I got into school for nothing - Chapter 25
I got into school for nothing (25)
Lesson 6. The Grace of a Teacher is as Boundless as the Sky - 4
Ban Yuwon saw a momentary hallucination as if his neck was being severed.
At the moment Dokgo Yeon's short sword horizontally sliced through the air, it was because he had perceived 'Death' (死) before 'Cut' (斬).
He remembered.
When she sparred with Oltima, she had nullified his power with just a battle cry.
She was now exerting a power essentially identical to that.
‘The movement of the sword, its 'Form' (形). The intention contained within, the 'Will' (意) to 'Cut' (斬). But this goes a step further. She has added the will to strike down the opponent, leading them to 'Death' (死)....’
At the time, he had been vaguely surprised.
How could 'Death' be contained within a human action, in such a simple sword strike?
And such a distinct and potent 'Death' at that.
He was simply grateful that the sword wasn't aimed at him.
—However, confronting that fear head-on had undeniably paid off.
[By understanding advanced techniques for handling emotions and phenomena, your mastery over your 'Authority' has deepened. The depth of Mandogan, Mancheongi, and Man-eonsun has each increased by 5.]
[You have successfully grasped a part of the concept of extremely powerful and complex martial arts. The depth of your Soul has reached 390. The depth of your Martial Arts has reached 97. Any excess depth not tied to a sub-concept will aid in acquiring and developing future sub-concepts of martial arts.]
[The depth of your Swordsmanship (劍術) has reached 52.]
[By observing and partially understanding the essence of 'Cut' (斬), its depth has instantly reached 15.]
Now, if Dokgo Yeon were to tell him to call her "Teacher," he would probably have to obey.
She had elevated Ban Yuwon's realm to such a degree with just a single sword strike. Could there be any teacher as excellent as her?
Moreover, by deliberately wielding her sword, she had granted Ban Yuwon another kind of realization.
‘Perhaps Rucell's 'Heart Furnace' (心盧) is also similar to the technique Dokgo Yeon just demonstrated.’
The ability to instantaneously generate concepts not originally possessed by the body, thereby boosting one's power or achieving desired outcomes.
Wasn't that precisely what would be called an "active skill" in a game?
However, the difference between Rucell and Dokgo Yeon was that Dokgo Yeon could control concepts as much as she wanted, while Rucell could not.
‘In that case, a way for me to help Rucell would be...’
“Ban Yuwon.”
“Hm?”
He suddenly snapped out of his thoughts at the voice close by and looked up, finding Dokgo Yeon's cross-shaped pupils right before his nose.
Her face was so close he nearly fainted from surprise.
“Did you remember it well? I don't intend to show it to you a second time. I did exert myself, you know.”
“That... I think I understand.”
The gigantic spider, which had appeared with enough influence to alter the room, had been sliced in half and annihilated by a single sword strike.
No matter how formidable Dokgo Yeon's abilities were, she couldn't possibly unleash such a sword strike without effort.
If she could, that would be terrifying.
Furthermore.
[Life (生) 3, Body (肉體) 11, Demonic (魔鬼) 12, Carapace (甲殼) 15, Spider Web (蜘網) 10, Resistance (抵抗) 1]
Considering that one cannot properly gain 'Life' from monsters hunted by others, it was clear how dreadful the monster she had just defeated with a single stroke was.
Conversely, in the monster's place, only a single demonic core remained—identical to the elite monster that appeared in Room 1, or perhaps just a tiny bit larger.
Ban Yuwon felt awkwardly as if he had stolen her spoils, but Dokgo Yeon merely smiled at him, as if she knew exactly what he was thinking.
Still terrifying!
“Stop flirting and help quickly!”
At that moment, As Light's urgent voice pulled Ban Yuwon's attention away from Dokgo Yeon.
“Grrr!”
“Rucell is going berserk!”
Of the two giant spiders that had rushed towards As Light and Rucell, one was currently clashing with As Light.
