Chapter 170
Chapter 170
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 170
Chapter Title: Aegis Endurance Test
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Lee Ji-ah's foot slammed into the training ground floor, shattering it.
Then, channeling that force, a fist brimming with immense mana rocketed forward.
Kwaaaaang-!
The training ground shuddered.
Shards of broken stone shot into the air as a massive shockwave swept through the academy.
‘Oh!’
Seo Woo-jin jolted at the powerful impact.
‘She’s definitely grown.’
Even to him, Lee Ji-ah’s punch felt incredibly strong.
At this level, she’d rank among the top heroes for sure.
But despite the sheer power, Seo Woo-jin took no damage whatsoever.
‘Luden Gard.’
Just as the emperor had boasted, this armor’s defense was beyond imagination—utterly impenetrable.
With mana to spare, Aegis stayed active nonstop, and it seemed like it could withstand punches like hers for days or even weeks without a scratch.
“Fist Bullet!”
Kwak-!
Lee Ji-ah’s fist smashed into his side.
“Ouch!”
Instead, it was her punching hand that got hurt.
“Okay, that’s enough.”
The test was plenty thorough.
Not only Lee Ji-ah, who’d been unleashing a barrage, but even Gye Soo-ji and Goo Dong-hwan hadn’t left a single mark.
“Ha, just one more!”
Lee Ji-ah clutched her injured fist and shouted, but Seo Woo-jin shook his head.
No point dragging it out when it’d just hurt her more.
“You’re done. Your hand hurts, doesn’t it?”
“But...”
She gazed up at him with eyes pleading for one solid hit.
Kong-!
Seo Woo-jin flicked her forehead.
“Ow!”
“Go on inside.”
He flashed a small smile as she retreated with a pout, then turned to the others.
“Next up, Da-hye.”
“Yes.”
At his call, Kim Da-hye stepped forward, sketchbook hugged to her chest, expression blank.
Seo Woo-jin nodded as he watched her approach.
‘She’s grown the most by far.’
Even accounting for different fighting styles, she was the only one who’d left any trace on him.
A mere hole torn in his shirt hem at the waist...
‘That she did what no one else could—that’s what matters.’
And she was just a C-rank hero.
Considering Lee Ji-ah, Goo Dong-hwan, and Gye Soo-ji were all A-rank, it was nothing short of incredible.
“Need time to prep?”
Kim Da-hye had to draw in her sketchbook before summoning to attack.
But she shook her head.
“Already saved.”
Following his advice, she’d pre-saved countless drawings.
She could summon them situationally as needed.
She seemed clueless at rest, but in battle, she flipped 180 degrees.
Pure combat sense? She might even edge him out.
If her Fire Art were A-rank instead of C?
‘She could’ve shredded S-ranks.’
That was a slight shame.
Seo Woo-jin intended to push her growth as far as possible—so she could survive even the Descent War.
“Start?”
When he didn’t speak, Kim Da-hye tilted her head.
“Ah, right. Go ahead.”
At his go-ahead, she tossed the sketchbook into the air.
“‘Summon.’”
Hwaaak-!
Out came the familiar K-2 first.
She caught it deftly and racked the slide one-handed.
Ting- ting-!
As expected, Luden Gard deflected her mana rounds effortlessly.
Seeing it useless firsthand, Kim Da-hye switched weapons.
Ala’s Magic Wand.
Despite no propellant, it launched its warhead with a deafening roar like a rocket firing.
‘Speed’s solid.’
It felt several times faster than her first try.
Any hero but him would struggle to dodge.
‘How’s the power?’
He stood still, watching the diamond-shaped warhead hurtle toward his chest.
Suddenly, it wobbled.
“Huh?”
His eyes tracked it.
The RPG-7 warhead shot upward, then plummeted straight for his crown.
‘...Can redirect mid-flight?’
Different class, so the mechanics escaped him.
But undeniably useful.
With that kind of flexible control, endless applications.
Kwaaaaang-!
It collided with his head in a massive explosion.
The pressure alone sank his feet deep into the training ground.
‘Power’s a pass.’
Useless against Luden Gard, but way beyond C-rank expectations.
“Good, that’s—”
He was about to call it.
Ala’s Magic Wand was her strongest weapon, as far as he knew.
Mana drain was no joke—pushing further risked depletion.
But Kim Da-hye didn’t stop.
Breathing a bit ragged, she spoke.
“‘Summon.’”
“Huh?”
Something more?
Then came a word that made his ears doubt.
“‘Tomahawk.’”
...What’d she say?
