Chapter 572
Chapter 572
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 572
Chapter Title: Academy's Savior
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My body was blazing bright red. But it didn't feel hot. Right now, thanks to Spirit Possession, I had become a spirit myself. At a glance, it looked like flames were consuming me, but in reality, they were protecting me. These flames were my power.
-Wh-what is this?!
The Lava Turtle's bewildered will reached me. I ignored it.
Genius Time had ended, but I still held the reins of Spirit Possession. I couldn't maintain it forever, but ten minutes should be plenty.
'Well, that's only possible thanks to the Fire Heart's energy.'
I naturally learned what I could do while in Spirit Possession.
First, I increased my body size. I became a flaming giant wearing a clown mask.
"...How unpleasant."
Harteng muttered irritably.
I deliberately made myself a head taller than Harteng. The reason was simple: to look down on him.
"Great view from up here. How does it feel to look up at me?"
"Insolent fool. Becoming a spirit doesn't make your power equal to mine. Die. I'll kill you and rip the Fire Heart from that turtle!"
He swung a fist blazing with green hellfire at my solar plexus.
"Guh!"
I smashed through the cruise ship's wall and flew outside. I flew a full kilometer before finally stopping. I stood on the surface of the sea—thanks to my Water Walker skill.
My solar plexus burned. Fortunately, the hellfire didn't spread to my body. No, it couldn't.
...That bastard. He's even stronger than I thought.
No.
I'm the weak one.
Even with Spirit Possession, my base body's stats were pathetic. At this rate, Harteng would kill me soon enough.
"A fusion of human and spirit, eh? Now you've piqued my interest. I'll play with you a bit before killing you."
Harteng arrogantly stood atop the cruise ship.
I briefly shrank back to my normal size. I pulled out my smartphone, retrieved ten spirit orbs from my inventory, and took them out.
"Doping isn't just your thing."
I dumped all ten spirit orbs into my mouth. An indescribable pleasure hit me, followed by a surge of power.
When a spirit consumes spirit orbs, three effects occur. First, intense pleasure. Second, permanent stat boosts. Third, a temporary explosive power-up. I was aiming for the third, of course.
-Wh-what is this...! To think something this good existed in the world! Tell me what it is!
The Lava Turtle was freaking out.
'Shut up. Cooperate and stay quiet. You don't want to die to that guy either, right?'
-......Fine. Just this once.
I unleashed the explosive power from the spirit orbs in all directions and grew back into a giant.
Crimson flames erupted from the sea surface. They gathered in my hands, forming the shape of a sword.
"Fighting over the ocean should be better."
Harteng kicked off the cruise ship and floated into the air, apparently mindful of the assets inside. I propelled myself toward him using my body's flames and swung the fiery sword down at his face.
Harteng didn't dodge.
"The fire's lukewarm, and the density is pathetic. You thought this pitiful attack could kill me?"
A green fist came flying. I couldn't dodge right after attacking. It hit my solar plexus again. But this time, I didn't get sent flying.
"Oh?"
Harteng sounded impressed as he raised his other fist. At that moment, a small meteor appeared from the sky and smashed him into the sea. I floated in the air using my flames, looking down at the ground.
-This is how you use a spirit's power!
The Lava Turtle had created and launched a meteor. Spirit magic.
But Harteng's presence hadn't vanished. Looking down, the seawater was boiling.
The Lava Turtle unleashed more power. Over twenty meteors appeared in the sky and crashed into the sea one after another.
I frowned.
'Why are you wasting energy like that?'
-Wasting? Don't talk nonsense when you know nothing. This is the spirit way of battle.
'Spirit way of battle, my ass. That guy's completely fine.'
-He's a monster beyond imagination.
'How do I increase the fire's density?'
-You're believing him? Even denser fire won't work. His authority is fire, and mine is too. Pure fire won't penetrate.
I had nothing to say. The Lava Turtle was right. No reason to trust Harteng's words anyway.
Harteng rose from the sea.
I grew over 30 meters tall, gathered my strength in my legs, and dropped down to crush him.
BOOM!
A waterspout shot up, and the sea churned.
Harteng, slammed into the seabed beneath my foot, chuckled lowly.
"Better than before."
Harteng's body grew to match mine. He seized the moment I lost balance from the sudden change, regained his footing, and attacked.
We fought a brutal melee underwater, evaporating the seawater. It was more effective than swinging our fire authorities around.
At first, I had the edge. But the spirit orbs' effects faded over time. In the end, Harteng gained the upper hand.
-Grahhh! My body's breaking! No hope! Release this state now!
The Lava Turtle was screaming. I understood. My body was a wreck. My left side was destroyed; only my right arm could move.
'Just a bit more. Harteng's body is cracking all over. He's at his limit too.'
Harteng's body looked as fragile as a cracked glass cup. The hellfire that once enveloped him had dimmed, leaving only the green glow in his eyes.
