Chapter 99

Chapter 099

Without a moment to stop or change direction, the ferry boat climbed right onto the soft sandbar of the island. However, Angargo and Dukema, not realizing the situation, kept their heads down and continued to row on the sand, fearing the attacks from the enraged water spirits that might fly at them.

Lee Han began to regret why he had to share a boat with these guys from the White Tiger Tower, out of all the people. Even if not Derkyu, at least Moradi seemed smarter than these...

"We've run aground. You idiots."

"!"

Only then did Angargo realize that his oar was gliding over the soft sand. His face turned red with embarrassment as he said, "Um, but... we managed to escape, right?"

"Yeah, Wodanaz. Look on the bright side. We managed to dodge the enraged water spirits on the lake."

In response to the two White Tiger Tower students, Lee Han only flicked his staff, signaling them to get off and push the boat. The two students thought it would be better to get off and push the boat rather than keep resisting. ...And it seemed that Wodanaz had helped them dodge the water spirits after all...

"Wodanaz."

After getting off the ferry, Angargo cautiously said, "Speak. I'm listening."

"Can we rest a bit on the island? I'm not tired, but my arms are a bit sore from rowing for so long..."

"I'm not tired either, but Wodanaz, you must have used a lot of mana... and there might still be spirits around... So let's rest!"

Lee Han rolled his eyes inwardly. These guys could have just said it directly, but they had the knack for making things unnecessarily long and complicated.

"Do as you please."

"Th... Th... Thank you!"

Angargo was unusually grateful.

‘Does this guy really think I wouldn't allow it?’

Lee Han was taken aback by his reaction. After all, he had just saved their lives...

"?"

Lee Han frowned as he looked at the dwarf student, Dukema. He sensed something off.

"Hey."

"W-What? Why? Are we leaving already?"

"You seem to have shrunk a bit."

Dukema jumped up in anger, his face turning red and trembling. "H-How dare you?! Just because no one is watching, you insult me?! Do you think no one will stop you if you attack me?!"

‘Should I just hit him?’

Lee Han felt his grip on his staff tighten. If there were no one around to stop him, he might as well...

"No, Dukema! You've shrunk!"

"??!!"

Only after hearing Angargo's shout did Dukema realize something was wrong. He wasn't shrinking; he was sinking into the sandbar.

"..."

Lee Han's expression hardened. He hadn't noticed the ferry was almost halfway submerged while he was looking around the island. ‘Danger!’

Lee Han realized his booted feet were also sinking into the soft sand. Angargo tried to run desperately.

"Everyone, run to the front! We need to get off the sandbar!"

"Wait..."

Before he could stop him, Angargo took a step and sank even faster. In no time, he was up to his waist, struggling like he was in quicksand.

‘Too late.’

Lee Han quickly gave up on Angargo and Dukema. The only telekinesis spell he could use was <Basic Control>. This spell could only handle something as small as a bead, not a large and heavy person like Lee Han. The spell's structure would simply break under the strain.

But...

"Move!"

Lee Han fixed a metal ball in the air as if nailing it to the sky. With his other arm, he grabbed the ball and lifted his body, as if doing a one-armed pull-up. His body rose from the sandbar.

Professor Voladi would have been pleased to see this. Originally, the <Basic Control> spell, which could manipulate small objects like quills and beads, was not designed for combat. There were several spells that could be used in combat, though they took a bit longer to cast. No one insisted on using a basic spell for combat purposes, except for Professor Voladi.

Professor Voladi noticed the fast casting speed of low-level spells like <Basic Control>. Whether it was a low-level or high-level spell, if it could hit a vital point, it was fatal. Why focus on high-level spells?

Efficiency was key.

<Basic Control> could be powerful with enough practice! And now, Lee Han was proving that with his own body. The metal ball held firm in the air, supporting his weight.

Lee Han gritted his teeth and slowly flew over the sandbar. Maintaining the ball, using his arm strength, and holding on with his back muscles, every part of the process was exhausting.

Thud!

Finally, Lee Han escaped the sandbar and climbed onto a solid rock. He turned his head.

The ferry had disappeared under the sandbar.

"Damn..."

Lee Han sighed with regret. He realized that Angargo and Dukema had also disappeared, which was equally regrettable.

‘Probably the headmaster's trap.’

-There are no coincidences, everything is inevitable.

If Lee Han could engrave something on the school's main gate, he would choose this. To prevent new students from being deceived.

This island was the one the skull headmaster had sent them to, and the one where he had personally thrown the permission slip. Therefore, the inescapable sandbar must also be a trap set by the skull headmaster.

