* * *A sound echoed from beyond the wall, as if something had collided against it. How it managed to approach the underground shelter was unknown, but one thing was certain.The shelter walls wouldn’t be able to hold out much longer.The sound of something digging through the wall reverberated throughout the shelter. And soon enough, cracks began to appear on the wall.Someone gulped audibly as they saw the wall cracking. Only then did all their doubts turn into certainty. Yes, the enemy had arrived.As soon as reality struck them, there were short screams and the sound of footsteps retreating in panic.The noise of frightened students and the cracking wall.As screams erupted throughout shelter erupted and the wall began spewing out chunks of concrete and dust, Yeomyeong tightened his grip on his weapon and said,“…Everyone, get ready.”The giant wall shattered with a loud crash, as if hit by artillery.Immediately, everyone quickly took defensive positions, either raising their weapons or crouching down reflexively…Except for Yeomyeong.As soon as the wall came crashing down, he launched himself off the ground. Ignoring the flying debris, he unleashed his Sword Aura through the collapsing wall.Attack over defense; a lesson he had painstakingly learned in North Manchuria.“ My arm!!”An arm hit by his Sword Aura was flung into the air. And before the blood from the severed shoulder could hit the ground, Yeomyeong already landed beyond the wall.There was a massive cave large enough to fit six adult men standing side by side beyond the wall.Yeomyeong wasn’t that knowledgeable when it came to construction, but even he could tell that it wasn’t possible to make a cave like this overnight.This alone proved that this attack had been planned over several months or even years.“T-that guy! It’s the transfer student!”The cave was swarming with unidentified armed individuals carrying firearms. Not only were there rifles, but someone was also aiming a rocket launcher from beyond the wall.The firepower, surpassing that of a typical mercenary group, was all directed at Yeomyeong.“Kill him!”As the unidentified individuals pulled their triggers, Yeomyeong sprang into action.Since it was impossible to dodge the bullets in the narrow cave, Yeomyeong simply bore the bullets with his body as he charged towards the closest enemy.The main culprit behind the wall’s breach was undoubtedly a staff-wielding Mage.“H-Hilaria’s…! Respond to me—!”The Mage began casting a spell reflexively, but Yeomyeong’s sword was a bit faster. The mana-infused sword sliced through the Mage’s neck.“”Yeomyeong then grabbed the bleeding Mage’s body and raised it in the direction of the cave.It was clear that he was planning to use the Mage as a meat shield.Seeing this, the attackers stopped shooting instinctively, but the bullets that had already left the barrels hit the Mage’s body.“Deral! No!”Shocked by the attack, the assailants showed a brief opening and Yeomyeong did not miss the opportunity.Holding the Mage’s corpse like a shield, he charged towards the enemies.“Stop him! He’s the one who captured the dragon! Don’t let him through!”First step. Bullets rained down. Yeomyeong used the Mage’s corpse to cover his face and upper body.Second step. His heart pumped harder. Blood flowed freely from the wounds he had received before he killed the Mage, but at the same time, his mind was accelerating rapidly.On his third step, bullets struck his calves. Gritting his teeth, he infused mana into his sword.Four, five… and seven.And as soon as he reached close enough to see the enemies’ pupils, Yeomyeong threw the corpse and swung his sword.The suppressed Sword Aura exploded, its light permeating the cave.The sword aura imbued with mana from the Surging Wave technique cut through the incoming bullets and the air.“Dodge!”Someone yelled, but was there even room to escape in the narrow cave? The attackers could only fire their guns frantically or shut their eyes tightly.Just before dozens of bodies were split in half…“Light of Hilaria—!”A beam of light burst forth from the attackers’ rear.The beam of light collided with the Sword Aura at a speed invisible to the eye. And with a flash, the mana dispersed chaotically before exploding, causing the entire cave to echo with screams.Debris and dust billowed. Swept up by the shock, Yeomyeong quickly regained his stance and glared at the enemies.Seeing that there weren’t many casualties, it seemed like the magic had reduced the power of the Sword Aura.Despite the massive amount of mana infused in the strike, only a few were flung against the cave wall by the explosion.However, even that was more than enough to shock the attackers beyond belief.After all, they had never expected to be hit back like this. Their initial plan was to simply fire their guns from beyond the cave.Using the Flying Kick technique, Yeomyeong leaped and charged at the enemies, not giving them any time to recover.“Move to Plan B! All Superhumans, advance! Don’t hold back! He’s on par with the Saintess and the Vessel!”The enemies didn’t just sit back, either. Instead of wasting bullets, Superhumans among the attackers began to step forward.They immediately swung their swords at Yeomyeong’s face. Their swordsmanship was different from the crude styles shown by Manchurian mercenaries.This was genuine martial arts, which Yeomyeong had only seen a few times since becoming a Superhuman.Yeomyeong was curious about their identities, but the attack of more than three swords interrupted his thoughts.Sparks flew as swords clashed. The mana-infused sword expelled the shock, and Yeomyeong’s arms tingled.It wasn’t just about skill; the weapon was an issue.The practice swords were unable to withstand his mana. He could already feel cracks forming along the blade.Yeomyeong continued to parry their swords while contemplating whether to retreat or…It didn’t take him long to arrive at a decision. Gathering his mana, Yeomyeong prepared his Sword Aura again.“That Sword Aura again! Everyone, fall back…”And at that very moment, someone with flowing black hair and blue eyes suddenly appeared from behind Yeomyeong.The practice sword swept past the neck of the Superhuman who had been focusing on Yeomyeong.“How could you charge at the enemies alone?”Seti’s voice rang out belatedly.And before the Superhuman with his neck sliced could fall, Yeomyeong and Seti exchanged glances.No further explanation was needed. Both of them extended their swords toward the Superhumans simultaneously.And with that, the rest of their companions charged in.* * *Jeon Yunseong and Wesley, Soe Miri and Miss Gemini… and at the rear, the Saintess. shouting, Sёarch* The NôvelFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
