Chapter 41 – Rule 18: The Leader Thwarts the Villain’s Plan (5)

 

There is no freedom in this city.

 

The peaceful and beautiful scenery is merely a facade.

 

How does the livestock feel as it runs around the pasture?

 

Unaware that it will ultimately be consumed by humans, it merely deludes itself into thinking it is free while it frolics on the green grass.

 

Han Seo-jin knew about the Head Principal, the darker side of the city. At a young age, she realized that she was merely livestock roaming the pasture.

 

If she didn’t follow the Head Principal’s will, it was only natural that she would be disposed of. However, Seo-jin had already seen the beautiful sea on the cinema screen.

 

A primal desire to see it again simply because it was pretty.

 

She found a reason to live that she had not wanted to find. And so, Seo-jin could continue to live, even in this city.

 

***

 

Crackle!!!

 

Ahn Woo-jin, the Disciplinary Committee Leader, unleashed his power.

 

The shockwaves of turquoise electricity burst incessantly, and the Iron Dragon Staff moved with precision, targeting Seo-jin. The trajectories traced like flashes, leaving afterimages. It was a threatening series of attacks.

 

Seo-jin retreated and summoned her minions. Skeletal beasts, wrapped in violet magic, rose from the ground.

 

The beasts leaped towards Woo-jin. Numerous skulls, wrapped in haze-like magic, filled Woo-jin’s vision. The magic had already turned into bone and flesh, solid as armor.

 

But it was futile.

 

Woo-jin drew a new short staff from his belt.

 

Thwack!

 

When he swung the staff, an iron rod was drawn out from within.

 

Lightning Rod.

 

It had already stabilized enough to be reused thanks to its magical circuit.

 

Woo-jin swung the Lightning Rod, causing an explosion of electricity.

 

Boom!!

 

The fierce shockwave shattered the skeletal beasts, and the waves of electricity swept them all away.

 

“……!”

 

Seo-jin’s astonished face was hidden behind her skull mask. The power released from the Lightning Rod was beyond belief. How refined must the magic be to produce such might?

 

…There was no time to marvel.

 

Whoosh!

 

Woo-jin kicked off the ground. He shot forward like an arrow, piercing through the explosion of electricity and causing a sonic boom. With excellent magic control, he greatly enhanced his leg strength and charged. His movements quickly closed the gap with Seo-jin.

 

But Seo-jin was not slow in her response.

 

Whirr!

 

A magic formation unfolded in the air, and a giant skeletal arm, imbued with necromantic power, stretched out. It was a partial summoning.

 

As if anticipating it, Woo-jin swung the Iron Dragon Staff without a hint of surprise.

 

Clang!!!

 

The Iron Dragon Staff sliced through the air, splitting it in an instant.

 

In the blink of an eye, the skeletal arm was shattered. Woo-jin’s attack speed and reflexes were on a different level from ordinary students.

 

In a single move, Woo-jin closed the distance to Seo-jin.

 

“What are you trying to awaken?”

 

“I have no obligation to tell you.”

 

Whoosh!!

 

A large skeletal beast summoned behind Seo-jin charged at Woo-jin. It was a bipedal, heavily armored elite summon.

 

It swung its massive fist like a cannonball.

 

Whoosh!!

 

The fist only cleaved the empty air, but the mere force of it caused a violent gust, shaking the air.

 

Woo-jin had already dodged to the side, avoiding the attack.

 

Thud!

 

He and the elite summon exchanged blows.

 

Seo-jin continued to summon more skeletal beasts. All the minions roared like beasts and charged at Woo-jin as their prey.

 

Boom!

 

The clash of magic caused the ground to crack, and the skeletal beasts’ bones and flesh were shattered.

 

However, even Woo-jin had his limits.

 

Crack!

 

“Grrk!”

 

The coordination of the skeletal beasts was quite skilled. It was as if they had been practicing together for years, like circus performers.

 

It was only natural.

 

Seo-jin was focusing on Woo-jin, displaying her adept control abilities without reservation.

 

In the end, the elite summon’s fist successfully struck Woo-jin. The force in that punch was enough to easily create cracks in the ground.

 

Woo-jin used his Iron Dragon Staff to block the attack with his hand, but he was pushed back, receiving a heavy blow to his chest.

 

Thud!!!

 

Woo-jin’s body pierced through the air at great speed.

 

Crash!

 

Woo-jin collided with a structure, leaving a crater. Without giving him a moment to rest, the elite summon lunged forward, ready to swing its fist. It had physical capabilities that could overwhelm even most Tier 5 rankers.

 

“Haa…!”

 

Woo-jin caught his breath and regained his senses.

 

Pouring magic into his chest at the last moment had saved him from a fatal injury. However, his bones were broken.

 

There was no time to relax. Woo-jin quickly regained his posture.

 

Whoosh!

 

Clang!!

 

Woo-jin swung the Iron Dragon Staff to counterattack.

 

The two entities continued their fierce battle.

 

At that moment.

 

“……!”

 

Whoosh…

 

A sudden chill, like a winter breeze brushing against the skin, swept over his entire body.

