Chapter 2537 – 2537. Savior Of The Academy

Kang Ji-young, the head of Maruhan Academy, trusted me and did everything she could. I heard she even requested large-scale support from the Hero Association. But it wasn’t accepted.

To predict the invasion of the Third Legion without any evidence and demand preparation for it? Even if it was the word of Kang Ji-young, an S-class hero, it was hard to believe. Moreover, the current situation in Korea was chaotic. It was partly due to the Dark Hero, Jeokgwang… but the situation in China, which shares a border with Korea, had also become unstable in an instant.

Korea and China didn’t have a good relationship. They constantly belittled and provoked each other at every opportunity. China, in particular, was seen as a dangerous dictatorship by other countries. So, it was no exaggeration to say that the Korean Ministry of National Defense and the Hero Association were completely focused on China.

Thanks to Kang Ji-young, who maintained a good relationship with the Hero Association, she was able to bring some heroes in the form of an invitation.

‘Of course. This isn’t enough. Compared to the legion forces that will pour out, at least hundreds strong.’

I used the money I had. I brought weapons from all over the world and installed them throughout the academy. I had already received Kang Ji-young’s permission.

To operate the weapons, people were needed. But I had Makina. With the machine spirit Makina, I could remotely control these weapons.

‘In the original story, the victory condition for this event isn’t to drive out the Third Legion or kill the Third Legion Commander. It’s to hold out.’

Korea isn’t weak.

If we hold out until the Korean army and Korean heroes arrive, it will be at most one or two hours.

‘But I can’t miss the perfect opportunity to kill the Third Legion Commander, who has been weakened by a reckless invasion.’

I looked at the sky, where white snow was falling heavily, and waited for the day of the upcoming battle.

• • •

December 24th. Christmas Eve.

That morning, it didn’t snow. There were no clouds, and it was peaceful.

The students, teachers, staff, and invited heroes of Maruhan Academy all gathered in the auditorium from the morning. The auditorium was so large that it could accommodate everyone with space to spare.

People enjoyed the party. It was a forced party, but… the party itself was enjoyable, so there weren’t many complaints. This too would become a memory. That’s what people thought.

Around 2 PM.

I was outside. Kang Ji-young and Sung Ha-ri were near me. Tenrai Nagisa was in the auditorium. Her mission was to protect the auditorium. More precisely, to protect the students. The teachers and heroes in the auditorium? Those who could fight should naturally come out and fight. Where were they trying to slack off? However, the students were an exception. Even if they were aspiring heroes, they were still students. If even one of them died, Kang Ji-young would be in trouble.

‘In the original story, quite a few students die. I can’t guarantee that the situation is better than the original.’

Just as I had prepared thoroughly, the demons must have prepared something as well.

Meanwhile, Sung Ha-ri looked at me with a complicated expression.

“…Yujin-ah. Wouldn’t it be better for you to wait in the auditorium? You’re a student too.”

“Mom. I’m not weak. I’m stronger than most A-class heroes. You know roughly how much power I have.”

“……”

Sung Ha-ri tried to speak but stopped.

Most A-class? It wasn’t just that. I was practically an S-class hero now. Sung Ha-ri knew that, so she couldn’t forcibly restrain me. Now was the moment when a strong force was desperately needed.

I handed Sung Ha-ri a small bottle. It was a bottle containing a Guardian Spirit sealed by Shim Eun-ji using barrier magic.

“Mom. Use this when it’s dangerous.”

The Guardian Spirit sealed in the bottle started to convulse as soon as it saw Sung Ha-ri. It instinctively felt its natural enemy.

“…A spirit? No, it’s a bit different from a spirit.”

“It’s a Guardian Spirit. Its essence is a spirit, but… the Spirit King doesn’t treat these corrupted spirits as the same.”

Even if Sung Ha-ri, with her Spirit Devourer (S) trait, ate it, there would be no repercussions.

Sung Ha-ri’s eyes wavered for a moment as she looked at the Guardian Spirit. She hesitated, as if wondering if this was really okay, but then she looked at me and, as if having made up her mind, took the sealed Guardian Spirit.

『Sung Ha-ri’s thoughts: This isn’t the time to be picky. In the worst case… I have to protect Yujin.』

Sung Ha-ri had made up her mind. But that worst-case scenario wasn’t going to happen.

A little more time passed.

I, Sung Ha-ri, and Kang Ji-young simultaneously looked up at the sky. We sensed the fluctuating mana and immense magical power in the clear sky.

Crack.

A black crack appeared in the center of the sky. The crack spread in all directions like tree branches in an instant. The dimension was being forcibly broken.

Kwadudududuk.

A huge black wolf bit into the dimension that had reached its limit. Blood dripped from its muzzle.

It was Zarkan, the Third Legion Commander, also known as the Beast of the Bitter Cold. He scanned the ground with his red eyes, which gleamed with murderous intent and hunger.

My eyes met his. It couldn’t be a coincidence.

-Kaaaaaaaak!

Zarkan howled.

A bitter cold began to descend from the clear sky.

A cold, sharp wind blew. A wind containing the power of the Beast of the Bitter Cold.

We wrapped our bodies in mana to protect ourselves from the wind. Even so, we couldn’t completely protect ourselves.

『The Demon Hunter (SS) desires the death of the Demon Legion Commander.』
『All stats are temporarily increased.』
『Attack power against demons is temporarily increased.』
『The Demon Hunter (SS) discerns the demon.』
『Zarkan. Third Legion Commander. Beast of the Bitter Cold.』
『Zarkan’s power is bitter cold. He curses and freezes enemies by scattering bitter cold.』
『The Demon Hunter (SS) resists the power of the bitter cold.』

Unlike me, who had the Demon Hunter (SS) trait, Sung Ha-ri and Kang Ji-young quietly trembled. The breaths that escaped their lips froze and fell.

