—————————————————————–
Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
—————————————————————–
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
The flares soared from the four directions of east, west, south, and north.
Having confirmed that the four sub-cores were destroyed, now the only thing left was destroying the main core that would be somewhere in the center.
The method to find the main core was the same as the sub-cores.
Finding the place where the magic energy was thick.
But this time, there was no need to search carefully.
As the sub-cores were all destroyed, the main core itself was revealing its location.
Where the sub-cores were located, the fog of magic energy was visible only when the distance was somewhat close.
In contrast, the main core, living up to its name, spewed out an enormous amount of magic energy and created a widespread fog of magic energy in the central area.
Its radius was a whopping 1km.
As you entered deeper into the fog, the density of magic energy became thicker, so a radius of 1km was very wide.
We had to enter such a place, but except for the main character level people and Park Ga-ram, everyone was still inexperienced in coating their bodies with mana.
And I couldn’t coat my body with mana because my mana was so lacking.
But there was no problem.
Because here, we had Noah, the heretic inquisitor and saint.
“Now that everyone is gathered, I’ll start explaining the plan.”
15 people were standing in front of me.
Right now, we were outside the magic energy range of the main core.
According to the original plan, after destroying all the sub-cores, we were supposed to gather at the place where we first assembled.
However, since that place happened to be within the range of the magic energy fog, we had no choice but to shoot flares again and assemble.
Anyway, I started talking about the main core strategy that was in my head.
“First, the range of this magic energy fog surrounding the main core is about a 1km radius. And just like the sub-cores, the density of magic energy gets thicker as you go deeper into the fog.”
So, I added, looking at Noah.
“A priest’s protection is needed.”
At the words that protection was needed, Noah smiled at the corners of his mouth as if relieved.
“Fortunately, the defensive sacred art I have learned is protection.”
…It’s not the only thing you know.
In fact, Noah had mastered most sacred arts.
But the reason he lied like this was not only because he didn’t want to reveal his positions as a saint and heretic inquisitor, but also because he wanted to appear like a student of the academy.
However, that had already gone wrong.
If he wanted to hide his strength, he shouldn’t have shown a strong appearance when dueling with Park Ga-ram and Arthur yesterday.
Due to the light that poured from the sky from the sincere prayer punch and his appearance of fighting evenly with Arthur for a moment, the kids in Class 1-A, which I belonged to, all recognized Noah as a ‘Tremendous priest who has some secret!’
Only Noah himself didn’t know that.
Anyway… With Noah’s buffs and protection, there was no problem entering the main core’s magic energy fog.
“Alright, then I’ll let you know about the monsters we’ll face inside.”
First, when we enter the magic energy fog, we’ll see zombies and ghouls.
They are very easy to deal with, so let’s move on.
“When we enter about 500m in, the density of the magic energy will rapidly increase, and at the same time, new monsters will start appearing.”
“New monsters… You mean the ghouls that mimicked our appearance?”
“Yeah. That guy is called a Mimic Ghoul, and it hides in the darkness, and when the party gets separated, it transforms into the appearance of the party members and pounces.”
Mimic Ghoul.
If you experience it for the first time, you might be very flustered like Park Ga-ram and Lim Da-hee, but the way to deal with it is very easy.
As a monster possessing magic energy, it can’t use mana.
That was why I showed my ability.
“This time, with Noah’s protection, it will be very easy to distinguish.”
Not having a protective barrier of sacred power on their body in the fog of magic energy?
That guy is 100% a Mimic Ghoul.
“Next, 300m. From there, Super Ghouls, which are superhumans turned into ghouls, start appearing, but there’s no need to worry too much.”
Although they were ghouls, since they were transformed superhumans, they used the abilities the superhumans had when they were alive.
But why did I say there was no need to worry too much?
It was because the power of the abilities they used was only 30% of when they were alive.
“And lastly, 100m. From here, we need to be careful.”
As it was close to the main core, the density of the magic energy would be at its highest.
For example, it was like the deep sea.
“And there will be a terribly shaped monster called ‘Abomination’.”
Abomination.
It was a kind of golem made of corpses.
As it belonged to the golem type, it didn’t die unless the core inside its body was removed.
And if there were zombies and ghouls nearby, it absorbed them and self-repaired, so it was a very tricky guy.
Still, I wasn’t worried.
Whether it self-repairs or not, I can just blow it up.
“This concludes the monster explanation. Now I’ll take out the equipment we’ll use inside, so take one each.”
Saying that, I started taking out various items from my inventory.
“…I thought this from the first time I saw you, but Lee Yu-jin, you are thoroughly prepared.”
Noah looked at the equipment being placed on the ground with admiration plastered on his face.
“I’m kind of like that.”
At Noah’s reaction, I affirmed with a grin.
“If everyone has taken them, put them on.”
At my instruction, everyone started putting on the equipment they had taken.
Tactical vest, lantern (general-purpose), light stick, grenade belt (5 shock wave grenades, 5 flashbangs).
Everyone wearing all of the equipment was reminiscent of a special forces unit.
No, they weren’t holding guns, but since they were all superhumans aiming to become heroes, they would be prospective special forces.
‘Ah, I really like these appearances.’
I thought that and nodded my head with a proud face.
“Okay, since the preparations are done,”
I put the rifle’s sling on my shoulder.
Noah invoked sacred power and cast buffs and protection on everyone.
Weapons were held in everyone’s hands.
Seeing those appearances, I pulled the bolt of the rifle.
Click.
“Let’s return to the academy.”
With those words, we entered the fog of magic energy.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
In the pitch-dark fog made of magic energy, 16 beams of light cut through the darkness.
– Kieeeek─!
The monsters in the darkness rushed towards the sources emitting light.
