I Entered an Academy in a Ruined Game

Chapter 50 : Ma-in Attack (4)

A wolf's fighting style is tactical and persistent.

From driving prey, tracking, to surrounding attacks.

Wolves were certainly among the top hunters in the wild.

"Grrrr!"

Hong Byeong-gwon, a werewolf, was sharply driving Su-hyeon back with his thick skin, lethal claws, and sturdy fangs.

'He doesn't give me time to breathe. Tough stamina.'

Clang! Clang-clang!

Su-hyeon parried and deflected the claws with his hwando infused with sword energy, maintaining distance as he retreated.

"That sword is no better than a toothpick!"

Hong Byeong-gwon continued trying to knock the sword away with his left hand and explosively dash in to bite Su-hyeon's neck.

Whack!

Su-hyeon's elbow, reinforced with a shield, struck under his jaw, forcing his mouth shut.

'Stupid bastard, you can't escape from me!'

As Hong Byeong-gwon swung his claws widely, Su-hyeon couldn't completely avoid them and had his clothing slashed.

'Hmm.'

His skin was scratched, and a few strands of blood emerged.

The attacks were too fierce to perfectly avoid all the continuous pressure at close range.

Whack!

Su-hyeon blocked the following kick with the side of his sword and stepped back.

"Slipping away like a loach again!"

Hong Byeong-gwon pressed his foot against the ground and charged again.

That distinctive posture of running low and fast on all fours.

The possible options that could derive from that quickly flashed through Su-hyeon's mind.

'Low tackle followed by biting on the ground. Jump high and claw attack. Grab the sword and take it away. Change direction from maximum speed and bite the ankle.'

But all were wrong answers.

"Haha! Where are you looking!"

Hong Byeong-gwon jumped over Su-hyeon's height, spun once, and delivered a kick from behind.

'Tch!'

Su-hyeon responded by ducking low and kicking at his supporting foot, but Hong Byeong-gwon used his unique balance to touch the ground and sweep the floor with his foot again, as if doing breakdancing.

'Large movements.'

As Su-hyeon hopped up to avoid the attack, Hong Byeong-gwon kicked off the ground and swung his claws left and right.

Clang-clang!

After deflecting one with his sword and one with his hand, Su-hyeon avoided the third biting attack with a sway and then kicked Hong Byeong-gwon's stomach with a front kick, utilizing his retreating momentum.

"Kahaha! Are you uncomfortable with me sticking close?"

Hong Byeong-gwon laughed as if it didn't even itch.

'Each moment forces two or three choices, and if judgment is even slightly wrong, I'll be caught instantly.'

Su-hyeon thought as he readjusted his grip on the sword.

'A fierce yet tricky fighting style. Definitely not an opponent for a cadet to face head-on.'

While Jang Su-il's attitude was closer to wanting to see Su-hyeon's antics,

Hong Byeong-gwon's aggression, genuinely running in to tear off Su-hyeon's neck, was proving to be a greater threat.

"Ferocious, and cunning too."

Su-hyeon said.

"You act like an impulsive and simple beast, but you're overflowing with a predator's cunning and tricks."

"Haha. Praise from a kid doesn't make me happy."

'Demonic beasts don't show movements like this. In most cases, their combat is simple and direct.'

This was fighting against a higher-level Ma-in.

Unlike Jang Su-il, who had the sense of playing with an ant, a battle with a Ma-in who truly treated you as prey was this grueling.

'Lycanthropes are always tricky opponents.'

The worst part about carnivore types, in particular, was that it was difficult to take the fight to the ground.

'With his sharp claws and fangs, I'd be the one getting caught before I could choke or break him.'

Moreover, his thick skin and muscles that were difficult for weapons to penetrate made the problem even more challenging.

'Perhaps even more troublesome than simple muscle enhancement or skin hardening types.'

Especially if the opponent had superior strength to oneself.

In the realm of close combat, there definitely existed a spec limit that technique and experience couldn't overcome.

However.

'That doesn't mean such a limit exists between you and me.'

Keen!

Su-hyeon's gaze deepened, and the mana circulating in his body became more ferocious, like riding a torrent.

'Time to use that tactic.'

Hong Byeong-gwon, who found an opening in the subsequent probing, charged in again.

"Gruung!"

His claws, swung fiercely in the air, were blocked by a translucent shield that suddenly appeared.

"Huh?"

For the first time, bewilderment appeared on the wolf's face.

'A technique that catches people off guard without fail the first time they see it.'

Su-hyeon immediately slashed horizontally across Hong Byeong-gwon's momentarily halted abdomen.

"Kuk!"

The sword strike, properly swung with both hands, penetrated the skin and muscles of the relaxed abdomen, creating a streak of fresh blood.

"You bastard!"

The Ma-in, who had merely bled from his prey, was enraged.

"What kind of nonsense is this!"

"Battles are about winning through nonsense."

Su-hyeon's trickery using Mana Shield didn't end there.

Tap.

Hong Byeong-gwon crouched as Su-hyeon charged forward while holding his sword in a middle stance.