Kang Ji-young’s eyes glowed a bright blue. She had activated the Eye of Horus (SS).

“Is this Zarkan’s power? My body has become sluggish. My reaction speed has slowed by at least 20%. My thinking speed is also gradually slowing down. Is it a kind of curse? And even the mana in the air is slowly freezing.”

Crack.

Blue currents sparked from Sung Ha-ri’s body. I knew she had used Lightning Flash. A technique that strengthens and accelerates the body using lightning energy. It was also the original technique of the Lightning Heaven Style Gale Lightning.

“Well, it’s annoying.”

She gripped her spear and glared at Zarkan. Even in the face of a transcendent and immortal being, she showed no fear.

Behind us, a warm light and heat emanated. Tenrai Nagisa, who was maintaining the barrier of the auditorium, was pushing back the power of the bitter cold, even if only a little.

-Krrrrrrrr.

Zarkan growled as if displeased. It was also an order urging his subordinates.

Demons began to invade through the dimensional cracks.

Demons and beasts with unique appearances. Most of them were soldiers without titles, so there was no need to pay much attention to them. Even a B-class hero could handle those weakened ones.

The real ones were the ones slowly descending. Demon nobles with immense magical power.

‘…At least 15 or more. There’s no need to be scared. They’re also weakened from the reckless invasion. Makina. Start.’

I sent my will to Makina, who was located away from here.

[Got it! I’ll pour it all out!]

The weapons installed throughout the academy spewed fire.

Machine guns poured out bullets, and rocket missiles flew towards the demons. The targets were not the demon nobles but the low-ranking demons and beasts. Since it wouldn’t work on those guys anyway, I chose to reduce the number of soldiers.

Bang! Kwang! Bang!

Missiles exploded in the air, and the bodies of demons and beasts were torn apart.

The demon nobles didn’t even bat an eye at the deaths of their subordinates. Rather, they watched as if it were amusing.

As the outside became noisy, the heroes and teachers inside the auditorium appeared. They grouped together and fought against the demons and beasts approaching the auditorium. That alone was enough help.

Kang Ji-young calmly opened her mouth.

“Sung Ha-ri. Some demon nobles are targeting the auditorium. You deal with them.”

“What? You want me to deal with the small fry instead of that bastard?”

“You’re the weakest among us right now.”

“……Okay. What about you and Yujin?”

“We’ll focus on holding out while dealing with those guys.”

Sung Ha-ri nodded and ran, stepping on the air, in the direction Kang Ji-young pointed.

“Sung Yujin. The army and the Hero Association’s support will arrive within an hour. We just need to hold out.”

“No. I have to kill the Legion Commander.”

“Is there a possibility?”

“Enough.”

Kang Ji-young didn’t object to my words. She didn’t know exactly about my Demon Hunter (SS) trait, but she had an insight into it. If the opponent was a demon, I would become stronger.

“Alright. Do it. I… I guess I have to deal with that one.”

Kang Ji-young was glaring at a woman with two heads. To be precise, it was a demon whose upper body was human, but whose lower body was something else.

I knew the identity of that woman through the original story. That woman was the real brain of the Third Legion. That demon was the one who planned this invasion.

『The Demon Hunter (SS) discerns the demon.』
『Uureka. Demon Duchess. Cunning Witch. Affiliated with the Third Legion.』
『Uureka’s power is transparency. She can make herself and the materials and magic she touches transparent.』
『The Demon Hunter (SS) partially sees through Uureka’s transparency power.』

Four magic circles were visible in front of Uureka. They were magic circles made transparent using her power.

“Uureka. Her power is…”

“I know. We have some bad blood from the past. Uureka’s power can be seen through my eyes, so don’t worry.”

Kang Ji-young used the Wolf of the Earth (S) trait. Black-brown wolf ears, the same color as her hair, appeared above her head. At the same time, her stats increased. Kang Ji-young held a greatsword she had prepared in one hand.

I quietly checked her status window.

『Name: Kang Ji-young
Strength: SS Stamina: SS+ Agility: S+ Durability: SS Mana: S-
Traits: Eye of Horus (SS), Wolf of the Earth (S)
Skills: Greatsword (S), Magic (A), Sixth Sense (S), Super Strength (A), Natural Recovery (S).
Affection: 47』

Her stats were nothing short of terrifying.

“Oh my. It’s Ji-young. Fancy seeing you here? Honestly… you’re still an eyesore after all this time!”

From above, the Cunning Witch Uureka looked at Kang Ji-young and sneered.

“It’s been a while. Unlike last time, you won’t be able to run away today.”

“Run away? I was just letting you off the hook back then. But bad news for you… I have no intention of letting you off the hook like last time.”

Kang Ji-young jumped upwards, and Uureka bombarded Kang Ji-young with invisible magic.

I took my eyes off them and looked up at the sky. Zarkan was still growling, but he didn’t seem to have any intention of moving right away.

‘He’s trying to freeze the dimensional cracks with the power of the bitter cold to maintain them as much as possible and give strength to the demons.’

This was different from the original story. In the original story, he came over right away and rampaged with the other demons. However, he was looking at me and being wary.

‘But me going over there is practically suicide… Shall I test how long he’ll just watch?’

I raised the Hwaryeon Flying Blade. Red lightning surged along the blade.

“Domain Expansion.”