Ch 108
Became a swordsmanship instructor at the academy
Chapter 108
—You look surprised? I never said I would only defend, did I?
Right, she didn't.
Looking at the split ground, if I let my guard down even for a moment, I might end up meeting the King of Hell in the afterlife.
Still, I have two chances left.
Just two more successful hits and I'll be done.
I used movement techniques to quickly close the distance with Luciel.
I swung the tree branch, but again, there was no sensation.
Another Blink.
Perhaps because she was caught off guard initially, she seems determined to fight using hit-and-run tactics.
Still, she can't keep using Blink continuously, so I thought an opportunity would come if I waited.
But after some time passed, I felt something was wrong.
It feels like about 20 minutes have passed, and Luciel keeps using Blink consecutively, disappearing and reappearing while attacking.
Blink, which allows short-distance teleportation, is absolutely not a spell that can be used carelessly.
I'm a swordsmanship instructor, but I know that Blink isn't simply moving to a visible location using magic—calculations are required.
There should be delays, and it should be possible to predict positions to some extent through magic flow, but Luciel had no such restrictions at all.
Moreover, while she gave me distance at first, since I nearly landed a hit 10 minutes ago, she's been shooting magic from long range only.
I thought it would be manageable since I easily scored the first point, but this is too frustrating.
No, she clearly said with her own mouth that magic wasn't her main specialty, so isn't this too underhanded?
It seems cutting her arm initially raised her guard too much.
If I had focused on defense and then counterattacked when I found an opening, I probably could have easily achieved three hits...
Well, it's not like the situation is completely hopeless.
At least the pattern of shooting magic from long range is simple and easy to block.
But if we continue this war of attrition, I'll be the one at a disadvantage.
While Luciel, who's using Blink and magic bullets freely, might consume more energy than me, as the Guardian of the Demon Realm Tree, she can draw as much demonic energy as she wants from the Demon Realm Tree.
Of course, I'm also trying to conserve my internal energy and mental strength as much as possible by avoiding deflecting attacks when I can dodge them instead.
My internal energy is also recovering naturally.
But if my internal energy recovery speed is like electricity gathered drop by drop through solar power, Luciel's side is no different from nuclear power generation.
BAANG!
I deflected the incoming magic bullet and immediately threw the tree branch.
As she had done before, Luciel disappeared, but it didn't matter.
—Why are you throwing your weapon? Are you giving up?
Luciel appeared as she spoke.
'Giving up my ass.'
I redirected the tree branch that had been flying helplessly toward Luciel.
Soon it began spinning and emitting Aura Blade.
Luciel vanished again, but hundreds and thousands of Aura Blade fragments had already filled the space and begun exploding.
BAAANG! BAAANG! BAANG!
Heaven Demon Sword Technique Fifth Form, Meteor Burst Demon Energy—Yigieogeum version.
I felt about half the internal energy in my Dantian disappear instantly.
Yigieogeum is one thing, but trying to create Aura Blade with wood is terribly inefficient.
Actually, I had planned to use this as a finishing move when I had one chance left, but... I couldn't help it because it was too frustrating.
She disappeared midway, but there's a single bloodied feather that fell where she had been.
"One more left now."
I thought I might be able to achieve two hits, but regrettably, I quickly picked up the tree branch that had fallen to the ground while preparing for counterattack.
***
White blood dripped from the tip of my wing, but the pain wasn't severe.
It was really just a light graze.
Using regeneration magic, I quickly returned to my original state.
Is that guy really human?
The attack just now was a type I'd never seen once in my life.
I still don't understand how he cut my arm initially either.
Even though I was careless, the branch of the Demon Realm Tree should have absolutely no effect.
Moreover, I had even wrapped my arm in magic power to deflect the branch...
"One more left now."
How cocky.
At this rate, he might really allow three attacks.
Should I have just trusted him once?
If the Demon King attacks again while I'm injured, as that guy said, it would be really dangerous...
"I don't know who's testing whom. Shouldn't we change the rules at this point? If you hit me three times, I'll acknowledge you."
I've decided.
Even now, I didn't intend to use my full strength on such matters while trying to control the filthy demonic energy that constantly seeks to devour me, but I can't stand it anymore.
Arrogant human. How dare such an ugly-faced creature...
I absorbed the magic power of the Demon Realm Tree and released all the roughly rampaging magic power.
The feeling of filthy demonic energy spreading through my body is the worst, but conversely, power overflows.
"One hit."
As I spoke, I used Blink to move behind him and drove my fist in.
BANG!
"What do you mean hitting when you didn't even... UGH!"
He flew to the opposite side, but since he ducked slightly at the last moment, it felt like the impact wasn't properly transmitted.
It doesn't matter.
"Two hits."
I used Blink toward him again.
BAANG! CRACK!
I aimed for his abdomen, but this time he twisted his body, so I hit his shoulder instead.
Still, there was definitely a solid feeling.
"Three hits."
SWISH!
Perhaps because I kept talking, this time he swung the tree branch with his opposite arm.
Stupid bastard.
"That's an afterimage."
As I spoke, I swept his legs from behind once more.
CRACK!
With the sound of bones breaking, he collapsed right there.
"A lowly human dares to be arrogant toward whom."
I was thinking of finishing him off, but a tree branch came flying, so I immediately used Blink to dodge.
To counterattack even in this situation—I rate his mental strength highly, but looking now, his speed is incomparably slower than before.
