Academy's Silver Gatekeeper-Chapter 69

"..."

Kwak Hyuk stared blankly at the spear in his hand. More precisely, at the 'broken' spear that had split into two.

Despite red blood gushing from his chest, he wasn't concerned about that. Right now, he was solely focused on his broken spear.

'I couldn't read it. I couldn't even see it. Me. This me.'

Whoosh—!

Slicing through the air, a chilling blade flies straight toward him. Kwak Hyuk reflexively tried to block it with his spear, only belatedly realizing his spear wasn't intact.

Thus, the only path he could take was one: Namely, to take a step back and create distance.

It didn't end with just one instance either.

Every time the blue blade flew in, Kwak Hyuk had to retreat. Once, twice, and then a third time. Continuously, without pause.

After retreating for a while, Kwak Hyuk gritted his teeth.

'I am… This is me, taking steps backward?'

It was unbelievable. This, this is an impossible event.

The opponent isn't even a fellow Elder, or another S-rank ability user. Just a C-rank youngster. Nothing more than something to trip over on the way. An opponent who could never, even in a thousand lifetimes, inflict even a scratch on him.

Can a human run away from an ant, bleeding profusely? When they would dismiss a swarm with a shake of the head, against just one? Impossible. If such a thing were to happen, the person would, well, not be a person.

But that event actually occurred. To him, and in such a pitiful state.

"You bastard!"

Anger welled up, with a violent explosion like an active volcano.

Only one person in the world had ever brought him such humiliation. Irina. That crazy blonde. A powerhouse even other S-ranks were in awe of. Only to that woman had he experienced a shameful defeat.

Except for her, he had never been defeated. Not even a hint of being pushed back. Even other Elders avoided direct confrontation with him.

Yet, he was being pushed back by the man in front of him. That sight reminded him of his past defeat against Irina. It made him recall that humiliation of being defeated and broken.

Kwak Hyuk couldn't bear it. He didn't want to see the past.

Swoosh—!

Though broken and shortened, a spear is still a spear. Kwak Hyuk, gripping the blade part, thrust the spear forward.

Whatever trick was pulled, whatever miracle occurred. There won't be a second time. The opponent's balance is already on the verge of collapse. If he disrupts the core just once more, the opponent will fall by himself.

'Let's see how far you can dodge.'

Emitting a chilling gaze, Kwak Hyuk continued to press Baek Seojin. And soon, after creating an opening, he thrust his spear inward.

Shunk—!

The spear blade properly entered Baek Seojin's side. The sound of a blade cutting flesh, tearing muscle, and severing blood vessels. That eerie and cruel sound clearly reached Kwak Hyuk's ears.

He won't endure. With this level of injury, he must collapse. Even if he doesn't collapse, he should be writhing like a worm.

'But why is this guy...'

Far from writhing, he's not even slowing down. Instead, he's even wearing a faint smile. That expression was similar to a hunter's smile, as if he had been waiting for this.

Only then did Kwak Hyuk realize that the feeling of the spear piercing through the side was strange.

It should have felt like crushing internal organs. That's what it should have felt like. But there was a very subtle feeling of hitting something.

'...No way. The bone-splitting technique?'

A saying about offering your flesh to take the enemy's bone. In the current situation, it meant he had offered both his flesh and bone. In return, he would take more of the opponent's flesh and bone.

The moment Kwak Hyuk's spear entered, Baek Seojin twisted his body. Then, using his ribs as a shield, he blocked the spear blade that was reaching for his internal organs.

Possible only because he read the opponent's attack without a moment's hesitation. An attack that was supposed to end it all only resulted in a severe injury that bought time. What would happen next was all too clear.

Whoosh—!

"Ugh!"

Gritting his teeth, Kwak Hyuk had to retreat once again. The sword that grazed his face, then slashed near his neck.

This is not Kang Minseong's sword. Nor is it Ma Hakjun's sword. It's a sword path I've never seen before. However, I could definitely feel it was vicious and venomous.

Only vital points, vital points, and more vital points. A sword carrying the same, no, even more killing intent than his own. A sword skill he had never felt while fighting Baek Seojin.

'What the hell is this. This guy used Kang Minseong's sword one moment, then some other strange sword the next.'

The thoughts of continuing to retreat and of countering clash in his mind. For that, he first needs to retrieve his spear.

The spear, still stuck in Baek Seojin's side, remained in place.

