Chapter 28: Overwhelming Power Part 3

Released:

“Next.”

“Wooooah!!!”

The next challenger after Noah Frozenheart was Gilbert.

With permission to use personal weapons, Gilbert transformed the bracelet on his wrist into a shield.

Ridiculous guy.

Today was the first time Rohan learned that this guy’s main weapon was a huge shield.

Apparently, swinging the standard-issue mace during practical classes was just because he felt like it at the time.

Thanks to that, Gilbert started the match with Joo-yeon by getting an earful.

“Raaagh!!! Shield bash!”

“Good enthusiasm, but there’s no need to shout the action itself, especially if it’s not a skill incantation.”

“Down with the gorilla!!! Golden spirit!!!”

“…….?”

Gilbert coated his shield with magical power and charged at Joo-yeon like a bull, but the result was predictable.

Even as he combined the weight of his shield with his large frame, Joo-yeon didn’t budge an inch from her position and continued to offer sharp critiques.

After two minutes had passed, Gilbert, having used his full magical power, collapsed from exhaustion while writhing on the ground.

The match ended with Rohan dragging him away.

“Next.”

“Instructor, it’s my turn.”

Next up was Pavel Harris, a male beastkin from Tigrova who had a decent reputation as an A-rank tank in Abyss City.

Pavel Harris seemed fired up by Gilbert’s spirited shouts and reckless charge.

Although Rohan had never raised him as a character, he was known in the community for the evaluation, “If you fully transcend him, he’s decent for a secondary party in a pinch.”

Pavel stepped forward and, like Gilbert, he received similar critiques from Joo-yeon for two minutes.

As a few more students took their turns, Dick Wikitree eventually ended up in a middling position.

“An instructor won’t get hurt just because you thrust a spear. Be bolder and act without hesitation.”

“Yes…”

“If hesitation impairs your attacks and you can’t show your true skills, critiques won’t mean a thing.”

Dick received sharp words from Joo-yeon and trudged back to his place with his spear in hand.

At that moment, Yui Ichinose, who had finished meditating, stood up.

“I’ll go next.”

The girl stepped forward while holding her beloved sword Yoru (Night).

Noah and the rest of Class 1 watched with keen interest as she moved.

Click. Click.

With elegant steps, Ichinose walked to face Joo-yeon.

Joo-yeon repeated the same instructions she had given the other students.

“You have two minutes from the start of the attack.”

“Yes.”

Clank! Ichinose gripped the hilt and lowered her stance.

The girl engaged her sharpened senses to their fullest, spreading them out in an attempt to find a viable sword path.

“……”

For about ten seconds, she remained completely still, as if frozen in time, without drawing her sword.

…There’s no opening.

Her opponent had no gaps. There was no incoming attack to parry or evade.

No path opened up for her sword to strike.

It feels completely different from my father.

Faced with a master who merely waited in stillness, she wondered where she was supposed to swing her blade.

She couldn’t even imagine herself landing a blow, let alone cutting her opponent down.

“Yui Ichinose. Unlike Noah, you think far too much.”

Joo-yeon smiled as she sensed Ichinose’s attempts to read her movements.

Her talent is extraordinary.

Indeed, Ichinose was an exceptionally intelligent girl.

But that brilliance worked against her in this situation.

Because her perceptive abilities were so advanced, she could vividly sense the impenetrable wall standing in her way.

Having realized with certainty that swinging her sword wouldn’t reach her target,

Could a girl who strove for efficient movements draw her blade knowing it was meaningless?

That was the real test.

“The instructor said she wouldn’t attack, so why are you hesitating?”

“…….”

In an almost off-beat motion, Ichinose abruptly drew her sword.

Whizzz!

Her blade stopped against Joo-yeon’s fingers.

Even though it had been intercepted mid-swing, the gym wall bore a deep gash from the force.

She’s impressive.

Watching Ichinose, Rohan couldn’t help but be impressed.

In the moment she attempted her first draw, her previously closed eyes had opened.

She had severed her overly sensitive nerves on her own, turning her attention away from the invisible wall that had constricted her.

Had Joo-yeon been fully aware of Ichinose’s unique skills, she might have offered genuine praise.

“Your control over speed and magical power is truly outstanding. You far exceed the academy’s average student.”

Ichinose did not respond with gratitude to the instructor’s compliment.

She unsheathed her blade and thrust the empty scabbard toward Joo-yeon’s neck.

Joo-yeon who was smiling with satisfaction lowered Ichinose’s blade and blocked the hilt with the captured sword.

“Hup!”

To retrieve her sword, Ichinose employed close-quarters combat that belied her petite frame.

Ichinose’s attacks, unlike those of Noah Frozenheart, had a clear system in place.

“Looks like I can return it now.”

After successfully retrieving the blade through her desperate attempt, Ichinose clicked her sword back into its scabbard.

Then she assumed a unique stance.

She held her sword upright as if performing a ceremonial gesture and closed her eyes.

“Hoo.”

Joo-yeon, who had once served as a general in the Three Nations Alliance, knew exactly what kind of sword that was.

Is it the Illusory Shadow Slicing Style?

It was the sword style used by Ichinose Jun, the chairman of Tenkaichen and father of Ichinose Yui.

Joo-yeon wanted to praise Ichinose simply for using such a tough sword style.

