I Became the Academy's Disabled Student-Chapter 327: 10th time (1)

The special ability chosen for the 10th round was "Blood Manipulation."

It is not a particularly unique ability. It is common and ordinary. The ability to manipulate blood, both in name and function, is easy to find.

Naturally, even though growth occurred, it wasn’t anything out of the ordinary.

The innate abilities evolve throughout a lifetime. The changes are often subtle and go unnoticed, but evolution is certain.

In cases where these changes are too drastic, the essence of the ability can even transform entirely.

True Blood (진혈血眞).

The man, whose throat tore as he screamed, had blood fountains spilling from the 10th round’s body, pooling on the ground.

The expected consequence followed. With a warning piercing his neck, the 10th round hastily flapped his wings.

"Ah, Priest!"

As the 10th round injured his head and distanced himself from Daera, the distance between them increased further.

Soon, the bubbling blood pool exploded.

True Blood Expansion Ability

Interlinking with Thorny Vines (관형극貫荊棘)

Crimson thorns surged upwards.

Like the roots of a tree splitting, large and small thorns proliferated rapidly, branching out in all directions.

The speed was absurd. By the time one blinked, the thorns had already reached their full size.

Daera, who had her waist held by me, gasped and emitted electric pulses.

Zzzzaa! The thorns, engulfed by the electric pulse, crumbled.

This was only a small portion. Even those that weren’t cleared were rapidly advancing.

I too joined in, sending out a thrust and flame before the thorns aiming to swallow us were severed.

"Heh! What is this?!"

In a world where only rocks or flames once rippled, now crimson thorns densely covered the area.

The scene was akin to looking into a thorny bush, and Daera’s jaw dropped.

Inside the thorns, the chilling sound of flesh tearing echoed in waves. Monsters within the range screamed.

The blood-soaked pieces of flesh, torn into countless fragments, mixed into the thorns without discrimination.

Sharp thorns caused ripples, melting into a viscous mess. The sticky blood overflowed, creating a sea of crimson.

"Guuh...!"

The 10th round, standing amidst the blood sea, gulped down the blood and twisted his waist.

His long, gaunt body, with his skin exposed, was soaked in blood, causing his clothes to become bloated with it.

True Blood Expansion Ability

Corpse Mountain Blood Sea (시산혈해屍山血海)

A common environmental control technique for attribute abilities. But the range was massive and the speed was terrifying.

[Aah, ah...]

The sea of blood that had suddenly covered the ground made my teeth chatter. The manifestation of the innate ability and the execution of the expansion ability left no room for doubt.

‘Did it really summon this?’

The 10th round.

In the observed world, the body, which had no soul, reached one branch of its potential.

It was merely observed. A part of the possible. Strictly speaking, it wasn’t reality.

But this one...

It wasn’t randomly implemented in the Tower, but had manifested directly in the world.

I couldn’t understand. How could this be possible? Was it feasible with artifacts, even if it was said to be the highest level?

I couldn’t manage to smooth the frozen expression on my face as I desperately observed the 10th round.

“Guh, uh...! Aaaaah!”

‘Incomplete.’

I had received good news. The 10th round was not in a perfect state. It was far worse off than the rounds that had been manifested in the Tower.

Perhaps because of this, it seemed to have lost its rationality. That meant its combat abilities had decreased as well, which was good news.

...But I couldn’t bring myself to be pleased.

After Baek Arin’s betrayal in the 8th round, the round had turned to evil.

The 9th round had a strong experimental streak. It had immense potential but failed the preemptive strike and was killed before it could grow satisfactorily.

The 10th round had become strong enough. It was at the point where it could safely take down a level-3 monster.

But the half-formed 10th round was nowhere near its prime.

Even considering that, the 10th round was strong.

Damn it.

And the reason it was even more problematic?

In the place outside the blood sea, the one wearing a sword on his shoulder was the Warden of the Purgatory Tower.

The Warden of the Purgatory Tower, incarnate in Hong Yeon-jun’s body.

“No, what the hell is that...! Priest!? The priest’s arm...!”

Daera, who had been glaring at the blood sea with a stiffened face, suddenly pointed at my right arm, astonished.

The right arm that had been stained by Purgatory had a slight burn mark. It was almost identical to the scar that had previously disappeared.

[It’s just a minor injury, it’s fine.]

“That damn bastard...!”

Daera, staring at the blood sea with a murderous glare, suddenly snapped. Crackle! Violent lightning shot from her blue hair.

“...Priest. Let’s retreat for now.”

Regardless, Daera maintained her composure and judged coldly.

“That mosquito-like bastard and that flame-wielding bastard... both of them don’t look ordinary. Fighting like this seems too dangerous.”

That was the right call.

Even if it was just the Warden of the Purgatory Tower, estimating its power was impossible, and the 10th round was also present.

When it came to sheer power, retreating was the logical choice.

[Please, don’t get caught in the blood sea. Set the blood aflame with lightning from the other side.]

"What?"

As I shook off the tingling feeling in my right arm, Daera stared at me, disbelief written all over her face.

“Priest? No way, are you seriously going to charge into that?”

