I Entered an Academy in a Ruined Game

Chapter 259 : Sweep Away (3)

Lee Cheong-myeong and Lee Yu-jin faced each other.

'He's changed.'

Yu-jin thought as she looked at Cheong-myeong's body.

When he was human, Cheong-myeong was a martial artist with a thick, solid frame like a large tree, well-trained muscles, and movements that blended smoothness with precision.

To train the sword was to train the body.

The Sword Warrior's physique was a masterpiece—beautifully and powerfully sculpted by maximizing the gifts he had received from his father.

Any ordinary opponent would have lost their fighting spirit just by seeing his strength and skill.

But what about now?

Cheong-myeong's body, corrupted by demonic nature, had unnaturally developed muscles, and his posture was more hunched than before.

Thus, the martial artist's body had transformed into something like a savage, barbaric warrior.

While it might be a more intimidating sight than before.

The sense of balance, martial principles, and the presence of stillness within movement could no longer be felt.

'Uncle no longer has the feeling I got from Su-hyeon.'

Su-hyeon, who had returned from three days of training with Commander Ju Taeyang.

'He said he was in a magic space where he spent a year.'

What kind of training did he undergo during that time?

What did he do and how?

How could Su-hyeon, who wasn't even an adult yet, emanate a much deeper presence than the 'Sword Warrior' Lee Cheong-myeong?

'Su-hyeon really is amazing.'

Equally surprising to her was that Cheong-myeong failed to notice such a change in Su-hyeon.

'If Uncle were still human, he couldn't have possibly missed such a change in Su-hyeon.'

It was a blind spot of becoming a Ma-in.

'It seems the sense of detecting crisis and feeling fear of an opponent's strength becomes dulled.'

Thinking about it, it had always been like that.

That way, one could forget fear and become a braver, more daring warrior.

'But they might end up dying from recklessness, unable to recognize when they're in mortal danger.'

And that mortal danger was right now.

That Su-hyeon would certainly make it so.

Yu-jin deeply trusted her grandfather's guarantee and Su-hyeon's confidence.

"Niece, are you ready to meet the end of your short life?"

Cheong-myeong sneered at Yu-jin.

"I can't wait any longer. I need to kill you quickly and then send Father off peacefully."

After saying that, Cheong-myeong tilted his head to the side.

"No, actually. It would be better to send him off painfully and miserably. For example......"

"Enough."

Yu-jin cut off his words.

Even though he was a corrupted Ma-in.

She didn't want to let him speak such impious words about his own father.

"Uncle."

"Look at this. You still call me uncle?"

Cheong-myeong laughed heartily.

"Even after what I did to you. How dull-witted."

I should have killed you then, Cheong-myeong showed a smile full of killing intent.

"......."

Such a cruel statement.

Even while realizing that the man before her was no longer her uncle, but a different being wearing his skin.

"Uncle is still uncle. I have no intention of denying that."

Yu-jin firmly continued.

"My father says I'm no longer his son, yet you're being so affectionate."

But.

"The stalling ends here."

Cheong-myeong raised his new sword.

"Let's say goodbye here."

"Yes."

Swish.

Yu-jin also slowly drew her Willow Water Sword.

"Let's say goodbye here."

Clang!

Their swords met in mid-air, sending sparks flying.

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'Battle Maniac' Jang Su-il.

He was among the strongest Ma-in that could be counted on one hand within the [Sword of Belphegor].

In terms of combat power, there were only two Ma-in who could be said to surpass him: 'Asura' Seong Ji-cheol and 'Vampire Queen' Song Yeonhui.

He had a simple characteristic—storing his power in tattoos covering his entire body, with greater power manifesting as the tattoos glowed brighter.

With just that, he was a powerful Ma-in strong enough to be considered among the strongest.

Just an endlessly tough body.

Durability that could withstand and break through anything.

And overwhelming power.

His athletic ability and combat sense were also top-notch.

Born strong, he never learned techniques.

Rather, he took pleasure in demolishing techniques that others had spent years building through self-torture and dedication, using only his brute strength.

Perhaps it was inevitable that such a person would choose the path of a Ma-in.

He couldn't engage in life-and-death battles with fellow humans.

'Oh Chang-seong was quite fun. I'd like to fight Jin Seong-geun, that bastard, once more with our lives on the line.'

Fist King Jin Seong-geun.

