Chapter 33
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 33
Chapter Title: Orbis Assault (2)
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Criminal organization: The Knot.
A group led by a former hero who once held the "Special Grade" rank.
The reason these incredibly powerful individuals—each renowned with their own epithet—belong to The Knot is simple.
They all hold each other's weaknesses.
Once mana reaches a certain level, it produces a lower singularity.
This is called a "Trait."
The Clown's Trait is multiple personalities.
In a way, it's a Trait that makes him a victim of his own mana's singularity.
But the Clown had completely overcome this issue thanks to a relic.
[3rd Grade Relic: Ring of Sub-Bodies]
A ring that creates clones by splitting off portions of one's personality.
Its drawback was severe mental dissociation upon use, but that meant nothing to the Clown.
If anything, it was more of an advantage than a flaw.
"Then let's get started!"
Bubbles began to rise from the Clown's body.
At the same time, entities similar to—but different from—the Clown started to emerge.
From an elderly Clown, to women, men, girls, and boys.
Some Clowns wielded sickles, while others held spears.
.
.
.
"Who goes there?"
1st Grade Hero Kim In-cheol.
In front of him stood a figure wearing a ridiculous clown mask.
"Found you!!!!"
As the Clown shouted at the top of his lungs, more clowns began appearing around them.
"He's here!"
"Over here!"
Shing-.
Kim In-cheol grasped the situation and drew his sword, about to swing it...
But all the Clowns spoke in unison.
"Full Domain Deployment."
Mana is a power that evolves endlessly.
It starts with simple attributes that alter mana itself, eventually reaching the singularity known as a "Trait."
However, a rare few with exceptional talent reach yet another singularity upon hitting a certain level.
A technique that recreates one's personal space using mana.
Domain.
Krummmble!
A deafening roar echoed across all of Orbis Academy, and at the same moment, something like black ink began oozing down from the sky.
[Orbis Assault]
Start.
.
.
.
The artificial monsters present in Orbis Academy.
Living beings born from magic stones and life-series magic.
They mimic the appearance of real monsters but lack the lethal abilities and hostility toward humans that true monsters possess, making them weaker overall.
But the moment hundreds of these artificial monsters were unleashed...
-Kieeeek!!!
The abilities of the original monsters, which they shouldn't have had, began to manifest.
[1st Grade Relic: Ark of Mud]
Ability: Recreation of All Things
The artificial monsters, reduced to mud and reborn anew, were now indistinguishable from real monsters.
In fact, they were even stronger than the originals.
-Kiaaaah!!!
Hostile to humans.
Some even carried "Curses."
Students began gathering at Orbis's center, while combat-capable instructors dealt with the approaching monsters.
But for some reason, the "upper-rank" heroes were nowhere to be seen.
"Huff... huff..."
At that moment, people dressed as clowns began emerging alongside the monsters.
"Ah! Man, it's been ages since I made clones. This isn't easy!"
"You... you're..."
In The Knot, the most infamous name isn't the leader's.
The serial killer, Morbian.
Epithet: Clown.
I quickly headed to Orbis's outskirts.
The other students were probably gathering at the center.
"Damn it..."
Nothing was there when I arrived.
Sa Mu-young is around 3rd Grade Hero level.
With relics, maybe 1.5th Grade at best.
That's why he's borrowing The Knot's help for revenge.
This massive barrier enveloping Orbis is beyond what Sa Mu-young could deploy alone.
It's a device he's prepared over years.
I need to find the hidden core maintaining the barrier.
The problem is the structure doesn't allow finding them in advance—you have to search one by one on boss fight day like this, grinding it out.
-Something's coming.
As Tyrbing spoke, a massive rabbit appeared before me.
Not your average rabbit, though—it had five horns and seven eyes.
-Nyipk!
The grotesque monster split its mouth vertically and started hopping toward me.
I bolted in the opposite direction.
I couldn't waste precious attack opportunities here.
-Nyipk!!!!
