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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Mod7
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Monster Raid.
The third and final event of the first-year inter-academy exchange competition. As the name suggested, it involved raiding a monster.
The key to victory was speed and efficiency: how quickly could they defeat the designated monster under identical conditions, and how effectively could they cooperate against an enemy too powerful to be defeated alone?
‘And it’s also a game of pure, unadulterated luck.’
While the basic conditions were the same for everyone… that didn’t mean they applied equally.
For example, a monster with high resistance to magic attacks would put Velutos Academy at a disadvantage, while a monster resistant to physical attacks would be a challenge for Tanteroi.
Therefore, the most crucial factor was how well each academy’s strengths and weaknesses matched up against the chosen monster.
–“For this raid, you will be facing this!”
Kerrar’s enthusiastic voice boomed through the arena as a thick fog rolled onto the stage, obscuring their view. And then, the monster emerged.
Thick scales, seemingly impervious to physical attacks. A ferocious, crocodile-like maw filled with razor-sharp teeth. A Tyrannosaurus Rex-like physique, complete with a pair of large, leathery wings—a distinctly fantastical touch.
It was a creature designed to challenge everyone, its abilities a perfect counter to the strengths of each academy. A testament to Kerrar’s determination to create a truly equal playing field.
–“A Variant Drake! In past competitions, the choice of monster often unintentionally favored one academy over another, due to their specific skill sets. Therefore, I have captured a monster designed to challenge all of you equally! And not just one… but four!”
Truly remarkable.
Kerrar wasn’t just a quirky professor; he was a true adventurer, a master of his craft. His skills in this arena were likely unmatched.
‘Where did he even find Variant Drakes? Are they even capturable?’
The probability of a Variant appearing was less than 0.00001%.
And with each Variant possessing unique characteristics and requiring specialized capture methods, they were considered incredibly rare and challenging to acquire.
Even Lee Seok-hyun, a veteran of Final Destiny, had only managed to capture a Variant monster once in his countless playthroughs.
Yet, Kerrar had somehow managed to capture four identical Variant Drakes.
–“They possess high resistance to both physical and magical attacks. A testament to their draconic heritage, despite their devolved state. And, being Variants, they have fully developed wings, unlike their standard counterparts. While sustained flight is beyond their capabilities, they can achieve short bursts of altitude and glide effectively.”
Kerrar continued, outlining the Variant Drake’s characteristics and abilities.
Normally, such information would be discovered during the raid itself, through observation and analysis. But Kerrar’s detailed explanation served a clear purpose.
–“The challenge in this raid isn’t simply speed; it’s about whether you can even defeat the monsters at all.”
It was a warning, a stark reminder of the Variant Drake’s formidable power. A challenge that required the combined strength and cooperation of all four academies.
–“Forget everything you’ve learned in the training grounds. This isn’t a simulation. This time, death is a very real possibility. Of course, we’ll intervene if any student sustains life-threatening injuries. Keep that in mind as you prepare. That concludes the briefing. Good luck.”
Kerrar nodded, a satisfied smirk playing on his lips, and the screen went blank.
Lee Seok-hyun wished he’d stayed in the infirmary, resting comfortably. He felt a pang of regret for leaving so hastily. He’d imagined a dramatic return, a triumphant entrance onto the stage. But now, facing four Variant Drakes, he was starting to have second thoughts.
Soft. Yielding.
He was trapped between Meiri and Mijuran, their bodies pressed against him, their affections a suffocating embrace. It was an unwelcome distraction, a decidedly unromantic interlude.
“…Could you… let go of me, please?”
“No. We can’t trust you. You’ll just run off again.”
“Exactly. You’re like a child, Seok-hyun. We have to keep an eye on you.”
–Squeeze. Squeeze.
With each shared glance, their embrace tightened, their bodies pressing closer, the soft curves of their forms a stark contrast to the rigid tension in his muscles.
His body, still aching from his overuse of Infinite Track, screamed in protest.
‘I wish I could let go, but…’
Any sudden movement, any attempt to escape their affectionate grasp, risked triggering an entirely different kind of reaction, an unwelcome and decidedly inappropriate physiological response.
He had to prevent that, at all costs.
“If I participate, you’ll be participating too, right? So, you can just… supervise me from inside the arena. Make sure I don’t overexert myself.”
He offered a compromise, a strategic retreat disguised as a tactical maneuver.
“That… actually makes sense…”
“There’s some logic to that.”
As soon as the words left his mouth, Meiri and Mijuran loosened their grip, their bodies relaxing. He seized the opportunity, slipping free from their embrace.
“I promise I won’t push myself too hard, so don’t worry.”
This situation, he realized, was perfectly in character for Lee Seok-hyun. His body, battered and bruised, his muscles screaming in protest, his every movement a symphony of pain…
“I’ll go change the team roster.”
…and yet, he was expected to triumph, to overcome impossible odds, to emerge victorious.
This was his challenge, his burden. To achieve victory, even when the game was rigged against him. This was the essence of being Lee Seok-hyun.
To win, even when you’re supposed to lose.
That was the ultimate challenge.
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–“And now… let the Monster Raid begin!”
