The remaining demons parted like the sea before Moses, creating a path for Recus as he made his way towards us.
The students stared at the fallen, their faces pale with shock.
They had never seen death before.
Not like this.
Not this close.
The battlefield, once a scene of chaotic violence, was now eerily silent, the only sound the soft whisper of the wind as it carried with it the scent of blood and death.
Recus hummed a cheerful tune, his voice a discordant melody that sent shivers down my spine.
He lifted his spear, his tongue darting out to savor the taste of blood that stained the blade.
A shadow fell over us, cold and suffocating.
We were trapped.
There was nowhere to run.
Nowhere to hide.
Death was upon us.
I closed my eyes, bracing myself for the inevitable.
—Ding!
[Skill ‘Iron Will’ negates status effects (Fear, Submission, Despair, and 4 others).]
[Recus’ unique skill ‘Silent Death’ has been blocked.]
“Gasp…!”
My eyes flew open as a familiar voice echoed in my ears.
The world snapped back into focus.
The fear that had been crushing me moments ago vanished, replaced by a surge of adrenaline.
“Haa… Haa…”
I stumbled back, my heart pounding in my chest.
I was alive.
We were alive.
Recus tilted his head, his single eye narrowed in amusement.
“Oh? Did you resist my aura? Interesting.”
I gritted my teeth, my mind racing.
I had to act fast.
The students were still in shock, paralyzed by fear.
I had to get them out of here.
“Cough… Haa…”
I reached into my bag, my fingers fumbling for the scroll.
There!
It was a special scroll, unlike any other I had used before.
It shimmered faintly, its surface inscribed with runes that seemed to writhe and pulse with power.
[-Curse Recession-]
“This better be worth it…!”
I activated the scroll, ignoring the pang of regret that stabbed at my heart as I watched it crumble to dust.
A blinding light erupted from the scroll, engulfing the surrounding students in its warm embrace.
“Gah…!”
“What’s happening…?”
“A-am I… alive?”
The students blinked, their eyes slowly regaining their focus as the effects of the curse lifted.
“Get out of here!”
“Run! Now!”
Recus was far too powerful for us to handle.
We needed to retreat.
We needed reinforcements.
We needed Korn.
“Move, damn it!”
I screamed, my voice cracking with desperation.
“Do you want to die?!”
“R-right!”
The students hesitated for a moment, their eyes darting between me and the approaching Recus.
Then, as one, they turned and fled, their footsteps pounding against the earth as they raced towards the safety of the Academy.
I watched them go, my heart sinking as I realized that I couldn’t follow.
Someone had to stay behind.
Someone had to buy them time.
“Trying to play the hero?”
Recus chuckled, his voice like the scraping of bone against stone.
He was standing just a few feet away now, his single eye boring into me with an intensity that made my skin crawl.
I took a deep breath, steeling myself for the fight to come.
Running was pointless.
He would catch me long before I reached the Academy.
And even if I did manage to escape, he would just slaughter the students instead.
I wouldn’t let that happen.
I had to protect them.
Even if it meant sacrificing myself.
“I’m just buying some time,”
I said, my voice surprisingly steady.
“I don’t do sacrifices.”
“Is that so?”
Recus laughed, his voice a mocking echo in the stillness of the forest.
“How… amusing.”
I had ten minutes.
Maybe less.
That was the limit of my Extrasensory.
After that…
Korn, please hurry…
I drew Sorrow, the blade singing softly as it left its scabbard.
The air crackled with energy as I channeled my mana into the blade, the runes etched into its surface glowing a faint blue.
“Awaken, Sorrow.”
—KREEEE!
The blade let out a high-pitched shriek as it came to life, its edges shimmering with a cold, ethereal light.
—Ding!
[Using Sorrow’s unique skill 1, ‘Extrasensory’.]
The world around me sharpened.
Every sound, every smell, every sensation… It was all amplified, heightened to an almost unbearable degree.
I could feel the blood pumping through my veins, the air rushing into my lungs, the ground trembling beneath my feet.
I could even hear the faint beating of Recus’ heart, a slow, steady rhythm that spoke of immense power.
I didn’t waste any time.
With my left hand, I quickly navigated the system shop, my fingers flying across the interface.
—Ding!
[Special effect ‘Iron Body’ activated.]
[Physical condition maximized for the next 20 minutes.]
[Warning: After the duration expires, all accumulated damage will be tripled.]
“…Shit, I better make this count.”
I muttered a curse under my breath as I adjusted my grip on Sorrow, my body buzzing with newfound strength.
Recus watched me with a mixture of amusement and curiosity, his spear still held loosely in his hand.
“You’ve got guts, I’ll give you that.”
“Very well. Let’s play.”
He raised his spear, the air around it crackling with dark energy.
Two lines of light, one silver, one blue, streaked across the sky, leaving trails of fire in their wake.
And then…
CLANG!
Sword and spear met with a deafening crash, the force of the impact sending shockwaves rippling through the air.
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