'I'll grab and subdue him!'

Hong Byeong-gwon's thinking simplified as he was somewhat flustered by the suddenly reversed offensive.

'Mana Shield!'

Just before entering range, Su-hyeon created a foothold in the air, stepped on it, and jumped up.

"!"

It was right then that Su-hyeon's blade flew toward Hong Byeong-gwon's eyes as he instinctively followed Su-hyeon's movement.

'Hmph, too far. He can't even reach proper range...!'

The sneer didn't last long.

Whack!

The sword energy, instantly extending by a hand's width, tore his left eyelid.

"Arghh!"

'I was aiming for his eye.'

Su-hyeon clicked his tongue.

Those reflexes, which avoided a fatal blow in that instant, were truly those of a beast.

But Hong Byeong-gwon, having received an unexpected blow, stared at Su-hyeon while abandoning his counterattack.

"You, what the hell are you?"

After wiping away the blood flowing enough to cover his eye with his hand, the wound was already slowly writhing and healing.

"Are you really a cadet? Even among the instructors, there shouldn't be anyone who could hold out against me like this."

"Your overconfidence is excessive. There are quite a few people among the second and third years who could handle someone like you."

"Ha, bullshit."

To the sneering Ma-in, Su-hyeon coldly provoked:

"Aren't you under a grand illusion?"

"An illusion?"

Su-hyeon swung his blade in the air to shake off the blood.

"To me, you're nothing more than a slightly sturdy dog that can speak human language."

Grrrr.

The Raging Wolf's expression turned fierce.

Sometimes, even obvious provocations work.

"First, I'll tear that mouth of yours."

"I was just thinking the same thing."

Clang!

Sword and claws met in mid-air.

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Boom!

The collision of fist against fist created a wave like the explosion of a massive bomb.

"Hahahahaha! Good!"

The marks all over the body of Battle Maniac Jang Su-il emitted an ominous black light.

"This is what's worthy of being called a fight!"

Straight lines clashed with curves, the sharpness of claws with the bluntness of fists, thrusting kicks with sweeping roundhouse kicks.

It resembled a fight between Nackmuay or karate fighters who simply tried to destroy their opponent without steps or movement.

Or perhaps a battle between a giant tiger and a giant human.

More precisely, it looked like a struggle where pure violence collided.

"Kheok!"

Oh Chang-seong's fist pounded Jang Su-il's stomach.

"Hmm!"

Jang Su-il's elbow struck down on Oh Chang-seong's collarbone.

Bang! Boooom!

Even with just that, the air trembled and the earth rumbled.

"Hahaha! Your punches are light! Put more strength into them!"

Jang Su-il laughed maniacally and swung his fist again.

Oh Chang-seong, who avoided the attack with the flexibility unique to a wild beast—a tiger—swung his claws and scraped Jang Su-il's tattoos.

"Even a cat's scratch would be more painful than this!"

"Hmph."

Having gauged Jang Su-il's solidity, Oh Chang-seong changed his tactics.

Specifically, he began to hit and carve Jang Su-il's body by using a dazzling combination of steps and upper body movements to avoid and deflect his volley of punches, alternating between claws and fists.

Bababak!

Jang Su-il, who had missed three times and taken five counters, rubbed his stinging nose and laughed.

"You're more like a cat than a tiger."

"You're just fighting too crudely."

"Haha. How pathetic that someone born with the fate of a strong one would learn something like boxing. It means you weren't a true strong one after all."

Were-Tiger Oh Chang-seong, a powerful species always counted among the top of the were-beasts.

His choice to thoroughly train in boxing despite his innate power was a decision that added wings to his beast instincts and physique by adding human technique.

But to Jang Su-il, it only looked like a cowardly escape.

"To a truly strong person, technique is useless. Just sharpen your instincts by fighting life-and-death battles against mighty enemies!"

"Battle Maniac Jang Su-il. You've been a crazy bastard with a brain made of muscle since your Hunter days."

After actually facing him, Oh Chang-seong realized that his opponent was both faster and stronger than himself.

But that was all.

"That's why you're nothing more than that."

Oh Chang-seong sneered.

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"Damn it! Fuck! Fuck!"

Hong Byeong-gwon, covered in cuts and bruises from being slashed by a sword all over his body, howled.

"At this rate, even your hide won't be usable."

Su-hyeon, who had shed a bit more of his usual coolness due to the excitement of battle, taunted.

"I'll kill you!"

"That's how a fearful dog barks."

"Shut up, you son of a bitch!"

Blood vessels bulged in Hong Byeong-gwon's eyes.

'This is absurd! How the hell!'

He couldn't understand this situation at all.

'Am I being beaten by a mere first-year cadet?'

Neither Su-hyeon's strength nor speed matched his own.

Su-hyeon was simply "fighting too well."

'I can't believe it. Is this even possible?'

But what he needed now wasn't understanding but decision.

Fighting a life-and-death battle with a strong, threatening enemy wasn't the way of the wild.

And Raging Wolf's wisdom was all learned from the wild.

