

'Strange physique.'

Despite his height that seemed to exceed 2 meters, his shoulders were as narrow as a middle schooler who hadn't fully completed secondary sexual characteristics, his arms were as long as a monkey's, and his skin was cracked like drought-stricken fields—the Ma-in's appearance was truly bizarre.

'He's unbelievably quick. Plus, his arm reach is so long that even I with a sword can't easily approach.'

Just from briefly observing, Yu-jin had already completed a rough assessment of the Ma-in.

'Especially that skin, it looks too tough for even a sword to easily penetrate.'

The most troublesome part was the Ma-in's characteristic.

'Should I call it a spiral? Seems like an ability that makes things twist from the inside when touched.'

Looking at the burst trees and rocks, Yu-jin thought that this Ma-in's ability might be similar to her own.

Possessors of the so-called defense-ignoring damage, where even a mere graze becomes a hit.

'I can do it. No, I must do it.'

Yu-jin pointed a sharp sword at the Ma-in.

Hadn't she experienced countless instances of Su-hyeon's methods when facing this kind of ability of her own?

"Kuoooo!"

Despite the Ma-in's ferocious momentum as he charged while randomly swinging his arms, Yu-jin maintained her composure.

Tadak.

She used footwork to precisely adjust the distance.

Buung!

After drawing in the arm swing coming from a much farther distance than others to a precarious gap and then avoiding it.

Chwak!

Simultaneously, she slashed his side diagonally.

"Keok!"

As a burning sensation rushed in as if scalded, a groan burst from the Ma-in's mouth.

'What is this?!'

As the pain like stabbing nerves with a knife followed along the wound, his anger grew even more.

"Kuooo! Damn it!"

Yet no matter how fast his random punches filled with anger were, Yu-jin wasn't one to be defeated.

'It's a fight of who touches the other first.'

Mana Penetration.

Her characteristic was the ability to penetrate deeper damage the deeper she cut the opponent.

"Damn it! Annoying little wasp!"

Though the center of gravity and trajectory were all sloppy.

Yang Inbeom's attacks, with his bizarrely long reach, tremendous speed, and the "Spiral" characteristic, were objects of fear for many Execution Force members.

Chwak!

"Uaaah!"

But Yu-jin was precisely reading his movements through aura, using just the tip of her sword to narrowly accumulate damage.

'My sword energy can cut through his skin sufficiently.'

"Kaaaaa!"

Thus, he even stopped pouring out his confused anger randomly and had no choice but to retreat.

"Huu. Huuu."

"? What are you doing?"

Yu-jin frowned at seeing the Ma-in retreat too easily.

'Just when I was starting to get a feel for it...'

At the slight madness felt in that strange reaction, the Ma-in who had been rampaging without reason hesitated a bit.

'This one, something...'

"If you don't come, I'll go?"

Lee Yu-jin.

She simply couldn't forgive those Ma-in who had ruined the courage experience event with Su-hyeon and troubled her friends.

Chae chae chae chaeng!

"Kuuk!"

Jang So-hyeon's shield and sword were shaved away by the Ma-in's momentum as he launched a fierce attack, creating irregular trajectories with a thin, flexible sword reminiscent of a rapier.

'Too fast and dazzling. What swordsmanship is this?'

Jang So-hyeon, who fought using a one-handed sword and shield based on solid defensive capabilities.

But the Ma-in before her was toying with her using swordsmanship that utilized the quick blade based on brilliant steps and the wonder of flying blades coming in irregular trajectories.

'Much weaker compared to that kid earlier.'

The Ma-in smiled leisurely.

'Let's end this.'

Kaang!

Finally, after sending the sword flying from Jang So-hyeon's hand, just as the Ma-in was about to stab her abdomen.

"Get back!"

An ice lance flying from afar chased the Ma-in away.

"Chiik!"

The Ma-in clicked his tongue at the presence of an interferer who had exquisitely cut in.

"Ji-su!"

Jang So-hyeon welcomed her with teary eyes.

"Step back a bit."

"I trust only in Ji-su!"

Hwang Ji-su smirked as she watched Jang So-hyeon run away and hide behind a tree.

"Yes, that should be enough."

'Is that Hwang Ji-su? Not an easy opponent.'

Hwang Ji-su twisted the corner of her lips as she looked at the Ma-in who was lowering his posture and being cautious.

"A swordsman? Good."

"?"

"I was just in need of countermeasures against swordsmen."

Jjeojeojeojuk!

Hwang Ji-su first instantly froze the ground in the area, turning it into an ice rink.

"Will those proud feet of yours be effective here too?"

The Ma-in's narrow eyes narrowed even more sharply.

"Arrogant."

Seueueueu.

Regardless, the cold air created by Hwang Ji-su wrapped around her.

"That's!"

Eventually, that cold air began to clump together and form pointed crystals.

"Try to dig in."

It was clear that flesh would be sharply torn the moment one entered.

"Such tricks!"

"Does it seem like just tricks?"

As if she didn't even want to mix words, Hwang Ji-su waved her arm again to cast another area-of-effect attack.

That is.

Kwagwang!

Ice awls from above, ice lances flying from underfoot.

For these two attacks, there was no choice but to retreat far back.

"You shouldn't retreat so easily."

Jjeong!

The cold air that had been gathering behind, as if it had been waiting, formed a round ice wall, creating a structure like an igloo that wrapped around the Ma-in and covered the top.

"What the hell!"

The Ma-in was shocked that he had inadvertently entered an ice prison after merely avoiding a few attacks.

