Chapter 86
Chapter 86
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 86
Chapter Title: The Spiral Spear
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A sense of stability washed over me as I gripped the spear.
The cool sensation naturally relaxed my body, yet I let my mind sink into a state of calm.
I was in a secluded corner of the C-Class training ground, intentionally away from others.
This was to prevent any potential accidents when I unleashed my technique.
‘It would be a real problem if someone else got caught up in this.’
Today, I planned to set aside basic training and focus solely on my senses, on grasping the concept.
[Pierce a point and twist.]
I could say with certainty that I had passed the halfway mark in understanding this concept.
Before I'd fully grasped the sensation yesterday, it was like trying to catch a cloud—the feeling was different every time I tried. But now, I could clearly feel and recall that sensation.
Holding onto my consciousness through that excruciating pain had certainly paid off.
“...Hoo.”
I took a deep breath and looked around.
Since I had skipped today's lecture, I noticed a few cadets looking my way with interest.
“It might be dangerous, so please don't come any closer.”
It might have been unnecessary, but I warned them first anyway.
Seeing the cadets nod, though they didn't know why, I turned my gaze to the tip of my spear.
*Sshk.* I tightened my grip on the steel spear and stared at the steel scarecrow before me.
‘The concept of twisting.’
Most of the knowledge that had entered my mind during last night's agony was beyond my comprehension, but there was one piece I could recall.
It was that the concept of twisting had numerous applications.
Until now, I had used the concept of 'piercing a point and twisting' to deflect, but imbuing a spear with the power of a spiral was a far more advanced concept than I had imagined.
‘I can draw out far more destructive power from my spear.’
I could still twist the spear, but instead of deflecting energy, I could convert it into a method for piercing through a direct confrontation.
The twisting concept I'd used against Luna and Jerad had focused entirely on twisting their attacks or defenses to neutralize them.
After all, I had dispersed vast amounts of mana and powerful wind energy.
“If I can apply it.”
My eyes narrowed on their own.
It felt as if a completely different choice had presented itself.
Should I stick to the original concept of twisting to deflect or neutralize an opponent's power? Or should I focus more on the spiral to imbue my spear with immense destructive force?
I felt like I was standing at a crossroads.
—Pierce a point and twist.
—Twist a point and break through.
It felt as if the original concept had split into two. And I believed I could now choose between them.
Depending on which one I focused on, I could ultimately awaken one of two skills.
“...Does it split into the former if I act defensively to protect something, and the latter if I go on the attack?”
In an instant, the path seemed to become clear.
If so, which of the two paths should I take?
Thinking simply, the latter choice—imbuing it with great offensive power—was the correct one. A spear's greatest destructive power came from piercing a single point.
It wasn't a weapon originally designed for defense. I should maximize its destructive potential.
And a spear imbued with a spiral would surely demonstrate strength far beyond my imagination.
However….
My current situation felt very peculiar.
I wasn't wielding my spear to kill or pierce anyone right now. That wasn't the reason I was undertaking such reckless training.
It was the opposite.
To protect, to save from an unknown danger.
I was gripping this spear to protect Karite, who would face a life-threatening crisis next week. I was willing to take this risk to awaken a skill, no matter what.
In that case, the true nature of why I held this spear was already decided.
“The former.”
The concept I had originally conceived for the spear.
I decided to stick with [Pierce a point and twist].
The destructive power of a spiral. The absolute advantage in offense and defense was a great temptation, but I shook my head and steeled my resolve.
The spear is already strong on its own.
...Right now, I had to choose the option that would allow me to protect more reliably.
So that I could protect her, no matter the situation.
—!
The moment I made my decision, I channeled my mana and imbued it into the spearhead.
*Sshaaaa...*
As a blue smoke slowly rose and enveloped the spearhead, it gave off a completely different feeling than before.
The precursor to the concept.
As if signaling its use, a completely different type of mana, following the insight I'd gained, began to linger on the spearhead.
And as the mana wrapping the spearhead like blue smoke began to slowly rotate, forming a strange current, I nodded blankly.
'This is the proper way to handle the power of the spiral.'
It wasn't enough to just add a spiral when I thrust the spear.
I had to form the spiral from the very moment I imbued it with mana.
Gazing at the spearhead, the corners of my mouth curled up unconsciously.
There were only a few days left, but I felt my chances of awakening the skill were quite high.
No, I was certain I would awaken it.
*Sshk.* I slowly changed my two-handed grip on the spear shaft.
A more stable and systematic stance for imbuing the spiral.
My left hand gripped the shaft horizontally, aiming at the target, while my right hand moved toward the butt of the spear and gripped it tightly.
I focused on my hands, gripping them in a way that their movement could also form a spiral.
And then I imagined a virtual enemy.
It wasn't Luna's Kite Shield, enveloped in immense mana, nor the wind Jerad had gathered with all his strength.
What I pictured was the same as yesterday. I imagined Leonhardt's sword, wreathed in the brilliant blue aura of the Sword of the Azure Sky.
