Attack (3)

A piercing scream echoed in my ears.

Jing Daram trembled, tears streaming down her face.

Damn that Jing woman…

‘She finally caused trouble.’

“Kyahhhhh!!!”

I looked at the arms that had fallen to the ground.

The arms, twitching like fresh fish out of water, were slowly being enveloped by demonic energy.

The sheer amount of demonic energy was enough to make anyone frown.

Undoubtedly, it was evidence of having fallen into <Demonization>.

And the way those severed arms were trying to return to Jing Daram…

It seemed she also had some kind of regenerative ability.

‘Looks like she received quite a powerful demonic energy blessing.’

Which meant that whoever was backing her was a big player.

Most likely, one of the three major crime clans.

‘And if I had to guess…’

It had to be those bastards.

I tightened my grip on my sword.

Swish!
Crash!

The [Overlord Sword Technique], wielded in accordance with my will, unfolded its mysteries more naturally than breathing.

Strength and Speed.

The extreme power and rapid speed combined to create a noise like a blender.

Slash!

The arms trying to return to Jing Daram were reduced to minced meat.

Jing’s face twisted in despair, but I ignored her.

Glance.

I quickly turned around to check the condition of Divine Light Garam and Choi Mari.

“Meep, meep. Junior Seha. Ueeeng! Sob, sob.”
“Hoo, Junior…”

Choi Mari was sobbing uncontrollably, holding Divine Light Garam, who was gasping weakly for air.

Blood streamed down Divine Light Garam’s forehead, where a deep wound had split her skin.

Fortunately, it seemed there was no significant threat to her life.

But what really bothered me was that there wasn’t a trace of divine power around her body.

Noticing my gaze, Divine Light Garam looked at me with an apologetic expression.

“…I’m sorry.”
“No. Focus on stopping the bleeding.”

Thanks to that, I roughly grasped the situation.

Surely, it must have been Jing Daram’s trickery.

‘……’

A subtle yet seething emotion welled up inside me.

The fact that my people had been hurt.

And the rage that followed burned like an active volcano.

A murderous intent to tear apart and kill the girl in front of me right away overwhelmed me.

Jing Daram, who had been shouting and making a fuss, hiccupped and distanced herself at my gaze.

‘Calm down.’

With a single thought, I regained my composure.

Anger was important in a fight, but in a moment like this, it was nothing but a distraction.

‘Think quickly.’

Divine Light Garam was naturally exhausted, and Choi Mari also seemed to have already used [Lucky Machine] and most of her divine power, leaving little strength.

They probably wouldn’t be able to use any power except for basic [Healing].

It would be wise to consider the two as non-combatants.

‘…Is that a beast?’

Right across, I could see the nuns fighting a <Chimera Griffon>.

It must have been summoned by that damn Jing woman.

Without hesitation, I gathered my breath and let out a lion’s roar-like shout.

With the area-wide buff, the nuns fought more effectively than before.

But it wouldn’t last long.

They were already too exhausted.

“…?! S-suddenly, strength?”
“Did the Junior help us?”
“Professor? Is the professor not here? Why are you alone?”

The seniors, realizing I was the only one here, were visibly shaken.

It was understandable.

Even getting myself here had been barely possible.

‘It’s going to take some time for the others to arrive.’

“Argh…!!!”

As I thought through the situation, Jing Daram stared at me in utter disbelief.

“H-how did you… how did you get in?! I clearly activated the <Impairing Perception Maze>?!”

‘So it really was her doing.’

About 15 minutes ago.
The reason I felt something off was because of the <Demonic Energy> that was rising during the <Monster Summoning> test.

‘…No matter how much I think about it, it’s strange.’

I spoke while looking at the girls preparing.

As soon as they heard it, the complexion of the group changed instantly.

“Seha, you have the Chairman’s number, right? Call her immediately.”

At Moon Bora’s words, I contacted Yu Neung-hae, who was temporarily on a business trip in the provinces due to internal matters of the <Academy>.