But he can't retrieve it for free. He has to pay a price. Though shameful, there's no other choice.

After coming to that realization, Kwak Hyuk bit his lip and thrust his body forward.

Slash—! ƒreewebηoveℓ.com

A long blood line was drawn on Kwak Hyuk's left shoulder. The arm hung loosely, as if it could be severed at any moment. But thanks to that, Kwak Hyuk was finally able to retrieve his spear.

"Gah!"

As the spear was violently pulled out, Baek Seojin staggers. After enduring and enduring, has he finally reached his limit?

Yes, that's how it should be. That's normal. How could he endure any longer against someone like him? That's the right reaction. What happened until now was impossible!

Once again, he draws out the killing intent that had been submerged deep within. That filthy and squalid emotion reserved solely for one person. He aims it not at the one he had been targeting all along, but at someone else.

The spear is broken, the left arm is unusable, and there's a large wound on his chest. But nothing changes. He is still a murderous ghost, and he doesn't deny it. And this attack will definitely take the opponent's life.

"Kyaaaa!!"

A bestial roar erupts from Kwak Hyuk's mouth. It was evidence that he had bet quite a lot on this strike. If he fails to achieve his goal this time as well, there's no turning back.

…

"Gurk."

Red blood suddenly gushes from my mouth. So this is what vomiting blood feels like. Wow, to think I'd experience this one day. The fact that I'm thinking like this suggests I've really been pushed to the brink of death.

The pain that was tearing my body apart until just a moment ago. But now, even that pain has faded.

It felt hollow. Numb. Everything was just... blurry.

Maybe I've lost too much blood. Or maybe I'm exhausted. Or perhaps, with no more options, I've subconsciously given up. I don't know. All I can see is Kwak Hyuk flying towards me.

I really might die at this rate. I feel like I should do something. But my body has been pushed to its limit. It's already a miracle I've fought this far.

I wish a miracle would happen one more time, just once more. I feel like I've already borrowed all the miracles of a lifetime.

'Should I just stop here?'

Subconsciously, such a thought briefly crossed my mind.

After all, this isn't real, right? This is all just a part of a novel. Who knows. If I die, maybe I'll be able to return to the world I was in.

Yes. That might be possible. If I stop here, then it's over. I'll go back to where I truly belong. Everything returns to how it was. To the place where my real life is, not as Baek Seojin...

"Let's make a promise. We won't die!"

"Everyone, promise. We'll all survive, no matter what!"

Through my fading consciousness, something appeared vividly. Children huddled together. Hands tightly clasped. Dressed in identical clothes, they were saying those words in a space filled with gray.

What is that? Who are those children? Why are they saying such things? Is this a dream? But it feels too real for a dream.

Suddenly, I became curious about many things. And unconsciously, I held onto my sanity.

"Kyaaaa!!"

Kwak Hyuk, who just moments ago was speaking with a low voice. But now, he's making a sound like a wild beast.

Yes. This bastard is quite desperate too. He's also been cornered in his own way. Thinking about it makes me feel better. And, it seems like I might be able to do this? A hope with a pretty rational reason even emerged.

'I can do this.'

Yes, I can do it. It's enough. How could I not do twice what I've already done once?

Though my body is in a mess, and even moving is painful, it's worth trying.

Even as the world turned red, I could see clearly. The eerie, sticky, and damp smell of death. It was disgusting. I wanted to get rid of it quickly and breathe in fresh air to my heart's content.

Just once more, let's try once more. Think about how hard I've worked till now. It feels too unfair to give up now. If death is inevitable, then so be it, but I see a chance to survive here.

What Kang Minseong taught me, what Lee Hyunwoo showed me, and. All the sword trajectories that Kim Suhyeon almost forcibly taught me recently. I embedded the wind of the old master and the paths that the future aces will unfold.

There was no difficult, complex, or profound technique. This was just a simple swing.

To survive? Hmm, I don't think that's it. What am I doing this for again? To kill him? That doesn't seem right either. What was it?

...Ah, right. That's it. The reason I'm doing this is, that's right.

'You bastard, to prevent you from passing.'

They are all students who will all be evaluated again someday. So don't even think about touching them. They're mine.

Last time, I slashed from the upper right to the lower left. This time, the opposite. From the upper left to the lower right.

Towards Kwak Hyuk, who had flown right up close, I swung my sword with all my might.

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