Chapter 35

EP.35 End-of-Semester Evaluation (5)

- The match has ended. Intermediate Assassin Class, Dohae Hyun holder wins. The Holy Medical Team, please quickly check the condition of Hyowon Kim holder.

With the words of the supervisor,

The match with Hyowon Kim, which had been so tedious, was finally over.

A stubborn kid.

He must definitely have the [Stamina] rune.

Since most Warrior Class holders receive the Normal Rune at awakening, it's only natural.

Thanks to this, even after hitting him for about 15 minutes with [Fighting], the match didn't end, so I had to use [Poison] and its derivative skill, [Poison Claw], to gain the upper hand.

'This is actually pretty good for the first time using it.'

[Poison Claw] is a skill I haven't had the chance to use until now, but when used in conjunction with [Fighting], it's quite powerful.

The [Poison] rune is already at level 4.

As the level increases, the skill's destructive power also increases, so for Hyowon Kim, who has no poison resistance, [Poison Claw] was like a deadly poison.

"Justice realized…."

To be honest, at first, I thought about pouring all my runes into him out of anger.

Because Hyowon Kim, who talks about fair play, uses special items.

But I held back, thinking it would draw too much attention.

Just showing [Fighting] and [Poison] is enough to draw attention.

If I had shown [Flaring Flames], [Sturdy Teeth], and [Quadruped Fighting] as well...

I might have been treated like a real monster.

While causing flames to rise, using my hands like feet to fight.

And even tearing with teeth like an animal?

This is a complete lizard-type monster.

[Unrestrained strikes, movements that predict one step ahead! Your fighting skills are starting to become more solid and agile.]

[The level of the rune has increased.]

[You have obtained the derivative skill 'Rapid Strikes' of the Fighting Rune.]

[You have won the duel! With the mysterious power of the Rune Hunter, you can replicate one of the opponent's runes. Please choose the rune to replicate.]

[1. Solid Stamina 2. Sword (unselectable) 3. Magic Control (unselectable) 4. Flesh Defense 5. Three Disasters Sword Technique 6. Shield (unselectable)]

The information window appeared a moment later.

These were the rewards for the recent duel.

After pouring my soul into [Fighting] and finishing the sparring, I finally leveled up after a long time.

The fighting skills and practical experience I've honed over time combined, and [Fighting] instantly rose two levels to level 5.

Plus, I got a new derivative skill, [Rapid Strikes].

It seems to be the main derivative skill of [Fighting], similar to [Rapid Strikes] of [Sword].

'And...'

The reward for winning the duel with Hyowon Kim as a Rune Hunter.

Hyowon Kim's runes were quite unexpected.

'It's not just [Stamina]?'

[Stamina] is a common rune for Warrior Class holders.

They need the stamina to fight for a long time in a party, so they receive the [Stamina] rune at awakening... and many holders who don't get it at awakening often awaken it during academy classes.

I haven't even gotten [Stamina], let alone [Flesh Defense]... and I haven't even obtained the common runes for the Assassin Class.

Jinwoo Park might have gotten them by now.

But Hyowon Kim didn't have a common [Stamina].

He had the rare rune [Solid Stamina].

'No wonder he lasted so long.'

Hyowon Kim is a typical Warrior Class.

Among them, he had the runes of a tank.

Including the rare [Solid Stamina], the basic sword technique rune [Three Disasters Sword Technique] for sword-wielding Warrior Class, and [Shield] and [Flesh Defense] to improve efficiency in party hunts.

He probably didn't use the shield because it was a one-on-one duel.

'If he had used the shield...'

With lower stats than me and runes that were completely inferior to mine...

Hyowon Kim had no choice but to lose the duel.

Even with high stamina and the [Flesh Defense] rune, he was penetrated by [Poison].

I clicked my tongue and chose the rune.

There was only one rune to replicate from him.

[You have chosen Solid Stamina. As it is a level 7 rare rune, its level will drop to level 4.]

[You have obtained a new rune.]