But before that, the bullets that flew in made their heads explode or bounce back.
Tadadadadadang─!
The sound of gunshots echoed throughout the space.
Kwajik! Kwajijik!
Kwang! Kwaaang! Kwaaang!
Following that, the sounds of cutting, slicing, and exploding continuously reverberated.
Right now, we were running at full speed towards the main core while cutting through the zombies rushing from all directions.
Of course, the standard for full speed was based on me.
If we really ran at full speed, not only Lim Da-hee but also the main character level people would have already reached the main core.
However, since there weren’t only them here, and the group shouldn’t be torn apart, everyone was controlling their speed.
As we kept running like that,
“What were we running for again?”
“It’s the Mimic Ghoul!”
“Confirmed!”
Tadadadadadang─!
– Kkieek?!
We reached the 500m point where the Mimic Ghouls appeared.
– Let’s… become one…
“It’s the Super Ghoul!”
“O light!”
Hwaaaaak!
– Become one…, Kraaak!
300m where the Super Ghouls appeared.
The number of ordinary zombies and ghouls decreased.
Instead, after running through the fog of magic energy that became unpleasantly thick with the increasing number of variant monsters, the huge main core, looking the same as the sub-cores but exceptionally large in size, began to come into view.
And at the same time,
– Kraaaaaaa─!!
The Abomination guarding the main core blocked our way.
But… there wasn’t just one.
– Kkieeeeeek─!!
– Kkuaaaaa─!!
– Kruaaaaa─!!
There were three more.
“What, a variable?”
Originally, there should only be one Abomination guarding the main core here.
But having three more like this was nothing but a variable that occasionally occurred in the game as well.
And that variable was one of the reasons I retried the most in the early game.
But now, well, variables were nothing.
“Gather into the teams we formed earlier!”
As soon as I spoke, Park Ga-ram and Lim Da-hee stuck to me, and the kids around quickly dispersed and formed their respective teams.
And without speaking, they each started taking on one Abomination.
– Kraaaaaak─!
The one that I, Park Ga-ram, and Lim Da-hee took on was the leftmost Abomination.
I didn’t know how many corpses it absorbed, but its form boasted a hulking build of 5m in size, like the Hulk.
“…Ugh, di, disgusting!”
Disgusted by the repulsive appearance of the guy, Park Ga-ram frowned and threw the fireball in her hand.
Kwang, kwaaang!
As the fireball exploded, some of the corpses that made up the guy’s body fell off.
But it only made the outer corpses fall off, and there seemed to be no significant damage.
Still, it was okay.
Because the fireball was reducing the guy’s running speed.
And Park Ga-ram wasn’t throwing the fireball with the intention of killing the guy.
“…To, top student! Le, left shoulder!”
“Confirmed!”
It was to find the guy’s core.
“Lim Da-hee, throw it!”
“…Heup!”
At the same time I gave the signal to throw, Lim Da-hee threw her spear with all her might.
Her target was the Abomination’s core.
Kwajik!
Her spear pierced the core.
– Kraaaaaak!
The guy roared as if in pain.
But that was all, and it didn’t collapse.
But the guy wouldn’t know.
Originally, electricity should have been wrapped around Lim Da-hee’s spearhead.
However, something else was wrapped around the spearhead stuck in the guy’s core now.
Click.
It was none other than my grenade belt.
Bang!
Flames spewed from the gun barrel.
And a single bullet hit the pin of one of the grenades stuck in the belt.
Ting…!
The clear sound of the pin being pulled was heard.
And following that,
Kwaaaaaaaang──!
With a huge shock wave, the Abomination was shattered into pieces.
Of course, along with Lim Da-hee’s spear.
“It was a cheap spear anyway, it’s fine.”
Despite saying that, Lim Da-hee’s face was gloomy.
…I’ll have to get her a good spear later.
While thinking that, the other teams were just finishing off their Abominations.
The Abomination that Lee Seo-yeon and Arthur’s team took on was split in half along with its core.
And the Abomination that Noah’s team took on… disappeared with the light.
Without a trace.
“All clear!”
…It wasn’t me who shouted that.
I didn’t have the guts to shout such a thing when the situation hadn’t even ended yet.
Still, since it was true that it was over once we broke the main core, I decided to let it slide this time.
“It’s almost over! We just need to break the main core!”
As I said that and ran towards the main core, everyone started running with me.
The distance to the main core was at most 100m.
We narrowed the distance in an instant.
Thump! Thump!
Whoosh…, whoosh…
Along with a fierce sound like a heart beating, an enormous amount of magic energy spewed out from the core.
Just looking at it made you feel very unpleasant.
As if telling me to get rid of this horrible thing right now, the mana in my body had a fierce reaction.
I was going to do that anyway.
I instructed the others to stand by, then circled around the core and poured out the grenades and mines I had.
After pouring out all the grenades and mines from my inventory like that, I led them and retreated far away.
Click.
And the moment I was about to pull the trigger of the grenade launcher,
Naaaaaaa──!!
“…Wh, what!”
“Something is coming down from above!”
At the sudden roar from above, everyone’s heads looked up.
That included me as well.
I was perplexed as to what variable was appearing at the last minute this time.
But that perplexity was only momentary.
I was startled for a different reason.
“In, instructor─?!”
“It, it’s Instructor Kang Cheol-su!”
The identity of the roar was none other than Kang Cheol-su.
But… the direction Kang Cheol-su was falling…
“…Oh no!”
Of all places, it was above the core where all my grenades and mines were laid.
Waaaaa──!!
The voice got closer.
And at the end of it, Kang Cheol-su appeared, and fell on top of the core.
And then,
Kwaaaaaaaang──!!
A spectacular explosion occurred.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
XD