Upon hearing my words, Yu Neung-hae was shocked and asked for a moment, then delivered ominous news.

―S-Seha? I can’t reach them.

“…What?”

―You remember Jing Daram, right? As you requested, I assigned highly skilled watchers to keep an eye on her.

―But now… N-None of them are answering.

The moment I heard those words, I immediately ran out with my group.
I didn’t forget to ask Yu Neung-hae to contact professors, including Peng Jin-ah.

“Yu Seha! Peng Jin-ah unnie is currently acting as the exam evaluator in the farthest G building!”

I clicked my tongue at Ju Na-young’s words.

I immediately realized—this was deliberate. They had waited until the professor was as far away as possible before making their move.

Even though we had rushed as fast as we could, it seemed…

We were already too late.

“…”
“…Oh my.”

Near the corner of the building’s outer wall, we found the cold, lifeless bodies of the watchers.

Before the others could say anything, I examined the bodies.

The marks were all too familiar.

‘…Blunt force trauma.’

These weren’t the wounds from a rifle butt—whoever had done this had used a proper blunt weapon to brutalize them.

Silently, I closed their unseeing eyes.

Lastly, I gathered information from the phone of a female watcher who died while escaping, indicating that ‘Jing Daram’s’ location was right next to the testing site.

‘…That about sums up how I figured things out and got here.’

I looked behind.

Beyond the test site’s door, thick smoke lingered like a fog.

It was undoubtedly a barrier network formed with a strong <Impairing Perception> ability.

The ability was so strong that it created a maze-like structure, causing those approaching to get lost.

And the source of this ability…

Was none other than the black mace that Jing Daram had been holding…
And now lay dropped on the floor.

‘…Damn it.’

I recognized it immediately upon seeing it.

And was shocked.

I never imagined that a mere minor villain, not even a proper <Villain>, would possess that.

“How did you get your hands on [Khan’s Mace]?”
“[Khan’s Mace]?”

It wasn’t Jing Daram who answered my question, but Divine Light Garam.

Her eyes shook as if she couldn’t believe it.

[Khan’s Mace]. An Epic grade weapon.

That was the true name of the fallen mace.

Its ability was to form a wide-ranging [Impairing Perception Maze], bestowing the special debuff <Wandering>.

The worst part was that the effect wasn’t immediately noticeable—people only realized they were lost long after they had already been trapped.

The representative weakness of this weapon, which had a powerful crowd control effect even in ‘GAL’, was precisely its resistance.

Thanks to my two resistance abilities, I had broken through immediately.

‘But because of that, I got separated from the others.’

They were probably still stuck wandering outside.

Moon Bora, who had a high mental resistance, might eventually break through and follow me, but it would take time.

“Cough, cough!”
“Meep! Don’t move, Senior!”
“Ji-Jing Daram! Answer me! H-how do you… how… do you possess the <Order>’s holy relic?!”

Indeed.

[Khan’s Mace] was a holy relic owned by the <Order>.

I heard it was strictly managed by Branch 3.

But now that holy relic was in the hands of a mere villain.

And it was soaked in demonic energy, emitting a dark black aura.

Even as she was being interrogated, Jing Daram writhed in pain.

But that was only for a moment.

Tears streamed down her face… as she let out a sly, twisted smile.

The cruel curve of her lips was filled with an unexplainable confidence.

“…Do you think I’ll tell you that?”

My eyes twitched involuntarily.
The Jing Daram I knew was the typical petty villain—small-minded, selfish, and pathetic.

She wasn’t someone who carried a grand vision or had some lofty ambition.

She was just a cowardly, self-serving rat who only looked out for herself.

With both of her arms severed, she should have been cowering in fear, but there wasn’t even a trace of hesitation on her face.

‘She must have something planned…’

I made my decision.

If I gave her even a moment longer, things would get dangerous.

I put strength in my legs and ran forward.

I would cut off the rest of her limbs and completely neutralize her…

“Behind you, Junior!”
“…!”

At that moment, I realized it belatedly at the shout.

