I Entered an Academy in a Ruined Game

Chapter 268 : Draw Him Out (8)

"Hey, Jeong Su-hyeon."

The were-bear, staggering to his feet, said something a little different from what I expected.

"Let's at least introduce ourselves."

"......I don't have time for that."

"You're annoying in every little way."

The were-bear spat, and blood came out mixed with his saliva.

"I'm Park Woo-hyuk. They call me Light Bear. Of course, the Chinese characters are different from Lee Cheong-myeong, whom you killed."

"'Light' as in crazy, 'Bear' as in bear?"

I said.

"Captain Lee Cheong-myeong died as a human. Can you do the same?"

"Hahaha. You ask strange things."

Park Woo-hyuk fiercely raised his momentum.

"Why would I need to die as a human?"

"Hmm."

"Because of human constraints, I was destined to rot in prison for a lifetime despite having committed no real crime. I have no regrets now that I've escaped that fate and gained the opportunity to rampage."

"That's a lie."

"What?"

"Since you've already come out, you want to live longer, don't you? You don't want to die here?"

"Hahaha."

Park Woo-hyuk laughed.

"I heard you were good with words, and indeed you are."

Rumble.

Park Woo-hyuk's body grew even more massive.

"Yes. It would be a waste to die here. But I don't intend to put my life ahead of the success or failure of this operation."

"You're a loyal man."

"Surprised?"

"No."

I answered.

"Ma-in aren't always heinously evil. I know very well that they might have been good humans, or even after becoming Ma-in, they can remain good friends among comrades."

"Knowing that, you can still kill Ma-in without hesitation?"

"Why shouldn't I?"

I asked back.

"Do you Ma-in spare and save good humans?"

"Haha. Right, a silly question with a smart answer. We don't."

Park Woo-hyuk laughed as if amused.

"Thank you. For going along with this meaningless conversation."

"If you were an irredeemable villain, you would have been in Black Castle."

Who doesn't have a story?

"Aren't you going to draw your sword? I heard your swordsmanship is exceptional."

"That's right."

I intended to finish this fight without drawing my Moonless Sword until the end.

"You're quite the gentleman, kid."

Park Woo-hyuk smiled bitterly.

"So are you. You seemed to be rampaging quite a bit earlier. You have a calmer personality than I thought."

"Yes. The ferocity of beasts and the cruelty of Ma-in were originally far from my character."

Growl.

"But now I don't have the luxury to be discerning."

Boom!

Park Woo-hyuk charged at me and swung his front paw.

Whoosh!

I narrowly avoided the attack by moving backward.

'His fighting style itself is crude.'

He was a typical type who fights by surrendering to his instincts.

Similar to 'Battle Maniac' Jang Su-il in some ways, but.

While Jang Su-il enjoyed smashing all kinds of martial arts styles and was closer to a street fighter with his own techniques.

"Raaaaaah!"

Park Woo-hyuk was truly a beast.

I narrowly ducked to avoid Park Woo-hyuk's attack, which came with his left front paw after his right.

Whoosh!

Even though it was a blunt attack, the sound of air being torn was terrifying.

But it's meaningless if it doesn't hit.

Whack!

Rising from my ducked position, I rode the momentum and countered with a short hook to the front.

"Kuk!"

Then immediately a right body blow.

THUD!

"Kuhuk!"

'That landed properly.'

Feeling Park Woo-hyuk's breath stop from my fist striking his solar plexus, I retreated.

"Where do you think you're going!"

When he swung his front paw, thoroughly agitated.

Whoosh!

I jumped up by stepping on a Mana Shield and struck his face with a taekwondo-style side kick.

Crack!

"Kuk."

This was a preemptive counter.

Beyond countering after seeing an attack, it was a high-level technique that reads the signs of an attack and immediately attacks to succeed in a faster strike.

"Damn it!"

"I was going to break another of your fangs, too bad."

"You son of a dog!"

Gone was the gentlemanly appearance, replaced by a Park Woo-hyuk full of hasty anger.

'To be this unskilled despite having such power.'

It could be due to the years spent away from fighting, or due to a personality unsuited for fighting.

"Right. Keep running around like a rat."

"Pick one, rat or dog."

Grind.

With the sound of gritting teeth, Park Woo-hyuk dashed forward.

'See this?'

This too was a pattern that didn't deviate from expectations.

'Going to grab and bite?'

The greatest weapon given to a beast.

That was indeed biting with sharp teeth and powerful jaw strength.

