Full-Scale War (3)

“Damn it!!!”

Moon Ha-yeon clenched her fist so hard it seemed it might break.
She gripped it so tightly that her fingernails dug into her palm, dripping blood.

Kim Min-su looked on with a pale, shocked expression.
His heart pounded wildly, and guilt left a bitter aftertaste.
He barely managed to speak.

“…Miss Moon Ha-yeon. It seems that—”
“—Quiet.”

Listening to the screams of villains erupting from all directions and the fierce sounds of explosions, Moon Ha-yeon quickly thought.
She assessed the situation.

Moon Ha-yeon was the biological older sister of Moon Bora.
Just as her younger sister was smart, Moon Ha-yeon was confident in her own mental agility.

‘……’

First, the initial point.
She didn’t know.
She didn’t know what had been done or how.
She had no idea how they had sensed it.
She couldn’t understand how they had prepared such a large number of people.

But that wasn’t important.
It was already irreversible.
They couldn’t just turn tail and run away now.

‘There won’t be another chance after this…!’

Even if she hoped for the future, she would be executed for the defeat and die meaninglessly.
That couldn’t happen.
If she was to die, she had to fulfill her purpose here.

Therefore, she must not increase unnecessary confusion.
All these guys struggling in confusion now were valuable meat shields to open the way ahead.
They must not cause pointless internal division here.

‘Stay calm.’

One thing was certain: the Academy guys had predicted the ambush in advance.
The biggest reason for this was probably Kim Min-su, who was beside her now.
He must have felt it too, which explained his expression.

“Since the incident has already happened, it’s too late to do anything. Don’t open your mouth unnecessarily.”
“…Please give me a chance to repay with my death—”
“That kind of nonsense is pointless, Min-su! I’ll personally punish you after everything is over. Don’t talk nonsense and just shut up. You simply didn’t know, got it?”
“……”

Moon Ha-yeon blocked an attack aimed at her side and spoke sharply.

“So stop making that stupid face and get your act together! Are you going to space out in the middle of a war!? Are you just going to die meaninglessly!?”
“…Sorry for showing such a pathetic look. I’ll pull myself together.”

Kim Min-su drew the sword at his waist like the wind.
It was an ordinary short sword.
Uniquely, it had a megaphone-like part that produced sounds similar to a musical instrument.
Using it, he swiftly stabbed behind him—!
The body of the hunter who tried to ambush him collapsed.

Moon Ha-yeon froze and simultaneously burned the body of one attacker.
She surveyed the battle situation.

‘This is not good.’

It wasn’t good.
Losing the initiative was a big problem, and the geography was unfavorable.

An open central area.
The place was chosen for easy movement without obstacles, but it became a poison instead.
Hunters were attacking from all directions, 360 degrees around.

To break through this, stronger power was needed.
In other words, their overall strength had to be higher than the enemy’s, but…

“Guh, guaaah!”
“D-damn it!”
“Die, you damn villain bastards!!!”
“Take out the buffers and sorcerers first! Don’t give them time to regroup!”

The hunters’ skill level was no joke.
Their basic skills were solid, and the flashing lights around their bodies showed they were under at least five powerful buffs.

In contrast, they had just barely regained their composure to fight back.
The gap from the start was too great.

Grab—!

At that moment.
A hand grabbed her collar, Moon Ha-yeon turned her head.

The clan master of <Niflheim>.
Go Ju-geum, an old woman, shouted furiously.

“W-what is going on… The story, the story isn’t the same!”
“……”

Moon Ha-yeon chose silence.
It implied she had no excuse.
In fact, she had nothing to say.
How could she explain an unexpected ambush?

Go Ju-geum, trembling, let go with a “Eek!”
She slammed down the gnarled wooden staff in her hand.
Intense demonic energy slowly rose.
It was a clear sign she was unleashing her full power as a <Demon>.

It was easy to detect, vulnerable to holy power, and had severe side effects—these were the traits of demonic energy.
Therefore, demons usually limit their power.

So normally, opening 100% required great resolve, but given the situation, she didn’t care whether it was hot or cold rice (i.e., no hesitation).

Go Ju-geum bared her fangs.
She growled at Moon Ha-yeon.

“Moon Ha-yeon! From now on, we’ll do things our way!”

Immediately, Go Ju-geum sent telepathic commands to her subordinates.
In response to the signal, all clan members of <Niflheim> began to twist their bodies grotesquely.

The pride and strength of the criminal clan <Niflheim>.
Special physical enhancement using demonic energy.
Their secret technique aimed to accept stronger demonic energy and become true demons.

Therefore…
They were even more vulnerable to the barrier spread over the Academy now.

Flash—!
While transforming into enhanced demons, white light spread into the air.

