52
“Argh! How…?”
As Nikolai fell, his face contorted in a way that showed he couldn’t comprehend.
“I must have told you, right? Without hesitation, with the mindset that no matter what, you must be willing to kill a mine, regardless of the means.”
“Ugh.”
As Nikolai, wearing a defeated expression, left with the duty members rushing towards him, Gwak Jin-ho turned his gaze to Cheon Woo-jin, who remained alone.
“If you were aiming to capture me, you should have both thrown yourselves at me from the beginning… Although, honestly, it was a bit risky.”
I almost didn’t make it out of there. Gwak Jin-ho scratched the back of his neck. However, even with that playful gesture, Cheon Woo-jin couldn’t relax his stern expression.
That was because Cheon Woo-jin had realized belatedly how Gwak Jin-ho had managed to evade the bombing.
He hadn’t been focusing on Nikolai from the start.
Confident that he could withdraw at any moment, he had been facing Nikolai with that certainty.
Tang! Tang! Tang!
Suddenly, a magic bullet aimed at Gwak Jin-ho relentlessly rained down from the city rooftop.
“Ugh.”
Gwak Jin-ho tried to dodge the bullets, but since it was impossible to dodge them all, he eventually surrounded himself with magic.
For Gwak Jin-ho, whose magic was restricted to 10%, using magic for defense was a fatal move. Indeed, the composure vanished from Gwak Jin-ho’s face.
“We need to finish this quickly.”
“Of course.”
As Cheon Woo-jin aimed his sword, Gwak Jin-ho defended against the bullets with magic and crouched down.
“Then.”
In an instant, Gwak Jin-ho sprang towards Cheon Woo-jin, extending his knees.
Boom!
The ground shattered like a biscuit as his body shot out like a shell.
As Cheon Woo-jin rushed forward, swinging his sword.
Boom! Boom! Thud!
Amidst such fierce combat, the baptism of bullets continued without pause.
The bullet that didn’t even hint at a moment’s hesitation relentlessly showered down on Cheon Woojin as if offering him as a sacrifice to hunt down Kwak Jinho. Countless fireballs flew alongside it.
Kwaang! Kwaahng!
Sensing his teammate’s intentions, Cheon Woojin tenaciously clung onto Kwak Jinho like a water ghost.
However, even with Cheon Woojin hanging on, Kwak Jinho skillfully dodged the fireballs.
It wasn’t just a simple gap in skill; it was the movements born from experience that effortlessly enveloped Cheon Woojin in their pace.
Of course, even such an awe-inspiring ability was of no use against such a wide-ranging attack.
Blue bullets rained down like lightning, as if trying to obliterate the surroundings, including the two men.
“Tsk!”
With a cold tongue, Kwak Jinho infused his fist with ample magical power and swung it forcefully. Cheon Woojin, using his sword to block the fist, was sent flying backward.
Kwaahng!
Kwak Jinho’s magical bullet struck the ground fiercely as he withdrew his body.
The ground caved in as if a shell had dropped. Kwak Jinho clicked his tongue at the ignorance displayed.
“Kids these days show no mercy.”
Despite wearing protective gear and having backup waiting outside the urban area, ensuring safety, the decisiveness without hesitation was unexpected.
While it was Kwak Jinho himself who had advised not to hold back on means and methods, he had never anticipated such ruthless execution.
He had given the warning out of concern that it might come to this, but the courage shown made the warning seem futile. It was as if he was willing to obliterate even his own motivation.
“What grudge do you hold against me?”
“Well, I’m not sure.”
Cheon Woojin forced a smile. Yet, inwardly, he sighed.
“Using only 10% of the magical power…”
Such a gap?
Although Kwak Jinho had gained confidence in limiting his magical power, it was a grave mistake.
That’s because Kwak Jinho’s 10% magical power was not a mere 10%.
The magical power bursting out explosively in an instant carried several times the force.
Kwak Jinho was effortlessly utilizing that magical power, which was difficult even in practice, moment by moment, as naturally as breathing.
He had seen Eungaye doing it, but this was on a whole different level.
Furthermore, Kwak Jinho’s magical power multiplied in strength the more it was blocked.
“A gift that amplifies magical power.”
He had heard of it.
Kwak Jinho’s attacks continued to increase in power the more they were connected.
It was an exceedingly morale-boosting gift in close combat, growing stronger with each exchange. Without Han Seyeon and Amelia’s support, Cheon Woojin wouldn’t have lasted long before being pushed back.
Then, Kwak Jinho waved his arm.
The magical power swelled like a snowball on Kwak Jinho’s arm.
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Despite the barrage of bullets and magic, they all bounced off against the barrier of that magical power.
