Boss Raid in the Duel Arena
The moment the Duel Season (4) match began, all eyes turned toward me. I could read the clear intent in those gazes: Take down the top student first.
"Yeah, this is what a free-for-all is supposed to be like."
When everyone else is roughly equal in strength, it might be different. But when there's one person who's clearly stronger than the rest, the dynamic changes. Everyone thinks the same thing:
Even if I knock out the people around me, I'll just get eliminated by that guy anyway.
He's going to take first place no matter what, so fighting the others is just a waste of energy.
I don't care about last place, but I can't stand watching that guy win.
"This feels less like a free-for-all and more like a boss raid."
The other first-years were the players. The boss monster was me. That was exactly the situation unfolding on the arena floor.
…….
A heavy silence blanketed the arena. Even the spectators in the stands had fallen quiet, as if all sound had vanished from the world. But the stillness didn't last long.
Hoo, hoo…
Someone who couldn't hold back their tension let out a shaky breath. That single sound was the signal. The classmates who had been staring at me like statues suddenly raised their weapons.
Before they could attack, I moved first.
BOOM—!
I kicked off the ground hard enough to leave footprints and launched myself upward. The classmates who had been gathering mana for their attacks looked up in surprise.
They hurriedly tried to raise their weapons, but my non-lethal grenades reached them first.
Click.
"Ah, shi—"
BOOM—!
Before the curse could finish, the Thunderbolt in my hand roared with thunder. Right after that—
BOOOOOOM—!
The grenades that had landed among them exploded all at once, releasing powerful shockwaves.
"Aaaagh!"
"Kyaaah!"
Most of the students sent flying out of the arena were from Class B and C. The students from Class A—who were used to my fighting style—remained standing on the arena without exception.
They can handle this level without breaking a sweat now.
The intense villain-response training had paid off. I nodded with satisfaction and activated Atlas Armor.
"I guess we can raise the training intensity even more."
Most of Class A, who hadn't been blown away by the grenades, turned pale.
"What?!"
"No, why?!"
Why? Because you did well, obviously.
"Everyone, look forward to after Duel Season ends."
I'll train you properly.
"Damn it!"
"…If it's come to this, we can't let him take first place!"
"Take down the top student!"
The moment I finished speaking, attacks flew toward me from every direction. I pulled Aegis from my inventory, switched it to shield mode, and blocked every incoming strike—sword auras, magic, arrows, all of it.
"If you react so violently… it just makes me want to do it even more."
As I descended from the air, the Class A students shouted in unison.
"No! Your training is already brutal enough!"
"How much more are you going to grind us down before you're satisfied?!"
"Take down the top student! Take down the top student—!"
Everyone except the main cast charged at me. I let out a short sigh.
"Who told you to attack like that?"
The instructor and I had never trained them to do something so reckless. I shook my head and pulled out thirty-three Thunderbolts at once. Just like I had done at the forward base, I lifted them with telekinesis.
"Didn't we emphasize this every time during villain-response training? Stay calm no matter the situation."
Even if the enemy is overwhelmingly strong, maintaining composure is the basics of being a hero. I had said that myself—well, villain Crow had said it, but still.
Click!
I loaded rubber bullets into every Thunderbolt and aimed at the students rushing toward me without any strategy.
"This won't do. I'll have to speak with the instructor after Duel Season ends."
Let's make the first class of the second semester villain-response training. As I spoke, I pulled the triggers with telekinesis.
RUMBLE—KRAKAKAKABOOM—!
A deafening thunderclap echoed throughout the arena. A storm of lightning poured down on my classmates. Just as the bolts were about to strike—
"N-now! I've been waiting for this!"
With Park Ga-ram's shout, gray protective barriers appeared around the students. At the same time, countless gray vines erupted from the ground and wrapped around my hands, legs, and the Thunderbolts.
Oh… Park Ga-ram.
She's doing her supporter role properly. I was impressed by her well-timed support. At the same time, I felt a bit disappointed.
She used her support magic well, but… she should have used attack magic instead.
The gray witch Kirke's gray mana was far more effective for offense than support. So instead of protecting her allies, Park Ga-ram should have attacked me directly. Not that I had any intention of getting hit.
And she thought binding my hands, feet, and weapons would be enough.
That was a mistake. After all, the effect of Transmission, which had evolved to A-rank, had changed from "objects I possess" to "objects I own."
"Eh?"
Park Ga-ram stared blankly at the Thunderbolts that had appeared around me. The classmates who had been charging forward with renewed vigor also froze in confusion.
I smirked. Then, as if to wake them up, I gave them a lightning massage with the Thunderbolts.
CRACKLE!
The protective barriers around them shattered. Rubber bullets followed right after, slamming into their bodies.
Thud—! Zzzap!
"Aaaagh!"
The charging students screamed and collapsed. The rubber bullets didn't pierce their bodies, but the impact was strong enough to break bones. And since lightning was wrapped around the bullets, it must have been quite the shocking experience.
Crack, crackle.
I tore off the vines binding my hands and feet.
"E-eh?"
