Cheonroegeom's Fury
Mana deployment complete. With Skator's activation ready, Shim Jin-hwa smiled as she looked at Sa Yeonggyo.
"Right. I'm not really Shim Jin-hwa. To be precise, I'm just a wax doll harboring fragments of that great buffer's memories."
Stepping forward, Shim Jin-hwa continued.
"No, not even a wax doll anymore. To your eyes, I'll look like a monster now. A target to be hunted. So I can kill you without hesitation too, right?"
From her outstretched hands, an intangible force spread out like the ribs of a fan.
Sa Yeonggyo had already dodged with Phantom Walk. But the power spread in all directions, relentlessly pursuing her before enveloping her like mist.
"Ugh!"
The mana sustaining Phantom Walk unraveled the instant it touched that bizarre force, scattering apart. As the mana deployment collapsed like a crumbling building, her feet hit the ground. Unable to stop her momentum, Sa Yeonggyo tumbled forward.
As if waiting, Bogsite unfurled.
The swampy, yielding floor swallowed Sa Yeonggyo whole. Her body sank into the mire, leaving only her head above.
Even gasping for breath, Shim Jin-hwa didn't lose her satisfied smile. In her prime, she could've deployed Skator with one hand and laughed merrily about it.
Shim Jin-hwa walked over to Sa Yeonggyo and gazed down at the youthful glow of her prime.
"...What the hell is that?"
"Skator."
"Ah!"
Sa Yeonggyo's face lit up with realization.
"Last chance. Become my client."
A fierce flame ignited in her palm, gradually taking shape.
Sa Yeonggyo just glared, lips pressed tight.
The small butterflies generated in Kim Jun's grasp dissipated once more.
"...Ugh."
As Cheonroe Heart Technique scattered, it sent a shock through his body. A purple bruise bloomed on his forearm.
"I know all your schemes. You seem dead certain one Po-noe Strike will take me down. But will it? Fine. Give it a shot. I'll just stand here."
Yi Uk-hwan thrust his chest out defenselessly and clasped his hands behind his back.
Kim Jun's face twisted in humiliation as he glared at Yi Uk-hwan. But inside, he was thrilled.
He took the bait!
Kim Jun glanced at Lee Taeseop behind Yi Uk-hwan. Nodding, Lee Taeseop bellowed.
"What? Are you insane? Surrender to that crazy doll? Even if you value your life, that's not something to say! Got it?"
"Then you die here. I want to live. After all I've been through to get this far. I busted my ass, sweating blood to pass the test. And now die here? I can't. No, I won't!"
Gong Yunju spat furiously.
"Hey, Kang Hyun-seong. Say something. Carriers fight like that— we can't just give up."
Lee Taeseop dragged Kang Hyun-seong in.
"...I think Yunju has a point."
"What?"
Lee Taeseop's jaw dropped, unleashing a torrent of thick curses.
Gong Yunju and Kang Hyun-seong, who'd been listening, started arguing too—what's so wrong with wanting to live?
Yi Uk-hwan smirked.
"Typical examinees. Still a ragtag bunch. Gotta roll in dungeons for a few years in a guild before becoming proper raiders."
"...If Po-noe doesn't take you down, I'll surrender."
"Heh, good. Bold choice."
Kim Jun pressed his right hand to his side, clenching his fist. He visualized the signature image of Po-noe.
Desperation surged more Cheonroe Heart Technique energy into his right hand than usual. Countless butterflies formed between his fingers, sparks crackling loudly between their wings.
"Come on!"
Yi Uk-hwan brimmed with confidence.
Kim Jun started slow. Losing balance would scatter Po-noe, crippling him with internal injuries from which he'd never recover.
At about five meters away, Kim Jun unleashed Mokhonbo Tan.
Gliding across the floor, he imagined Cheonroegeom more vividly than ever.
Beep beep beep beep!
A blaring alarm pierced the air, red lights flashing wildly.
