“How unfortunate that our first conversation happened in a place like this. If it had been at the cradle, I would have at least treated you to a cup of tea.”
Choi Ireh, blocking Lee Hyun’s path, flashed a cheeky smile. The way she chatted away, seemingly with no intentions, clearly revealed her aim to stall for time.
Lee Hyun, catching her intent, crouched low as if he were about to leap at any moment, growling.
“Move aside.”
“Oh my, how scary. But that won’t do.”
Choi Ireh flinched her shoulders as if truly frightened. However, the mischief in her voice couldn’t be concealed. The pupils behind her glasses were still keenly watching Lee Hyun.
“You, junior, will be investigated as a key party involved in this incident. Sorry, but you’ll have to be detained here. If you cooperate, I won’t… hurt you…”
Hoo-woo!
As if deciding to waste no more time, Lee Hyun charged at Choi Ireh.
But the bespectacled female student was still smiling nonchalantly. She showed no signs of agitation even as he approached close enough to reach her.
Thoom!
Just before his fist could connect with Choi Ireh, it unexpectedly veered sideways, as if blocked by a thick wall, gliding off harmlessly.
The sudden recoil sent him staggering back, a low, heavy vibration spreading from the point of impact.
“Hehe. How does it feel to taste the strongest shield?”
Lee Hyun, swiftly shaking off the impact, turned to assess the surroundings.
Before him stood something that resembled a massive translucent barrier.
He charged forward again, this time controlling his strength as if to gauge his opponent.
The moment Lee Hyun’s fist touched the barrier, flower-petal-like structures blooming all over it quivered, sending the shockwave rippling through.
Choi Ireh’s body remained untouched, not even a scratch.
“Our Seongsan’s Phalanx is the strongest defense magic of the release type. Did you know? Even Seoyeon took over fifteen minutes to break through it.”
Seeing Lee Hyun’s attack fail, Choi Ireh’s smug smile deepened. In the world of wizards, fifteen minutes could flip the tide of battle multiple times.
“But do you think you can break through this barrier? You know that’s impossible. Especially since you don’t seem to be in great shape. Why not just give up?”
“…”
Lee Hyun fell into contemplation at her confident words. His breath was heavy, and his head felt foggy; time was becoming ever more pressing.
Should he kill her to get through? Impossible. If it were mere suppression, perhaps, but taking a life now would be nothing short of self-sabotage. Especially considering she was the heir of a renowned family, the Ma-do 27 clan.
Thus, invoking his power to scatter the barrier was currently out of the question. He couldn’t show this against someone he wouldn’t even kill.
Could he break through the shield without any powers?
That would be a no.
Barrier magic can be modified according to the user, but fundamentally, it absorbs damage by consuming the same amount of particles used to launch an attack.
Seongsan’s unique magic maximizes that principle. Using the massive particle quantities inherent to her bloodline, they built an even thicker foundation and improved the structure innovatively with the addition of magic.
When subjected to impact, structures resembling flowers clustered together either absorb the shock or let it flow through, enhancing the barrier’s durability and lifespan even further.
So, there is a degree of validity to Choi Ireh’s confidence. Breaking through that wouldn’t be an easy feat for anyone. For some, it could be almost impossible.
Unless someone who could launch endless attacks without worrying about particle depletion was present.
Lee Hyun quickly reached a conclusion. Soon, he began to elevate his predictive model with formulas.
No matter how “strong” the shield was, a barrier was just a barrier. It was only logical that an attack outstripping its particle capacity would break through.
And the act that was impossible for other wizards was possible for Lee Hyun.
Cough… Urgh.
As soon as he unleashed his advanced predictive path, a pain gripping his heart overtook him. His entire vascular system felt as if dipped in hellfire, and his eyes swam painfully.
He was once again forcing strength from an unhealed body. However, now that he had a definitive target, there was no reason or leeway to hold back.
He needed to take down the obstruction in front of him as quickly as possible and join Yeon Minha before the prediction’s time limit expired, heading to the location revealed by his commander.
“Such a shame. You seem like a fine talent to me. How did such a junior end up with the Jeokhwa clan… huh?”
As he ramped up his momentum, Choi Ireh’s nonchalant muttering changed to a look of shock.
“Junior… are you seriously trying to…”
Kaboom!
Before she could finish her sentence, Lee Hyun swiftly closed the distance. His speed eclipsing that of his previous attack by several folds.
The barrier absorbing his punch vibrated violently. The heavy shockwave echoed deafeningly around them.
“…Should I take back my compliment? You seem a bit slow-witted… huh?”
Crack!
