I Entered an Academy in a Ruined Game

Chapter 204 : Spear Devil (3)

"Why do you push your body to such extremes? You have brilliant technique and promising prospects. What makes you so desperate?"

Lee Ho-seung once asked me this as I relentlessly repeated sword training, sparring, and physical conditioning every day like a madman.

"Technique alone isn't enough."

My answer was simple.

"Conversely, physical strength alone isn't enough either."

"Well, who doesn't know that? But normally people don't go as far as you do."

"If mana power didn't exist, could a 70-year-old master who has achieved the pinnacle of martial arts defeat a 20-year-old who has only trained with a sword for a few years?"

"That's quite an extreme hypothesis, but it would be impossible."

Ho-seung shrugged as if wondering what kind of question that was.

But that was precisely the common sense of the world I came from.

"Technique without physical strength is just armchair theory, and physical strength without technique is also incomplete. You need both."

"You stubborn bastard. You're acting like you're shouldering the fate of the world all by yourself."

"Saying that would be an absurd exaggeration. But I believe you need at least that level of determination."

"What made you like this?"

"My past."

Not my past as Jeong Su-hyeon, but as Kim Seong-yun.

"Someday, without fail. There will come a moment when I'll need the strength gained from my current efforts."

"Whatever. I never thought I'd be telling my disciple to take it easy."

"Thank you for your concern."

That's right.

The grueling training that defied common sense continued day after day.

Trusting in my Unlimited characteristic, I ignored the screams from my body and mind, pushing myself one step further every day.

How could that time not have been painful?

Clicking through a screen was entirely different from pushing your body to the extreme when your heart feels like it might burst and your muscles might tear at any moment.

Isn't this enough? Couldn't I take a break today?

I always rejected those whispering thoughts.

I couldn't afford to be complacent even knowing what the future held.

I never forgot that only by strengthening my body could I become a vessel capable of handling techniques at a higher level of ascension.

Finally, the time had come for those efforts to be rewarded.

❀⋆｡°✿☆❀✿°｡⋆❀

Swoosh!

Su-hyeon suddenly appeared before him and swung the Moonless Sword, but.

Clang!

Though startled, Lim Se-jin smoothly parried the sword strike and said:

"I don't know what technique you used, but your sword hasn't become particularly faster or stronger."

Se-jin quickly discerned the quality of the attack and tried to ruthlessly counter by slashing at Su-hyeon's waist.

Shwoop.

Su-hyeon used Chukji once more, supporting the staggering Jo Sujin as he moved out of Se-jin's range.

"!?"

Se-jin was shocked as Su-hyeon vanished right before his eyes.

'I couldn't sense his movement at all!'

Moreover.

"...This bastard."

Se-jin's eyepatch split in half and fell away, revealing his snake-like thin, sharp eyes.

'Back then, he extended his sword energy to cut my eyepatch by the narrowest margin.'

And what an eyepatch it was.

For 'Enhanced Spiritual Sense'.

Also, it was like a self-imposed restriction he wore when fighting opponents of lower caliber for his own amusement.

But now, his eyepatch had been cut by his opponent, exposing his eyes.

"...Today, you've angered me for the first time. I pity your foolishness."

Lim Se-jin said.

"Do you understand what it means that I've removed my eyepatch? It's like a boxer taking off his gloves, or a swordsman drawing his real sword. A vicious dog freed from its muzzle, a sniper setting aside his rifle to take up a precision rifle! Or..."

While the enraged Se-jin continued his lengthy speech pronouncing Su-hyeon's death sentence.

'My stomach feels queasy.'

Su-hyeon was reviewing the sensation of [Chukji] that he had activated for the first time.

'So this is what it feels like.'

Having already exhausted himself resisting Se-jin with all his might, he didn't have much mana left.

'And this skill consumes a lot of mana to begin with.'

Chukji—the power to run by folding the earth.

Being close to spatial distortion, it inevitably required a massive amount of mana.

To use an analogy, it was like the difference in energy between casually walking a lap around a field and doing duck walks for the same distance.

'Viewed that way, it's quite inefficient.'

