Chapter 67
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 67
Chapter Title: Advanced Mana Manual (2)
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Thud!
My ribs shattered under the Cyclops's fist.
"Argh!!!"
I had no idea how many times I'd been slammed into the ground by its attacks, tumbling across the dirt.
This Cyclops was on a whole different level from the quasi-boss monsters I'd faced before.
It was overwhelmingly powerful.
"Groooar! Graaah!!!"
A level 7 monster, the Cyclops.
It lived up to its level with raw, devastating strength.
My lip split open, blood trickling down.
This was already my fifth attempt.
I could lop off a leg or sever a finger, maybe, but rendering it combat-ineffective was impossible.
Despite its massive bulk, it moved with terrifying speed and had skin tougher than steel.
It didn't feel like punching a giant sandbag.
More like a sandbag covered in spikes.
'Transcendent Awakening' duration has ended.
Thump!
"Kuhuk…!"
Whenever Transcendent Awakening wore off, I collapsed without fail.
With this much attack power, 30 minutes was the limit. I had to fight strategically.
"That power is undeniably strong, but you can't use it every battle."
Yoon Ji-yeon approached and infused me with mana.
My body gradually recovered from the fatigue under her mana.
"Haa… haa… Damn it. I almost had it killed."
The Cyclops's body was covered in wounds.
Charred skin from burns, severed toes, hundreds of slash marks.
I'd thrown everything at it, but the Cyclops was still standing.
"You need to calm your mind and analyze its patterns."
Patterns.
The Cyclops's actions were simple and straightforward.
Swinging its fists or trying to stomp with its feet.
Her advice didn't add up.
I'd already figured out its patterns.
But one thing nagged at me: its horn.
The way it defended that horn wasn't predictable.
…That's the weak point.
I stood up.
My body felt like new, as if nothing had happened.
Yoon Ji-yeon said to me,
"Oh, looks like you've got something in mind."
"…That horn. It only gets desperate when protecting it."
"Then just cut off the horn?"
"Easier said than done…"
As my body healed, the Cyclops's body regenerated too.
Complete reset.
Back to square one.
"Let's go again."
This time, I'd focus relentlessly on that horn.
I summoned Straight Eight once more.
"Kyuruk!"
Whoosh!
My best sub-weapon right now.
The Great Flame Dragon Spear.
It granted flame wings to the user and boosted fire damage.
Flap!
I took to the air.
Circling it, waiting for an opening.
"Groooar! Graaah!"
The Cyclops swung its massive hand, trying to swat me.
I felt like a mosquito.
First, a taste.
2-star Spear Technique: Spear Throw.
I hurled the spear at its horn.
It streaked through the air wreathed in flames straight for the horn.
Boom!
"Groooar!!!"
Fwoosh!
The spear hit its hand and ignited.
It ignored burns, shocks, or slashes anywhere else, but defended the horn desperately.
The horn was definitely its biggest weak point.
The Cyclops grabbed my spear to snap it, but it dissolved into flames.
The Great Flame Dragon Spear was a weapon manifested from fire.
No matter how much it broke it, it returned to its master.
Fwoosh!
Flames surged, reforming the spear.
"…Good. Then."
Slime Clone.
It cost mana, but nothing beat it for multi-attacks.
Green liquid extended from the weapon, creating clones.
All of them wielded Great Flame Dragon Spears and had wings—perfect copies of me.
Ten clones.
This should be enough to take the horn.
"Hmm. Going for multi-attacks to finish it?"
Yoon Ji-yeon sat at a distance, watching my battle with interest.
Flash!
The ten clones charged from different angles.
The Cyclops resisted fiercely.
Several clones shattered against its defenses and vanished.
Ugh…!
Dizziness hit me mid-flight toward it.
Even for me, using the Great Flame Dragon Spear and clones together drained mana massively.
I needed a quick finish.
Slash! Slash!
I severed all its incoming fingers and flew toward the horn.
By the time I neared it, all clones were destroyed. Just me left.
It's fine. If I can just cut the horn…!
Slash!
I swung with all my might, severing the horn.
The cut end burned from the spear's passive effect.
The massive horn split in two and fell to the ground.
"Yes…!!!!"
Mana drain was extreme, but I'd hit the weak point.
Just finish it off, and victory was mine.
Grab!
"Huh?!"
In that instant, the Cyclops snatched my ankle with its hand.
It should've lost consciousness from the weak point hit.
But the Cyclops before me looked enraged instead.
"W-Wait! I'm sorry…!"
Bam! Bam! Thud! Thud! Thud! Bam!
The Cyclops slammed me into the ground and stomped wildly.
Pain I never wanted to feel again.
…
"Uwaaaah!!!!"
Tae-hyun bolted upright, drenched in cold sweat like waking from a nightmare.
Yoon Ji-yeon giggled beside him.
"How was that? Pretty brutal, huh?"
"My bones… they shattered into powder…"
Tae-hyun patted himself down, checking for injuries.
She laughed at the sight for a good while.
Confirming his body was fine, Tae-hyun swept back his bangs and wiped the sweat.
"First monster I've seen survive a weak point strike. Is this what a level 7 is…?"
