Symbol of the Unique Grade
Outside the Unique Grade Symbol Stage, where a ferocious battle still raged, a staff member came sprinting toward Yoo Hanbeom and Kim Heera.
“B-before the connection to the stage is severed, the last student who was transmitted has just regained consciousness after losing it. From what I’ve heard, he was Shin Junho’s closest friend.”
Tap-tap-tap—!
Yoo Hanbeom and Kim Heera immediately raced after the staff member.
“Ugh…”
Why… why am I here?
Park Taeyong had only just woken up. The reason he had safely returned was simple: before Shin Junho began his rampage, he had attacked Park Taeyong and forced him into retirement.
Still half-dazed, Park Taeyong turned his gaze toward the distant screen.
That… that’s…
The monitor broadcasting the interior of the stage showed Shin Junho rampaging like a madman. Recalling the events, Park Taeyong instantly understood his friend’s intention.
He did it so I wouldn’t get caught up in this…?
He wasn’t sure. Maybe it had simply been an accident because he’d lost consciousness. Or maybe it really had been for his sake. But that final look in Shin Junho’s eyes as he attacked him—the worry hidden behind the violence—kept nagging at him.
“H-here he is…!”
Three people came running toward the newly awakened boy. Among them, Kim Heera immediately hurled questions at him in a shrill voice.
“That fucking bastard is your friend, right? Why the hell is he acting like that? Who put him up to it? Did he do it alone? What’s his goal? Tell me why that piece of shit is doing this—!”
Yoo Hanbeom gently pulled her back. Then, in a low, heavy voice that carried absolute authority, he spoke to the visibly shaken Park Taeyong.
“Don’t even think about lying from this point forward. If you do, I swear on everything I possess that I will make certain you cannot live anywhere—not in this country, not abroad. If you understand, nod slowly.”
It was a short but unmistakable warning. Park Taeyong trembled and nodded frantically.
“Since you seem to understand, I’ll ask. Shin Junho isn’t rampaging in there for no reason. So tell me—why is he doing this? A grudge against my daughter? Terrorism? Or is it a grudge against Lee Hyunseung?”
Park Taeyong, listening to Yoo Hanbeom’s words, nearly blurted out the truth—that Shin Junho had joined hands with Hilleon. He caught himself at the last second.
What happens if I tell them?
Shin Junho had gone to Hilleon because he wanted an arm, even if it cost him his life. In exchange for dealing with Lee Hyunseung, Hilleon had promised the one-armed boy a new prosthetic. As his childhood friend, Park Taeyong understood that desperate longing all too well. Shin Junho had always been held back by his missing arm. He had been mocked relentlessly, even by Yoo Heeyeon—the same class as him—who called him a half-baked mage.
If I say Yoo Heeyeon instigated everything, that Shin Junho only targeted Lee Hyunseung and she was just caught in the crossfire…
He might be able to save himself. It was close enough to the truth, and he had nothing to do with the actual plot. Of course, Shin Junho would still be held responsible for causing the chaos over his arm. But would Yoo Hanbeom simply accept that his daughter had merely been swept up in the incident? No. Yoo Hanbeom was infamous for his ruthlessness. Shin Junho might really die without even a chance to run.
At the last moment, Park Taeyong remembered the look on Shin Junho’s face as he forcibly retired him—as if trying to keep him out of the storm.
Damn it…
If the lie was discovered, something he couldn’t handle might happen. The man standing before him was none other than Yoo Hanbeom, leader of the Artemis Guild. But if he told the truth, Shin Junho’s life would be in danger.
He hesitated, recalling what had happened inside the stage. When several students had been channeling mana to Shin Junho, some had questioned it.
Why do we have to give mana to Shin Junho anyway?
Yoo Heeyeon entrusted me with full authority. Pung Taeho confirmed it too.
Yeah, I saw her ask him directly.
They had reluctantly agreed after being told it was at Yoo Heeyeon’s request. Park Taeyong decided he could shift the blame. He opened his mouth.
“Y-Yoo Heeyeon instigated it. She brought some strange artifact and said using it would grant immense power… But after he used that artifact, Junho’s condition started getting weird, and then… things turned out like this…”
Mental fatigue from the Berserker Trait has reached its limit.
The additional effects of the Berserker Trait will gradually decrease.
The moment he heard those words, Yoo Hanbeom’s eyes lost focus. For a brief moment he simply stared into empty space.
Just how far do you intend to disappoint me?
His expression twisted into something savage.
***
BOOOOM—!
Taking advantage of the distance between Yoo Heeyeon and Lee Hyunseung, Han Seonggil launched his assault on Shin Junho. The attack, now using the Spear of Longinus instead of ordinary weapons, carried a far more lethal threat.
Whoosh—!
As the Spear of Longinus tore through the air, Shin Junho curled inward to dodge. Until recently he had blocked Han Seonggil’s strikes rather than evading them. This change signaled a meaningful shift in the flow of battle.
But—
Squelch—!
Han Seonggil’s body was sliced open by the edge of Shin Junho’s hand. After several exchanges, Shin Junho had begun to read his patterns.
“Fuck…”
Han Seonggil stared at the gash across his shoulder.
I’m not used to using this much power.
Thanks to the artifact Lee Hyunseung had given him, he could maintain his sanity, but his mind was already at its breaking point. Not only had he been stabbed by the Spear of Longinus, he had kept the Berserker Trait active for an absurdly long time. His body was suffering severe overload. The accumulated fatigue was crushing, and he was barely holding onto his fracturing consciousness.
