Chapter 287

The Last Athletic Competition (6)

The fact that Jormungand could control gates was now recognized by any who had been in the full-scale battles with them. However, even so, it didn't mean that they could form gates wherever they wanted. The exact conditions weren't known, but civilizations would've certainly collapsed if the gates could be formed at will. The most promising proposal for random gate generation was that Jormungand summoned the gate using a specific tool or person at the place where they wanted to call it. Previously, in Paris, there were Oh Joo-young and Mizushima Ella Yuki, traitors to humanity. Even in Africa, there was the mercenary guild, Zeus, so that theory was almost certain. And today, it was a historic day in which it was revealed that a specific entity, not a tool, was the catalyst for calling out the gate.

"Wait, you, what...?!"

"You'll find out about it soon!"

[Bodin, revealing magic before the match... Huh?! A gate!]

"Crap, gate?!"

"Protect the students!"

"No, it's too late...!"

It was then, a black hole opened around Adelaide Bodin in the center of the stadium. It quickly expanded to cover the whole area, erosion taking place without offering a chance of resistance. The massive modern gymnasium was suddenly covered in a red rock that emanated ominous energy and a cloud of thick smoke. As the concentration of magical power lowered, the energy that harmed humans by its sheer existence increased. Just by entering this realm, the power of all humans dropped below 50%.

"Erosion gate!"

"Hye-na!"

Kang Shin-hyuk and Baek In-ha, who grasped the situation in an instant, ran to the center of the gate at the same time. However, by the time they got there, Adelaide had already captured Oh Hye-na and pulled her to her side. In the center of the gate, a huge amount of magic was erupting, forcing Oh Hye-na to hold on. The strange thing that was Adelaide Bodin, who should suffer the same fate as Oh Hye-na, looked too intact, but seeing as the gate originated from her, it was foolish to think about.

"You!"

"Don't worry; I won't hurt you. I'll take her."

As Baek stepped forward, Adelaide calmly responded and aimed at Oh Hye-na's head with her wand. Her other arm was wrapped around Hye-na's neck from behind, pressing against her. While just a moment ago, it had been the arm of an ordinary human, now it was deformed and protruded with ogre-like muscles.

"Now, back down...!"

"Hye-na...!"

Baek clenched his jaw as Oh Hye-na struggled. On the other hand, Kang Shin-hyuk's eyes narrowed as he watched the hordes of monsters appearing around them. Goat's horns and head, brass-colored muscular body, and breath that stunk of sulfur. They were the same guys who appeared in the middle of the irregular gate in Africa, Chaos Soldiers with an average rank of SSS. Even the teachers of Shinyoung couldn't dare fight them.

'...Are we ruined?'

They were rising everywhere. Kang Shin-hyuk was able to clearly grasp the situation at this point, as heterogeneous energy different from Adelaide's began to resonate with the gate in order to accelerate the erosion. It seemed to be infesting her internal magic... And not with a good effect on the human body.

"You seem to notice something, but don't worry. I'm already not human."

"No, I'm not worried about you. It's a bad illusion."

Kang Shin-hyuk responded calmly and put on his gloves. No idiot could watch the enemy arm themselves quietly, but for some reason, none could stop Kang Shin-hyuk.

"Shin-hyuk, you!"

"Senior...!"

It was an opportunity created by his high spiritual power. His enormous presence distorted others' perceptions, giving him an absolute priority in his actions... The power to reach into the realm of manipulation. When spiritual power reached its peak, it was possible. Only after Kang Shin-hyuk armed himself did Adelaide manage to open her mouth as she stared at him breathlessly.

"You...?"

"Yes."

As expected, did she know? It seemed that Jormungand knew his identity early, so it wasn't unusual for those on their side to know. Kang Shin-hyuk looked around. Everyone was confused about the sudden turn of events, but he was still at the center. Expecting not to be caught as overkill. It was possible not to use Shin Eun-hyuk's armaments, but even then, he would already be outside a student's standard of power. In fighting, he would exhibit a top ranker's power.

"You made the situation like this."

Kang Shin-hyuk spat out the words and produced a sword from his inventory. It was a beautiful greatsword, crimson red from tip to handle. It was endlessly passionate yet strangely tranquil, with runes engraved on the blade, and it periodically emitted a golden glow and divine energy. The peculiar thing was that there was a hole in the center of the guard, with a red-bead embedded in it. Of course, it was the Orb of Nephritis. It was modeled after the Godslayer, and the power of the orb was supplied to the whole weapon to strengthen it greatly.

