I Entered an Academy in a Ruined Game

Chapter 269 : Draw Him Out (9)

Choi Inbeom, who had been sprawled out enjoying a nap, checked the time and asked his subordinate.

"How's the battle situation?"

"As expected, the other places were all decoys. Some escaped, and some were completely wiped out after getting their rear devoured."

"Well, that's good."

Choi Inbeom cackled.

"Our Execution Force gentlemen are truly competent."

"Well, they're receiving the nation's salary, so they should be competent."

"True. Different from guys like us who just pick up scraps."

"Come on, why do you call it scraps?"

"Well, we're going to be eating bigger pieces from now on, right?"

Choi Inbeom giggled.

"How's the B&S side?"

"Totally in chaos."

"I bet."

"Some have escaped from White Castle, and especially the Vampire Queen has occupied the first floor and is running wild—they say it's absolutely brutal."

"Whew, I'm really scared of that noona."

"Have you seen her before?"

"About 8 years ago? When I was just a rookie, I followed the boss."

"What was she like?"

"The seniors told me to wear a diaper when going there. So I did. If I hadn't, I would've seriously damaged my pride."

"Hahaha! Really?"

"Does that sound like a joke?"

"Uh... really?"

"It's true, man."

Choi Inbeom smacked his lips.

"When that noona gets really pissed, she's terrifying."

"Just how strong is she?"

"Well, I'd say she's at least S+ rank."

"That's on par with the Divine Spear or Commander level, isn't it?"

"Why do you think she's called the Queen of the Underworld? There's a reason all those hotshots can't even pick up their bones in front of her."

Choi Inbeom nodded with a hum.

"Come to think of it, that bastard Jang Su-il might be S+ too."

"Wow. Those bastards are really terrifying."

"Look at them, a Ma-in organization going head-to-head with national-level forces. And right here in Korea. Imagine if they had gone to China, Japan, America, or Europe?"

"In China, they'd be the strongest warlord. Even in Japan, they'd be the ruler of Kansai."

"That's not all. I bet they'd unify everything. In Europe, they'd consume Germany, France, everything. America... I don't know. America is tough."

"Wow. Even when America's rotting, it's still a monster."

"You're stating the obvious. A hundred years ago, they were overwhelmingly the world's number one. It's only since the Gate Era began that they've been struggling like this."

"Man. Talking like this, I realize the Sword of Belphegor guys are really something."

The subordinate's expression turned serious.

"Is it okay for us to be this insolent?"

"What else can we do?"

Choi Inbeom snickered.

"We just need to hide behind the Execution Force hyungs and talk big. If it looks like we might get screwed, we run."

"In that case, know that I'll be the first to run."

"You bastard, not even an ant's fingernail worth of loyalty."

"Do ants have fingernails?"

"I don't know, you bastard."

Smack!

After smacking the back of his head, Choi Inbeom tilted his head.

"Wait. Come to think of it, that guy isn't here."

"Who are you talking about?"

"You know that guy. The strongest one among the Belphegor guys."

"Ah!"

The subordinate's expression turned serious.

"...Could it be that guy...?"

"Yeah. Those bastards seem to be plotting something."

"This really doesn't feel good."

"Don't say such ominous things, you bastard."

"Should we prepare to run, just in case?"

"...Yeah, let's do that."

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When Seol Ji-yun and Ahn Byeong-jun, Seo Jun-seong and Min Hae-na joined in, the tide of battle turned unfavorable for the Vampire Queen.

Clash clash clang!

Kwang!

With Ahn Byeong-jun handling close combat and Seol Ji-yun concentrating firepower from a distance, even the Vampire Queen couldn't help but get flustered.

"Kuwoeeoeoeo!"

The two blood giants gathered from blood targeted the Captains, but...

Puwhaaaaak!

One melted in Seol Ji-yun's flames, and...

Kwaaaang!

The other had its skull crushed by Ahn Byeong-jun's war hammer.

"It's difficult to withstand with something hastily made."

Song Yeonhui tried to gather blood from the battlefield again by waving her hand, but...

"Not so fast!"

Seo Jun-seong's psychokinesis and Hwang Ji-su's ice freezing each grabbed and froze the blood, preventing her intent.

"Oh my."

Song Yeonhui marveled.

"Impressive."

Indeed, it was a combined attack from two high-ranking Captains, backed by promising rookies.

'I'll need to use more power.'

Just as Song Yeonhui was thinking this...

Whooosh!

The flame mist shot by Seol Ji-yun enveloped Song Yeonhui.

'Hot enough to evaporate all the blood. As expected of Seol Ji-yun.'

Wooong!

After extinguishing the flames by exploding her mana, Song Yeonhui's spiritual sense detected a presence digging into her rear.

'Behind!'

Song Yeonhui made blood stakes shoot up from the ground, and her eyebrows twitched.