“You better leave now.”
Before Kwak Jinho’s words could finish, the momentarily paused fist swung around menacingly. The white magical power dyed Cheon Woojin’s vision white.
***
“I knew it would come to this.”
Blocking Kwak Jinho’s fist, Cheon Woojin was sent flying far away from the urban area.
Struggling to regain composure and flee, it seemed like the vanguard had been wiped out by this point.
Not even five minutes into the exam, with Nikolai and Cheon Woojin incapacitated, I muttered in frustration, “What kind of school has a war hero show up for a midterm?”
This was like a mid-boss unexpectedly barging into a tutorial.
While Kwak Jinho’s Superhuman Ranking was 328th, it was merely a number designated by the Superhuman Association.
Among those Superhumans ranked higher than Kwak Jinho, there were many who hadn’t experienced war with the Mine.
In terms of instant situational judgment or combat experience, Kwak Jinho’s ranking was far superior to 328th. The Superhuman Ranking wasn’t about combat prowess.
Moreover, Kwak Jinho was a specialist in close combat.
Considering his Gift that amplified with each strike, it was best to avoid close combat as it rendered the 10% magic penalty insignificant.
I pondered whether tying him down and bombarding him from afar would work, but Cheon Woojin and Nikolai failed even to tie him down properly.
It wasn’t their fault. The difference in skill was just that overwhelming.
“Still, it’s not like we can’t win.”
Even though the two had fallen, I didn’t feel particularly threatened.
After all, this exam wasn’t about defeating Kwak Jinho.
It was about landing a proper blow on him. If I could manage that, victory was assured.
And there was a way for me to do just that.
Utilizing the heat of the Phoenix, blocking my presence, body acceleration, and effectively using the anti-magic properties of Icarus’s ring, my chances were more than sufficient.
That’s why I set up traps diligently instead of assisting my teammates.
It was hard to claim that I set up a perfect trap in just five minutes.
“This should be enough.”
Placing Gram’s dagger in a corner of the city and ensuring the Phoenix’s flames stayed lit on the ground, I looked for Amelia.
To ensure the success of my plan, Amelia was essential above all.
To perfectly deceive Kwak Jinho, it was necessary to enhance the traps using Amelia’s magic. When Amelia heard my plan, she hesitated.
“Will that really work?”
“Don’t worry, it will.”
I had created ‘fake presence’ using the Phoenix’s flames at the locations where Gram’s dagger gleamed. I planned to deceive Kwak Jinho with this.
And for the final trap, I asked Amelia to create dolls made of soil or stone using magic.
Unlike the previous traps, if the shape was discernible due to the heat, Kwak Jinho would mistake it for real.
Amelia was skeptical of this rushed method, but in my judgment, it was entirely feasible for Kwak Jinho to fall for it.
The flames of the Phoenix were not mere embers but ‘flames of life’, bearing a striking resemblance to human vitality.
“It’s perfect for deception.”
Thus, disguised in my location, utilizing presence blocking, I lay in ambush, planning to attack Kwak Jinho through body acceleration.
Of course, the goal wasn’t to strike him. It was merely to make contact with Kwak Jinho’s body once.
If I could temporarily ‘seal’ Kwak Jinho’s magic using Icarus’s ring, he would be defenseless.
Seizing that brief vulnerability would secure my victory.
“We’re short on time, so let’s move quickly.”
“Understood.”
As I watched Kwak Jinho beginning to leave the city center, I took Amelia’s hand.
＜Presence Block＞ Lv.2 activated, concealing both of us.
“Remarkable.”
Kwak Jin-ho walked through the city, constantly met with astonished reactions.
Since a while back, bullets had been flying towards him, but pinpointing the origin of those bullets was proving difficult.
Every time he thought he had found the ambush location and rushed towards it, bullets would suddenly come from a different place.
If the shooting intervals were short, finding the location would have been easier, but Han Se-yeon was meticulously calculating and efficiently relocating to continue the shooting.
Even considering Kwak Jin-ho’s extensive experience in warfare against demons, this level of skill exhibited by Han Se-yeon could be considered top-notch.
Tiang! Tiang!
“His intellect, physical abilities, marksmanship, everything is outstanding.”
Kwak Jin-ho nodded as he deflected the raining bullets with arms imbued with magic.
Perfect distance, precise calculations of positioning.
With only 10% of the magic power he possessed, he couldn’t deflect the magic but couldn’t gather speed either.
Taking into account that speed, Han Se-yeon had calculated the distance to evade the bullets and was holding her ground. Even Kwak Jin-ho had to admit her exceptional judgment.
“However…”
Kwak Jin-ho lunged forward.
