Chapter 156
Chapter 156
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 156
Chapter Title: Mystery Exhibition Terror Drill
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With that, we headed to the designated location.
“Whew.”
A massive building. On its exterior was the phrase [Sorcerers' Association Mystery Exhibition Hall].
Around it were portal gates and other public transit facilities nearby, drawing crowds of NPCs to the area.
If a terrorist attack hit here, civilian rescue efforts would be a nightmare.
“Mystery Exhibition Hall? Isn't this the place that got hit by a terror attack back in the day and vanished?”
“Yeah, I think so.”
Lee Seo-jun nodded at Shin Young-jun's question.
“But with all these people around, how are we supposed to keep casualties under ten?”
“Good point. Should we start evacuating first?”
We clicked our tongues and entered the building.
Checking the GPS, we moved along until a gemstone glowing with purple light came into view on display.
Up close, it swirled with something like red smoke inside.
“Whoa. The model's pretty detailed. Is it made from an actual mystery?”
“Seems like it. Hmm. What were some of the items displayed here before...
Lee Seo-jun stared blankly at the gem, mumbling to himself.
I gazed at it with wide eyes too. A purple gem.
I instantly recognized what it was. Probably a replica of the holy relic, the Space Stone.
It matched the original story's description perfectly, so it stuck in my mind.
The Space Stone was a holy relic that allowed instantaneous teleportation to any desired location.
Eighteen years ago, it belonged to the Association until it was stolen in a terror attack by Jaun.
Of course, after Jin Cheon-woo's defeat, the Association recovered it.
Now, Association Chairman Kim Jin-cheol managed it personally.
So this was the site of the Space Stone terror attack from eighteen years ago?
Amazed, I looked around.
Mysteries truly had incomprehensible power.
Poseidon and the Space Stone had nothing to do with each other, yet they recreated the world this faithfully.
'Right. What time is it now, anyway?'
I checked the time.
Three minutes until training started.
Tension crept in.
In the anti-terror simulation, enemy strength scaled to each member's power. And this group's level was top-tier at the Korean Sorcerer Academy—no exaggeration.
From top students like Lee Seo-jun to America's number one, Luke Fallon.
Reconstructing Jaun's past terror site suggested the terrorists here were modeled after Jaun.
It was just training, so they wouldn't match Jaun's exact strength, but it'd still be tricky.
Right then, the training start announcement echoed.
Weeeeng—!
A siren blared, signaling the terror attack. Everyone looked around in shock.
“Siren?”
“Whoa, feels like the real deal.”
Stunned by the sudden sounds.
Kwaaaang—!
A massive building exploded in the distance. All eyes turned there.
“Huh? Let's go!”
We rushed outside.
Kyaaak!
NPCs screamed and fled like it was real. The building tilted sharply, debris raining down.
Looked like an explosion from installed devices, not magic.
Paat!
I maxed out body reinforcement and sprinted toward the building.
Deploying magic to shield NPCs from the debris.
“Whoa, Kim Seon-woo's quick thinking. Impressive.”
Shin Young-jun's admiring voice from afar. Turning, I saw several kids staring at me in surprise—not just him.
I yelled at them.
“No slacking! Rescue NPCs first!”
“R-Right!”
They prioritized NPC rescues at my words.
Catching terrorists mattered, but minimizing casualties came first.
Still, I kept scanning for terrorists amid the efforts.
But with device-based attacks, pinpointing them was tough.
And since they weren't real people, Character Insight didn't work here.
“Lee Seo-jun!”
“Yeah?”
He looked my way at my call.
“Guard the mystery first.”
“Got it.”
“I'll help guard too.”
Luke followed behind him.
Those two could keep thieves at bay.
I left them to it and focused on evacuations.
Deep into NPC rescues, my Kill Detection trait triggered. A powerful magic surge hit from somewhere.
It formed a lightning-charged spear hurtling at me.
Pfyung—!
I twisted my upper body to dodge. The spear smashed the wall, exploding violently.
Kwaaaang!
“Damn.”
For student training, the speed was insane. Destructive power too.
At least A-rank or higher.
I turned toward the spear's origin. A blonde woman approached, long hair flowing.
Lightning spear in hand. Blonde woman.
Just like Bert, Jaun's key figure.
“...No, a fake modeled after Bert?”
But that attack wasn't full Bert strength.
Real Bert would've landed a serious hit.
“...”
I studied her face closely.
Fancy blonde hair and abilities recreated decently, but her face was blurry—poor rendering.
