Chapter 83
Chapter 83
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 83
Chapter Title: Cataclysm
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Running forward, Kang Yuna quickly assessed the situation.
A villain was in sight. The heroes hadn't arrived yet.
The bastard was targeting civilians. There was no time to hesitate.
'It's impossible to block him head-on alone.'
She had learned that overconfidence was the most dangerous thing.
As much as she hated to admit it. As infuriating as it was.
She still had a long way to go as compared to a villain.
But that didn't mean there were no options at all.
A direct fight was out of the question, but buying time was entirely feasible.
Tak!-
She lightly kicked a piece of debris rolling on the ground, sending it airborne.
Then, in a fluid motion like flowing water, she transitioned into a roundhouse kick.
The fragment shot toward the villain like a cannonball in an instant.
"What the hell?!"
Boom!-
As expected, he noticed right away. She had hoped for a solid hit.
Disappointing, but no matter. She had succeeded in drawing his attention here.
In the meantime, the civilians could flee a bit farther.
This was her duty as a student. As a future hero.
"A hero?! Die!!"
Kang Yuna didn't have the special badge that proved hero status.
Someday, after graduating with top marks and getting scouted.
Then she could proudly wear that badge. But not yet.
Most villains knew this. But this one was different.
Without even checking, he charged straight at her, spewing flames in all directions.
She had learned about this type in the Academy. The most exhausting kind of villain to face.
No clear target. No cool judgment or cunning mind.
Just a guy drunk on his own Ability, committing crimes left and right.
Like a gun without a safety, firing bullets wildly everywhere.
"Kuhahaha!"
That was a relief, though. The blind gun wasn't aiming at people anymore.
Thanks to drawing his interest, he focused solely on her, unleashing attacks her way.
Whoosh! Swoosh!-
Scorching heat grazed past her face.
Not fast. She could dodge speeds like this easily.
Two minutes to close the distance to reach striking range. That should be enough!
"You're a hero after all! Impressive! But you made a mistake! You thought you could just close the gap?!"
Kwagwagwa!!-
Flames incomparable to before gathered in the villain's hands.
She hadn't taken a hit from it yet, but the moment she saw it, Kang Yuna's instincts screamed.
If she couldn't dodge, she'd be charred to a crisp. Burnt to a cinder!
'It's fine! Those powerful attacks are all firepower with no control!'
Her instincts yelled to dodge now. But not yet. Hold on a bit longer.
"Die!!"
Kwaooo!!-
It was a fireball the size of a small truck. A direct hit would kill her. She had to dodge now.
'Not yet! Not yet!!'
A little more. Just a bit more. Kang Yuna didn't stop running.
As if she intended to smash right into it, she even accelerated.
"Kyahaha! What are you doing?! Trying to die? Got a big life insurance policy or something?!"
Kang Yuna didn't waver at the villain's taunts.
Dodging too early from too far might let him fire another attack.
Or he could change direction and block her evasion path.
Crucially, the fireball had to fly in this direction.
No one was behind her. All the civilians had evacuated.
To ensure no innocent got caught in that blind Ability.
A hero had to consider every single civilian.
'...Now!'
The moment the massive heat made even opening her eyes a struggle.
Kang Yuna slid across the ground like a baseball player stealing a base.
It resulted in a picture-perfect evasion maneuver.
"Urk?!"
The flustered villain flailed as he prepared his next attack.
But it was too late. Kang Yuna was already back on her feet, in position.
Just reach out, and she could land a solid blow from this range...
"Think so, bitch?!"
"...!!"
Even a low-rank villain was still a villain.
Seeing another flame gather in his grasp, Kang Yuna gritted her teeth.
She had underestimated him. A clear misjudgment. The price? Death.
No time to stop now. No dodging either. In that case...
'I won't back down!!'
Even if her body turned to charcoal. Even if she died here.
If she could hold the villain's ankle until heroes arrived.
If she could buy even a tiny bit more time for the civilians to escape!
"Haaap!!"
Pang!!-
"Kuhahaha! Crazy bitch! Trying to block my flames with bare fists... Huh?"
Kwajik!!-
The fireball crumpled. The flames wilted powerlessly and vanished.
Kang Yuna burst through it. Her eyes blazed with unyielding ferocity.
Straightforward momentum. Unwavering action. And a lightning-fast strike plunging down.
Kwang!!-
"Guhk!"
The villain, struck squarely in the solar plexus, flew backward.
He smashed through two abandoned cars on the roadside but didn't stop.
Only after crashing into a building wall did the noise finally die down.
"...?"
Kang Yuna stared at her hand in astonishment.
