Jin Gang Ri Ling
A golden light ripples across my entire body. As I thrust out my hand, the golden glow enveloping me spreads out like an ebbing tide.
Boom!
The golden light bursts outward in all directions, writhing as it shoves everything away. The pool of blood on the floor and scattered debris get flung aside. The shadow demon leaping at me slams into the golden wave, its body twisting into an unnatural pose as it hurtles far away.
I stand there dazed, hand still extended, replaying what I just did.
Jin Gang Ri Ling.
My necklace snaps off, and suddenly the incantation surges into my mind. Judging from memories of living with Grandmother as a kid, it's a recollection buried in some corner of my head that I'd forgotten. Even thinking back now, I can't make heads or tails of it.
"Kieeeek!"
The shadow demon, flung far away, slams its hammer-hand into the floor with a thud and hauls itself up. Snapping out of it at the sound, I decide to save the reminiscing for later. Right now, surviving and killing that thing come first.
One thing's for sure: I just learned a spell, and my near-death body has recovered. So maybe I can take down this damaged monster somehow.
"Kieeeek!"
Excited or enraged, it scrapes at the floor and charges me. Unlike its earlier somewhat calculated demeanor, it seems possessed now, single-mindedly barreling toward me.
Good news. A mindless beast is simpler than anything.
The shadow demon swings at me. As it thrusts its scissor-hand's sharp tip toward my head to pierce it, I shout again.
"Jin Gang Ri Ling!"
Once more, a golden wave ripples from my body. Just before releasing it toward the demon, I press myself flat against the nearby wall. I angle my hand obliquely and aim at the shadow demon—like firing a laser from my palm—planning to blast it into the wall with this Jin Gang Ri Ling.
But contrary to my expectations...
Vmmm!
"Huh?"
Golden light pours from my entire body. I'd thought no light would escape from my back since it was against the wall, but it was the opposite. The light from behind me, suppressed by my body, erupts as if resentful for being held back.
"Wha—?"
The incantation I've already uttered activates on its own. The golden light shoots forward.
And blasts backward from my back at the same time.
Splat!
The shadow demon takes the Jin Gang Ri Ling hit and bounces off the wall into the opposite one. But I get flung from the wall too, slamming into the other side.
"Urk...!"
The impact jars my gut and face, my head spinning. Stumbling, I hurriedly glance sideways. Fortunately, the shadow demon's also wedged awkwardly into the wall, struggling to get up.
"Ngh."
Seems this Jin Gang Ri Ling isn't something I aim and fire—it's an omnidirectional blast, no matter what.
As I snort and steady myself, the shadow demon assumes a charging stance again.
"Come on, then."
I clench my fists and prepare to unleash Jin Gang Ri Ling once more. The shadow demon shrieks and lunges.
This time, standing dead center in the corridor, I calmly fire it at the thing.
Splat!
The shadow demon floats into the air. If I keep this up, maybe I'll kill it eventually.
But oddly, this Jin Gang Ri Ling is way weaker than the second one.
"Kiik?! Kk...!"
The golden light spreading from my body is noticeably dimmer, and its power's dropped accordingly.
"Oof."
It's not just the spell—my body's changing too. The sudden recovery's deteriorating again after three blasts.
The implication's clear: This spell has limits. Use it up, and I'm dead meat for that thing.
"Kieeeek!"
Untiring, the shadow demon charges again. Rabid-dog style, barely controlling its body, it barrels endlessly at me—chilling to watch.
"Fuck...!"
In this narrow corridor, one-on-one, I have no choice but to use Jin Gang Ri Ling again. I spew it at the demon.
Splat!
It floats into the air. Seizing the gap, I advance.
Staring it down in the hall offers no hope. So I sprint toward where it flew, leaping over it while it's still unsteady and veering toward the left door.
The door to the academy's second-floor stairs. I stand by the desk, waiting. The staggering shadow demon shrieks and charges.
