Chapter 63: Piger (6)
TL/Editor: looloo
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Screens dotted the area, broadcasting the final exams conducted by the Korea Hero Academy.
They nned to edit this footage and broadcast it on television or tforms like YouTube.
"Team leader, take a look at this!"
"What is it?"
The team leader approached the screen.
There, an almost eerily beautiful boy appeared. A boy in a white zer with a ck hoodie underneath. He was so striking that even another man would admit he was handsome.
With a malicious grin, the boy swung his dark sword at a distant Minotaur.
ROOOOAR!
The enraged Minotaur charged. But the boy rushed toward hispanions ahead.
"Hey, watch out!"
"Look out!"
The boy chuckled mischievously.
With a great leap, the boy jumped again, as if from thin air.
"Wow, he''s wicked."
"Did you see him create a tform in mid-air? Maybe a wind-rted talent?"
"Isn''t it ice-rted?"
The onlookers who were buzzing about the boy soon fell silent.
The battle had begun.
A Minotaur enveloped in mes was unlike ordinary monsters.
Gamers wouldbel it a miniboss.
Though the creature seemed fitting for a second-year exam, those confronting it now were the golden rookies of the first year, renowned as the strongest among their peers.
ROOOOAR!
The Minotaur let out a roar.
Park Woonhyuk, Kim Ara, and Kim Seohyun instantly charged, weapons drawn.
KLANG!
The Minotaur''s fist collided with Kim Ara''s greatsword. A battle between a 5-meter tall monster and a human not even 2 meters tall. At first nce, the former seemed to have the clear advantage.
KLANG!
Yet, Kim Ara emerged the victor in their test of strength.
Huh?
The Minotaur staggered back a couple of steps.
''That''s terrifying.''
He broke into a cold sweat.
Despite not paying much attention to Kim Ara initially, she had grown impressively on her own.
She had built a formidable foundation under Suzerain''s guidance. That''s why there had been no need to intervene in her growth. She was capable enough on her own.
Swoosh.
Kim Ara turned her head.
Her violet eyes shimmered, as if harboring mes.
''She must be pretty angry.''
Thinking about it, they had been neglecting hertely.
However, that fiery gaze was short-lived. A Minotaur wrapped in mes was no pushover.
Whoosh!
The mes intensified. The Minotaur bellowed.
ROOOOAR!
The mes split apart.
Three humanoid figures emerged, each aze.
"Heh, I''ll take on two of those me figures."
"I''ll handle the main body."
"I got Lee Seoha."
Silence.
In that order, Park Woonhyuk, Kim Seohyun, and Kim Ara dered their targets.
Ersil Merhen nced at me with a sly look.
"Instead of wasting time, let''s bring it down quickly. It''s infuriating to be yed like this. Going against that beast with Seoha is practically suicide, isn''t it?"
"I suppose so."
When I agreed with Ersil''s statement, all eyes were on me.
"But what if we''re ambushed during our attack?"
"Then we''ll die, and so will you, Lee Seoha."
"Really?"
"Just be prepared for that."
Ersil red at me.
It felt like I''d be chased throughout this survival quest.
"What''s happening?"
An odd sensation crept over me.
I looked at the Minotaur.
A reaction stirred within me, urging me to kill the Minotaur.
I''ve had this feeling a few times before.
And most of those targets were...
"Mines."
I narrowed my eyes.
A Mine in the Tower of Trials?
"Did they y tricks back then?"
I had my suspicions.
Of the Seven Evils, when Hyungseong personally attacked the Korea Hero Academy.
It wasughable that he only defeated a small viin group even though he took action himself. No matter how much he was held back at the borders.
"Destroying or contaminating the Tower of Trials is impossible."
It''s impossible. Only someone of the ''Apostle'' level, higher than the Seven Evils, could even attempt it. So, maybe they partially contaminated it.
I kept a vignt eye on the front.
20 minutes into the fight.
The Minotaur, surrounded by mes, eventually fell to the students.
"Damn. Why is this beast so tenacious?"
"Exactly. As stubborn as Park Woonhyuk."
"What?"
Kim Seohyun and Park Woonhyuk bickered.
I kept my gaze on the Minotaur, but even as time passed, nothing changed.
"Was I too sensitive?"
I turned away.
Suddenly.
I quickly spun back around.
My senses sounded the rm. The power that defies the heavens, ''Demonic Qi'', was sensitive to forces that went against the natural order.
Momentster, both Ersil and Kim Seohyun reacted.
"Everyone, run!"
Violet mes appeared. An eerie power was felt. It wasn''t the power a mortal should possess.
Death energy.
It was the me of necromancy.
[The Minotaur is influenced by malicious intent.]
[The necromantic Minotaur sets its sights on a target.]