Whack!

Against Park Woo-hyuk, who withstood the jab I struck for distance control and was trying to grab me with his front paws.

"If that's what you want, go ahead."

I willingly offered my nape.

"?!"

Chomp!

Park Woo-hyuk was determined to bite my nape to death, but that was impossible against my Hardening Shield.

"Your jaw strength is strong, but your teeth aren't as sharp as they look."

"You...!"

Whack!

I struck his temple with my elbow at close range.

"Kuk!"

I grabbed the back of the neck of Park Woo-hyuk, who was trying to retreat after taking significant damage, and struck his ribs with my knee.

"Urgh!"

Those ribs had already allowed several left body blows.

As Park Woo-hyuk reflexively bent over, clearly in pain, I struck his nose bridge with a knee kick this time.

"Kuk!"

It was a plum clinch situation, nothing short of hell for an unskilled fighter.

"Raaaaaah!"

I let Park Woo-hyuk struggle and try to rise.

'His chin is exposed.'

And then I precisely dislocated his jaw with my elbow.

Crack!

"Kuh."

The desperation to escape from me somehow.

The ominous damage accumulated in various parts—temple, jaw, nose bridge, ribs.

In this crisis situation, which he was experiencing for the first time in probably ten years, Park Woo-hyuk's body staggered.

"Hup!"

I slammed Park Woo-hyuk's head to the floor with a Muay Thai-style sweep combined with the principles of judo—wasabari.

Boom!

"That's impressive."

I marveled.

"Your skull is ridiculously sturdy. You're still not unconscious."

"You, you bastard."

Park Woo-hyuk stammered, suggesting the impact was significant.

"To overwhelm an S-minus rank like me like this."

"Regardless of your estimated rank being S-minus."

I said.

"In my opinion, not only Captain Lee Cheong-myeong but even Ha Jin-su was much stronger than you."

"I see. That makes sense."

I let Park Woo-hyuk stagger to his feet.

"I'm someone who's been rotting without proper combat experience for over ten years. While my power and specs might be S-minus rank, it's natural that my actual combat ability is lacking."

"Knowing that, will you still continue?"

The outcome of the fight was as good as decided.

"Of course."

I didn't sympathize... with the plight of a Ma-in who had to find meaning in his life through such actions.

An enemy is just an enemy.

But it was also an inevitable psychology to show some restraint.

'To express it somewhat arrogantly, it could be seen as the composure of the strong.'

"Raaaah!"

I stopped Park Woo-hyuk, who charged with a shout, by striking his knee with an oblique kick.

"Kuk!"

Park Woo-hyuk stopped at the attack, which could easily rupture cruciate ligaments.

Tap!

I stepped on his knee, leaped up, and delivered a flying high kick using my body.

Whack!

And that was the end.

Thud!

I sighed as I looked down at Park Woo-hyuk, who had fainted with his eyes rolled back.

"That took three minutes."

There was no more time to waste.

Swoosh!

I used Chukji to instantly reduce the distance.

'I will stop this at all costs.'

❀⋆｡°✿☆❀✿°｡⋆❀

The Vampire Queen was methodically subduing the cadets.

Boom!

She inflicted significant damage on Hong In-hyeon by causing a tremendous explosion with her blood drops hardened into rubies.

Thud!

Kang Geon-woo, who tried to seize an opening for a throw, was instead countered and knocked down.

Crack!

Hwang Ji-su succeeded in temporarily freezing the Queen with an ice breath fired at maximum output, but she suffered multiple lacerations from a blood bat attack from behind.

"Argh."

She barely avoided the worst by freezing her wounds herself just before becoming a mummy with her blood extracted.

But as a result, she had to retreat from the front line and focus only on rear support along with Hong In-hyeon.

'She's just too strong. We're no match.'

Kim A-yun clenched her molars.

Even the combined attack of Yu-jin and 'Flower Sword' Jin Hye-in didn't work against the Vampire Queen.

"Urgh!"

Yu-jin, who had been kicked in the stomach, covered her mouth and forcibly swallowed the rising blood.

"A wise choice. If you had spit blood there, it would have been the end."

Song Yeonhui mocked Yu-jin and turned her target to Jin Hye-in.

Clang Clang Clang Clang!

Before even five exchanges, Jin Hye-in began to retreat.

"Even the Captain you served couldn't dare stand against me, let alone you?"

Grind!

Jin Hye-in gritted her teeth.

"......Shut up, vampire."

"If you want, why don't you try to shut my mouth with your own power?"