No way she meant that American cruise missile, the “America’s hammer”?
Seo Woo-jin stared in disbelief, but nope—his doubts killed him again.
In a blaze of light appeared a 7-meter-long, 53 cm diameter missile.
“Crazy...?”
He had to admit: Kim Da-hye’s knowledge and imagination outstripped his expectations by miles.
Whoooo—
The Tomahawk rocketed skyward, piercing the heavens.
Then, just like the RPG warhead, it dove straight for Seo Woo-jin.
Kuwaaaaaang-!
A colossal blast engulfed the training ground.
“Kyaaak!”
“Uwaaak!”
The three onlookers nearby screamed, stunned by the unforeseen power.
Superheated flames melted the ground; the air itself vaporized.
The aftershock roared in.
The area turned to pandemonium in seconds.
‘...Heh.’
Seo Woo-jin yanked his feet from the scorching earth with a dry chuckle.
‘Insane.’
The Tomahawk packed serious punch.
Unbelievable as a single attack from her.
But were there no heroes who could match it? Nah.
A-rank-plus mages had even deadlier skills.
Kim Tae-jin alone wielded flames hot enough to melt Reina’s skin.
The Tomahawk fell short there.
Still, Seo Woo-jin was impressed.
Not for raw power, but something else.
‘If she can pull this off, versatility’s damn near infinite.’
Hit level 100, summon a salvo of Nine Dragon Multiple Rocket Launchers?
Whip up an ICBM like Hyunmoo-4?
In war, most demonic beasts or monsters wouldn’t even glimpse her before getting vaporized.
The thought alone thrilled him.
“Good work, Da-hye. That’s enough.”
Mana expenditure hefty—she was panting, slick with cold sweat.
Mild depletion.
“Ji-ah.”
At his call, Lee Ji-ah nodded and rushed to her friend.
“You okay? Let’s rest over there.”
The training ground was unrecognizable wreckage, so she led Kim Da-hye far off.
“...Man, that was nuts.”
Goo Dong-hwan approached with the same dry laugh.
“Straight-up cheat.”
“Yeah. Da-hye, that armor—both busted.”
Kim Da-hye’s attacks were shockingly potent.
Yet Luden Gard took them head-on without a blemish.
Seo Woo-jin, wearing it, hadn’t flinched once.
To Goo Dong-hwan, they were both cheats.
“Test’s over for today.”
They’d covered everything possible.
Save the rest for spars with the others later—time to head back and rest.
Sharaarak-!
Deactivating Luden Gard reversed the process: metal shards detached and sank into the tattoo.
“Sounds good. Morning training with her already wiped me out.”
Goo Dong-hwan eyed the spectacle in wonder, then whispered, pointing at Lee Ji-ah.
‘Same old.’
Her nonstop chatter was academy-famous.
“Morning drills still going strong?”
“Yep. Harsher now that you’re not around, Woo-jin.”
Gye Soo-ji smiled back.
“Nice. I’ll join tomorrow morning then. Been ages—let’s all spar...”
Someone cut him off.
“There you are. Been looking everywhere, Woo-jin.”
All eyes turned.
First: muscles rippling on a frame rivaling Goo Dong-hwan’s.
Then: a ruggedly handsome face.
“...Park Jin-han?”
Gye Soo-ji’s eyes widened as she named him.
Seo Woo-jin frowned at him.
The vibe screamed trouble.
‘Baek Si-woo’s buddy.’
One of the five elite friends.
‘Here for me, looks like...’
Jinhan chased by Seong Yu-ra and Kim Tae-jin; now him.
Probably Si-woo-related, but details fuzzy.
“What’s up?”
Park Jin-han strode forward.
Steel-hard muscles flexed.
‘Why’s he always shirtless?’
Did packing that much muscle unleash inner freak? Suspicious.
Seo Woo-jin glanced at Goo Dong-hwan—Park Jin-han was already there.
‘Guy’s tall.’
At least a head over him.
“Got a question.”
He slipped into casual speech midway.
Seo Woo-jin brushed it off.
“What?”
“Baek Si-woo.”
His expression tightened at the curt reply.
“You know why he snapped outta nowhere?”
“No clue why you’re asking me.”
Seo Woo-jin tilted his head innocently; Park Jin-han’s smile deepened.
“Not gonna answer, huh?”
“How do I answer what I don’t know?”
Seo Woo-jin’s tone sharpened.
Park Jin-han nodded.
“Knew straight talk wouldn’t fly.”
Mana erupted from him like an explosion.
“Guess I’ll have to force it outta you.”