His trained body and techniques honed to the extreme were truly thrilling to counter.

'But there was still a difference in durability and weight class. That's somewhat regrettable.'

He enjoyed opponents who came at him with in-fighting more than those who used out-fighting.

In that sense, it was quite enjoyable to withstand the charge of Sky Knight Ma Seunggeon's unity with his horse.

What about Sword Crusher Ahn Byeong-jun?

The power of the war hammer wielded by that small, sturdy dwarf made his entire body tingle and sent shivers down his spine.

'Yes. Ahn Byeong-jun was the best.'

But that was only until yesterday.

"Sword God! You really are an amazing old man!"

He had no doubt that the Sword God was the strongest human he had ever fought.

There was no need to doubt.

Whoosh!

His swung fist hopelessly hit empty air.

Slash!

Blood gushed from his side, cut by the Sword God's sword as he had somehow moved behind him.

Whoosh!

The spinning kick he immediately launched hit nothing, and only his supporting ankle got slashed.

"Hahaha!"

Look at himself struggling against this old man.

It was so enjoyable he could hardly contain himself.

"To cut my skin, my muscles so easily!"

He was literally helpless.

Even when he tried to break into the Sword God's range, relying on his overflowing strength and toughness.

He simply couldn't penetrate the sword strikes that stabbed, cut, and tore at every opening, with distance control that had reached the realm of the divine.

As a result, every time he attempted an attack, it was he who bled.

Moreover, what about those terrifying sword strikes that could even cut the air?

Smash!

His fist was injured.

Rip!

His ear was torn.

"Hehehe."

Looking at the blood-soaked Jang Su-il, Lee Un-hak asked.

"Battle Maniac Jang Su-il."

"What is it? Don't interrupt when I'm having so much fun."

Jang Su-il tried to go on the offensive again, but Lee Un-hak's Flying Strike stopped his momentum.

"Damn it!"

"What can you do now? You must have realized that all attacks you can muster won't work against me."

"Don't try to scare me so much, old man."

Jang Su-il grinned.

"You're all going to die here anyway. Can't you let me enjoy this a bit longer?"

"Hmm."

"Don't worry. I won't kill a fun opponent like you so easily."

Jang Su-il said.

"I'll play with you and then kill you slowly. Let's fight for a long, long time."

"If that's what you think."

The Sword God nodded.

"I'll grant your wish."

After all, that was exactly what he wanted.

"That's right, that's more like it!"

'Su-hyeon.'

The Sword God's gaze turned toward Su-hyeon, who was overwhelming Ha Jin-su.

'I'm sorry, but I'll leave the outcome of this battle to you.'

Even as an S-rank Hunter and one who had reached the pinnacle of swordsmanship.

The inexhaustible power possessed by the Ma-in before him was difficult to gauge.

But.

'While it might be difficult to defeat him, I'm confident I won't lose either.'

That was enough for now.

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"Fucking hell!"

The blood-soaked Ha Jin-su vented his frustration.

"What the hell is going on!"

Slash!

Though they swung their swords simultaneously, only his forearm suffered a deep laceration.

Splash!

Blood spurted only from his body.

"Argh!"

Ha Jin-su ground his teeth as he watched Su-hyeon effortlessly receive his sword, swung with all his might, as if he were just fluttering a butterfly's wing.

'Lee Ho-seung, Lee Un-hak, Ahn Byeong-jun? How many swordsmen have been melted into your style?'

Su-hyeon's swordsmanship had become so smooth and relaxed that it made observers feel at ease.

"You're weak. Slow, sluggish, and soft."

"Don't fuck with me, you bastard!"

"It's the truth."

To the current Su-hyeon, 'Rusty Sword' Ha Jin-su could no longer be an equal opponent.

'When I think about it, it makes sense.'

Su-hyeon thought.

Through a year of training, he had extremely heightened his realm of sword and fist, reaching the domain of 'All Rivers Return to the Sea' where both realms became unified.

Moreover, he had achieved the Relaxation Realm, mastering Chukji fist techniques without recoil and freely using sword strikes that cut along the grain.

Now he could enter the Non-Self Realm at will.

'And I can still use all my existing skills like Liberation, Tachypsychia Mode, Hardening Shield, and Overclock.'

It was a power-up so ridiculous that even he found it absurd.

That was why Su-hyeon could easily overwhelm Ha Jin-su without using any special skills.