I’m looking forward to her future.

It was a mental-based sword style that was notoriously difficult to face in battle.

However.

The gap between Ichinose and Joo-yeon was not something an unfinished sword style could compensate for.

No matter how she swung it this way or that.

No matter how much magical power she poured into the illusions.

Ichinose’s skill could not shake Joo-yeon’s resolute mind.

Perhaps the overwhelming pressure of finding everything she tried to be useless was too great.

A single bead of sweat trickled down the girl’s jawline.

“You look anxious. When you’re wielding that type of sword, you must pretend to be calm. Don’t let your face show any sign of unrest.”

“Ugh!”

Ichinose who had kept silent until then finally let out a groan.

Joo-yeon smiled warmly at the glimpse of inexperience the girl still carried.

“It also helped that your instructor knew that sword, which made it easier to counter. So, don’t be too disappointed. You did well.”

Beep, beep, beep, beep!!!

Right as the praise ended, the alarm sounded, signaling two minutes had passed.

“…Thank you for your hard work.”

“Yes. Go on in and rest.”

The next turn began as Ichinose whose face was filled with regret withdrew.

Rohan still did not stand up from his spot.

“Next.”

“Yes!”

“You have two minutes from the start of the attack.”

“Understood!”

Rohan observed Joo-yeon as she took on the next student.

Hmmm.

He watched so intently it was as if his eyes might fall out.

But he saw no results.

She’s a real monster.

Rohan continued to watch Joo-yeon to the very end.

Yet he found no habit or opening worth exploiting.

“Next.”

It was finally his turn and it arrived with little gain.

Rohan jumped up from his seat with his longsword in hand.

“Rohan is the last one, huh?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“You have two minutes from the start of the attack.”

“Okay!”

Rohan answered loudly and drew his sword.

Shling—!

A sharp sound rang out.

Rohan didn’t bother with a scabbard. He tossed the empty sheath onto the ground without hesitation.

“Hoooo…”

He assumed his stance and let out a deep breath.

With a moment of composure, he followed Joo-yeon’s guidance and channeled his magical power smoothly to strengthen his body.

Blazing Blade.

Rohan’s magical power flowed over the cold steel.

Zzzzzzt—!

A crackling sound rose as heat surged along the blade.

The sword glowed red and began to radiate intense heat.

“.…..!”

Joo-yeon who had been watching Rohan’s preparations widened her eyes.

Her reaction was unmistakable. It was a stark strong not merely of surprise, but bordering on shock.

It was clearly a new expression, one that left Rohan just as bewildered.

What is this? Is it because it’s the same attribute as hers?

But that couldn’t be the case. Among the students who used crossbows, there was one who used fire as well.

Blazing Blade wasn’t an exceptionally high-level ability or a unique skill worthy of such astonishment.

Regardless, it felt like an opportunity.

Rohan pushed off the ground and thrust his sword forward.

Thunk!

As expected, it was caught with ease.

Joo-yeon seemed entirely unaffected by the heat Rohan had generated.

It won’t budge.

He realized why others had felt flustered. The blade that got gripped tightly between her fingers refused to move.

As if it was gripped by the jaws of a huge beast showing off its bite strength.

Rohan immediately took out the standard pistol he had hidden in his waistband.

He aimed it directly at Joo-yeon’s face and pulled the trigger.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

The sharp smell of gunpowder filled the air.

Joo-yeon, who had stopped every bullet with her fingers, stared at Rohan with an inscrutable expression.

Despite his growing questions, Rohan didn’t stop moving.

He aimed for her eyes, tried to stomp her foot, and even tried to disrupt her balance with sharp footwork.

Rohan tried to grab Joo-yeon’s fingers that were blocking his attack and bend them backward. But they didn’t budge. Though they were far from steel, they were completely unyielding.

After watching Rohan’s frantic efforts, Joo-yeon finally spoke.

“…Practical”

She said in a husky voice as if she had just awoken from a dream.

Joo-yeon shook off the clinging remnants of a foggy memory and turned her focus back to the lesson.

“You’re versatile, I’ll give you that. But apart from your sword, you lack depth.”

Rohan had used up every standard weapon hidden on his body, twisting and turning, and tried every technique he had honed in his previous life.

But none of it reached Joo-yeon.

“If you can’t imbue magical power into projectiles, a gun is no threat to an instructor. You realize, don’t you, that there was no need for me to block them at all?”

It was the critique he had anticipated.

Rohan’s gaze shifted briefly toward the clock.

One minute left.

From his waiting spot earlier, Rohan had been pondering.

What would happen if he used Inflict Weakness on Joo-yeon?

My magical power is probably low, no matter what.

Considering the magical power consumption proportional to one’s ability, the conclusion was straightforward.

Since his own magical power might be insufficient, wouldn’t it fail?

But again, this was only a hypothesis.

Rather than leaving it to speculation, it was something he had to test at least once.

What would happen if he used a skill on someone with such an overwhelming disparity in strength?

I thought physical contact itself would be the real challenge.

But Joo-yeon, despite her overwhelming strength, willingly allowed contact, almost as if she was indulging the student’s physical attempts.

Could there be a more fitting and safe situation to test the skill?

Rohan pretended once more to try bending Joo-yeon’s fingers and grabbed them firmly.

Inflict Weakness.

He channeled his magical power into her.

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