The rabbit chased me madly, leaping wildly, but unfortunately for it, I'd invested every stat point into Agility.
Drawing my sword faster, dodging effortlessly.
Agility really is a human right.
I swiftly moved to the next point.
Vmmm-.
Luckily, I'd found it this time.
Black steam poured from a pale pink gem—evil as hell, obvious to anyone.
I immediately channeled mana into my fist and smashed the gem.
Krunch!
Fortunately, its hardness was low, so it shattered easily.
'Three more to go.'
One hour after the incident began.
Orbis's center.
And among them, the strongest students had gathered.
Most third-years weren't at Orbis, so it was first- and second-years present.
At the students' core were the top first-year ranks and top second-year ranks.
"This is an assault."
Second-year overall ranking #6, Kim Woo-yeok, said.
"We can't stay holed up here forever."
Second-year overall ranking #2, Se-in, continued.
White hair, perpetually narrowed eyes that made you wonder if he was awake.
But his skills were the real deal.
"I think the barrier is meant to stall for time. The monsters roaming outside are increasing."
A pink-haired girl spoke up from afar.
"Ugh... If we just stay put, won't they handle it? We have 1st Grade Heroes and 2nd Grade Mages... And the barrier should've been noticed from outside easily..."
"The situation isn't good right now. All the active heroes worth calling are outside Orbis. If it hasn't been resolved yet, something's wrong..."
At that moment, first-year overall ranking #1, Seo Ji-ho, stepped forward slowly.
"I don't know who's behind this or why, but a barrier this size probably has catalysts, right?"
"Good guess. Then we select a few students and..."
That was when it happened.
Krunch.
Krunchhhrzzt-!
A massive rift tore open at the center, and a ragged hand emerged.
A few quick students drew their weapons, but...
"Kyaaak!"
The ragged hands—about ten of them—burst through the rift, seized several students, and vanished.
"Wha...?"
Yoo I-seol scanned her surroundings.
"..."
He's gone.
Gone!
Lee Han-su was nowhere!!!
She had no idea what was going on.
Suddenly a barrier dropped from the sky, and monsters started pouring out like mad.
And... some weird clowns too...
Humanoid monsters?
"..."
Yoo I-seol gritted her teeth.
Was Lee Han-su out there fighting monsters alone?
Should she go help...?
But how?
Orbis was vast.
Vast enough that "vast" felt like an understatement.
If she moved without info and couldn't reach him when it mattered...?
That was when it happened.
Krunch.
Krunchhhrzzt-!
Ragged hands snatched students.
As the other students stared dumbfounded, Yoo I-seol spoke up.
Staying here solves nothing—let's head out and move.
But some students opposed it, of course.
Simple enough.
Yoo I-seol divided the agreeing students into four groups and headed out.
Convincing everyone in a crisis like this was impossible.
.
.
.
Yoo I-seol began concentrating mana in her eyes.
Her eyes glowed even redder as she took in her surroundings.
'When did this fog...?'
At first, it was just the barrier and monsters, but now fog—a new variable—had appeared.
Mana-infused fog that even her Demon Eyes struggled to pierce.
-Woof! Woof!!!
Suddenly, a monster lunged from the left.
"Not on my watch!"
A hammer-wielding student in Yoo I-seol's group smashed its head.
"Hm...?"
The hammer student examined the corpse and muttered, puzzled.
"This wound isn't from me...?"
Thud!
A massive footstep echoed around them.
Thud!
"Wh-what..."
"What was that sound just now...?"
"Did I mishear?"
A gigantic monster stirred in the fog.
'That's...!'
Yoo I-seol recognized it.
The huge artificial monster from the practical exam.
But now more feral, eyes unfocused.
And sporting sharp claws and teeth absent back then.
-Grrraaah?
The monster's gaze turned toward them.
Yoo I-seol shouted in that instant.
"Dodge!!!!"
Kaboooom!!!
A mass of mana erupted from the monster's maw.