I Became the Academy’s Time-Limited Genius – Chapter 54

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Translated By Arcane Translations

Translator: Silverriver

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The suppressed craving within me finally erupted. The unease I’d felt since entering the mountain range vanished.

-Rooooar!

The orc roared, its monstrous face contorting. He grabbed his axe, which had been buried in the snow. Killing intent and fighting spirit. Some orcs possessed a particularly potent aura.

This one shoved the other orcs aside and stood before me.

“It’s an Orc Warrior!”

The guide shouted. So that’s why his aura felt different, more potent. The Orc Warrior glared at me, his breath coming in ragged gasps.

-Grrrr…

With a short roar, he charged, his heavy footfalls pounding the ground. His bloodshot eyes, the stench of blood emanating from his maw, fueled my excitement. He swung his axe at my head.

-Whoosh!

I watched the axe descend, calculating whether I could block it. My mind grew cold as my body thrummed with anticipation. Excessive tension was poison. Excitement in battle led to death.

I took two steps back. The rusty blade sliced through the air, the force of the swing creating a gust of wind that brushed against me.

-Hum…

Violet Aura enveloped my sword. I retaliated instantly, slashing at the orc’s body.

-Clang!

The orc’s flesh was tough. It wasn’t an instant kill, but it was enough to wound it.

I felt the sensation of the blade cutting through flesh, a familiar feeling, reminiscent of the Black Blood Wyrm and Morax. The feeling of slicing through flesh was… strange.

But I felt nothing. Or rather, a thrill coursed through me.

-Roar!

As I reveled in the sensation, the Orc Warrior reached for me, his massive hand closing in.

It intended to grab and throw me. I quickly sheathed my sword and rolled across the ground, leaving a trail in the white snow.

-Drip. Drip.

Red blood stained the snow. The Orc Warrior clutched its wound.

-Rooooar!

It roared again. Simultaneously, I sensed familiar auras approaching.

-Rustle

More green-skinned figures emerged from the bushes. At least ten more orcs. Agnes and the knights’ eyes widened in surprise.

“How…?”

The guide was equally surprised. He had clearly scouted the area. But even a veteran guide would be startled by the sudden appearance of so many orcs.

And surprise turned to fear. Fear was contagious.

“Don’t panic! We can handle this!”

But a veteran was a veteran. One of the knights channeled his Aura and struck down an orc, stemming the tide of panic.

I glanced at the knights, then refocused on the Orc Warrior. He glared at me, his breath ragged, yet its killing intent remained undimmed.

A fearless monster, indeed. But his wound was deep. It wouldn’t be able to move properly.

I channeled Aura into my sword, preparing for a finishing blow. I tightened my grip and raised the blade.

-Hum…

Despite its injury, the orc swung its axe. But the blow lacked its initial power.

I could block it.

-Clang!

I deflected the axe and lunged forward, closing the distance. Past its defenses, past its wound, my sword pierced its throat.

-Gurgle!

The Orc Warrior let out a gurgling scream, its eyes rolling back in its head. I pulled my sword free, and blood sprayed out.

“….”

The coppery tang of blood filled the air. I disliked the smell, yet my heart pounded with excitement.

Energy surged through me. My body craved more. I tightened my grip on my sword and charged towards the other orcs.

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-Clang!

“Ugh.”

Agnes grimaced. She couldn’t get used to the smell of blood, the stench emanating from the orc’s maw.

Her mouth was dry, her stomach churning. The orc glared at her, its killing intent palpable. She adjusted her stance. The orc’s body was covered in shallow cuts.

But…

-Rooooar!

They were just that: shallow cuts. He tough hide was impervious to her magic. The orc seemed to realize this and focused on blocking Jeolyeong.

It knew that Lenox’s beloved sword could cut through its flesh like butter. Agnes gritted her teeth, her gaze fixed on the orc.

Its monstrous appearance, its massive size, like two grown men combined. Its bulging green muscles deflected her magic.

-Thump-thump.

Her heart pounded. Caught up in the thrill of battle, she tightened her grip on her sword. She wasn’t afraid. She felt… emboldened.