As the magic surrounding his body dissipated, bullets pierced through his torso.
Ignoring the pain, Kwak Jin-ho poured all his remaining magic into running.
“…Faltering in combat experience.”
!
In an instant, Han Se-yeon appeared before Kwak Jin-ho, who had unleashed a punch. Blocking it with her arm, Han Se-yeon was sent flying over the alley, propelled by the force of the attack. Using the attack as momentum, she flipped backward and swiftly disappeared over the alley.
“…Huh.”
Kwak Jin-ho, seemingly stunned, glanced at his watch.
[2:25 PM]
There were 25 minutes left until the exam ended at 2:50 PM.
If they didn’t finish by then, it would be a ‘draw.’ However, Kwak Jin-ho had no intention of settling for such an ambiguous result.
If he chased after Han Se-yeon now, the chances of finishing within the time limit were slim.
“First, the easy targets.”
Removing the bullet lodged in his shoulder, Kwak Jin-ho shifted his gaze.
Not far away, a ‘presence’ could be distinctly felt in the alley.
Kwak Jin-ho followed the presence. In an instant, a dagger flew through the air between buildings.
Deflecting it, Kwak Jin-ho ran towards where the dagger had come from. Then, he furrowed his brow.
“…A decoy?”
There was nothing but a blue flame burning on the empty ground. The heat of this flame was what he had sensed as a ‘presence.’ Then, a bit further away, he felt the presence again.
As Kwak Jin-ho searched for the presence and moved out from between the buildings, another dagger flew towards him.
Deflecting the dagger and running forward, the same flame confronted Kwak Jin-ho.
“…Huh.”
As he let out a wry laugh, yet again, he felt the presence nearby.
“Are you luring me in? How amusing.”
Kwak Jin-ho fell for the fake popularity act a total of four times.
“He’s pulling all sorts of tricks.”
As Kwak Jin-ho stamped out the flames with his foot, he gazed somewhere and chuckled softly.
Beyond the wall of the obscured building in his sight, a different kind of heat was detected.
“To deceive with popularity, one must deceive in appearance as well.”
Unlike the previous acts, the figure beyond the wall was distinctly taking the form of a ‘person.’
Walking leisurely, Kwak Jin-ho peered over the wall. And then, he furrowed his brows.
What lay beyond the wall was not a person but a heap of mud dolls engulfed in flames.
In a split second, as Kwak Jin-ho was licking his lips, he swiftly turned his body like lightning.
Thud!
Someone fell after being struck by his fist.
“hahahaha, predictable.”
With a sore behind, the thug who grabbed his wrist was Yi Hae-sol.
Kwak Jin-ho, taken aback by the discovery of the mud dolls, had noticed Yi Hae-sol moving behind him frighteningly.
It was a sudden ambush, swiftly countered by Yi Hae-sol, who was now frowning.
As Kwak Jin-ho walked steadily, he stood in front of Yi Hae-sol.
And then.
Thud.
“I got you.”
Yi Hae-sol, who had grabbed his ankle, chuckled slyly.
“!”
***
＜Block Presence＞ Lv.2 is a method that cuts off the effect when attempting to attack the opponent.
Purely a means of self-protection.
Indeed, as I, who had been hiding my body, sensed Kwak Jin-ho’s intention to attack, he suddenly swung his fist in a surprise attack.
Blocking with my wrist and falling, Kwak Jin-ho steadily approached.
Although my swollen wrist hurt despite avoiding the blow, I kept a close eye on Kwak Jin-ho approaching.
Three steps.
Just three more steps forward.
Thud.
Thus, when Kwak Jin-ho took the third step.
【Body Acceleration】
In an instant, the amount of light reaching the retina decreased, and the world darkened.
─────.
Kwak Jin-ho’s steps hitting the ground slowed to the point of tedium.
In the gap of time brought by the acceleration of his body, I reached out.
Thud.
“I got you.”
I chuckled slyly, having grabbed Kwak Jin-ho’s ankle.
The accelerating time once again.
I immediately activated the anti-magic force of Icarus’ ring.
With a puzzled expression, Kwak Jin-ho seemed to feel the anti-magic corroding his body, his expression freezing.
He tried to push away the anti-magic, but it was already too late.
Wiiiiing─
The blue magic clinging to Han Se-yeon’s gun suddenly appeared on the roadside.
Hwarruruk─.
Above Amelia, standing in the alley, the essence of combination magic ＜Flame Dash＞ bloomed in her hand.
Thud.
Followed by Cheon Woo-jin’s appearance.
His sword aimed at Kwak Jin-ho.
“···What’s this.”
Seeing the figures appearing from all directions, Kwak Jin-ho wore a perplexed expression.