Chapter 132
Chapter 132
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 132
Chapter Title: Mana Power Surges
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Mana power surged wildly.
A massive surge of energy poured from Baek Siwoo's body into his sword, causing a pure white aura to rise up.
'No, not exactly pure white?'
Others might not notice, but it was crystal clear in Seo Woojin's eyes.
Like veins threading through it, black demonic energy was spreading through the pure white aura.
'That looks dangerous.'
If it were him, he'd be fine.
Thanks to his class, he had great affinity with demonic energy.
But Baek Siwoo was different.
The guy was a 100% pure Hero.
Demonic energy was his natural enemy.
If he kept getting eroded by it like this, who knew what might happen.
'It definitely won't be anything good.'
Just looking at his current state made it easy to guess.
Eyes bloodshot red.
Mana rampaging ferociously.
And killing intent prickling the skin.
It was nothing like the usual Baek Siwoo.
Far from normal.
Seo Woojin frowned as he stared at Baek Siwoo.
"What the hell are you doing right now?"
He demanded in a voice thick with reproach.
But Baek Siwoo responded nonchalantly, as if there was no issue at all.
"Is it that hard to say you just want to spar lightly?"
"In the middle of the night, while radiating killing intent like that?"
Like hell.
That killing intent came straight from an urge to kill.
And yet? Spar lightly?
'You need to say something that makes sense.'
Seo Woojin let out a hollow laugh.
Of course, he wasn't afraid of Baek Siwoo.
He'd beaten him before, and now that he was far stronger than back then, he was confident he could crush him flat.
Still, he had a simple reason for avoiding the fight.
He could sense the mana on the verge of exploding.
If his control weakened from the heat of battle, it could go berserk at any moment.
And if he lost to Seo Woojin again on top of that...
'He'll definitely get consumed by the demonic energy.'
What happened after that was obvious.
The knights would sense the demonic energy and come rushing in, causing all sorts of casualties.
No, actually, that wasn't even the biggest problem.
'Suspicions about me could grow even more.'
He was already under plenty of wary glances.
If Baek Siwoo, mid-fight with him, started spewing demonic energy and turning dark?
The suspicions about Seo Woojin would deepen, and in the worst case, it might even restrict his movements.
No reason to bring that on himself.
"Killing intent? I have no idea what you're talking about."
But Baek Siwoo played dumb.
Seo Woojin couldn't tell if he was lying or genuinely unaware of his own condition.
"Fine. If you really want to spar, we can do it at the next training session..."
It was when Seo Woojin turned away to dodge the issue.
"Where do you think you're going!"
Suddenly, Baek Siwoo charged.
The aura scorching the air came crashing down toward Seo Woojin's crown.
"Tch."
It was an unexpected ambush.
But to Seo Woojin, it was so slow that ignoring it would have been harder.
With a casual sidestep,
Baek Siwoo's sword grazed past his head.
"Get a grip."
Instead of 'Rune Dea,' he clenched his fist and drove it into his solar plexus.
Crack!
He heard the sound of ribs cracking.
"Urgh!"
A pained groan burst from Baek Siwoo's lips.
'That should do it,' he thought.
Then, like an explosion...
Baek Siwoo's mana erupted.
It was on a whole different level from before.
"Damn it!"
It was just one punch.
And even that wasn't full power.
Merely a strike to subdue him.
"Fuck, why the hell is the demonic energy going haywire?!"
The demonic energy infesting Baek Siwoo began asserting itself.
Rooooar――!!
* * *
"Hm?"
In the dean's office, Yorn's ears twitched as he leisurely watered his plants.
He straightened from his bent posture and turned his gaze aside.
"...Demonic energy?"
Yorn's flawless brow furrowed.
"Do they even know where they are?"
His usual gentle smile had long vanished.
In its place was icy killing intent.
"Pienne."
At Yorn's call, someone appeared.
"You called?"
The woman knelt on one knee, bowing to him. She was an elf like Yorn.
She bowed her head, awaiting orders.
"Activate Response Protocol Level 3. Target: the demonic energy's owner. Objective: exterminate. There's unusual mana too, so no slacking."
"Understood."
With her response, Pienne vanished.
To carry out the order.
"...That won't be enough."
Yorn closed his eyes, gauged the demonic energy, sighed, and shook his head.
Pienne was strong.
A spirit knight boasting top-tier prowess even among the Phantasmal Tree clan.
But the owner of this demonic energy was radiating a force so overwhelming that even she would seem like a child.
"Even with the guardian knights, no chance of victory."
He set down the watering can and straightened his clothes.
Whoosh!
Bright light poured out, and a green sword 'Purna' appeared in his hand.
"Guess I'll have to handle it myself."
Yorn stepped forward.
Naturally, his footsteps led to the training ground where the demonic energy's owner—Baek Siwoo—was.
* * *
"You crazy bastard! Snap out of it!"