Though it looked pretty and sparkling, to them it was a terrifying disaster.
Not only the subordinates but even Go Ju-geum bled from their mouths, noses, and eyes at the force.

“Ku, kuhk… ugh?!”

Go Ju-geum panicked.
She realized what was flowing through her body.

“W-what… holy power?! And such a strong force… c-could it be!”

Only then did Go Ju-geum realize.
The secret holy barrier spread throughout <Gonis Hunter Academy>.
And it covered the entire grounds.

Go Ju-geum was horrified.
She trembled.

“Th-this can’t be… I heard the cult couldn’t participate because of the Kirin’s aftermath!”

That was true.
In fact, the <Cult> had recently fallen greatly, and couldn’t send Paladins or priests to prepare for this Academy invasion.

But they didn’t just sit idly by.
The hero Yu Seha, their benefactor who saved them from crisis.

With respect for him, late at night, secretly, they planted a large number of holy relics in the Academy to set up a barrier.

The Cult’s strength was buffs based on holy power.
And to demons, their power was more poisonous than poison itself.

“Good, good! These villain bastards are going to love this!”

All these scenes were broadcast by the director Yoo Neung-hae through familiars flying in the sky.

In front of her, professors skilled in barrier magic continuously maintained the holy formation.

It wasn’t just them.
Originally, all Holy Laws’ power depended on the caster’s holy power.
And now, the barrier was maintained by twin sisters with the greatest holy power of the era.

“Ding dong!”
“Docking!”

The saints danced endlessly with strange signals.
Natsu & Yuri.
They wore blessed robes only saints could wear and danced rhythmically.

They had been sent here from the start.
Understanding their role, they supported with all their strength.

The twins, filled with a sense of mission, forgot the passage of time as they danced holding hands.
It was Holy Law cast by none other than two saints.
Even high-level demons above A-rank suffered and couldn’t resist.

It wasn’t just debuffs concentrated.

“Heh, I feel stronger!”
“My wounds are healing!”
“My abilities are outputting stronger than usual!”

Buffs applied to all hunters risking their lives on the battlefield.
It was the moment they gained a definite advantage thanks to preparation and readiness.

Go Ju-geum and the demons suffered, bleeding.
Soon, they turned their gaze to approaching footsteps and their faces turned pale.

Beyond the front bushes, a young woman holding a flag symbolizing the <Order> appeared.
Divine Light Garam, the head nun.
No, the next leader.

She tied back her bright blonde hair, and raised a mace, presumed to be a powerful holy relic, high.

“In the name of the Lord! Sisters! We shall purge evil here and now!”

At Shin Bitgaram’s shout, over 90 nuns raised their weapons.

Most were seniors who graduated from the Academy and served in various parts of society.

They bravely fought back.
Without hesitation, they brought their maces down on the villains’ heads.

Grasp—!

Chunks of flesh burst out.
Some of it splattered on Moon Ha-yeon’s cheek.

Moon Ha-yeon wiped off the flesh.
She cursed inwardly.

‘…Damn it.’

A chaotic situation.
They were still holding the line somewhat, but in five minutes, it would collapse instantly.

‘No choice.’

Moon Ha-yeon looked back at Kim Min-su.
Normally it was too early, but there was no other way.
She sent a silent signal: ‘Use your ability.’

-Nod.

Kim Min-su released a strange magical power.
His target was Na Tun-tun, who silently wielded stable spear techniques, the one piercing villains’ bellies.

Even temporarily was fine.
He calculated that if he could somehow make him an ally, they could break through.

“…!“

Soon, Na Tun-tun sensed something strange.
He looked at Kim Min-su.

At the same time, a grotesque demon appeared behind Na Tun-tun.

It was a being visible only to Kim Min-su, symbolizing his [Unique Ability].

It wrapped four arms around Na Tun-tun’s neck and seemed to melt into him.

For a moment, Na Tun-tun’s eyes glazed over.
Staggering, he approached Kim Min-su.

Kim Min-su also closed the distance.
He calmly used his power.
He reduced her hostility.

Na Tun-tun soon bowed his head and stood before him.
Now, all that remained was to bind Nathan Tun through words.

It would buy up to five minutes, creating a puppet to confuse the enemy.

Just as Kim Min-su reached out his hand, Moon Ha-yeon sensed something strange and shouted loudly.

“…?! Min-su! Step back!”
“Yes?”

Thud—!

“Kuhk!”

Kim Min-su felt a burning pain.
He spat blood from his mouth.
A golden spear was precisely lodged in his abdomen.

Kim Min-su looked up in disbelief.
He looked at Na Tun-tun.
Clear eyes, not losing any rationality, pierced Kim Min-su.

“……”
“C-could it be…?”

From the very beginning…

“The ability didn’t work!?”