“Hey! Terrorist over there!”
Commotion nearby.
Six citizen NPCs suddenly flared magic and blasted the exhibition hall.
Kwaaaang!
Another huge explosion. A massive hole in the building.
More terrorists.
Shin Young-jun, Choi Seo-yoon, Lee Hyun-joo, and other American academy students rushed to block the entrance.
Now, just me and fake Bert on this street.
Looked like a 1v1 with fake Bert.
Gulp.
Not real Bert, but still tense.
Pajijijik!
Fake Bert conjured a lightning spear.
She thrust her hand, firing at me.
I released magic orbs simultaneously. They collided mid-air, shaking the surroundings.
Kwang—!
“...What the hell, this strong?”
Training or not, difficulty was nuts.
At this level, only me, Lee Seo-jun, or Luke could handle it.
“Ngh.”
With Heart of Great Nature, I could've dropped her easily.
But unknown incidents could pop on this ship today or tomorrow—no wasting it here.
Had to win with pure skill.
No chance in ranged duel, so I charged forward.
Fake Bert calmly fired another spear at my movement.
I dodged lightly.
It exploded mid-air, crumbling part of a building.
She flinched, surprised by my speed.
“......”
Paat!
I closed in on her face. She swung the spear, but I dodged and conjured orbs.
She tried evading.
From her blind spot, I fired magic. Using Grasp of Great Nature, I yanked her hair.
A trump card fusing Choi Il-hyeon Style Martial Arts and my telekinesis.
“...Ack!”
Her hair grabbed by unseen force, she widened her eyes in shock.
Even a short scream—she could talk.
And.
Her body went fully exposed.
The magic flew straight to her back, hitting dead-on with a massive blast.
Kwaaaang—!
“..!”
==t==i
6 6 6 .
She tumbled across the ground.
I didn't miss the opening, gathering and compressing mana atop my hand—again and again.
Last one. I thrust my hand at her.
Paaang—
“Hoo. Barely won.”
Feeling mana drain, I sighed in relief.
Feared getting overpowered, but it didn't happen.
Makes sense—simple training shouldn't need Heart of Great Nature or Fighting Spirit.
“Anyway, the uses are endless.”
I recalled the Grasp of Great Nature I'd just used.
Pondered telekinesis-like applications a lot, but targeting easy, high-impact spots with minimal force worked.
Like yanking hair just now.
Hair's bulky, easy to grab.
Couldn't control fully yet—weak force—but nailed it in combat.
A satisfied smile formed.
“Right, gotta take out the rest.”
Seven remaining meant one besides the six inside.
Had to find the last one.
I hurried off.
Lee Seo-jun and Luke faced the terrorists who'd breached the exhibition hall.
Then, the system voice reached their ears.
One terrorist eliminated.
“What?”
Considering his opponent's ability, it was awfully fast.
Lee Seo-jun instinctively knew who did it.
Probably Kim Seon-woo.
Everyone else was here except him, and he always surprised in these spots.
“...What? Already down? Kim Seon-woo?”
Luke looked shocked too.
Lee Seo-jun nodded at him.
“Probably Kim Seon-woo.”
Luke pondered, still surprised.
“Wait. Something's off.”
“What?”
“Remaining terrorists: 7.”
“So?”
Lee Seo-jun asked.
“Six here right now.”
“Yeah.”
“Kim Seon-woo took one, but one's still missing.”
Lee Seo-jun realized the anomaly too.
“True. Maybe one more with Kim Seon-woo... Whoa!”
A spear thrust suddenly.
He leaned back, dodging. The terrorist ambushed.
“Puzzle later—focus on fighting!”
“Right.”
Lee Seo-jun stepped back, staring the terrorist down.
An inexplicable sense of familiarity.
Build, long spear.
Felt like someone from Jaun at Pioneer Night. Imagination?
Nagged him, but he cleared his mind for the fight.
“Haat!”
He dashed forward, slashing at close range instantly.
Kang!
His sword blocked lightly by the spear shaft.
It flicked his blade away and stabbed.
Light mana flashed on Lee Seo-jun, dodging spear-like speed.
“..!”
As the foe recoiled from his speed.
Pfyong—!
From behind, a lightning thorn shot laser-like, trailing light.
It pierced the terrorist's shoulder precisely, sparking intense current.
Pajijik!
“..!”
The terrorist rolled, writhing in agony.
Lee Seo-jun seized the gap.
Charging, he swiftly slashed the neck.
Sakak!
Another system voice. Lee Seo-jun sighed in relief.