Seo Woojin leaped back, shouting.
But Baek Siwoo didn't even seem to hear him.
He unleashed even fiercer attacks.
"Heavenly Thunder."
Dozens of lightning bolts rained from the sky.
Affected by the demonic energy?
It packed several times the power from before.
"Ah, damn it!"
In the end, Seo Woojin had no choice but to draw 'Rune Dea.'
There was no way he could block those attacks barehanded.
Clang—crackle-crackle!
'Rune Dea' deflected all the falling lightning.
It was a sword speed unbelievable for a human.
Sizzle—
Black smoke rose.
The clash's aftermath overloaded 'Rune Dea' without fully dissipating.
'If this keeps up...'
It might even break.
Baek Siwoo's attacks were that ferocious.
Irritation boiled over.
He had no idea what he'd done to deserve this mad assault.
But he didn't bother asking.
With saliva drooling from those red eyes, the guy didn't look capable of answering.
"Fine. Let's do this for real, you prick."
Instead of questions, Seo Woojin decided to land a solid hit.
Chop off an arm or leg, and he'd stop rampaging.
He steeled himself and gripped 'Rune Dea' firmly.
No more holding back or dodging.
"Swiftness."
The divine rune of speed [速] infused his body.
Thud—
He kicked off once, and his afterimage stretched long.
Air compressed ahead as he easily broke the sound barrier.
A massive wall of air.
He tore through it without care.
Boom!
A sonic boom erupted, accelerating Seo Woojin further.
Even Baek Siwoo, empowered several times over by demonic energy, couldn't perceive it—an impossible speed.
Blood sprayed.
Slash!
The sound came after.
Baek Siwoo's red eyes turned to his left shoulder.
His left arm floated in the air, slowly falling, etched in his pupil.
"Aaagh!"
Only then did Baek Siwoo scream, realizing his arm was severed.
"Shut up!"
But Seo Woojin didn't stop.
Losing one arm wouldn't suppress the demonic energy.
If anything, he hoped it wouldn't make him even more savage.
He had to drive the wedge in now.
'Can't kill him though.'
'Rune Dea' swung from right to left.
This time, targeting the leg.
No matter how tough Baek Siwoo was, he'd be out of the fight with only one arm and one leg left.
As the blue aura closed in to sever his leg,
"Halt!"
A shout rang out, followed by a gust of wind.
'...A spirit?'
Not ordinary wind.
Definitely wind from a wind spirit.
'Yorn?'
The first thought was the elf Yorn.
But the voice was female.
Seo Woojin hesitated, then decided to pull back for now.
Screech!
'Rune Dea' left a long gash on Baek Siwoo's leg as he retracted it and leaped away.
Blood spurted—pssh.
"Grgh!"
The leg wasn't severed, but it was still a serious wound.
Baek Siwoo couldn't pursue and collapsed in place.
In that moment, someone appeared between them.
'An elf after all.'
But not Yorn.
A female elf with an unfamiliar face.
She glanced at Seo Woojin, then turned away.
"...Baek Siwoo?"
Shock laced her voice.
It was understandable.
Demonic energy from Baek Siwoo—the empire's strongest Hero, backed by all its resources? Not being shocked would be weirder.
"W-What is this?"
Elf knight Pienne's eyes filled with confusion.
That the target Yorn ordered eliminated was Baek Siwoo.
That Seo Woojin had half-killed said Baek Siwoo.
To her, it was all incomprehensible.
"See what you can do about him? If we leave him, he's gonna go even more berserk."
Surprisingly, Baek Siwoo was regenerating.
The severed arm was impossible, but the fresh leg wound was healing rapidly.
If it fully healed, he'd charge again for sure.
Pienne nodded at Seo Woojin's words.
Chaotic as it was, her orders were to eliminate the demonic energy's owner.
No more hesitation.
"Tempest!"
Her unique spirit appeared.
"Blade Tornado."
A gray cat embodying storm power materialized in the air, blades forming around it.
Rumble-rumble-roar!
Hundreds, thousands of blades spun, creating a massive vortex.
Seo Woojin thought it looked like a blender.
Though its power was incomparable to any mere appliance.
But Seo Woojin shook his head.
That thing couldn't even scratch Baek Siwoo.
Clang-clang-clang!
As expected, Tempest's blades didn't mar his skin.
'I'll have to step in.'
Baek Siwoo's power was growing stronger by the second.
Demonic energy or rampage—unclear which.
If this dragged on, even Seo Woojin might not handle it.
He needed to end it before then.
"Get back! I'll handle..."
He warned Pienne and moved to attack, but his body froze.
"Huuuuh—"
A chilling breath came from behind.
It felt like a snake slithering across his skin—goosebumps rose.
'This...!'
Familiar demonic energy.
Sticky, decadent, madness-tinged red demonic energy.
"Reina?"
The blood-mad vampire had appeared at the academy.