Go Cheolmin, scanning recent Sokcho Dungeon news on his laptop, jolted upright.
This is... the vault alarm.
Trainees rushed into the master room.
Frowning, Go Cheolmin hurriedly opened the vault.
The custom scabbard was there... but the Cheonroegeom that should have been inside was gone. The system had triggered because the sword vanished.
No one had entered the master room.
The vault had never been opened. Only one explanation: Kim Jun had summoned the Cheonroegeom.
"Master!"
Yoo Min-jeong reached the same conclusion.
"To Association HQ—now!"
Go Cheolmin leaped down to the first floor in one bound, sprinting to the parking lot with uncharacteristic agility.
Pink Team followed.
The unique ridges of Cheonroegeom's hilt pressed against his fingertips.
The moment Cheonroegeom pierced space and appeared, Kim Jun unleashed Mokhonbo Tan again. Doubled in speed, he dove into Yi Uk-hwan's guard in an instant.
Yi Uk-hwan spotted it too. He began evading with Pacheonbo, cracking the marble floor in all directions. But even Pacheonbo couldn't escape the reach of Po-noe-infused Cheonroegeom.
Crackle.
As Cheonroegeom-amplified Po-noe burrowed into Yi Uk-hwan's chest, slowing him, Kim Jun's gripped blade plunged deep.
The massive electric shock erupted inside... incinerating the core animating Yi Uk-hwan without a trace.
His body charred black, Yi Uk-hwan barely turned his head to Kim Jun.
"I'm... not a monster."
His final words.
The moment Kim Jun's Cheonroegeom pierced Yi Uk-hwan's chest in a blinding flash, a single icicle bolt from Kang Hyun-seong grazed Lee Taeseop's ear and shot toward the left wall at the entrance.
Park Hyun-woo stood right there, maintaining the Deplancio magic circle, draining the examinees' vitality.
Strands of hair from some examinees littered the floor.
Normally, Park Hyun-woo would've deftly blocked the icicle spell. But distracted by Kim Jun summoning Cheonroegeom and killing Yi Uk-hwan, his focus slipped.
The icicle bolt struck dead center on the button.
Weee-ooh weee-ooh, beep beep beep.
Sirens wailed as lights turned red.
Only then did Park Hyun-woo realize what happened.
"Farewell."
As Shim Jin-hwa raised the fireball toward Sa Yeonggyo, sirens blared deafeningly. Turning, she spotted Yi Uk-hwan stabbed by the sword, collapsing.
That's... Cheonroegeom!
Shocked, the fireball nearly scattered.
Focusing mana to hold its form, a prickling pain stabbed her chest. Like needles pricking, it swelled into hammer blows.
Then, mana from the core cut off abruptly.
The fireball lost balance, exploding outward. The Bogsite engulfing Sa Yeonggyo shook too.
Clutching her chest, Shim Jin-hwa staggered back.
Sa Yeonggyo seized the moment. Pressing the belt buckle from Do Jong-man, her mana surged 30%.
The five-minute boost activated.
Metal Whip burst from the floor, shards flying everywhere. Sa Yeonggyo leaped up, charging Shim Jin-hwa. She poured max mana into the whip. The gleaming metal stiffened into a straight line, transforming into a Metal Spear.
Thud.
The metal spear impaled Shim Jin-hwa's chest.
"...Like this."
Shim Jin-hwa looked down at her chest.
Inside, the spear morphed back to whip, thrashing wildly before slithering out like a snake.
Toppling like a log, Shim Jin-hwa was bisected. She saw her lower half, legs twitching.
Sa Yeonggyo turned, searching for Kim Jun.
Bang bang bang.
Gunfire echoed loudly.
On the large wall-mounted TV, a centipede-like monster writhed with each bullet hit, spewing gray fluid while firing spines at the player. One sharp spine pierced the left player's neck.
"Damn it!"
Kwon Jae-hong hurled the video game controller.
Jeon Taek-jo, playing solo, deftly hunted the monster. The giant centipede finally crashed down with a thud. Hunt success.
