Chapter 37

EP.37 Fetal Movement (2)

The axe that Andokwon had been swinging relentlessly at Kim Chae-eun suddenly stopped.

Thank goodness.

This should be safe within the time limit.

If the timing had been just a bit off, Kim Chae-eun could have been in serious trouble.

[Declaration of War] is influenced by mental fortitude.

It seems Andokwon's mental fortitude is significantly lower than mine.

Given that [Intimidation] is only at level 1, it took effect immediately.

After using [Intimidation] and [Declaration of War] to put Andokwon into a state of fear, I immediately threw daggers to activate [Quarter Knife].

“Gah…!!”

Four daggers embedded themselves in his wrists holding the axe.

One of them was deeply infused with mana.

It seems to have dealt a significant blow, as Andokwon let out a pained groan.

However, that alone wasn't enough to completely subdue him.

About three seconds have passed, so the fear should be wearing off soon.

I needed to deal more damage within that time.

I was already between him and Kim Chae-eun.

Using [Sprint] and [Agile Movement]...

I had prepared in advance by coming here.

“Who are you trying to kill?”

“Gah, gahhh-!!”

After knocking the axe away with my sword.

I immediately slashed at his wrists.

This time, he let out a truly agonized cry.

Due to his high durability, his wrists didn't sever, but the cuts left deep marks and dealt significant damage.

Three consecutive slashes, [Chain Strike].

The sword given to me by Park Jin-woo was overflowing with sharpness.

This should have maximized the use of the short fear duration.

“...”

I turned my head to look at the supervisor.

Many professors were already in the room.

The supervisor and the four reserve professors who were on standby in the examination room.

They all appeared and pointed their weapons at Andokwon.

Just as Andokwon was about to bring his axe down on Kim Chae-eun's head.

Due to the fear effect, his body couldn't move...

Everyone saw this scene with their own eyes.

In other words, Andokwon had the intention to kill a fellow holder.

No professor present missed this.

“Holder Andokwon. Due to the violation of the Academy's live combat rules and the suspicion of attempted murder, you will be restrained. Kneel down.”

The supervisor, standing in the center, said in a stern voice.

I suddenly felt relieved that Professor Kim Myung-hyun wasn't here.

If he had seen this, he would have killed Andokwon on the spot without considering any investigation or interrogation.

Even though I didn't know him well... I knew he cherished Kim Chae-eun more than anyone else, even from the side where I was learning swordsmanship.

“Chae-eun, are you okay?”

“Jae-hyun...”

I extended my hand to Kim Chae-eun, who had fallen.

Her eyes were slightly filled with tears.

Even though she couldn't see Andokwon's attack due to her position, she seemed to have grasped the situation from my actions and the commotion in the examination room.

The sense of danger of being killed by a fellow holder.

Even if it was just for a moment.

That must have been quite terrifying.

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

“No. Thank you for helping me. If it weren't for you...”

“Don't think too much about it. Take my hand.”

“Okay...”

Kim Chae-eun took my hand and stood up.

Her hands were still trembling, showing that her anxiety hadn't completely subsided.

However, the practical experience in the dungeon, which wasn't in the original story, seemed to have made her quite resilient.

Blocking the first attack with [Field Freezing] and dodging Andokwon's axe attack once.

Given the many variables in the battle, if it weren't for these, I wouldn't have had many opportunities to intervene appropriately, even knowing the situation.

Various situations, experiences, and skills.

And most crucially, the fear effect of [Declaration of War].

These elements combined to save Kim Chae-eun from danger.

“Holder Andokwon. Kneel down and raise your hands above your head. If you refuse, we will use force.”

The supervisor's stern words made me feel a bit frustrated.

Why not just use force from the beginning?

Everyone saw Andokwon trying to kill Kim Chae-eun, yet why are they trying to follow the rules so strictly?

Andokwon, holding his bleeding wrists, was breathing heavily and laughing like a madman.

“Huh, huh...”

“Holder Andokwon.”

“Huh, huh. This is really an interesting situation. Huh...”

“Holder An...”

“Shut up, damn it. It's so noisy.”

“What, what?”

“Shut up, supervisor.”

Andokwon slowly stood up.

The professors' movements changed accordingly.

Clang, clang.

The supervisor and the professors drew their swords.

One professor seemed to be a mage, gathering mana.

Completely surrounded by multiple professors.

They were ready to respond immediately if he moved even a step.

But Andokwon seemed completely unconcerned by this threat.

He continued to laugh maniacally...

With his red eyes.

Looking at me.

“Interesting... I didn't expect my plan to be foiled to this extent... Huh...”

This seems a bit dangerous...

Feeling his murderous gaze.

I can sense Kim Chae-eun grabbing my collar from behind.

I also feel tense.

Even though he's quite far away and there are professors in front of us.

I have an inexplicable sense of danger.

‘Was he always like this?’

I'm encountering him for the first time.

In the original story, Andokwon killed a mage-type fellow holder, and it was revealed that this was part of the <Villain> clan's plan.

He was just a link in the chain of events leading to the start of the incidents.

I didn't know what kind of person Andokwon was, how he killed the fellow holder, or even the name of the holder he killed.

So when I blocked his plan like this.

I had no idea how he would react.

“Gah, gahh...!!”

And then.

Andokwon's body began to turn bright red.

The sudden physical change.