"Die!"

Ha Jin-su, having lost his composure, swung his sword with all his might as if chopping with an axe.

Clang!

Su-hyeon's Moonless Sword lightly received the strike.

Crack!

Ha Jin-su's posture completely collapsed under the deflection that flexibly used wrist, elbow, and shoulder.

Whack!

Ha Jin-su landed on his backside like a child when Su-hyeon kicked his supporting leg, where his center of gravity was placed.

'Damn it!'

And then came a merciless knee kick straight to the face.

Smack!

"Kuhak!"

Despite suffering from the excruciating pain of his cheekbone collapsing, Ha Jin-su desperately rose to his feet with a backward roll.

Clang! Clang!

As the price for barely blocking the two pursuing sword strikes, his body opened up widely once again.

Crack!

Su-hyeon's middle kick immediately cracked Ha Jin-su's ribs.

"You bastard!"

Even without using Hardening Shield.

The attack was much more painful, heavier, and faster than what he had experienced before.

'Of course.'

Now, after completing a year of training.

Su-hyeon's strength already far surpassed the level when he had fully opened Hardening Shield and Liberation.

"This is impossible!"

Ha Jin-su screamed.

How had he built up his strength?

He became a Ma-in, bathing in demonic beast blood to surpass Cheong-myeong and Ho-seung.

Still not enough, he suffered the humiliation of having his arm cut off by Ho-seung.

He endured the pain of having his head torn into by Hwang Won-jae to gain even greater power.

And finally, hadn't he defeated Cheong-myeong, even at the cost of losing an arm?

"Aaaargh!"

Ha Jin-su recklessly swung his sword once more.

"You don't deserve to even hold a sword."

Clang!

Su-hyeon's sword broke the Rusty Sword in half.

"!?"

Ha Jin-su's surprise didn't end there.

Crack!

When Su-hyeon twisted his wrist after joining his Moonless Sword with the broken sword, Ha Jin-su couldn't endure the pain and dropped his sword.

'No!'

Kick!

Su-hyeon, who kicked the sword away as if kicking a can, sheathed his Moonless Sword.

"So let's end the sword fight here."

"I'll kill you!"

Ha Jin-su, whose eyes had rolled back in anger at Su-hyeon's actions that belittled him so much, swung his fist.

Whoosh!

It was a punch with impeccable center of gravity and trajectory, befitting a body that had trained martial arts for a long time.

But not in Su-hyeon's eyes.

Whoosh—Smack!

Su-hyeon, who deflected the punch with just a light upper body movement, stopped Ha Jin-su's breathing with a left body blow.

"Argh!"

Ha Jin-su clutching his stomach and staggering backward.

That figure no longer showed the ferocity of a Ma-in, the pride of a swordsman, or the savage momentum of a warrior filled with madness.

"Let's end this."

Su-hyeon walked slowly toward him without even using footwork.

"Jeong Su-hyeon! You bastard!"

"Let those be your last words."

With an exhale, Su-hyeon imagined the sensation of all strength leaving his body.

Endlessly relaxing, guiding his flesh to the infinite world of relaxation.

He emptied all the power residing in his body, which had been cultivated, honed, tortured, and restored through countless training sessions.

It was an action impossible without the greatest courage.

And thus, in the very next moment.

'Chukji.'

The infinite power of folding the earth and running, surging from the toes to the ankles, bouncing up through the knees and pelvis to the waist.

Passing through the back and shoulders, transferring to the elbows and wrists.

His fist, advancing with everything exploding in a single moment, destroyed everything that stood in its path.

Boom!

And there was an enormous explosion.

"......!"

"......?"

Yu-jin, Lee Un-hak, Lee Cheong-myeong, and Jang Su-il, who were engaged in fierce battles, all turned their gazes to the source of the explosion at once.

A momentary explosion drawn from extreme relaxation.

Yet the elegant relaxation dispersed the impact throughout all muscles, bones, and joints.

As a result, not a single part of Su-hyeon's body was injured.

It was the perfection of the Chukji fist.

'My fist is intact too.'

The momentarily applied Hardening Shield faithfully fulfilled its role as a glove.

This was the result.

"His head exploded."

Su-hyeon said emotionlessly as he looked at Ha Jin-su's corpse, whose shoulders and above had completely disappeared.

It was a gruesome but instantaneous death without pain.

"I suppose that was merciful for you."