The other was writhing in pain, having had some of its limbs torn off; judging by the viscous fluid and carapace fragments on Rucell's hands, it was clearly her doing.
Only.
[Heart Furnace 84 ― Anger (怒) 27, Madness (狂) 40, Sorrow (哀) 9, Pleasure (快) 3, Kill (殺) 5]
The depth of 'Heart Furnace' had drastically leaped compared to when he checked it just a moment ago.
And the addition of concepts he hadn't seen before bothered him.
“Krrk, Krrrlk...!”
“Rucell, you idiot! Hunt the monster!”
“Oh, how amusing.”
When Dokgo Yeon said something was amusing, it was usually a situation that was anything but.
“Not at all! It's not funny!”
“Kheeet!”
—Kiiiiiiiiik!
Indeed, the current situation was an absolute mess.
If they pressed on, it seemed they could finish off the spider that had lost its legs, but for some reason, Rucell had abandoned the spider and was instead charging at an innocent As Light.
Consequently, As Light was caught in a dilemma, unable to properly deal with the giant spider nor fend off Rucell.
Ban Yuwon stared intently at Dokgo Yeon and spoke.
“Dokgo Yeon.”
“Don't look at me like that. I've done my part in this battle.”
Everyone knew that she was somewhat limiting her combat prowess to match the party's average.
In fact, it was a necessary measure for everyone's growth, so he had no intention of complaining about it.
However, wasn't this situation an irregularity?
“If even one person dies right now, who knows what will happen? You know, right? This is an irregularity.”
“...An irregularity. You're right about that.”
She probably wanted Ban Yuwon to persuade her from the start.
To move people with firm principles, such bothersome and obvious procedures were sometimes necessary.
Dokgo Yeon, persuaded without much difficulty, nodded and spoke.
“Then I'll take care of that beast.”
“Whatever it is, hurry!”
At As Light's shout, Dokgo Yeon extended a finger, and Rucell, who was charging at As Light, bounced through the air and hit her head against the wall.
“Krrk!”
But she sprang up, perfectly fine, and this time rushed not at As Light, but at Dokgo Yeon.
As if she had been waiting, Dokgo Yeon bounced Rucell back again.
Rucell sprang up again and charged at Dokgo Yeon... Only then did Ban Yuwon realize that Dokgo Yeon was "playing with" Rucell.
“Her reason completely gone, her eyes just roll back and she charges at anyone strong she sees.”
“You mean that's why she abandoned the spider and came for me?!”
“You, however, don't have time to be chattering like that, do you?”
“Ah!”
As Light, who had been sighing, now turned and dealt with the giant spider charging at him, as if he had just realized something.
By now, Ban Yuwon understood what Dokgo Yeon wanted from him.
Wasn't there one fellow still rolling on the floor, unable to find an opponent?
“Teacher, this assignment is a bit tough.”
“If you properly observed my single sword strike, and if you have that sword of yours. You should be able to do it.”
Dokgo Yeon replied with a smile to Ban Yuwon's grumbled remark.
Her extremely relaxed demeanor, even while facing Rucell, who had completely lost her mind.
Perhaps even her earlier statement about exerting herself after unleashing that single sword strike had been a lie.
Ban Yuwon, surmising that this was her maximum compromise, sighed and turned his head toward his own opponent.
—Kiiiiiiiiik!
There lay the giant spider, whose legs had been torn off by Rucell, wailing in agony.
Of course, its condition was far from normal, with three of its eight legs ripped off, but perhaps due to being left alone for a while, it was now somewhat regaining its strength and getting back on its feet.
Even with its legs torn off, its sturdy head would remain intact, and if that enormous mass merely charged, Ban Yuwon would surely be crushed to death.
Yet, to be told to cut this thing down and kill it—he had known it for a while, but Dokgo Yeon's teaching style was truly Spartan.
“Shhhhrk.”
“No, Eve.”