"Nope, wrong."
Yoon Ji-yeon poked his chest right over his heart.
"Anyone stabbed in the heart dies. For humans, the heart's the weak point."
"Yeah… obviously."
"Same for monsters. No matter how strong, destroy the weak point and it's instant death. Game over."
"Then why didn't the Cyclops…?"
"Guess it's not the weak point."
Tae-hyun looked baffled.
And rightly so—the Cyclops had defended its horn desperately.
Anyone would think it was the weak point.
Yoon Ji-yeon tapped her temple.
"Think. Remember what I just told you."
"You mean… monsters have intelligence?"
"Exactly. The Cyclops I summoned was infamous in my era. The one you're fighting is the illusion of the one I killed."
The early Cyclops was the world's strongest.
Until dragons appeared.
Yoon Ji-yeon's expedition team took it down.
The one here was a phantom of that kill.
"It learned humans target weak points. So it faked it."
"F-Faked? A monster?"
"Yeah. The moment the enemy thinks it's dead is when they're most off-guard."
Indeed, when Tae-hyun cut the horn, he'd dropped his guard.
Thinking the Cyclops was done.
Tae-hyun nodded.
"Yeah… you're right."
"Battles aren't just brute force and stamina. Brains and strategy matter too."
Lucky this was the Advanced Mana Manual. In a real fight, he'd be dead.
Monster battles were one life only.
Kill or be killed.
Tae-hyun stood.
Ready to fight again.
"One more time, please. I'll kill it this round."
"No rest?"
"No time for that. Gotta train."
Yoon Ji-yeon smiled at his determination.
"Alright, get ready."
Their training continued deep into the night.
Monday.
New classrooms always buzzed with excitement.
The room filled with vacation stories.
Amid it all, I clutched my head in agony.
"Ugh…"
No physical pain after the Mana Manual, but the mental toll lingered.
My pounding head was excruciating.
I finally understood why Yoon Ah-young fainted after the tournament.
I didn't catch the Cyclops, but it wasn't no progress.
Hong Ga-yeon severed its arm in one strike; I did it in two or three.
Even severing limbs, it ground its teeth and counterattacked.
Time ran out on Transcendent Awakening.
But next time, for sure…
"Hyung-nim. You okay? Hurt somewhere?"
Mitsuda.
He approached me.
C-Class's tank, Elite grade, and top disciple of the Mt. Fuji faction.
Now calling me hyung-nim and following me.
"Nah, I'm good."
I waved him off and looked up.
Mitsuda showed signs of hard vacation training.
Bulkier than before, muscles still massive.
He grinned and said,
"Hyung-nim, arm wrestling? Time to show my gains."
He planted his elbow on my desk.
Last time, I won in one second.
"Dude… I'm kinda beat."
I wanted to conserve energy, but the crowd made it impossible to back out.
"Ooh, revenge match?"
"Vice Prez, show us!"
"300p on Mitsuda."
"Nah, Vice Prez wins easy."
Refusing now would kill the vibe.
I reluctantly gripped his hand.
Squeeze.
Grip strength like iron.
Not bluffing about the training.
"Hit the gym, huh?"
"Don't ask. Hellish."
Mt. Fuji faction was world-famous in martial arts.
Top disciple meant heir to the master.
"Uwoooo!!!!"
"Wooo-!!!"
The guys cheered the sudden showdown.
The thrill of stinky dudes.
"Ready? Here I go~?"
"Yeah, anytime."
Lee Jae-yeol stepped up as ref.
He held our hands and counted down.
"Ready…3…2…1! Go!!"
"Hnnngh…! Chwaaaap! Twaaaaaah!!!!"
Mitsuda's face turned beet red.
I eased in some power, then slammed it down.
Bang!!!
"…"
"…"
His training for naught. Same result.
Mitsuda scratched his short hair, ego bruised.
"Kuhahaha~ Can't beat hyung-nim, huh."
"Hey, my hand's numb. You grew."
I encouraged him gently.
"Right? Hyung-nim's too strong!"
Mitsuda perked up, grinning.
Slide.
The guys bantered a bit longer until the door opened.
Ha Dong-hwan entered.
"Brats, good vacation?"
"Shh—!"
Lee Jae-yeol's call silenced the chaos instantly.
Ha Dong-hwan smirked.
"Fine, sit. Class Prez, no need with me."
"Ah, yes, sir!"
C-Class scrambled to seats.
32 cadets, all back unscathed.
Ha Dong-hwan scanned us.
"Good vacations?"
"Yes!"
"Yes!"
"Mm, good. Elites know, but second semester schedule's changed big time. So today, briefing on the new training system."
Non-Elites whispered, glancing around.
Ha Dong-hwan bellowed,
"Yoon Ah-young! Lee Jae-yeol! Kang Tae-hyun!"
Scrape!
The called stood promptly.
Class Prez, Vice Prez, and mid-tier Elite Yoon Ah-young.
"Today, special joint training vs. Q-Class. It's called…"
I swallowed hard.
He grinned mischievously.
"3v3 Deathmatch. Team battle!"
(To be continued)