Don't Struggle Begging to Be Killed

-Kugugugugung-! Dark clouds gathered in the sky. Mana flowed from the tip of Jeong Eunseo's staff. The roughly twenty F-class students poured their mana into her all at once. Though each individual's mana pool was small, the combined density was considerable. Jeong Eunseo absorbed and utilized the concentrated mana without waste. The result was the storm clouds now looming overhead.

Nam Inwoo, the rogue from the A-class team, smirked as he watched the clouds gather. "You think something like that can handle me?"

Lightning Storm. There was no denying its destructive power. The problem, however, was accuracy. -Pajijijik-! Though it unleashed powerful bolts, the magic originated from high in the sky, creating a noticeable delay before impact. Greater power came at the cost of lower hit rate. Nam Inwoo was confident. He possessed the Rogue class, renowned for its speed.

Nam Inwoo dashed forward before Jeong Eunseo could finish casting. -Seueuk- Jeong ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Eunseo extended her hand, and a massive rumble echoed from above. -Kugugugung-! Yellow flashes gathered, then slammed straight down. -Kwaaaang-! The lightning struck the ground right beside Nam Inwoo. Jeong Eunseo stared at the frozen rogue and spoke calmly.

"That was just a warning. Come any closer and I'll roast you alive."

-Seueuk- Nam Inwoo glanced at the scorched earth. -Pushiiii- Thick smoke rose from the impact site, a clear testament to the spell's might. 'If that had hit me...' He would have retired on the spot. Jeong Eunseo's strength exceeded his expectations. Still, it didn't matter.

Nam Inwoo grinned. "The power's impressive, but if you can't land it, it's useless, isn't it? You call that a warning? Don't bluff. Hit me if you can."

He drew up his mana. Blue light flickered around his feet. -Kuuuuk- He crouched low, body ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠coiled like a spring. -Seueuk- Just as Jeong Eunseo raised her hand again, -Paaang-! Nam Inwoo exploded forward. -Pajijijik-! Two bolts of lightning rained down from the clouds.

-Chaeng-! Nam Inwoo drew a pair of throwing stars from his messenger bag and hurled them straight at Jeong Eunseo's face. -Paaaat-! "Hup-!" She jerked her head aside, then immediately cast another spell in the same motion. -Pajijijik-! -Paaang-! -Kwaaaang-! Lightning struck the ground repeatedly, melting foliage wherever it landed, yet none of it touched Nam Inwoo.

-Tadadadat- Nam Inwoo accelerated further, closing the distance in an instant. -Chwaaaak-! He drew the dagger at his waist and swung at her. Jeong Eunseo raised a defensive spell. -Chaeeeeng-! A shield-shaped Magic Shield blocked the strike. But Nam Inwoo didn't stop. -Chaeeeeng-! -Chaeeeeeng-! He twisted his body at unnatural angles, striking from every direction—left flank, upper right, even her ankles. Jeong Eunseo, an Epic-grade mage, refused to be overwhelmed. [Fireball] While maintaining her shield, she mixed in quick, low-power spells.

-Chiiiik-! Small burns began accumulating across Nam Inwoo's body. He muttered, glaring at his scorched clothes. "Damn it... Annoying mage hiding in the back."

"Oh? Says the one who can only charge in swinging a sword like a brute."

Jeong Eunseo's calm retort made Nam Inwoo's face flush red. He shouted over his shoulder. "...Kang Junhyeong, I'm using my skill here. Handle the aftermath yourselves."

Kang Junhyeong panicked. The skill Nam Inwoo intended to use was undoubtedly his class-exclusive ability. Such skills granted immense temporary power but consumed enormous mana. They were meant for critical moments only. Yet Nam Inwoo was about to burn his from the very start of the fight.

"No-! If you use it now, later...!"

Kang Junhyeong's warning went unheeded. "Hoon-yeop." Red aura enveloped Nam Inwoo's body.

Jeong Eunseo tensed as she watched. 'Here it comes.' A sharp, swift pressure unlike anything before pressed down on her. Yet she felt no fear. 'Should I use my own class skill...?' She considered it, then shook her head. Too many enemies remained, and only Nam Inwoo was currently engaged. Even if she eliminated him, Kang Junhyeong and Jeong Saeron would still be left. Using her full power now would leave her unable to hold out until Lee Hyunseung arrived. Besides, her class skill required a long casting time—time her opponents would never grant.

She raised her staff. She knew she was at a disadvantage. Right now she could only use her basic weapon. Moreover, she had to conserve strength for what came after. Unlike Nam Inwoo, who could expend everything without restraint, she could not. -Paaaat-! In the moment Jeong Eunseo tensed, Nam Inwoo surged forward at blinding speed. His charge was like an arrow loosed from a bow—too fast for the eye to follow.

"Haaat-!" Jeong Eunseo instantly froze the ground around her to hinder his mobility. But Nam Inwoo kicked off just before the ice formed and leapt into the air. Smiling as though she had him, Jeong Eunseo launched ice spears toward him. -Chwareureureuk-! Nam Inwoo twisted his body grotesquely in midair, dodging every single one. '....!' While Jeong Eunseo was still startled, Nam Inwoo spun and dropped straight down, landing right in front of her.