I couldn't stop here.
Victory was right in front of me.
-Can't you see my spirit body tearing apart?! This makes taking the Fire Heart meaningless! I'm the one at a loss! It might take centuries to recover!
I swung my right fist with every last ounce of strength. It hit Harteng's face but did no damage—too little power behind it.
-GRAAAAAAAH!
Harteng's left hand pierced my chest.
The Lava Turtle's scream rang in my ears.
"Kahahahaha! I win in the end! It's been ages since I felt this thrill! You entertained me well, Sung Yu-jin! I'll slowly extract the Fire Heart."
Harteng pulled his hand from my chest and grabbed my shoulder. The "Fire Heart" he meant wasn't my physical heart. The Lava Turtle's presence faded, and my body turned to ash and vanished.
'Complete Recovery.'
My body healed in the blink of an eye. I smashed my fist into Harteng's surprised head.
BAM!
Half of Harteng's head exploded, and his massive body collapsed to the seabed.
"...I lose."
That was it. Harteng's body turned to dust and vanished. His overwhelming presence was gone.
He didn't beg for his life or flail pathetically. That was just how he was.
-Huff! My wounded spirit body suddenly healed?! Impossible! What did you do?!
"Shut up. It's over. Now get out of my body."
I released Spirit Possession.
Even though only a dozen seconds had passed since Complete Recovery, my whole body ached.
'Top-grade spirits are no joke. Totally different from Moka.'
If I'd maintained it for over thirty seconds, the backlash might've left me crippled.
Both skills jumped ranks at once. After an experience like that, they had to level up.
'But karma's the real prize.'
Net +11 Good karma from killing Harteng, bringing my total to 19.
'19's a decent number.'
???
With the Lava Turtle's help, I returned to the cruise ship—its upper decks smashed.
The Lava Turtle seemed pleased. Thanks to the Fire Heart and the spirit orbs I'd consumed, it had reached an even higher level. It was still top-grade, though—the term just meant there was no higher classification.
'Even among top-grade spirits, individuals vary wildly.'
The Lava Turtle's form changed.
Into a person.
A woman, at that.
A beauty with flame-red hair and snow-white skin. Red eyes, massive breasts, wide hips perfect for bearing children. Even a flickering, flame-like bush between her legs. A real fire pussy.
'Nipples, navel, pussy—all there.'
A form right up my alley.
She clearly felt the opposite.
"Damn it all. I've turned into a human wench."
Even her speech had changed.
"Why'd you suddenly become this?"
"Your fault. You influenced me into this shape. Isn't this what you subconsciously wanted? How can a human who's lived a few decades have a sharper mind than me, who's lived millennia?"
"......"
I couldn't deny it was my influence. Spirits originally had no gender, and those taking humanoid forms were exceedingly rare.
"Whatever. My power's greater than before, so fine. I'm off."
"Hold up. Where do you think you're going? You contracted with me, so stay by my side."
"Sigh... You can't even materialize me? Get at least five times stronger, and then I'll acknowledge you as my contractor."
Couldn't deny that either.
With my current mana, I couldn't materialize a top-grade spirit like her. Regrettable, but I had to let her go.
'The contract's still active, so I can summon her later.'
She turned to leave without a second thought. Before she vanished completely, I hurriedly asked.
"What's your name? You weren't gonna tell me that either?"
A top-grade spirit would have a name, whether given or self-chosen.
"Infera. That's me. Warning: don't call for me until you're not a weakling."
I considered tempting her with more spirit orbs but held back. Once they ran out, I'd lose control. Besides, I couldn't touch a non-materialized Infera. She'd be a picture of temptation at my side.
"Later. The moment I can handle you, I'll call. Take care, Lava Pussy."
"Lava Pussy? No idea what that means, but it pisses me off."
I just grinned silently. Infera glared once more, then vanished. She was gone in an instant—beyond my ability to track.
I lay on the floor to rest.
Soon, Yuria found me.
"...I'm sorry I couldn't help."
"No. I misjudged Harteng. Too trusting of the original info."
Yuria looked especially dejected. I placed a hand on her shoulder. Why she hadn't used Limit Transcendence right away? I could guess. She wanted more time in this world with me.
Even if she had, I couldn't guarantee it'd kill Harteng easily. He was no pushover.
"Yuria-noona. Hug me. Can't move."
"Yes, Master."
Yuria scooped me up. I'd expected her to grab my waist like luggage, but no. She embraced me like a lover. No romance, though—our height difference buried my face in her ample bosom.
The feel was nice, so whatever.
"Hold on."
A voice stopped us. I rolled my eyes sideways to see the owner.
Jen Height, the devil hunter who'd been sent flying into the ceiling by Harteng.
"Got questions for you two."
"You're alive."
"Confident in my durability."
"Your abs look caved in pretty bad for that."
"A few days' rest, and it'll heal. More importantly... who the hell are you people?"