'Not attacking?'

Ahn Byeong-jun, who had taken Song Yeonhui's rear, was running toward the emergency exit stairs instead of swinging his war hammer or arming sword.

"Now what's this?"

Song Yeonhui asked with a smile.

"Are you thinking of going up?"

"Yes."

He planned to join the fight between 'Reversal War General' Son Ji-gwang and 'Battle Maniac' Jang Su-il.

"I see. Good luck."

"You're not stopping me?"

"Why would I?"

Song Yeonhui asked with a seductive smile.

"You still don't understand Jang Su-il's power. Dwarf, do you think you can kill Jang Su-il by going there? When a mob like you can barely scratch me?"

The Vampire Queen's body showed almost no wounds as she asked this.

"Rather, you should be grateful to me. If Ahn Byeong-jun doesn't go in time, you'll lose another Captain."

"Huh. For trash Ma-in, you have quite the camaraderie."

Ahn Byeong-jun let out a hollow laugh.

"What are you guys relying on? Do you think Jeong Su-hyeon will fail? Are you still careless even after being beaten like that?"

"Who knows?"

"Are those two escapees that strong?"

"Well, those two might not be able to defeat Su-hyeon."

Song Yeonhui smiled.

"But it doesn't matter."

❀⋆｡°✿☆❀✿°｡⋆❀

Amid the Ma-in riots breaking out in various locations, the Gate formations, and the battle at the B&S Group headquarters under direct attack...

The clamoring of people directed at Hwang Won-jae had completely disappeared.

"That's how the public is."

They boil quickly and cool quickly.

Therefore, issues are covered by other issues.

Isn't it all too easy a technique?

But none of that mattered.

'...The Execution Force's preparations were within the expected range. Even the current situation is within calculations.'

The problem was still the variable named Jeong Su-hyeon.

Breaking through the Vampire Queen's defense and entering the underground passage?

'Impressive, but not surprising. Someone like him could manage that.'

Once he entered...

Park Woo-hyuk and No Seonggwang. He didn't think the two Ma-in could defeat Jeong Su-hyeon.

'So you're coming to interfere with my plans again this time.'

That too was within Hwang Won-jae's range of expectations.

"You're forcing me to draw out all my arrangements."

A smile formed on Hwang Won-jae's lips as he muttered this.

"But will you be able to avoid death this time too?"

❀⋆｡°✿☆❀✿°｡⋆❀

"Brain Island" No Seonggwang.

He could use electricity with output far exceeding Kim A-yun's, and...

Above all, his own combat skills were excellent, making him a Ma-in who conducted diverse battles using electricity.

'A much trickier opponent than Park Woo-hyuk.'

Su-hyeon thought.

'But even so...'

"Kughk!"

No Seonggwang, his wrist deeply cut by the Flying Strike, barely avoided the second strike as he rolled on the floor.

"If you surrender, I'll guarantee your life."

"Damn it."

No Seonggwang, who couldn't help but know the tide was turning against him, sighed.

"You bastard, you're too strong."

How could this possibly be the power of a mere cadet?

'Damn it. Already at Captain level!'

In his youth...

Even Commander Ju Taeyang, who was already called humanity's strongest while actively operating, couldn't have shown this much power at such a young age.

'Divine Spear Gong I-an. Even he was the same.'

Who was Gong I-an?

A man who was expected to possibly surpass Ju Taeyang in the future.

A once-in-a-generation talent who rose to the position of Captain at the young age of 25, just five years after enlistment.

But even that man would have to be ashamed of his slowness in front of the boy before him.

'...Is there no choice?'

No Seonggwang thought of the bead in his pocket.

'Is it time to use this?'

It was a device that would notify his coordinates to a designated contact the moment it was destroyed.

Recently...

After secretly raiding and annihilating one of the Ma-in organizations showing suspicious movements, the Vampire Queen had returned with the rare high-level teleporter.

The ability to move to given coordinates with just one person.

What made his ability special was that he could move freely wherever the place was.

Therefore, it was no problem even inside the headquarters where interference magic was spread, or inside the underground passage.

"...Kill me if you want."

No Seonggwang offered his chest as if giving up everything.

"...I'll send you off peacefully."

Su-hyeon's Moonless Sword flew targeting his heart, and...

Crack!

The bead in his pocket broke precisely.

"...?!"

A peculiar light flashed in Su-hyeon's eyes.

'What's this?'

Pwhak!

Su-hyeon covered his eyes with his arm against the intense light.

'A flash bomb? Attack magic? No! Then what?'

Su-hyeon's sharp mind soon found the answer.

"...A summoning?"

He felt the movement of massive mana.

"Similar enough."

"!"

It was the voice of a man who shouldn't be here.

"...Asura!"

'Asura' Seong Ji-cheol.

The top force boasted by the Sword of Belphegor.