The Minotaur, engulfed in violet mes, with ckened skin.
[The Minotaur, temporarily resurrected from death, bes even more formidable.]
-ROOOOOAR!!!
It roared.
It was just a roar, but the power it exuded was immense.
"Damn it."
I froze.
I swiftly cloaked myself with Demonic Qi and scanned my surroundings. Everyone was petrified.
Such was the nature of this being.
A being that imposes its will upon the world, shaking the veryws of existence.
With sheer intent alone, it can kill ordinary people, and even if ten of a lower rank were to challenge it, they would still be defeated.
Thankfully, if there was any silver lining.
Its hostility was solely directed at me.
"Because of Demonic Qi. The power that defies the heavens attracts the hostility of all that goes against the natural order."
"What counts as ''going against the natural order''?"
"It attracts hostility from them too. Because Demonic Qi ''denies'' everything."
This is absurd.
I clenched the handle of the ck Heavenly Demon Sword.
Dark energy spread beneath my feet, rushing outward.
''I need more time.''
I needed Hong Yuhwa. As for Kim Seohyun... I''m not sure. He''s currently broadcasting with a drone. At this rate, Kim Seohyun should be able to use his powers.
''I should prepare for the worst.''
It''s still too early for her to be targeted by the Mines.
She must fully awaken the power of Starlight Magic.
''There''s a way.''
I quickly scanned the talents, abilities, and skills of the students present here and assessed the abilities of the Minotaur. Numerous strategies passed through my mind.
''The chances of winning are about 80%.''
It''s a high probability.
But there''s still a chance of failure.
20% isn''t a significant risk, but this isn''t just a game.
No one should die here.
I swiftly ran simtions in my head.
I''ll increase the risks for myself.
Decreasing the risks for others. So that the worst-case scenario means my demise.
''It''s still not enough.''
I''ve also considered scenarios where Seo Gayeon uses the power of Starlight.
The opponent is powerful.
I shouldn''t underestimate him. It''s different from my usual opponents.
While he holds a significant position among powerful foes, most of his body isn''t normal.
On the other hand, the might have be a powerhouse, but its physique is robust.
I looked at Hong Yuhwa.
The talent she possesses, Piger. If it was fully awakened, perhaps...
"Hoo."
I steadied my breathing and focused on whaty ahead.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
Dark skin wrapped in fire. The Minotaurus had its eyes on me.
I held onto the ck Heavenly Demon Sword.
I positioned myself.
The instinct of a swordmaster warned me. One mistake could cost me my life.
''When was it ever not dangerous?''
I smirked and charged.
Seo Gayeon watched me, mouth shut.
-Don''t use the power of Starlight. Not yet.
From within, she could feel his firm resolve.
For a moment, she felt it. He had cast aside the safe path, betting on his life.
''He doesn''t have to do this.''
''Using the power of Starlight would make him a target for the Mines. But I thought it was still okay.''
''He might risk his life, but I wished he wouldn''t.''
Seo Gayeon prepared in silence.
Ready to unleash the power of Starlight if necessary.
Hong Yuhwa looked ahead.
I was moving. It wasn''t my usualposed expression. There was a sense of urgency.
Kwaah!
A powerful vibration echoed. Kim Ara, Kim Seohyun, and Park Woonhyuk charged towards the Minotaur with desperate expressions.
''Just a bit more.''
Was it because of the pressure? My body wasn''t moving properly.
Kwaaah!
I was battling the Minotaur.
But I was being pushed back. I, who had always been soposed, was nowhere to be seen. I was desperately maneuvering, using every tactic at my disposal.
He conjured multiple ck swords to block his path, and cast a spell to create a barrier. Yet, the Minotaur relentlessly broke through everything, focusing intently on Lee Seoha.
''This is genuinely dangerous.''
Hong Yuhwa clenched her teeth in anxiety.
She rxed a bit.
Taking a step forward, Hong Yuhwa pondered her next move.
What should I do now?
Her main strength was offensive magic. However, it seemed unlikely that her magic would have any effect on that creature. While she boasted a powerful strike, her primary magic attribute was fire.
That was just her innate mana trait.
Her crimson mana was adept at overpowering mes of a lesser or simr grade, but against a higher-tier opponent, its efficacy was severely limited.
''Your talent lies elsewhere,'' Lee Seoha''s words echoed in her ears.
''My talent?''
''Yes, Piger.''
That talent had a unique power the ability to seize others'' powers. She could steal someone else''s talent and abilities.
It wasn''t a talent that matched her personality.
But, was that even important right now?
Hong Yuhwa looked ahead.
Her friends were in danger.
With a spellbook in hand, she stepped forward.
Above her head, a Crimson me bloomed.
enjoy! :)
yooo she bloomed
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