Chapter 20 (Continued)

 

Had Woo-jin chosen a frontal assault after all? It made sense; there were no other options.

 

Behind Woo-jin, Min-Hyuk was running away. The healer had served as a decoy and was now irrelevant. As Min-Hyuk headed towards the emergency stairs, Ha-Moon ignored him.

 

His focus was solely on Ahn Woo-jin.

 

The thought of fighting Ahsung High’s Disciplinary Committee Leader ignited Ha-Moon’s fervor.

 

“Hm?”

 

Ji-Soo sensed something was off.

 

She turned around, feeling an unnatural, faint sound, like a hallucination.

 

She saw nothing but a solid wall behind her. Was it just her imagination?

 

“!?”

 

Ha-Moon suddenly widened his eyes.

 

“This sound…!?”

 

Ha-Moon swiftly halted his steps on the water-soaked floor. He could hear a sound coming from beyond the wall. With his heightened senses, he instantly recognized the nature of the sound. It was growing clearer and sharper—a piercing sound.

 

“Ji-Soo!!”

 

“Huh?”

 

Ha-Moon turned around and dashed towards Ji-Soo at full speed. Just as he embraced her and turned his back,

 

BOOM!!

 

A massive arrow, imbued with wind magic, crashed through the wall of Gray Star and penetrated the interior. It exploded shortly after.

 

***

 

A few minutes earlier.

 

Doha, the treasurer of Ahsung High’s Disciplinary Committee, decided to follow the leader’s command. Her mission was to provide support fire. Woo-jin had precisely instructed her on the target location based on his game knowledge.

 

“As ordered.”

 

On a hill, Doha firmly planted the end of her large bow into the ground. She secured an arrow much larger than typical ones, nearly as long as her height. Then, she placed her foot on the central foothold of the bow, extended her legs, and drew the string back with both hands. Her body, as flexible as a cat, stretched gracefully. With her body strengthened by magic, there was no strain from the tension.

 

As she activated her unique ability, strange patterns appeared in her eyes.

 

The unique ability, ‘Laplace’s Demon.’

 

Magic Formula Type 1: ‘Precision Equation.’

 

This ability allowed her to automatically calculate the positions and momenta of everything in her field of view like a computer. While she couldn’t discern minute details, the conditions for successful support fire were adequately met. Thanks to the passive effect of her ability, ‘Enhanced Vision,’ everything she saw was crystal clear, even buildings in the distance.

 

As a side effect of using her ability, she would suffer from severe dry eye and mental dullness for a day, but helping the leader took precedence.

 

Whoosh!

 

Wind magic enveloped the arrow, causing its color to become more vibrant. The arrow was a kind of explosive similar to a magic grenade, a resource of the Disciplinary Committee.

 

Doha aimed at a high-rise building on the outskirts of Academy City. She took a deep breath, held it, and minimized her movements. She analyzed the falling raindrops, the movement of dark clouds, the wind direction and speed, and the violent dance of nearby leaves.

 

“…”

 

A perfect moment arrived.

 

Doha released the string.

 

Whoosh!!!

 

The wind magic spread like a gale. The arrow pierced through the rain, streaking across the sky in a straight line, following the desired trajectory. The wind magic around the arrow repelled the rain, adding to its propulsion. It shone like a silver comet.

 

The arrow reached the upper floors of the Gray Star building.

 

BOOM!!

 

It destroyed the wall, reached Ji-Soo and Ha-Moon, and finally exploded.

 

“Ugh!”

 

The unexpected explosion sent Ji-Soo and Ha-Moon flying towards Woo-jin. Ha-Moon’s control over his magic wavered, causing the magnetic field to dissipate. The drones caught in the blast malfunctioned and crashed to the ground.

 

Ji-Soo and Ha-Moon rolled across the floor and quickly regained their stances. The explosive’s power, akin to a magic grenade, wasn’t enough to severely injure them as Tier 5s.

 

But it was enough.

 

“!”

 

Splat.

 

Ji-Soo shuddered as her hand touched the floor. The spot where she landed was directly beneath a sprinkler, still spraying water vigorously. The floor was flooded. She shouted,

 

“Hey! Use your ability quickly—!”

 

It was too late.

 

ZAP!!

 

“Ahhh!!”
“Ugh!!”