Pausing the game, Jeon Taek-jo extended his hand.
Kwon Jae-hong grumbled, pulling 100,000 won from his wallet.
"Never again!"
He flopped onto the sofa.
Nam Jun-sang, strike team leader half-reclined reading Moby-Dick, glanced at Kwon Jae-hong.
"Told you not to."
"Should've stopped me harder."
"You love betting too much. Otherwise, you're perfect."
Turning a page, the leader said.
"That any good?"
"Worth reading."
"Unique hobby, boss."
Kwon Jae-hong sat up, peeking at Seven Team's female members. Son Ju-young and Yuk So-jeong hunched over a large monitor.
"What's that?"
"Skyla's serialization site."
Yuk So-jeong answered.
"Skyla? The reporter raider?"
"Yeah. Super fun. Last raid post was great, but today's is thrilling. Seems someone's desperately trying to fail Kim Jun's awakening test."
"Kim Jun? Oh, the liar."
Instantly, Yuk So-jeong and Son Ju-young whipped around, glaring murderously.
"What're those looks?"
"Why's Kim Jun a liar? Even as a senior, don't say baseless crap. It's disgusting."
Son Ju-young snapped.
"No basis? He used Po-noe, right? You can't learn that advanced skill in a day or two. Bet he was training in Cheonhondan before he was ten."
"Did you see it?"
"...What?"
"Did you see it yourself?"
"N-no."
"Then shut up."
Dismissing Kwon Jae-hong, the women whispered over the monitor.
Then lights turned red, sirens blaring.
Strike leader Nam Jun-sang tossed his book and stood, grabbing the radio to contact security control.
"Issue in Honor Hall Final Room? Understood. Mobilizing now."
He eyed his team. That sharp gaze was the order.
Number Two No Il-seong approached from the small gym next to the lounge, muscles bulging from weightlifting.
"Dumbass examinee hit the wrong button. Like last awakening test."
"Mobilize."
"...Got it."
No Il-seong opened his locker to change, cheeks twitching with anger and irritation.
Other members prepped too, donning special gear and raider-like boots.
Nam Jun-sang placed his hand on the gun locker by the lounge entrance. Fingerprint scan complete, it hissed open.
The leader distributed core guns one by one, then two special ammo mags each.
"Move out."
Nam Jun-sang led the way.
Park Hyun-woo couldn't believe his eyes.
Shim Jin-hwa and Yi Uk-hwan, failing to take out even one examinee—dying so pathetically. He'd observed hundreds, gauging their levels, crafting a perfect plan. Those two ruined it.
Meaning they surpassed average examinees.
If they teamed up against him?
In my current state, less than 5% capacity, I'd probably lose. Not just freedom denied— this wax doll housing my mind destroyed too. Can't let that happen. Heh, actually perfect. No need to share the life force orb from Deplancio with dumb Yi Uk-hwan and weak Shim Jin-hwa.
Park Hyun-woo stepped toward the Deplancio magic circle.
Sa Yeonggyo couldn't tear her eyes from the sword in Kim Jun's hand.
The long bastard sword, sturdy for slashing or thrusting, exuded Eastern simplicity in his grip.
Sparks popped from the blade, adding flair.
That's Cheonroegeom.
She knew from news it wasn't just Yeon Ga's treasure—a living item choosing its owner, responding to will by teleporting. But she'd never imagined Kim Jun summoning it to kill Yi Uk-hwan.
What if he'd done it in the third practical match?
Chills ran down her spine.
Yet battle lust surged fiercely. She wanted a real clash with Cheonroegeom-wielding Kim Jun.
Then, Park Hyun-woo slinking toward the magic circle caught her eye.
Examinees inside the activated circle writhed in agony, screaming for mercy. At the dome's apex, a blue-glowing orb hovered, slowly growing.
Yongju? Damn it!
Realizing his intent, Sa Yeonggyo whipped Metal Whip and charged.