Boom!

A saber made of blood lifted Jin Hye-in's body high.

'Damn it!'

"Ahaha, to think a lifetime of sword training amounts to this!"

Right when the blood awl wrapped around the Queen's index finger was about to pierce Jin Hye-in's brow.

Crack!

An ice wolf, rushing from a blind spot, bit and froze her wrist, creating a moment's delay.

Clang!

Yu-jin, who intervened in that gap, deflected the awl, changing its trajectory, then escorted Jin Hye-in backward.

"A-yun!"

"Yes!"

Kim A-yun, who had been waiting only for an opening, instantly exploded the mana she had gathered and planted a massive lightning strike on Song Yeonhui.

Crackle!

'Please!'

But her attack merely passed over the defensive barrier surrounded by mana.

"......It doesn't work."

Kim A-yun covered her mouth that uttered a murmur mixed with despair and shook her head.

'What am I saying? Everyone is facing her without fear.'

Yu-jin and Hwang Ji-su couldn't possibly be unafraid.

Yet they were fighting.

'Everyone is fighting, carrying a heavy sense of responsibility.'

Yu-jin and Hwang Ji-su bearing the burden of their massive families.

Hong In-hyeon, who came running with gritted teeth driven by pride alone.

Kang Geon-woo, who bravely came forward despite knowing his lack of power.

And Su-hyeon, who trusted his friends and ran off with the most crucial mission.

The courage of her friends was flowing into her.

"Haaaah!"

Crackle!

Electricity gathered at the tip of Kim A-yun's little finger.

'Railgun!'

Boom!

The railgun, loaded with enormous energy, was fired toward Song Yeonhui.

"Enough now."

Boom!

Blood bats blocked the trajectory of the railgun.

"I don't have time to play along with children's games anymore."

A cold killing intent rose in Song Yeonhui's expression.

"Hik!"

Kim A-yun shrunk her shoulders like a frog before a snake.

'Impossible killing intent......!'

Even Hwang Ji-su and Yu-jin instinctively backed away in terror, as if their breath might stop.

'Is this the Vampire Queen?'

Just facing that killing intent made it feel like their will to live, their determination to complete the mission, were all melting away.

"Die."

And so the Queen's sentence was delivered.

'......Is this the end?'

Yu-jin squeezed her eyes shut.

As if her body was saying it didn't want to see the death that would befall her momentarily.

Swoosh!

1 second, 2 seconds, 3 seconds.

After a momentary time that felt like eternity, Yu-jin opened her eyes again, realizing nothing had happened.

"......!"

The attack flying toward her was suspended in mid-air.

"What are you doing? Quickly move to the side!"

"Okay!"

Crash!

Yu-jin, who quickly threw herself to the side, turned her gaze toward the owner of the voice.

"Jun-seong!"

"......If we had been a little later, it would have been dangerous."

Seo Jun-seong exhaled a sigh of relief.

"How dare you!"

Song Yeonhui's face contorted with anger.

Fwoosh!

Blazing flames were blocked right in front of the Vampire Queen.

"Seol Ji-yun!"

"Hey, you're not calling my name? That's disheartening!"

"......Ahn Byeong-jun."

3rd Unit Captain 'Flame Emperor' Seol Ji-yun.

4th Unit Captain 'Sword Crusher' Ahn Byeong-jun.

And Min Hae-na and Seo Jun-seong.

Ahn Byeong-jun, who had arrived by a hair's breadth, shouted toward the cadets.

"You all endured so well! Thank you!"

"......Phew."

Kim A-yun, relieved, just sat down hard on her bottom.

"Ouch."

"Well, well."

Song Yeonhui, who quickly regained her composure, looked at the two Captains and said.

"Quite glamorous reinforcements."

"What are you going to do? Even if it's you, you don't think you can win against all of us, do you?"

Two Captains from upper units.

Even for the Vampire Queen, who was said to have reached S+ rank.......

"Do you really think so?"

Song Yeonhui sneered at Ahn Byeong-jun, who was approaching with a massive war hammer on his shoulder.

"......Well, maybe, maybe not?"

Ahn Byeong-jun shrugged.

'I've been too relaxed.'

While it was regrettable that she couldn't kill all the cadets.

In any case, her goal was to stall for time.

'Jo Seong-gwang, Park Woo-hyuk. You won't disappoint me, right?'

Even if they did disappoint her, it didn't matter.

'sorry, But You're Not The Only Ones With A Trump Card.'