That's why it was originally considered a trash skill, but.

Su-hyeon discovered the skill's new potential, transforming it into a tier-1 skill acknowledged by all Edge of Gate users.

'The true value of Chukji isn't simply as a movement skill.'

Utilizing its physical force—capable of moving tens or hundreds of kilometers—for attacks.

That was the key.

Of course, it wasn't as easy as it sounded.

'Using it for attacks creates too much strain.'

Like a gun barrel melting after firing a shell with unmanageable firepower.

After using Chukji for an attack, the user's joints, muscles, and even bones would be completely wrecked.

'No, most people would die immediately upon using it.'

It was like a bee's stinger—once used, its internal organs fall out with it, resulting in death.

That's why Su-hyeon needed it.

The transcendent durability of Unlimited, and the endless physical training that pushed that durability to its limits!

'What I lacked was a one-hit kill attack that could overturn a disadvantage.'

It had been such a long wait.

'I've finally obtained the Spear Devil Technique.'

Su-hyeon grinned.

'You're finished now.'

"What are you smiling about?"

"I wonder. Why are you so impatient despite having so much power?"

"......"

Se-jin's expression turned fierce as Su-hyeon hit the mark.

"You act like you know and control everything, but as soon as something unexpected happens, you panic like a child."

"You brat."

Lim Se-jin finally tried to regain his composure.

"What did you do? Are you using some kind of blink skill?"

Su-hyeon answered Lim Se-jin's question:

"Well, comparing it to blink offends me."

Wooong!

Su-hyeon dodged the slash Lim Se-jin launched, formed a Mana Shield, and ran through the air, narrowly avoiding additional attacks by relying on his Eye Power as he closed the distance.

"You."

Lim Se-jin's eyes flashed as he realized something.

"That technique, you can't use it often, can you?"

'He's quick-witted.'

Interpreting Su-hyeon's silence as affirmation, Lim Se-jin spun his spear and charged.

"How ridiculous! Did you think you could defeat me with a parlor trick you can't even control properly!"

Wooong!

A spear strike strong and powerful enough to split heaven and earth flew toward Su-hyeon.

"Dodge it!"

Sujin, who was watching, shouted.

'If I take that attack head-on, I'll probably be cleanly cut in half.'

But facing that irresistible force.

Su-hyeon firmly planted his feet on the ground, crouched with his sword hidden at his waist as if preparing to use Battō-jutsu.

'Chukji.'

Krrrk!

The infinite energy that should have traveled by folding the earth swirled around his feet, unable to extend outward.

'Take this!'

He transferred that massive kinetic energy from his ankles to his knees, from his knees to his pelvis and waist, to his shoulders and arms, and swung his sword.

Kwaaaang!

With an unbelievable sound of sword meeting spear.

Paaaang!

A shockwave erupted between the two, raising a cloud of dust.

And then.

"Keoaghk!"

Se-jin spewed blood like a fountain as he flew far and crashed into a wall.

Just once.

Just one sword strike had pierced through Lim Se-jin's spear energy, cut his spear, and deeply slashed his chest and shoulder.

"D-damn it."

The sight of Spear Devil Lim Se-jin critically wounded by Su-hyeon's sword.

"Impossible!"

Both Ma-in and Execution Force members were shocked by the unbelievable scene, even pausing their fight.

"What the hell did you do!"

The Ma-in rushed to protect their leader, but.

"Stop those bastards!"

Before Sujin could even shout, the Execution Force members blocked them.

"Huff, huff."

Only Su-hyeon was breathing heavily while wearing a faint smile.

'A power that's hard to believe even after seeing it.'

Literally one-hit kill.

'This is the Spear Devil Technique.'

"Su-hyeon, are you okay?"

"I can't even lie and say I am."

The price Su-hyeon paid for that one attack was also terrifyingly high.

Shoulder rupture, anterior cruciate ligament rupture, microscopic ankle fracture.

Not to mention the severe damage accumulated throughout his body.

'After all that training, I still end up with these injuries from just one attack.'

Clang!

Su-hyeon dropped the Moonless Sword.