I saw it clearly with my eyes.
The mace that had fallen to the ground.
[Khan’s Mace] floated lightly.

Like manipulating a marionette with strings, it was turning its direction somewhere.

And then…
It flew like an arrow toward Divine Light Garam and Choi Mari, not me.

“Damn it!”

Wooong!

[Khan’s Mace], dyed black, had vast demonic energy condensed at its end.

If it so much as grazed them, it would trigger a chain of explosions.

The bitch’s intention was simple.

She was forcing me to choose—kill her or save them.

But there was no hesitation.

I had already chosen.

“…That’s why being a good guy never pays off.”

Jing Daram sneered.
I didn’t care.
Rather than killing that bitch…

‘Taking care of my people is more important to me.’

I combined the speed boost ability I had with [Charge Crush].

Kakakakak!

My shoulder collided with [Khan’s Mace] and managed to deflect it slightly to the side.

But only slightly.

It immediately redirected itself toward them again.

‘…Damn it.’

The moment I made contact, I realized the truth.

It was far beyond my ability to counter directly.

If I tried to attack it head-on, I would be crushed.

‘I must focus everything solely on defense.’

As the [Saint’s Sword] disappeared, what was held in my hand was the [Sea Dragon’s Shield] beautifully crafted with blue scales.

Before arriving, our angelic Meowi had handed me something like a boomerang.

―Meow! Seha, take this! Just in case!

Perhaps Meowi had sensed in advance that she wouldn’t arrive on time.

I lifted the [Sea Dragon’s Shield].

A red eye gleamed on its surface.
Chunks of rock and stone swirled around it, clinging to the shield in layers.
[Crimson Eye] and [Stone Hardening]—a combined effect.
On top of that, I used [Raise Shield], maximizing my defensive capabilities.

Crunch.
Screeech!

Immediately, an explosive roar reverberated.

Boom!!!

Amidst the black smoke that spread with the explosion.

I opened my eyes and barely caught my breath.

This is insane…

‘What on earth did they do to that relic?’

Clatter!

The [Sea Dragon’s Shield], charred black, fell to the floor.

It wasn’t intentional.
I simply couldn’t hold it any longer.

I looked down.
My arms, too, were charred black like the shield.

The power was outrageous.

It was the most powerful strike I had experienced since transmigrating here.

As a result, [Khan’s Mace] was also half-melted, unable to function properly, lying on the ground.

Phew, damn!

‘I almost died.’

“Phew, Junior!”
“Ah.”

Choi Mari was crying, her big, teary eyes trembling as she let out a wail.
And Divine Light Garam showed unfocused pupils with her mouth slightly open.

The darkness in her gaze told me everything.
She was drowning in absolute despair.
I forced a smile, curving my lips upward.

“It’s okay. I’ll take care of it soon.”
“I-I can heal…!”
“No. Mari, please conserve your divine power as much as possible.”

I activated [Rapid Healing].

New flesh began to sprout on my charred arm.

I quickly uncorked a potion I had brought along and applied it evenly over the new skin.

Finally, I drew out the [Saint’s Sword] once more.

Even though I had completed all my preparations…

I wasn’t the only one like this.

Step, step.

Jing Daram approached slowly.

At some point, she had discarded her nun’s robes entirely.

She wasn’t even wearing underwear—standing completely naked before me.

But I didn’t care about that at all.

If anything, I was horrified.

‘…What the fuck?’

My gaze was fixed on the center of her prominent chest.
A cubic gemstone was deeply embedded there.

From the gemstone, black veins grotesquely spread out, pulsing like a heartbeat.

That sight.
That form.

“…Could it be?”
“That’s right.”

Crack!

With the power of the gemstone on her chest, Jing Daram’s body was gradually transforming.

Her eyes had grown to the point of taking up half her face, gleaming fiercely.

And as she uttered her final words, a shiver ran down my spine.

“It’s a <Soul Stone>.”

“And it’s even… A medium to summon the Demon King.“