Thinking I used Blink unnecessarily, I shot a magic bullet at him.
BAAANG!
Dust rose thickly, and I couldn't see him.
'Did he dodge in that physical condition?' Just as I was thinking that, I felt an ominous presence from behind.
When I turned my head, I saw the tree branch spinning and emitting Aura Blade like before.
"Stupid fool."
Did he think I'd fall for the same attack twice?
I had already created a barrier.
***
—Stupid fool.
I used all my remaining strength to execute Heaven Demon Sword Technique Fifth Form, Meteor Burst Demon Energy, but a black barrier formed around her.
The Aura Blade fragments pounded the barrier, but it didn't even get scratched.
I thought I could attack at least once if I fought head-on, but I was completely wrong.
Against Luciel, who spread eight wings that were never shown even once in the original work, I couldn't follow her movements at all.
'I just need exactly one more hit...'
My body feels like it's breaking apart.
My right shoulder and leg are already numb.
Even dodging the magic bullet earlier was a miracle.
I have no weapon, but even if I did, I can't swing it and can't even move—it's the worst possible condition.
'Is this the end...' No, it can't be.
There's still a method.
It's a technique I've never succeeded at even once in normal condition, but now I have to do it. No, I can do it.
Because I made a promise to Minha, that I'd take full responsibility.
To the kids in my class too, that I'd give them the best gift.
I absolutely cannot give up.
***
SWISH!
Though it's a tree branch, the moment it touches the rock, the rock is cut as smoothly as slicing tofu.
"This should count as success, right? I didn't use internal energy."
The tree branch reinforced with the Mental Focus of 'absolutely will not break' won't break, but without adding sword energy or Aura Blade separately, it has no cutting power.
But if I add the Mental Focus of 'cuts through anything' while in the reinforced state, it can have cutting power like this.
"I have eyes too, you brat."
"It's a success, right?"
"Well... It's not perfect yet, but I suppose we can say it is."
"Come on, if your disciple did well, you should praise him properly. What do you mean 'I suppose we can say it is'?"
"I wasn't going to say anything because I was worried you'd be disappointed, being so timid, but touch this here."
What Master pointed to was the cross-section of the rock.
When I touched it, while it was generally smooth, I could feel rough surfaces here and there.
"Let's overlook such minor details. Still, cutting is cutting, isn't it?"
"Tsk tsk! No reflection at all... Well, you still did well."
"I've finally surpassed Master."
"What kind of bullshit is that?"
"Didn't Master say you realized Mental Focus overlapping at twenty-seven? I'm twenty-six this year."
"You really have no end to your words. I learned it by myself, and you learned from me—what do you mean surpass!"
"Someone once said that if a disciple surpasses their teacher, it's the teacher's duty to celebrate rather than be jealous..."
"Don't be conceited. The next stage is never easy."
"Actually, there's something I haven't told Master yet, I can actually do three. It's not as perfect as two, but with a little practice, I think I'll get it quickly."
"Hmph, who said the next stage was three? If you've mastered overlapping, you should naturally be able to do that."
"Then is it four? Four seems pretty difficult."
"How can your thinking be so one-dimensional? The next stage isn't about increasing the number of Mental Focus applied simultaneously. I'll show you, so watch carefully."
I said I understood and stared intently at Master, but nothing happened.
"What are you doing?"
"Well, there's no way someone at your level could sense this. Look at the rock you just cut."
'Why the rock all of a sudden...'
This can't be! What is this?
I was really shocked.
The rock that had been cut in two just moments ago had somehow become four pieces.
"How did you do that?"
"Don't look at me, look at the rock again."
"What?"
'No way,' but when I looked at the rock, this time it was eight pieces.
What the hell?
Master didn't move and there was no sound at all.
"When Mental Focus reaches the ultimate level, it can become a sword through Mental Focus alone, without a medium."
"Using Mental Focus without a medium? Is that possible?"
'Could it be the Heart Sword?'
Heart Sword. In martial arts novels, it's a technique used by truly tremendous masters—a sword that cuts people with the mind alone.
"Heart Sword? Did you come up with that? That name isn't bad either, but this is called the Formless Sword."
***
BAANG!
After blocking even the last Aura Blade and looking down, he was motionless with his eyes closed.
Did he faint?
It seems like he did, but to counterattack this much while in poor physical condition is impressive.
If I hadn't used my full strength, he would have succeeded with the third attack.
‘Should I finish him off?’
I slowly descended.
Although he didn't succeed with the third attack, the skill he showed exceeded expectations.
His face isn't my type, but it's not unpleasant to look at either.
'Should I trust him once?'
Just as I was thinking that, he opened his eyes.
He wasn't unconscious? Well, it doesn't matter. I haven't released the barrier yet, and he no longer has a weapon.
Most importantly, resisting me in that condition doesn't make sense.
"Three... Yhree times. Promise kept."
After speaking, he really seemed to faint as his eyes closed again.
I don't know what he's talking about.
Suddenly saying three times.
"Do you think I'd fall for the same attack twice? Your last attack failed. It's not three times..."
I couldn't finish my words.
I thought he had lost his mind from the shock of defeat, but I was the one who was wrong.
Hundreds of strands of hair scattered and disappeared in the wind.
'This can't be. How is this possible?'
He didn't move at all, and I felt nothing.
I felt no impact on the barrier either...
"You... What exactly are you?"