I Entered an Academy in a Ruined Game

Chapter 152 : Blood Plaza (5)

The crystal stone that forms the core of dungeons is the material with the highest purity of mana among all substances existing on earth.

Its purity is so high that even the magical energy abundant in dungeons cannot affect the crystal stone in the slightest.

Perhaps because of that.

Occasionally, with an extremely rare probability, there are beings that naturally emerge near crystal stones.

Pegasus, unicorn, hippogriff.......

Beings born in dungeons yet not containing even a speck of magical energy.

People called these divine beasts.

Among them, the Pegasus was treated as the most precious being, a divine horse capable of running through the sky.

And here, this man, 8th Unit Captain Ma Seunggeon was one of only three Pegasus riders in the entire world.

"Hyah!"

Ma Seunggeon, who spurred his Pegasus's belly, flew avoiding Jang Su-il's fist wind with exquisite aerial maneuvering.

10 years ago.

He was dispatched on an assignment to a dungeon and met a Pegasus there.

The Pegasus is a spiritual creature famous for choosing its own master.

When the Pegasus, which no one could tame, approached Ma Seunggeon, knelt, and offered its back, their fate was decided.

Ma Seunggeon, who already possessed strength counted among the best of his generation.

After that day, he gained a completely new power.

The process of learning new cavalry tactics while riding the winged horse, the Pegasus, was not easy.

But when he achieved the state of unity between horse and rider with his celestial horse, he had already earned the honor of being the 8th Unit Captain.

Kwaaaang!

A thrust carrying the momentum of his charge exploded against Jang Su-il's solid guard.

"Kuhh! Truly impressive!"

Jang Su-il's muscles, with durability far exceeding steel, were pushed back by the sharp spear tip and bled.

'What monstrous muscles.'

Ma Seunggeon immediately drew the saber in his left hand and struck down at Jang Su-il, who received the blade with his forehead.

Kaaang!

"Hahaha! With your sword energy, you can barely tear my skin! But not even a scratch on my skull!"

Despite blood covering his face, Jang Su-il laughed as if he felt no pain.

"Hmm."

Retrieving his spear and sword, he cut the abdomen and struck the collarbone.

"Where!"

After blocking the attacks with both arms, Jang Su-il suddenly aimed a roundhouse kick at the Pegasus.

Kwang!

Ma Seunggeon's body was pushed back as he received the attack with spear and sword.

Hihing!

The Pegasus, intelligently turning its body, kicked Jang Su-il with its hind hooves and flapped its wings to gain altitude, moving out of range.

"Hehehe, being hit by a horse is a first for me!"

Despite taking a kick to the solar plexus that should have ruptured his internal organs, Jang Su-il merely burst into mad laughter.

'This guy enjoys getting hit. He's not even a masochist.'

Ma Seunggeon clicked his tongue and increased his altitude.

'I heard he fought with Chang-seong for quite a while. Was he just playing around?'

Seeing him now, it seemed that no matter how well Oh Chang-seong fought, it would have been difficult to inflict proper damage.

'If that's the case.'

Wooong.

The aura spear enveloping the spearhead of his polearm grew larger and sharper.

'I'll skewer you by force!'

He controls the horse with perfect unity, utilizing both impact force and mobility, and dismembers opponents with sword and spear techniques that have reached the level of unity.

Just as with Jang Su-il, Ma Seunggeon's true abilities had not yet been displayed.

"Let's go!"

Tok, tok.

The Pegasus, which had been slowly walking to find a landing spot, tilted its body downward and increased speed.

The extraordinary impact force created by the Pegasus's wings and hooves together was loaded into the tip of Ma Seunggeon's spear.

Kwaaaang!

For the first time that day, Jang Su-il was sent flying backward and crashed into a building.

But.

"Not bad. That actually hurt!"

Jang Su-il, who had destroyed the 13-story building he crashed into with his fists, threw the debris.

"Disgustingly sturdy."

Ma Seunggeon, who flew up avoiding the building debris, circled the sky again.

'Time....... good. I've bought a lot.'

If he could keep Jang Su-il occupied until properly equipped reinforcements arrived, he would have done his duty.

'But this guy is dangerous.'

He could tell from fighting directly.

'I'd like to subdue him here if possible, before more blood is spilled.'

Meanwhile.

Chaeng! Chaeaeng!

Ha Jin-su and Lee Cheong-myeong exchanged offense and defense without breathing room, repeatedly employing killing techniques aimed at each other's vital points.

"Heup!"

Ha Jin-su tried to block Lee Cheong-myeong's approach by spraying sword energy that would cause incurable wounds just from contact.

Chaeng!

Lee Cheong-myeong, receiving the sword with minimal movement, immediately aimed for the wrist.

'No, was it a feint!'

Although he realized Lee Cheong-myeong's intention a bit late, Ha Jin-su quickly stepped back and avoided Lee Cheong-myeong's upper thrust.

'His reaction is quite good.'

Lee Cheong-myeong remained vigilant against Ha Jin-su's sword, which was showing skills beyond his expectations.

'Upper!'

Lee Cheong-myeong, who deflected the short downward strike aimed at his right shoulder, tried to cut Ha Jin-su's side while moving to the flank.