[The rune's attribute grants you 2 Durability.]

<Rune Information>

◎Name: Solid Stamina

◎Grade: Rare (R)

◎Level: 4

◎Engraved Part: Lungs

◎Special Effects

: Grants the stamina and endurance to continue battles and training for a long time. This is a power that is not represented by numerical values in stats, and it becomes stronger as the rune's level increases.

: Durability +2

◎Derivative Skills: -

◎Detailed Information

: The ability to endure means being solid. The more solid the stamina, the more it allows the holder to continue fighting and endure for a long time.

'Not bad.'

Closing the rune information, which showed satisfying effects as a rare rune, I returned to where my companions were.

"Wow- a martial artist-"

Gaeun Moon pointed at me with her usual teasing expression.

Now, I'm used to her expressions and find them somewhat cute, so I couldn't help but smile.

The other companions also looked at me with surprised faces.

"Jae Hyun, when did you have the Fighting rune?"

"Sure enough, Dohae Hyun! You're a worthy rival I acknowledge."

"......"

[Fighting] and [Poison], which I had never shown even in party hunts.

That's why they were so surprised.

I smiled slightly and delayed my answer.

After all, runes are like trade secrets for holders...

Everyone will understand.

"Now, only three are left, right?"

The remaining are Jinwoo Park, Chaeun Kim, and Juyeon Kang.

I was looking forward to the match between Jinwoo Park and Chaeun Kim.

Jinwoo Park, as the protagonist of the original, will show a rapid growth on his own, and Chaeun Kim, who has repeatedly grown by going through the dungeon with me, I want to see how strong she has become.

As for Juyeon Kang...

Since she's so good, she'll win this sparring match without any problem.

- This is the twelfth match. Intermediate Warrior Class holder Jinwoo Park and Advanced Assassin Class holder Dongjin Lee.

"Yes! It's me!"

As they say, if you speak of a tiger, it will appear.

My match was followed immediately by Jinwoo Park's name being called.

I wondered if Jinyun Jae would be his opponent, but this match followed the original's flow.

I remembered that he had fought a typical Assassin Class holder at the time.

'I wonder how much he'll show this time.'

Jinwoo Park will make his name known in the end-of-semester evaluation.

In the original, he showed a highly skilled [Frenzied Sword Technique] and overwhelmingly defeated the Advanced Class opponent, and his overwhelming performance completely changed the perception of the people around him.

However, this Jinwoo Park doesn't have the [Frenzied Sword Technique].

Instead, he made up for it with even more passionate effort.

The guy who continued to grow on his own...

I was looking forward to seeing what kind of performance he would show this time.

- The two holders, please greet each other and prepare for the match.

The supervisor's words were the same as always.

Jinwoo Park and his opponent shook hands lightly and prepared for the battle.

And the start signal followed.

The start of the twelfth match.

"Uriaah...!!"

Jinwoo Park let out a strange sound and took the initiative.

...Did he originally make that sound?

It seems to be getting more and more unique.

But apart from the loud battle cry,

His movements were as fast as the wind.

"Wow. Jinwoo Park, he's surprisingly fast for his appearance. Is his speed really that high?"

"No. He's probably getting support from a rune."

I simply answered Gaeun Moon's question.

The rune he's probably using is [Agile Movement].

It's a rune I obtained while hunting the toxic iguana, and Jinwoo Park has had a speed-supporting rune since his awakening.

Jinwoo Park ran at maximum speed and...

approached right in front of the Assassin Class opponent.

"What...!!"

The opponent, Dongjin Lee, was clearly flustered.

After all, speed-based superior battles are the exclusive domain of the Assassin Class.

They have [Stealth] runes and movement-related runes, and they freely use the derived skills to quickly subdue the opponent.

'...I don't have them, though.'

When I first awakened, I only had [Dagger] and lacked the common runes.

I'm an Assassin Class in name only.

In fact, I'm a half-Assassin Class closer to the Warrior Class.

Of course, I don't have the common runes that the Warrior Class typically has, so I only got one this time.