That strange sensation from earlier returned.
What was this? How did she just pull off that attack...?
"Cadet Kang Yuna!"
A familiar voice. Kang Yuna turned around.
"Shieldman?!"
"Sorry I'm late! There were villain sightings reported elsewhere too... Ah! Cadet Kang Yuna! Behind! Behind you!"
Shieldman leaped high, thrusting his shield forward.
A translucent blue barrier deployed just as a wave of fire engulfed everything ahead.
"It's not over yet. Get it together."
"Ah... Sorry!"
"Eh. Partly my fault for calling out to you. Anyway, impressive."
Huh? As Kang Yuna tilted her head, Shieldman lowered his shield.
"You've grown, haven't you? I saw it coming from behind just now. That movement was outstanding. No ordinary cadet could pull that off."
"R-Really?"
"Yes. Cadet Kang Yuna, your movements are sharper than last time. You've gotten noticeably stronger."
Ah. Then maybe that odd sensation was because of this?
She felt an unusual energy. Her body was much lighter and faster than before.
Nothing made a Hero Academy cadet happier than recognition from a hero senior.
"First things first, let's take down that villain."
"Looks like he slipped away. My apologies."
"No. Your strike landed perfectly, Cadet Kang Yuna. The bastard's just tough."
Meanwhile, the villain screamed, "Arghhh! It huuuurts!!"
Kang Yuna and Hero Shieldman grimaced at the sight.
After indiscriminately attacking civilians and causing injuries and deaths.
Whining about pain from one hit? What right did he have?
"Cadet Kang Yuna, I'll block attacks, so look for an opening to counter. That villain's half-lost his mind. You could get seriously hurt if you're not careful."
"You sure you're okay?"
"My injuries from back then have healed, and blocking is my job anyway. No need to worry."
Kang Yuna nodded at Shieldman's words.
She took position to subdue the thrashing, wailing villain...
"Ah!"
A gasp escaped Kang Yuna's lips.
Shieldman glanced back curiously and saw:
"Aaah! D-Danger! Run away now! Hurry!!"
A woman holding an Omega Coffee, on her way somewhere.
"..."
"..."
The two swordsmen stood motionless, facing each other.
To the untrained eye, it looked like they were doing nothing.
But any hero would break into a cold sweat just watching.
Those two had already exchanged invisible strikes countless times.
Eyes probing for weaknesses. Muscles ready for arms and legs.
Even the inhale and exhale that started it all.
"...I lost."
Jin Seo-ah, on the left, raised the white flag first.
She let out a sigh. "Ridiculous," she grumbled.
"Grandpa. You really retired because your senses dulled, right?"
"Of course. Compared to my prime, they're deader than dead."
"Doesn't feel like it. I swear your gaze alone sliced me a few times just now."
Cold sweat trickled down her back.
She tried not to show it, but that was all she could manage.
Every time the Sword Saint's gaze landed, it felt like she was being cut.
"How's life at the Academy these days?"
"Noisy."
"Still got reporters hounding you?"
"It's died down a bit lately, but they're still lurking for a chance. Ugh!"
Jin Seo-ah shuddered from the sheer annoyance.
The Sword Saint chuckled heartily at his granddaughter.
That look—so familiar. Just like him in the old days.
Back then, he reacted the same to swarming reporters.
"By the way. Has that man come by since then?"
"The Smiling Man? No. Haven't seen him since."
"I see."
That damn rascal. When's he coming for real?
Whenever it was, he needed to talk to the guy.
That sword from the video. The one Jin Seo-ah described.
He wanted to see it himself. Clash with it. It was driving him mad.
What realm had he reached? Could he go beyond?
To think a villain had captured his interest this much.
The Sword Saint felt a momentary emptiness, then shook it off.
The Smiling Man was a villain, but not quite one anymore.
Where in the world was a villain saving holy sites for heroes?
Tens of thousands owed him their lives thanks to his feats.
His precious granddaughter Jin Seo-ah was one of them.
So come quick, accept this old man's thanks, and while you're at it, swords...
"..."
Shring!-
"Grandpa? Grandpaa?!"
The Sword Saint swung precisely toward where Jin Seo-ah stood.
A long arc traced through the air, and something split in two.
"Eek?!"
Something black and wriggling hit the ground.
Jin Seo-ah recoiled in horror.
It inspired visceral disgust in anyone who saw it.
As Jin Seo-ah opened her mouth to ask what it was,
"Seo-ah."
The Sword Saint spoke first.
"Looks like today's dragging on a bit."
Pale poison mist and acrid smoke enveloped the estate.
The Seven Evils were coming, dozens of underlings in tow.