“Seti! Don’t get hurt!”As Seti and the rest of their companions jumped into the chaos created by Yeomyeong, the enemy’s formation began to collapse.“Damn it! They’re all Superhumans! Everyone, forget about hitting the allies and just shoot!”Even though they were just students, as Superhumans, they would at least be able to dodge bullets on seeing the gun barrels.The attackers kept firing their guns frantically, but the battle had already turned in their favor.However, for some reason… the battle was not as one-sided as expected.The sound of gunfire was relentless, and occasionally, a Superhuman’s sword flew towards Yeomyeong.Having driven a sword into a Superhuman’s neck and seized his weapon, Yeomyeong turned his head to investigate.After watching his companions fight for a brief moment, Yeomyeong realized why the battle had stagnated.Only Yeomyeong and Seti were killing their enemies without mercy.The other four were wasting their strength by either taking down or incapacitating the attackers.However, he had no reason or desire to chastise them. After all, they were students showing courage. It would be too hard on them if he forced them to kill.Instead, Yeomyeong fought even more fiercely to make up for it.His sword was soon stained red, and blood flowed with every step he took.Thanks to that, the attackers became more aggressive in their attacks focused toward Yeomyeong than anyone else.“Die!”Some attempted to commit suicide with grenades, while others fired rockets without considering their allies…And that was when the Saintess, who had somehow picked up a gun, pulled through and helped Yeomyeong by sniping the enemies.He did not know how she was able to take such accurate shots in the dark cave, but… well, didn’t the Saintess always wear a blindfold?Yeomyeong paid her no mind and continued to reduce the number of enemies.And finally, he came face to face with the Mage hiding at the very back.“Th-this can’t be….”The Mage had a look of pure shock on his face, and his eyes, especially when he looked at Yeomyeong, was even a hint of despair.“The Priest’s prediction… was wrong. You’re no Holy Knight. No Holy Knight could be as ruthless as you.”“…The Priest? Is some religious organization behind this attack?”Yeomyeong asked while still keeping his guard up. The opponent was a Mage, one who was able to cast a spell to nullify his Sword Aura in no time.He could fire a surprise spell at any moment…“…Mr. Joseph?”Miss Gemini, who had somehow reached Yeomyeong’s side, spoke to the Mage.“Miss Gemini.”“H-how could you…?”“I’m sorry that we have to meet in a place like this.”That Mage was an Academy teacher? Yeomyeong glanced back and forth between the two.Miss Gemini’s face was full of shock. However, the Mage, named Joseph, showed no change in expression.“M-Mr Joseph, why… why are you doing this?”“… It was for a greater cause.”As soon as Joseph replied, Yeomyeong interjected.“A greater cause that became your reason to rain bullets into students. What a grand cause indeed.”“Feel free to speak as you please. Someone like you will never be able to never understand our grievances and cause.”“Why don’t you say that to the police instead of me?”With that provoking remark, he drew his sword.No matter how skilled a Mage was, take away their staff and cut off their limbs, and they were just slightly healthier than an average person.Seeing Yeomyeong draw closer with big strides, Joseph sighed and spoke to the still-dazed Miss Gemini.“Miss Gemini, I’ll give you one last piece of advice.”“…”“If by some chance, you manage to survive here… don’t ever look back, just return to your hometown.”“W-What do you mean….”“This isn’t our first time attacking the academy, nor will it be the last. There are countless people who want to shatter the false symbol of peace established by the Earth.”As Joseph spoke, he suddenly began gathering his mana and just as Yeomyeong was about to reflexively release his Sword Aura….“Even at this very moment, the fact that others besides us are targeting the academy is proof of that, isn’t it…”The mana that erupted from Joseph’s body was too crude to be labeled a spell but too sophisticated to be a mere rampage.No, it wasn’t just a simple self-destruction. The mana that exploded, tearing Joseph’s body apart, surged upward and struck the ceiling.Was he trying to make the cavern collapse? Yeomyeong quickly tried to create some distance, but Joseph’s intentions were beyond that.The ceiling had a large hole where his corpse had collided. It wasn’t an attack aiming for the entire cavern, but a precise self-destruction aimed at a specific spot.Yeomyeong cautiously examined the hole in the ceiling. As he looked up, he met eyes with something peering down from the hole.Rotting, soulless eyes dripping with pus.The problem was that it was not just one or two of them.Even just the ones visible to his naked eye numbered in the hundreds, and the sensation he felt…“Seti!”Yeomyeong shouted at his team, who were organizing the cavern.“Huh? Yeomyeong?”“Retreat to the shelter immediately! Right now!”As he grabbed the dazed Miss Gemini and began running back to the shelter, an enormous number of zombies began pouring in from the hole in the ceiling.