Park Ga-ram, who had been preparing to throw a fireball at me, let out a bewildered sound.
"Why are you so surprised? Never seen someone rip vines off before?"
She nodded dumbly. "Y-yeah…"
"I see." I nodded and fired the training pistol I had transmitted into my hand.
Bang!
"…Keh!"
Park Ga-ram took a rubber bullet to the forehead, her eyes rolled back, and she collapsed to the floor.
I looked around at the remaining students standing on the arena. Lee Seo-yeon, Arthur, Asuka, and Noah—the entire main cast was still there. Besides them, Park Sung-woo and two other supporting characters remained. And… oh, Im Da-hee. Im Da-hee hadn't been eliminated yet?
"Im Da-hee, you've grown."
Really impressive. When I said it with genuine meaning, Im Da-hee blushed slightly.
"…It's because you taught me well. In many ways."
Wait, hold on. If she says something that can be misunderstood like that…
"…What? Many ways?"
"Did she just say 'many ways'?"
"What do you mean, 'many ways'?"
…The three of them had completely misunderstood.
"H-huh? W-why are you all…?"
Im Da-hee was extremely flustered as the three of them rushed toward her like they were about to kill her. But Lee Seo-yeon, Arthur, and Asuka paid no attention to her panic. They radiated murderous intent as they questioned her.
"What do you mean by 'many ways'?"
"Explain yourself immediately."
"If you don't speak right now, I'll stain this ironwood sword with your blood."
"A-ah… I mean…"
Because she wasn't using electricity, Im Da-hee couldn't even speak properly and shrank like a deflated ball. Feeling sorry for her, I sighed deeply and spoke to the three who were interrogating her.
"I don't know what you're misunderstanding, but what Im Da-hee learned from me was skill usage and combat techniques. And this isn't the time for that, is it?"
The spectators were all watching, after all.
""Ah.""
The three of them let out simultaneous sounds of realization. Their faces slightly red, they quickly backed away from Im Da-hee. It seemed they had momentarily forgotten where they were. I sighed again and shook my head.
Then I pulled two miniguns from my inventory, one in each hand.
Click.
"You all seem to be lacking tension, so I'll personally provide some."
As I spun the barrels of the two miniguns—
"N-no! I have plenty of tension!"
"Hey! We're already so tense we feel like we're going to explode! What do you mean you're going to add more?!"
"It's fine! You don't need to add any!"
Everyone except the main cast shook their heads with pale faces. But I had no intention of putting the miniguns away.
"These are rubber bullets too, but… they're going to hurt. A lot."
At least they won't pierce your body, so don't worry.
"Who said we're worried about that?!"
"They won't pierce, but our bones will be shattered!"
"…This is bad. Everyone, run out of the arena!"
Where do you think you're going?
"Don't run! Fight back!"
I shouted and pulled the triggers.
BRRRRRRRRRRR—!!
"Aaaagh!"
"Kuaaaagh!"
"Wind barr—kugh!"
7.62×51mm rubber bullets slammed into the supporting characters who had been trying to escape. But Im Da-hee's figure was nowhere to be seen among them. When I looked for her—
"I-I survived…"
I saw that Im Da-hee was the only one who had already made it outside the arena.
She must have dropped out the moment I pulled out the miniguns.
I chuckled and stopped firing. The supporting characters who had been continuously hit by the rubber bullets collapsed weakly. They looked like they were dead, but they weren't. I had avoided their heads, hearts, and vital points, and the HP bracelets had absorbed some of the damage. Of course, their bones probably weren't fine. But still… it was okay. There were plenty of excellent healers in this academy. Once the match ended, they would receive treatment and recover.
"Now it's just us left, huh?"
Five people remained standing on the arena, including me. Lee Seo-yeon, Arthur, Asuka, and Noah—only the main cast.
"Haha, so it comes to this after all."
Noah let out a light laugh and ignited holy flames in both hands.
"Yoo-jin, this is a match. So don't hate me even if I defeat you."
Arthur drew Excalibur with a serious expression, golden sword aura pouring from the blade.
"Yoo-jin, I'll fight with everything I have."
Whether she truly meant it or not, Lee Seo-yeon's eyes as she looked at me were colder than usual.
"…Uh, top student, should I go over there?"
No, Asuka. Everyone else is being serious about fighting.
""……""
See? They're all glaring at you.
"Ha… haha. It was a joke."
Receiving the three's stares, Asuka let out an awkward laugh and drew her two ironwood swords. Red sword aura erupted from them as she took a combat stance.
Following Asuka, everyone directed their fighting spirit toward me.
Hmm. One versus four. Until just now, it felt like I was the boss monster. Now it feels like I'm the villain facing off against the heroes.
With that thought, I smirked and lifted the Thunderbolts I had set down earlier with telekinesis. Along with the two miniguns in my hands, I aimed at the four of them.
Whirrrrr…!
The barrels of the two miniguns began spinning again. At the same time, the Thunderbolts scattered lightning in all directions, as if they were about to unleash blue flashes at any moment.
"Then let's see just how much stronger you've all become."
The moment I said that, the four of them kicked off the ground.