Academy's Silver Gatekeeper-Chapter 68

TN: Kwak Hyuk PoV

When we first clashed, I thought he was laughably insignificant.

I had already transcended human limitations.

No matter how desperately he charged, this was a wall he could never overcome. Just like an ant, no matter how hard it tries, cannot harm a human.

Yuyu: Depends on the type of any tho.

Just look at the ability users in front of me for proof. Until moments ago, they were fighting like self-proclaimed heroes. Now that I've appeared, they're whimpering like dogs before a dog catcher.

Unless they were S-rank like Han Jiyoon or a former powerhouse like Ma Hakjun, they wouldn't even dare look me in the eye. That's how it should be.

'But this one.'

Clang—!

Blue sparks and magical energy scatter in all directions, painting azure flames. With each clash, I feel a certainty growing in my fingertips and mind.

'This one is promising.'

This man before me, the Silver-rank Examiner, Baek Seojin. I'm certain. This man will someday overcome the wall. And someday, he will stand before me as an equal.

Boom—!

When I swing my spear violently, Baek Seojin slides back. Unlike me, who hasn't broken a sweat, his body is covered in blood. He's in such a state that even without further combat, he might collapse from blood loss.

But neither Baek Seojin nor I gave up the fight. The spear and sword intertwined in the air once more, spitting sparks.

"Ugh!"

Unlike me, who remains unscathed, Baek Seojin lets out a painful groan. One leg buckles, and the other is about to give way as well. I grip the shaft of my spear tighter as I look at my opponent.

Come on, this can't be all you have. Bring out more, more!

"...!"

Suddenly, a strange light flashes in my eyes.

Baek Seojin, who seemed to be losing the power struggle, abruptly changed strategies. While still receiving the spear thrust, he aimed for a counter.

'This madman.'

The audacity to try and receive my spear? It was absurd. Even Hyun Sujin, a fellow Elder, or Han Jiyoon, who had clashed with me numerous times, never thought of this. They only block, or dodge, and occasionally graze. If they understood the devastating impact of my spear, this would be impossible.

And this man has definitely experienced my spear properly before. Though he survived and recovered quickly, that strike was with my full intention.

So he should know better than anyone what happens when facing me head-on. Naturally, a person's instinct would be to avoid such a scenario.

'Does this one have no fear? No terror of death?'

My spear thrusting forward, and his sword coming in return. If I keep thrusting without stopping, I could kill Baek Seojin. I'm certain. If I just thrust it in now, everything would end.

'...But that's a bit dangerous.'

My decision was quick, and my action even quicker. The spear that was clearly thrusting inward suddenly strikes outward.

For ordinary ability users, this movement would be impossible to explain. It should be considered impossible. It defies physical laws. But an Elder was a being capable of even that.

Thanks to this, Baek Seojin's calculation, which had aimed for a perfect counter timing, was shattered. To regain his broken balance, he had no choice but to roll. His already blood-soaked body became covered in dirt and dust, making his appearance even more pitiful.

"Haa, haa..."

After briefly staring at Baek Seojin, I closed the distance instantly. Then, before he could even react, I thrust my spear.

Shunk—!

"Ugh!"

Once again, a strange light flashed in my eyes.

I had clearly aimed for the heart, but by a hair's breadth, it missed. It wasn't my mistake. The opponent before me had twisted his body at the last moment to avoid it.

"Ha."

An exclamation of disbelief escapes me involuntarily. Reading my moves is unbelievable enough, but to even react? I never imagined he would be like this. He's nothing like when we first met.

'What on earth happened? Can someone become this strong in such a short time?'

As I pull the spear from his chest, red blood gushes forward.

Though he barely avoided his heart, he's still severely injured. There's not a single part of him that's unharmed. He should be collapsing any moment now.

But for some reason, the man didn't fall. He still stood in front of me, blocking my way with his sword drawn. I could feel his resolute will that he would absolutely not let me pass.

"...What the hell are you?"

If at first I was baffled by this insignificant man standing in my way, now I was asking this question in a different sense of disbelief.

I'm clearly much stronger. He's an opponent I'd be embarrassed to even discuss in terms of winning and losing. If I had used magic, he would have been a corpse rolling on the ground long ago.

But simultaneously, something was slowly raising its head from deep within my heart.

It's a scratchy feeling. Strangely, it feels like my irritation is growing. What exactly is this? What is causing this unfamiliar sensation?

Not long after, I soon realized what it was. The identity of this feeling that had emerged without my knowledge was 'anxiety.'