The orc wasn’t a difficult opponent. She hadn’t even been scratched. On the contrary, she was dominating the fight.

‘But it’s not enough.’

Agnes wasn’t satisfied. She glanced behind her. Deron was fighting three orcs at once. More opponents than even the veteran knights of Winter Castle.

And he was dominating them. Blood sprayed with each swing of his sword, inflicting the deep wounds she had been unable to. His exquisite swordsmanship, amplified by Aura, sliced through flesh effortlessly.

The orcs were mere playthings in his hands. Two orcs already lay dead at his feet. While she had been fighting a single orc, Deron had already taken down two.

The difference in their skill, their level… it was stark. Agnes adjusted her grip on Jeolyeong.

A brilliant white light shimmered around the blade. The white Aura she had acquired upon reaching the intermediate level.

“I can’t waste any more time.”

Agnes’s sword glowed, a strike infused with magic. Jeolyeong froze.

-Clang!

Jeolyeong clashed against the orc’s axe. The orc grinned, confident in his superior strength.

But…

-Crackle…

Ice spread, encasing the orc’s axe, freezing it solid.

-Crack!

Agnes shattered the frozen axe. And in the next instant, a diagonal slash.

The blade pierced the orc’s throat, severing his head. The orc stared blankly, unaware of his own demise.

Agnes glanced at the corpse, then went to join the others, her hand, still gripping Jeolyeong, trembling unnoticed.

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I was covered in blood. The stench of orc was… unpleasant. I grimaced.

“Are you alright?”

Agnes approached me. There were traces of blood on her as well. I looked at her and asked,

“I’m fine. You?”

“I’m fine too.”

“Really?”

I looked down at her hand, still gripping Jeolyeong. It was trembling. Her first real battle, her first kill. She must have been shaken.

Agnes, noticing my gaze, hid her hand behind her back.

“I’m truly fine. It’s something I had to experience eventually…”

“You don’t have to hide it.”

I spoke, my tone slightly harsh. Her stiff expression was obvious.

“Your hand. Let me see it.”

“I-I’m really fine.”

“Do I have to take it myself?”

Agnes hesitated, then extended her hand. I carefully took it in mine.

“Wh-What are you doing?”

“Stay still.”

Her hand was cold. Not just from the cold weather, but also from the constant use of ice magic. I channeled my mana, generating warmth in my hand, just as I had done for the princess.

I held her hand for a moment, feeling the smooth skin of her palm and the rough calluses on her fingers. They were a testament to her dedication, the countless hours she’d spent training.

“Is that better?”

“….”

“Not warm enough? I’ll hold it a little longer…”

“N-No! It’s fine!”

Agnes quickly pulled her hand away, her face flushed. Why was she so flustered? It was just a little warmth.

I tilted my head, puzzled, but she turned away and walked off. I didn’t need to pry. More importantly…

I remembered the voice I’d heard before fighting the orcs.

‘Who are you? it had asked.’

It wasn’t Archxius. Nor was it a system message. I clenched and unclenched my fist. Something felt… strange.

I hadn’t felt disgust while killing the orcs. On the contrary, I had felt… invigorated.

As if I was enjoying the slaughter. I hadn’t been able to control the surge of power within me. I looked around. Orc corpses littered the ground.

I had killed five of them myself. The two knights had killed five, Agnes two, and the guide one.

The knights and the guide were staring at me, their eyes wide with shock. I hadn’t intended to go on such a rampage.

The scent of blood had… awakened something within me. Was this also related to my body? I had been in a trance while fighting the Orc Warrior and the three other orcs.

I hadn’t even been aware of my own movements, my swordsmanship.

The knights cheered, and the guide clapped, praising my skill, their surprise evident. I lowered my sword, the cheers washing over me.

It wasn’t enough. I wanted more. It was a strange sensation, my body craving something other than relief from pain.

It was a first. And I felt like I had stumbled upon a clue. The putrid stench of the corpses, the lingering scent of blood, excited me.

But I held back. There was time. I would understand this sensation eventually.

“Phew…”

I calmed my aura and walked away, seeking fresh air, untainted by the stench of blood.

But my gaze kept returning to the orc corpses.

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did u feel the tension?? hmm