I edge warily toward the left door. Miho lies slumped against the left wall by the desk—if it goes for her instead of me, I'll punish it immediately.
But thankfully, it only has eyes for me, rushing desperately lest I escape.
Second floor. Far more open and spacious than the first. Time to settle this for good.
Climbing the stairs, I recall the demon's traits: massive bulk, hammer and scissors hands. Pondering its weakness, one memory surfaces.
"Huh...?"
When Miho first hurled those blue flames, they clung to it, spreading like its black body was soaked in oil.
Fire's probably its weakness.
Clink.
Something catches underfoot mid-climb. Looking down, I see a lighter. Must've been dropped by someone heading to the third floor.
"......"
Seeing it sparks a crazy idea. My few remaining Jin Gang Ri Ling uses, fire, lighter.
"Kieeeek...!"
Below, the shadow demon shrieks, crawling up the stairs on all fours. No time to think—I snatch the lighter from the floor.
It's insane, risky for me too, but no options left. My Jin Gang Ri Ling is limited, and no other way to beat it.
Soon I'm on the second floor. I burst through the door into the academy, heading for the supply room to play my trump card.
Sweet scent, sweet flesh, sweet yang energy. Nothing lacked.
The shadow demon clacks its massive teeth, staring at Kang Hanjun ahead.
Must eat, must eat, can't survive without eating.
Instinct screamed from its depths. Eating that human would surely let it shed a layer and grow.
Climb the stairs.
But its thigh, where fire had clung and been sliced off with scissors, made it stagger, struggling upward. Sensing the growing distance, it shrieks at Kang Hanjun and crawls up with both hands.
Don't go, don't go, don't go.
Even glimpsing him slipping away filled it with rage. Slamming into walls, shattering stairs, it finally reaches the second floor.
Its eyes roll wildly, spotting the boy in one spot.
Kaang! Kaang! Kaang!
Far off, noise echoes. A closed door, something being smashed—loud racket.
The shadow demon hurries toward the sound. At the door, it raises its hammer-hand to smash it.
But for a split second, doubt flickers: Why would Kang Hanjun trap himself in a room with no escape?
What's that weird smell leaking out?
Having gained thought from devouring people, the shadow demon couldn't fathom why Kang Hanjun cornered himself.
"Kiieek!"
But instinct wins. It hammers the door.
Fragments explode outward. Through the wreckage, the room's visible.
Inside: Kang Hanjun amid open boxes, everything smashed. Spray cans like common summer bug killers—afkillra.
Kang Hanjun confirms the shadow demon through the broken door, slowly raising his right hand.
A lighter in his grip, thumb on the button.
The shadow demon senses something's wrong.
But too late—a tiny click rings from his fingertip.
Dal-kak.
"Jin Gang Ri Ling!"
A tiny spark blooms from the lighter for lighting smokes. It catches on the spray particles everywhere.
And that moment.
The golden light shoving all aside permeates the air, spreading the flames everywhere.
Whoosh!
The blaze swells gigantic in an instant, clinging to the shadow demon's body. Bursting in, it has no chance to dodge, engulfed entirely.
"Kieeeek...! Kieeek...! Kiiiieek!"
It rolls on the floor, desperate to extinguish, but too late—fire's everywhere. Swallowing its shadows, the flames grow, devouring its form.
"Fuck! Jin Gang Ri Ling!Jin Gang Ri Ling!!"
Kang Hanjun leaps out behind the writhing, staggering demon. Wary of the spreading fire, he spits Jin Gang Ri Ling nonstop to blast through the room and escape.
The rippling golden light from within pushes back all flames.
But regrettably, in a brief lull as it fades, fire catches a corner of his clothes.
He screams, rolling to pat it out frantically.
Then, eyeing the crackling, burning shadow demon nearby, he shouts again.
"Jin Gang Ri Ling! Fuck!"
Whoosh!
The flames consuming the shadow demon roar higher once more. At the sight, Kang Hanjun screams anew.