Kaang!

Ha Jin-su, who received it with a quick reaction, lowered his body and extended his sword to aim for the ankle.

Tadak!

Lee Cheong-myeong, who jumped low to avoid the attack, also extended his sword energy for a one-handed thrust.

Shuk!

Ha Jin-su, who avoided it by tilting his head sideways, tried to close the distance, but Lee Cheong-myeong, reading his intention, executed a diagonal slash, forcing Ha Jin-su to retreat.

"Tch."

Ha Jin-su clicked his tongue and raised his unsightly rusty sword in front of his chest.

"Hmm."

Lee Cheong-myeong, who approached directly, clashed blades.

Kakak, kagagak.

They exchanged attempts to throw off each other's center by twisting wrists, but the winner was Lee Cheong-myeong.

In an instant, Lee Cheong-myeong pressed down the blade and cut Ha Jin-su's chest with a lightning-fast horizontal slash.

"Keuk!"

But Ha Jin-su advanced forward even as his pectoral muscle was cut, driving Lee Cheong-myeong back with the determination to sacrifice flesh to cut bone.

Chachachachang!

However, Lee Cheong-myeong, who firmly received the 5-hit combo delivered in one breath, succeeded in shallowly cutting Ha Jin-su's thigh again.

"Damn it!"

Although Ha Jin-su retreated without gain, Lee Cheong-myeong's expression wasn't bright either.

'It was a razor-thin difference. If my level had been even slightly lower, I would have been the one cut.'

If that had happened, he would have been the one in trouble.

'Indeed. He's fighting cunningly, fully utilizing his abilities and the advantages of a Ma-in's superior physical abilities. That once hasty and simple guy.'

That was certainly a frightening evolution.

But.

'Ha Jin-su, you as a person really haven't changed.'

If this was the extent of Ha Jin-su's skill, he seemed to have no further need to worry.

"You've risen to a higher level than I remember, Ha Jin-su."

"And you're not as impregnable as I remember."

"Haha."

The Sword Warrior also laughed at the Ma-in's sneer.

"That's why you fail."

"What?"

Ha Jin-su's eyebrows twitched upon hearing the exact same words he had heard from Lee Ho-seung.

"Half-baked achievement, half-baked pride. Weren't you suffering from inferiority complex for not being able to surpass me or Ho-seung when you were human? Becoming a Ma-in doesn't seem to have changed your essence."

"You fucking bastard, watch your mouth."

Ignoring the growling Ha Jin-su, Lee Cheong-myeong said.

"No. Rather, you've fallen further. Although your strength may have increased from before, your sword is still as base now as it was then."

"Are you also going to spout nonsense about sword breathing or whatever?"

"Haha. Did Ho-seung say that?"

Woong.

Lee Cheong-myeong's sword rang clearly.

"A guy who still can't hear even that pretending to be a swordsman, how ridiculous."

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"Is it not time yet? We don't have much time left!"

'Executioner' Kwak Hyeok-jung answered the urging of 'Summoner' Yu Gangmin through the earpiece.

"Don't worry. The preparations for 'that mission' are already complete."

Kwak Hyeok-jung said.

"I'll send a signal when it's done. Be ready."

"Damn, a captain really is a captain. To be able to fight Jang Su-il head-on."

The prowess shown by the captains against Jang Su-il, who always had to acutely feel the difference in power despite being an executive, and Ha Jin-su, who had recently grown much stronger, was truly amazing.

"Huhaha, let them fight all they want."

Kwak Hyeok-jung sneered as if none of that mattered to him.

What was in front of his eyes was the statue of a legendary hero, which had been under maintenance work until recently.

"From the beginning, our objective was to personally behead this detestable idol."

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Song Eun-bi, the Ma-in with the Mercury Transformation characteristic, was a Ma-in with a strangely wrinkle-free and taut face despite being over 40 years old.

Liquid, solid, and even gas.

She freely transforms mercury to use as armor, spreads it as toxic gas, and attacks by wielding it like arms.

"Tch!"

But Song Eun-bi was fighting a difficult battle with mercury whose output was much lower than usual due to the control effect of [Imperial Dominion].

'Damn! How can an 18-year-old high school student fight this well?'

It felt like she fought better than the average Squad Leader.

'Moreover, she's thoroughly stalling for time while pressuring me. Not trying to defeat me. What an annoying kid.'

That wasn't the only problem.

"Hae-na-noona!"

Seo Jun-seong, freed from the evacuation mission due to the two captains' participation and continued reinforcements, joined Min Hae-na.

"Heup!"

Guuuung!

A gravity field that twisted even the atmosphere flew in and tore Song Eun-bi's mercury armor apart.

"Kuk!"

Song Eun-bi, who hastily retreated, enveloped the two with mercury fog, but Jun-seong's psychokinesis easily dispersed the fog.

"Oh, our Jun-seong came?"

Min Hae-na smiled brightly.

"It's reassuring to have Jun-seong with us."

Whiririk.

Min Hae-na, who twirled her staff like a helicopter propeller, smiled triumphantly.

"Just focus on covering me!"