I focused intensely, as if superimposing that image onto the scarecrow.
“......”
As I held my breath, the image of Leonhardt naturally began to overlap with the scarecrow.
The moment Leonhardt, with eyes like a calm lake, thrust his sword, gleaming with a brilliant light, toward me.
——————!!
The instant I registered it, I was already thrusting my spear, just like yesterday.
And the speed of the spear cutting through the air was incomparable to last night. A great spiral, like a raging blue storm, clearly enveloped the spear shaft.
And within that storm of mana, the spear shot forward, straight and true, as if meeting no resistance at all.
It met the brilliant aura of the Sword of the Azure Sky head-on, with no hesitation, no reluctance.
To deflect it completely. To receive even the most formidable power.
In that moment, the illusion of Leonhardt vanished, and I was faced with reality.
*KRAAAAAANG!!*
The moment my spear struck the steel scarecrow's shoulder, and an explosion loud enough to deafen my ears erupted...
As the steel scarecrow, built on a sturdy frame, staggered violently, the spear had once again left my hands.
*Clang!*
Watching the spear shaft clatter loudly across the hard floor, a delayed wave of pain washed over me.
“...Ghk!”
Biting my lip hard, I crumbled to the ground but managed to catch myself before collapsing completely.
It felt as if both my arms were being twisted. My left hand, which had been supporting the shaft, hurt less, so I used it to prop myself up as ragged breaths escaped me.
“......”
The encroaching pain felt like it would tear my consciousness away, but it wasn't as maddening as yesterday's agony.
It was a challenge beyond my limits. But this time, it felt slightly less impossible. The backlash seemed to have lessened.
I exhaled blankly, forcing myself to hold onto my consciousness.
I endure the pain, forcing myself to bear it. As long as I can swallow this pain, I can withstand anything.
And I have to. It's the only way I can move forward.
‘Endure.’
I had to hold on, even by force.
I kept steeling myself, staring at the training ground floor as I slowly caught my breath.
By doing so, I was able to forcefully support my body, which felt on the verge of collapse.
After just one thrust, both my arms trembled as if I had been training for hours.
“Hah... hah...”
I continued to pant heavily as I slowly straightened my bent knees.
A hollow laugh escaped me as I numbly walked over to retrieve my spear.
‘How utterly foolish.’
Even now, my arms were still trembling, and my steps lacked strength.
As I imbued my spear with the power of a more concrete concept, it felt as if all the energy in my body was being sucked away.
*Sshk.*
The moment I gripped the discarded spear and pulled myself up.
“...Ah?”
For a moment, my vision seemed to warp.
My peripheral vision twisted, and my thoughts came to a halt.
*Stumble!*
I staggered violently but barely managed to catch myself before falling.
*Thud.*
I planted the butt of my spear on the ground for a moment to collect myself.
‘I can't use it again right away.’
I numbly steadied myself. There was a limit to how reckless one could be.
An instinctive sense of danger forced me to take a break.
A single execution placed this much strain on my body. And I had a good idea why.
‘...Because I'm trying to leap up several steps at once.’
In the story, even those called geniuses typically awakened skills only upon reaching Trait Level 7. But here I was, forcing myself to awaken a skill no matter what.
Normally, this would be impossible.
Even the protagonist, Leonhardt, only awakened his skill upon reaching Level 5.
I realized anew just how abnormal a path I was trying to forge.
As I tried to forcibly obtain such immense power, it was only natural there would be a price to pay.
“...What was that just now?”
“I wasn't the only one who saw that, right?”
"What was that?"
Then, the voices of the surrounding cadets drew my blank gaze.
They all had shocked expressions. And they were staring at me with disbelief in their eyes. Through the crowd, I saw a woman approaching.
“Cadet Han Cheon-seong?”
“Instructor Ludmina.”
“You can't continue in your condition. You must have felt it yourself... what you just did. You were attempting the impossible. You absolutely cannot push yourself any further right now.”
She spoke with a rare, firm tone, and I had no choice but to stop.
The academy's instructors had all awakened skills. They were beings on a level I couldn't even compare myself to.
If she was saying this, then I really shouldn't continue.
'But with just one try….'
I couldn't end the day like this.
I had to push a little further, repeat it a few more times, to properly awaken the skill. I could feel it intuitively.
That I had already stepped onto the right path, and if I just kept walking, I could reach my goal.
“Cadet Han Cheon-seong?”
Seeing Instructor Ludmina pressing me for an answer... I hesitated before finally letting out a sigh and replying.
“Yes... I understand, Instructor.”
“I know how disappointed you must be, Cadet Han Cheon-seong. But pushing yourself so recklessly right now could leave you crippled. Besides, there's a better way.”
“A better way…?”
Unlike what I expected, which was for her to just stop me... Instructor Ludmina's words made me blink.
"Your supervising instructor is Kalli, correct?"
"...Yes. That's right."
"Then that's even better. This... will be an unprecedented event in the academy's history. I'll go and suggest it to Instructor Kalli right away. For now, let's go together."