Everyone, including the professors surrounding him and all the holders, was taken aback.

The reason was clear.

A small vial in his hand shattered.

And a liquid flowed down his body.

“It's a Berserk Potion! Stop him!”

The supervisor shouted in panic.

Berserk Potion.

It temporarily makes a holder lose their sanity but boosts their stats and grants immense power for a certain period.

However, due to severe side effects.

It is classified as a prohibited drug in the current holder world.

During the berserk state, the holder only acts on their initial intent, and after the berserk state ends, their abilities are irreversibly destroyed... In Korea, it is considered more dangerous than drugs.

Currently, the only clan distributing this potion is the criminal organization <Villain>.

The fact that a student holder like Andokwon used such a Berserk Potion.

Everyone was taken aback.

“What is this nonsense...”

“Is that guy part of the Villain clan?”

“Professor Lee Cheol-ho, right now...”

The professors, who were shouting urgently, couldn't continue.

After the berserk state ended, Andokwon.

Rushed at a professor who was preparing a spell.

“Gahhh-!!”

Andokwon, in a state of madness, started charging at me.

The Berserk Potion has one more effect besides boosting a holder's stats.

It contains the bodily fluid of a B-rank monster, the Centaur, allowing the user to use their unique rune, [Ruthless Charge].

This was the first successful case of researching a monster's rune, and the potion's powerful effect made it uncontrollable except for one use.

In other words, Andokwon is now using the special ability [Ruthless Charge] to ignore all physical attacks and charge at me.

The only professor who was casting a spell was also taken out, so there was no one to stop Andokwon, who was ignoring physical attacks due to his boosted stats.

“Mad... There's no other berserker like him.”

Thud, thud.

I looked at Andokwon approaching with intense footsteps.

Andokwon, whose body was red from the Berserk Potion.

He really looks more like a monster than a human.

In that short time, I tried to come up with the best way to stop him.

‘Strengthening? No, it won’t work.’

The [Strengthening] skill doubles my durability.

But Andokwon's strength is more than doubled.

Considering [Ruthless Charge], blocking him with my body would be suicidal.

‘Dodge? My speed isn't enough.’

Andokwon's stats were boosted by the Berserk Potion.

Even if I managed to dodge the first attack, the next and the next would be problematic.

Andokwon's speed, already boosted, was more than twice ours.

To stop him now.

A powerful control spell with mana would be needed.

Realizing this, I shouted loudly.

“Kim Chae-eun! Field Freezing!”

“I'm ready...!!”

Kim Chae-eun, who had practiced with me multiple times, had already prepared her spell.

Her [Field Freezing] enveloped the area.

Andokwon avoided the frozen ground at incredible speed but was eventually tripped by the ice.

“Gah, gahh...!!”

I didn't miss this moment.

I immediately charged at him with my sword.

Among the skills I can use now.

The only one that can contain mana is [Quarter Knife].

But I had already used all the throwing daggers when I entered the examination room, and [Quarter Knife] is on cooldown.

So the only mana attack I can use now.

Is to directly infuse my sword with mana and attack.

The professors, who had lost sight of Andokwon, also seemed to realize this and were rushing at him with their weapons.

‘They're coming too late, damn it.’

The probability of us being hit first was high.

Although Andokwon's use of the Berserk Potion was an unexpected turn of events not in the original story, the level of the professors here seemed slightly lower.

If Professor Tae Won-ho or Kim Myung-hyun were here, the response wouldn't have been this slow.

I quickly approached Andokwon and stabbed his bound foot with my sword.

Once bound or hit, I needed to keep stabbing the same spot to be effective.

Using the technique of [Piercing Sword Technique], I delivered a powerful sword strike to his foot.

Although I can't use [Piercing Heaven Sword] yet, I can mimic it.

“Gahhh--!!”

But it's not enough.

My mana value is too low to completely subdue him.

Andokwon broke free from the control of [Field Freezing] and my sword strike with sheer force and kicked me in the chest.

“Kuh...!!”

Damn.

This pain is indescribable.

More painful than when I was hit by a Sizzling Salamander or a Grizzly Drake.

When the stat difference is more than double.

Even without the [Combat] rune, this level of damage is dealt.

With a physical attack far exceeding my durability.

I fell unconscious.

I need to get up...

I need to stop Andokwon...

[ Ruthless Charge] has ended, and physical attacks can now hit...

But my limbs won't move.

I can't muster any strength in my body.

“Gah, gahhh-!!”

There was no mercy.

Andokwon, who was shouting in excitement, raised his fist.

He was about to strike me while I was down.

One punch would likely rupture all my internal organs.

A desperate situation with no hope.

...And then.

“Burn.”

With a short command.

Intense flames erupted, almost blinding.

Fiery flames enveloped everything in front of me.

The ultimate skill's 'command word'.

When I first used [Piercing Heaven Sword], I was too inexperienced to even consider using the 'command word', but it echoed softly now.

“Gah, gahhh-!!”

Despite his excessively high durability.

Andokwon, who was weak to fire and had no fire resistance.

Screamed in agony as flames engulfed his body.

The smoke filled the examination room.

The seemingly impenetrable 'Berserk Holder'.

Was crumbling so easily.

I lifted my head slightly to look at the woman in front of me.

A familiar voice.

A familiar silhouette.

The best holder in the first year and...

The best mage here.

It was Kang Ju-yeon.