Chapter 1146

〈 Chapter 1146 〉 1146. The Academy’s Savior

I summoned the Hwaryeon Bidu.

If lightning doesn’t work, I can just go there and slice it to death. Fortunately, I could clearly see where the mud giant’s heart was located.

“Acceleration.”

[Acceleration activated. Duration: 10 minutes. Remaining stacks: 5]

I approached the mud giant. Stepping on its foot, knee, side, I climbed up to its shoulder. Over 30 feet high. The view opened up, but there was no time to admire the scenery.

“Fleeting Moment.”

[Fleeting Moment activated. Remaining stacks: 4]

In the slowed-down world, I instantly adjusted my stance. Red electricity surged through the blade.

Yeongcheon-ryu (Shadow Heaven Style) Thunder Light.

I decapitated the mud giant. Its head slid off the neck and fell down. Looking at the neck, mud was clumping together.

Puuk.

I stabbed the severed neck with the sword.

The blade reached the mud giant’s heart, the core. But it couldn’t pierce through. Suddenly, the heart moved toward the chest.

“Shit.”

Looking at the cut surface of the neck, the mud rippled like waves. A piece of solid rock appeared within the mud.

“So you’re trying to shoot rocks again.”

Kicking off the creature’s body, I landed on the ground. Spike rocks aimed for me.

Yeongcheon-ryu (Shadow Heaven Style) Thunder Step.

A small thunderclap sounded from my feet as I danced around, dodging all of the mud giant’s attacks.

The mud giant had already regenerated its head.

“I guess taking it easy won’t work.”

I recalled my second trait.

“Demon Hunter(S)

When fighting demons, stats increase.

Take less damage when fighting demons.

Deal additional damage to demons.

The more demons I kill, the stronger the effect becomes.

Exterminate demons.

Ability: Power of Monstrous Strength (A-)”

My body heated up. Instinct was telling me to tear apart the mud giant right in front of me and track down the demon hiding somewhere.

“Monstrous Strength.”

[Power of Monstrous Strength (A-) activated.]

With overwhelming force, I swung the Hwaryeon Bidu.

A massive air pressure split the mud giant’s body in half. No mana was used. It was a purely raw display of power.

“That’s the heart.”

A red, round stone.

I swung the Hwaryeon Bidu once more. An enormous air pressure targeted the heart. Mud interfered, gathering in front of the heart to form a shield. The air pressure shattered the shield but couldn’t destroy the heart.

Ignoring the trembling arms, I thought about the next attack. If I don’t finish this here, it’ll only get more troublesome.

Just as I was about to use Fleeting Moment, a spear flew from behind and precisely shattered the heart. The floating mud fell down.

I turned my head. Seong Hari confidently walked over with a smile.

“The mud giant I knew was a bit different. Well, still nothing special though.”

“Final Blow Charge.”

“…Final Blow Charge? I don’t know what that means, but it feels bad.”

“I could’ve handled it alone even without you.”

“If I wasn’t here, Oppa would’ve suffered more, right?”

She didn’t try to argue at all. Having nothing to say, I closed my mouth.

“We’ll split the demon stone fifty-fifty.”

The mud giant’s heart lost its light and turned into a demon stone.

“You can take it all.”

“Really?! I was struggling since I ran out of pocket money lately… This should cover it! Today’s my lucky day~”

Pocket money level. Listening to her made me speechless. It was a mud giant enhanced by demonic power. It must be worth hundreds of millions at least.

‘So this is when her extravagant spending started… Though Seong Hari’s spending habits aren’t important right now.’


“Hey.”

I ignored the cheerful Ha Na and looked around.

“Demon Hunter(S) is searching for traces of a demon.”

“Demon Hunter(S) is searching for traces of a demon.”

“Demon Hunter(S) is searching for traces of a demon.”

Notification windows popped up one after another. I smirked, feeling the determination to hunt down and kill any demons we find.

