Exam Over
“Try it, you fucking bastard.”
Omega was dumbfounded by the blatant provocation ringing in his ears. He wasn’t even angry.
The desperate flailing just seemed pathetic and amusing, making the corner of his mouth twitch.
‘It’s been a while since someone’s sworn at me right to my face.’
Surprisingly, the kid wasn’t losing his mind to fear.
His eyes were alive. His sanity was intact.
Those facts stirred Omega’s nasty habit.
The sadistic urge to break anything upright boiled within him.
Smashing guys like that and watching them bend their own convictions—that’s what satisfied his twisted tastes.
Hex had called it inefficient and told him to cut back, but Omega had no intention of giving up a strongman’s privilege.
“Heh heh heh… Brat. I just decided your future.”
“Bullshit.”
Rohan kicked off the ground and charged at Omega.
He sped past Ichinose and Noah, who were doubled over, retching and unable to move.
Whoosh!
Flames erupted from his longsword.
Second Sword - Dawn Falling Sun
Flames surged like waves crashing against rocks, engulfing Omega.
But the feedback was awful. Rohan could tell as he swung.
‘The blade didn’t bite at all.’
His wrist throbbed. One wrong move, and it’d shatter.
Still, he didn’t hesitate.
He swung again.
First Sword - Flame Cut
The sword path clogged at Omega’s thick neck.
His mangled face and mechanical jaw twisted into a sneer—chilling to behold.
“What can a weak blade and puny flames do?”
“…”
Rohan knew he’d entered a war of attrition.
He had to keep Omega’s interest locked on him, eyes away from anywhere else.
Make him want to torment him. Lure him into it.
Couldn’t let him think about sending samples to Hex via the worm he’d stashed in the back.
‘Same for me. Can’t glance at my friends. Just gotta play the mad bastard charging in blind.’
He didn’t need to win with raw power.
Once Juyeon arrived, it was his victory—and his role was done.
‘Instructor will come. No doubt.’
He believed it. Juyeon would make it in time.
That’s who she was.
An existence you couldn’t help but respect.
‘So my role is…!’
Even if it burned him to ashes.
Buy as much golden time as possible so her arrival wouldn’t be too late.
Clang—!!!
The standard-issue longsword shattered with a metallic screech. Half the blade spun away.
Even so, Rohan swung what remained.
“Getting boring now.”
Omega stood still, taking the swordplay, then mocked him as sweat poured down his frantic face.
“Brat. You know there are poisons that amplify pain above all else?”
“Hup!”
Rohan didn’t answer, pressing the attack.
A half-blade was still a weapon.
“Some toxins so vicious, even narcotics can’t touch the agony. They don’t kill, but you’ll wish they did.”
One of Omega’s fingers morphed into a thick centipede.
Anyone could see he meant to inject it.
“Let’s see how long you last. I trust you won’t beg for mercy or death in seconds like some worm.”
Hex had tailored it to his request.
Unbearable pain, unmatched for torture in Omega’s experience.
No will, no matter how noble, held against it.
Slash!
An octopus leg snagged Rohan.
The broken sword clattered to the dirt.
“Time for your dose. Gonna beg for your life now?”
Omega grinned, locking eyes—but the smirk vanished fast.
“Asshole.”
No fear in Rohan’s gaze. None at all.
At this point, you’d think he was born a lunatic.
“…Entertaining. Hope that cocky attitude holds.”
The centipede’s fangs spread like pincers and bit into Rohan’s nape.
His eyes flashed wide as the liquid seeped in.
“Ro, Rohan!”
“Urgh! Damn it, move…!”
Ichinose and Noah writhed on the ground, struggling to rise—but the poison was already flooding Rohan’s veins.
“!!!”
Instant-acting toxin.
Effects hit the moment it entered.
Rohan’s teeth ground so hard they threatened to shatter.
His body tensed against the pain, blood vessels bursting in his eyes.
Every breath felt like his lungs were shredding.
“Hahaha!!! How’s it feel? Keep yapping like before.”
“Ugh…!”
The octopus leg slammed him down.
He couldn’t stand. Just twitched face-down.
Pain like his body was being torn and burned—couldn’t control a thing.
Even twisting a knife in his guts wouldn’t hurt this bad, he was sure.
“Heh, brat. Want the antidote?”
“Hahk…! Kkh, hup…!”
Not knowing how long until it eased—that fueled the terror.
“Show some humility if you want release.”
Rohan lifted his head, eyes bloodshot.
Sweat streamed down as he slowly opened his mouth.
Omega leaned in eagerly—and got a clear, deliberate reply.
“Fuck… you…”
The strained words from Rohan’s lips.
Omega’s face hardened at the unexpected defiance.
“…Been a while since I met someone this fun.”
No backup in sight, yet he wouldn’t bend—like he knew it’d satisfy Omega.
Even drooling on the ground, he clung to his spirit.
Omega recalled his chat with Hex.
—Omega. This poison’s a compound from monster immune systems.
—Meaning?
—Tweaked for pain only, as requested. No clotting or synapse interference…
—Short version.
—Sigh… It’s worse than full-body inferno agony. Clear? Potent enough for mana-enhanced bodies to shock, but no lethality from toxicity.
Replaying it, Omega felt heat rising to his head.
Worming on the dirt like a bug—that should be him, not this kid—yet defeat gnawed at him.
‘This little shit…’
A green brat enduring what he couldn’t, eyes wide open.
Like mocking his own trauma from flames he couldn’t take.
His mere existence sparked rage.
‘I’ll make you scream.’
The octopus leg hoisted Rohan again.
Fixed his head to check the broken face.
Then.
“Kek…!”
He laughed. Right at him. Tears and drool streaming, lips curled in disdain.
Absurd—like a taunt for more.
‘Laughing?’
Rohan knew his role, acting deliberate.
But to Omega, it felt utterly different.
Not fueling rage or competitive urge to break him.
A chill hit Omega instead.
Cold clarity. His face wiped anger, turning icy.
‘…Kill him.’
Gut instinct: end this unknown breed here.
Break promises to Hex—sever the thread now.
This wasn’t Juyeon’s irritant. A different flame.
Extinguish it, or this ember becomes a fire demon rebounding on them.
‘What the hell is this guy…’
Absurdly, certainty hit: this brat’s blade would reach Him.
An image vivid, unlike any strongman before.
“Born in the wrong era, kid.”
One finger would suffice now.
As Omega ended the game to drill his skull—
“!?”
Fierce flames slashed his bindings, targeting his throat. Power evoking nightmares.
Omega retracted, focusing defense.
Boom—!!!
Juyeon’s hand blade smashed him into the worm behind.
The octopus leg severed clean, freeing Rohan.
Red hair whipped as she scooped him up.
“Instructor… I’m, ugh, fine… haa!”
Rohan rasped through his wrecked face, signaling no life threat.
Juyeon bit her lower lip hard, speechless.
“Ins, Instructor…!”
“Please save Rohan and Corin!”
The girls yelled, furious at their immobility.
Juyeon lifted one foot.
Thud!
Mana-charged stomp on the earth.
The fear cloaking the girls vanished clean. Limbs freed.
“…”
Juyeon gently set Rohan down, eyes fixed where Omega flew.
Her glare at the enemy: blank as ever.
Yet blazing fury seeped through.
Anyone could tell she was dead serious—pissed.
Clank. Clank. Clank.
Omega emerged unscathed, trampling the worm’s burst flesh.
Juyeon eyed the familiar foe, voice low and broadcasted.
“The exam is over. Take Rohan and Corin and withdraw.”
Practical exam termination declared.
A translucent window popped before Rohan, who’d endured on hope alone.