Competition day.
After much deliberation and negotiation, Lee Seok-hyun had rejoined his team.
Woo Do-hyun, Meiri, Bellos, Mijuran, Lee Seok-hyun.
The dream team’s return.
The audience roared their approval, their cheers echoing through the coliseum, while the other teams watched with a mixture of envy and apprehension.
“You actually came back?”
“Thanks for the concern. I’m feeling much better.”
“…Who said anything about being concerned?!”
Elua was the only representative from another academy who dared to approach him.
Arak, still smarting from his humiliating defeat, avoided eye contact, his head bowed. Raymay, burdened by her secret agreement, couldn’t meet his gaze.
–“Each academy will now enter their designated portal.”
The competition was designed to prevent any last-minute strategizing or information sharing. The teams were to enter their designated portals simultaneously and face the same monster under identical conditions.
–Zzzzip.
As the announcer’s voice faded, the students stepped into their portals.
A blinding flash of white, and then,
The Variant Drake materialized.
‘It’s… huge.’
Similar in height to the troll he’d faced during the entrance exam, but far longer, its body a stretched, reptilian mass of muscle and scales.
It was the spitting image of a predatory dinosaur, its presence radiating a primal menace.
Its eyes burned with an unfocused rage, its teeth bared in a perpetual snarl. Its massive wings, a testament to its Variant status, twitched and flexed, a constant reminder of its aerial capabilities.
‘This is what they called the “preparation time,” right?’
While the raid began the moment they entered the arena, they weren’t expected to engage immediately.
A transparent barrier separated them from the Variant Drake, creating a temporary safe zone.
This barrier would remain active for twenty minutes, allowing the teams to observe the monster, adjust their strategies, and prepare for the upcoming battle. This was standard procedure for the Monster Raid event.
“…I’m sorry, Seok-hyun.”
“Hmm?”
Just as Lee Seok-hyun was about to outline his revised strategy, Woo Do-hyun spoke.
His tone was apologetic, his words laced with a strange mix of guilt and something else. Something Lee Seok-hyun couldn’t quite decipher.
“What are you apologizing for?”
“We… lost… because you weren’t there.”
“…Huh?”
Had they really been brooding over that all this time? Had their silence, their reluctance to interact with the other academies during the break, been due to their guilt over losing the previous match?
Even Bellos, usually so eager to socialize, had avoided eye contact, his usual arrogance replaced by a quiet dejection.
Meiri and Mijuran, too, seemed unusually subdued, their earlier exuberance replaced by a reserved formality. It was then that Lee Seok-hyun finally understood.
“Don’t worry about it. There’s always next year. We can try again.”
His absence, the loss of his leadership, had been a devastating blow. They’d become so accustomed to his guidance, his strategic brilliance, that they’d forgotten how to function without him.
He’d assumed they were upset about finishing in second place.
He hadn’t realized how much they’d internalized the loss, how deeply it had affected them.
He’d underestimated their loyalty, their dependence on him.
Meiri and Mijuran’s earlier affectionate display now made sense.
They weren’t just worried about his physical well-being; they were trying to protect him from further emotional distress, from the burden of leadership.
They’d been trying to shield him from the consequences of his own actions.
And that realization brought a wave of guilt, washing over him.
He’d been so focused on his own goals, his own plans, that he’d failed to see theirs.
He’d unintentionally made them feel responsible for his injuries, for the team’s defeat.
“I don’t like this… this gloomy atmosphere… Don’t beat yourselves up over it. It’s just a game.”
He forced a smile, his tone light, his expression reassuring.
“Besides, it’s not like we lost badly. We almost won, and Bellos’s performance was exceptional. Velutos only managed a draw because of their surprise tactic.”
He knew that Bellos and Woo Do-hyun’s absence had been a decisive factor in their defeat.
Bellos, with his Skerian magic and ability to silence opponents, could have easily disrupted Velutos’s spellcasting, preventing them from unleashing their final, game-changing attack.
And Woo Do-hyun, with his overwhelming swordsmanship, could have single-handedly decimated their ranks.
But neither of them had been present for the rematch. That’s why they’d lost. And Lee Seok-hyun, recognizing this, had refrained from mentioning it.
“It’s okay. We just need to regroup and focus on the next challenge.”
He wanted to alleviate their guilt, to reassure them that he wasn’t holding them responsible for the loss.
He could see the tension easing from their faces, their shoulders relaxing, their eyes regaining their usual sparkle. His words were having an effect.
He had to boost their morale, to rekindle their fighting spirit.
“After all, first place in the Monster Raid guarantees us overall victory. We just need to win this one. We can do this.”
Lee Seok-hyun, no longer the trash character of the early game, spoke with renewed confidence.
His team, their spirits lifted by his words, nodded in agreement. The Mirinae Academy S-Class, with Lee Seok-hyun at the helm, was an unstoppable force.
–“And now, we begin the raid! Good luck to all participants!”
*–Krwah! Krwah! Krwah! Krwah! Krwah! Krwah! Krwah!
The Variant Drake roared as it spotted them, its eyes burning with a predatory hunger.
The Monster Raid had begun.
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