Chapter 42 – Rule 18: The Leader Thwarts the Villain’s Plan (6)

 

Ahsung High School Training Grounds.

 

The necromancer’s barrier, “Spirit Realm,” was under full-scale assault from the moment it was deployed.

 

Storms raged, and thunder roared. Sword strikes imbued with magic lashed out incessantly at the barrier with the speed of rapid-fire bullets.

 

Crackling!

 

Using her unique ability, **Eun Sa**, Magic Formula Type 2, **Butterfly Effect**, sharp magical energy splintered into dozens of threads with each sword strike, trying to cleave the barrier. But it was futile. With a soft sound, all attacks were absorbed.

 

It was like trying to cut water with a knife. Literally.

 

However, Oh Baek-seo did not give up. With wings enveloped in the storm’s blue light, she flew like a butterfly, continuously striking the barrier while analyzing it to find a weakness.

 

The usual gentle smile on Baek-seo’s face was nowhere to be seen. Her expression was far from composed.

 

Woo-jin was trapped inside the barrier, and the overwhelming magic that had made even Baek-seo shudder since the barrier’s deployment was palpable.

 

It was only natural to feel a sense of foreboding.

 

This was why Baek-seo was urgently launching an offensive.

 

Similarly, the academy forces poured firepower into the barrier. They attacked simultaneously, sometimes targeting a single point, but their efforts bore no fruit.

 

Nevertheless, they did not give up.

 

Eventually.

 

At a certain moment.

 

“……!”

 

Groan.

 

A massive surge of magic roared from within the barrier. It was a different kind of power than what had been felt before.

 

Baek-seo’s eyes widened.

 

Everyone inside and outside the barrier felt it.

 

Something overwhelming had awakened.

 

Sssss!

 

About ten seconds later, the Spirit Realm began to dissolve from the center.

 

** * * **

 

“Huff, huff….”

 

Clutching his broken ribs, Woo-jin staggered out. His breathing was still not settled. The pain from the broken ribs stabbing his organs was intense, making even walking a challenge.

 

He had no time to relish his victory.

 

Nor did he feel any joy in having finally awakened his unique ability.

 

He just wanted to rest as soon as possible.

 

He had lost too much blood. Sleep was creeping in.

 

But he had to endure. Falling asleep thoughtlessly here might mean death.

 

During the battle with Han Seo-jin, Woo-jin realized what had happened to him.

 

Everyone who reaches Tier 5 says the same thing. Just before their unique ability blossoms, they feel a premonition as if something is about to awaken in their chest.

 

Woo-jin felt that same sensation.

 

Fighting to the death had finally awakened his unique ability.

 

It was a ridiculous situation. The conditions for awakening were too harsh.

 

Well, considering he could immediately use techniques that synergize unique abilities with elemental powers at Tier 6, it wasn’t all bad….

 

…Enough. He would think about the unique ability later.

 

He had lost too much blood to ponder complicated matters.

 

Ssss.

 

The immobilized skeletal beasts were gradually being unsummoned.

 

Simultaneously, the barrier that had lost its master began to dissipate, revealing the cloudy night sky.

 

Suddenly, rain poured down, drenching him. It was due to the storm clouds created by Baek-seo’s unique ability hovering in the sky.

 

They must have been doing all sorts of things outside the barrier.

 

“Ugh…”

 

Unable to muster any more strength in his legs, Woo-jin collapsed. He truly couldn’t move.

 

There was still a considerable distance to Seo-jin.

 

Seo-jin, who had apparently regained consciousness, was weakly breathing despite the blood that had erupted from her mouth. She looked quite serene, except for that.

 

“I lost…”

 

Seo-jin’s voice barely reached Woo-jin’s ears through the pouring rain.

 

At that moment.

 

Crack.

 

Suddenly, purple magic began to envelop Seo-jin’s feet, turning into crystals. The crystallization climbed from her ankles to her calves, then her thighs….

 

“What’s happening to your body? What’s wrong?”

 

“It’s the penalty… for my ability… I overdid it a bit… cough!”

 

Seo-jin’s transformation resembled the skeletal beasts she had controlled like her own limbs.

 

In the game, the unique abilities of the six sinners were not known to have any specific usage conditions or penalties. Naturally, Woo-jin was unaware of the penalties for necromancy.

 

The more powerful the unique ability, the more stringent the activation conditions or severe the penalties.

 

Necromancy was undoubtedly an exceptional ability.

 

Its use might not have strict conditions, but the penalty was extreme.

 

Woo-jin didn’t know if his unique ability had any penalties, but he was fine for now, so he would think about it later.

 

He needed to stop the crystallization first.

 

He didn’t know how, but he couldn’t let her escape.

 

“Ugh…!”

 

No matter how much he tried to move his body, he couldn’t muster any strength.

 

“Leader, do you know why… I joined the Disciplinary Committee?”

 

Seo-jin’s body was half solidified in purple by then. The reason she enrolled in Ahsung High and her actions today must be related.

 

But why did she join the Disciplinary Committee?

 

“Oh Baek-seo….”

 

Seo-jin’s unexpected words made Woo-jin’s eyes widen.

 

“Baek-seo?”

 

“I was told to… watch her….”

 

At that moment.

 

Rumble!

 

“!”

 

A foreboding sound came from the ground.

 

Rumble!!

 

The ground shook violently.

 

Crash!!

 

A massive creature burst from the ground.

 

Its gaping maw swallowed Seo-jin whole.

 

It was a giant worm made of dense purple magic.

 

‘What is this!?’

 

It was an entirely unforeseen situation.

 

The worm rose upward, coiling its body. The purple magic that made up its body shifted like clay, transforming into a massive humanoid monster.

 

It was larger than Carmen, the giant summoned through necromancy earlier.

 

A strange magic pulsed through the giant’s body.

 

At the center of its translucent form was Seo-jin, fully crystallized. She seemed to be its core.

 

A particularly noticeable feature was the large skull at its head, from which glowed eerie eyes.

 

Heavy magic covered its skin.

 

The same magic that had been felt from the ground earlier.

 

Woo-jin didn’t know what this monster was, but it was undoubtedly the entity aiding Seo-jin from below.

 

‘I’m certain. That thing is at least Tier 7.’