 

The wave of teal electricity surged through the impure water, striking Ji-Soo and Ha-Moon. Woo-jin had directed lightning magic through his truncheon, channeling it into the water.

 

Ji-Soo and Ha-Moon twitched violently, steam rising from their bodies. They nearly lost consciousness. Their brains felt fried, and tinnitus rang in their ears, but they endured. There was still a chance to counterattack. If they deployed the magnetic field now, they could corner Woo-jin. But Woo-jin wouldn’t let the opportunity slip.

 

BAM!

 

Woo-jin channeled magic into his legs and launched himself forward. Ji-Soo glared at Woo-jin with bloodshot eyes as he charged at her. She needed to dodge, but her body wouldn’t respond. At his current speed, she couldn’t avoid him.

 

Thwack!

 

The black truncheon struck Ha-Moon in the mouth, and the Lightning Rod pressed against Ji-Soo’s throat.

 

“Guh!”

 

“Ugh!”

 

Thud!

 

Woo-jin knocked them both to the ground and looked down at them. His icy blue-green eyes glowed ominously.

 

As her airway was constricted and her breath shortened, Ji-Soo felt intense fear. Woo-jin’s stern face showed no hint of mercy. Despite this, she pleaded,

 

“Spare…”

 

ZAP!!!

 

“Ahhh!!!!”

 

“Mmmph!!!”

 

The lightning magic from the two batons surged fiercely, electrocuting them without mercy. Their screams tore through the air.

 

Eventually, Woo-jin stopped discharging magic.

 

“…”

 

Ji-Soo and Ha-Moon had passed out. Their faces contorted in agony, they lay there, exhaling steam, covered in tears, mucus, and drool.

 

“Pathetic.”

 

Woo-jin rose, holding his two batons, and picked up the smartphone that had fallen. It was Ji-Soo’s. The broadcast was still live.

 

Woo-jin’s wet face appeared on the screen. The viewer count had soared to about 40,000. The viewers were in shock at Woo-jin’s appearance. The live chat was in chaos.

 

[OMG]

 

[Is this real?]

 

[Leader???]

 

[Wow, it’s real!]

 

[Anomia got wrecked?]

 

[Are you safe??]

 

[What happened?]

 

[Is this legit? What’s going on?]

 

[No way, a Tier 4 took down two Tier 5s??]

 

[Wow….]

 

The chat messages were coming in so fast, it was hard to keep up. But it was clear that half the viewers took the situation seriously, while the other half didn’t.

 

‘This is crazy….’

 

Woo-jin silently ended the broadcast.

 

Talking off the top of his head now would be less effective than discussing with Baek-Seo and making an official announcement later.

 

─ Leader!?

 

Suddenly, Ha Yesong’s lively voice echoed through Woo-jin’s earphone. It had started working again.

 

─ Wow, the connection is back! Leader, are you alive? If you’re dead, please respond!

 

“The situation is handled.”

 

─ Thank goodness you’re alive! Hehe. I just saw the broadcast…! I’m glad you’re safe! I was a bit worried.

 

“Are you on your way?”

 

─ Yes, we’re gathering the Disciplinary Committee and heading your way! Please wait a bit longer! Loyalty!

 

Ha Yesong’s task was to mobilize the Disciplinary Committee as soon as Woo-jin and Min-Hyuk reunited.

 

Woo-jin approached the shattered outer wall, braving the wind and rain, and looked outside.

 

Four multipurpose transport vehicles of the Disciplinary Committee were racing towards Gray Star.

 

─ Situation here is also resolved.

 

A refined voice followed. It was Vice Leader Oh Baek-Seo’s voice.

 

Her task was to subdue Anomia’s strongest force, AQ, and the group’s leader. If that was done, Anomia was essentially annihilated.

 

─ Leader.

 

“Yeah.”

 

─ …I’ll see you soon.

 

It was a meaningful statement, tinged with the sound of her breath.

 

“?”

 

What was that? ‘I’ll join you’ or ‘I’ll see you soon.’ Although it seemed to mean the same thing, Baek-Seo’s words were laden with emotion, like concern, relief, and perhaps affection….

 

No, interpreting it as affection was overthinking. Woo-jin dismissed the thought.

 

“…”

 

He took a deep breath.

 

Handling the aftermath would take the rest of the night.