Choi Ireh, still relaxed, was about to modify her evaluation of him when a sound that absolutely should not have been heard pierced her ears.
“Uh, uh? W-Why…”
Startled, she turned to the front.
At the point where Lee Hyun’s attack hit, vertical cracks began to form in the massive, translucent barrier.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
As if immediately responding, Lee Hyun followed up with another attack before Choi Ireh had time to process reality. He relentlessly pummeled the crack-riddled section with particle-infused fists.
Clang!
And with a final blow, the battered barrier shattered like a broken window, scattering into the air.
Choi Ireh’s expression turned to one of horror.
“No way…! This is absolutely impossible…!”
“Such things don’t happen in this world.”
“AAAH!”
The Masked Male Student closed the distance in an instant. As Choi Ireh recoiled in panic, she frantically unleashed particle missiles into the air.
While they were quite sharp attacks, had it been anyone else, she might have been able to seize an opportunity for counterattack.
“Dammit…!”
Clang!
However, the Masked Male Student dodged them all with efficient movements.
Choi Ireh tried to manipulate her particle array to recreate the Phalanx’s magical formula, but it was shattered before it could even fully materialize.
And at that moment, Lee Hyun’s fist hit her chin directly.
This wasn’t a spar—this was real combat. The moment the release-type allowed the circulation-type to approach, the outcome was practically predetermined.
Kehek!
Boom!
She couldn’t even let out a proper dying gasp.
The punch caved in her helmet, sending Choi Ireh flying several meters, crashing into the rear wall with a tremendous sound.
Lee Hyun stepped toward where she had been flung.
Dust from the impact swirled away, revealing Choi Ireh sprawled out in a sorry state, showing no signs of movement.
He considered breaking all her fingers if she resisted further, but thankfully it seemed unnecessary to waste energy on such trivialities.
Flap!
As the fight began, a crow that had soared into the air returned, circling around Lee Hyun.
“Huff… huff…”
Lee Hyun stood still for a moment, catching his breath. His condition was worse than expected, and anxiety was creeping in.
“…Let’s go.”
Hearing his words, the crow flapped its wings and resumed leading the way.
With the toxic mist thinning, the devastation wrought upon Jeokhwa began to reveal itself around them.
Once a beautifully adorned garden, it was now littered with horrifically mutilated bodies.
The direction the crow led took Lee Hyun to a distance where deafening gunfire sounded, fierce to the point of being agonizing.
*
“You… how dare you touch my father… you!!”
Boom!
A fierce column of fire rained down on Baek Seoyeon. Building an ice wall to block it, metallic arms sought to bind her from below. Just narrowly avoiding the attack, a particle bullet zipped past her neck.
It left a shallow scratch before crashing into the dirt, causing a bang!
“Ugh…!”
Baek Seoyeon clutched her throat, blood trickling between her fingers. The fiery glances exchanged between the two sides sparked like flames.
One was the strongest wizard in history.
The other was the strongest spirit conjurer.
The question of who was superior had become a popular topic among cradle students.
However, despite being ranked closely, neither had faced the other in the past year’s ranking matches.
Rumors spread like wildfire that the Educational Committee had manipulated the matchups, fearing the aftermath of a conflict between these titans. Of course, the committee issued official denials, but the speculation frequently resurfaced, stirring students’ imaginations.
Yet no one expected it to escalate into a deadly duel that could seal the fates of their families.
“Yeon Minha! That’s enough…! If you continue, you’ll face charges…”
“Shut up!”
Boom!
With a furious cry, sharp spikes erupted from beneath Baek Seoyeon’s feet. She barely managed to retaliate with magic, negating the attack and retreating.
Tears filled Yeon Minha’s eyes, burning like the sunset. All her resentment was channeled solely at Baek Seoyeon. She felt she might lose her own self if she didn’t.
Baek Seoyeon reconsidered her approach. Yeon Minha was not someone she could simply look down on like others.
Yeon Minha was a spirit conjurer who maximized her advantages.
Considering magic’s elemental relationships, she commanded dozens of spirits with differing attributes, rendering her nearly invulnerable in terms of weaknesses.
That girl was genuinely intent on ending her.
Treating this lightly could cost her life.
Yet Baek Seoyeon had no intention of dying for her. She still had tasks left to complete, and until they were done, she couldn’t spare her life for anyone.
Even if it meant taking the life of another to save her own.
Decisively, Baek Seoyeon stepped back, manipulating her particle array to send forth a colossal spell.
Frost began to spread from her feet, consuming all in its vicinity.
If the Heukryeon’s unique magic symbolized the strongest individual combat ability, Paecheon’s Snowfield represented overwhelming battlefield control.