'I... I have to block-!' Jeong Eunseo raised her arms to guard her face as before. But Nam Inwoo slipped behind her in an instant and slashed across her back. -Chwaaaak-! -Jureureureuk- A wound opened on her back. It wasn't deep, yet blood began to flow. Pain flared, but there was no time to dwell on it. -Pachijijijik- Realizing she could no longer keep up with magic alone, Jeong Eunseo rapidly gathered mana and forged a dagger-shaped weapon in her hand. She began parrying Nam Inwoo's relentless assault. -Chaeeeeng-! She blocked one strike, only for the next to land. -Chwaaak-! Her side was cut, though the vital points were avoided. -Chaeeeeng-! -Chwaaaak-! Her collarbone was grazed. The wound was shallow. -Chaeeeeeng-! -Chwaaaaaak-! Her arm was slashed. This time the cut was deep. -Jureureureuk- Blood flowed from multiple wounds now. -Kkadeudeuk-

At that moment, the F-class students who had been watching from behind charged forward. "I'll help you, Jeong Eunseo-! Uwaaaah-!" But -Hwareureureureuk-! A massive fireball engulfed them from behind. -Kwaaaang-!

Over ten students vanished in an instant from a single spell. Jeong Saeron, the mage, twirled her staff with an arrogant smile. "Haa... This is getting boring. Shall we wrap this up together?"

Her expression radiated absolute confidence in victory, as though she were merely playing a game. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Jeong Eunseo felt only despair. She had made a plan. Roles had been assigned, mana gathered for the opening strike, and the F-class students had been instructed to ambush at the right moment. They had followed her instructions perfectly. Yet nothing had gone according to plan.

'The gap... is too wide....' In a one-on-one fight, she could win without issue if she went all out. But fighting while conserving power and accounting for the spells her allies still needed to cast was overwhelming. If only she had her usual artifacts... but none were available now. Her opponents, meanwhile, lacked nothing in either close or long range.

'Think.' She needed a way out. As Jeong Eunseo backed away, eyes darting, -Shwieeeeeek-! A sword flew from afar. -Puuuk-! She had been so focused on the rogue and mage that she had forgotten about Kang Junhyeong, the swordsman in the rear. She had never imagined he would throw his weapon. "Kkeuaaaa....." Jeong Eunseo stared in agony at the blade embedded in her left arm.

Nam Inwoo shouted at Kang Junhyeong in irritation. "Damn it-! I said I'd handle it, so why are you butting in?!"

"We need to finish this quickly. If we waste any more time, who knows what variables might appear. Our goal is victory. Nothing else matters."

"Always acting so superior... Damn bastard."

-Chwaaaak-! Nam Inwoo swung his daggers in a wide arc, eliminating the remaining F-class students in an instant. "I was going to play with them a bit longer before knocking them out, but I got annoyed and killed them all." He smirked, satisfied, then turned to Jeong Eunseo. "Hey, you still want to keep going? Just forfeit."

"...."

Jeong Eunseo silently raised her right arm. "Arrogant bitch." As Nam Inwoo prepared to charge, Kang Junhyeong and Jeong Saeron readied themselves to support him. They intended to overwhelm her in one coordinated assault. Jeong Eunseo thought to herself, 'If only... if only I had a little more time....' Mages could unleash far greater magic depending on casting time. If someone had been there to hold the front line, she wouldn't have been cornered so helplessly.

-Pajijijik-! There was no point dwelling on it now. She cleared her mind and gathered mana into her hand, shaping it into a sharp, thin blade. She would take at least one of them down with her. Nam Inwoo muttered, "Spoiled brats like you always act like you know everything. I enjoy watching kids like you break."

He drew dozens of throwing stars from his bag. "This is going to hurt." He hurled them all at once. -Shwieeeeeeek-! The barrage rushed forward at terrifying speed. There were too many. She tried to cast a defensive spell, but Jeong Saeron was already preparing another attack from behind, and Kang Junhyeong was charging in as well. 'I'm... going to die.' Terror gripped her. The horrific pain that would come before retirement flashed through her mind. Yet she still gripped her makeshift spear and charged straight at Nam Inwoo.

"Stupid girl." Her short spear never reached him. Dozens of throwing stars were about to embed themselves in her head when— -Chiiiiiiing-! A golden circular gate materialized in the air. An overwhelming wave of mana erupted from within. -Paaaaaaaang-! A violent gale swept across the battlefield, shattering the enemies' formation and deflecting every throwing star aimed at Jeong Eunseo. -Kuuung-! A figure dropped from the gate and landed on the ground.

"Wh... who are you...!" Nam Inwoo shouted, tension clear in his voice, at the crouched man. Jeong Eunseo clutched her tattered arm and stared at him. -Seueuk- The man glanced silently at Jeong Eunseo, then walked toward her. Lee Hyunseung placed a gentle hand on her shoulder.

"Does it hurt a lot?"

Jeong Eunseo shook her head. "Don't pull the sword out. If you do, the bleeding will get worse. The pain too. I'll treat you, so just wait a little."

His indifferent attitude toward the others made Nam Inwoo explode. "Y... you crazy bastard-! Who the hell are you?!"

Only then did Lee Hyunseung turn to face them, hand resting on ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠his waist. -Cheolkeok-! The familiar sound of a gun being cocked. In a chilling voice, he murmured, "Don't struggle begging to be killed. I wasn't planning on sending you off nicely anyway."