“Demon Hunter(S) has found traces of a demon.”

To my right, a reddish smoke flickered. The smoke swayed as if tempting me – this was the trace shown by Demon Hunter(S). I ran to the right.

“Wait, Oppa! Where are you suddenly going?!”

Ha Na followed behind me.

“You should go home.”

“…No way. I don’t have to listen to you.”

“Yeah, do as you please.”

There was no reason to argue with this fake version of her. Right now, defeating the demon was what mattered.

‘Even if this demon is fake… since Demon Hunter(S) reacted, killing it will make Demon Hunter(S) stronger. I might even gain some demonic powers.’

This was a rare chance to level up Demon Hunter(S) – there was no way I could let it slip.

“…Something feels off.”

Ha Na muttered.

“Off? What’s wrong?”

“…A monster appeared near our house, but our place didn’t react at all. Normally, spirits would’ve detected and warned us first.”

“Hmm, now that you mention it, that does seem strange…”

But it didn’t really feel odd to me.

Demons vary greatly in personality and power. Some openly enjoy destruction while others prefer scheming from the shadows. With a demon as the opponent, anything could happen.

The demon’s trail led toward downtown. Ha Na rolled her eyes but kept following me. She clearly had no idea what was really going on.

BOOM! KA-BOOM! KRAKABOOM!

Explosions echoed through the air.

A battle was raging downtown.

Monsters were rampaging everywhere, black runes covering their skin – signs of demonic influence.

“Demon Hunter(S) is enraged.”

“Demon Hunter(S) has found traces of a demon.”

The red smoke became clearer.

It meant I should ignore everything else and focus on finding the main demon. After all, this was a fake world; there was no need to waste time on minor enemies.

“Hey, Oppa! There’s a monster nearby! People are in danger!”

“You go help them.”

“…Oppa, are you really like this?”

“Yeah, this is who I am.”

“…”

Ha Na continued to follow me.

“Why are you still following? Shouldn’t you be saving people?”

“The Hero Association is already on it. Heroes will handle rescuing people – that’s their job.”

“But you’re a hero too, aren’t you?”

“I’m not a hero yet.”

“Oh, right…”

We were running through downtown when one of the fleeing citizens recognized me and screamed in shock.

“T-Terrorist!!”

The atmosphere turned icy. I could feel Ha Na glaring at the back of my head as I scratched mine awkwardly.

“Terrorist? What is he talking about?”

“Ah, turns out I’m actually a terrorist.”

“…”

“…”

The sound of air escaping filled the silence. She seemed to dismiss my words as a joke.

A sudden thought crossed my mind: If Ha Na finds out I’m a terrorist, she might attack me.

‘There’s no point in carrying unnecessary baggage into a fight against a demon… time to shake her off.’

[Using Acceleration. Duration: 10 minutes. Remaining stacks: 3]

Yeongcheon Ryu (Shadow Heaven Style) – Thunder Sound Step.

I increased my speed, dashing forward faster than a speeding car.

“What, what is that?!”

I heard Ha Na’s panicked voice. Her presence began to fade into the distance.

‘Future Ha Na might be able to keep up, but middle school Ha Na can’t possibly match me.’

Smiling warmly, I kept running. The night wind felt refreshing.

BOOM! KA-BOOM! KA-BOOM!

Loud explosions came from behind. Though battles were happening everywhere, these sounds were growing louder and closer. I glanced back to see Ha Na gritting her teeth and chasing after me. Her eyes burned fiercely.

‘…Did I offend her pride?’

Instead of running, Ha Na was leaping using mana. The explosions were the sounds of her jumps.

‘She’s brute-forcing her way through this. Not only will her mana deplete, but it’ll put strain on her body…’

Tsking, I slowed down. I had underestimated middle school Ha Na’s stubbornness.

“Enough…”


“Ha Na, go home already.”

“I do what I want,” Ha Na said while wiping her sweat.