[Yes.]

Upon my agreement, Daera’s face contorted.

“Priest, this is really not right. Let’s retreat first and look for another opportunity.”

[No. We don’t have time, there’s no leeway.]

The pressure from within was signaling an impending rampage.

Above all, since they had already recognized my presence up to this point, they might rampage on their own before I go into a rampage.

What happens then? A rampage that I didn’t control would break loose and wreak havoc on the world.

And?

‘The 10th round will get swept up in this too.’

That couldn’t happen.

The 10th round, which began its evil streak after the 8th round,

Would kill people for materials and plunder when needed. If blood was required, it would massacre to fill its needs.

Its ability was especially specialized in mass slaughter.

Moreover, the Warden of the Purgatory Tower was right next to it.

If that bastard ran away, how much greater the damage would be in the future, who could say?

I didn’t know.

So I had to stop them here.

“Run─”

[Daera, please help.]

Daera, who had been desperately trying to persuade me, suddenly stopped.

[We need your power to stop them. Could you possibly hold back the expansion of the blood sea from afar?]

“-Kk, uh...!”

Daera’s face twisted in agony and conflict.

[Please.]

“Aah! Damn it! Priest! Fine, I got it!”

With a sound like a boiling kettle, Daera cried out, and then, gritting her teeth, she summoned her magic.

“But know this! If things go bad here, I’ll get killed by the Master too!”

[Thank you so much.]

Though I felt guilty for imposing too much on Daera, I hastily nodded my head, afraid she might backtrack.

In truth, I wanted to throw her out immediately, but there was no time to make a hole in the inner wall in this situation.

Exhaling the breath stored in my lungs, I began to ignite my flame.

The Warden of the Purgatory Tower, incarnate in Hong Yeon-jun’s body, stared at the blood sea that had flooded the area.

Ssssk! The sight of a monster, having fallen into the blood and rapidly dissolving, caused the Warden to shrug.

‘A dud.’

Was that the 10th? It was strong, but not what the Warden had been hoping for.

What he had been hoping for was the 11th.

He had been so absorbed in merging with the incarnation that he even briefly pushed forward during the battle.

Though it had only been information, not an actual experience, the Warden couldn’t help but be filled with awe and anticipation.

‘What a pity.’

He had spent a long time preparing, and in the end, it was a dud. He would likely have to leave behind the tools he acquired as well.

Of course, the 10th was strong enough to provide some satisfaction, but it fell short of the expectations.

New novel 𝓬hapters are published on freёwebnoѵel.com.

‘In the end, I’ll have to rely on the real one.’

Not on some half-baked vessel or a false world, but on Ihayul, who was living and growing right now.

‘Seeing him in person is truly satisfying. He’s beyond imagination.’

Remembering the appearance of the killing god that had reflected in Hong Yeon-jun’s eyes, the Warden couldn't help but smile.

Already at this level. It had only been a year, yet that creature had risen so much.

If I wait just a bit longer, he will grow even more satisfyingly.

The Warden turned his body, waiting for that moment.

Hong Yeon-jun’s body was a rare vessel capable of becoming an incarnation. It would be troublesome if it were destroyed here.

‘I could have waited and picked a better vessel... but that would have missed the timing─’

An ominous feeling rose. His arm was pushed back. Thud! His leg scraped the ground as he was pushed back.

The Warden tilted his head.

‘What is this? Wasn’t I supposed to be left alone?’

[Who dares to crawl out?]

‘Of course, I knew it would happen given the situation.’

The one who attacked was Ihayul, surrounded by his flame. The Warden shrugged and pointed toward the blood sea.

‘Right now, even though it’s chaotic, it’s quiet. But when it’s calmed down, will we be able to handle it if both of them start running rampant?’

The Warden didn’t know Ihayul’s full strength.

What he had seen through Hong Yeon-jun’s eyes could not be confirmed as his true power. Everyone keeps a trump card hidden.

But judging from the situation, it would be difficult for Ihayul to handle both the Warden and the 10th at the same time.

[That’s not something you should be worried about.]

Whoosh...! The flame surged and entered Ihayul’s body.

‘Is that the expansion ability... what was it called? Evolution?’

It seemed like it was a form where resources were focused on physical abilities rather than fire. It looked like a choice for close combat with the Warden.

‘What will the 10th do? He won’t be able to handle the blood sea with just magic and that lightning woman.’

At that moment...

Whooosh! Ihayul’s right arm became the center of the flame. The blood sea, which had been slowly approaching, evaporated instantly.

Did he release his evolution?

‘No.’

It wasn’t that. The Warden cut off his thoughts. The evolution was still in progress.

It was simply...

Another flame had blossomed.

Crack! The ground, melted by the flame and the Warden’s influence, was crushed all the way down to the bedrock.

In that instant, the Warden felt an intuition, and Ihayul’s new form vanished from sight.

The Warden widened his eyes. His body moved optimally according to his instincts and accumulated techniques.

The sword shattered. The Purgatory was engulfed in flame.

Through the shattered shards, a fist imbued with the flame hit the Warden of the Purgatory Tower’s cheek.