Swoosh—

The new student managed to escape.

Sure enough, a low voice emerged from the sandbar, and a summoned creature appeared.

The negative energy emanating from its body. Lee Han recognized it as an undead.

"Nice to meet you."

...Aren't you surprised or shocked?

The undead summon, resembling a large turtle walking on two legs, was taken aback by Lee Han's reaction. New students often screamed, cried, or even fainted when they saw an undead summon, but this one was very calm.

"I'm surprised. What are you doing here? What should I do?"

The undead summon was caught off guard by Lee Han's questions. It was supposed to explain things, not be interrogated.

After a moment, the undead summon regained its composure and said, "You were supposed to sink with the sandbar."

"..."

Lee Han listened, though he had no intention of doing so. The new student nodded expressionlessly, and the undead summon continued.

Once you sink with the sandbar, the trial begins, where new students must cooperate with each other.

"Is that so..."

Lee Han gripped his staff. He felt no gratitude for the skull headmaster's efforts to create a space for students to bond. After all, the skull headmaster was the mastermind.

While Lee Han was thinking, the undead summon spoke again.

Since you managed to escape the sandbar, I'm explaining this to you directly.

The turtle-like undead summon said this as if doing a favor. And it was sincere. It was supposed to catch and drag him back, but it was impressed by his skill.

Now, go back in. You need to pass the trial.

"What happens if I don't go back in?"

The undead summon replied as if Lee Han was saying something ridiculous.

Do you want me to drag you in? Go back in now.

"Understood."

Lee Han stood up obediently. The undead summon nodded, thinking he had made the right decision.

At that moment, Lee Han swung his staff.

"Move!"

With a flash, the metal ball flew and struck the undead summon's head precisely.

* * *

Lee Han's attack on the undead summon wasn't just because of its arrogant and condescending attitude.

‘I can't trust those two.’

If it had been Derkyu, Lee Han might have chosen to go into the sandbar. But with those two?

No matter how he thought about it, going in willingly was insane. It seemed more practical to ambush and knock out the undead summon.

Thud!

A dull sound, and bones shattered.

However, the undead summon, being already dead, didn't fall just because its skull was broken. It roared in anger.

New student, what do you think you're doing?

"I'm sorry. I made a mistake. It was an accident."

When Lee Han sincerely apologized, the undead summon momentarily thought it was a genuine mistake. But the next attack came immediately. The metal ball charged like a cannonball.

The undead summon hastily summoned sand to create a wall. However, the metal ball circled around without hesitation and struck its head again.

Thud!!

The undead summon staggered and became extremely angry.

How dare a new student mock me?!

"I breathe at night!"

Lee Han cast the transparency spell and ran to the side, casting another spell simultaneously.

"Feet, tread the earth!"

When the headmaster's spell was cast, the undead summon, summoned by the headmaster, recognized the energy and was shocked.

How can a lowly student use the headmaster's spell... Did you steal it?! Such insolence!

‘The summon is too fond of its master.’

Lee Han ran quickly.

The enhanced physical abilities from <Gonadates' Agile Steps> gave him a burst of energy.

Being transparent doesn't mean standing still; that's like asking to be caught.

"Go!"

Lee Han summoned a leopard bone summon. The summon, larger than before, roared and ran across the sandbar.

A summon without a physical body attacking me?!

The undead summon swung its front paw in anger. The leopard bone summon was flung away with the sand.

The undead summon started to throw sand at where Lee Han had been.

I'll acknowledge your cleverness, new student, but that's as far as it goes!

The undead summon threw sand in all directions, heading towards where Lee Han had been.

Even if you run into the island, I'll catch you!

Here? Or... here? No, here!

The undead summon made loud noises, pressuring Lee Han. It wasn't really trying to find him but to scare him out.

The undead summon continued to throw sand at potential hiding spots, making loud noises.

However, the summon didn't know.

Lee Han had no intention of running into the island.

What if there's something dangerous inside?

Swish-!

Lee Han, hiding nearby, jumped out. His sword, Dawnstar, made of black amethyst, swung and cut the leg supporting the summon's bulky body.

Dawnstar absorbed the negative energy, and the undead summon's leg, losing its power, was dispelled.

Losing balance, the undead summon fell with a loud noise.

This... this new student...!

The undead summon, feeling incredibly absurd about being ambushed, shouted.

A mage using a half-magic weapon, are you insane?! Are you even a mage?! New student!

‘...’

Lee Han decided to ignore it.

Not because he had nothing to say, but because he intended to ignore it from the start.

It was true.