'I won't be able to hold a sword anymore today.'

"AAAAARGH! I'LL KILL YOU!"

As soon as he saw this, Lim Se-jin went berserk and charged toward Su-hyeon.

With just one strike, his dignified reason disappeared, replaced by the characteristic aggression and ferocity of a Ma-in.

"Damn it!"

Caught by surprise, Sujin and Chang-seong Oh rushed to help, but.

"Don't come!"

Su-hyeon shouted as he straightened his body.

'My arms may be gone, but I still have my legs.'

Su-hyeon delivered a front kick, once again utilizing the power of Chukji.

Bweeeeeong!

Lim Se-jin flew hundreds of meters, trembled, and then passed out.

"...Insane."

Sujin muttered, dumbfounded by the sight.

"How far is he going to fly?"

"Huff! Huff!"

Unable to even support his own body, Su-hyeon collapsed to the ground, breathing heavily.

'I'm a complete wreck. This bad after just two attacks.'

But Su-hyeon smiled.

"Subjugation complete."

[Unbelievable achievement! You have defeated Lim Se-jin, the 'Spear Devil'!]

[You have won against a powerful opponent on the threshold of transcendence!]

[Achievement points 2600 awarded!]

'Jackpot.'

Just as Su-hyeon was feeling satisfied and about to close his eyes.

"Healer! Bring a healer quickly!"

"Yes, ma'am!"

Sujin flew to Su-hyeon's side, grabbed his collar, and shook him.

"Hey! Su-hyeon! Stay conscious!"

"Sorry... I'm just going to sleep for a moment."

Slap!

"You bastard! Say that again and you'll die!"

Sujin shouted.

"No."

Su-hyeon felt wronged.

"I really am just going to sleep for a moment."

"Bullshit!"

"...Really. I don't think I'm going to die. I just have some broken bones and I'm exhausted."

"......"

"......"

"Uh... really?"

"Yes. So please let go of me. I can't breathe."

"Hmm."

Sujin finally released her grip.

"Sorry. Go ahead and sleep."

❀⋆｡°✿☆❀✿°｡⋆❀

[We've captured Spear Devil and all members of the Ma-in Association!]

The Chief of Staff cheered at the 7th Unit Captain's report.

"Really? Unbelievable!"

[Yes, it's absolutely true!]

"Had the Spear Devil weakened? What happened?"

[No. The Spear Devil was terrifyingly strong. Senior Squad Leader Jo Sujin, Instructor Oh Chang-seong, and the two cadets Jeong Su-hyeon and Nam Tae-hoon couldn't defeat him even by joining forces.]

"Huh?"

The Chief of Staff was surprised.

"Then how? Perhaps some reclusive master...?"

[No.]

"Then was it Senior Squad Leader Jo?"

[Not her either.]

"Then Instructor Oh?"

[Not him either.]

"If it wasn't any of them, then who was it?"

[Jeong Su-hyeon.]

The 7th Unit Captain said with a trembling voice.

[Cadet Jeong Su-hyeon awakened an unknown power and defeated the Spear Devil with just two strikes.]

"...What did you say?"

[And he's currently collapsed after sustaining major damage, receiving emergency treatment, though his life is not in danger.]

"......"

The Chief of Staff, who had fallen silent, finally spoke.

"Jeong Su-hyeon again?"

[Yes.]

At this point, it was ridiculous.

No.

It wasn't even ridiculous anymore.

"Heh. Hehehe."

He could only laugh.

"About that friend."

[Yes.]

"Couldn't we just have him graduate early?"

[...I suppose we could.]

Meanwhile, unaware of the reactions surrounding him, Su-hyeon was smiling in the medical evacuation helicopter.

'A whole 2600 achievement points. That's an incredible gain.'

It was a score that reflected just how formidable an enemy the Spear Devil had been to him.

And most importantly.

[Purchasing the skill Clear as a Mirror!]

A miracle was unfolding—he had sold Clear as a Mirror for points to buy Chukji and win the fight, and now with the reward, he was buying Clear as a Mirror again.

'This is what you call a creative economy.'