'At first, he couldn't even react. But at some point, he began to react, albeit late. He may be being pushed back, but he's blocking. He may be stabbed, but he's still somehow avoiding vital spots.'

This is the first time we've truly engaged. Last time was merely me toying with him. This examiner, breathing heavily, knows nothing about me.

When you're stabbed, you should be stabbed. When you're struck, you should be hit. When I intend to kill, you should die. But within that natural principle, the opponent was gradually responding.

He's growing in real-time. With each clash, he's memorizing my movements. He's remembering what he's seen, imprinting it on his body, and planning for the next move.

That's the source of this anxiety. Today's victor will undoubtedly be me, and he could never defeat me in a thousand lifetimes. But what about tomorrow? Or sometime later? Would that still be the case?

'No more.'

Yes, no more. One person bringing me shame is enough—that crazy woman. Let's kill him. Eliminate him. I can't bear to taste that nightmare again.

I've had enough fun. I've played with him quite a bit. I want to erase this disgusting man quickly and forget about the past.

Swish—

A gray light gathers and swirls around my spear. Witnessing this, the villains panic and scatter. Because they know better than anyone what this man is about to do.

A damp, sticky aura of death gathers at the tip of the spear. Anything it touches will fall into an inescapable swamp of death.

Is this a technique? No, such a name doesn't suit it. What I'm displaying now is solely a means for murder, nothing more.

Hatred that would erase even the world to kill just one person. The essence of killing intent, condensed and condensed again, because he couldn't accept his own arrogance. So it can't be called a technique. It's just the swing of a murderer.

Whoosh—

The spear, imbued with intense death, rushes toward Baek Seojin.

It's unavoidable. Literally, no one in the world can escape death. It's over. So just disappear. That crazy woman alone is enough to make me miserable.

As I finally reached my target and was about to unleash my killing intent, I found myself unconsciously murmuring a name.

"...Kang Minseong?"

Why, why on earth? Despite it not being him, why does I can feel his wind?

Crack—

The answer to that question was provided by Kwak Hyuk's broken spear.

*

'Damn it, damn it, damn it!'

At a speed that could outrun a car, Han Jiyoon was running with all her might, biting her lip.

A horrible disaster in Sokcho, Gangwon Province. Among the casualties was a colleague who had been close to Han Jiyoon.

He shouldn't have gone out like that, as one of the best ability users, without any shortcomings. It wasn't even a new dungeon, but a complete wipeout in a dungeon they had cleared several times.

As she rushed toward Sokcho after hearing the news, another lightning bolt struck.

"An ambush?"

"Yes! It's information that just came in, all the students who went out for external support practice are under a massive attack by villains!"

"How bad are the casualties? Is it serious? What's the situation?"

"Fortunately, Teams 1 to 4 are okay. But, but the problem is Team 5. For Team 5, which went to Chungcheong... uh, a prisoner confessed that an Elder was following them!"

The moment Han Jiyoon heard that, she changed her destination.

I'm sorry to my deceased colleague, but the departed can't be helped. For now, the living come first. As a professor, the students are the priority.

'Please, please!'

As she advanced at full speed, Han Jiyoon suddenly gritted her teeth, sensing a presence that shouldn't be felt. She turned around. Right behind her, something dark and murky was following.

"Damn it! I don't have time to deal with you. Get lost!"

Han Jiyoon's sword makes a majestic sound as it delivers a slash. That merciless trajectory cut the dark thing in half. The remaining half then increased its speed and approached Han Jiyoon from the front.

"..."

Elder Hyun Sujin, who had clashed with Han Jiyoon at the Academy earlier. That was the identity of the shadow trailing behind.

"You, till the end!"

"Jiyoon."

As Han Jiyoon revealed her killing intent, Hyun Sujin quietly addressed her.

Only then did Han Jiyoon realize that Hyun Sujin had fully received her attack. She could have easily dodged. At the very least, she could have minimized the damage.

"I'm not here to fight."

"What?"

"I'm also headed to the same place as you."

Having said that, Hyun Sujin launched herself precisely toward where Han Jiyoon was heading. Witnessing this, Han Jiyoon also hurriedly followed behind her.

"What are you thinking?"

"Nothing much."

"What?"

"I don't have any specific thoughts."

There was no further conversation. The two women focused solely on increasing their speed. And when these former comrades, now sworn enemies, arrived at their destination...

Swish...

A breeze lingered for a moment before disappearing.

"..."

Below it, Elder Kwak Hyuk was staring blankly at his own chest. Red blood was spurting from the wound that had split open.