Anyway, for an Assassin Class holder like that.

To be outpaced by a Warrior Class, even if only temporarily.

Dongjin Lee probably can't believe it.

It's not a common occurrence.

"A- What a pity."

Suddenly, Chaeun Kim let out a sigh of regret.

Jinwoo Park's attack, which was a decisive strike at maximum speed, was unfortunately blocked by Dongjin Lee's dagger.

But Jinwoo Park didn't stop there and continued to relentlessly attack Dongjin Lee by rotating his sword.

'He's really fast.'

I watched the guy's battle with an admiring expression.

This is unexpected.

His speed stats and related rune support.

Even considering that, he's excessively fast.

But if you think about it a bit more, it's natural.

Originally, Jinwoo Park was a holder with superior speed from the start.

Even during the entrance exam, and until he met Professor Tak Wonho and learned the [Frenzied Sword Technique], he focused on speed with his sword.

He only balanced strength and speed after learning the [Frenzied Sword Technique].

But the current Jinwoo Park, who hasn't learned from Professor Tak Wonho and is developing his own sword style,

Naturally, his speed-focused battle style has developed even more.

"Lee Dongjin can't even use his strength."

"Was he originally that strong?"

"Jinwoo Park is much faster than the Assassin Class."

"Is this really a match between Intermediate and Advanced classes?"

"Jae Hyun and Jinwoo Park aren't really Intermediate class. It was proven in Jae Hyun's match. He really beat the opponent like crazy."

The surrounding classmates were buzzing in surprise.

Considering the negative views towards Jinwoo Park and me at the beginning of the semester, this is quite a reversal of public opinion.

Indeed, you have to prove it in a match, don't you.

'But it's really overwhelming.'

Lee Dongjin, facing Jinwoo Park...

wasn't able to show any performance at all.

He couldn't use [Stealth] runes because the battle had already started, and the movement-related runes were covered by Jinwoo Park's [Agile Movement].

The advantage that Assassin Class holders have over Warrior Class holders.

Jinwoo Park was nullifying all of it.

"Damn!"

At that moment,

I was so surprised that I stood up from my seat.

Jinwoo Park, who had been relentlessly attacking,

suddenly spun his entire body like a windmill and struck Lee Dongjin with his sword.

The speed was so fast that it couldn't be easily seen with the naked eye.

It was incredibly fast.

'No way. It's a spinning combo... '

[Spinning Combo].

An upgraded version of [Combo], a skill that simultaneously rotates the entire body and sword at an incredible speed to strike the opponent.

This skill does not derive from the [Sword] rune.

It requires the Epic Rune [Unfollowable Swift Sword].

Speed and swordsmanship.

Two elements combined at the highest level to create the Epic Rune.

[Unfollowable Swift Sword].

In other words, Jinwoo Park is now.

Awakening and obtaining an Epic Rune with his own strength.

From the start to the end of the battle.

The moment his incredible speed made sense.

- The match has ended. Intermediate Warrior Class, Jinwoo Park holder wins.

The battle was over just like that.

Lee Dongjin, who was already struggling with Jinwoo Park's sword,

couldn't possibly withstand the [Spinning Combo].

I looked at Jinwoo Park in the arena with a dazed expression.

'Really, it's a talent that makes me want to curse...'

What kind of growth-type protagonist is this?

With this growth rate.

"Yah, Yahah! How about it, Dohae Hyun? Can you keep up with me?"

Jinwoo Park returned, looking extremely proud.

I looked at him with a look of being overwhelmed.

"You're a monster... I don't want to fight you anymore."

"Ooh! Who are you calling a monster?"

This guy's way of speaking is getting weirder.

He wasn't originally this cheerful...

Anyway, with Jinwoo Park's match over,

the sparring matches continued.

In the middle, there was Juyeon Kang's match.

She easily won against her long-time second-place rival, Taejun Lee.

Her nearly perfect [Unextinguishable Flames] and diverse practical experience.

These made her forget the concept of defeat