"What are you doing? Planning to freeze to death in there?"

The Ma-in even began to sweat cold sweat at the voice that seemed to mock him from outside the ice wall.

'This kid, what on earth?'

The Ma-in's expression turned grim as he felt even that cold sweat freeze instantly.

'What kind of monster is this...'

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Were-Bison Jang Manchun.

His tactics were quite simple.

First, he narrows the distance while defending attacks with hands that have hooves concentrated on the back, making them look like open-finger gloves.

Then he grabs the opponent and headbutts.

'There's no stronger attack than a headbutt at extremely close range.'

That's because it's an attack that uses the skull, one of the hardest and heaviest parts that make up the human body.

'Moreover, if his thick skull, cervical spine, and solid horns are added, that attack literally becomes a killing move.'

But.

"Kaaak!"

I cut his hide and accumulated wounds with out-fighting that fully utilized the reach of my hwando.

'I don't need to use [Liberation] to fight someone like Jang Manchun.'

His strength, technique, and speed were all not very threatening to me now.

"Damn it! Just playing around with a knife!"

Jang Manchun was irritated.

'Hmm? Wait.'

Looking at his reaction, there seemed to be something I could exploit.

"...Wait. Do you think you could beat me without a knife?"

I decided to imitate a prideful and naive youngster.

"!"

A gleam appeared in his eyes.

"Of course! Because knives are weapons used by cowards like you!"

'So simple.'

He seemed to believe his provocation had worked.

'Are cows generally low in intelligence?'

No, that's probably not it.

Let's just say this guy is stupid.

"Hmm. That's it then."

I ostentatiously put my hwando back in its sheath and walked.

"Huhehe, what are you doing?"

"You seem to have confidence in your headbutts."

"Huhahahahaha!"

He burst into laughter as if he had seen the world's biggest fool.

"I thought you might have something, but you're just a rock-head!"

'No, you're the rock-head no matter how you look at it.'

Both physically and mentally.

"You'll regret it, but it's already too late!"

He quickly grabbed and twisted my collar.

'Tremendous grip strength.'

But the moment my collar was grabbed, I pressed down on the inside of his elbow and instead grabbed his neck.

"!?"

As confusion and bewilderment appeared on his face at that moment.

"Heup!"

While pulling Jang Manchun's neck, I simultaneously tripped him and strongly pushed his chest to knock him down.

"Kwaaang!"

Jang Manchun's eyes, who was planted head-first into the ground in the blink of an eye, widened in shock.

"Keok!"

This was truly no different from a killing technique designed to kill people.

Yet the hardness of that skull, which seemed fine even after mercilessly shattering the ground, was truly at an amazing level.

"Sturdy."

"You damn kid!"

Just as he was about to rise in anger after having tried to headbutt but suddenly finding himself lying on the ground.

Seureung!

I drew my hwando and infused it with as much sword energy as possible.

Uuung.

The blade of the hwando trembled.

"Die! You fucking bastard!"

After slightly sidestepping the trajectory of Jang Manchun, who was charging like a bull with his head thrust forward.

"Heup!"

I struck down the sword with all my might.

Dengeng!

"Kaaaak!"

Jang Manchun, whose left horn had been cut off, howled in anger and pain.

"He cut that off!"

As if he had regained consciousness, Go Do-il, who was watching, shouted in amazement.

"That was unbelievably hard!?"

'The blade is damaged.'

My sword energy was still too immature to cut off his horn without any damage to the blade.

"You bastard! Daring to trick me!"

"Quick to realize."

"Kaa!"

As the enraged beast tried to grab my collar again.

Tak.

I lightly parried his hand away and planted a jab on his nose.

"Kuk!"

And then the attack I delivered with my preserved right hand wasn't a straight but a downward strike with the hwando emitting blue sword energy on his crown.

"Eek!"

Instead of avoiding that attack, Jang Manchun trusted in his skull and rather thrust his head forward.

"Crazy bastard!"

Go Do-il, who was watching, was shocked, but.

"Khaha!"

My sword only cut his skin but barely cut through his bone.

'Really damn sturdy.'

"Huhehe, you bastard. Got you!"

Jang Manchun, who had narrowed the distance with me by sacrificing flesh to save bone, laughed triumphantly.

However.

'It was certainly an unexpected response. But that's all.'

Bbeok!

I used my right hand that had let go of the sword to deliver a short uppercut, lifting his chin.

Kwajijik!

I immediately followed with a knee kick to his balls.

"Eeok!"

As his eyes half rolled back from the tremendous pain, I calmly withdrew, pulling out the hwando stuck in his forehead.

Jjaak!

I executed a whip-like outside low kick to make him half kneel.

And then.

"Heup!"

With a downward slash carrying the weight of my entire body, I cut off even his remaining right horn.

"I'll take this too."

"Kaaaak! You fucking bastard!"

Although Jang Manchun was trying to get up, half crazed with pain and humiliation.

Ppagak!

I executed a spinning kick with maximum rotation and power, precisely dislocating his jaw.

And that was the last.

"Keureureuk."

He clutched between his legs with his hands and simply collapsed.

"Subjugation complete."

'To overwhelm Jang Manchun this much without even using Liberation.'

Even I thought this was definitely a much faster growth rate compared to previous playthroughs.

"...Su-hyeon."

Go Do-il, from behind, swallowed dry saliva and asked.

"...He's not dead, is he?"

"...No, he's not."

Of course, after taking that much damage, it might have been better to die.