Eve transformed her body into a rifle and stepped forward, but Ban Yuwon shook his head.
“It's a waste of bullets. Transform into chains.”
“Shhhweeeek.”
This time, Eve transformed into a bundle of chains in mid-air.
Taking that as a signal, the giant spider, having gathered itself, lunged at Ban Yuwon!
—Kiiiiiiii!
“Tch...!”
Its movements were incredibly fast, but the creature was undeniably huge, and Ban Yuwon was able to avoid its charge by passing through the blind spot created by its torn-off legs.
What he hadn't expected, however, was the silver threads scattering through the air with its movements.
Adhesive in nature, they scattered everywhere, attempting to hinder Ban Yuwon's movements, but—
['Spider Web' (蜘網) 0.3 is plundered. This is a concept that cannot be possessed by humans.]
“Well, so much for my Spider-Man dreams.”
—Kiihi?!
Of course, spider webs that had already been released and fallen to the floor could not escape Ban Yuwon's power to control concepts.
As the spider webs were all converted into golden strings of text and absorbed by Ban Yuwon, the giant spider, having lost its legs, became extremely flustered and charged at Ban Yuwon once more.
“Eve!”
—Charrrrrruk!
But by then, the chains extended by Eve had already tightly bound one of the monster's legs.
Since the other end of the chains was embedded into the far end of the wall, it could hold fast for a moment despite the giant spider's struggles, not coming loose.
That brief moment was enough of an opening for Ban Yuwon to launch his attack.
‘Cut!’
It was an impossible feat to replicate Dokgo Yeon's sword strike, which contained 'Death'.
But a sword strike imbued solely with the 'Will' (意) to 'Cut' (斬)—that, he was now confident he could properly wield.
He could feel the concept of 'Severance' (斬截) imbued in his sword resonating with his movements.
If he added the power of red blood, the 'Blood Poison', to this.
—Swish
Severing one of the spider's legs was certainly possible.
“That's enough, right!”
“It was splendid. But to kill it, you need to split its head.”
But Dokgo Yeon, it seemed, was not satisfied with just that.
Ban Yuwon looked at the spider, half its legs severed, now writhing on the floor again, and let out a desolate sigh.
He had managed to sever the legs by somehow aiming his sword at the joints, but to cut open that thick, massive head?
“Hah... Alright, fine, I'll do it.”
The creature was filled with pain and rage, unable to move properly.
If not now, when would he cut it down? Ban Yuwon, protected by Eve, who was retracting her chains, charged towards the monster!
“Cut it down!”
And aiming for its head, he unleashed his sword with a powerful, single-minded resolve!
—Kagagagagak!
But he failed.
There were two reasons for his failure.
Firstly, his strength and skill were lacking to begin with, and secondly, his 'Blood Poison' did not activate properly this time.
—Kiiiiiiiiiii!
—Kaaang!
On the contrary, the enraged spider lashed out with its remaining legs, and if not for Eve, who swiftly transformed into a shield, a hole would surely have been punched through some part of his body.
“That ability to draw blood and imbue it into your sword, it would have been good if you had used it this time.”
“Kuek!”
Dokgo Yeon said, tossing Rucell toward the ceiling.
But Ban Yuwon, knowing that even if 'Blood Poison' had worked properly, the chances of severing its head were low, didn't reply. He merely clicked his tongue inwardly and readjusted his stance.
‘Blood Poison is difficult to use consecutively, I see. It's obvious when you think about it, damn it.’
Even as he gathered his thoughts, the spider's legs lunged at him again.
But the space was already cramped, and if he retreated any further, he might harm As Light or Dokgo Yeon.
‘I can't retreat. If I want to stand alongside these guys as an equal party member from now on...!’
—Kee-hit!
He desperately swung his sword from his spot, deflecting the spider's leg.
But simply meeting it head-on would only result in his arm breaking under the spider's immense power.
He had to deflect the enemy's power outward as much as possible.
Of course, knowing it didn't make it easy.