Even though the Berserker Trait prevented him from feeling pain, it had no effect on mental exhaustion, and his body was still accumulating damage. Han Seonggil raised his hand. His movements were noticeably slower than before. Every muscle in his arms, legs, and core screamed past its limit.
It felt like his entire body might go numb at any second. Nevertheless, he lifted his sword.
“Give up,” Shin Junho said coldly, watching him.
Han Seonggil simply charged.
Thud—!
He closed the distance in an instant. Shin Junho began stomping down at him repeatedly.
BOOM—!
CRAAAAASH—!
Han Seonggil dodged some of the strikes, but they had only been feints. The real attack came from the bladed edge of Shin Junho’s hand.
WHOOSH—!
The hand-blade flew straight toward Han Seonggil’s left side.
KWAAAAANG—!
Han Seonggil was sent flying. He twisted mid-air and charged again. This time he was slammed straight into the ground.
CRASH—!
Shin Junho didn’t miss the opening. He began stomping down mercilessly.
BOOOOM—!
BANG—!
CRAAAAASH—!
The exchange continued. The longer it went on, the more wounds covered Han Seonggil’s body and the more glazed his eyes became.
How… how much time has passed…?
He couldn’t tell. He had been taking hits without rest. He no longer knew how much time had gone by or what the others were doing. He wasn’t even sure what he himself was doing anymore.
His mental fatigue from the Berserker Trait had reached its peak. Strength began draining from his body. A wave of pain crashed over him as the trait’s protective effects faded.
“Damn it… if I hadn’t fought back at the occupation point…”
He had activated the Berserker Trait during the battle against the A-class students at the occupation zone and maintained it for an impossibly long time. In the middle of it all he had even lost consciousness and thrashed around wildly. There was no way his body could still be fine.
Anyone could see he was in critical condition. Blood now poured freely from Han Seonggil’s wounds.
“You’ve lost your mind. No matter how desperately you cling to life, no one will appreciate it,” Shin Junho said, grabbing the immobilized Han Seonggil.
He lifted him by the collar and slammed him into the ground.
KWAAAAANG—!
“So you should’ve—”
CRAAAAAASH—!
“Never stuck your nose in like an idiot.”
BOOOOM—!
Shin Junho laughed maniacally as he smashed Han Seonggil into the earth again and again. Finally he hurled him aside and walked over with heavy steps.
Shhhhh—
The Berserker Trait was forcibly canceled. Blood gushed from every part of Han Seonggil’s body. It felt like his flesh was being torn apart. His mind felt like it was collapsing. Agony like burning blades and searing flames flooded him all at once. The aftereffects left him unable to move a single finger.
Shin Junho grabbed him by the throat.
“You pathetic bug. No matter what you do, no one will care. Charging at me with your weak, half-assed strength only makes you look like a worm in my eyes. Look around. Who’s beside you? You’re alone. This is what you get for not knowing your place.”
“Cough—!”
Han Seonggil spat blood and muttered, “You’re… alone too… you fucking… idiot…”
“But unlike you, I am strong.”
Shin Junho looked down at the demonic energy overflowing through his body and whispered, “With this power, I can do anything. Now I’ll kill you, then finish off Lee Hyunseung and Yoo Heeyeon.”
“Pathetic… bastard… In the end you’re weak, so you borrow someone else’s strength and act like it’s your own… Makes me want to rip you apart. You half-baked mage piece of shit.”
Crack—
At those words, Shin Junho’s face contorted. He tightened his grip around Han Seonggil’s throat.
“Shut the fuck up! Say that one more time and I’ll kill you right now. Take it back. I’m not some half-baked mage. I’ve obtained real power—unlike you bastards. Correct yourself or I’ll end you.”
“Can’t even… understand… words… you… worthless… half-baked… mage… bastard…”
Han Seonggil’s voice grew fainter. Shin Junho’s expression turned ice-cold. He released the throat and raised his arm. It had transformed into a sharp blade.
“Die.”
Whoosh—!
The moment Shin Junho thrust the blade toward Han Seonggil’s neck—
BANG—!
A gunshot echoed from afar.
Swish—!
Feeling the incoming threat, Shin Junho spun and tried to block the bullet with his transformed arm.
“Looks like Lee Hyunseung finally woke up. Your pathetic bullets won’t work on m—”
He concentrated mana into the blade-like arm and reached out, certain he could stop it. Once he blocked this shot, he would exploit the delay before the next trigger pull and kill Lee Hyunseung.
But—
“Huh…?”
Splat—!
The arm he believed would stop the bullet was torn off entirely.
“GYAAAAAAAAGH—! FUUUUUUUUCK—!”
Shin Junho began screaming in agony.
Step. Step. Step.
Leaving the writhing Shin Junho behind, Lee Hyunseung walked slowly toward the collapsed Han Seonggil.
“You did well. Rest now.”
Han Seonggil, beaten to a pulp, muttered, “I… beat the shit out of him… Don’t steal my kill…”
Lee Hyunseung answered calmly, “Sorry. Just let me have this one.”
Click—!
He loaded a round into the pistol that glowed with an orange hue—the symbol of Unique grade—and spoke to Shin Junho in a voice as cold as ice.
“Don’t expect an easy death. I’m going to tear your entire body apart.”