"Got it!"

The combined attack of the two was something that even an executive of [Sword of Belphegor] couldn't dismiss.

"Damn it!"

Song Eun-bi started to be pushed back by their exquisite joint attack.

Jun-seong controlled both the gasification and solidification of mercury with his psychokinesis.

Kwaaang!

Min Hae-na shattered the firmly compressed mercury barrier.

While Jun-seong attacked with a giant's arm, Min Hae-na, who had enhanced her control over mana, targeted her rear at an even faster speed.

"Damn it, is it not time yet!"

[Just hold on a little longer!]

Yu Gangmin's answer came to Song Eun-bi's impatient cry.

'Damn! What is that brat Noh Hajun doing?'

If he could help, the situation would be resolved quickly.

Her gaze turned toward the distant building rooftop.

Kyaooo!

Su-hyeon, who had jumped high to avoid the Black Flame Dragon, swallowed dry saliva with his completely dry throat.

'Damn it, I might die of dehydration at this rate.'

But Su-hyeon wasn't just helplessly dodging.

'This is essentially a flame.'

Therefore, if the sword body could withstand without melting, cutting was also possible.

The Moonless Sword made of adamant was an item that could withstand even a direct hit from a dragon's breath for a moment.

By surrounding it with sword energy, if he could cut through in a moment like this...

Seogek!

Noh Hajun was surprised for the first time at the sight of Su-hyeon cutting through the Black Flame Dragon and closing the distance.

"How did you cut my Black Flame Dragon!"

"Huup."

Su-hyeon, who inhaled once more, cut through the Black Flame Dragon three times in one breath.

'Damn it, my skin feels like it's going to burn off completely.'

Meanwhile, the Moonless Sword had become as hot as an aluminum pot intensely heated on fire.

'But this is the only chance.'

Now, having caught him off guard and closed the distance, was the opportunity to land a hit on Noh Hajun.

Bwoong!

Su-hyeon, who had swung his sword from just outside of perilous range, extended his sword energy and cut across Noh Hajun's face.

Chwak!

Noh Hajun, with a small cut below his eye, completely lost his mind at that unfamiliar and unpleasant sensation.

"Kuaaaaaak! You fucking dog!"

Just as Noh Hajun, completely enraged, was about to release his limiter and burn everything around him.

Finally, Hwang Won-jae's voice was transmitted into the executives' minds.

[Mission complete. Everyone withdraw.]

"Damn! I thought my neck would fall off waiting!"

Immediately, the executives attempted to withdraw.

"Calm that kid down first. That bastard's gone crazy."

"I can't do it alone. Help me!"

"Let's do that."

Jang Su-il, Song Eun-bi.

The two Ma-in shook off their opponents and climbed up to the building to stop Noh Hajun.

"Get out of my way! If you try to stop me, I'll kill you too!"

"My, that's a bit scary."

Chiiiiik!

Song Eun-bi, who had escaped Min Hae-na's domain, instantly created a massive amount of mercury and covered Noh Hajun's Black Flame Dragon.

Chiiiiik!

Through the vast mercury vapor that resulted, Jang Su-il closed the distance and struck Noh Hajun's abdomen.

"Keok!"

Jang Su-il, who shouldered Noh Hajun who had lost consciousness from the exquisite attack, looked back.

"Ma Seunggeon! You were really fun! I'll kill you for sure next time!"

He giggled and raised his middle finger at Ma Seunggeon.

"I'm leaving now!"

"Who's going to let you go!"

Ma Seunggeon, filled with rage, flew through the sky chasing the Ma-in, but.

Kyaooo!

A huge snake that suddenly appeared blocked him.

"Don't interfere!"

Chwak!

When he cut through the snake's hard scales and beheaded it.

"...Damn it."

The Ma-in were already jumping into the portal created by Yu Gangmin.

"We need to catch that guy!"

But it was already too late.

'Ultra-Flight' Bang Unmin, who had emerged from outside the portal, carried Yu Gangmin and began to flee at a speed reminiscent of a jet.

"Catch him! Don't let him escape!"

Execution Force members with flight abilities hastily pursued, but.

'They can't catch that.'

Su-hyeon thought.

Bang Unmin's speed was so great that no one present could easily pursue him.

And capturing Yu Gangmin, who had stuffed all his comrades into the subspace and was escaping, was never an easy task even in the late scenario.

And this was exactly the goal Su-hyeon had set.

'I did my best.'

But.

The great chaos that was to come was unavoidable.

'If the statue's head isn't cut off here, the future will proceed in a direction I don't know.'

Su-hyeon turned his head to look at the reporters and armed police arguing in front of the statue.

"I said don't film it!"

The armed police tried somehow to stop the reporters, but.

"Why are you blocking us? This is a violation of the people's right to know!"

A reporter, crazed by the scent of a scoop, forcibly pushed in his camera.

"No!"

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In the end, the horrific scene of the headless hero statue spread instantly through TV.

"Mom, look at that!"

"Oh my goodness."

"The statue's head...!"

The citizens, watching TV in shock, couldn't help but realize that something was beginning to happen.

At this moment.

The peaceful era was slowly coming to an end.