 

Woo-jin’s eyes widened in surprise.

 

Seo-jin was beginning to draw out a large amount of sinister magic.

 

Holding her staff in both hands, she chanted an incantation in an incomprehensible language.

 

Woo-jin knew that pattern well.

 

This was dangerous.

 

Rumble…

 

A 4-meter diameter violet summoning circle unfolded behind Seo-jin.

 

Following the summoning circle, a long beam of light was emitted.

 

Thud!

 

A massive skeletal arm emerged from the summoning circle, grasping the ground, and its owner slowly rose.

 

The skeletal beast, intricately carved with necromantic power, gradually revealed its massive frame.

 

Approximately 5 meters tall.

 

It had nothing above its neck.

 

Its body size was comparable to that of a dinosaur.

 

Its thick arms contrasted with its frail waist. The lower part extended into a dress-like shape of magic.

 

At the center of its body, like other summons, a feminine skeleton, infused with violet magic, protruded.

 

It was both alien and grotesque, evoking a strange aesthetic sense.

 

Carmen.

 

The monstrous creature let out a beautiful vocalization.

 

‘Why is that already…?’

 

Unique necromancy.

 

Magic Ritual Type 5, ‘Requiem.’

 

The final pattern of a necromancer.

 

It was also known as her ultimate technique.

 

Carmen began to sing a beautiful song in an unknown language. The melody was romantic and mysterious, evoking a sense of melancholy, flowing with a lyrical and vivid tune.

 

Simultaneously, bright violet magic rose around her, creating a simple stage and engraving an area. The area extended beyond the battlefield of Woo-jin and Seo-jin, encompassing a wide radius.

 

It resembled an opera house.

 

Whoever stood on this stage would lose their bodily functions the moment the requiem ended.

 

Indeed.

 

Death was imminent.

 

The length of the song was precisely 1 minute and 30 seconds.

 

Responses: Flee far enough not to hear the song, defeat Carmen, or render Seo-jin combat ineffective.

 

Escaping from here is impossible. Carmen possesses monstrous strength fitting her massive body, making her difficult to defeat easily. Overpowering Seo-jin within 1 minute and 30 seconds is undoubtedly challenging. In essence, the Requiem was akin to a death sentence for Woo-jin.

 

“……”

 

Seo-jin lowered her head.

 

The reason she had exhausted her magic to unveil her final means wasn’t because Woo-jin’s attacks were threatening.

 

It was because she wanted to end this fight as soon as possible.

 

Fighting against the Disciplinary Committee Leader, who had cared for and regarded her well, was tormenting.

 

“You.”

 

A voice as sharp as a blade pierced Seo-jin’s ears.

 

Cold, murderous turquoise eyes were directed at her.

 

“You intend to kill everyone like this.”

 

Woo-jin’s eyes were filled with emotions so precisely refined that even Seo-jin found them chilling.

 

Seo-jin closed her eyes and summoned more minions, pulling up the remaining magic. All of them charged toward Woo-jin.

 

Woo-jin’s hand could no longer reuse the Lightning Rod. He returned it to its short staff form and secured it to his belt, then drew another black short staff.

 

Thwack!

 

As he swung the short staff, an iron rod sprang out. It was a basic three-section staff. Woo-jin now held the Iron Dragon Staff in one hand and the three-section staff in the other.

 

Turquoise magic, potent enough to threaten even Tier 5 rankers, roared ferociously.

 

A sharp series of attacks followed, fiercely cutting through Seo-jin’s minion army.

 

Thud!

 

Boom!

 

Crackle!!

 

Woo-jin fought fiercely.

 

The beasts forced their way into his movements, leaving wounds all over his body. Woo-jin’s body was gradually cut and wounded, accumulating numerous injuries.

 

However, Woo-jin did not lose focus.

 

He concentrated on his magic control.

 

He observed the enemies’ movements closely.

 

He responded to their attacks efficiently and swung his weapons relentlessly.

 

He emitted shockwaves, smashing the enemies.

 

40 seconds left until the Requiem ended.

 

An elite summon threw a vicious punch.

 

At the time, both the Iron Dragon Staff and the three-section staff were occupied with repelling other beasts. Woo-jin gritted his teeth, poured magic into his head, and thrust his head forward fiercely.

 

Boom!*

 

A near-explosive sound erupted. Woo-jin had countered the summon’s punch with his forehead. His brain rang, but Woo-jin didn’t care.

 

Woo-jin didn’t budge. It was because he had planted his feet firmly on the ground.

 

Blood poured down, soaking his face. However, amidst the blood-stained face, the two turquoise eyes displayed fierce determination.

 

Thud!!

 

Woo-jin swung the Iron Dragon Staff vigorously, creating multiple explosive shockwaves that sent the elite summon flying. It was a powerful strike, capable of crushing steel like paper.

 

Woo-jin dodged the swift attacks of the beasts and gradually defeated them one by one.

 

25 seconds left until the Requiem ended.

 

“……?”

 

Seo-jin felt puzzled.

 

‘Why… is his movement becoming…?’