It was annoying, but there was nothing to be done. After all, the destination was right in front of us.

At the Olympic Park, Peace Gate Plaza, a man stood there.

He wore a suit, a bowler hat on his head, and carried a cane in his hand. Strangely enough, a cat tail swayed from his back.

『The Demon Hunter(S) has detected the presence of a demon.』

『A great evil is faced.』

『All stats temporarily boosted.』

『Temporary increase in demon attack power.』

I could feel my strength amplify like never before. This wasn’t good. If the Demon Hunter(S) was boosting me this much, it meant the opposing demon wasn’t ordinary.

‘This getup… and that cat tail… no way.’

Realizing the demon’s identity, my face stiffened.

The demon, who had been gazing at the Gate of Peace, turned around. He was a middle-aged man with purple skin, no beard, and pointed ears. His eyes were blood red.

“Pleased to meet you, our eternal nemesis.”

When he spoke, his teeth were black.

“My name is Laplace.”

『Demon Hunter(S) identifies the demon.』

『Laplace. Master of the 8th Legion. The Eighth Legion Lord.』

My breath caught in my throat.

‘There’s never been a Legion Lord in Seoul before. If one had appeared, Seoul would’ve been obliterated. There’s no way someone of that caliber would move recklessly.’

In other words, he must have entered the dungeon from outside, just like me and Yuha. It’s assumed he used some method to come in first.

I recalled the notification window I saw when entering the dungeon.

『Entering Special Dungeon, ???』

???

Three question marks.

Evidence that the dungeon had mutated for some reason. And that reason was standing right in front of me.

“Damn… why is a Legion Lord here?”

“I can see the future. I knew you and the Maiden of Swords would come here.”

“So you’re here to kill me? This world will become your grave.”

As soon as I saw him, I unleashed the lightning I’d prepared.

Rumble rumble rumble.

A massive bolt illuminated the dark night sky.

“Haven’t I said…”

Laplace was unscathed. Smoke rose from the scorched ground around his feet.

He’d dodged it. My supposedly perfect-hitting lightning, thanks to my sniper trait.

“I can see the future.”

Laplace said casually.

I held up my sword, Hwaryeon Bido, and charged at him.

Yeongcheonryu (Shadow Sky Style): Bikkie (Emerald Stream).

As I ran toward Laplace, I swung my sword. He stepped back, evading my attack.

“Your attacks are especially fatal to us. How terrifying.”

With fluid movements, Laplace narrowly avoided each strike, like a tap dancer.

“The wish of a lifetime. Please, let me land just one hit.”

“An unreasonable wish. Though, even demons can grant wishes if the price is right.”

“What’s the price?”

“Your life.”

“Are you shitting me?!”

I generated thunder. Before the current could reach him, he pushed off the ground and soared into the air.

I gritted my teeth.

‘That guy, he’s not using his full power. Since he forced himself into the dungeon, there must be restrictions. No matter what, I have to kill him here.’

“I dislike direct combat. It lowers my dignity, doesn’t it?”

From his suit pocket, Laplace pulled out something. A lump of flesh. The flesh squirmed in his hand, alive.

“I’ve prepared something special for you. Your reaction is already clear in my mind.”

He threw the lump of flesh into the sky. As it floated upward, it grew larger, resembling a female vulva.

Clitoris, labia minora, urethra, vaginal opening… bluntly speaking. However, there was a large eyeball embedded in the clitoris area. The bloodshot eyeball stared down at the ground.

“Crazy bastard. You created a monster like this? Your brain’s fried.”

“Why? Isn’t it something you like? I merely reflected your preferences 100%.”

“Well, yeah, I kinda do…”

But this was just a monster shaped like a vagina.

I shook off the daze creeping into my mind.

The vulva monster’s labia flapped. Its vaginal opening gathered tremendous wind and expelled it. Warm gusts covered the ground. Vagina wind.