Undoubtedly the strongest among all Ma-in currently existing on Earth.

'...This is screwed.'

Su-hyeon hadn't expected Seong Ji-cheol to suddenly appear here.

"You two open the cabinet and take the items."

No Seonggwang and the teleporter who brought Seong Ji-cheol nodded.

"...And you?"

"I'll deal with this man."

Asura's six arms each pointed different weapons at Su-hyeon.

"Jeong Su-hyeon. Hope of humanity."

Seong Ji-cheol.

With an expressionless face that seemed stripped of all emotions—joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure.

A Ma-in with a face whose age was impossible to guess, without a single wrinkle or beard.

He spoke in a monotone voice.

"I regret that I must take the life of your shining star by my hands today."

"......"

"But this too is fate. If you wish, resist as much as you want."

"I was planning to do that without you telling me."

Thump!

[Liberation].

Keeeing!

And [Eye Power, Tachypsychia Mode].

Su-hyeon activated two buff skills simultaneously for the first time since receiving training from Ju Taeyang.

"Oh?"

Seong Ji-cheol's expression showed a peculiar change at Su-hyeon's noticeably different energy.

'Can I kill him?'

That was something he wouldn't know without trying.

But...

"If I don't kill you here, everyone will die."

"How strange."

Seong Ji-cheol asked.

"How can a boy like you harbor such resolute and cold killing intent?"

"What's the point of such questions at this stage?"

"Indeed."

Seong Ji-cheol acknowledged Su-hyeon's retort.

"Then die now."

Clash clash clash clang!

Kwaaang!

"Kuk!"

I bit down hard on my molars and swallowed blood.

Having six weapons attack simultaneously felt like being jointly attacked by six well-trained warriors.

Of course, why wouldn't it?

'All six of those arms are his own.'

Moreover, Seong Ji-cheol was handling them all very precisely.

'Even juggling three balls is hard, how does he handle six weapons like that?'

It's already difficult to face an exceptional dual wielder.

Let alone spears, swords, axes, maces, sickles, and chains all wielded at master level.

There was no way I could properly fight with just one sword and one arm with a Hardening Shield.

Bwoong!

A powerful slashing attack with the axe came flying to split my head, and...

Chwararuk!

He tried to bind my feet with the chain, while...

Shwook!

The spear destroyed the distance as it stabbed toward me.

Shwaaek!

The sickle tried to slice my vital points from afar, and...

Clash clash clang!

The sword focused on defense and counterattacks while fighting me.

Yet sometimes he would unexpectedly block with the side of the axe, or try to bind and steal my sword with the chain, employing diverse techniques. Facing Seong Ji-cheol's skills, I couldn't even withstand ten exchanges before having to use Chukji to retreat.

"You're lasting longer each time!"

But creating distance didn't end it.

Bwoong!

Sharp slashes and heavy slashes flew from the sickle and axe, striking the air, and...

Shwaaek!

A slash created by thrusting the spear shot like an arrow.

"Damn it!"

In the end, I had to use Chukji once more to get behind Seong Ji-cheol.

"What are you doing, not facing me bravely?"

"Damn it."

The problem was that for him, this was merely a warm-up at best.

'He really is strong.'

I had defeated Sword Warrior Lee Cheong-myeong, who had reached S-rank, but...

The Ma-in before me possessed power of an entirely different dimension compared to him.

'Even Gong I-an probably couldn't have won if they fought to the end.'

"Hmm. But actually, I'm surprised too."

"About what?"

Seong Ji-cheol said in his characteristic monotone voice.

"To withstand against me without allowing a single attack so far. Isn't your power already beyond S-rank?"

"...Maybe so."

"No wonder Lee Cheong-myeong and Ha Jinsu couldn't handle you."

Seong Ji-cheol nodded.

"How many humans in the world could fight me like this?"

Seong Ji-cheol said there wouldn't be more than ten, even being generous.

"I guarantee you. You can already be considered among the strongest."

"...Should I be happy?"

"Aren't you happy? Achieving this much at your age."

"Even so, it's meaningless if the world ends."

"Hmm. I suppose so."

Seong Ji-cheol nodded.

"But don't worry too much. Every existence has its end anyway."

"......"

"From the universe's perspective, 10 years or 100 years are equally just a moment. Why be so sad if that end comes a little earlier?"

"Do all fatalists become nihilists like you?"

"Perhaps."

"Sigh."

Having caught my breath slightly through this brief exchange, I cracked my neck left and right.

'Should I start by breaking at least one of those weapons?'

Relaxation, Chukji Fist.

And the Realm of Non-Self.

I still had many cards.

But...

'There's not much time left.'

I wanted to avoid the cabinet being raided at all costs.

'The better we delay the end, the better.'

The moment Nastrond opened, this world's fate would inevitably enter its final chapter.