"Kruuk."

Black magical energy rose on his claws.

"Eat this!"

Slashing attacks created from ten claws descended upon Su-hyeon.

"Are you running away?"

"I'll definitely kill you next time!"

Before Su-hyeon's eyes, who had avoided and deflected the slashing attacks, was the retreating back of Hong Byeong-gwon.

'Damn it, what a fucking mess I've become!'

Su-hyeon didn't bother to stop him as he fled, grinding his teeth.

'Stupid bastard. He doesn't even know who's in that direction.'

Kang Jun-man.

The specialist in human combat was rushing this way.

'With this, Raging Wolf is considered handled.'

"Whew."

Su-hyeon caught his breath.

Although he was the weakest among them, he had fought against a regular combat operative affiliated with the 'Sword of Belphegor.'

'I've consumed quite a bit of energy.'

But there was no time to wait for recovery.

'I'm heading to Class 3.'

Just as Su-hyeon's footsteps set their direction.

"Yu-jin!"

"Damn it! Someone help!"

Ominous screams and shouts were heard.

'Did something go wrong?'

Su-hyeon felt a foreboding.

No matter how many times one replays, variables always exist.

Perhaps Jang Su-il's brief appearance had broken their morale.

'If that's the case, it's dangerous.'

Su-hyeon turned his steps toward where Lee Yu-jin was.

'Lee Yong-ju is a strong Ma-in. Among the combat operatives attacking this place, he's strong enough to compete for 1st or 2nd place along with "that guy."'

He was unquestionably in a different league from Raging Wolf.

'Don't die, anyone.'

His bitten lips lost their color.

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The situation wasn't good.

"Do-il! Wake up!"

"He's lost a lot of blood."

"First, let's stop the bleeding!"

Go Do-il, who had taken Lee Yong-ju's flail with his bare body three times to protect Oh Min-sun, was lying down bleeding.

"Yu-jin, are you okay?"

"I think my internal organs are a bit damaged."

Lee Yu-jin, who had fought five exchanges to protect Kim A-yun, was holding her side after falling victim to Lee Yong-ju's tricky move.

'My ribs aren't broken.'

Even though she was only hit by the tip of a spinning back kick, she almost had her bones broken.

'This is bad.'

Even Jeremy McGarr, who rushed in urgently, flew away with his spear shaft broken.

Kwon Seung-yeon increased her weight to maximum and delivered a decisive kick, but she became incapacitated by Lee Yong-ju's counterattack, which overcame that weight.

Oh Min-sun was staggering after being hit by a blind fragment while Go Do-il was falling.

Moreover, even Kim A-yun, whom she had protected with effort, was sitting down with her leg injured by a fragment.

'...This might be wrong.'

Lee Yu-jin closed her eyes tightly.

"Hahaha! I wonder what expression your grandfather will make when he sees your mashed corpse!"

The Ma-in's malice weighed down on Lee Yu-jin.

"Yu-jin!"

"No! Damn it!"

Just at this critical moment.

"Now die!"

Boom!

A powerful strike passed through where Lee Yu-jin had been, creating a crater in the ground.

"You bastard!"

Lee Yong-ju's gaze followed Su-hyeon.

"Su-hyeon!"

Lee Yu-jin, who had opened her tightly closed eyes, looked up at Su-hyeon's face as he carried her.

"...Thank goodness."

'If Lee Yu-jin had died here, the game would have crashed.'

Lee Yu-jin's face turned slightly red, then darkened again, interpreting Su-hyeon's inner thoughts differently.

"I'm sorry. It's because of me. Because I couldn't do it properly..."

Su-hyeon decisively cut off her self-blame.

"Focus."

"!"

"You can't do everything alone. First, you need to do what you can. You lack that kind of organization."

"...It's because I'm slow."

"You bastard! Where are you going!"

Su-hyeon, who avoided Lee Yong-ju's pursuing attack by alternately stepping on five shields suspended in the air, spoke again.

"For now, just step back."

"...!"

"Kid, how are you still alive?"

The Ma-in asked.

Lee Yu-jin nodded slightly, saying she was also worried about that and couldn't concentrate.

"Does the reason matter?"

Su-hyeon dismissed it.

"Hehehe. You've been quite an insolent bastard all along."

Looking at the Ma-in Lee Yong-ju spinning his flail, Su-hyeon made a decision.

'I have no choice now.'

The tactic of distracting attention with multiple people and buying time had failed.

'I shouldn't exhaust all my strength here.'

However, now was not the time to think about the aftermath and conserve energy.

'In this situation, I need to end this quickly with maximum power.'

Mana Shield and sword energy manifestation, strengthened body, and increased mana.

A high hurdle stood before him that couldn't be overcome with just those.

Su-hyeon knew it was time to bring out his final measure.

"Whew."

An unprecedented change was beginning in Su-hyeon's brain as he exhaled a long breath.

The secret technique hidden in the characteristic, Unlimited.

Its name was...

"Liberation."

From now on.

It's a battle at a different pace.