In no time, the surroundings transformed into an icy plain, signaling the area where Baek Seoyeon could maximize her strength.
A fog of warm breath escaped her lips as the particles obeyed her every gesture, instantaneously freezing towards Yeon Minha’s feet, binding her movements.
Boom! Bam! Bam!
And before Yeon Minha could even begin to counter, particles began bombarding from all directions, showering her relentlessly.
“Hah…!”
Yeon Minha desperately formed a barrier to stave it off. The sheer quantity of incoming particles shifted the tide of battle instantly.
Dust filled the air, obscuring Yeon Minha’s silhouette. Baek Seoyeon’s unwavering focus poured particles into her barrage.
Swish!
Suddenly, a fire whip burst through the gaps in the bombardment, snaking around Baek Seoyeon’s ankle and yanking her towards it.
Hiss!
“Hah…!”
The burning whip bit into her skin, the scent of singed flesh permeating the air.
Barely cutting through it, Baek Seoyeon readied herself again.
“Hah… hah…!”
The moment the explosions ceased, revealing the scene within the dust cloud, there stood a fatigued Yeon Minha, her legs trembling as shallow breaths escaped her.
Her body bore numerous cuts, blood flowing freely, yet her disheveled hair and vibrant red eyes conveyed her fierce determination and hatred.
Baek Seoyeon didn’t waver. This was how their fates were inevitably intertwined.
She extended her fingers once more, manipulating the particle array. Her movements were resolute, devoid of hesitation.
In an instant, she summoned hundreds of particle bullets into the air, launching them all at Yeon Minha simultaneously.
“Hah…”
Faced with the overwhelming sight, Yeon Minha let out a deep, regret-laden sigh.
It wasn’t long before those sharp projectiles would tear her flesh apart before her.
Sensing her impending doom, she slowly closed her eyes.
However, just as Baek Seoyeon’s particle bullets were about to strike,
A shadow appeared from nowhere, stepping in to block Yeon Minha.
Yeon Minha’s eyes widened in disbelief.
“You… you…”
Boom! Bam! Bam!
He raised a barrier, deflecting the attack, but the endless onslaught of particle bullets melted it away in an instant.
With a blade drawn, he parried the successive strikes.
Bang! Bang…
With their prepared particle bullets running out, Yeon Minha finally relaxed, and she stumbled to the ground.
The Masked Male Student, cradling the fainting Yeon Minha as if handling a prized work of art, discarded the already broken blade carelessly onto the ground.
He then prepared himself against Baek Seoyeon, charging toward her at lightning speed.
Crack…
Baek Seoyeon gritted her teeth, glaring at him. Grasping a long, cold spear, she readied herself for the incoming engagement.
He was now close enough to make out her eyelashes.
*
Drip… dripp…
Taking advantage of the master’s moment of distraction, the mask was nearing the end of its lifespan from accumulating overwhelming shock.
Drip… clank…
As the graveness near her eyes widened, a golden fissure appeared.
Clatter…!
In the end, the mask dropped a portion of itself to the floor, revealing what it had closely hoarded all along.
“Uh…?”
At that moment.
In what felt like an eternity, Baek Seoyeon gazed at something.
It was but a narrow crack. Yet, she could clearly see what lay beyond.
Simultaneously, an image of something she’d lost long ago flashed in her mind.
Something so precious, now forever lost due to her own mistakes, that it plunged her into endless despair and regret.
It was the eyes of someone who had always looked at her, whispering sweet nothings of love, crisp and clear like no other.
Why she recalled them then, she couldn’t comprehend.
Yet, in that instant, her wilting resolve waned, and the sharp ice projectiles, moments before set to seek out their target, lost their power and tumbled to the ground.
Thud!
And before she could process her thoughts, a sudden jolt of exhilaration surged through her lower abdomen.
Abruptly, Baek Seoyeon looked down. A coarse fist bore down into her belly with brute force.
“Hah…!”
Amidst the wave of either pleasure or pain, she sank down on the spot.
What was strange was that even after the blow, no animosity bubbled within her.
As though that gaze from behind the mask briefly flickered through her soul, banishing all of her ill feelings into nothingness.
“Wait, wait…!”
Baek Seoyeon, now kneeling, hastily turned, reaching out. Even after being ruthlessly violated, she couldn’t help but utter gentle words.
However, the Masked Male Student had already vanished into the depths of dawn, cradling Yeon Minha away with urgency.
“Ah…”
Baek Seoyeon extended her hand toward the emptiness, mindlessly staring into the void.
Her mind was filled with chaos.
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