[Astrafe]

[X rank]

[Special Abilities: Blessing, Burning Lightning, Advent, Deity]

* Blessing: Punish opponents with divine lightning. Inflicts fatal damage to beings with dirty energy.

*Burning Lightning: A lightning strike like a flame falling from the sky. This weapon constantly produces a flame with the properties of lightning, accumulates it in the sword, and amplifies its power.

* Advent: The whole body is turned into Burning Lightning.

*Deity: The owner of the weapon is amplified in all abilities and will give in unless the weapon is broken.

[A sword forged from lightning that overwhelms mortals. Those who are not qualified to handle the sword will become ashes just by holding it.]

It really wasn't a sword that could be used in the school competition. Kang Shin-hyuk laughed lowly, recalling how Lee Na-hee trembled after she finished her rune work. She, as well as the rest of them, were now with Bridget. When he saw her earlier, he thought another annoying one had appeared, but given how it turned out, he couldn't thank her enough for being here.

"Baek In-ha, I'll fight, so you save Oh Hye-na and run."

"Okay."

Kang Shin-hyuk took his stance with the greatsword at that. He thought of attacking Adelaide, but surprisingly, her posture was stable enough to be incomparable to her brother. What's more, because of resonating with the gate, the magi was swelling up. Kang Shin-hyuk laughed. No matter how strong Jormungand was, it was impossible to make humans suddenly strong. In other words, Adelaide had been with them for a long time...maybe longer than Nathan. It was even possible she was the one who brought him into Jormungand.

"You...!"

Despite enemies surrounding him, Kang Shin-hyuk seemed relaxed, and the wand aimed at Oh Hye-na aimed at him.

"Let's see how long you can stand like that... Go!"

A black flame bloomed at the end of the wand and burst into Kang Shin-hyuk. He ran without worry as the flame swallowed him... Then it was absorbed and vanished as Kang Shin-hyuk turned into a red flame. Red flames sparked across the ground as Kang Shin-hyuk, integrated with burning lightning centered on the greatsword, struck Adelaide with blinding speed.

"Ahhhhhhhh!"

"Baek!"

"Got it!"

Baek, who was waiting for his chance, immediately secured Oh Hye-na the moment she was freed. The chaos soldiers everywhere aimed at him, but Baek had also grown ridiculously strong after starting his special training with Kang Shin-hyuk! In particular, his agility, which was his strength from the start, had reached a level close to the current limit with Kang Shin-hyuk's buff. Baek was lightning itself as he moved through the chaos soldiers.

"Oppa, senior...!"

"Don't worry!"

Baek focused only on protecting Oh Hye-na. Meanwhile, Kang Shin-hyuk swung his greatsword with enough force to end Adelaide Bodin. However, the sword was blocked by a longsword that protruded through the air.

"Hi."

A drowsy female voice tapped at his eardrums.

"The grace is over; it's time for a reversal."

"You..."

Kang Shin-hyuk instinctively stepped back. Because of the strength of his opponent and her sword? No, it was because he realized the gate was opening further. As he took a few more steps back, he could clearly see what was happening before him. More gates were blooming in the air, overlapping with Adelaide Bodin as the catalyst. A bunch of flowers of death, in full bloom in a flower garden. Big black dots spread like mold, eroding away reality.

"I like being here, Anvil. You have to kill a lot to reach your balance. So, yes? Should we do it together?"

The woman who appeared with a sword in hand laughed slowly as she watched him. She seemed to know him well, but before he could respond...

"I kept my promise. Now it's your turn, Janus."

Adelaide, having survived by a hair, stretched her shoulders and insisted, her forehead covered in sweat.

"Oh, I did."

The woman called Janus nodded, then stuck her sword through Adelaide's eyebrows.

"Oh, huh...?!"

"Sorry, the promise was a lie. Because If I don't kill you here, the gate will close in vain."

Kang Shin-hyuk quietly contacted the administrator.

"What about a dimensional quest?"

-Sorry, member.

The response came quietly.

-It seems that the connection has been lost.

"I was so confident..."

Kang Shin-hyuk sighed and raised his sword. Now, it was no longer a matter of being discovered.

This was a matter of life and death.