—Kiiii! Kiiiiit!
“W-where...!”
The creature, having completely given up on moving, instead sharply extended its remaining legs, attempting to impale him.
Eve blocked some of them, but she also had her limits.
Ultimately, Ban Yuwon had to fend off most of them himself.
“Urgh...!”
His arm felt like it would break, but Ban Yuwon never let go of his sword.
Instead, he was becoming increasingly absorbed in the situation.
Four legs lunging at him irregularly.
He had to deflect them in order, starting with the closest, dissipating the power imbued in each leg.
Aside from the creaking sound coming from his arm and the feeling that his body was about to be slammed to the ground, Honestly, it was—a rather interesting challenge.
—Clang! Clang! Kiiiik!
Before he knew it, he had forgotten the current situation and even the pain in his body, focusing solely on deflecting the monster's legs.
In the process, unnecessary tension gradually left his body, and the noise generated by parrying the spider's attacks diminished.
Had the spider grown tired, and its attacks lost some of their weight?
Perhaps that was part of it, but it wasn't the only reason.
Ban Yuwon had begun to successfully deflect the power imbued in its legs.
It was truly a terrifying adaptability.
—Kiiiiiiiiik!
How many more times had he deflected its attacks like that?
Suddenly, Ban Yuwon realized he no longer feared the monster's attacks.
A little lighter.
A little faster.
As Ban Yuwon's sword once again deflected the spider's leg, a mysterious aura settled upon his blade.
[In the process of deflecting the enemy's attacks, you have realized and assimilated the concept of 'Flow' (流). The depth of 'Flow' (流) has reached 5.]
Perhaps the residual depth of martial arts he had gained from watching Dokgo Yeon's sword strike earlier had influenced his ability to grasp this new concept of martial arts so easily.
However, even accounting for that, his realization was sufficiently astonishing and formidable.
Ban Yuwon's realization didn't end there.
‘At the moment an attack comes, at the exact instant the enemy's power is concentrated, if I move my sword appropriately, I can deflect their power. In that case, wouldn't it also be possible to reverse the enemy's power and strike back?’
The concept of what is called "Parrying."
To be honest, this was partly mixed with a game-like mindset.
But the power of concepts he wielded inherently manifested as he perceived them.
Contrary to how he had naturally gained the concept of 'Flow' (流) during the process of deflecting enemy attacks, This time, he first inscribed the concept of 'Reversal' (反) in his mind and then moved.
“Now!”
—Kee-hee-it!
At first, he failed slightly.
To strike back by utilizing the enemy's power, he needed to exploit the subtle opening that appeared for a fleeting moment when the enemy's attack reached its peak, and this was harder to grasp than the concept of 'Flow' (流).
But the next time was a little better.
And the time after that produced enough 'Repulsion' (反撥) to make the monster's leg momentarily recoil.
And in the next instant.
—CRACK!
The moment the power imbued in the spider's leg, which had extended toward him, reached its peak.
He succeeded in deflecting the sword and twisting the direction of that power back upon it.
—Kiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!
The spider, its leg completely bent and broken, hanging limp, thrashed in agony.
But Ban Yuwon had no time to comfort the creature, busy checking the notifications that appeared before his eyes.
[You have inscribed the self-defined concept, 'Reversal' (反), within your body. The depth of 'Reversal' (反) has reached 10! In the process of self-realizing high-level martial arts, the depth of your Martial Arts has reached 120. Any excess depth not tied to a sub-concept will aid in acquiring and developing future sub-concepts of martial arts.]
[The depth of your Soul has reached 400.]
Ban Yuwon, having finally achieved a realization worthy of the name, turned back to Dokgo Yeon with shining eyes.
It was clear that she had wanted Ban Yuwon to achieve this realization from the beginning, creating an opportunity for him to contend with a strong opponent whose limbs were not fully intact!
“Teacher!”
“...What? That's scary.”
...Or maybe not.
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